Starbucks arrives in South Africa
The coffee shop chain held its first store opening in Johannesburg.
Opened by Starbucks and Taste Holdings, it is located at the corner of Cradock Heights and Tyrwhitt Avenue in Rosebank. The store has a unique design and offers a wide range of Starbucks beverages and food, including Starbucks ethically sourced 100 percent arabica coffee.
“This is a milestone for Starbucks and we are delighted to have arrived in South Africa," said Rhys Iley, Starbucks vice president, licensed operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and UK retail.
"With Taste Holdings, we will deliver the special Starbucks Experience for our new South African customers, a place for the community to gather and connect over a great cup of coffee."
The Rosebank store combines inspiration from the neighborhood and the very first Starbucks store, located in Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.
“This store will not only offer amazing coffee and world-class customer service, it is a representation of our commitment to South Africa through its localized design,” said Carlo Gonzaga, CEO of Taste Holdings.
“We have taken inspiration from rich local color palettes and designs, with materials and artworks produced by local artisans. It signifies the start of our coffee journey in South Africa.”
Artwork in the store includes woven leather ceiling panels that pay homage to the South African tradition of basket weaving and a 3D recreation of the famous Starbucks Siren in wood. There is also a copper mural that captures the atmosphere of the neighborhood around the Pike Place Market. The copper is also reminiscent of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle.
“We also carefully considered South African customer tastes when we developed our menu and customers can expect local products like Rooibos tea,” added Gonzaga.
Some of the store employees are from Taste Holdings’ Changing Lanes program. This is a training and development program that recruits from local communities and provides retail opportunities to currently unemployed youth.
“We are very proud to partner with Taste Holdings to bring Starbucks to South Africa, celebrating our rich coffee history, whilst also celebrating the vibrant community we will be serving," said Iley. "We are creating jobs and opportunities in our stores, as well as supporting the local supply chain and we look forward to the future of Starbucks in South Africa.”
