Jollibee Group brings Korean coffee chain Compose Coffee to the Philippines

The Jollibee Group has brought South Korean value coffee chain Compose Coffee to the Philippines, opening its first store at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on 7 August.

The launch marks the beginning of a five-year nationwide expansion plan, with the Jollibee Group aiming to make the Philippines Compose Coffee’s largest market outside South Korea.

The move forms part of the group’s broader strategy to strengthen its coffee and tea portfolio and scale international brands in markets where it has established local operating capabilities. The Philippines rollout will be driven primarily through franchising, which the company said will enable faster expansion while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

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Compose Coffee has already established significant scale in South Korea, where it has grown to more than 3,000 stores, including 1,000 outlets added in less than 18 months. The Jollibee Group said its Philippine strategy also incorporates learnings from the brand’s earlier expansion into Taiwan.

“Our confidence in Compose Coffee’s future in the Philippines is not based on projection alone. It is grounded in experience. We have seen the brand scale successfully in South Korea, stay closely attuned to what customers value, and build a resilient business that can deliver sustainable long-term growth,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, CEO of Jollibee Group Philippines and head of Jollibee Brand Global.

“By combining that experience with the Jollibee Group’s deep understanding of the Philippine market and proven operating capabilities, our goal is to build an enduring brand by earning the trust of Filipino consumers as we expand Compose Coffee across the Philippines with discipline and purpose.”

Adapting a proven coffee model

For Compose Coffee Korea CEO Gordon Cho, the brand’s experience in South Korea provides a strong foundation for its Philippine expansion.

“South Korea is one of the world’s highest coffee-consuming countries per capita and one of the most competitive coffee markets globally. Compose Coffee’s growth in this environment shows the strength of a brand built on quality, value, consistency, and disciplined execution,” said Cho.

“Together with the Jollibee Group, we are bringing that same discipline to the Philippines - the discipline that helped Compose Coffee become one of Korea’s leading coffee chains - while staying close to Filipino consumers and what they value in their everyday coffee experience.”

Compose Coffee’s menu spans familiar coffeehouse staples such as Americanos and flavoured lattes, alongside Korean-inspired creations. The offer also extends beyond coffee into non-coffee lattes, frappes, smoothies, ades, juices, desserts and seasonal products.

The breadth of the menu is designed to position the brand around everyday consumption occasions rather than coffee alone, while its value-oriented proposition aims to appeal to a broad base of Filipino consumers.

Franchise-led expansion

The first store is also the starting point for Compose Coffee’s franchise-led growth strategy in the country.

The Jollibee Group said the capital-light model will support faster network expansion while allowing entrepreneurs to participate in the brand’s development. Jeannie Posas, the first Compose Coffee Philippines franchisee, said the brand’s track record in South Korea was a key factor in her decision to invest.

“Partnering with a group that has successfully built brands Filipinos love gave me the confidence to invest from the very beginning. I’m excited to work with the team, learn from our customers and help make Compose Coffee part of people’s everyday routine,” said Posas.

The Jollibee Group's five-year ambition is to build the largest Compose Coffee network outside South Korea in the Philippines. The expansion adds another international coffee proposition to a portfolio that already includes The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Common Man Coffee Roasters, Tiong Bahru Bakery and Highlands Coffee through its various ownership and franchise interests.

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