The Italian coffee brand has opened its fifth Hong Kong outlet, building on its joint venture with Yum China to expand its presence across the Chinese market.
Yum China Holdings is accelerating Lavazza’s expansion in Hong Kong, targeting approximately 10 cafés in the market following the opening of its fifth outlet. The move strengthens the Italian coffee brand’s presence in Asia, where it is developing its network through premium locations, localised beverages and a partnership with one of China’s largest restaurant operators.
The latest café is located at Cheung Kong Center II in Hong Kong’s Central business district. Its design features an installation inspired by Lavazza’s iconic Carmencita moka pot, created by Italian designer Marco Zanuso in 1979. Since entering Hong Kong in November 2025, the brand has established outlets in prominent commercial and retail locations, including Central and Causeway Bay.
Lavazza is also expanding its menu to appeal to local consumers. Its Buffalo Milk Latte, available across all five Hong Kong cafés, combines espresso with natural buffalo milk and sold more than 1.2 million cups in mainland China in 2025. The company also plans to introduce its Bicerin beverage series and Liquid Tiramisu, extending its Italian-inspired coffee and dessert offering.
The Hong Kong rollout builds on the partnership between Yum China and Lavazza Group, founded in Turin, Italy, in 1895. The companies established a joint venture in 2020 to develop Lavazza’s café business in China, combining the Italian brand’s coffee expertise with Yum China’s operating capabilities and local market knowledge.
Yum China holds a 65% stake in the joint venture, while Lavazza Group owns the remaining 35%. The business operates cafés and sells packaged coffee products, allowing the partners to reach customers through both foodservice and retail channels. Lavazza opened its first café outside Italy in Shanghai in April 2020 and has since expanded into multiple Chinese cities. Yum China reported more than 190 Lavazza coffee shops in China at the end of June 2026.
In September 2021, the partners announced an initial US$200 million investment in the joint venture and an ambition to reach 1,000 Lavazza cafés in China by 2025. However, the available disclosures do not confirm that the original target was achieved.
For the franchise industry, the partnership illustrates an alternative route to international expansion. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional franchising, Lavazza has partnered with an established local operator that provides investment, operational expertise and market access while the Italian company contributes its brand identity and coffee portfolio.
Yum China operates major restaurant brands including KFC and Pizza Hut in China, giving it experience in scaling international foodservice concepts. Its partnership with Lavazza reflects the potential for established restaurant operators to diversify into premium coffee and adjacent consumption categories.
The Hong Kong expansion, however, has not been announced as a new franchise programme, and no new master franchise agreement or individual franchise awards have been disclosed. The planned increase to approximately 10 outlets is part of the existing joint venture’s development strategy.
With its fifth Hong Kong café now open, Lavazza is seeking to build on its initial market presence and strengthen its position in the region’s competitive coffee sector. The next phase will depend on the brand’s ability to combine selective site expansion with distinctive products and a locally relevant customer experience.
