The international holding firm Kusto Group, headed by Yerkin Tatishev, is bringing coffee to people on the road through its new Qoffee coffee houses in Kazakhstan.
So far, Qoffee has three branches located at Compass gas stations and convenience stores in Almaty and Konaev.
The first Kusto Group coffee house was opened in June 2022 because of the growing interest in quality coffee and healthy food alternatives.
“We always create a magnet at our gas stations not only for drivers but also for passengers. It is hard to imagine a modern facility without a quality product offer, especially in the category of coffee drinks. That is why we launched our new brand Qoffee,” Orazkhan Karsybekov, Member of the Board of Directors of Kusto Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KazPetrol Group.
With regional taste preferences in mind, baristas make and serve the hot drinks at the Qoffee coffee houses, while the beans from all over the world are carefully selected by professional coffee roasters.
Apart from coffee, the Kusto Group coffee houses also offer sandwiches and pastries that customers can either enjoy on the go or in Qoffee’s seating area.
Yerkin Tatishev fuels cars and people with Compass and Qoffee
Yerkin Tatishev’s Kusto Group and the Compass gas stations have put a lot of thought into the name of the new coffee houses.
“’Why Qoffee?’ Kazakhstan is gradually moving to the Latin alphabet, and Q is becoming the favorite letter of Kazakhstani people: Qazakhstan, Qumis and now Qoffee,” Alexey Nikishin, Head of the Compass Marketing Department, explains.
The Compass gas stations and convenience stores are part of the Yerkin Tatishev-led Kusto Group’s portfolio. Founded in 2010, Compass now has 14 branches across Kazakhstan, including in Almaty, Astana and Kyzylorda.
Compass is a European-style gas station chain where customers cannot only fuel their cars but also themselves through a variety of food offered in Compass’ appurtenant convenience stores, fast food restaurants and, now, coffee houses.
Kusto Group has signed an agreement with the Kazakhstani Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development to open 35 additional Compass gas stations on big roads over the next years.
Yerkin Tatishev, who is the founder of Kusto Group, estimates that the new branches will provide an investment of about $70 million, while they will employ more than 4,000 people.
In 2020, Compass inaugurated its largest gas station yet at the 20th km of the Almaty-Taldykorgan highway. It is a two-hectare area with a gas station that can fuel fourteen cars and two electric cars at the same time.
The complex also features parking lots for cars and heavy vehicles as well as a 100 m2 service center with a restaurant, an express café, a prayer room, toilets and rooms where travelers can shower.
Kusto Group’s impact from 2002 until today
While Kusto Group was founded in Kazakhstan, the company operates in many other countries as well, including Israel, Singapore, Vietnam, Ukraine and Georgia.
It is a global holding company with a diverse portfolio of investments in various industries such as oil and gas, construction and building materials, real estate, agriculture and technology.
The company was founded in Kazakhstan in 2002 by Yerkin Tatishev but has since then moved its headquarters to Singapore.
Kusto Group operates in more than 15 countries and employs over 8,000 people worldwide. The company’s focus is on long-term investments in high-potential projects and businesses with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
Furthermore, the firm has a strong track record of partnering with local communities and supporting initiatives that promote education, healthcare and environmental sustainability.
The rise of Kusto Group
Kusto Group was born in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, when Yerkin Tatishev and his close friends came together to rescue a failing mining operation in the Zhitikara region of newly independent Kazakhstan. Their goal was to revive the towns that had been devastated by years of neglect and economic turmoil under the Soviet regime.
The mines were on the brink of bankruptcy, but after four years of hard work and support from the local community, Yerkin Tatishev and his fellow young entrepreneurs were able to purchase the operation in 2002.
By implementing advanced technologies, investing in the community and adopting efficient business practices, they were able to turn the mines around and restore profitability.
This initial success served as the foundation for Kusto Group. Over time, the firm has evolved into the diversified company it is today.
Kusto Group has, for instance, undertaken several major real estate development projects, including Koktobe City and Diamond Island.
Koktobe City is a city-within-a-city located in Almaty, Kazakhstan and features residential units, restaurants, a school, a pharmacy, a park and kindergartens, among other things. The development was designed with sustainability and European design in mind and features energy-efficient systems and green spaces.
Diamond Island is a luxury residential development located close to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The project includes apartments as well as a jacuzzi, playgrounds, swimming pools and a private marina, among other things.
