President Chain Store Corp (PCSC, 統一超商), which operates the nation’s largest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, expects higher revenue contributions from its food and beverage holdings, which are planning to add about 50 new outlets this year.
President Starbucks Coffee Corp (統一星巴克), a joint venture between PCSC and the Seattle-based Starbucks Corp, is scheduled to open 10 new outlets in the middle of next month, raising its total store number in Taiwan to 340.
“President Starbucks will open new outlets either across the street or in commercial complexes or department stores,” company president John Hsu (徐光宇) said in a statement.
Among PCSC’s food and beverage business units, President Starbucks generated the highest income for the parent company during the first three quarters of last year.
The company posted a net income of NT$534.75 million (US$16.74 million) from January to September last year, with PCSC recognizing a net profit of NT$160.43 million.
PCSC’s other food and beverage investments, such as Mister Donut Taiwan Co (統一多拿滋), Century Co Ltd (二十一世紀生活事業), Afternoon Tea Taiwan Corp (統一午茶風光) and Cold Stone Creamery (酷聖石冰淇淋), are also planning to expand this year.
Mister Donut Taiwan, a joint venture with Duskin Co Ltd of Japan, is scheduled to open nine new outlets this year, bringing its store total to 65 nationwide.
To diversify its product line, Mister Donut Taiwan started selling noodle products last year and plans to launch more stores under this format in line with its aim to become a new cafe chain serving light food, general manager Hung Yau-hsin (洪堯欣) said.
Mister Donut Taiwan sales climbed 15 percent from a year earlier to about NT$720 million last year, Hung said, adding that the expansion plan should help annual sales grow 15 percent this year.
As for Century Co, a fast-food chain focusing on roast chicken products, is set to open three new stores this year. It currently has 22 stores in Taiwan.
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