2019: Year in Review
We look back at the highs and lows of the Asian multi-site restaurant industry these past twelve months.
The Asian QSR scene heads to the future with more innovative concepts and menu offerings, competitive marketing campaigns and major players’ acquisitions and joint ventures, as highlighted in QSR Media Asia’s Year in Review.
Unique concepts flourish
Airport food down on land and a footwear brand’s cafe were amongst the unique concepts in the restaurant scene introduced this year.
- AirAsia opens flagship Santan restaurant, cafe
- Fashion footwear company Pazzion launches first cafe concept in Singapore
- Mango Tree rolls out new grab and go concept in Thailand
- ST Group launches Japanese-inspired concept
Plant-based scene growing
The QSR scene has seen an integration of fruits and cheeses into restaurant menus, whilst momentum of vegan meat and other healthy alternatives are picking up.
- Pizza Hut Malaysia launches Durian Cheese Pizza
- MOS Burger Singapore now serves Impossible vegan option
- McDonald's Singapore brings back its Nasi Lemak burger
- Pizza Hut Malaysia offers spicy version of their Black Volcano Pizza
- Burger King Singapore eyes a bigger breakfast crowd with new avocado sandwich
- Burger King Singapore launches the Applewood Rodeo burger
- Subway Singapore introduces 'Triple Cheese' sub range
- McDonald's partners with Tsit Wing for new McCafe Cheese Series beverages
- KFC Malaysia unveils its limited edition Green Chili Crunch chicken
- Starbucks Japan unveils new Lemon Yoghurt Fermented Frappuccino
- KFC Indonesia now selling fried chicken skin
- Burger King Singapore unveils Truffle Mayo range
- BreadTalk Singapore unveils Japan-inspired range
Expansions via joint ventures
Restaurant brands have been inking joint venture deals to effectively enter international markets.
- Minor International sets up joint venture to expand The Coffee Club in Vietnam
- Luckin Coffee forms joint venture to enter Greater Middle East, India
- Jollibee Foods Corporation inks joint venture deal to bring Tim Ho Wan in China
- Jollibee, US-based Panda Group create joint venture firm to put up Panda Express stores in the Philippines
IPOs being sought
Aside from joint ventures, some chains have gone public or are eyeing IPOs to ramp up expansion.
- Burger King India seeks US$56m in IPO
- ST Group clinches SG$9.6m from IPO
- Luckin Coffee raises US$561m in U.S. IPO
Major acquisitions
Chains also acquired other businesses or have consolidated to expand their brand portfolios. Meanwhile, the QSR Brands has considered a sale amidst a weakening Malaysian market.
- BreadTalk Group takes full ownership of Food Republic Guangzhou
- Minor International acquires Bonchon Thailand operator
- Jollibee Foods Corporation buys Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for US$350m
- QSR Brands owners considering sale: report
Regional debut, international entries
More chains, especially Japanese restaurants, have made their debuts in other regional markets whilst more US and UK-based chains have come to shake up the region.
- Hong Kong-based coffee chain Honolulu Cafe debuts in the Philippines
- Bubble tea chain The Alley to launch in Singapore
- Myanmar-based Feel International launches debut site in Thailand
- Mellower Coffee makes debut in Vietnam
- Jollibee announces Guam debut
- Arabica Coffee to launch first Singapore outlet
- Arabica slated to make Indonesia debut
- Taiwanese bubble tea chain Milksha opens first outlet in Singapore
- Wake Cup Coffee & Eatery opens first outlet in India
- JUMBO Seafood opens first outlet in South Korea
- 108 Matcha Saro opens first site in Singapore
- First Cafe Amazon in China opens
- MOS Burger gets new partner to expand Thai operations
- Song Fa Bak Kut Teh to make its way in Taiwan
- Taiwanese bubble tea chain Milksha opens first Australian store
- Goobne makes Australia debut with Sydney flagship site
- Taco Bell arrives in Thailand
- Shake Shack's first outlet in Singapore opening on April 17
- Domino's opens first store in Bangladesh
- Five Guys' first Singapore outlet to open at Plaza Singapura
- Popeyes eyes first China outlet in Shanghai
- Dine Brands Global inks franchising deal to bring IHOP to Pakistan
- Wrap It Up! opens first store in India
- Harry Ramsden makes its way to Malaysia
- Tim Hortons opens first restaurant in China
- Dubai's Sumo Sushi & Bento inks deal to enter India
- Mad Mex opens first Singapore restaurant, eyes first Malaysian outlet by December
- The Coffee Club makes Vietnam debut
Expanded delivery services, demand for cloud kitchens
Big delivery players have introduced new services for their customers, including grocery delivery. Restaurant operators have seen their potential in entering dark kitchens.
- Event coordinator, customisable menu amongst Deliveroo's expanded business service offerings
- Foodpanda expands Singapore delivery services to include groceries, household essentials
- Deliveroo opens Food Market concept
- JLL India retail manager Pranav Nichani: “For the takeaway business in the modern gig economy, [cloud kitchens are] filling a real need.”
- Burger King China CEO Ekrem Ozer: “We have to accept and embrace this new channel and then make sure that the revenues that are coming from this channel are incremental.”
Unique campaigns
From collaborations with designers to hosting concerts, chains have exhibited their creativity in through marketing campaigns.
