BIZ BUZZ: Compose Coffee debuts in PH

Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. is brewing a bigger play in the local coffee market, with its South Korean value coffee chain Compose Coffee opening its first Philippine store as part of a five-year nationwide expansion plan.

The first branch opened on Aug. 7 at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The Philippines is envisioned to become Compose Coffee’s largest market outside South Korea.

The expansion will largely be driven by franchising, a capital-light model that Jollibee said would allow the brand to grow faster nationwide.

Compose Coffee already has more than 3,000 stores in South Korea, including 1,000 added in less than 18 months.

The homegrown fast-food giant owns a 70-percent stake in Compose Coffee, alongside investments in other beverage brands such as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Milksha and Highlands Coffee.