Alsea, the licensed partner of Starbucks, has announced the opening of its first store in the city of Talca in central Chile's Maule region.

The new café will be the brand’s 160th store in this market.

Covering an area of 190m², the new Talca store can serve 50 people and features a design by local artist Pepe inspired by the city's flora and fauna.

Starbucks Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay marketing manager Soledad Fantuzzi stated: “We are thrilled to bring the Starbucks experience to consumers in Talca, further expanding our presence in southern Chile.

“Our store designers have created a space that pays homage to the historical charm of Talca, providing customers with a space for the meaningful moments of connection around coffee that so many of our customers enjoy.”

The new store will be offering its guests a range of Starbucks favourites, including the Caramel Frappuccino, flavoured lattes, hot and cold coffee blends and a selection of bakery items.

Starbucks entered the Chilean market in 2003 with its store in Santiago. The new Talca store will employ 13 Starbucks Chile partners.

Fantuzzi added: “Growing within the Chilean market is a priority for Starbucks. We have plans to open more stores in the coming years, aligning with our commitment to creating local job opportunities and delivering unparalleled experiences to our customers.”

In October 2023, Alsea announced the expansion of the brand's footprint in Colombia with the opening of three stores in the city of Bucaramanga, the capital of the Santander department. This increases its store count in the region to more than 65.

Starbucks’ stores are spread across six Colombian cities: Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena and Medellín.