Durian cream puffs anyone? A new coffee and bread cafe that promises to create new delicacies with local cuisine is set for the streets of Phnom Penh, as BreadTalk joins a line of international establishments eager to expand cafe concepts to locals in the country.

BreadTalk, a Singapore-based bakery store, is set to two stores in the capital this year, including their biggest worldwide: one perched at the top of the Vattanac Capital Building and the other on Diamond Island.

The chain was founded in 2003 and now has 600 branches spread over 16 countries. They specialise in breads and cakes, including the signature ‘Flosss’, a cream-filled bun topped with floss, and intend to create new delicacies to appeal to the local market. Teresa Kochel, chief operations officer at CamCorp hints that durian might be on the menu.

“We offer a price range affordable to everyone, with buns costing only $ 1.50,” she said. “We have something to appeal to all wealth classes.”

The flagship store will be one of the largest BreadTalk stores around the world, Kochel adds. Unlike its sister stores in Singapore, Phnom Penh’s BreadTalk also offers people a place to sit down and enjoy their meal, and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Apart from that, the city’s BreadTalk stores will retain the same look and feel as the other bakeries. Samantha Tan, brand development manager at BreadTalk, said the bakeries will be in a rustic style, with soothing colours and patterned mosaic floors.

“All of our stores will have the open kitchen design. We will also look for street corner locations, to maximise the view of the bread-making process,” she said.

BreadTalk’s flagship store announcement came with the official announcement of the company’s partnership with CamCorp Capital Group, which would give the Phnom Penh-based F&B operator franchise rights to BreadTalk.

The company plans to open its first store in July 2013 at Vattanac Capital, and another store at Diamond Islands Riviera this year. They also plan to have at least 15 more across Phnom Penh by 2020.

“We know this will be a huge success,” said CamCorp chief executive Jackie Thai. “We are ready to deliver and be number one in the market.”

BreadTalk is the latest to join in the bakery café fad in Phnom Penh, following Korean franchise Tous les Jours’ entry into Phnom Penh in November last year.

 

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Stephanie Ip at [email protected]