Starbucks franchise partner in Malaysia is targeting 400 stores in the country by the end of its current financial year in June 2023, with 40 new outlets slated to open within the next eight months
The US coffee giant opened its first Malaysian store in December 1998 in Kuala Lumpur | Photo credit: Starbucks
Berjaya Food Bhd plans to open 40 new Starbucks stores across Malaysia by July 2023.
Starbucks’ Malaysian franchisee will target urban and rural markets, particularly in metropolitan towns across the country, as it seeks to reach 400 Malaysian outlets.
As of 30 June 2022, when Berjaya Food posted its most recent financial results, Starbucks operated 356 stores across Malaysia.
The US coffee giant opened its first Malaysian store in December 1998 in Kuala Lumpur.
Alongside store expansion, Starbucks will also seek to enhance its Starbucks Rewards programme in the country by personalising rewards based upon its members’ purchasing behaviour.
"Advanced digitalised ordering and payment methods will be implemented to enhance customers’ experience, loyalty and frequency, and also to offer more card designs with attractive benefits for members," Berjaya Food said.
World Coffee Portal forecasts the Malaysian branded coffee shop market to exceed 2,700 outlets by 2025. Starbucks is not the only branded coffee chain targeting Malaysia for expansion.
In October 2022, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf said it was on course to reach 140 stores in the country by the end of 2022 and plans to open 40 new outlets across Malaysia next year.
In the same month Indonesian coffee chain Kopi Kenangan launched its first international store in Malaysia as part of an initial 10-store expansion in the country.
Domestic coffee chain ZUS Coffee opened its 100th outlet earlier this year and remains on track to reach 180 stores by the end of 2022.
Berjaya Food also operates four Starbucks stores in Brunei via another operating entity, Berjaya Food Supreme Sdn Bhd.