Top Japanese chain sets up in China

Japanese low-price coffee retailer Doutor has announced plans to launch store in China via a partnership with a Chinese restaurant operator Xiao Nan Guo. While many Western coffee brands, such as Starbucks, are focusing their efforts on capturing the high-end and aspirational segments of the Chinese market, the Doutor Coffee chain will focus on appealing to the price-conscious consumer. Doutor’s owners have previously tried to crack the Chinese market with three pasta restaurants in Shanghai, which are no longer operating. Doutor currently has just 18 overseas locations at present, including cafes in Singapore Doutor Nichires Holdings also runs the Excelsior Caffe and Hoshino Coffee chains in Japan.