As part of its Triple Shot Reinvention Strategy — one of the key objectives of which is to become “truly global” — Starbucks plans to more than double its current India store count to 1,000 brick-and-mortar locations by 2028. To meet this goal, the company will open one new Starbucks in the country every three days.
Starbucks operates in India through a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Consumer Products called Tata Starbucks. Launched in 2012, Tata Starbucks now operates more than 390 stores across 54 Indian cities, with approximately 4,300 employees. To meet the 1,000-store target, that workforce will be doubled to approximately 8,600 over the next four years.
“Over the past 11 years, the India market has grown to become one of Starbucks’ fastest-growing markets in the world,” said Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Starbucks in a statement. “With a growing middle class, we are proud to help cultivate the evolving coffee culture while honoring its rich heritage. With our trusted business partner, Tata, and our green apron partners, we are well positioned to capture the limitless opportunities as we open one store every three days in India and further our aspiration to become truly global.”
The store expansion will focus primarily on Tier 2 and 3 Indian cities, as well as expanding drive-thrus, airport locations and 24-hour stores. With India projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, the country is of strategic importance to Starbucks, which hopes to expand its global store footprint to 55,000 locations over the next seven years.
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One of the new stores to be opened this year will be the country’s second Reserve location — the company’s premium, experiential store format — following the 2022 opening of the Starbucks Reserve Fort Mumbai. The location of the second Starbucks Reserve in India has not yet been announced, but the company said it will cater to the “growing number of coffee enthusiasts with a penchant for premium coffee experiences” in India.
Promoting Indian-origin coffee also will be an important remit for the new stores in India and at stores around the world, with the Starbucks Reserve whole bean coffee “Monsooned Malabar” from India set to launch at both at Starbucks Reserve stores in India and the U.S. later this year.
“Thanks to the strong foundation we have built in India, we are entering our next chapter of growth, driven by our unwavering commitment to create a uniquely Starbucks Experience that uplifts customers, communities and partners [employees],” said Sushant Dash, CEO of Tata Starbucks in a statement. “With partners forming the heartbeat of our organization and shaping our success in India, we will continue to make meaningful investments that bridge a better future for all partners. Coupled with our focus on reimagining the ‘third place’ and extending our coffee leadership, we are poised to catalyze further growth in India.”
