Your weekly round-up of the five biggest stories from across the global coffee industry...
- Starbucks delivered a master class in marketing
- New Tims China CEO said coffee chain must change course
- Löfbergs appointed first female CEO in its 120-year history
- Blue Bottle Coffee entered sixth East Asia market
- Komeda’s Coffee to kickstarted major Southeast Asia push
1. Unicorn Frappuccino adds sprinkle of magic to busy week for Starbucks
Nearly a decade on from its first limited-edition launch, Starbucks’ viral Unicorn Frappuccino made a brief triumphant return last weekend and added significant sparkle to the coffee chain’s sales and cultural capital.
The Seattle-based coffee chain relaunched the colour-changing iced beverage for a limited-edition run across North America from 15-17 August 2026, where it sold over two million units, while also debuting it in select markets across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific over the same weekend.
However, the week was not all rainbows and sunshine for Starbucks.
The coffee chain’s South Korea business posted its first quarterly earnings decline since launching 27 years ago, as the fallout from its disastrous ‘Tank Day’ marketing campaign in May 2026 continues to grow.
Starbucks also ended the week with further corporate layoffs in the US – bringing total head office job cuts to more than 2,500 over the last 18 months alone.
2. “It is clear that we need to make meaningful changes”, says new Tims China CEO
Tim Hortons’ master licensee in China reported significant declines in revenues, transactions and average ticket size during a disappointing second quarter.
A little over two months into the job, new CEO Kwok Wah Cheung will be under no illusions about the difficult task at hand.
Advancing Tims China’s sub-franchising growth strategy remains his key priority, but will changes to digital ordering, AI and coffee serve up better bottom-line earnings in the second half of 2026?
3. Sweden’s Löfbergs appoints first female CEO in 120-year history
Nearly six months after Anders Fredriksson announced his resignation, Swedish coffee group Löfbergs has a new CEO.
When former Flora Food Group executive Anneli Ellsäter assumes the role on 1 October 2026, she will become the first CEO in the Fairtrade coffee roaster’s 120-year history.
Working alongside Chair Kathrine Löfberg, Ellsäter will lead the coffee group into its next phase of growth in Northern Europe, where it exports to 20 markets across its Löfbergs and Peter Larsen Kaffe brands.
4. Blue Bottle Coffee ramps up international expansion with latest East Asia launch
US specialty coffee group Blue Bottle Coffee has launched in Thailand in its first major move since being acquired by Chinese private equity firm and Luckin Coffee-backer Centurium Capital for $400m.
Known for its minimalist stores inspired by Japanese kissaten café culture, New Orleans-style iced coffee and single-origin pour-overs, Blue Bottle is one of the most-influential specialty coffee operators globally, with 150 stores across the US and East Asia.
Thailand is one of the largest branded coffee shop markets in East Asia, with more than 11,300 outlets, and could become a high-growth market for Blue Bottle and its new owner.
5. Komeda’s Coffee prepares Thailand debut ahead of significant regional push
One of Japan’s largest branded coffee chains is planning a renewed push into Southeast Asia with a launch in Thailand.
Nagoya-based Komeda’s Coffee will kick off new outlet growth in the region – where it already operates in Singapore and Indonesia – with a store in Bangkok before the end of 2026.
Japanese culture, particularly food and beverages, resonates strongly in Thailand, making it an ideal beachhead to push further into the region.
