Hometown Coffee Co. of Bridgeville, Pa. has cut a deal to supply coffee beans and conceive drink recipes and menus for a coffee venture bearing the name of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan. Jackie's
Java Co. has already opened seven carts or kiosks in China, and signed a franchise agreement to open 20 shops in the Philippines. "The stores are going to be East-meets-West with some Jackie Chan type
of influence," says Thomas Kazas, Hometown Coffee's president. The company and Chan's staff in Hong Kong are negotiating to open outlets in Singapore and Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzou. The chain will be competing with Starbucks, a spokesman for Chan says. Chan, who is widely popular in Asia, is the 52-year-old star of the "Rush Hour" movies. It remains unclear whether
paraphernalia from his movies will be displayed at the shops. Kazas says he sees "an opportunity to build the brand out, not unlike Paul Newman has done," and he eventually hopes to sell Jackie
Chan-branded food items to U.S. supermarkets.
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