Indonesian chain Kopi Kenangan makes international debut

Indonesian coffee chain Kopi Kenangan has launched its first store in Malaysia under the name Kenangan Coffee.

The store, which sells the brand’s exclusive coffee drinks, is situated in the Kuala Lumpur shopping centre Suria KLCC. This is a part of the company’s strategy for international growth, and co-founder and CEO Edward Tirtanata said Malaysia would have 100 new stores by the end of the first quarter of next year.

There are four locations under the construction including Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion KL, MyTown Cheras and NU Sentral KL. All will be launched at the end of this year.

According to Statista, Malaysia’s Coffee segment is expected to generate US$1.296 billion in revenue this year and the market is anticipated to increase by 7.28 per cent annually (CAGR 2022-2025).

Warm beverages such as tea and coffee have long been a part of the majority of Malaysians’ daily lives. The growth of global retail coffee companies like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean, The Tea Leaf, as well as regional coffee shop brands like OldTown White Coffee, can also be attributed to the rise in popularity of coffee among young people.

Tirtanata told local sources that Malaysia is the brand’s first international market due to its steady expansion in coffee culture, particularly the grab-and-go trends, and the similarities between Malaysians and Indonesians in terms of taste preferences and openness to trying new things

Kopi Kenangan is also eyeing to make a debut in three or four Asian markets in the future. Last year, the brand raised $96.1 million in a Series C funding round, helping its chain be valued at more than $1 billion.

Founded in 2017 by Edward Tirtanata, James Prananto and Cynthia Chaerunnisa, the F&B chain Kopi Kenangan operates 850 stores in 64 cities across Indonesia. It has increased the variety of its products by launching Kenangan Manis, Chigo, and Cerita Roti.