Ahead of its 15-year anniversary celebrations in Malaysia, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced plans to open 100 new stores in Malaysia over the next four years.
John Culver, group president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands, reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to building the brand in Malaysia, and across Southeast Asia, during his two-day market visit in Kuala Lumpur. Starbucks earlier announced plans to add 100 new stores in Indonesia over three years, 100 new stores in the Philippines over the next four years and to double the number of stores in Thailand over the next five years.
“We have a historic opportunity to become one of the most respected and enduring brands across Southeast Asia, delivering an unparalleled experience to Starbucks customers, while supporting local communities. In Malaysia, we are humbled by the way customers have embraced the Starbucks Experience, and as we look to celebrate 15 years in this dynamic market, I would like to thank our partners for earning the trust of our customers and sharing their coffee passion each and every day,” said Culver. “We will continue to build the Starbucks brand in Malaysia holistically, adding 100 new stores over the next four years, evaluating ways to expand across new channels like grocery and convenience stores, all while staying true to our core values of investing in our people and in the communities we serve.”
As part of this important 15-year milestone, Starbucks Malaysia recently announced the launch of its Connecting Communities Program, in conjunction with the Starbucks Card. Working closely with HOPE Worldwide, the program aims to create a scalable community project that contributes to small, local farming villages. Its first project raises funds for banana farming communities in rural Malaysia. By purchasing select food items, featuring locally-grown bananas, using their Starbucks Card, customers contribute 15 percent of the purchase price to farmers and their families in Kampung Lubuk Jaya, Kuala Selangor. Specifically, the funds raised will be used to build a computer learning center for the children of the farming village.
Starbucks Malaysia will continue to deepen its connections with the Malaysian community and to leverage its scale to make a positive difference to local causes that matter most to its Malaysian customers. During the month of April 2013, when Starbucks celebrated its annual Global Month of Service, Starbucks Malaysia partners and customers contributed a record 19,000 community service hours, over 30 days, on 32 different local community service activities.
Starbucks entered the Malaysian market with the opening of its first store at KL Plaza in Kuala Lumpur, in 1998. Today Starbucks has 141 stores across Malaysia and operates more than 700 stores across six Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and, most recently, Vietnam.
