Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas) announced that 16 Gloria Jean’s Coffees locations would be opened in Malaysia in 2023 to enhance franchising opportunities. Pernas, established by Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance in 1969 to explore franchising opportunities in the nation, will invest RM 8 million ($1.9 million) in the expansion, which will target shopping center locations and its first drive-thru store. The Kuala Lumpur-based firm presently has 44 Gloria Jean’s Coffee locations around Malaysia, the most recent of which is at the University Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital in Serdang.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees entered the Malaysian market in 2006 through Pernas’ subsidiary Wonderful Lifestyle Sdn Bhd. The coffee chain is also present in Myanmar and Brunei. Gloria Jean’s Coffees was founded in Illinois, USA, and is based in Sydney, Australia. The company has over 890 franchised outlets in over 40 countries worldwide. According to World Coffee Portal, the Malaysian branded coffee shop industry will have 2,750 outlets by 2025.

Several major coffee brands, including Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, have recently announced intentions to expand across Malaysia by 2023, aiming to add 40 new locations to reach 400 and 180, respectively. Meanwhile, Kopi Kenangan of Indonesia opened its first international store in Malaysia in October 2022, while Paris Baguette debuted in Malaysia in January.