Your weekly round-up of the five biggest stories from across the global coffee industry...
- Gail’s to explore expansion beyond the UK
- Stumptown President steps down just two months after KDP deal
- UK’s Jenki makes bid to become Europe’s leading matcha bar
- Tata Starbucks sees the right market conditions to resume outlet growth
- India’s Blue Tokai appoints new exec to support 2028 growth target
1. Gail’s to explore international opportunities following key senior hire
Having successfully expanded beyond its Southeast UK heartland, London-based Gail’s is now looking further afield for its next phase of growth.
The boutique bakery-café chain, which operates more than 190 outlets across the UK, has appointed its first International Managing Director to explore expansion opportunities in Europe and the US.
2. Stumptown Coffee Roasters President steps down following KDP deal
Influential US specialty coffee group Stumptown Coffee Roasters is on the hunt for a new President.
The Oregon-based coffee roaster and café chain has been led by Laura Szeliga since December 2020 and currently operates eight stores across Portland, New York and Los Angeles, as well as a single international site in Kyoto, Japan.
Szeliga’s departure comes just over two months after Stumptown became part of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) following its $18bn acquisition of JDE Peet’s.
The huge deal likely represents a new era for the specialty coffee group, which also contains Peet’s Coffee and Intelligentsia Coffee in a US specialty coffee market undergoing significant change.
3. Jenki’s expansion plans show coffee shops can’t contain matcha forever
Coffee shop trends come and go, and in 2025, none could rival the phenomenon that is matcha. A year on, and matcha’s continued ascent proves this Gen Z favourite is much more than just a fad.
In Europe alone, more than two-thirds of coffee shop operators surveyed by World Coffee Portal in March 2026 agreed that the popularity of the trending Gen Z favourite will grow in their market over the next 12 months.
With London-based Jenki poised to nearly double its store count, we could be witnessing the emergence of a new out-of-home segment to rival coffee shops.
4. Tata Starbucks is making a renewed push for growth in India
Tata Starbucks has spent much of the last 18 months tempering outlet growth in India in pursuit of greater like-for-like sales and store-level profitability. However, despite returning strong early results, that strategy now appears to have run its course.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash vowed that the coffee chain – a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Consumer Products and Seattle-based Starbucks – will no longer “sacrifice growth for profitability”.
His comments indicate a change of approach for the largest branded coffee chain in India amid more favourable market conditions and growing competition.
5. Blue Tokai appoints former Pizza Hut and Chaayos exec to support ambitious growth
India’s Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters has broadened its leadership team with a first Chief Business Officer as part of its drive towards 800 stores globally by 2028.
Founded in 2013, Blue Tokai is India’s largest specialty coffee chain, with three roasteries and more than 200 stores across the country. Dahiya’s appointment comes as Blue Tokai is pursuing café, wholesale and e-commerce growth following a Rs 175 Cr ($19m) extended Series D funding round in May 2026.
Blue Tokai achieved 50% year-on-year revenue growth for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025 to reach Rs 325 Cr ($36m). The specialty coffee roaster and café chain is targeting Rs 10bn ($118.5m) revenues by the end of 2027.
