Jollibee rockets coffee, dim sum profits

The Jollibee Group is reaching for new heights across Asia and beyond, pinning its hopes on strong growth in its Coffee & Tea and Chinese cuisine segments to drive its international ambitions.

The company reported on Monday that Compose Coffee in South Korea is now on a rise, with its gross store network surpassing 3,000 locations and 1,000 net openings in just 18 months. 

“The addition of 1,000 stores in under 18 months since opening its 2,000th location highlights the brand’s scalability, operational efficiency, and strong consumer resonance,” the Group said. 

The Compose Coffee app now counts 17.59 million users—roughly one in three Koreans—with 8.3 million joining after a collaboration with BTS V. Its “Buyeo Chestnut” menu sold over 400,000 cups in its first week, boosted by a digital campaign reaching 15 million views.

Highlands Coffee, on the other hand, remains Vietnam’s top coffee brand, serving over 100 million customers annually and employing more than 10,000 people.

With nearly 1,000 stores and a history of double-digit same-store sales growth, Highlands Coffee has doubled its footprint over the past three years, cementing its place as one of Southeast Asia’s largest coffee platforms.

On the Chinese cuisine front, Yonghe King opened 35 new franchised stores in China under a new efficiency-optimized model. 

“This rapid expansion reinforces Yonghe King’s strategic role in driving the Jollibee Group’s footprint in China,” the company said, signaling a return to stable operations and sustainable growth in a competitive market.

Tim Ho Wan is also scaling aggressively. In Hong Kong, 100 percent of stores turned profitable within six months post-acquisition. Its first US company-operated store in Irvine has seen strong early uptake, establishing a repeatable operational template for international expansion. The Group aims to reach 20 North American stores by 2028.

Across both segments, the Group emphasizes asset-light expansion, disciplined execution, and franchise-ready store formats. Accelerated payback periods, simplified operations, and improved throughput allow both coffee and Chinese brands to scale quickly while maintaining profitability.

To support its international push, Jollibee will spin off its global operations into a separate company, Jollibee Foods Corp. International (JFCI), to be listed on a U.S. exchange, while its Philippine business remains on the local stock market.  

The transaction is targeted for late 2027, with existing shareholders expected to receive JFCI shares proportional to their current holdings, allowing them to hold or sell based on their investment preference.