Kuwait-based retail franchisee Alshaya Group plans to expand Starbucks' footprint in the Middle East and aims to have 3,000 stores by 2028, according to the World Coffee Portal.
Alshaya Group, which is the Starbucks franchise partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), plans to open 250 Starbucks stores annually across the region.
Alshaya currently operates nearly 2,000 stores in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
World Coffee Portal quoted Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden as saying: “Amidst vast opportunities, the Middle East stands out as a thriving retail hub.
“Accepting Starbucks’ award for ‘Most Admired Transformation in the Food Service Sector’ at the Middle East-focused retail event, Hadden said the coffee chain’s journey in the region continues to flourish.
“Notably, we've seen significant growth in female workforce participation in Saudi Arabia while the expanding presence of Starbucks amid healthy competition is driving our ambition further.
“Our plan is to open 250 more outlets annually, aiming for 3,000 outlets in the next five years from the current 2,000.”
Hadden confirmed the plan at the Middle East Retail Forum (MRF) 2023 in Dubai.
In July this year, Starbucks opened its 400th store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Alshaya Group announced the milestone in a Facebook Post. The new store was opened in Jeddah’s shopping and entertainment centre, Jeddah Park.
