Paik's Dabang accelerates global push with Taiwan franchise deal

Theborn Korea is stepping up the overseas expansion of its coffee brand Paik’s Dabang, signing a 10-year master franchise agreement to enter Taiwan after opening its first stores in Japan earlier this year. The company said Tuesday that it signed the agreement on Aug. 29 with a local partner in Taiwan at a ceremony attended by CEO Paik Jong-won and representatives of the Taiwanese company. Theborn Korea declined to identify the partner, citing contractual conditions. Under the agreement, the Taiwanese partner plans to open 10 outlets in the first year and expand the network to more than 150 stores by the fifth year. Theborn Korea said it is conducting market research in Taiwan to develop an operating strategy, with the first store targeted to open in the first half of next year. The master franchise agreement follows Paik’s Dabang’s entry into Japan, where the brand opened two directly operated stores in Tokyo’s Shimbashi and Kanda districts in August. The company said the Japanese outlets have sold an average of more than 1,000 drinks per weekday, attributing the strong performan