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Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Changes brewing: Global coffee chains struggle to adapt to Korea's cafe culture
June 30, 2025 SEOUL – Global coffee chains such as the US franchise Blue Bottle and Canada's Tim Hortons, are changing tack in Korea's cutthroat coffee market, where both appear to have muffed their attempts to localize their offerings. Blue Bottle, which entered Korea in 2019 touting its artisanal brewing rituals, has recently traded some of its signature slowness for speed. Its once-prized focus on customer interaction has lost some of its gravitas, now that it's available on local delivery apps like Baemin and Coupang Eats. Perks like size upgrades and app discounts only further blur the lines between craft and convenience. As of October last year, only five of its 17 locations offered delivery. That number has since doubled to 10. According to industry insiders, the shift risks diluting the brand's identity, though it seems a necessary concession to Korean consumer culture. 'Yet, in a market awash with cheap caffeine and fast service, its core values may be hard to maintain,' one insider said. While Blue Bottle's annual sales in Korea rose 17 percent on-year to 31.2 billion won ($22.6 million) last year, operating profit plunged to 200 million won, from 1.9 billion won the previous year and 2.7 billion won in 2021. The company also posted a net loss of 1.1 billion won, its first since entering the Korean market. Another notable entrant, Tim Hortons, which made its Korean debut in 2023, appears to be at a crossroads. In June, the chain shuttered its flagship store in Cheongna, Incheon, its first directly operated location to close. While speculation swirls around Tim Horton's financial struggles in Korea, the company cited a search for a more fitting location to reflect its Canadian roots. The backlash also stems from Tim Hortons' premium pricing strategy in Korea, where prices are 1.5 to 2 times higher than in Canada despite its reputation there for affordability and everyday value. For these newcomers, the hurdles are steeper in the face of fast-growing, budget-minded Korean chains like Mega Coffee, whose 2,000 won Americano delivers enough of a caffeine kick to stand up against Tim Hortons' 4,000 won and Blue Bottle's 5,900 won Americanos. This month, Tim Hortons launched a promotional campaign slashing prices on its signature Iced Capp by 60 percent and offering free Americano coupons to customers who purchased donuts, in a bid to reconnect with Korean consumers. When it comes to strategy, Starbucks, a dominant force in Korea's cafe scene, is an early mover in delivery, having launched the service in April last year. It continues to anchor customer loyalty by doubling down with expanded app rewards and discounts of up to 60 percent. 'Korean coffee consumers move fast and expect brands to keep pace,' said one industry official, urging global chains to stay agile and responsive to local demands. 'Striking the right balance between brand roots and local flavor is critical to success.' Korea's saturated and stratified coffee market indeed breeds stiff competition, in which cafe businesses at every tier are feeling the squeeze. According to Korea's National Tax Service, the number of coffee shops nationwide dipped to 95,337 in the first quarter, down 743 from a year earlier. It's the first recorded decline since the agency began tracking the figure in 2018.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Former office building could become site of drug rehab service
Former office building could become site of drug rehab service It's early days and no firm decisions have been made about the future use of Ty'r Nant The Ty'r Nant former council office building by Parc Trostre Retail Park (Image: Richard Youle ) A former office building by a retail park in Llanelli which might have become a Lidl store and coffee shop is being offered as a potential venue for a drug rehabilitation service. Carmarthenshire Council's vacant Ty'r Nant office by Parc Trostre is around 50 metres from fast food retailer KFC and adjacent to B&Q's car park. Cabinet members have agreed to offer it to a multi-agency group called Dyfed Area Planning Board, which commissions substance misuse services in the region. Through this arrangement another group, called Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Services (DDAS), provides support for over-18s from the first floor of Boots on Vaughan Street, Llanelli. A cabinet report said the council didn't consider the Vaughan Street location ideal due to its wider aspirations to regenerate the town centre. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here View from the rear of Ty'r Nant (Image: Richard Youle ) The plan had been for DDAS to move to a building off Traeth Ffordd, North Dock, where it would be incorporated into a new health and well-being centre. Article continues below But the health and well-being centre plans sparked many objections due to the DDAS element, and the scheme was turned down by the council's planning committee in 2023 against planning officers' advice. This in turn led to an appeal by Hywel Dda University Health Board on behalf of the area planning board. The appeal didn't go ahead because the Traeth Ffordd building has been sold to a different organisation, leaving the area planning board seeking a new alternative. Ty'r Nant will now be an option for a relocated DDAS. A report before the council's cabinet said: "The APB (area planning board) have been advised of the possible availability of this building subject to cabinet approval and they are undertaking a feasibility study as to its suitability for their proposal." The area planning board had earlier considered Ty'r Nant as potentially suitable for a health and well-being centre, although sites in the Trostre area had previously been discounted because Trostre was considered too far from the town centre. The office building at North Dock, Llanelli, where a new health improvement and well-being centre had been planned but won't be going ahead (Image: Richard Youle ) It could all have been different for the Ty'r Nant site. A new Lidl store and Tim Horton's coffee shop had previously been proposed there but the plans were refused by the council and again by a Welsh Government-appointed planning inspector last summer following an appeal. The inspector said among other things that the retail proposals would contravene efforts to regenerate Llanelli town centre by diverting trade away from it, adding that there were already a mix of food outlets in the immediate area. Article continues below
Newsweek
03-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Customer Orders 20 Sandwiches at Drive-Thru—Disbelief at What They Do Next
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A routine brunch rush at a Tim Hortons turned into a mild traffic nightmare, when a customer refused to move their vehicle after placing a massive order through the drive-thru. According to an employee, who asked to only be referred to by the initials "VD," the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m., one of the busiest times for the store in Ontario, Canada. While large orders are not uncommon, the poster explained that staff typically request that customers with sizable orders pull into a designated waiting area so that others can be served. But the customer refused to budge from the pickup window, despite being asked multiple times, causing fury among other customers and the staff. "They had their windows rolled up, blasting loud music, and just wouldn't acknowledge us," VD told Newsweek. "We usually have the food out within 10 minutes, but in this case, we rushed the order with three or four people working on it and managed to finish in five minutes. Still, the cars behind them were honking, and it created a really frustrating situation for everyone." A picture of the large order at the Tim Hortons that sparked conversation online. A picture of the large order at the Tim Hortons that sparked conversation online. bipolar-scorpio/Reddit Tim Hortons fast food restaurant chain was founded in 1964 by NHL legend Tim Horton and businessman Jim Charade. They now have locations spanning 13 countries, and are famed for bringing a taste of Canadian culture to audiences worldwide. Newsweek reached out to Tim Hortons via email for comment. The employee emphasized that incidents like these highlight the unexpected challenges faced in fast food jobs, and they wanted to share it to raise awareness of what people working in fast food deal with on a daily basis. "You really become a people person in this line of work," they said. "Every experience, even the frustrating ones, teaches you something valuable about patience, empathy, and resilience." Read more Map reveals every US state's favorite junk food Map reveals every US state's favorite junk food The story was shared on Reddit's popular r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit last week, where it has over 77,000 upvotes and thousands of comments. "Person ordered 20 sandwiches in drive-thru and won't move ahead to wait in the parking lot. Infuriating and on top of that, cars behind them started honking," VD captioned the post. Here people shared their reactions. Redditor WasabiAdorable6951 said: "My manager would've canceled the order and gave them a refund." While Humble-Plankton2217 wrote: "There should be a rule that large orders need to be pre-ordered or collected by coming inside." "My dad would do stuff like this. I'm lucky I didn't inherit his lack of empathy," said Fat-randin. Redditor DeceptiJon warned: "The last thing I want to do is p*** off the people making my food." This isn't the first time a drive-thru incident has gained viral attention. In 2022, a McDonald's customer blocked a drive-thru for hours while demanding a refund. While a mother and daughter gained attention online when a prank at Starbucks hilariously backfired.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
London Colney car jacker James Heany jailed
Detectives hope the jailing of a car jacker who "terrorised" motorists with a knife will bring "some comfort" to Heany, 27, stole a Ford Mondeo, after confronting a man in London Colney in Hertfordshire on 20 August, before driving off and crashing into several other said Heany then tried to take vehicles from other motorists at knifepoint near the from Watford, has been jailed for seven years and nine months at St Albans Crown Court. Hertfordshire Police said Heany threatened the man on Telford Road, and then crashed into several cars during his journey on to the A404 North Orbital Road, just before the M1 abandoned the Mondeo and tried to steal other cars by jumping on bonnets and threatening other motorists with a knife and punching one victim in the face, police evading capture, Heany was eventually arrested in Hemel Hempstead on 10 October. Woman 'terrified' Police said Heany had also stolen and crashed a woman's car in March last year after threatening her with a knife in the car park of the Tim Horton's burger bar on North Western Avenue in Watford."The woman was terrified and feared for her life," Det Con Julie Vint said."We are pleased that Heany has been given a lengthy sentence."We hope it brings some comfort to the people Heany terrorised and all the motorists who had to witness such frightening actions."Heany admitted robbery, attempted robbery, possession of a knife, assault, criminal damage and dangerous driving. During sentencing on 17 April, Heany was also banned from driving for more than seven years. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-04-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Virgin Australia passengers in NZ stumped by series of errors
Passengers on Virgin Australia's Easter weekend service from Queenstown, New Zealand, were hit by a cascade of delays and cancellations arising from mechanical and security issues. At one point the departure gate was thrown into disorder after an airline staff member's decision triggered an intervention from airport authorities. An already-delayed Virgin Australia flight VA164, scheduled to depart for Sydney on Sunday, was held up for three hours and 20 minutes after an 'airline employee' directed passengers into the wrong part of the gate, violating security protocols. After being instructed to deplane and re-enter the airport through the departure gate on Sunday, passengers 'were stopped by staff who were running and shouting that we could not do that', said Tim Horton, who was visiting the New Zealand tourist town from Sydney. 'Doors were hurriedly secured, staff disagreed about what could be done. Meanwhile, we were standing partly on the tarmac and partly inside.' Horton recalled seeing a police officer running through the airport 'then running back the other way'. 'It was clear throughout that no one knew what the protocols or procedures should be. Airports are about security. It was instead nothing but chaos.' Virgin said of the weekend difficulties: 'We regret that this impacted our ability to deliver the level of service and support we strive to provide our guests when unexpected disruption occurs, and we sincerely apologise to our guests for this experience.'
