Australian coffee franchise plans Myanmar expansion

Australian coffee franchise plans Myanmar expansion

The local operator of Australian coffee franchise Gloria Jean’s has recently opened its first branch in Yangon and plans to open at least eight more outlets across the country.

Seezar Soesan, which holds the sole rights to operate the Gloria Jean’s franchise in Myanmar, opened its first cafe in Myanmar Plaza in January, the Myanmar Times reported on Tuesday.

Its second branch will be in Yangon’s new international airport terminal, which opened earlier this month, said Kyaw Htin Latt, the company’s chief operating officer.

The first coffee shops will be in Yangon, he said, though the company will also consider opportunities in other cities such as Mandalay further down the line.

Seezar Soesan plans to continue as sole operator for the next two years, after which the company may allow other interested firms to open branches, Kyaw Htin Latt said.

A big challenge to operating in Myanmar is finding staff that love coffee, he said. Employees at Yangon’s newest coffeehouse were flown to Malaysia for training.

Competition is another potential threat, he said, but Seezar Soesan and Gloria Jean’s have a head start, as the first foreign coffee chain to open in Myanmar.

“If [other] international chains open it will be a challenge but we’ve opened first and have a chance to be the main brand.”

Gloria Jean’s uses the same Australian coffee in all its branches across the world, although the menu varies slightly according to cultural tastes, he said.

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