Ediya Coffee and The Venti—two of South Korea’s leading value-oriented coffee chains—are accelerating their global expansion as the domestic market reaches saturation.
Amid a growing divide between upscale specialty cafés and large franchises, these homegrown brands are now pushing beyond Asia into North America and the Middle East in search of new growth opportunities.
Several media outlets reported on August 3 that Ediya Coffee is ramping up its Southeast Asian footprint.
After opening its first overseas franchise in Guam in December 2023, the brand entered Malaysia through a master franchise (MF) deal with a local partner, launching its first store near Kuala Lumpur.
In June, Ediya signed a third MF agreement with Laos-based KOLAO Group, laying the groundwork for broader expansion across three Southeast Asian countries.
Ediya is also seeing strong growth in ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee exports. The brand currently ships products to 27 countries including the U.S., Japan, and Vietnam.
In 2023 alone, RTD exports rose more than 120% year over year—growth analysts attribute to the brand’s use of K-culture marketing and global distribution networks that resonate with Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans worldwide.
The Venti, another South Korean budget coffee brand, is also accelerating its global rollout. Following its first international store opening in Richmond, British Columbia in March, the company launched a second location in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in June.
Most recently, it signed a master franchise agreement with a local partner in Jordan, with plans to open a location in Amman later this year. The Venti aims to extend its reach further into the Middle East and North Africa.
Its strategy of “value-premium” offerings—large portions, affordable prices, and unique menu items—has found traction in overseas markets, according to company officials.
Other Korean coffee chains are also joining the global push. Hollys opened its first directly operated store in Osaka, Japan in May 2023.
The brand is positioning itself as a K-café, offering Korean-style desserts like yakgwa and injeolmi to appeal to local Hallyu enthusiasts. It iK-Coffee Brands Expand Overseas as Domestic Market Nears Saturation
As South Korea’s domestic coffee market reaches saturation amid a growing divide between upscale specialty cafés and large franchises, mid-tier brands like Ediya Coffee and The Venti are accelerating global expansion.
These homegrown chains are pushing beyond Asia into North America and the Middle East in search of new growth opportunities.
Several media outlets reported on August 3 that Ediya Coffee is ramping up its Southeast Asian footprint.
After opening its first overseas franchise in Guam in December 2023, the brand entered Malaysia through a master franchise (MF) deal with a local partner, launching its first store near Kuala Lumpur.
