Subscribe
E-Paper
" src='https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/11-04(107).jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize' /> |
| Starbucks Coffee Korea CEO and President Lee Seock-koo speaks during a press conference at Starbucks' "Famille Park" outlet in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, Monday, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the coffeehouse's launch in Korea. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Park Ji-won
Starbucks Coffee Korea said it will expand its upscale outlets and products tailored to Korean customers' tastes.
"Starbucks has grown over the past 15 years since the opening of its first outlet in 1999, with the number of outlets growing to 680 nationwide," CEO and President Lee Seock-koo said at a press conference in the "Famille Park" branch in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, Monday.
He held the press conference to mark the 15th anniversary of the start of the business in Korea.
Starbucks Coffee Korea posted 482 billion won in sales in 2013, up 24 percent from a year earlier. The number of outlets rose to 680 as of June, up 13 percent from 599 at the end of last year.
"We are planning to increase the number of our upscale outlets by up to 60 from seven by the end of next year," Lee said. "We plan to add various product lineups to meet diverse customer demands, introducing up to 80 drinks and food in the second half."
Since March, the coffeehouse opened its upscale outlets, "Starbucks Reserve," where they sell rare "single-origin" coffee at higher prices.
Famille Park is an outlet with a Reserve section, which will open today.
Lee said the coffeehouse introduced its fizzy drink "Fizzio" as part of its effort to intensify non-coffee drink lineups. The drink is made by baristas through its original sparkling machine.
Meanwhile, the coffeehouse designated 2014 as the inaugural year of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. It will spend 2 percent of profits for CSR activities yearly.
It plans to open a course for fostering 30 baristas from high school graduates and professional school graduates.
