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Tag: coffee

  • Starbucks Expands in East Asia as Walmart Unwinds Suburban Hypermarkets

    Starbucks Expands in East Asia as Walmart Unwinds Suburban Hypermarkets

    Starbucks continues to scale its store footprint across East Asian metros while Western big-box operators like Walmart have spent years unwinding their suburban hypermarket networks.

    The divergence reveals how high-density Asian urban layouts reward high-frequency beverage retail while penalizing large-format car-dependent grocery models.

    Western retail expansion into East Asia split along structural lines over the past two decades. Big-box hypermarkets required expansive floor plates, suburban road infrastructure, and weekly bulk purchasing routines that never fully aligned with daily fresh food shopping habits in cities across China, Japan, and South Korea. Coffee chains, by contrast, secured small-footprint real estate embedded directly into transit nodes, office towers, and dense residential clusters.

    Urban Density And Real Estate Economics

    Hypermarket operators faced escalating commercial rents on massive suburban plots that could not generate the sales density required to offset real estate overhead. Local convenience store chains and neighborhood wet markets retained daily foot traffic, while domestic e-commerce platforms quickly captured non-perishable consumer goods.

    Starbucks structured its expansion around rapid footfall and premium beverage margins. Store units occupy high-traffic ground-floor positions in office complexes and transit hubs, turning compact footprints into reliable daily transactions. The company positioned its locations as functional meeting spaces for urban workers living and working in tight quarters.

    Localization Of The Consumer Experience

    Walmart relied heavily on centralized global procurement systems and standard supply chains designed to lower unit costs through sheer volume. That formula failed to dislodge regional grocery competitors who maintained direct, daily ties with domestic produce distributors and localized supply channels.

    Beverage operators adapted their product menus and store concepts far more quickly. Seasonal product launches, integration with regional digital payment apps, and localized delivery partnerships allowed coffee chains to embed themselves into daily consumer routines across tier-one and tier-two cities.

    Supply Chains And Digital Delivery Channels

    The rise of on-demand quick-commerce platforms in East Asia further eroded the traditional hypermarket advantage of wide product selections under one roof. When consumers can order household staples on mobile apps for delivery within thirty minutes, the incentive to drive to an out-of-town warehouse store disappears.

    Coffee retail adapted directly to this shift by integrating order-and-pay apps and motorcycle courier fleets into store operations. Compact urban kitchens double as mini-fulfillment nodes for instant delivery without adding significant real estate overhead.

    Western multi-brand retailers entering East Asia now structure their market entries around small-format, experience-driven spaces rather than sprawling suburban warehouses. The next operational test centers on maintaining beverage gross margins as domestic discount coffee brands add thousands of low-cost kiosks across the region.

  • Starbucks Opens Vietnam’s First Signing Store in Ho Chi Minh City

    Starbucks Opens Vietnam’s First Signing Store in Ho Chi Minh City

    Starbucks opened its first Signing Store in Vietnam on Ho Chi Minh City’s Cao Thang Street on Wednesday, expanding a regional format that already runs 26 outlets across four other Asian markets.

    Deaf staff work alongside hearing employees across counter service and daily operations, using visual menus, gestures and written order systems rather than spoken prompts.

    Operations on Cao Thang Street

    The unit sits set back from the main roadway on Cao Thang Street with a garden-style layout planned to lower ambient street noise for staff and guests. It serves the chain’s standard beverage and food menu while changing the service counter workflow to accommodate point-and-sign ordering.

    Chi Nguyen, director of external affairs at Starbucks Vietnam, stated to local media that the location functions as an inclusive space where staff and visitors interact directly through visual methods.

    Format Expansion Across Asia

    Specialised format stores of this type allow multinational food and beverage operators to test altered counter workflows without changing back-of-house supply chains. Starbucks established its first signing outlet in Kuala Lumpur in 2016 before expanding the concept to China, Japan and South Korea, where dedicated customer communication tools were integrated into standard point-of-sale setups.

    For commercial landlords, quiet and garden-style layouts of this type offer ways to activate secondary street frontage and deeper, non-standard retail floorplates that struggle to accommodate high-turnover drive-throughs or standard counter lines. The operational friction sits in staff onboarding and maintaining service speed during peak morning trade, where non-verbal communication systems must process complex drink customisations without causing counter bottlenecks.

    Market Positioning in Vietnam

    Starbucks opened its initial location in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013 and has spent more than a decade building a store network across major commercial hubs including Hanoi, Da Nang and Binh Duong. The brand competes against established domestic chains such as Highlands Coffee and Phuc Long, which operate larger branch networks at lower price points across Vietnam’s urban centres.

    The Cao Thang unit brings the company’s regional signing store count to 27 locations across Asia, with operators watching whether the model will be adapted for additional high-density retail districts in Hanoi.

  • Mega MGC Coffee Approaches 4,500 Stores Across South Korea

    Mega MGC Coffee Approaches 4,500 Stores Across South Korea

    Mega MGC Coffee reached 4,466 outlets in South Korea on August 27, widening its lead as the country’s largest coffee franchise by physical store count.

    The network now sits within striking distance of the 4,500-store threshold in a national market that holds more than 100,000 coffee shops. Founded in 2015, the brand expanded through a low-price, high-volume model built on large drink sizes and small takeaway shop footprints.

    Franchise density and territory controls

    Rapid growth has pushed Mega ahead of older rivals. Domestic competitor Ediya Coffee operates more than 4,200 locations, while Compose Coffee passed the 3,000-store mark last year. Starbucks closed last year with just over 2,000 outlets across South Korea, operating on a corporate-owned model rather than franchises.

    To prevent its own stores from cannibalising sales, the chain analyses pedestrian commercial zones before approving new franchise applications. A company representative said Mega evaluates whether both neighbouring existing units and proposed locations can generate stable returns before clearing an opening.

    Bifurcation in the cafe sector

    The scale achieved by Mega and Compose illustrates how deeply value-tier operators have penetrated South Korea’s daily commuter market. While premium brands focus on seated dining space and elevated menus, budget chains capture weekday takeaway volume through kiosk ordering and lower pricing.

    Foreign chains continue to test the opposing end of the market. Canada’s Tim Hortons is expanding its presence toward 50 locations across South Korea, adding 26 stores this year with larger flagship formats and broader food menus.

  • Industry Beans Returns DC Coffee to Supermarket Shelves via Woolworths

    Industry Beans Returns DC Coffee to Supermarket Shelves via Woolworths

    Melbourne specialty roaster Industry Beans has returned DC Coffee to national supermarket shelves through Woolworths, targeting Australian consumers switching from cafe takeaway cups to home brewing.

    The rollout follows a total overhaul of the brand, which Industry Beans co-founder Trevor Simmons pulled from rival chain Coles after acquiring the business in 2023.

    Canstar survey data of more than 2,100 consumers shows 29 per cent of Australians have stopped buying cafe coffee to brew at home. Another 19 per cent bought a dedicated coffee machine to cut daily spending as the average takeaway cup climbed to $5.90 before plant-milk surcharges.

    Rethinking Supermarket Coffee

    Simmons bought DC Coffee from David Valmorbida after years of acting as its contract roaster. By 2023, the brand’s footprint in Coles had dropped to less than half its original SKU count because of weak sell-through and an absence of dedicated marketing support.

    Industry Beans stripped back the catalog rather than trying to salvage slow-moving specialty lines. The Woolworths range centres on larger pack formats and two high-volume blends, The Darkness and The Duchess, before introducing a third blend called The Swell and an instant coffee offering.

    DC Coffee traces its roots to Caffe Ducale under the Valmorbida family’s Conga Foods business. Former manager Rob Stewart later reshaped the label with street-art packaging, securing national distribution in Coles in 2020 as one of the earliest third-wave brands on mainstream Australian grocery shelves.

    Targeting the Home Brewer

    Specialty roasters across Asia-Pacific long protected premium positioning by keeping their best beans restricted to company-operated cafes or direct-to-consumer subscriptions. Rising living costs and sharper price scrutiny have forced a shift, prompting roasters to compete directly on supermarket shelves against commercial legacy brands.

    DC Coffee is backing the retail rollout with a national promotional push titled Fuel Your Creativity. The brand will track volume performance on the primary blends across Woolworths stores before releasing its instant coffee formats to the same network.

  • Temasek and ChrysCapital Compete to Buy 33 per Cent Stake in India’s Blue Tokai

    Temasek and ChrysCapital Compete to Buy 33 per Cent Stake in India’s Blue Tokai

    Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and private equity firm ChrysCapital are competing to invest up to 1,200 crore rupees in Indian specialty roaster Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters. The transaction values the 13-year-old chain at up to 3,700 crore rupees and will hand the winning bidder a stake of between 30 and 33 per cent.

    The deal structure involves both primary capital to finance retail expansion and secondary sales to provide exits for early seed backers. Existing shareholders include A91 Emerging Fund, which holds 21.72 per cent, alongside Verlinvest, Waterfield Fund and 12 Flags. The three founders, Matt Chitharanjan, Namrata Asthana and Shivam Shahi, currently hold an aggregate 15.27 per cent stake.

    Funding store targets across Asia and the Gulf

    Blue Tokai currently runs 240 outlets across India through parent company Muhavra Enterprises. The roaster plans to open 120 locations during the current financial year, pushing into secondary markets including Ahmedabad and Lucknow, before reaching an 800-store target by fiscal 2030.

    Overseas expansion is also underway. The chain partnered with UAE-based Ambrosia Gulf last year to build a regional store footprint, while setting up plans for an entry into Japan. It also acquired bakery operator Suchali’s Artisan Bakehouse in 2024 to support food service across its cafe network.

    Financial performance has shifted after Blue Tokai turned Ebitda-positive on a monthly basis for six consecutive months. Revenue climbed 50 per cent to 325 crore rupees in fiscal 2025, while net losses narrowed by 20.6 per cent to 50 crore rupees.

    Competition intensifies in India’s cafe sector

    Specialty coffee operators across Asia are racing to scale before high real estate overheads catch up with unit economics. In India, Tata Starbucks remains the market leader with more than 500 outlets and a plan to add 100 locations annually, while international entrants such as Canada’s Tim Hortons and Britain’s Pret a Manger compete against domestic rivals including Third Wave Coffee, Barista and Cafe Coffee Day.

    For ChrysCapital, a deal would follow its acquisition of patisserie chain Theobroma in August 2025 for roughly 2,410 crore rupees, opening opportunities to combine bakery and beverage operations. Temasek brings its own food service portfolio to the table, with holdings in Rebel Foods, Haldiram’s, Licious and Chinese coffee operator Luckin Coffee.

    Blue Tokai has not yet filed its fiscal 2026 accounts, though projections reviewed by investors point to revenue reaching between 750 crore and 775 crore rupees in fiscal 2027.

  • Café Amazon Rolls Out Canned Sparkling Coffee Across 7-Eleven Thailand

    Café Amazon Rolls Out Canned Sparkling Coffee Across 7-Eleven Thailand

    Café Amazon has launched Amazon Fizzpresso across 7-Eleven stores in Thailand. The product brings zero-sugar sparkling ready-to-drink coffee to convenience shelves nationwide.

    Two fruit flavours lead the debut: Yuzu and Peach. Both combine carbonated water with instant coffee notes to mimic a coffee soda. Earlier sparkling coffees in Thailand stayed in specialty grocers at premium prices. 7-Eleven’s retail footprint will test whether the drink works as an everyday convenience purchase.

    Formulation and convenience distribution

    The Peach variant contains water, 0.53 per cent concentrated peach juice, and 0.38 per cent coffee powder. Sucralose and acesulfame potassium replace sugar to keep the drink low-calorie. Acidity regulators and standard preservatives round out the shelf-stable formulation.

    Selling through 7-Eleven gives the chain immediate access to thousands of high-traffic locations across Bangkok and provincial hubs. In grab-and-go coolers, the product competes directly against carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and traditional canned milk coffees.

    Regional push into fizzy brews

    Sparkling coffee has seen mixed consumer reception across Southeast Asia, though regional chains continue to back the format. Malaysian operator ZUS Coffee introduced its canned Coffizz line in Original and Zesty Lime variants in 2024. Those cans remain on retail shelves despite polarized early feedback.

    Independent roasters and smaller regional players have treated sparkling coffee as a novelty drink. Café Amazon brings the manufacturing scale of parent group PTT Oil and Retail Business. The real test is whether repeat purchases hold up in convenience chillers once initial curiosity fades.

  • Every Half Coffee Roasters Secures $8 Million in Series A Funding

    Every Half Coffee Roasters Secures $8 Million in Series A Funding

    Vietnamese specialty coffee chain Every Half Coffee Roasters has secured $8 million in a Series A funding round to expand its retail footprint and supply operations.

    The capital injection provides the Ho Chi Minh City-based roaster with fresh resources to scale its cafe network and upgrade processing facilities across domestic markets.

    Expanding Roastery and Store Footprint

    Founded to champion Vietnamese specialty beans alongside international varieties, Every Half operates a growing roster of cafe locations alongside its roasting business. The new financing enables the company to accelerate new outlet openings in key urban centers, while bolstering direct sourcing partnerships with domestic coffee farmers.

    Operating in an increasingly sophisticated domestic cafe market, the brand focuses on single-origin offerings, specialized brewing methods, and modern retail store formats designed for urban consumers.

    Shifting Dynamics in Vietnam’s Coffee Market

    Vietnam remains the world’s second-largest coffee producer, yet its retail landscape has long been dominated by traditional robusta street stalls and large domestic chains like Highlands Coffee and Phuc Long. Over the past five years, consumer preferences in major cities have shifted toward premium arabica, specialty roasters, and traceable sourcing.

    Independent chains across Southeast Asia are tapping institutional capital to challenge both legacy domestic operators and global giants such as Starbucks. For RetailNews Asia readers tracking regional food and beverage investments, the round confirms sustained venture interest in premium cafe concepts that control both roasting and retail touchpoints.

    Every Half now turns to executing its multi-city rollout schedule as competitors race for prime commercial real estate in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

  • ZUS Coffee Brews Buzz with Potential $245M IPO, Bolstering Malaysias Coffee Industry

    ZUS Coffee Brews Buzz with Potential $245M IPO, Bolstering Malaysias Coffee Industry

    ZUS Coffee, Malaysia’s largest coffee chain, is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) for its Malaysia business that could generate a minimum of RM1 billion (US$245 million). Zuspresso, the brand’s owner, is teaming up with financial advisors to potentially launch the IPO as early as mid-2027. The valuation of the project could reach RM4 billion. However, the magnitude and timing of this venture are still under negotiation.

    Rapid Growth to Market Dominance

    ZUS Coffee, which began as a small kiosk in 2019, rapidly grew into Malaysia’s largest chain by store count by 2024, overtaking Starbucks. The company targeted the mid-priced segment of the coffee market, which was relatively underserved at the time of its inception. A standout feature of ZUS Coffee’s business model is its technological approach, featuring an app that allows customers to pre-order and collect their purchases in-store. This app also provides valuable insights into customers’ preferences, facilitating data-driven product development.

    Expansion Plans

    Currently, ZUS Coffee operates over 1,000 stores globally, the majority of which are in Malaysia. The company has also expanded into other markets such as Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Earlier this year, ZUS Coffee announced its ambitious plan to expand its network to 1,300 outlets by the end of 2026. This expansion includes adding 200 more stores in Malaysia.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the projected value of ZUS Coffee’s IPO?
    The IPO could potentially value ZUS Coffee’s business at RM4 billion.

    What sets ZUS Coffee’s business model apart?
    ZUS Coffee utilizes a tech-driven business model, featuring an app that allows customers to place orders in advance and collect them at stores. The app also provides the company with valuable customer preference data, supporting data-led product development.

    What are ZUS Coffee’s expansion plans?
    ZUS Coffee intends to grow its network to 1,300 outlets by the end of 2026, with an additional 200 stores planned in Malaysia.

  • Starbucks Korea Hit Hard by Backlash over Controversial Marketing Campaign

    Starbucks Korea Hit Hard by Backlash over Controversial Marketing Campaign

    In the second quarter, Starbucks Korea’s operator, SCK Company, suffered an operating loss due to a decrease in sales. This followed negative reactions to an ill-received marketing campaign and the suspension of its high-profile summer promotion.

    The operating loss for the second quarter amounted to 18.4 billion won (US$13.4 million), in contrast to the 40.3 billion won operating profit registered in the same period the previous year and the 29.3 billion won profit of the preceding quarter.

    The summer promotional campaign, regularly held in June by SCK, the Starbucks Korea operator, was conspicuously absent this year. This decision was confirmed during an earnings announcement made by E-Mart, SCK’s parent company.

    In a related incident in May, Starbucks Korea came under fire for their ‘Tank Day’ tumbler campaign, which coincided with May 18, triggering criticism for its inappropriate reference to the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising. In response to the public outcry, Starbucks Korea suspended the campaign and issued an apology.

    As a result of the controversy, the Shinsegae Group, the parent company of Starbucks Korea, dismissed the head of Starbucks Korea. Following this, the group reported a “very significant” drop in sales. They further addressed the issue by implementing historical awareness and social sensitivity training for their staff.

    Despite these events, E-Mart did not directly attribute the controversy or the subsequent calls for a boycott as the immediate cause for the decline experienced in the quarter.

    Questions & Answers

    What was the operating loss of Starbucks Korea’s operator, SCK Company, in the second quarter?
    The operating loss of SCK Company in the second quarter was 18.4 billion won (US$13.4 million).

    What was the controversy regarding Starbucks Korea’s marketing campaign?
    The ‘Tank Day’ tumbler campaign by Starbucks Korea faced criticism for its inappropriate reference to the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising, leading to public outcry and a subsequent boycott.

    How did the parent company of Starbucks Korea respond to the controversy?
    The Shinsegae Group, the parent company of Starbucks Korea, dismissed the head of Starbucks Korea following the controversy. They also reported a significant drop in sales and initiated historical awareness and social sensitivity training for their staff.

  • MilkLab’s Almond and Oat Milks hit Kiwi Shelves, Feeding NZs Booming Home-Brewed Coffee Culture

    MilkLab’s Almond and Oat Milks hit Kiwi Shelves, Feeding NZs Booming Home-Brewed Coffee Culture

    Renowned dairy and plant-based milk brand, MilkLab, has expanded its market by introducing its Almond and Oat varieties to consumers in New Zealand via Woolworths stores. The move is in response to the increasing demand for dairy alternatives among New Zealand residents, who consume an average of 3.7kg of coffee annually. As more Kiwis embrace the use of home espresso machines, the need for alternatives that do not alter the taste, texture, or appearance of coffee has become evident.

    MilkLab Responds to Demand for Dairy Alternatives

    The introduction of MilkLab Almond and MilkLab Oat – the top two choices of baristas in Australia – into New Zealand supermarkets is an answer to the escalating demand. Natalie Latimore, MilkLab’s head of marketing, views the expansion as a strategic move, considering the growing popularity of specialty coffee among Kiwi households.

    “New Zealand has an advanced and passionately loyal coffee culture. Kiwi consumers expect their coffee to meet high standards whether they are in a cafe or at home,” Latimore said. She further emphasized that New Zealand’s coffee enthusiasts can now enjoy the results of MilkLab’s years of innovation in plant-based milk to achieve cafe-quality coffee at home, by simply shopping at Woolworths.

    MilkLab has been a part of New Zealand’s cafe scene for several years, and the annual MilkLab NZ Barista Battle is a highlight on the local coffee calendar. The competition enables local baristas to display their skills and creativity using the same MilkLab products now available in supermarkets.

    MilkLab’s Partnership Strategy

    In another strategic move, the company has partnered with Allpress Espresso. This partnership will see MilkLab Almond, Oat, and Lactose Free become the alternative milk of choice in Allpress cafes in Australia.

    Melanie Ung, brand manager at MilkLab, expressed her excitement about the partnership stating, “Allpress is a respected name in this industry, and we are thrilled to be the brand behind their bar. We believe this partnership aligns perfectly with our values and standards, and what we believe the barista experience should be.”

    The company anticipates that this collaboration will strengthen MilkLab’s leadership in the highly competitive plant-based milk category.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the MilkLab products now available in New Zealand?
    The MilkLab Almond and MilkLab Oat are now available in New Zealand.

    What is the significance of the MilkLab expansion into New Zealand’s market?
    This expansion allows MilkLab to tap into the growing demand for dairy alternatives in a country with a rich coffee culture.

    What is the new partnership between MilkLab and Allpress Espresso?
    MilkLab has partnered with Allpress Espresso to become the alternative milk of choice in all Allpress cafes in Australia.

  • Vietnamese Coffee Giant, Cong Ca Phe, Set to Stir Up Indonesian Market with First Jakarta Store

    Vietnamese Coffee Giant, Cong Ca Phe, Set to Stir Up Indonesian Market with First Jakarta Store

    The Vietnamese coffee chain Cong Ca Phe has announced its foray into the Indonesian market, with the opening of its first branch in Jakarta in the forthcoming months. This strategic move aims to cement the Hanoi-based brand’s global presence by penetrating Indonesia’s thriving and highly competitive coffee shop industry.

    A Blend of Heritage and Authenticity

    Cong Ca Phe’s entrance into the Indonesian market, one of the most sought-after by its customers, is a testament to the brand’s dedication to preserving its Vietnamese roots. At the same time, it seeks to engage Indonesian consumers by offering a unique café experience that transcends the typical coffee service.

    The inaugural store in Gandaria City, South Jakarta, will feature Cong Ca Phe’s iconic Vietnamese Coconut Coffee. The menu will also include traditional Vietnamese coffee, a variety of non-coffee beverages, and a selection of Vietnamese-inspired dishes.

    The brand will continue its commitment to quality and authenticity by importing coffee beans and other essential ingredients directly from Vietnam. This initial store will serve as a litmus test for gauging local interest before any wider expansion plans are executed. Subsequent growth within Indonesia will hinge upon the success of this Jakarta-based outlet.

    The Story Behind Cong Ca Phe

    Established in 2007 in Hanoi by performance artist Linh Dung, Cong Ca Phe takes pride in its strong Vietnamese identity. The brand’s concept revolves around Vietnamese coffee culture and a nostalgic café atmosphere that harkens back to Vietnam. Its global presence has grown over the years, with outlets in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Canada, the Philippines, and France.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Cong Ca Phe’s signature offering?
    Cong Ca Phe is best known for its Vietnamese Coconut Coffee.

    Where will the first Indonesian Cong Ca Phe outlet be located?
    The first Indonesian outlet will be in Gandaria City, South Jakarta.

    What is the expansion plan of Cong Ca Phe in Indonesia?
    The brand’s expansion within Indonesia will largely depend on the performance of its inaugural Jakarta store. Future plans are to be determined based on this initial market response.

  • ThunderDonks New Twist: Launches Bold Campfire Coffee Whisky Blend, Igniting Flavoured Whisky Trend

    ThunderDonks New Twist: Launches Bold Campfire Coffee Whisky Blend, Igniting Flavoured Whisky Trend

    New Zealand whisky maker, ThunderDonk, has recently introduced its latest blend, Campfire Coffee. This unique combination of Colombian coffee beans and aged single malt whisky is the latest in ThunderDonk’s innovative offerings.

    ThunderDonk’s journey began last year in New Zealand, where the brand was crafted by the team at Scapegrace Distilling. Since its inception, its Spiced Maple and Salted Caramel flavours have made quite an impression, selling over 5,000 cases across both New Zealand and Australia within a year.

    A Unique Blend

    The Campfire Coffee blend pairs rich Colombian coffee beans with toasted coconut flakes and a finely aged single malt whisky from New Zealand. This results in a flavour profile that features strong espresso notes, an undercurrent of toasted coconut, and a pleasant, tropical sweetness.

    ThunderDonk’s Managing Director, Mark Neal, expressed enthusiasm about this unusual combination. “Whisky and coffee may seem like an unexpected pairing, but that’s exactly the surprise we’re aiming for,” he said. “Campfire Coffee is the perfect accompaniment for those late-night conversations around the fire. It offers a bold, smooth, coffee-driven flavour, making it ideal for cocktails, a chilled shot, or to be savoured neat.”

    Availability and Market Trends

    The new Campfire Coffee blend is now available across the nation and comes in three sizes: 700ml, 200ml, and 50ml. The whisky is bottled at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 33%.

    The introduction of this new flavour aligns with current market trends, as flavoured whisky is experiencing a significant surge in popularity. This segment of the whisky market is expanding at a pace that is 50% faster than traditional whisky, making it the fastest-growing segment globally.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new flavour that ThunderDonk has launched?
    The New Zealand whisky brand, ThunderDonk, has launched a new flavour named Campfire Coffee, blending Colombian coffee beans with aged single malt whisky.

    What makes the Campfire Coffee blend unique?
    The blend is unique due to its combination of rich Colombian coffee beans, toasted coconut flakes, and aged New Zealand single malt whisky. It offers a bold and smooth coffee-led flavour.

    What is the trend in the whisky market?
    Flavoured whisky is the fastest-growing segment in the global whisky market, growing 50% faster than traditional whisky.

  • DC Coffee Unveils New Fuel Your Creativity Range, Exclusively at Woolworths

    DC Coffee Unveils New Fuel Your Creativity Range, Exclusively at Woolworths

    DC Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster based in Melbourne, has broadened its unique range of offerings at Woolworths by introducing a new 600g variety under the ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ line.

    DC Coffee’s Growth and Expansion

    Established in 2004, DC Coffee had an impressive reach of over 200 wholesale cafe clients across the country by 2016. The brand’s exclusive move into Woolworths in the previous year was a significant landmark in its retail growth journey. This move allowed the coffee brand to bring its signature blends and distinctive packaging to regular supermarket shoppers in Australia.

    The latest addition to its collection, a 600g range priced at $23, enhances DC Coffee’s existing portfolio. This expansion portrays the brand as an easily accessible specialty coffee provider, reinforcing its sustained investment and commitment to the grocery channel.

    Supporting Campaign and Refreshed Brand Identity

    To augment the retail introduction, DC Coffee has launched its inaugural integrated campaign, bringing its ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ platform to life. This initiative aims to redefine coffee and applaud those who use it as a source of inspiration and motivation, interpreting and acting on it in their unique ways.

    In collaboration with the creative agency Hellions, the campaign will be implemented nationally across various channels such as BVOD, YouTube, out-of-home, paid and organic social, e-commerce, and emails.

    Commenting on the campaign, Trevor Simmons, CEO of DC Coffee, said that DC Coffee is the most dynamic and engaging coffee brand present today. The campaign perfectly encapsulates the brand’s unique, irreverent post-specialty attitude.

    The brand enhancement also includes an updated packaging design aimed at enhancing shelf impact and fortifying brand recognition. The new packaging continues to feature the brand’s artist-led creative direction across various elements like typography, illustration, colour, photography, and motion.

    “DC Coffee is synonymous with awesome coffee, unique packaging, and incredible value. It’s all about fuel and energy,” added Simmons.

    Questions & Answers

    What is DC Coffee’s new initiative ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ about?
    DC Coffee’s ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ is an integrated campaign aimed at redefining the perception of coffee. It celebrates individuals who use coffee as a source of inspiration and motivation to interpret and act uniquely.

    How will the new ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ campaign be implemented?
    In collaboration with the creative agency Hellions, the ‘Fuel Your Creativity’ campaign will be implemented nationally across various channels, including BVOD, YouTube, out-of-home, paid and organic social, e-commerce, and emails.

    How does the new packaging design impact DC Coffee’s brand?
    The updated packaging design, featuring various elements like typography, illustration, colour, photography, and motion, is aimed at enhancing shelf impact and strengthening brand recognition.

  • China’s Coffee Giant Luckin Coffee Brews Rapid Expansion in Malaysias Johor Bahru with Trio of New Outlets

    China’s Coffee Giant Luckin Coffee Brews Rapid Expansion in Malaysias Johor Bahru with Trio of New Outlets

    Luckin Coffee, the largest cafe chain in China, has bolstered its presence in Malaysia by establishing three new outlets in the city of Johor Bahru last July. The first two branches were launched at Sutera Mall and Austin Heights early in the month, followed by a grand opening at the Sutera Mall location. A third branch was then opened in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah.

    Targeting Growth in Johor

    Dr. Jeff Lim, the CEO of Luckin Coffee Malaysia, has highlighted the strategic importance of Johor, Malaysia’s southernmost state, to the company’s expansion plans. He mentioned the potential of a more localized supply chain, job opportunities, and wider access to their digital-first coffee retail experience as key elements supporting the company’s growth in the region.

    Luckin Coffee was established in 2017 by a former tech executive and soon became a notable competitor to Starbucks in China due to its unique, app-driven cafes. Despite a setback in 2019 when the company was delisted due to an accounting scandal and subsequently filed for bankruptcy in 2021, it has made a robust recovery.

    Global Expansion and Achievements

    Luckin Coffee’s expansion efforts have seen it spread to over 300 cities in China, with most of its outlets located there. The company has also made inroads into international markets, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the U.S. In February, just over eight years after its inception, Luckin Coffee opened its 30,000th store worldwide, an accomplishment achieved six times faster than Starbucks.

    As of the first quarter of 2026, the company has seen further growth with a total of 33,596 stores globally after adding more than 2,500 outlets during the quarter. Luckin Coffee made its debut in Malaysia last year and has since been growing rapidly. With the addition of the new outlets in Johor, the total number of stores across the country has now exceeded 120.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of the Johor market for Luckin Coffee?
    Johor, being the southernmost state of Malaysia, is seen as a key market that can support Luckin Coffee’s growth through a more localized supply chain, job creation, and wider access to its digital-first coffee retail experience.

    How many outlets does Luckin Coffee have globally?
    As of the first quarter of 2026, Luckin Coffee has 33,596 stores across the globe.

    When did Luckin Coffee enter the Malaysian market and how many outlets does it have in the country?
    Luckin Coffee entered the Malaysian market last year and with the addition of new stores in Johor, it now operates more than 120 outlets in the country.

  • Every Halfs $8M Series A Brews Excitement for Vietnamese Coffee Sector Expansion

    Every Halfs $8M Series A Brews Excitement for Vietnamese Coffee Sector Expansion

    Every Half, a Vietnamese coffee chain, recently raised $8 million in a Series A funding round with participation from current investors Openspace Capital and DSG Consumer Partners. This funding will be utilized to fuel the company’s expansion across Vietnam, enhance its vertically integrated supply chain, and extend its packaged coffee business.

    Diversifying Operations and Expanding Reach

    Simultaneously, the company is diversifying its portfolio beyond traditional coffee shops. It is investing in coffee farming, proprietary fermentation technologies, e-commerce, and business-to-business distribution. Currently, 36 stores are operating under the Every Half umbrella in various Vietnamese cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, and Hoi An. The company is predicted to nearly triple its revenue this year. In addition to its in-store offerings, Every Half has broadened its consumer product selection, selling roasted coffee beans and brewing tools online and exporting to countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.

    The recent funding round builds upon prior investments made by Openspace and DSG Consumer Partners, following an undisclosed seed round in 2024 and a pre-Series A financing round worth $3 million last year.

    Every Half was established in 2021 by ex-executives of The Coffee House, Vo Duy Phu and Tran Le Minh Truc. The company aims to promote Vietnamese specialty coffee globally through a business model that covers sourcing, processing, roasting, and retailing.

    Transforming Vietnamese Coffee Industry

    When Openspace invested in Every Half in 2024, it praised the company’s vision of transforming Vietnamese coffee from a simple exported commodity into a globally recognized premium brand. The investment firm also praised the founders’ expertise in coffee sourcing, product development, and retailing. DSG Consumer Partners shared a similar sentiment, highlighting the company’s focus on specialty coffee, sustainable sourcing, and brand building as primary drivers of its long-term growth.

    Questions & Answers

    What will the recently secured funds be used for by Every Half?
    The funds will be used to accelerate Every Half’s expansion across Vietnam, deepen investment in its vertically integrated supply chain, and scale its packaged coffee business.

    What diversification strategies is Every Half employing?
    Every Half is expanding its operations beyond cafes to include coffee farming, proprietary fermentation technology, e-commerce, and business-to-business distribution.

    What was the vision behind the founding of Every Half?
    Founded by Vo Duy Phu and Tran Le Minh Truc, Every Half was created with the aim of showcasing Vietnamese-grown specialty coffee on a global scale, traversing operations from sourcing, processing, and roasting to retail.