Inthanin Coffee to open doors in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh

Inthanin Coffee to open doors in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh

Inthanin will be the latest entrant into the busy Cambodian coffee market. (Post Today photo)
Inthanin will be the latest entrant into the busy Cambodian coffee market. (Post Today photo)

Inthanin, a Thai chain of cafes, is preparing its entrance into the booming local market, planning to open its first outlet in the kingdom this year.

A franchise agreement was signed recently between Bangkok Retail Company Limited and RCG Group (Cambodia), granting the Cambodian firm the rights to open an outlet of the Thai chain, the Khmer Times reported on Wednesday.

The first Inthanin cafe will open its doors in Siem Reap, followed by another outlet in Phnom Penh that will open within the first quarter of the year.

Jiranun Wongmongkol, chairman of the board of directors at RCG, said their decision to acquire the rights to the franchise came after they realised the potential and uniqueness of the brand, as well as its popularity and reputation it already enjoys in Thailand.

“So far, we have been training personnel for management positions in the F&B (food and beverage) business, drafting marketing plans and establishing a training centre to ensure quality standards and guarantee the success of the brand in Cambodia,” Ms Wongmongkol said.

The local coffee market has exploded in recent years, with new franchises, as well as independent businesses, mushrooming around the capital and other urban centres in the country.

Phin Kosal, country manager of Joma Bakery Cafe, said the food and beverage market is booming, particularly the beverage sector, with new players entering the market at an increasingly faster rate.

However, he said, it is not easy to stay afloat in a market that some consider is already saturated, and many newcomers –- especially those that do not do proper market studies -– find themselves having to hang the “out of business” sign within months of opening their doors.

“However, there is still room for more competition, especially if they target different segments of the population,” he said.

Joma, one of the capital’s most popular coffee franchises, will open five new cafes in the near future, Mr Kosal revealed, expanding from three to eight outlets.

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