Starbucks Coffee Company today announced plans to open its first location in Laos by the summer of 2021, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to continued growth across Asia. Laos marks Starbucks 17th market in the region, where it continues to accelerate locally-relevant retail innovation in more than 10,000 stores within the region.
Starbucks first store in Laos will open in the capital city of Vientiane, offering a warm and familiar coffeehouse experience alongside Starbucks signature handcrafted beverages.
“We’re excited to bring the Starbucks Experience to Laos, which has a rich history of coffee production and thriving coffee culture,” said Michael Conway, executive vice president, Starbucks International Licensed Stores. “Fifty years ago, Starbucks was founded with a deep passion for bringing the highest-quality arabica coffees from around the world to our customers, and we’re delighted to continue that tradition today. Our local partners (employees) are the heartbeat of our stores around the world, creating inspiring moments of connection with our customers every day, and we’re honored to welcome our new partners in Laos.”
Starbucks stores in Laos will be operated by Coffee Concepts (Laos) Limited, part of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, building on the longstanding partnership between the brands across the region. The new licensing agreement leverages Maxim’s industry expertise and deep understanding of the Starbucks brand, Mission and Values to deliver the unparalleled Starbucks Experience to customers in Laos.
“We are pleased to introduce the Starbucks brand into Laos, which further builds on our 20 year relationship with Starbucks to grow the coffee industry across Asia,” said Michael Wu, Chairman and Managing Director, Maxim’s Caterers Limited. “We look forward to continuing to deliver the unique Starbucks Experience to customers in the market to earn the trust and respect known by customers around the world.”
As Starbucks expands in Laos, the company is committed to using its scale for good and creating a positive impact in every community it serves. Guided by the Starbucks Mission and Values, Starbucks is committed to attracting and retaining an industry-leading team of partners, and creating opportunities to develop fulfilling careers in the coffee industry.
Today, Starbucks operates more than 10,000 stores and employs more than 149,000 partners across its markets in Asia, including China and Japan. Through its licensed partner Coffee Concepts Limited, a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, Starbucks operates more than 800 stores across Hong Kong and Macau regions, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand.
Source: Starbucks
