% Arabica operates 195 outlets across 25 markets | Photo credit: Jessica Lam
Japanese specialty coffee chain % Arabica has opened its first store in Mexico at the premium Condesa DF Hotel in Mexico City.
Speaking to Forbes, % Arabica Founder Kenneth Shoji described Mexico City as a ‘vibrant’ city filled with ‘culture, passion and a deep love for coffee’.
“Our debut in Condesa DF holds profound significance, intertwining two rich cultural heritages in a vibrant tapestry of flavours and traditions,” he said.
Designed by Mexican architectural studio Vertebral, the store marks % Arabica’s debut in Latin America and follows market entries in the US and Canada in June 2021 and December 2022 respectively. Kyoto-based % Arabica currently operates five stores in the US and three in Canada. Founded in 2013, % Arabica opened its first store in Kyoto, Japan, in 2014, and now operates 195 outlets across 25 markets.
The vast majority of its stores (137) are in Asia, but recent outlet growth and planned expansion has been focused on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where it operates 45 stores, and Europe, where it currently only has a presence in the UK.
However, the specialty coffee group is planning to open stores in Turkey, Spain, France and Hungary within the next 12 months, with Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal listed as longer-term targets.
