KOFI in Cambodia: Between passion, local commitment and challenge
- Editorial team
- Aug 20
- 4 min read
In Cambodia's coffee industry, KOFI has established itself as a major player, recognised locally and internationally for its ambition and professional rigour. However, the brand is currently facing a unique challenge related to a barcode incident that has tested its integrity and sparked rumours and debate within the sector. This story is also one of courage, as the company has acknowledged its mistake, inspiring a wave of solidarity among professionals in the food and beverage industry.
KOFI's origins and local nature
Founded in 2009, KOFI is a local Cambodian company with a clear vision: to become a market leader in Cambodia's coffee industry by upholding values such as quality, professionalism, integrity and innovation. Today, it has five branches in different cities and provinces across the country, with distribution covering the whole of Cambodia. Contrary to some rumours, KOFI is not a Thai investment company, but a Cambodian company structured to support the growth of the local coffee industry.
The company stands out in particular for having the largest roasting plant in Cambodia, which is GMP and HACCP certified and in the process of obtaining ISO22000 certification, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality and food safety. These facilities also support projects to assist local producers, such as coffee processing for small farmers, technical training and agronomic research aimed at adapting crops to the specific climatic conditions of the Mondulkiri region.
The management team, founders and management
KOFI's management is based on a group of professionals committed to promoting advanced expertise and exceptional customer service. The management promotes a corporate culture based on transparency, continuous innovation and talent development. The company also offers a high-level internal training programme (KOFI Academy) designed to train baristas and other coffee professionals to international standards recognised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). This academy, which has been training many professionals for several years, reflects KOFI's educational and quality ambitions.
The management team consists of local and international executives who combine technical expertise with market knowledge. One example is Mr. Vorn Vorttitsya, an SCA AST barista trainer committed to passing on certified skills in Cambodia. The company currently employs between 51 and 200 people, with an extensive commercial and technical network, encouraging local development and supporting small coffee businesses throughout the country.
The recent barcode incident: a challenge and a lesson
A few days ago, the KOFI brand was at the centre of an incident involving the use of allegedly counterfeit or falsified barcodes associated with certain imported dairy products, specifically Thai milk products. The case caused a minor media storm.
According to revelations published by the local press, barcodes that were supposed to be authentic Cambodian barcodes were in fact counterfeit, prompting the authorities to intervene and remove these products from the market. KOFI immediately acknowledged its responsibility for this error, demonstrating courage and humility by issuing an official public apology, fully accepting blame rather than seeking to minimise or shift responsibility.
This approach made a deep impression on the public and industry professionals, who praised KOFI's transparency about the incident, a rare gesture in an environment sometimes marked by silence or avoidance strategies. The CEO and management team publicly explained the circumstances, describing the incident as an unintentional failure in barcode control.
Massive support for KOFI from the F&B sector
Since the incident, many voices in the Cambodian F&B sector have publicly expressed their support for KOFI, emphasising the importance of taking a constructive approach to human error.
Several professionals and market players have testified that KOFI remains a key player in coffee distribution and training, recalling that the company plays an essential role in the rise of local coffee quality and culture.
Solidarity within the sector has been expressed through public statements, particularly on social media and at professional events, where partners and customers have encouraged the brand to continue on its path with integrity and rigour, thereby strengthening collective confidence in the KOFI group. This also demonstrates the maturity of a growing sector that is capable of overcom
‘Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of knowing Kim and Dara not only as friends, but also as true champions of the coffee industry in Cambodia,’ said businessman Arnaud Darc on social media, continuing:
"Through KOFI, these individuals have invested in our farmers in Mondulkiri, establishing lasting links between plantations and the market. Through their commitment to training, barista competitions and knowledge sharing, they have helped to train a new generation of professionals, thereby improving the visibility of Cambodian coffee both nationally and internationally. ‘
’The story of KOFI is also the story of the rise of the coffee industry in Cambodia, from producers to baristas, from plantation to consumer. Kim and Dara's leadership and vision have helped build this ecosystem, and I offer them my full support and respect as they continue their journey."
Founded with passion
KOFI is a local Cambodian company founded with a passion for developing a professional and innovative coffee industry. Throughout its history, it has established itself as a pillar of the market, thanks in particular to its state-of-the-art facilities, recognised training programmes and commitment to local producers.
The fake barcode incident, although painful, allowed KOFI to demonstrate remarkable courage by publicly owning up to its mistakes, which strengthened the trust of many partners and professionals in the F&B sector.
Rather than damaging the brand's reputation, this crisis revealed a responsible company that is ready to evolve and learn. KOFI therefore remains a key player, committed to taking coffee culture to new heights in Cambodia.
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