Costa enters the Philippines

The UK’s Costa Coffee is set to enter the Philippines, partnering with Robinsons Retail Holdings.

The move to the Philippines expands Costa’s presence in Southeast Asia. It already has stores located in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia. The first store in the Philippines is planned to open in Manila early next year.

“We envisage a significant store opening programme over the coming years, which will provide further employment opportunities and a stable infrastructure to continue our growth in the Southeast Asia region,” said Andy Marshall, managing director of Costa Coffee international franchise.

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and COO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, said: “We are pleased to be part of Costa’s exciting plans for growth in Southeast Asia and we look forward to forming a long-term partnership with the brand. We will continue to invest in the region and bring additional job opportunities to the Filipino people.”

Costa was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers Bruno and Sergio Costa. The coffee chain currently operates across 30 countries and has more than 2,900 stores spanning Europe, Russia, the Middle East, North Africa, India, China and Southeast Asia.