Photo credit: Juan Valdez

Juan Valdez has debuted’ in the Dominican Republic with a store at the Ágora Mall in Santo Domingo. 
 

The Colombian coffee chain and local franchisee United Brands plan to open two further outlets in the Caribbean country before the end of 2024, including a site at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) – one of the largest universities in the country and a key location in Juan Valdez’s bid to attract younger consumers. 
 

“Opening our first store in the Dominican Republic, with the help of United Brands, our partner, materialises the ambitious expansion project that we as a brand want to execute in this country,” said Camila Escobar, President, Juan Valdez. 
 

The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, receiving more than 10 million visitors a year, according to data from the country's Ministry of Tourism.  

Additionally, the Caribbean nation has one of the fastest growing economies in the region – factors Escobar said make it an ‘attractive market for a food and beverage franchise’. 
 

The Dominican Republic adds to Juan Valdez’s strong presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Alongside 368 stores in its native Colombia, the coffee chain also operates more than 225 outlets across 21 markets – including Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, El Salvador, Panama, Aruba, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Argentina and Mexico. 
 

In February 2024, Juan Valdez outlined a goal to open 100 new stores this year, 75 of which will be internationally. The strategy has seen the brand scale its presence in key European markets Turkey and Spain, and debut in the UAE as part of a long-term goal to operate in key tourist hubs across the Middle East.