Juan Valdez Cafe, the Colombian coffee chain, has entered the Dominican Republic with the opening of a new store at the Ágora Mall in Santo Domingo.
This move is part of a strategic partnership with local franchisee United Brands, which aims to establish two additional outlets in the country by the end of this year, reported World Coffee Portal.
Among the planned locations is a site at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), targeting the younger demographic.
The Dominican Republic, a prime Caribbean tourist destination attracting more than ten million visitors each year, offers a vibrant market for the food and beverage industry.
Juan Valdez Cafe's decision to enter this market is because of these promising factors.
Juan Valdez president Camila Escobar was quoted by the media outlet as saying: “Opening our first store in the Dominican Republic, with the help of United Brands, our partner, materialises the ambitious expansion project that we as a brand want to execute in this country.”
Juan Valdez' Café’s expansion into the Dominican Republic complements its existing presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The chain operates 368 stores in Colombia and has a footprint of over 225 outlets across 21 markets, including Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, El Salvador, Panama, Aruba, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Argentina, and Mexico.
In February 2024, Juan Valdez set a goal to open 100 new stores within the year, with 75 of these planned for international locations.
The brand's expansion strategy is not limited to Latin America but it has also scaled up in key European markets such as Turkey and Spain, as well as made its debut in the UAE. This is part of a broader vision to establish a presence in major tourist hubs throughout the Middle East.
In April 2023, Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão entered a franchise development agreement with Honest Holding to launch into the Turkish market.
Honest Holding operates a portfolio of 24 brands, including Juan Valdez Coffee and Le Pain Quotidien from Belgium.
