The Coffee Franchise’s Recent Fund Drive Helped Support Animal Sanctuaries
In business, it’s possible to be a badass and have a heart.
Just ask Scott Snyder, CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii.
A trending fast casual brand, Bad Ass Coffee opened on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1989 serving up local beans and a laid-back vibe.
And while Bad Ass Coffee has matured, evolved and expanded over the years, it hasn’t forgotten its roots.
Each year, the company runs Give-A-Hoof Week at all its franchises to raise funds for the Leilani Farm Sanctuary in Hawaii and the Longhopes Donkey Shelter in Colorado.
Both shelters take in wild, abandoned and at-risk donkeys affected by overpopulation, neglect and habitat loss.
This year’s fundraiser raised $12,004.33, a 20% increase from last year.
“Exceeding our fundraising goal is both inspiring and humbling,” Snyder (below) said.
Franchise owners were a huge driver, he added, with many creating imaginative in-store displays while others took the initiative to partner with local donkey shelters and host community events.
“It shows the power of our community when franchisees, staff, and customers rally around a cause they believe in.”
Why Donkeys?
The Bad Ass Coffee brand is inspired by the legendary donkeys that once carried heavy bags of Kona coffee down the steep volcanic cliffs of Hawaii.
“Supporting the shelters felt like a natural way to carry on that legacy,” Snyder explained. “Honoring the spirit, strength and grit of those badass animals while giving back to the place where our story began.”
Back in 1989, Bad Ass Coffee was one shop in Kona, Hawaii that was serious about its coffee, yet offered customers a playful setting that became a community gathering point.
Today, there are nearly three dozen locations across the country serving not only American-grown premium Hawaiian coffee, but international coffees, teas, brewed drinks, food, and branded merchandise.
In its early years as a franchisor, the brand enjoyed modest growth. A change in ownership in 2019 rejuvenated Bad Ass Coffee, propelling it to one of the hottest emerging fast-casual brands.
“Five years ago, we relaunched a 30-year-old brand with a promise of performance, innovation and a franchisee-first platform that would transform an emerging brand into a category challenger,” said Snyder.
It’s a category with lots of potential. According to the Business Research Company, the coffee franchise market will top $115 billion this year, attributed in part to the growing coffee culture and the rise of specialty coffees.
Bad Ass Coffee is capitalizing on the trend, opening 8 new stores in 2025 with an anticipated 15 additional openings before the end of the year, part of a dedicated effort to expand its national footprint.
A key driver of the brand’s growth has been the ongoing refinement of its messaging and in-store experience at the local level creating a unified brand voice that resonates across every customer touchpoint. No matter which Bad Ass Coffee store customers are walking into, they are getting the same high-quality, aloha spirit experience.
The rebrand also includes new store prototypes, an improved point of sale system and an updated menu that reflects current consumer preferences.
Another change is the emphasis on multi-unit franchising. The brand has awarded 22 new locations this year across key states including Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Florida.
The company is looking for owners with business experience who have a passion for premium coffee.
Once signed, franchisees find a strong development support system that can help identify the right territories for expansion, along with assistance with everything from training to financing to construction management.
Richard and Michelle Lee, who became multi-unit owners in Virginia in 2021, were definitely coffee lovers, but said it was the company culture that sold them on ownership.
“You hear a lot about the aloha spirit and the ohana vibes, but they truly mean it,” said Richard. “It’s not just a marketing ploy; it’s something they’ve worked to ingrain into the business from the top down. We feel supported. We know if we need to reach out to someone, they’ll respond. It really feels like we’re a part of something.”
Brew good, do good.
As Snyder noted, the business model may have changed, but the original aloha spirit is always top of mind, which is why charitable efforts such as Love for Maui, Cup ‘O Joe for a Soldier, and Give-A-Hoof are so important.
“At Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, being part of the ‘ohana’ means looking out for each other — from our communities near and far, to our servicemen and women and the four-legged friends who inspired our name,” he said.
“It’s a reminder that our work goes beyond coffee; it’s about making a real difference.”
Learn more about the Bad Ass Coffee franchise.
