Starbucks has announced that it has recently achieved a significant milestone by crossing the 20,000 mark in international stores, further cementing its dominance in the beverage sector.
The store made its debut in the United Kingdom, a market Starbucks initially entered in 1998. With over 1,100 stores, the U.K. has become Starbucks’ largest international trading region. Throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the brand has established a presence with over 4,000 outlets. In the current fiscal year, the company anticipates opening 100 new locations in the U.K. and 300 in the EMEA region.
The latest restaurant features a drive-thru, a store format first introduced in the country in 2008. Furthermore, it has obtained certification as a Greener Store, signifying that it meets specific environmental standards in areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste diversion. This prototype now constitutes 25 percent of nationwide locations.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Oldham community to our new store and our first in Oldham,” Alex Rayner, Starbucks U.K. vice president and general manager, said in a statement. “Celebrating 25 years in the UK is a real privilege, and to mark this special anniversary we’ve just launched our first UK-exclusive beverage, Starbucks Clotted Cream Fudge Cold Brew, which is available now in all UK stores. We look forward to continue building on our legacy of coffee craft innovation and our long-standing partnerships with organisations such as Hubbub and NHS Charities Together. Looking ahead, we are fully invested in the U.K. and giving back to the local communities we serve each day.”
In Q3, Starbucks’ international division experienced a remarkable surge in same-store sales, surging by 24 percent, a remarkable turnaround from the 18 percent decline observed in the same period last year. Transactions increased by a noteworthy 21 percent, and the average ticket size also saw a 2 percent rise. The third quarter brought in net revenues of $2 billion, marking a robust 24 percent growth, while operating income soared to $374.5 million. This segment achieved record-breaking system sales for the second consecutive quarter and attained its highest revenue and operating margin since Q4 2021.
As of July 2, Starbucks boasted a total of 19,630 international shops, with an impressive addition of 478 net new stores during Q3 alone. If we exclude China, approximately 35 percent of the new stores opened year-to-date featured drive-thru facilities, contributing to around 15 percent of the overall store count now offering this service channel.
On a global scale, Starbucks concluded Q3 with a total of 37,222 stores, solidifying its position as the second-largest restaurant chain worldwide, trailing only behind McDonald’s.“I’m proud to celebrate Starbucks 20,000th store milestone internationally,” Michael Conway, group president of international and channel development, said in a statement. “This achievement reflects the success of the unparalleled Starbucks Experience around the world, and how in the UK market and across our EMEA region, our partners uplift the everyday and foster human connection in our stores. As we look to the future, I am excited by the growth opportunities in front of us in both the UK and the EMEA region as we deepen our engagement with customers.”