A The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf inside an SM Store in the Philippines | Photo credit: SM Retail

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) is aiming to operate a café at each of Filippino retail group SM Store’s 78 locations by 2026.   
 

SM Retail, a subsidiary of Pasay-based conglomerate SM Investments Corporation, sells apparel, accessories, houseware, general merchandise and lifestyle products across its SM Store network, as well as fresh produce, frozen food and bakery items across its SM Markets.  

The retail chain first partnered with Singapore-headquartered CBTL in December 2022 with a café at an SM Store in North Edsa and currently operates 25 kiosk coffee bars.  

“Partnering with SM Store aligns perfectly with CBTL’s mission to connect with customers and ensure their satisfaction. SM’s extensive presence across the Philippines and deep cultural roots make this partnership highly beneficial,” said Paolo del Rosario, Co-founder and Vice President for Marketing and Business Development, CBTL. 

Founded in 1963, CBTL operates 1,170 stores across 24 markets globally, as of March 2024. The coffee chain, which is owned by Filipino foodservice group Jollibee Food Corporation, is expected to open its first store in the Maldives this quarter with local franchisee Waterscape Investments Pvt. Ltd.