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Tag: coffeehouse

  • Starbucks Reaches New Heights: Unveils Asia’s Highest Coffeehouse on Vietnam’s Fansipan Peak

    Starbucks Reaches New Heights: Unveils Asia’s Highest Coffeehouse on Vietnam’s Fansipan Peak

    Starbucks has inaugurated a new outlet at the peak of Fansipan, making it the highest Starbucks branch in Asia.

    Location and Significance

    Positioned 3063 meters above sea level, the store is a part of the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourism complex in Sa Pa, located in the northern region of Vietnam. This new Starbucks outlet not only broadens the company’s presence in popular tourist destinations, but also signifies another milestone in its market expansion.

    Regarding this notable accomplishment, Chi Nguyen, Starbucks Vietnam’s Public Affairs Manager, stated, “This achievement signifies the unwavering support from our customers and partners. The store, with its stunning location and design that embraces both the local culture and Starbucks’ craftsmanship, will unquestionably become a must-visit spot for travelers from Vietnam and from around the globe.”

    Design and Décor

    The design of the outlet draws inspiration from architectural elements typical of Sapa. The exterior showcases a sage-green facade and integrates local textiles. In contrast, the interior utilizes wood textures, neutral tones, and greenery to replicate the surrounding highland scenery.

    Additionally, a personalized sandblasted glass artwork positioned above the bar illustrates the contours of Fansipan and Vietnam’s coffee-growing regions. The seating areas are purposefully arranged to provide visitors with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

    New Beverage Introduction

    To celebrate the inauguration, Starbucks Vietnam has launched a limited-time Cloud Macchiato beverage series. These beverages will be available in both hot and iced versions at Starbucks outlets throughout the nation.

    Starbucks made its first entry into Vietnam in 2013, opening in Ho Chi Minh City. The brand now boasts over 150 stores spread over 25 cities and provinces in the country.

    Questions & Answers

    Where is the highest Starbucks store in Asia?
    The highest Starbucks store in Asia is located at the peak of Fansipan in northern Vietnam.

    What unique design elements does the Fansipan Starbucks store feature?
    The Fansipan Starbucks store embraces local architectural influences, featuring a sage-green exterior that incorporates local textiles. The interior uses wood textures, neutral tones, and greenery to reflect the surrounding highland landscape.

    What special beverage series has Starbucks Vietnam introduced to celebrate the new store opening?
    To commemorate the opening of the new store, Starbucks Vietnam has introduced a limited-time Cloud Macchiato beverage series, available in both hot and iced versions.

  • Friends forever: Central Perk Coffeehouse to open in Times Square

    Friends forever: Central Perk Coffeehouse to open in Times Square

    Fans of the iconic sitcom “Friends” are in for a treat as they will soon have the chance to gather for a cup of coffee in the well-known fictional New York cafe made popular by the show.

    Warner Bros Discovery Global Experiences has teamed up with Central Perk Coffee C and CenPer Holdings to set up a Central Perk Coffeehouse in Times Square, New York City. The launch is scheduled for the later part of this fall.

    Coffeehouse Concept with a Twist

    The coffeehouse is being designed in collaboration with Tom Colicchio, a celebrated Top Chef winner, and the reputable New York design firm, Glen & Co. The unique concept of the coffeehouse will showcase an assortment of food, coffee, and merchandise, all inspired by the well-loved “Friends” television series.

    One of the key highlights of the coffeehouse will be its interior design, which will feature the iconic Orange Sofa room, a homage to the famous couch from the series.

    Peter Van Roden, an Executive VP at Warner Bros Discovery Global Experiences, shared, “Friends is a unique show that has the power to unite people across generations. Central Perk has always been at the core of these shared experiences.”

    A Dream Come True

    Paul Landino, an executive at CenPer Holdings, expressed his excitement over the expansion. He stated, “Our goal, when we launched the original Central Perk Coffeehouse in Boston, was to eventually bring it to New York City. Opening a branch in Times Square, often referred to as the crossroads of the world, provides a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn this vision into reality.”

    The Times Square location will also offer exclusive merchandise and the six signature blends from Central Perk Coffee Co. These blends are already available at the Boston location, online, on Amazon, and at select H-E-B grocery stores.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the Central Perk Coffeehouse?
    It’s a coffeehouse themed on the famous fictional café from the sitcom “Friends”. It will feature food, coffee, and merchandise inspired by the series.

    Who is behind the idea of the Central Perk Coffeehouse?
    The coffeehouse is a joint venture between Warner Bros Discovery Global Experiences, Central Perk Coffee C, and CenPer Holdings.

    Where and when will the Central Perk Coffeehouse open?
    The Central Perk Coffeehouse is set to open in Times Square, New York City, in the later part of this fall.

  • Huawei plans to launch coffee chain

    Huawei plans to launch coffee chain

    Telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies Co’s recent plan to enter the on-premise coffee market in China has triggered heated discussions on the beverage’s role in rejuvenating established non-food brands among younger consumers.

    Huawei has applied for two trademarks related to coffee. The registered name of one trademark is “One Cup of Coffee Absorbs Cosmic Energy”. The name is classified into the category of convenience food and the application is waiting for acceptance, according to Qichacha, a data bank that tracks business registrations.

    The other trademark is classified into the category of catering and accommodation, covering services including cafes, restaurants and mobile food supply. The application is waiting for review.

    The move is a follow-up to the company’s management interests in the coffee sector.

    In August, Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei, said that the company plans to open more than 100 coffee stores in the company’s Qingpu base in Shanghai to attract young people to work for the company.

    Before Huawei, domestic leading sportswear brand Li-Ning recently started its own freshly brewed coffee as it has applied to register its brand as “Ning Coffee”.The sportswear company already operates coffee services in Beijing, Xiamen in Fujian province, and Zhanjiang in Guangdong province. The company runs coffee as an innovation and added value to its in-store shopping experiences, according to Li-Ning, which owns more than 7,000 stores in the country.

    Li-Ning is one of the large-scale retail networks that have banked on the beverage to get closer to younger consumers. Beijing TRT Group, a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, China Post, Petro-China, Sinopec Group and even Goubuli－an iconic Tianjin-based bun specialist－have opened their own coffee units. The list of brands entering the coffee sector goes on.

    Zhu Danpeng, a food and beverage analyst, said the recent cross-sector marketing events, which have involved business extension into the coffee sector, have shared one identical aspiration－to get engaged with the younger generation, which has become a dominant consumer group, playing a crucial role in a brand’s future. “To make a brand younger is more or less about how to grow loyalty and frequency with the Gen Z consumers,” said Zhu.

    The capital market and investors have also been drawn to the fast-rising coffee industry, pushing the growth of on-premise coffee niche brands including Manner Coffee, M Stand and Seesaw as well as those internet-based packaged instant coffee brands such as Saturnbird Coffee.

    According to a report by Jiemian, the domestic coffee sector received financing of more than 4 billion yuan ($594 million) in 2021. In March, Canadian coffee group Tim Hortons in China announced it had received an investment of 1.2 billion yuan, propelling the chain to grow from the current 410 stores in the country to 2,750 stores by 2026.

    According to research institute iiMedia Research, in 2021, the coffee market has been valued at 381.7 billion yuan and is estimated to grow to 1 trillion yuan in 2025, with an average annualized growth rate of 27.2 percent.

    By comparison, milk tea, a darling among Chinese youth, has been gradually losing its appeal. According to Nayuki Tea’s annual financial report for 2021, the milk tea maker has seen a loss of 145 million yuan in net profit, which was 16.6 million yuan a year earlier.

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