The impressions that the Vietnamese coffee shop opened by Mr. Luai Alqattan in Kuwait two months ago have brought have further affirmed the appeal of Vietnamese products and images to the people here.
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Coffilia's booth at a trade fair event in Kuwait. (Source: Coffilia) |
Launched at a time when Kuwait is entering its peak season for outdoor activities, Coffilia cafe has been appearing more on social media and receiving positive feedback from diners.
From the farm in the Northwest…
As a lover of Vietnam and wishing to bring Vietnamese products to the people of Kuwait, Mr. Luai Alqattan was fortunate to meet Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang - General Director of Coffilia coffee company at an event.
With Kuwaitis spending more than $236 million on coffee in 2022, opening a coffee shop was seen as a good opportunity for many, including Mr. Luai. Along with what he had read and learned about Vietnamese coffee, the exchanges between Mr. Luai and the Coffilia team quickly led him to a visit to the coffee farm used to make the company's products in Son La province.
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The joy of Mr. Luai Alqattan and the Coffilia team on the opening day. (Source: Coffilia) |
“When I went there and saw with my own eyes the process of growing, harvesting and producing coffee, I had faith that Coffilia would be a brand that would conquer the Kuwaiti people,” Mr. Luai affirmed. “Right after that trip, Coffilia and I signed a memorandum of understanding, starting a cooperation between the two sides to start the journey of bringing the Coffilia brand to the Gulf region.”
For Coffilia, exporting Vietnamese coffee has long been an important direction for the company. However, the new things that the Gulf market in general and Kuwait in particular bring make the cooperation between the team led by Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang and Mr. Luai more interesting than ever.
Sharing about the cooperation process between the two sides, Mr. Thang affirmed that the cooperation with Mr. Luai Alqattan in developing the Coffilia brand over time became more effective thanks to the frank exchanges between the two sides, whether through text messages or face-to-face meetings. Through Mr. Luai Alqattan, Mr. Thang and his colleagues gained more understanding of the coffee market in Kuwait; on the other hand, the sharing of the Coffilia team helped Mr. Luai gain more experience in business activities and coffee shop operations.
…to the “final” contract in Kuwait
During the initial cooperation period, Mr. Luai Alqattan helped distribute Coffilia coffee in Kuwait through orders. Mr. Luai's business partners highly appreciated the Vietnamese brand coffee products, and continuously expressed their desire to soon see Coffilia coffee shops in this Gulf country.
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The signboard of Coffilia in Kuwait is being installed ahead of the opening of the restaurant. (Source: Coffilia) |
After the Horeca Fair - an important event for the restaurant - hotel - coffee industry in Kuwait in March 2023, that need became more and more evident. Many locations were considered to open the first Coffilia coffee shop in Kuwait, before Al-Kout Beach Hotel was chosen as the "debut" location.
Located on the long coastline in the East of Kuwait, Al-Kout Beach Hotel is located near Mahboula - an area where many Vietnamese people live and work. For Mr. Luai Alqattan, collaborating with the hotel to open a coffee shop helps him develop the Coffilia brand based on his inherent strengths of providing services for hotel events, outdoor events, etc.
The official agreement on cooperation in opening a coffee shop between Coffilia and Mr. Luai Alqattan as a legal entity was signed on September 24, 2023 - one month before the official opening of the Coffilia coffee shop in Kuwait. Immediately after the contract was signed, the renovation and decoration of the coffee shop was immediately carried out, ensuring that Coffilia has the same machinery system as other coffee brands.
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| Mr. Luai Alqattan in Coffilia coffee shop in Kuwait. (Source: Coffilia) |
The opening ceremony of Coffilia was well received by many Kuwaitis as well as friends from several countries. For coffee lovers, experiencing the taste of Vietnam is a great happiness for them. Currently, the shop is operating seven days a week, from 7am to 11pm, and has a very stable number of customers.
Launched during the peak season of outdoor activities in Kuwait, Mr. Luai Alqattan also quickly seized the opportunity, attending fairs and exhibitions in the area to promote the brand to the Kuwaiti people. Traditional Vietnamese coffee dishes such as bac xiu, ca phe sua da, ca phe muoi... were gradually improved to suit local tastes, based on coffee beans produced by Coffilia.
Good relationship, win-win
Looking back on the whole journey, Mr. Luai Alqattan could not help but be moved. Now, he is trying to learn more Vietnamese phrases to serve Vietnamese customers who come to the shop to enjoy, as well as building a plan to develop the brand, moving towards opening more stores. For Coffilia, opening the first coffee shop also gives the shop many conditions to accelerate and promote the "going abroad" plan of CEO Nguyen Minh Thang and his associates.
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Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang and Mr. Luai Alqattan at the opening ceremony of Coffilia coffee shop in Kuwait (Source: Coffilia) |
Mr. Luai Alqattan is not the only one who wants to bring Vietnamese cuisine to the people of Kuwait. Currently, people in the country with 46 years of friendly relations with Vietnam can enjoy some traditional dishes such as spring rolls, fried spring rolls, pho,... at the fusion restaurant named Republique located in the center of the capital Kuwait. In the coming time, through cultural diplomacy activities, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese Trade Office in Kuwait will continue to seek opportunities to bring typical dishes to the people here.
Above all, all the “sweet fruits” come from the love for Vietnam, as Mr. Luai once shared: “To promote Vietnam, we need to start with those who have actually traveled to Vietnam... And when we have found a group of people who share the same love for your country, the promotion is extremely easy”.
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