Taiwan’s 85C Bakery Cafe expands in USA

1 min readUpdated Jun 4, 2025Jul 25, 201911:12 PM

Taiwanese franchise 85C Bakery Cafe is undergoing rapid expansion in the US.

The firm has branched out from its flagship venue to open more than 60 locations in California, Washington and Texas, with more states expected to follow.

The self-service bakery concept has around 400 locations in Taiwan and more than 500 in Mainland China. It launched in Australia in 2006 and now has 12 outlets there.

The concept involves customers selecting from a range of Asian and European pastries with tongs. Its name refers to the brand’s stated optimal coffee temperature – and it is noted for its servings of coffee with sea salt.

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What this means

85C Bakery Cafe's aggressive US expansion from its California base is a calculated move to diversify revenue streams away from its heavily saturated Asian markets. This mirrors Panpuri's strategic 16-store Asian expansion in China and Japan, aiming for new growth territories. While the self-service model offers efficiency, the brand's success hinges on adapting its Asian-European pastry mix to evolving American palates and competitive pricing, much like Kau Kee Food Factory's initial retail store opening in Hong Kong. The risk lies in overextension without localised product development or effective supply chain management. This pressures existing US coffee and bakery chains, particularly those in high-density urban centres. We will observe its next five planned store openings to gauge market reception.

Aiko Tanaka

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