Highlands Coffee Brews Up Success with Record 17% Earnings Jump in Q3

Company Performance - Highlands Coffee reported an EBITDA of 666 million Philippine pesos (US$11.3 million) for Q3, marking a 17.1% growth year-over-year and the highest quarterly EBITDA since Q3 2023 [1] - For the first three quarters of 2025, Highlands Coffee's EBITDA rose by 9.5% to 1.9 billion Philippine pesos [2] Contribution to Parent Company - Highlands Coffee contributed approximately 6.1% to the total EBITDA of Jollibee Foods Corporation and accounted for 29% of the corporation's coffee and tea sector [2][8] Sales Growth - Sales at locations operational for at least 15 months increased by 17.2% [2] Chain Expansion - The coffee chain operates 928 branches, with 109 new locations opened in the first nine months of the year [3] Business Strategy - The company's strategy focuses on a customer-centric approach, well-defined product positioning, and enhancing flavor profiles before marketing investments, as stated by CEO David Thai [4][9] Future Plans - Highlands Coffee is planning to go public in Vietnam, with analysts predicting a potential listing between 2026 and 2027 [5][10] Industry Overview - The Vietnamese food and beverage sector generated VND406.1 trillion (US$15.4 billion) in the first half of the year, showing a slight increase from the previous year [6] - Despite major holidays not boosting sales as expected, consumer spending in the F&B sector remains stable, although the number of F&B locations is decreasing, indicating increased competition [7]