St. Petersburg-born Kahwa Coffee Roasters is expanding in a big way, with owners Sarah and Raphael Perrier this week kicking off their franchising effort. The coffee shop and wholesale roaster business will limit territories to Florida initially, but Raphael Perrier said in a press release that they will open up more areas after the first year. “We want to ensure our franchisees are successful as we grow, and we feel this is the best way to do that,” Perrier said.

The Perriers founded Kahwa in 2006 with a single location in St. Petersburg. The business has grown to include 15 coffee shops in the greater Tampa Bay area, and more than a thousand wholesale partnerships throughout Florida.

For more information on the Kahwa Coffee Roasters franchise, visit www.kahwafranchise.com.