Starbucks has more than doubled the number of drive-thru stores across Asia Pacific in the last four years | Photo credit: Starbucks

Starbucks has reached its 5,000-store milestone across Asia-Pacific with a new drive-thru outlet in Gwangyang-si, South Korea. 
 

The Seattle-based coffee chain reported 8% net new store growth across the region in 2022, with its 17 Asia-Pacific markets collectively achieving year-on-year sales growth exceeding 20%. 

Starbucks plans to open 400 new stores in the region this year, with a focus on expanding outside of metropolitan areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. 

“The opening of our 5,000th store in Asia Pacific reaffirms our commitment to bring the unparalleled Starbucks Experience to more customers in one of our fastest growing regions. Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse engine of growth for Starbucks globally. As recovery continues, the region achieved over 20% sales growth year on year, demonstrating the strength and relevance of the brand. We are well positioned for further growth with our licensed business partners, who continue to elevate the Starbucks Experience across a range of innovative store formats,” said Michael Conway, Group President, International and Channel Development for Starbucks. 

Starbucks has more than doubled the number of drive-thru stores across Asia Pacific in the last four years to more than 600. The company plans to add more than 100 drive-thru outlets this year as it seeks to ‘meet customers where it is most convenient’.  

The US coffee chain also plans to open more Starbucks Reserve stores across Asia Pacific to enhance the ‘intimate, multi-sensory coffee experience’ for customers. There are currently more than 145 Starbucks Reserve stores across 11 Asia Pacific markets. 

In February 2023, Starbucks credited its resilience and ‘accelerating demand' for the brand around the world for driving its strong first quarter revenues.  

Reporting on the three months ended 1 January 2023, Starbucks said total revenues increased 8% to reach a record $8.7bn with global same store sales rising 5%. 

However, international sales performed below company expectations, falling 10% to $1.7bn. Starbucks attributed this to reduced footfall in China due to Covid-19 restrictions during the period.  

China and Japan are not included as part of Starbucks’ Asia-Pacific markets.