Tag: expansion

Coffee Planet continues expansion in the Gulf after 20 years in the UAE

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

UAE-based coffee company Coffee Planet is planning further expansion across the GCC and selected international markets as it marks 20 years of operations in the region.

The company, which began in 2005 supplying coffee to petrol station convenience stores in the UAE, has since expanded into retail, hospitality, and corporate channels. A roasting facility established in Dubai in 2008 supported its early growth and helped broaden its distribution capabilities.

Coffee Planet now operates across roasting, distribution, retail, and technical services. Its production is based in the UAE, which the company says supports its supply chain and operational flexibility as demand grows.

The company reports it supplies coffee to a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, corporate clients, public sector entities, travel, and retail. It states that its products are used by a significant share of higher-end hotels in the UAE, alongside a wider network of business customers and retail partners.

Over the past decade, Coffee Planet reports a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%, with revenue increasing by 19% in 2025. It says it now serves more than 1,000 business-to-business clients and distributes over 21 million cups of coffee per month across the GCC.

“Allan Jones, Founder & Chairman, said the company has focused on building long-term partnerships and consistent service delivery. He also noted a broader regional shift towards locally based operations, which he said supports responsiveness and scale.”

The company operates a roasting facility in Jebel Ali with an annual capacity of around 5,000 tonnes and a site area of approximately 26,000 sq. ft. It produces a range of coffee products and operates an in-house laboratory for quality control and product development.

Coffee Planet estimates its facility produces more than 450 stock-keeping units (SKUs) per month across its proprietary and private label ranges. It also states that local production has helped reduce reliance on imports and improve supply continuity.

Looking ahead, the company expects roasting volumes to grow by 25–30% in 2026. Planned expansion includes new roasting operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as further growth in existing and new markets including the GCC, UK, Egypt, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Singapore.

In addition to its roasting operations, Coffee Planet provides equipment management and technical services, overseeing more than 8,000 coffee machines in the UAE and handling over 2,000 service calls per month, according to the company.

As part of its leadership update, Founder and Chairman Allan Jones will assume the additional role of Chief Executive Officer. The company said the change is intended to align strategic direction with day-to-day operations as it enters its next phase of expansion.

About Coffee Planet
Founded in Dubai in 2005, Coffee Planet is a coffee company operating across roasting, distribution, retail, and related services. It serves business and consumer markets across the GCC and selected international locations, with a portfolio that includes private label production, café operations, and technical support services.

Starbucks and Boyu Capital Finalize Joint Venture to Drive Growth in China

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Dubai – Qahwa World

April 2, 2026 – Seattle – Starbucks Coffee Company has completed its joint venture agreement with investment firm Boyu Capital, marking a key step in its long-term strategy to expand in China.

The deal, first announced in November 2025, underscores Starbucks’ confidence in China as one of its most important growth markets. The partnership is designed to strengthen the company’s presence, improve local market adaptation, and enhance the customer experience while maintaining brand standards.

Under the agreement, funds managed by Boyu Capital now hold a 60 percent stake in Starbucks’ retail operations in China. Starbucks retains a 40 percent share and continues to own the brand and intellectual property, licensing them to the joint venture.

You may read: Starbucks Returns to Growth for the First Time in Two Years

The new entity currently oversees around 8,000 coffee shops, which will gradually transition to a licensed operating model. Over time, the partners aim to expand the network to as many as 20,000 locations.

Company leadership highlighted that combining Starbucks’ global brand strength with Boyu Capital’s local expertise is expected to support expansion into new cities, reach more customers, and reinforce the company’s position in a highly competitive market.

The strategy will place strong emphasis on local adaptation, including tailored beverage offerings, food options, digital engagement, and store formats designed to meet the needs of diverse communities across China.

The partnership is also expected to improve operational efficiency, support faster expansion, and strengthen long-term profitability.

With the transaction now complete, both parties are moving into the operational phase of the joint venture, focusing on growth, innovation, and delivering a consistent coffee experience across the Chinese market.

Luckin Coffee Explores Potential Acquisition of Blue Bottle Coffee

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Dubai – Qahwa World

Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee is reportedly evaluating a potential acquisition of Blue Bottle Coffee, the specialty coffee brand majority-owned by Nestlé, as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the premium coffee segment.

Sources indicate that Luckin and its main investor, Centurium Capital, are pursuing moves to build a portfolio of premium coffee brands and expand their global footprint. This potential bid follows reports that Nestlé was considering selling its stake in the California-based Blue Bottle, which it acquired in 2017 for $425 million, valuing the company at roughly $700 million. Current estimates suggest the brand could now be sold at a lower price.

Blue Bottle Coffee operates over 100 boutique cafés in the United States and East Asia, including 12 locations in mainland China and four in Hong Kong.

In addition to Blue Bottle, Luckin and Centurium are said to be exploring a bid for Lucky Ace International Ltd., the holder of master franchise rights for Japanese specialty chain % Arabica in China and Hong Kong. % Arabica currently runs 84 outlets in mainland China and 15 in Hong Kong.

Centurium Capital, which had previously shown interest in Coca-Cola’s Costa Coffee, appears to have shifted focus toward the Luckin expansion strategy.

Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain with more than 29,000 stores nationwide, significantly outpaces its nearest competitor, Cotti Coffee. Centurium became Luckin’s controlling shareholder in January 2022, holding over 50% of voting rights, following previous investments that helped the company recover from accounting issues and restructure debt.

Beyond China, Luckin has expanded internationally with 68 stores in Singapore, 45 in Malaysia, and five in the United States. CEO Jinyi Guo announced in November 2025 that the company is preparing for a new public listing in the United States.

UK Becomes Joe & The Juice’s Largest Global Market, Surpassing Denmark

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Dubai – Qahwa World

Joe & The Juice has positioned the United Kingdom as its biggest market worldwide after an accelerated store rollout over the past year, overtaking its home market of Denmark.

The Copenhagen-founded brand added 16 new locations across the UK in 2025, bringing its total to 89 outlets nationwide. This places the UK ahead of Denmark, where the company operates 78 stores, and the United States with 74 locations.

The expansion includes a new flagship store in Manchester, along with first-time openings in cities such as Cambridge, Bath, and Bristol. Since entering the UK market in 2009 with a debut store on London’s Regent Street, the brand has steadily strengthened its presence across the country.

Jon James, Managing Director for the UK, said customer demand has exceeded expectations, with newly opened stores delivering strong performance. He noted that the positive response has reinforced confidence in further regional expansion across the UK.

Joe & The Juice now operates more than 460 stores in 23 international markets. In 2024, CEO Thomas Nørøxe stated that the UK could ultimately support up to 500 locations as part of the company’s broader ambition to reach 1,000 global outlets by 2029. Recent market entries include Turkey, Morocco, and Mexico.

The company has been majority-owned by New York–based investment firm General Atlantic since November 2023. Reports indicate that the firm is assessing the possibility of a US stock market listing for Joe & The Juice as early as 2026.