Your weekly round-up of the five biggest stories from across the global coffee industry...
- Lavazza seeks to expand US reach with hip-hop coffee collaboration
- Jollibee Group agrees to sell significant stake in one of its largest coffee businesses
- Clearest sign yet Kopi Kenangan is headed for an IPO
- UAE-listed investment firm to acquire controlling stake in Turkey’s Espressolab
- China’s Cotti Coffee preparing UK regional expansion push
1. Lavazza unveils new brand playbook for US market
In May 2026, Lavazza pinpointed the US as a key growth market as it seeks to increase group revenues to €5bn ($5.95bn) within the next few years.
To broaden its appeal with a wider spread of US coffee consumers, the Italian coffee roaster has unveiled a packaged coffee collaboration with hip-hop icons Pharrell Williams and rapper Terrence ‘Pusha T’ Thornton – a move it said would open new opportunities to ‘engage with new communities and generations’.
By sharpening its focus on untapped demographics and partnering with celebrities with cross-generational and cross-community appeal, Lavazza hopes to steal a march on fellow its Italian competitors.
2. Jollibee Group cedes control of Highlands Coffee with stake sale
In February 2026, Filipino foodservice group Jollibee said Highlands Coffee has the potential to become a ‘billion-dollar brand’, hinting that it could be preparing for the Vietnamese coffee chain for a standalone IPO.
Seven months later, Highlands has attained a fresh valuation as part of an $88m stake sale between Jollibee and Viet Thai International Joint Stock Company (VTI), the business owned by Highlands Founder and CEO David Thai.
3. Kopi Kenangan founder gives clearest indication yet IPO is imminent
Kopi Kenangan’s global growth strategy is building significant momentum.
After achieving its first full year of annual net profitability in 2025, the Indonesian coffee chain opened more than 200 net new outlets across its seven markets in the first half of 2026, with group revenues up 62% year-on-year.
Reportedly seeking $1bn as part of a long-anticipated IPO, Kopi Kenangan has now announced a significant sale of secondary shares by key stakeholders.
4. UAE-listed investment firm to acquire controlling stake in Turkey’s Espressolab
Espressolab’s bid to more than double its global store network over the next 18 months has been given a vote of confidence – and a timely injection of investment.
The Istanbul-based specialty coffee chain currently operates 300 stores in Turkey alongside more than 100 international outlets across 20 markets. It has now partnered with UAE investment firm Mair Group to accelerate its next phase of international growth.
5. China’s Cotti Coffee to kickstart UK regional expansion
Value-focused Cotti Coffee has rapidly scaled across Europe since the start of 2026, opening dozens of stores across France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal.
There are now signs the Chinese coffee chain is preparing for regional expansion in Europe’s largest branded coffee shop market, the UK.
Cotti’s regional expansion plan will bring it into more direct competition with some of the UK’s largest branded coffee chains in one of the UK’s largest cities.
