DUBAI – Qahwa World

Drinkit, the rapidly growing coffee shop chain, has achieved a significant milestone in one of the world’s most competitive F&B environments, announcing an impressive average payback period for its retail network in Dubai.

In a statement released by CEO Katerina Borodich, the company confirmed that five out of six established Drinkit locations in the emirate have demonstrated an average payback period of just 31.6 months (approximately 2.6 years). Including the strategic, high-investment Mirdif flagship—opened intentionally as an image-focused brand strengthener—the overall portfolio average stands at 39 months (3.25 years).

Note: the payback period is calculated based on Store Level EBITDA.

The CEO underscored the achievement’s importance, noting that the results are “not a theoretical benchmark, but backed by real numbers from our own stores.”

The announcement positions Drinkit’s model as resilient and confident within the fiercely contested Dubai market, which hosts nearly every major global coffee chain.

Significant Upside Projected

Despite the strong performance, Borodich emphasized that the company is only beginning to unlock its full commercial potential. Drinkit has recently initiated several major growth levers that are expected to further compress the payback timeline and increase profitability:

  • Menu and Pricing Optimization: Refining product offerings and adjusting pricing strategies across the network.
  • City-wide Marketing Activation: Scaling marketing efforts across Dubai to drive brand awareness and foot traffic.
  • Delivery Scaling: Launching and scaling partnerships with all major aggregators to capture the growing off-premise market share.

“In one of the most competitive F&B markets in the world… Drinkit demonstrates a confident, resilient business model,” Borodich stated. “The upside is significant, and we’re only beginning to execute our full optimization strategy.”

The CEO concluded the announcement by congratulating the Drinkit team and franchise partners, recognizing their role in achieving these results, and extending an invitation to prospective partners for international expansion.