The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf franchise presents a compelling opportunity rooted in a rich history of specialty coffee and tea. Founded in September 1963 by Herbert B. Hyman and his wife Mona Hyman in Los Angeles, California, the brand’s origins trace back to an inspiring honeymoon in Sweden, where the couple discovered a passion for quality coffee. This inspiration led them to import, roast, and sell gourmet coffee, culminating in the opening of their first retail store in 1968 in Brentwood, California. This initial location was revolutionary for its time, offering whole-bean coffee, visible roasting processes, and flavor sampling, setting a high standard for quality and customer engagement from its inception. The company’s headquarters steadfastly remain in Los Angeles, California, a testament to its Californian roots, while its global innovation and experience center is strategically located in Singapore, reflecting its international reach and forward-looking approach. A significant transition occurred in 1998 when Singaporean entrepreneurs Sunny and Victor Sassoon, alongside business associate Severin Wunderman, acquired The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf from the Hyman family. This acquisition marked a shift to a corporate structure under International Coffee & Tea, LLC, with Sunny Sassoon serving as president and CEO from 1998 to 2009, and subsequently as executive chairman until 2019. Mel Elias then assumed the role of president and CEO in 2009. Further ownership evolution in September 2013 saw Advent International, Mirae Asset Private Equity, and CDIB Capital acquire a significant equity position, though the