Originating in Perth, Dôme has grown over 30 years to have about 100 cafés in six countries. This includes about 60 in Western Australia, with others in Malaysia, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Maldives. The group’s founders Patria Jafferies, Phil Sexton and Phil May opened the first Dome café in Cottesloe in 1991. They retained full ownership until 2000, when they sold a 50 per cent stake to Sydney-based Grant Samuel Private Equity for a reported $10 million. Malaysia’s Navis Capital Partners bought the business in 2003 (for $20 million) while Perth-based Viburnum became the major shareholder in 2008 (for $30 million). Navis reacquired the business in 2014 for a reported $50 million. Management, led by Nigel Oakey and Troy Blizard, has a minority stake.
