Lights, Camera, Brand Action: How Video Marketing Ignites Business Growth

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September 19, 2023

Video marketing has evolved as a powerful tool to engage consumers and propel business growth in the fast-paced world of digital marketing, where attention spans are transient and competition is severe. The strength of video resides not just in its capacity to communicate complicated concepts in an appealing manner, but also in its ability to form long-lasting emotional relationships with viewers.

Visual Storytelling Captivates Audiences

Humans are inherently drawn to stories, and video is an exceptional medium for storytelling. It allows businesses to craft narratives that resonate with their target audience, forging a connection that goes beyond words and static images. With video, you can bring your brand’s story to life, making it more relatable and memorable.

Enhanced Engagement and Recall

Video content has the unique ability to capture and retain viewers’ attention more effectively than text or images alone. Studies have shown that people are more likely to remember information presented in video format. This increased engagement and recall can boost brand awareness and drive customer retention.

Diverse Content Types

Video marketing offers a diverse range of content types to suit various objectives and platforms. Explainer videos simplify complex ideas, product demos showcase functionality, and testimonials build trust. Live streaming and behind-the-scenes content provide a real-time connection with your audience.

Social Media Amplification

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, prioritize video content in their algorithms. Sharing videos on these platforms can significantly expand your reach and engagement. Moreover, social videos tend to be more shareable, increasing the likelihood of your content going viral.

Improved SEO Ranking

Video content can boost your website’s search engine ranking. Google and other search engines consider user engagement metrics, such as time spent on a page, when determining search results. Engaging video content keeps visitors on your site longer, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable.

Mobile-Friendly Accessibility

With the rise in mobile device usage, video marketing caters to an audience on the go. Mobile users find videos more convenient and engaging than reading lengthy text on small screens. Ensuring your content is mobile-friendly can tap into this growing segment of the population.

Measurable ROI

Video marketing offers the advantage of measurable results. You can track metrics like views, click-through rates, engagement, and conversion rates. These metrics provide insights into the effectiveness of your video campaigns, allowing you to refine your strategy for better ROI.

Builds Trust and Authority

Video content allows your brand to showcase expertise and authenticity. Hosting webinars, interviews with industry experts, or informative tutorials can position your business as a trusted authority in your niche. Trust, once established, can lead to increased customer loyalty.

Personalized Messaging

Video marketing enables personalized communication with your audience. Personalized videos, tailored to specific customer segments, can deliver more relevant and compelling messages. Personalization builds a deeper connection and increases the likelihood of conversion.

In a digital landscape saturated with content, video marketing stands out as a dynamic and compelling way to connect with your audience, drive engagement, and ignite business growth. By leveraging the power of visual storytelling, embracing diverse content types, and harnessing the reach of social media, businesses can tap into the immense potential of video marketing. In an era where the competition for attention is fierce, lights, camera, and brand action through video can set your business on a path to success and lasting customer relationships.

Beyond Vanity Metrics: Measuring the True Impact of Your Business’s Social Media Strategy

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September 19, 2023

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Businesses now must navigate a dynamic world of social media channels, each with its own audience, content style, and engagement conventions. A one-size-fits-all strategy for social media marketing is no longer adequate. To fully flourish, you must first understand the peculiarities of each platform and then customise your plan appropriately. In this post, we’ll look at how to create platform-specific tactics that can help your business thrive across many social media channels.

Define Your Objectives

The first step in measuring the true impact of your social media strategy is to establish clear objectives. Are you aiming to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, boost sales, or enhance customer engagement? Each objective requires a tailored set of metrics to evaluate success accurately.

Audience Engagement and Interaction

One of the most valuable indicators of social media success is audience engagement. Look at metrics like comments, shares, and direct messages. High levels of engagement suggest that your content resonates with your audience and encourages meaningful interactions.

Conversion Rates

Ultimately, your social media efforts should lead to conversions, whether that means sign-ups, downloads, purchases, or other desired actions. Track conversion rates to measure the impact of your strategy on driving real business results.

Click-Through Rates (CTR)

CTR measures the percentage of people who clicked on a link you shared on social media. This metric is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of your content in driving traffic to your website or landing pages. It provides a clear picture of your content’s ability to move users from social platforms to your owned properties.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Determining the ROI of your social media efforts involves comparing the revenue generated from social media activities against the costs incurred. While it can be challenging to attribute revenue directly to social media, tracking conversions and customer acquisition costs can help estimate ROI.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

For businesses with a long-term perspective, CLV is a critical metric. It assesses the total revenue generated by a customer throughout their relationship with your business. Social media can contribute to CLV by nurturing customer relationships and fostering loyalty.

Sentiment Analysis

Monitoring sentiment around your brand on social media can provide insights into how your audience perceives your business. Positive sentiment can indicate successful brand building, while negative sentiment may signal areas that need improvement.

Customer Feedback and Reviews

Pay attention to customer feedback and reviews shared on social media. These candid insights can highlight areas for improvement and showcase your responsiveness and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Content Reach and Impressions

Personalization into Your Social Media Marketing

While not vanity metrics in themselves, reach and impressions can be valuable when interpreted alongside engagement metrics. A high reach indicates that your content is reaching a broad audience, but if engagement is low, it may be a sign to refine your content strategy.

Benchmark Against Competitors

To gain a broader perspective, benchmark your social media metrics against your competitors. Understanding how you stack up in your industry can offer valuable insights and guide your strategy adjustments.

In the world of social media marketing, the true impact of your efforts extends far beyond vanity metrics. While likes and followers may stroke your ego, they often fail to provide a clear picture of your business’s social media success. Instead, focus on metrics that directly align with your objectives, such as engagement, conversions, CTR, ROI, and customer feedback. By measuring the true impact of your social media strategy, you can make informed decisions, refine your approach, and drive tangible business results in the competitive and ever-evolving digital landscape.

Culinary maestro Suvir Saran joins Bastian Hospitality as new Culinary Director

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September 18, 2023

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Bastian Hospitality Private Limited (BHPL), the company responsible for iconic eateries such as Bastian and Bizza, has officially named Suvir Saran as its new Culinary Director.

Suvir Saran, a renowned culinary expert originally from New Delhi, has authored three cookbooks: “Indian Home Cooking,” “American Masala,” “Masala Farm,” and his latest release, “Instamatic,” a blend of prose and captivating photos. His culinary expertise extends to creating, curating, and designing F&B concepts, menus, catering for events, and participating in culinary conferences worldwide. Saran gained widespread recognition as the standout talent during the third season of Top Chef Masters and holds a unique position as the sole chef on the Nutrition Advisory Board at Brigham & Women’s Hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Saran passionately champions the flavors of Indian homes and diverse regional cuisines, emphasizing both deliciousness and nutritional value.

Saran’s pioneering achievement was the establishment of Devi in Manhattan, marking the inaugural Michelin Star among 18 restaurants in North America when the Michelin Guide made its debut on the continent. Devi further distinguished itself by becoming the first non-Northern European and Indian restaurant in North America to be awarded a prestigious Michelin Star. In addition to Devi, Saran also owned and operated Tapestry in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, though he regrettably had to shutter the restaurant due to medical reasons, which prompted his return to India for healing.

Saran’s culinary creations and written works have graced the pages of numerous national and international newspapers and magazines. His engaging and self-deprecating style of conveying profound insights and emotionally stirring tales has endeared him to audiences as a charismatic public speaker. He has captivated audiences at a wide range of events worldwide, from grand food festivals and tech forums to literary gatherings, and even within the esteemed halls of academia.

Frequently employing food as a unifying force to connect people from diverse backgrounds, Saran’s extensive interactions with individuals from around the globe have equipped him with a remarkable comfort in settings characterized by rich diversity. At BHPL, his primary focus will be elevating an already well-established local F&B brand to greater heights as BHPL expands its presence across India. Collaborating closely with BHPL’s senior leadership, Chef Saran will also contribute his distinct insights into the global F&B industry and actively participate in shaping the strategy for international expansion.

“BHPL has always attracted the finest talent from around the world, which is what has helped us grow into one of the country’s most respected and exciting F&B brands,” says Ranjit Bindra, Founder and CEO, BHPL. “With Suvir joining to steer the culinary direction of the company, I am confident that we will make significant progress that will only help to further cement our reputation, not just in India but also abroad. We are excited for everything that is yet to come.”

“I have been following BHPL’s trajectory since its inception and I’m delighted to be joining a hospitality company that is so forward-thinking, committed to quality and strategic growth. I am pleased to be associated with a brand that is not only focused on expansion, but is serious about creating memorable experiences that result in a loyal customer base that keeps coming back for more,” says Saran.

ONDC raises incentives for food and beverage orders on Asia Cup 2023 final day

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September 18, 2023

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The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) announced a significant incentive boost for buyer-side apps on September 17th. This development coincided with the final day of the Asia Cup 2023, during which India defeated Sri Lanka, as revealed in a notification sent to network participants by the government-backed ONDC.

The ONDC raised the incentive level for food and beverage purchases from INR 50 per order to INR 100 for those exceeding INR 200. In their letter to network participants, ONDC specified that this higher incentive rate would be applicable for only one day, allowing for A/B testing of customer responses.

In the world of business, A/B testing is a technique in which various app or website visitors are exposed to two or more different products or campaigns. This approach is used to evaluate which one of them performs more effectively.

“Any big cricket match day is a good time to test out various marketing campaigns and see what sticks better. Weekends are typically significantly higher volume affairs and the final game means there would be even more orders,” said a food aggregator executive who didn’t want to be named.

Nevertheless, it remains uncertain to what extent there was an increased demand for food orders on September 17. Since the cricket match concluded prematurely due to a subpar batting performance by Sri Lanka, it is possible that ONDC participants were unable to attract as many consumers as originally anticipated.

Earlier this month, ONDC made significant changes to its incentive scheme, introducing greater flexibility for buyer-side apps in distributing discounts to consumers. This included a reduction of the average subsidies for food orders by 50%, bringing them down to INR 50 per order. Additionally, ONDC implemented measures to increase the concentration of merchants on the network in 45 non-metro districts.

To be sure, that revised structure will once again take effect starting from September 18th. In this updated arrangement, the average incentive has been adjusted as follows: INR 50 per order for food and beverage orders exceeding INR 200, maintained at INR 100 per order for grocery, beauty, and personal care orders exceeding INR 200, and held at INR 100 per order for orders falling between INR 200 and INR 1,000 for electronics and other categories.

In the earlier version of the scheme, there was no categorization that determined the maximum incentive per order; instead, it remained a consistent flat rate of INR 100 for all orders.

Most significantly, the limit on the number of transactions a buyer can qualify for incentives per week has been reduced from five to just two.

In June, ONDC limited incentives per order to INR 100 in response to criticism for attempting to expand its market presence through aggressive discounts in the food and beverage category.

Presently, the government-supported e-commerce network has adopted a phased approach to offer incentives through the seller-side application as well. For instance, platforms will receive up to INR 6,000 for enlisting each seller in metropolitan areas, up to INR 7,500 in the targeted tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and INR 5,000 in all other cities if the grocery category has more than 5,000 stock-keeping units.

The incentive levels will also be adjusted according to the number of stock-keeping units a newly onboarded seller possesses and the category in which they operate.

With government backing, ONDC aims to curb the dominance of a handful of major platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato in the e-commerce and food delivery industries.

The government aims to accelerate e-commerce adoption in the nation, targeting a 25 percent penetration rate within the next two years. This initiative aims to connect 900 million buyers and 1.2 million sellers through the network, with an anticipated gross merchandise value of $48 billion.

ONDC relies on three fundamental pillars to decrease business operational costs for all, including retailers: dynamic pricing, efficient inventory management, and optimized delivery expenses.

Zomato joins top 100 on BSE, shares reach new 52-week high amid profitable quarter

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September 18, 2023

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Zomato, the foodtech giant, marked a significant milestone on Monday, (September 18), as its shares on the BSE soared to a new 52-week high of INR 105, driven by a 2% intraday trading surge.

Following the company’s first profitable quarter in Q1 FY24, Zomato has experienced a remarkable surge, propelling its market capitalization beyond the $10 billion mark. With a current valuation of $10.74 billion, Zomato has secured a place among the top 100 companies on the BSE by market capitalization, sharing this prestigious list with industry giants such as Adani Energy, Tech Mahindra, Grasim Industries, and Tata Motors.

At 1:20 PM IST, Zomato’s shares were being traded at INR 103.47 on the BSE.

The current trading level of its shares is reminiscent of the levels observed at the end of January last year.

Throughout the previous year, the foodtech giant’s shares faced substantial downward pressure, similar to many other recently listed tech startups. This was primarily due to an economic downturn and the market’s increasing focus on profitability.

Nonetheless, with its dedicated focus on profitability, and the successful attainment of this goal, Zomato shares have surged by more than 74% year-to-date.

Last week, Equirus Securities kicked off their coverage of Zomato with a ‘long’ rating, along with a price target (PT) of INR 135. They confidently predicted that the startup would emerge as one of the fastest-growing players in India’s internet landscape.

The brokerage additionally emphasized that Zomato’s strong position in the underexplored food delivery sector is expected to fuel an impressive 31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales from FY23 to FY28.

Last week, Bernstein revised its price target (PT) for Zomato, raising it from INR 100 to INR 120. They cited Zomato’s elevation of the profitability standard as the reason for this adjustment.

In the meantime, Zomato continues to concentrate on upholding its profitability strategy. In its most recent development, the company announced the closure of its Slovakian subsidiary last week.

Conversely, the foodtech giant has introduced a platform fee of INR 2 and INR 3 per order, a move that is anticipated to enhance its margins, according to the assessments of certain analysts.

Also Read: Zomato shares surge by 6% in response to high trading activity and platform fees

Dabur aims to elevate Hajmola and Odomos to ‘power brand’ status in portfolio expansion drive

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September 18, 2023

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Home-grown FMCG major Dabur is taking significant steps to enhance the reach and prominence of its digestive brand, Hajmola, and its mosquito repellent brand, Odomos. CEO Mohit Malhotra has revealed strategic plans to elevate these brands to the coveted status of “power brands” within Dabur’s extensive portfolio. Presently, Dabur boasts a strong lineup of nine distinct power brands, with eight dominating the Indian market and one thriving in international markets. These power brands collectively contribute a substantial 70 percent to the company’s total sales.

At present, a significant portion of Dabur’s revenue, accounting for 75 percent, is derived from its domestic operations. This domestic business primarily centers around eight power brands, namely Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Honey, Dabur Honitus, Dabur PudinHara, Dabur Lal Tail, Dabur Amla, Dabur Red Paste, and Real.

Vatika serves as Dabur’s global power brand, delivering a diverse array of personal care products tailored to the international market.

During his recent address at the investor meet, Malhotra disclosed that Dabur presently boasts 17 brands with revenue ranging from above INR 100 crore to less than INR 500 crore in size.

“We have 17 brands, which are in the range of INR 100-500 crore. These are the brands for the future, which we will scale up. If you look five years prior, they all were sub-INR 100 crore brands,” he said.

Furthermore, Malhotra emphasized Dabur’s intention to expand these brands, leveraging their existing scale, and aims to introduce them to as many households as feasible.

“Hajmola for example, we are trying to push it into a power brand. Though, it has not reached that scale. Right now it’s a INR 350-400 crore brand for us. We are trying to move it to the power brand structure,” he said.

Malhotra further added, “For Odomos, it is still the same. It is still not a power brand (acquired from Balsara), we are trying to scale it up… as we scale up the turnover of the brand, we will keep moving into power brand architecture.”

Dabur’s power brand strategy will involve increased manufacturing, broader distribution, and expansion into related market segments.

“More resources would be invested into the brands (power), more brand managers would be working on it and more bandwidth would be deployed on these brands besides cash deployment in terms of advertising,” Malhotra added.

The company is structured into three divisions: healthcare (HC), home and personal care (HPC), and food and beverages.

“We will scale all brands,” he said. Dabur is extending its brand Gulabari into the body wash and soaps segment and has forayed in ready-to-cook gulab jamun mix with the brand Hommade.

Its juice brand Real revenues are around INR 1,600 crore and it is on track to surpass the INR 2,000 crore milestone in the next few years.

Dabur’s Real brand has undergone a remarkable evolution, branching out from its initial presence in the juices and nectars category to encompass a wide array of offerings. These now include fruit drinks, an extensive PET portfolio, aloe vera-infused beverages, plant-based options like Soya and Almond drinks, effervescent fruit beverages, creamy milkshakes, refreshing coconut water, nutritious superfoods like Real Seeds, and most recently, the exciting addition of Real Peanut Butter to its product line.

Dabur’s brands such as Dabur Red Paste, Dabur Amla, and Vatika achieve annual sales figures ranging from INR 1,000 crore to INR 1,500 crore, whereas Dabur Chyawanprash and Dabur Honey fall within the revenue bracket of INR 500 crore to INR 1,000 crore.

Malhotra stated that for its international business, which accounts for a quarter of the company’s revenue, the company will leverage regional insights and innovations.

In addition to Vatika, Dabur maintains its international presence with brands like Dabur Amla, Hobby, ORS, and acquired brands. Malhotra also mentioned that the company is actively developing other brands within the oral care and skin care segments, including Dermoviva, to further expand its portfolio.

Tim Hortons’ expansion brews excitement with new outlets in Bengaluru

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September 18, 2023

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Tim Hortons, the well-known Canadian coffee chain, is all set to make its mark in Bengaluru, India. Given that Karnataka, recognized as the coffee capital of India, contributes a significant 70 percent of the nation’s coffee production, it’s only natural for Tim Hortons to choose this vibrant region as the perfect place to unveil its newest haven for coffee enthusiasts.

These significant openings are scheduled for Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport and the lively Koramangala neighborhood. This represents a major achievement in Tim Hortons’ expansion plan, as it introduces its iconic beverages and delicious offerings to the southern region of India.

Starting from September 15th, customers will have the delightful opportunity to enjoy Tim Hortons’ renowned 100 percent premium Arabica coffee and indulge in iconic beverages such as the rich and creamy French Vanilla, the Java Chip Iced Capp, a refreshing blended frozen coffee treat, along with made-to-order meals and freshly baked goodies, including the beloved bite-sized traditional donuts known as Timbits.

As a testament to its dedication to embracing local flavors and preferences, Tim Hortons is adding two delightful regional specialties to its menu: the Ghee Roast Paneer Pocket and the Pepper Chicken Pocket. These additions celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Southern India and enhance Tim Hortons’ current food menu, which includes favorites like the Five Cheese Melt, Bagels, Piadinas, and more.

The Kempegowda location embodies Tim Hortons’ innovative approach, showcasing distinct Canada-inspired decor elements and introducing a range of specialty brewing techniques to elevate the customer experience. This offers fresh and unique ways for patrons to savor Tim Hortons’ signature coffee blends.

The store’s welcoming atmosphere, combined with its friendly staff, will foster a hospitable environment where visitors can relax, work, or socialize with friends while enjoying their beloved Tim Hortons treats.

Tarun Jain, CEO of Tim Hortons India, expressed, “The expansion of Tim Hortons into Bengaluru is a momentous occasion for us. Following the brand’s success in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai, we are thrilled to offer the same experience to this vibrant city, all while paying tribute to local culinary traditions. This marks a significant stride in our journey, and we eagerly anticipate becoming a part of the Bengaluru community.”

Thiago Santelmo, EMEA President of Restaurant Brands International said, “As we continue our expansion in India. We look forward to introducing more coffee aficionados across the country to our signature Tim Hortons beverages and delectable food.”

The grand opening celebrations started on September 15th at 2:00 pm in Terminal 2, Departures, Kempegowda International Airport, and on September 16th at 5:00 pm in Koramangala, 8th Block.

Zomato’s stock surges 1.7% as investors show increasing faith in the company’s growth

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September 18, 2023

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Zomato’s stock witnessed a 1.7 percent surge in trading activity on the NSE on September 18. This noteworthy uptick can be primarily attributed to the increasing faith that investors have placed in the company, bolstered by Zomato’s impressive showcase of revenue growth and margin expansion prospects.

As per a Jefferies report, the majority of investors praised CFO Akshant Goyal during the company’s US roadshow for effectively fulfilling commitments made a year prior.

“Scepticism was high back then, while the exact opposite is true now,” Jefferies said in the note.

The Zomato CFO anticipates a 20-25 percent increase in the value of its food delivery segment, while the new quick commerce business is expected to achieve a remarkable 60 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). Jefferies emphasized that the food delivery sector has significant growth potential in India, with restaurants accounting for only 10 percent of total food consumption. Zomato (along with Swiggy) is facilitating this growth by sharing local insights with restaurants, leading to improved cuisine diversity and increased local demand.

Conversely, Zomato’s quick commerce sector has the potential to surpass even the food delivery segment in India’s extensive retail market.

Furthermore, Jefferies anticipates a gradual expansion of food margins to reach 5%, with quick commerce expected to achieve break-even within four quarters.

Jefferies, maintaining a ‘buy’ rating on the food delivery platform and setting a target price of INR 130, suggests that Zomato, currently catering to approximately 20 million monthly transacting users, possesses a substantial opportunity for customer acquisition and revenue expansion. However, the report notes that this growth trajectory might come at the expense of short-term profitability. Following its IPO, the company’s focus has shifted from immediate survival to preparing for the future, as per the report.

At 11:24 am, Zomato’s shares were being traded at INR 104.10, marking a remarkable 96 percent increase over the past six months.

Online fashion brand FableStreet expands to physical stores, targets 10-15 outlets by next year

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September 18, 2023

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FableStreet (Representative Image)

FableStreet, the online fashion brand, is venturing into brick-and-mortar retail, with ambitious plans to establish 10 to 15 stores by mid-September of the following year, as shared by Ayushi Gudwani, the Founder and CEO of FS Life.

The brand supported by Fireside Ventures is set to launch three flagship stores between mid-September and October. These stores will be located at Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla, Phoenix Palladium in Lower Parel, and Phoenix Mall of Millennium in Pune.

Additionally, the brand is actively exploring potential locations to establish stores in Delhi and Bengaluru.

“The average store size will be between 700-1,000 sq.ft and we plan to open at least five stores by the end of this fiscal,” she said.

At the outset, the brand will inaugurate its stores in well-suited malls and prime high street locations within metro and tier I cities. Subsequently, it will expand its presence further into tier II and beyond.

These stores are designed to provide an omnichannel experience, allowing customers to effortlessly explore the website and make in-store purchases. Nonetheless, the stores will consistently feature a selection of 200 to 250 styles at any given time.

“As we keep churning the inventory at a rapid speed, the store will be refreshed every two weeks,” she said.

The capital expenditure (CAPEX) required to launch a single store can vary between INR 30-50 lakh. The brand’s goal is to attain EBITDA profitability for each store within the initial 2-3 months of operation and recoup the capital investments within 1-1.5 years.

The brand boasts a 50 percent repeat customer rate, with an average cart size ranging from INR 3,200 to INR 3,300. Its online customer acquisition cost (CAC) falls within the range of INR 1,200 to INR 1,400.

Last fiscal, the brand notched INR 58 crore in revenue, and for the current fiscal year, it is setting its sights on exceeding the INR 100 crore milestone.

“By the end of this fiscal, the offline retail will contribute around 5 per cent of the overall revenue and by the end of next fiscal, we are aiming to take it up to 25-30 per cent,” she stated.

Having secured three rounds of funding thus far, the brand has dedicated approximately 20 percent of its fundraising efforts to finance its offline expansion in the form of a loan.

“We are planning to raise Series B investment and expect to hit the market early next year. We expect to raise $15-20 million to expand our offline presence and scale online presence, and we will also be using these funds for working capital and inventory build-up,” she said.

In addition to the established seven-year-old FableStreet, FS Life introduced two new brands – March Jewellery and PinkFort – just six months ago. The company anticipates that these two brands will contribute approximately 10-12 percent of its total revenue.

Malaysia’s ZUS Coffee to make international debut in the Philippines, plans six outlets by 2023

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September 18, 2023

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Malaysia’s ZUS Coffee is set to make its international debut this month with its first outlet in Quezon City, the Philippines.

The tech-centric coffee chain launched its inaugural store in Binjai towards the end of 2019 and currently manages around 290 stores throughout Malaysia.

In a LinkedIn post, Chief Operating Officer Venon Tian announced that ZUS Coffee intends to establish six outlets in the Philippines by the conclusion of 2023.

ZUS Coffee’s introduction to the international market in the Philippines has been in the works since March 2023 when the Filipino restaurant group Choi Garden Restaurant Company acquired a 35% stake in the coffee chain.

Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Choi Garden’s Chief Operating Officer Janica Lao said, “ZUS Coffee’s growth in Malaysia has been very quick in the last three years and they are incredibly determined in serving the local Malaysian market with localised flavours. We believe that they will do the same thing in the Philippines market.”

ZUS Coffee joins the roster of Asian coffee chains looking to expand in the Philippines this year, intensifying the competition among Southeast Asia’s coffee franchises.

The Japanese boutique café group % Arabica made its return to the Philippines in July 2023, following an 18-month hiatus during which it shuttered its three local stores. The Manila branch is anticipated to serve as a precursor to the opening of a % Arabica roastery in the Filipino capital before the year’s end.

The subsequent month, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), a fast-food group, established a joint venture enterprise with Singapore’s Food Collective Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) to introduce Common Man Coffee Roasters to the Philippines. The inaugural location of this partnership, which also encompasses an agreement to introduce Tiong Bahru Bakery to the country, is scheduled to open in the coming months.

At the same time, Berjaya Food from Malaysia is gearing up to launch the inaugural Paris Baguette store in the Philippines during the fourth quarter of 2023, with plans to open five more outlets within the next year. Berjaya Food had previously introduced the South Korean bakery café chain to Malaysia in January 2023.

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