C-United

C-United Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company that operates a portfolio of coffee-shop (kissaten) chains. It is headquartered in Shibadaimon, Minato, Tokyo, and is part of the Colowide restaurant group. The company was formed through the merger of two long-established coffee-shop operators: Kohikan Co., Ltd. and Chat Noir Co., Ltd. Its brand portfolio includes Kohikan, Chat Noir, Café Veloce, Café Sejour, THE SMOKIST COFFEE, Café de Crie, and related sub-brands. C-United traces its corporate history to Chat Noir's founding on May 26, 1965, although the current legal entity was established in 2018 as LK Holdings and later renamed. The company has expanded through acquisitions, including the purchase of Pokka Create (operator of Café de Crie) in 2022 and its absorption in 2023. In 2026, Colowide MD acquired all shares, making C-United a wholly owned subsidiary of Colowide. C-United is a significant player in Japan's café and coffee-shop market, operating multiple formats from roadside Kohikan Kura stores to urban Café Veloce outlets.

C-United Co., Ltd. was formed through the consolidation of several Japanese coffee-shop operators. Its roots lie in Chat Noir Co., Ltd., founded on May 26, 1965, and Kohikan Co., Ltd., a well-known coffee-shop chain. In 2018, Hong Kong private equity fund Longreach Group acquired Kohikan Co., Ltd. In March 2018, LK Holdings Co., Ltd. was established. On July 1, 2018, LK Holdings absorbed Kohikan Co., Ltd. (second generation) and changed its name to Kohikan Co., Ltd. (third generation). In 2020, Longreach acquired Chat Noir Co., Ltd. On April 1, 2021, Kohikan Co., Ltd. absorbed Chat Noir Co., Ltd., changed its name to C-United Co., Ltd., and moved its headquarters from Sendagaya, Shibuya to Shibadaimon, Minato (the former headquarters of Chat Noir). The corporate history adopted Chat Noir's founding date of May 26, 1965. On April 1, 2022, C-United acquired Pokka Create Co., Ltd., which operated Café de Crie, from Sapporo Group Foods. On January 1, 2023, Pokka Create was absorbed into C-United, and all its store brands, including Café de Crie, were inherited. On April 1, 2026, Colowide MD acquired all shares of C-United, making it a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of Colowide (holding company).

• 2026

  On April 1, Colowide MD acquires all shares, making C-United a wholly owned subsidiary of Colowide.

• 2023

  On January 1, absorbs Pokka Create and inherits all its store brands including Café de Crie.

• 2022

  On April 1, acquires Pokka Create Co., Ltd. (operator of Café de Crie) from Sapporo Group Foods.

• 2021

  On April 1, Kohikan absorbs Chat Noir, changes name to C-United Co., Ltd., and relocates headquarters to Shibadaimon, Minato.

• 2020

  Longreach Group acquires Chat Noir Co., Ltd.

• 2018

  LK Holdings established in March; in July absorbed Kohikan Co., Ltd. and renamed Kohikan Co., Ltd. (3rd generation).

• 1965

  Chat Noir Co., Ltd. founded on May 26.

Multi-brand coffee-shop chain operator targeting various customer segments, from full-service kissaten to quick-service cafés.

• Kohikan

  Coffee-shop chain.

• Kohikan Kura

  Roadside store format of Kohikan with a warehouse-style exterior.

• CAFE DI ESPRESSO Kohikan

  Espresso-focused café format.

• Chat Noir

  Coffee-shop chain.

• Café Veloce

  Quick-service café chain.

• Café Sejour

  Café chain.

• THE SMOKIST COFFEE

  Coffee brand.

• Café de Crie

  Café chain acquired from Pokka Create.

• Café de Crie Hopital

  Hospital-based café format.

• Café de Crie Libre

  Café format.

• Café de Crie Grand

  Larger café format.

• Café de Crie Plus

  Café format.

• Maison de Vert

  Café brand.

1. 1C-United - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2C-United - Wikidatawikidata.org