Al Kbous

About the Founder & Founding Story

Mohammed Hassan Al Kbous began his entrepreneurial journey as a merchant specializing in the sale of coffee in the historic Salt Market of Sana’a, Yemen’s capital.^[6] The Al Kbous family has longstanding roots in the Old City of Sana’a, and in 1938, Mohammed established his business by opening a store in the heart of the city.^[7] Recognizing the growing success of the coffee trade, he began marketing his product under the brand name Bonn Al Kabous (Al Kabous Coffee Beans), Mohammed earned a strong local reputation for honesty and good customer service. His shop became a popular destination for clients from all over Yemen, serving as a hub for social gatherings.^[8] Mohammed had five children: Hassan, Ibrahim, Hashem, Amin, and Ma’moun.^[9]

Growth Phase

In the early 1940s, Mohammed expanded his commercial activity beyond Sana’a by sourcing goods from Aden. During these trips, he encountered Ceylonese and Kenyan tea, globally considered among the highest-quality varieties.^[10] Recognizing the market potential for tea in Yemen, he began importing and selling tea in Sana’a in 1948. His initiative marked one of the earliest efforts to introduce black tea to the local market, alongside his well-established Yemeni coffee under the Al Kbous name. By 1951, he had opened Yemen’s first modern coffee roasting factory, a major advance in local coffee processing and packaging.^[11]

During the 1970s and 1980s, Mohammed’s sons began joining the business, marking the start of the second generation’s involvement. In 1983, a new factory was established to produce and package ground coffee, followed by the launch of coffee exports to Gulf countries in 1984. By 1988, Alkbous Group had expanded its coffee exports to Japan, and in the same year, introduced machinery to automate the tea packaging process.^[12]

In 1992, the company updated its machinery and launched new production lines, expanding its products to include various black and green tea products in multiple pack sizes. Coffee exports to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom began the following year. In 1996, Alkbous opened Yemen’s first vacuum-sealed aluminum bag coffee factory.^[13]

The company further diversified its operations in 1997, initiating the marketing of plastic products and launching a new factory for children’s snacks. As tea exports to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia increased around the turn of the millennium, new snack production lines were added. By 2003, tea exports had expanded to other Gulf countries, followed by coffee exports to Russia in 2005. In 2006, the company started producing tea in teabags, and by 2008, they had extended tea production to Egypt and soon after to Saudi Arabia in 2009.^[14] In 2012, the snack division further expanded its production.^[15] In 2013, Al Kbous established its Jordan branch, where the factories produced tea and coffee, operating under Jordan’s investment incentives, including customs exemptions and export facilities, which ultimately encouraged the group to choose Jordan as a base for its manufacturing and export operations.^[16]

In 2014, Yemen’s civil war intensified after the Houthis seized most of Sanaa and the Red Sea port of Hodeida, disrupting trade across the country.^[17] Their control over northern Yemen led to increased financial pressure on businesses through forced closures and levies, while many commercial families and entrepreneurs, including Al Kbous, faced harassment and attacks.^[18] The conflict among key local and regional parties has since further undermined the country’s economic stability, leading to a humanitarian crisis.^[19]

Over the next decade, Al Kbous Group sustained its efforts to combat poverty and support vulnerable communities in Yemen. The group extended financial support to low-income Yemeni families during the COVID-19 lockdown, in coordination with the Yemeni embassy in Jordan.^[20] In 2023, Al Kbous Group organized a public aid distribution for the poor in Sanaa. During the event, the Houthi forces dispersed the gathering to prevent the distribution, resulting in several deaths and injuries.^[21]

In September 2023, Mohammed passed away and was succeeded by his sons, who expanded the company’s operations to new markets, including the United States in 2025.^[22]

Today

Today, Alkbous still operates as a family-run business, led by the second generation. Hassan Al Kbous is the CEO and chairman, while Amin, Ibrahim, and Hashem serve as board members. Ma’moun is an executive manager. The business operates in 35 different countries, including Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United States, and operates seven factories.^[23] Headquartered in Sana’a, Yemen, Alkbous Group operates many subsidiaries and brands, including Al-Kbous Tea, Al-Kbous Coffee, Adnan & Lena, Mister Chips, Bugles, AND Company,, Saturn, Americana, Al-Seedawi, and Sigma.^[24]

The group is also a major importer and the sole agent in Yemen for a variety of international brands, including electrical household appliances from the US (Frigidaire, Gibson, Bissell) and appliances from China and Turkey under Swift and Sintex. It also represents renowned international brands including A&D Japan digital weighing machines, Power Horse energy drinks and Spitz juices from Austria, and Golden Bee honey from Australia. It also produces its own brand of ginger beer and acts as the agent for Chabaa drinks from Thailand and confectionery products from Al-Seedawi in Kuwait.^[25]