Starbucks announces Brazil expansion by launching eight new cafe stores

Starbucks is expanding in Brazil and revealed this week that it would be opening additional eight stores in the country. The new cafe outlets that will be built in the state of Minas Gerais will bring the number of Starbucks coffeehouses in the region to 142.

As per Verdict Food Service, the eight new stores are set to be launched by SouthRock, the licensed operator of Starbucks in Brazil. The project is part of the coffee chain’s plans to increase its presence in the area and the Brazilian market.

It was reported that as of this time, two of the new stores have been set and recently started their operation. These are the branches located in Aeroporto Internacional de Belo Horizonte and the Boulevard Shopping, which started business on Nov. 18 and 27, respectively.

The other six Starbucks stores are opening soon as well and these are scheduled for launch in the upcoming weeks. Customers will find these six new cafes in Shopping Cidade BH, BH Shopping, Uberlândia Shopping, Minas Shopping, and the last two’s location is in the airport.

The new Starbucks stores in Brazil will also offer some special beverage blends that were created specifically for the locals. One of the handcrafted drinks is called the Starbucks Brasil Blend which is prepared using Brazilian beans.

“It is with great excitement that we announce our arrival in Minas Gerais with eight unique store locations offering high-quality arabica coffee from Brazil and around the world,” Starbucks Brazil’s managing director, Claudia Malaguerra, said in a blog post. “As we celebrate our 15th anniversary in Brazil, we are happy to share our passion for coffee and bring the Starbucks Experience to our customers, while creating job opportunities and using our scale for good in this key coffee-producing region in Brazil.”

Meanwhile, to make sure that the new Starbucks store outlets will only offer the coffee and service experience that the company is known for, it will also open a Starbucks Training Center. The facility will certainly ensure the staff will be trained well so customers will continue to enjoy a consistent Starbucks Experience.

The training center will be built in Minas Gerais, in a location inside the Confins Airport. Baristas of Starbucks Brazil will be training here and they will be issued barista certifications and other certificates for programs including customer service practices, food safety, operational routines, and other courses related to the coffee industry.