RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Kroger Set to Name Former Walmart Executive Greg Foran as Next CEO 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Starbucks Korea may face new challenges as Canadian chain Tim Hortons and American brand Peet's Coffee prepare to enter South Korea's vibrant, premium coffee market. The impending store openings intensify the anticipation for a fresh wave of competition.
The Korea Times reported that Tim Hortons is preparing to launch its first store in Seoul, while Peet's Coffee filed its trademark registration in May. As they prepare for store openings in South Korea, industry officials are already anticipating stiff competition not only with homegrown premium coffee chain brands but with the local units of foreign companies, such as Starbucks.
Tim Hortons is opening its doors to Korean customers very soon, so it has already started recruiting manager-level staff who will be in charge of growing the outlets they will manage in the territory. The Canadian coffee company has yet to announce the exact opening date of its Seoul branch. The prediction is that it will officially start business in early December.
Peet's Coffee, often compared to Starbucks, was said to have registered trademarks for various food and beverage services. It added advertising and business management for its brand registration as well. Starbucks Korea has no rivals, but Tim Hortons and Peet's Coffee will give it good competition.
"When Tim Hortons and Peet's Coffee open their first stores in Seoul, they will go viral for sure, like Five Guys did recently. Starbucks is too common now in Korea and consumers want new premium coffeehouse brands," an official of a local franchise company said. "There hasn't been one since Blue Bottle Coffee entered the local market in 2019. They can also target foreign tourists visiting Korea. For those who are from countries that do not have Tim Hortons or Peet's Coffee, the North American coffeehouse chain stores in Seoul can become tourist destinations."
Meanwhile, Restaurant Brands International first announced the launch of Tim Hortons in South Korea in May via a master franchise agreement with BKR Co. Ltd., a leading QSR firm.
"South Korea is one of the world's largest and fastest growing coffee markets and we are proud to have such an experienced partner in BKR," RBI's president, David Shear, said in a press release at that time. "We are excited about meeting our South Korean guests and introducing them to the premium quality coffee and delicious foods that Tims fans around the world know and love."
Photo by: Erik Mclean/Unsplash
