Louisa Coffee to raise prices by an average of 5%

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Taiwanese coffeehouse chain Louisa Coffee will raise prices on around 90 items on its menu by an average of 5 percent starting Tuesday, the company's management announced.

In a statement issued Monday, Louisa Coffee said the price hike was necessitated by the rising cost of ingredients and materials, labor and electricity.

In terms of specific items, the company said the price of a medium specialty Americano will rise from NT$65 (US$2.06) to NT$70, while a specialty latte will rise from NT$85 to NT$90.

Similarly, the price of a medium oat milk latte will increase by NT$10, to NT$90, while a regular black Americano will cost NT$5 more at NT$60.

Of the cheapest items on Louisa's menu, the price of an English black tea will rise from NT$40 to NT$50, while a Ceylon black tea will go up by NT$5 to NT$45, the company said.

Overall, the prices of about 90 items on the menu will rise by an average of 5 percent. A small number of items, such as latte frappes and float drinks containing ice cream, will rise by NT$15 due to the higher cost of the relevant ingredients, the statement said.

Launched in Taipei in 2006, Louisa Coffee has become one of Taiwan's largest coffeehouse chains, offering cheaper prices than its main rival, Starbucks. Louisa plans to surpass 600 store locations in Taiwan this year.