Mexico City – Alsea, the franchise group based in Mexico City, has announced a substantial investment of $12 million aimed at establishing 30 new Starbucks locations across Colombia over the next three years. This initiative coincides with the coffee chain’s 10-year anniversary in the country.
With this investment, Alsea seeks to expand on Starbucks’ existing network of 71 stores in Colombia, marking the nation as the fourth-largest market for the brand in Latin America, trailing only behind Mexico, Chile, and Argentina.
In a recent press release, Starbucks revealed plans to penetrate new Colombian cities, introduce innovative store formats, and enhance its Greener Store program—a series of environmentally friendly stores aimed at reducing carbon footprints, water consumption, and landfill waste.
Currently, Starbucks has a presence in major Colombian cities, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Bucaramanga. The company debuted its first drive-thru location in Cali in December 2022 and operates 25 Greener Stores throughout the country.
“Our future is bright in Colombia, where our partners will continue to deliver exceptional coffee with the passion and expertise that only Starbucks can offer,” stated Brady Brewer, CEO of Starbucks International.
Alsea has been affiliated with Starbucks since 2002 when it signed a franchise agreement and launched its first store in Mexico City that same year. The group has since expanded to operate over 1,825 Starbucks outlets in 12 markets across Latin America and Europe.
In July 2024, Alsea reported a 7% increase in like-for-like second-quarter sales for Starbucks, driven by new openings in Mexico and strong coffee segment growth in South America, despite facing challenges in Europe due to consumer boycotts in France and the Netherlands.