The coffee chain’s Americas presence currently comprises around 200 US stores and a handful of coffee shops in Panama
Tara Hinkle has nearly 20-years of franchise and operational experience with major brands, including Taco Bell and Starbucks | Photo credit: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) has appointed a coffee and QSR franchise specialist to spearhead outlet growth in the Americas.
Tara Hinkle assumed the role of President and Head of Americas in January 2025 and brings nearly 20 years of strategic operational planning experience.
Hinkle held the position of Senior Director of Franchise Finance and Strategy at US fast food chain, Taco Bell, where she led the brand’s franchise, finance and recruitment initiatives.
She also held senior roles at Starbucks for ten years, including as the Director of Strategic Partnerships, where she was responsible for developing, integrating and managing the coffee chain key collaborations.
In a press release, CBTL said Hinkle will work closely with the coffee chain’s franchise development team to support outlet growth, optimise operations and ensure the brand’s strategic vision aligns with sustainable, scalable growth.
“With her leadership in franchise growth and strategy, Tara is set to drive our expansion across the Americas. Her expertise and passion for the customer experience make her the ideal leader to strengthen our brand and community,” said Jose Pepot Miñana Jr, CEO, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Founded in California, USA, in 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was
acquired by Filipino food & beverage giant, Jollibee Food Corp in 2019 for around $350m.
Today, the coffee chain operates around 1,200 stores across 20 countries, predominantly in East Asia and the Middle East. However, the chain’s Americas footprint remains relatively small, comprising around 200 US stores and a handful of coffee shops in Panama.
“My goal is to drive franchise growth and expand our market reach by empowering our talented brew crew to exceed guest expectations. I look forward to this journey as we continue sharing our passion for exceptional coffee and tea with the world,” Hinkle said.
Jollibee, which also owns Vietnam’s
Highlands Coffee, Taiwan’s
Milksha, South Korea’s
Compose Coffee and Singapore’s
Common Man Coffee Roasters, has been steadily growing its coffee chain footprint globally.
CBTL was
credited by Jollibee as a standout performer in 2024 after achieving half-year sales of ₱9.9bn ($175m). Over the last year, the coffee chain expanded an
in-store café partnership with Filipino retail chain SM Store, opened its
first drive-thru-only site in Los Angeles, USA, signed an agreement to enter
the Maldives, and set a target to reach
250 stores in India by 2030.