LAO FAMILY OF CHOI GARDEN JV WITH ZUS TO EXPAND IN PHILIPPINES

Ian Chua (CEO), Venon Tian (COO) & award winning barista Terence Ho lead a young team of over 2,500 ZUS employees today to a new threshold for ZUS Coffee in 2024. Started only in 2019, ZUS has expanded to over 300 outlets today in Malaysia. It has 12 outlets in the Philippines with its JV partner, the Lao family of Filipino restaurant group Choi Garden which acquired a 35% stake in ZUS in March 2023. The plan is to open up to 150 stores by the end 2024 in the Philippines.

Tagline for ZUS Coffee culture is "the heart of a Barista" i.e to love the brand and its customers in order to succeed. Except one franchised store in KL East Mall which was a special arrangement, all the ZUS outlets are managed by the company. Need to improve on the food side. Lasagna and signature curry puffs can be better.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. The CEO Magazine. 29 November 2022. https://www.theceomagazine.com/executive-interviews/food-beverage/venon-tian/
2. ZUS Coffee. https://zuscoffee.com/our-story/
3. WargaBiz. 20 March 2024.  https://wargabiz.com.my/2024/03/20/meet-the-minds-behind-the-rapidly-growing-local-chain-zus-coffee/
4. EY. https://www.ey.com/en_my/entrepreneur-of-the-year/ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-malaysia/2023-top-nominees/ian-chua-and-venon-tian
5. Brand360. https://www.brand360.com.my/case-study/zus-vs-gigi-the-great-coffee-war-of-the-21st-century/
6. Vulcan Post. 15 December 2023. Claudia Khaw. https://vulcanpost.com/847420/zus-coffee-malaysia-business-insights-fun-facts/
7. Philstar Global. Lifestyle. 2 May 2024. Bea Trinidad. https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/2024/05/02/2351817/caffeine-rush-malaysian-brand-zus-coffee-goes-beyond-beans-and-brews
8. Marketing-Interactive. https://www.marketing-interactive.com/zus-coffee-reclaims-its-malaysian-identity