Hollys Coffee Co., a South Korean coffee shop chain, said Monday it will open 100 shops in China within the next two years as part of its efforts to expand its overseas business.

Hollys Coffee said it has signed a franchise rights contract with Dongling Group to open a coffee shop in Shenzhen, southern China, in May next year. It is the third Hollys coffee shop in China and the first in collaboration with the Chinese firm.

“We seek to open 100 shops in China in cooperation with Dongling Group by 2014,” said Hollys Coffee in a statement.

Dongling Group is a food and retail company in southern China.

Hollys Coffee has been stepping up its efforts to diversify its business portfolio with seven overseas stores, including two in China. (Yonhap News)