Starbucks Philippines currently operates over 420 outlets across the country | Photo credit: JerryUnderscore

Starbucks Philippines plans to accelerate its recovery from the pandemic with a new outlet expansion drive in the country. 
 

The coffee chain, operated in the Philippines by local franchisee Rustan Coffee Corp, is seeking to open up to 45 new Starbucks stores annually. 

Noey Lopez, President and CEO of Starbucks Philippines, said half of the new outlets will be drive-thru, reflecting the enduring appeal of the format which gained prominence during the pandemic. 

He told reporters the company would be ‘aggressive’ and ‘deliberate’ in its growth plans but did not reveal target locations. 

Lopez also announced that Starbucks Philippines will begin introducing more plant-based menu items and provide customers with the option to customise beverage sweetness from next year. 

Starbucks Philippines opened its first store in December 1997, and now operates over 420 outlets across the country. 

In September 2022, petrol giant Shell announced plans to open Starbucks retail stores across more than a third of its petrol stations in the Philippines by 2025. 

Although exact figures are yet to be disclosed, Lopez said Starbucks Philippines achieved double-digit revenue growth this year, exceeding its 2019 performance.