Federal brewing regional growth following Foresight investment

Backed by leading SME investor Foresight Group, Federal is gearing up for its next chapter of growth following a £3.5 million investment that will fuel its regional expansion.

Founded in 2014 by Claudio Ribeiro, Federal has built a loyal following through great coffee, fresh local food, and the warm, relaxed hospitality that defines the Aussie cafe experience brought to the UK. The business now employs more than 80 people across five sites in Manchester and Leeds and is targeting 12 to 15 locations by 2030, with new cafes planned for major UK cities including Liverpool, York, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

As Federal prepares to scale, protecting the relaxed culture and the feeling that runs through every site stays at the heart of the plan. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and genuine service, Federal has built a reputation for connection and brightening people’s days, one coffee and one conversation at a time.

The food and drink offering stays focused on exceptional coffee and fresh, high-quality ingredients, sourced locally wherever possible. Menus shift with the seasons, but a handful of core dishes have stayed on the menu, largely unchanged for over a decade. Behind the scenes, the same goes for suppliers. Federal has worked with the same coffee and bread partners since day one, which is how the experience stays consistent as the group grows.

That commitment to hospitality was recently recognised when Federal was shortlisted in the Great Service Award and Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year categories at the 2026 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.

As part of the investment, experienced hospitality leader Dame Karen Jones has joined Federal as Chairperson. Dame Karen brings deep leadership and board experience across the sector, with known roles at Café Rouge, Hawksmoor, Deliveroo, Whitbread, and an earlier Foresight investment, Mowgli Street Food. She’ll support the leadership team as Federal expands its footprint.

Claudio Ribeiro, Founder and CEO of Federal, said: “Federal has always been about more than coffee and food. It’s about connection. A place where people feel genuinely welcome, where the team cares, the standards are high, and the energy is real. As we open in new cities, protecting that feeling is the whole job.

“Ten years in, we’ve built something we’re really proud of, alongside an incredible team and the customers who’ve been with us from the start. With Foresight’s support, we get to share Federal with more people across the UK. What our regulars already know is simple. A trip to Federal makes your day brighter. We want more people to feel that.”

Claire Alvarez, Partner at Foresight Group North West, added: “We’re excited to be backing Claudio and the Federal team at a defining moment for the business. The business has built something truly special, a loyal customer base, a culture people love being part of, and a quality of experience that’s ready to scale. Our experience in the hospitality sector, alongside the expertise Karen brings, puts us in a strong position to support Federal as it takes that experience to new cities. The regional growth opportunity here is real, and we’re proud to be part of the next chapter.”

Federal’s family roots remain stitched into the business, quite literally. Claudio’s 97-year-old grandmother still hand makes the aprons worn by the team across every site, a small touch that says everything about how Federal is built.

With Foresight’s backing, drawing on their experience in the coffee sector following the sale of 200 Degrees Coffee to Caffè Nero Group, and the guidance of new Chairperson Karen Jones, who grew Mowgli from three to fourteen sites, Federal is focused on steady, sustainable growth. The plan is to scale without losing the independent spirit, the warm welcome, and the quality that have defined Federal from day one.