Tag: Coffee

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Tealive has announced the official launch of ‘K-Coffee’ a brand new category of Korean coffee drinks that are ‘oppa approved’ and designed to take Malaysia by storm. 

‘K-Coffee’ by Tealive promises to bring the viral coffee craze of Korean coffee to all Malaysians and was unveiled at an exclusive pre-tasting K-Coffee Pop-up Cafe at Sunway Pyramid. 

Available in all Tealive outlets starting 6 November 2024, K-Coffee is an invitation for all Malaysians to taste a true sensation that has swept Korea.

For this, Tealive has teamed up with TBWA\Malaysia to bring the K-Coffee concept to life, creating a culturally resonant brand campaign. The “Oppa Approved” tagline, crafted by TBWA\Malaysia, adds a playful yet authentic touch, aligning perfectly with the brand’s goal to capture the essence of Korean coffee culture and resonate with fans across the region.

Tealive is challenging Malaysians to get behind this viral Korean sensation with the goal of selling 1 million cups of K-Coffee nationwide in just 10 days! To up the ante, Tealive has promised to reveal their own mysterious “Oppa” if the goal is met. On Friday 6 November, a dynamic digital-out-of-home (DOOH) billboard went live in Bukit Bintang, that captures the tally in real time, reflecting the growing popularity of Tealive’s new K-Coffee. 

The brand new drinks include K-Americano A-A, K-Coffee’ flagship cold brew Americano aand captures the robust yet refreshing taste that’s become a Korean staple, as well as the K-Sparkling Peach Americano. This delightful blend of fruit and coffee is followed by K-Sparkling Grape Americano, another sparkling variation that pairs vibrant fruit flavours with bold Americano. Last but not least, a Malaysian favourite, Spanish Latte joins their menu, providing a creamy, indulgent option.

Yee Hui Tsin, CEO at TBWA\Malaysia, said, “It’s always exciting working with Tealive. K-coffee fulfils Malaysians’ growing appetite for well-crafted drinks and Oppa Approved is designed to elevate the coffee experience for all coffee enthusiasts.”

Meanwhile, Bryan Loo, founder and CEO of Loob Holding Sdn Bhd, commented, “At Tealive, we always strive to bring Malaysians the best, without the high price tag. We created K-Coffee by Tealive so that Malaysians can experience the best of Korea’s coffee culture right here at home, in all our outlets nationwide.”

Singapore – Coffee shops in Asia are increasingly turning to social media to boost customer loyalty, particularly among younger consumers who are drawn to personalized marketing and interactive experiences. According to GlobalData, a data and analytics firm, leveraging social media platforms has become crucial for coffee shops looking to foster a sense of community, drive repeat visits, and build brand loyalty in an intensely competitive market.

The survey found that 82% of consumers are influenced by how well a product or service is tailored to their needs and preferences, underscoring the growing importance of personalised marketing.

Parthasaradhi Reddy, consumer lead analyst at GlobalData, highlighted the role of social media in keeping customers engaged and informed. 

“Social media not only makes in-store visits more seamless but also keeps customers updated on special offers and new products. Encouraging interactions, like asking for feedback or running polls, helps customers feel involved and valued,” Reddy said. 

He also pointed to Starbucks as an example, noting that the coffee giant has used platforms like Instagram to connect with younger, digitally savvy customers. For instance, Starbucks launched a social media campaign in several Southeast Asian countries to celebrate International Coffee Day on October 1, offering new recipes and exclusive souvenirs.

Meanwhile, Deepak Nautiyal, consumer and retail commercial director for APAC and the Middle East at GlobalData, emphasised the importance of loyalty programs integrated with social media. 

“Starbucks’ rewards program, which allows customers to earn points through purchases and redeem them for rewards, fosters a community of repeat customers who feel valued,” Nautiyal said. 

He also noted that Asian consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that promote social responsibility and ethical practices, a trend amplified by social media. “Brands that align with consumers’ values, like social inclusion and environmental sustainability, are more likely to win their loyalty,” he added.

As the market continues to evolve, experts believe coffee shops must adapt their digital strategies to stay competitive. Reddy concluded, “By integrating social media strategies effectively, coffee shops can enhance customer loyalty and maintain their relevance in the fast-changing industry.”

Singapore – Coffee chain Flash Coffee has announced a brand partnership with plant milk startup OATSIDE, encouraging customers to try out alternative milk options.

The partnership, done under its #DareToGoVegan campaign, sees Flash Coffee customers getting complimentary oat milk upgrades this January. Said campaign will roll out in selected stores in Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea.

Customers who purchase an oat milk drink are entitled to a raffle spin of their own gachapon machine, where they can win prizes such as exclusive kooky OATSIDE merchandise to one week’s worth of free coffee.

The new year updates come months after Flash Coffee welcomed Bjoern Seeber as its new director of operations in APAC. Moreover, it also teamed up with CleanHub as it eyes to be a plastic-neutral brand.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Starbucks in Indonesia has recently launched its newest coffee experience centre at the Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia. Said new experience centre focuses on the celebration of Indonesia’s rich coffee heritage and showcasing how the roasting process elevates the unique quality and diverse flavour profiles of Indonesian coffees.

The centre spans over 140 square meters with designs inspired by rich copper tones and traditional Balinese Besek baskets, made with the same materials as the Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary including terracotta brickwork and terrazzo floors. Customers visiting the new centre can learn about the art and science behind sourcing, roasting and brewing coffee, and explore coffee through interactive workshops hosted onsite.

For Anthony McEvoy, leader of Starbucks at PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, as they celebrate the company’s 20th year of retail presence in the country, the Dewata Coffee Experience Center amplifies their leadership and passion for coffee, as well as their commitment to Indonesia’s rich coffee culture.

“Aligned with Starbucks global mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, the Dewata Coffee Experience Center is also an immersive coffee destination that is thoughtfully designed to celebrate the connection between our customers, communities and coffee farmers that is an essential part in serving our coffee,” McEvoy said.

He added, “We believe that by highlighting the dedication and care involved in coffee’s creation, the more appreciation others will have to ensure its future, and we want to reaffirm our commitment to supporting coffee farmers in Indonesia by working closely with the Farmer Support Center to ensure a sustainable future of coffee for all.”

At the centre, customers can learn about Starbucks responsible sourcing practices, and how the company is working with Indonesian coffee farmers at the Farmer Support Center in North Sumatra to ensure sustainable farming practices that improve the resilience, quality, and size of harvests.

Meanwhile, Tim Scharrer, managing director and vice president of Starbucks coffee and cocoa, commented, “As one of the world’s leading coffee-growing regions, Indonesia has played a unique and important role in Starbucks’ journey since the beginning. Starbucks has sourced high-quality Arabica coffee from Indonesia for 50 years and is proud to be one of the largest buyers of Indonesian coffee in the world today. At the same time, we remain dedicated to working with farmers in Indonesia to bring responsibly-sourced Indonesian coffee to the world.”

The one-storey building welcomes everyone from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 10 pm, with capacity up to 30 seats.

Singapore – Flash Coffee, a Singapore-based coffee chain backed by venture capital Rocket Internet, has secured US$15M in its recently concluded Series A funding to drive APAC expansion in 10 markets. The funding round was participated by venture capitals White Star Capital, DX Ventures, Global Founders Capital, and Conny & Co.

Flash Coffee which was launched in January 2020, aims to use the new funding to open three new outlets per week, an already ambitious pace that will be tripled to 10 store launches per week in order to open 300 additional stores across the region by end of this year. 

Flash-Coffee-Series-A-Funding-Coffee-Shop

The company is founded by CEO David Brunier and COO as well as CFO Sebastian Hannecker to make premium coffee accessible to Asia’s rising middle class. Through Brunier’s experience as foodpanda CMO and Hannecker’s Bain Consulting pedigree, Flash Coffee’s grab-and-go business model was created, allowing for significant cost savings to be passed on to customers.

“Strong investor support for our Series A round enables us to harness untapped potential in the region and replicate our success in seven new markets this year: Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam,” Brunier stated.

Flash-Coffee-Series-A-Funding-Coffee-Shop-App-Interface

He added, “We will also build a regional headquarters in Singapore and expand our regional tech hub in Jakarta to 50 people to support our vision of fully leveraging technology to improve customer experience, proactively drive growth and significantly increase operational efficiency.”

In addition, the company aims to digitize today’s offline-dominated coffee industry with a newly launched consumer app that boasts a streamlined pick-up feature, sophisticated loyalty program, personalized promotions, and interactive challenges. Its dedicated barista app improves the operational efficiency of its stores and enables performance-based incentives for its baristas, ensuring an unparalleled customer experience.

Malaysia – Coffee is good without a doubt, but NESCAFÉ in Malaysia has just upped the bar for everyone’s favorite drink with its new variant – Kopi Kedah – which is a Malaysian, homegrown coffee flavor. 

The new flavor isn’t just a formulation born out of better marketing judgment but is actually a product of an almost a year-running campaign by the brand called ‘Grown Respectfully’. 

Grown Respectfully is a coffee farming program initiated in 2019 in Malaysia state Kedah, which aims to revitalize the Malaysian coffee farming sector, and improve the livelihoods of farmers. Kopi Kedah is its first product out of the partnership with the farmers. 

NESCAFÉ shared that in the past 12 months, it has trained 100 coffee farmers, planted 70,000 seedlings, and has established a collection center for future harvests. 

The limited-edition flavor is said to carry the smooth and authentic taste of local coffee. It is available in 9 SpeedMart, Billion, MYDIN, and AEON at RM23.02 for a tin of 170g. Customers can even avail of it via Shopee or Lazada.