Café Kitsuné adds to Malaysia’s growing specialty coffee scene

Café Kitsuné has debuted at the new Exchange TRX shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur | Photo credit: Café Kitsuné 

Café Kitsuné has become the latest boutique operator to enter Malaysia’s fast growing coffee shop market. 
 

The French-Japanese inspired café and dining concept has debuted at the new Exchange TRX shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur which opened in November 2023. 

Exchange TRX comprises nearly 500 retail units and houses Zus Coffee, % Arabica, Starbucks Reserve, Reborn Coffee and Eight Ounce Coffee outlets. 

Read related news: East Asia branded coffee shop market booms as China overtakes US by outlets 

World Coffee Portal research shows the total Malaysian branded coffee shop market grew by more than 660 net new outlets (28%) last year to exceed 3,300 stores.  
 

Alongside value-focused Kopi Kenangan and Cotti Coffee, a group of specialty coffee operators have opened stores in Kuala Lumpur – one of the fastest growing cities in East Asia in terms of population and economic development. The capital city, one of the leading cities in the world for tourism and retail, accounts for nearly half of the Malaysia’s total economic output. 
 

Following in the footsteps of Taiwan’s HWC Coffee and US brand Ralph’s Coffee, which entered Malaysia in April and October of 2022 respectively, UK-based EL&N, Moroccan heritage brand Bacha Coffee, Indonesia’s Tanamera Coffee and China’s V5 Coffee have all launched in Malaysia in 2023. 

The Malaysian branded coffee shop market is forecast to reach 6,100 stores in 2028, with coffee-focused chains spearheading outlet growth. 

Launched in Tokyo in 2014, Café Kitsuné currently operates 27 outlets globally. Malaysia is the boutique coffee chain’s ninth market in East Asia and follows debuts in the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan in the last 18 months.