It was on the boycott list: Famous coffee chain is being sold

An agreement has been reached for the sale of a 70 percent stake in EspressoLab, one of Turkey's major coffee chains, to the United Arab Emirates-based investment and strategy firm Mair Group.

No public statement was made regarding the value of the deal between EspressoLab founder and CEO Esat Kocadağ and Mair Group. According to CNBC Arabia, the transfer of the majority stake in the company, which has over 400 branches in 21 countries, requires approval from regulatory authorities in Turkey and the UAE.

Once the necessary permits are obtained, control of the company is expected to pass to Mair Group. EspressoLab management stated that the brand's identity and entrepreneurial culture would be preserved, and that the new partnership aims to strengthen the franchise network and drive international growth.

Esat Kocadağ described the partnership with Mair Group as an "important next step" in EspressoLab's global growth plans. Kocadağ emphasized that investments will be made in the brand and customer experience while expanding into existing and new markets.

Mair Group General Manager and Group CEO Nehayan Hamad Alameri also stated that the transaction is a significant step in the company's strategy to diversify its investment portfolio. Alameri said that EspressoLab's international reach would be combined with Mair Group's investment and organizational strength.

IT HAD COME TO THE FOREFRONT WITH THE BOYCOTT PROCESS

EspressoLab had come to the forefront during the protests that began following the detention of numerous people, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, on March 19, 2025, due to CHP's boycott calls.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had called on citizens to boycott during the protest process and had announced EspressoLab at the top of the list. A long-standing dispute had occurred between the company and the CHP during this period.

In October 2025, Özel announced that EspressoLab had been removed from the CHP's corporate boycott list. Özel stated that the profits generated from the company's stores on university campuses would be transferred to a fund created for students affected by the March 19 process.

Following the lifting of the boycott, EspressoLab also announced that it had withdrawn the compensation lawsuits it had filed against social media users who had made posts against the company.