President Starbucks Coffee Corp (統一星巴克), a joint venture between President Chain Store Corp (PCSC, 統一超商) and the Seattle-based coffee giant, is to launch operation of a new outlet today at the renowned Ye Jintu Mansion (葉金塗古宅) in Taipei’s Datong District (大同).
The new outlet increases the number of Starbucks stores in Taiwan to 321. That figure is set to reach 330 by the end of this year and 350 by the end of next year, President Starbucks president John Hsu (徐光宇) said yesterday.
Overall, President Starbucks aims to open a total of 20 outlets next year by launching more high-profile stores with unique designs and serving drip coffee, Hsu said, adding that the Ye Jintu Mansion outlet is the ninth “Starbucks Reserve Store” in the nation.
Although the investment in a reserve store is 80 percent to 100 percent higher than a general store, in which the company invests about NT$7 million to NT$8 million (US$231,420 to US$264,480), the high-profile stores have helped raise brand spirit and consumer awareness, Hsu said.
The company has also installed a drive-through window in two of its outlets, which has brought in nearly double the revenue from a normal store.
From January through last month, President Starbucks’ sales and net income showed double-digit growth from the same period last year, in line with company expectations.
President Starbucks has generated NT$103.7 million for PCSC in the first half of this year, according to PCSC’s stock exchange filing data.
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