The first Mikel Greek coffee shop is opening in Iraq.

The Mikel Coffee chain has entered the Iraqi market with the opening of a branch in the Family Mall shopping center in Sulaymaniyah.

However, pointing out that the Iraqi market is becoming increasingly attractive to international brands after decades of instability, the American bakery and café chain Cinnabon opened a store in Baghdad in February 2023, while the American donut and coffee chain Duck Donuts announced plans to open 10 branches in Iraq in the coming years.

Research by the World Coffee Portal shows that the total number of branded coffee shops in Iraq is around 50, and it is expected to reach 110 by 2027.

Mikel Coffee is partnering with B&K Group, based in Dubai, to enter the Iraqi market, and has announced plans to "open Mikel Coffee locations throughout Iraq in the next three years." The debut of Mikel Coffee in the Iraqi market follows its entry into the German market, where Mikel Coffee opened in Stuttgart in May 2023.

Speaking with World Coffee Portal, Mikel Coffee's Chief Marketing Officer Stelios Papakostas said he expects further development in Germany, Spain, France, and the UK, where the coffee chain has three stores, in the coming years.