Theborn Korea, led by CEO Paik Jong-won, is accelerating overseas expansion through its Paik's Coffee franchise and sauce business as growth slows in South Korea's food and dining market. Paik's Coffee opened its first Tokyo store in Shimbashi on August 6 and a second in Kanda on August 18, with both locations using the refreshed brand identity for global markets. The Shimbashi store drew opening-day queues and has sold more than 1,000 drinks on weekdays. Japan-specific menus, pricing, app-based ordering and a Paik's Coffee LAB are being used to test and refine the local operating model. The company plans additional Tokyo stores and an expansion into Osaka, while pursuing a master franchise agreement with a Taiwanese partner in September, stores in China by the end of this year, and expansion into the United States, Cambodia and India next year. In North America, Theborn Korea signed an MOU with Canada's Sunray Group to explore converting Markham-area properties into its dining brands and is discussing distribution of TBK sauces with two major Canadian food distributors.