Homegrown authentic traditional Malaysian cuisine brand Oriental Kopi is embarking on an ambitious expansion journey, with plans to bring its signature kopitiam culture beyond Malaysia’s borders to regional markets and eventually across the globe.
The brand’s growth strategy has evolved from a local favourite into a rising international name, while keeping its operational prowess and authentic Malaysian identity.
From its humble beginnings with just five employees in 2020, Oriental Kopi has grown into one of Malaysia’s most recognisable café brands, now employing over 1,800 staff across 28 outlets — 25 in Malaysia and three in Singapore. The company plans to open an additional eight outlets next year.
Bringing Malaysia’s Snacking Culture To Overseas
While being coy about expansion, founder and Managing Director Dato’ Calvin Chan shared with BusinessToday in an exclusive interview that, in terms of overseas expansion, the number of outlets has yet to be finalised or where it will be expanding to for next year, as it is still in the planning phase. However, he did note that it will be done gradually.
“If we do expand it internationally, we will be targeting nearby countries first to ensure smooth operations and effective knowledge transfer,” he shared.
He added that the regional expansion plans are for mid-2026 and that international expansion is somewhere around 2027.
Chan said the business model for the expansion will depend on which country the group is targeting.
“If it is within six hours’ flight, then the model we are considering is the joint venture (JV) partnership. If more than six hours, then it will either be a JV partnership or under direct ownership.”
He added that the expansion will be internally funded as the IPO raised funds have yet to be utilised. Oriental Kopi was listed early this year, aiming to raise RM184 million, with funds designated for expansion, including a new headquarters, a central kitchen, and new outlets in Malaysia and Singapore. The IPO, priced at 44 sen per share, was oversubscribed by more than 60 times, indicating strong investor interest.
On the other hand, he highlighted that central to Oriental Kopi’s strategy is its halal-certified concept, which has allowed the brand to reach a wider demographic.
“Since receiving the certification, our Malay customer base has grown from less than 5% to about 30% now, underscoring the success in making the kopitiam experience more inclusive and accessible to all Malaysians.
“Getting the halal certification helps us share the kopitiam culture and Malaysian cuisine with everyone,” Chan said.
Beyond food, Chan also revealed that Oriental Kopi has also ventured into lifestyle collaborations, most notably with Uniqlo, through a creative partnership blending fashion and food.
According to Chan, the collaboration featured five designs inspired by Oriental Kopi’s signature items, such as nasi lemak, polo buns, and egg tarts, which are imprinted on Uniqlo’s t-shirts, celebrating Malaysia’s local authentic nostalgia.
Keeping Quality Consistent
While expansion remains a key driver, Chan emphasised that Oriental Kopi continues to focus on maintaining consistency, efficiency and food quality across all outlets.
“Every dish is cooked to order to preserve freshness, supported by strict ingredient quality control and continuous staff training to ensure uniform taste and presentation.
“Good food starts with good ingredients. We’ve always believed that freshness and taste are what keep customers coming back,” Chan shared, while highlighting that to enhance efficiency, Oriental Kopi employs a data-driven approach to track sales and minimise food waste by adjusting portion sizes based on demand patterns. The company is also planning a small central kitchen to handle basic pre-cooking processes such as ingredient preparation, allowing outlets to focus on quality and service.
Service Culture and People
As Oriental Kopi grows, Chan emphasises that people remain the foundation of its success. He believes in leading from the ground up — maintaining open communication with both management and front-line staff.
“When you have good communication, your team will come to you directly with any issues because they want the company to improve, and this openness is what helps us solve problems quickly and keep things running smoothly,” he said to BusinessToday.
He added that regular team-building activities also play a key role in fostering stronger teamwork and better collaboration across departments, especially as the company integrates new employees.
Meanwhile, in a rapidly evolving food and beverage landscape, Chan said Oriental Kopi keeps its edge through daily research and development, and an active social media presence to stay connected with changing consumer tastes.
“The market is always changing, so we challenge ourselves to learn something new daily and to keep improving.
“We don’t aim to be ahead of others, we just focus on doing our best for our customers,” Chan said.
Even after going public, Chan says the company’s guiding principle remains the same — hard work, humility and consistency.
“After listing, the responsibilities only grow because you have to care not only for the business but also for your staff and their families. It’s important to maintain the same work ethic and passion from day one,” he shared.
With a clear vision, disciplined execution and a culture rooted in authenticity, Oriental Kopi is now preparing to share Malaysia’s cherished kopitiam experience with the world — one cup, one bun and one conversation at a time.
Having gotten to where he is today, Chan has found a sweet spot in the growing and tough food and beverage business, but the interesting aspect will be seeing Oriental Kopi emulating its success outside Malaysia. Could the long queues continue winding outside the cafes?
