Bo’s Coffee to open 85 new stores

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino coffee chain Bo’s Coffee is expanding its presence in the country and overseas by opening 35 new stores this year and 50 next year.

Bo’s Coffee founder and CEO Steve Benitez told reporters the company will have 35 new stores by the end of this year.

This will bring the coffee chain’s total store count to 160.

Benitez said the new stores within the country will be primarily outside Metro Manila or in Visayas, Mindanao and the rest of Luzon.

For its international expansion, he said Bo’s Coffee is opening two stores in Doha, Qatar and two in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates before the end of the year.

Bo’s Coffee currently has 14 stores in Doha and two in Dubai.

He said the company plans to open 50 new stores next year.

“So far, we’re talking to other partners. Canada is on the table. If that happens, that happens next year with five stores,” he said.

He said Bo’s Coffee’s expansion has been driven by franchises, with only 30 percent of the total store count owned by the company and 70 percent operated by franchisees.

The company also forges partnerships for its international expansion.

“We don’t go out on our own. We always look for a partner,” Benitez said.