Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf inks Japan rollout deal

Los Angeles — The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has inked an exclusive deal with developer L.A. Style to expand the coffee and tea retailer into Japan by the end of this year.

L.A. Style is a joint-venture partnership between fast-casual restaurateur Hotland Co. and Japan’s largest shopping mall developer Aeon Mall Co.

The deal ultimately calls for 200 stores across Japan.

“It’s an exciting time to enter such a prolific coffee market like Japan, where we can appeal to consumers who are searching for an exceptional coffee and tea experience,” said John Dawson, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf president and CEO. “This is an important milestone demonstrating our commitment to continued growth in Asia.”

The expansion into Japan is the latest major announcement in the brand’s growth and expansion initiatives enacted since the appointment of John Dawson in January 2014, and following the September 2013 investment by private equity firms Advent International, CDIB Capital, and Mirae Private Equity.