Kopi Kenangan continues Southeast Asia expansion with first store in the Philippines

Edward Tirtanata, CEO of Kopi Kenangan | Photo credit: Kopi Kenangan

Indonesian coffee chain Kopi Kenangan has taken the next step in its international expansion strategy with the first of ten planned stores in the Philippines.  
 

Kopi Kenangan, which trades as Kenangan Coffee internationally, has partnered with Filipino franchise group Fredley Group of Companies for its expansion in the Southeast Asian country. The first site of the partnership is located at Manila’s SM Mall of Asia – one of the world’s largest shopping centres at 6.3 million sq ft.  

Announcing its expansion to the Philippines in August 2024, Kopi Kenangan said increased coffee consumption among young Filipinos and growing consumer demand for iced and flavoured coffee presented a significant opportunity for the brand. 

Founded in 2017, Kopi Kenangan is one of the largest branded coffee chains in Indonesia with over 900 outlets across 60 cities. The Jakarta-based coffee chain now has a presence across four Southeast Asia markets after debuting in Malaysia in October 2022 and Singapore in September 2023. It currently operates 71 in Malaysia and seven in Singapore. 

World Coffee Portal’s Project Café East Asia 2024 report shows the total Filipino branded coffee shop market comprises more than 3,200 stores, making it the eighth largest in East Asia by outlets. 

Kopi Kenangan is the latest East Asian coffee chain to seek expansion in the Philippines as competition between the region’s coffee chains heats up. 

Seoul-based coffee chain Paik’s Coffee launched in the Philippines in February 2023 and currently operates three stores in Manila. Malaysian value-focused operator ZUS Coffee entered the Philippines in the following September and has rapidly expanded to 60 stores, while fellow Indonesian brand Tomoro Coffee opened its first store in the Philippines in April 2024 and is investing $10m to accelerate outlet growth in the country. 

World Coffee Portal forecasts the Filipino branded coffee shop market will sustain robust outlet expansion over the next four years and exceed 5,200 stores by the end of 2028.  

Kopi Kenangan is seeking to expand beyond East Asia for the first time in 2025 with a planned debut in India expected in the first half of next year. 

Metro Manila-based Fredley Group of Companies also facilitated Café Kitsuné’s Filipino debut in July 2022, and counts tea chain Macao Imperial Tea, bakery 11 Bakes and fast-food chain New York Fries and Dips among its F&B franchise portfolio.