Japanese Coffee chain % Arabica debuts in Vietnam

The new 100sqm cafe, designed by the French creative studio Cigue, features a simple and clean design incorporating local architectural elements. The store is located inside the popular Cafe Apartments building on Nguyen Hue walking street.

"Locations are one of the most important factors for % Arabica when opening in new regions," said Vynce Nguyen, GM of The Kho Group, who partnered with % Arabica for the store. "After the team did some extensive location scouting, they fell in love with the Nguyen Hue cafe apartment building."

% Arabica aims to offer customers a unique coffee experience in a market known for its coffee-drinking culture. The Vietnamese store will serve from the same menu used in other markets. The coffee chain plans to launch a second location in the city and expand to other cities including Hoi An, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc.

The pandemic had a significant impact on % Arabica's expansion plans, with Covid-19 rules causing disruptions in the F&B industry, border closures, and logistical challenges. However, the company is currently working on the construction of a second store in Ho Chi Minh City, which will be located in the rebuilt Diamond Plaza and feature the brand's Terrace 34 dining concept.

Founded by Kenneth Shoji, % Arabica opened its first store in Japan and has since expanded to several markets including Mainland China, Cambodia, the US, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, and has plans to further expand to Canada, India, France, and the Philippines.

Source: Inside Retail Asia