ASIA PACIFIC- British coffeehouse chain Costa Coffee has appointed Tom Edgar as its new Managing Director (MD) for the Asia Pacific (APAC) regions.
Tom served as global retail and franchise director since November 2023 before his appointment. He is expected to continue with this role alongside his new responsibilities overseeing operations in the APAC region.
According to Costa Coffee, the appointment signals a strategic focus on expansion into the region.
The new APAC MD started working for the coffeehouse chain in 1998. He began his career at Costa Coffee as an area manager.
His career at the chain includes various leadership roles, including being the head of a franchise for India. However, a highlight of his career with the chain is his tenure as general manager for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EMENA), India and the UK.
Costa Coffee welcomed the appointment via a LinkedIn post, “Tom’s had an impressive career spanning global roles across EMENA, India and the UK, and most recently as our global retail and franchising director. With our values at the heart of everything he does, Tom keeps reaching new heights.”
“Based in Dubai with his family, Tom is perfectly placed to drive our growth in APAC while still leading our global retail and franchise strategy. We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our own rise up and make such a powerful impact.”
The chain’s presence in the APAC region started in 2006 through its first outlet in Shanghai, China.
Cost Coffee has since expanded in the region, operating 460 outlets in China. It also operates 15 outlets in Malaysia and eight outlets in Japan through a partnership with Sojitz Royal Café.
The coffeehouse chain also operates 192 outlets in India, albeit managed via a franchise partnership with Devyani International. Costa Coffee also maintains a presence in Pakistan and Uzbekistan, with three stores in each country.
The appointment signals a strategic focus on growth in the APAC region, inspired by the region’s market potential.
According to a market research by analytics firm Stellar Market, the Asia Pacific (APAC) coffee market is projected to grow at a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% between 2023 and 2030 to reach a market valuation of US$227.6 billion by 2030.
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