Starbucks has partnered with franchisee Taste Holdings to open Starbucks across South Africa beginning with a site in Johannesburg in early 2016.
The licensed partnership marks the first time the brand will open as full-format stores in sub-Saharan Africa.
Taste will own and operate the stores directly as the owner of exclusive rights to develop retial outlets across South Africa.
“We are proud to be bringing Starbucks to South Africa next year,” said Kris Engskov, president, Starbucks Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “Working with Taste, our partner, we’re going to deliver a great Starbucks experience. The coffee market here is vibrant and growing fast – we want to be part of that growth, bringing the passion and energy of this remarkable country into the design of our first store and our first barista team. We can’t wait to get started.”
Carlo Gonzaga, chief executive of Taste said both parties share similar core values, including a commitment to localisation and uplifting both direct and indirect partners while being committed to development of local suppliers.
The partnership will see direct job creation opportunities as each Starbucks store opens, in addition to opportunities at the Taste support office in Johannesburg
