Multi-brand lifestyle group Apostofi will launch the eight-store specialty coffee chain in London during the first quarter of 2025 – with a South Korea launch also in the pipeline
ve/la currently ships its packaged coffee products to the UK, South Korea, Singapore and the Middle East | Photo credit: ve/la
Bangkok-based specialty coffee chain ve/la is set to open its first international outlet in London, UK, during the first quarter of 2025.
Owned by multi-brand lifestyle group Apostofi, the first ve/la café opened in March 2021 in Bangkok’s popular shopping district Sukhumvit. Apostofi now operates eight ve/la outlets across the Thai capital, alongside two small format kiosks focusing on speed-of-service and offering a cold brew range on tap.
Primarily sourcing coffee grown in Doi Pangkhon in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, ve/la’s serves espresso-based beverages, cold brew and a range of health-focused smoothies.
Founded in 2020, Apostofi also operates the Gardens and Norm restaurants, premium stationery brand Mediums and creative studio Archytipe.
At its annual keynote event on 10 September 2024, Apostofi said ve/la’s London launch will mark the first time a Thai specialty coffee chain has entered an international market.
Apostofi is also planning to launch ve/la in Seoul, South Korea, according to its website. It currently ships its packaged coffee products to both the UK and South Korea, as well as Singapore, the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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Apostofi’s keynote event also unveiled ve/la’s first app and the all-day cafe-restaurant concept ve/la Studio – which will open in Sukhumvit before the end of the year. Additionally, Apostofi showcased its new ve/la for Business concept at the event, which will offer coffee carts for events and a workplace delivery subscription.
Thailand’s 8,400-store branded coffee shop market is led by convenience-focused Café Amazon, Inthanin and PunThai, which all have a strong petrol station presence.
However, the popular tourist destination has a well-established domestic specialty coffee segment, including brands such as Roots, Graph Coffee Co and Mingmitr, alongside Hong Kong’s The Coffee Academïcs, France’s Café Kitsuné and Brazil’s The Coffee.