(Yicai Global) Aug. 28 -- Doutor Coffee has opened a shop in Shanghai, the Japanese coffeehouse chain's first in China.

Doutor brings its trademark drip coffee, sandwiches and crepe cake to Shanghai, which priced between CNY18 (USD2.65) and CNY30 are slightly cheaper than Starbucks' products, financial media outlet Jiemian reported today. The two-story outlet is located on Wujiang Road, a popular food and leisure street in the city center.

Set up in 1962, the move is important to the Tokyo-based company's overseas expansion. In February last year, it set up a Chinese joint venture with TANSH Global Food Group which runs the Shanghai Min and Maison De L'Huirestaurants. With a 65 percent stake in the venture, Shanghai-based TANSH facilitates Doutor's mainland operations.

Doutor is also preparing to open a bigger flagship store in the form of a coffee roaster in Shanghai's Pudong district. It's a concept that has proven trendy after Starbucks opened its grandiose Reserve Roastery, the Seattle-based firm's largest, in downtown Shanghai last December.

Doutor sent a Japanese team to assist with product development and interior design at the Wujiang Road store. All main ingredients including coffee beans are imported from Japan.

Editor: Emmi Laine