Enjoy the season of blossom alongside new spring beverages, food options and merchandise in South Korea for a limited period of time.

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Spring Strawberry Milk: A sweet combination of local Seolhyang strawberries and milk that can be enjoyed with plant-based options (oat milk, coconut milk) perfect for the spring season. Available as iced handcrafted beverage.

Lilac Blossom Tea: A colorfully layered beverage that visually expresses ‘lilac blossom’. The sweet taste of acacia honey and herbal notes are reminiscent of lilac with added texture of aloe jelly. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

Strawberry Chocolate Cake: Returning for the 3rd time, this delightful cake comes with layers of chocolate whipped cream and strawberry compote, topped with fresh strawberries perfect for the strawberry season.

Strawberry Yogurt Cream Castella: A returning favorite dessert for the spring with yogurt cream and Korean strawberries in soft castella.

Inspired by the fresh colors during the day and charming scenery of the night of cherry blossoms, the spring merchandise collection of drinkware and lifestyle accessories is a must-have for outdoor picnics to admire the bloom of spring.

Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea's new seasonal menu and merchandise : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Stories Asia

Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea&#8217;s new seasonal menu and merchandise

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Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea’s new seasonal menu and merchandise

Opened on Feb. 15, the Bukhansan store is a unique space where everyone could enjoy an embrace by the Korean mountains alongside beverage inspired by the local ingredients, right in the heart of the city of Seoul.

Located near the entrance of the famous Bukhansan National Park, the store spans 1,100 square meters over two floors and a rooftop. Among the 253 seats, 66 are outdoor on the rooftop, where customers could enjoy at the same time their favourite beverage and a panoramic view of the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain, without leaving the city center at all.

Echoing the nature immediately outside of the store, the Bukhansan store features a special photo zone with stunning images of the mountain in the background. A walking trail, created through beautiful trees and a waterscape space just outside the store, further characterizes the unique store experience that combines urbanity and nature.

Two special beverages have been created in celebration of the opening of Starbucks Bukhansan. Green Mugwort Blended Beverage is a savory and sweet blended beverage made with malcha shots, local mugwort and grains. Green Mugwort Cream Latte is a delicious smooth latte made with the Starbucks Blonde Espresso, local mugwort and grains. These two beverages are available at five stores across Korea including The Bukhansan, The Yangpyeong DTR, The Bukhangang R, Gyeongdong 1960 and Daegu Jongro Gotaek.

Besides The Bukhansan, the signature Starbucks experience blended with scenic views could be also found in a number of stores in Korea, such as The Bukhangang R, The Yangpyeong DTR and recently-opened Daegu Jongro Gotaek.

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The Bukhansan store in South Korea blends city life in Seoul with serenity in nature : Starbucks Stories Asia

The Bukhansan store in South Korea blends city life in Seoul with serenity in nature

Opened on Feb. 15, the Bukhansan store is a unique space where everyone could enjoy an embrace by the Korean mountains alongside beverage inspired by the local ingredients, right in the heart of the city of Seoul. Located near the entrance of the famous Bukhansan National Park, the store spans 1,100 square meters over two […]

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Available at Starbucks® stores for a limited time across Asia, refresh your taste buds with Starbucks latest spring beverages.

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NEW! STARBUCKS® PISTACHIO WHITE CHOCOLATE MACCHIATO

Let the good times bloom with Starbucks® Pistachio White Chocolate Macchiato. Enjoy the blissful combination of rich pistachio sauce folded with sweet white chocolate chunks in our classic Macchiato, made with smooth steamed milk, foam, and espresso, creating a delightfully rich, comforting, and nutty beverage. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

NEW! STARBUCKS® PISTACHIO WHITE CHOCOLATE FRAPPUCCINO BLENDED BEVERAGE

Energize your every sip with Starbucks® Pistachio White Chocolate Frappuccino blended beverage. The Pistachio White Chocolate Frappuccino® blended beverage is a harmonious blend of sweet and salty– made with milk, ice, Coffee Frappuccino® syrup base, Frappuccino Roast Soluble Coffee, pistachios, and white chocolate chunks. These flavors come together to create soft pistachio green tones, topped with indulgent whipped cream. Available as a blended handcrafted beverage.

NEW! STARBUCKS® STRAWBERRY PIE PURE MATCHA LATTE

Our classic Pure Matcha gets a delightful Strawberry Pie twist, achieving matcha pie-fection with Starbucks® Strawberry Pie Pure Matcha Latte. A soothing combination of Pure Matcha flavor, perfectly balanced with milk and strawberry pie-flavored syrup, this light and fruity aesthetic beverage comes topped with light pink strawberry pie-flavored cold foam and yummy cookie crumble topping. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

NEW! STARBUCKS® STRAWBERRY PIE CREAM FRAPPUCCINO

This spring, enjoy crumbly, berry bliss with Starbucks® Strawberry Pie Cream Frappuccino® blended Beverage. A berry creamy blend of strawberry pie flavored syrup, milk, and a swirl of butter strawberry cookie for that extra layer of delightful crunch. The beverage is topped with whipped cream and even more strawberry butter cookie for an extraordinary medley of textures. Available as a blended handcrafted beverage.

STARBUCKS® VANILLA LATTE

Sweeten up your spring season with the classic Starbucks® Vanilla Latte – now adjustable to three different levels of sweetness. A velvety smooth blend of vanilla flavor with bold espresso and creamy milk, enjoy this delicious, yet classic drink in different sweetness levels to brighten your week. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

STARBUCKS® CARAMEL MACCHIATO

Add a touch of joy to your day with the Starbucks® Caramel Macchiato. Combining freshly steamed milk with vanilla-flavored concentrate marked with espresso and topped with a caramel drizzle for an oh-so-delightful finish, the Caramel Macchiato is now available with adjustable sweetness. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

STARBUCKS® VANILLA SWEET CREAM COLD BREW

Treat yourself to a refreshing beverage with the Starbucks® Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. This slow-steeped custom blend of Starbucks® Cold Brew coffee accented with vanilla and topped with a delicate float of house-made vanilla sweet cream that cascades throughout the cup is sure to keep you refreshed through the spring season. Customize this beverage by choosing from three levels of sweetness. Available as an iced handcrafted beverage.

Let the good times bloom with Starbucks® latest spring beverages : Starbucks Stories Asia

Let the good times bloom with Starbucks® latest spring beverages

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The first signs of spring are blooming at Starbucks stores across Japan. Customers can enjoy new seasonal beverages, merchandise and exciting in-store AR experiences on their mobile device for a limited time.

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At the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo, customers can enjoy six seasonal beverages alongside a spring interpretation of a yearlong favorite, as well as seasonal Princi® baked treats.

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Cherry blossom season arrives at Starbucks in Japan : Starbucks Stories Asia

Cherry blossom season arrives at Starbucks in Japan

Check out the seasonal beverages, merchandise and more from Starbucks in Japan.

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In Asia Pacific, company achieves net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months

Milestone underscores Starbucks accelerated growth across the region where the company expects to open more than 400 stores in 2023 &nbsp;

New drive-thru in South Korea represents Starbucks commitment to diversifying and expanding its store portfolio to bring the Starbucks Experience to more customers seeking comfort and convenience

Starbucks has achieved its 5,000th store opening in Gwangyang-si, South Korea, marking a significant milestone in its continued growth journey in the Asia Pacific region where it has achieved net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months. Located on a major road that connects residential areas with business districts, the new drive-thru store represents a diversifying portfolio and continued expansion across the Asia Pacific region.

“The opening of our 5,000th store in Asia Pacific reaffirms our commitment to bring the unparalleled Starbucks Experience to more customers in one of our fastest growing regions,” said Michael Conway, group president, International and Channel Development for Starbucks. “Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse engine of growth for Starbucks globally. As recovery continues, the region achieved over 20% sales growth year on year, demonstrating the strength and relevance of the brand. We are well positioned for further growth with our licensed business partners, who continue to elevate the Starbucks Experience across a range of innovative store formats.”

Accelerating store expansion across cities in Asia Pacific

Remaining true to its mission – to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time – Starbucks plans to expand further in the region by opening 400 stores this year to serve additional communities in major cities and beyond.

In the vast market of India, Starbucks plans to build on its existing portfolio of over 300 stores across 40 cities by extending its footprint into at least five new cities. Across Southeast Asia, the company also plans to expand its stores beyond the metropolitan areas of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Laos where it <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-brings-welcoming-third-place-to-laos/">first opened its doors in November</a> last year in the capital city of Vientiane, Starbucks also plans to open a new store this year.

Diversifying store formats to meet evolving customer preferences

Strategically located along a major road in the highly populated residential area in Gwangyang-si, the new Gwangyang Madong drive-thru store is a 500 sqm freestanding store that is easily accessible from Gwangyang IC and Suncheong City. Fully equipped with the latest digital features and technology, the new drive-thru store offers customers on-the-go the convenience of enjoying a beverage from the comfort of their cars; and customers that choose to visit the store a warm and welcoming third place to connect while enjoying their favorite coffee.

Taking inspiration from the vibrant nature of the area, the exterior of the building features soft curved corners complimented by oversized windows, sometimes spanning over two floors, located on multiple sides of the building. The abundance of natural light flowing in highlights the warm and muted colour tones, along with the smooth forms inside the store, providing a pleasant contrast to the colourful and vibrant art pieces that celebrate coffee and the communities that support it. This deliberate combination of elements contributes to creating a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere for customers to enjoy their favorite cup of coffee in beautiful surroundings.

Starbucks drive-thru stores across Asia Pacific have more than doubled in the last four years, many of which have become community hubs at residential areas, with some fitted out with private rooms that can be booked for business meetings, study sessions or family gatherings. Building on its existing portfolio of over 600 drive-thru stores in the region, Starbucks plans to add over 100 more this year to cater to customers wanting to enjoy a welcoming third place in the neighborhood or a beverage on the move.

Emmy Kan, president for Starbucks Asia Pacific said, “That our 5000th store in Asia Pacific is a drive-thru store speaks both to the changing habits of our customers, and of our determination to meet them where it is most convenient, while still offering the Starbucks connection. We will continually enhance our store formats and innovate, not just to cater to changing customer behaviors, but also to fuel growth in Asia Pacific.”

Building on the welcoming third place experience Starbucks is known for, the company also plans to open more Starbucks Reserve stores across Asia Pacific to bring customers an intimate, multi-sensory coffee experience that features a selection of the rarest, most extraordinary coffees Starbucks has to offer. There are now more than 145 Starbucks Reserve stores across 11 Asia Pacific markets.

Starbucks reaches 5,000-store milestone in its continued expansion across Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks reaches 5,000-store milestone in its continued expansion across Asia Pacific

Marking a significant milestone in its continued growth journey in the Asia Pacific region where it has achieved net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months.

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Starbucks Philippines strengthened its partnership with Gawad Kalinga for its Kusina ng Kalinga Program as part of the company’s continuous global advocacy for hunger relief. Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga have a shared goal to help fight hunger and support communities in the Philippines.

Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program is their strategic response to address hunger and malnutrition among Filipino children and pregnant and lactating mothers. It is a food donation program where thousands of nutritious meals are prepared and distributed to those in need. These meals are prepared by volunteers in their community kitchens, then picked up by parents and guardians or directly distributed to children in public schools, on the streets, and even in disaster and conflict areas.

As part of the Global Community Impact Grants, The Starbucks Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga in April 2022 supporting nutrition for 600 youth in two communities in Quezon City and Laguna, as well as providing nutrition education and support for building and maintaining community vegetable gardens. Starbucks Philippines donated an additional $25,000 each to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation and Gawad Kalinga to expand its hunger relief programs in 2023 in Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Taking the first steps towards fighting hunger

In July 2022, the Kusina ng Kalinga program started the implementation of the program in Gawad Kalinga communities in Toyota, Sta. Rosa Laguna and Tribuin, Batasan Hills.

On December 13, Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga held a face-to-face volunteering program together in Gawad Kalinga Batasan, Quezon City. This program was implemented across three GK barangays: GK Pioneer, GK Tribu, and GK Telus II and Starbucks partners (employees) volunteered to help prepare and serve meals to 300 children in need of nutrition.

“Starbucks Philippines is committed to help fight hunger and support thriving communities. As we work towards fighting hunger, we are honored to be serving our beneficiaries alongside our friends at Gawad Kalinga. We are only at the start of this fight against hunger in the country and we aim to be able to help more communities in the coming months,” said Char Vilchez, manager for Marketing &amp; Global Responsibility at Starbucks Philippines.

Starbucks Philippines addresses hunger relief through Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Philippines addresses hunger relief through Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program

Starbucks Philippines strengthened its partnership with Gawad Kalinga for its Kusina ng Kalinga Program as part of the company’s continuous global advocacy for hunger relief. Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga have a shared goal to help fight hunger and support communities in the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program is their strategic response to […]

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New Hualien Heping store, dedicated to uplifting Taiwan’s Indigenous Community, joins hundreds of Starbucks® Community Stores operating globally

Today, Starbucks Taiwan celebrated the grand opening of its first Community Store located in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, reaffirming the brand’s global commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity. Around the world, Starbucks recognizes a responsibility to strengthen the communities it serves and has opened more than 150 Community Stores in service of this aspiration. In partnership with Uni-Wonder Corporation, Starbucks licensed business operator in the market, the new store provides more career opportunities for green apron partners (employees) from Taiwan’s indigenous communities and a dedicated space to celebrate indigenous culture.

Community Stores around the world are inclusive of several store models, from serving under-resourced communities, to empowering farmers, youth and women, and creating impact in partnership with local nonprofit organizations.

The Starbucks® Hualien Heping Community Store has been designed as a community-based third place that strengthens ties between residents in the neighborhood, while fostering pride in the region's diverse indigenous culture. A portion of profits from this store will be donated to Hualien County Private Heping Sustainable Charity Foundation, an organization with deep roots in the area and community, to support a local emergency relief fund.

The store design draws on the rich indigenous culture in Hualian, including featured artworks created by indigenous artists Miru Hayung and Eleng Luluan. Miru Hayung, an artist from the Atayal Zihing community, used vibrant images to illustrate how coffee connects people and the environment. Eleng Luluan, a teacher from Drekay Kucapungane community, used local textiles and embroidery cloth to create an artistic landscape of plants and coffee trees.

The celebration of indigenous culture extends beyond store design. A one-of-a-kind totem embellishment, created by Truku traditional weaving master, Shi Ma Hsiu-Hua in collaboration with tribal women, is woven into the iconic green apron partners wear at the Community Store. Representing the pride of the Truku people, the design pays tribute to the enthusiasm and connection Starbucks partners proudly bring to customers.

Growing up in Xiulin Township, Hualien County as part of the Truku tribe, store manager Allen is proud to support his community through the Community Store. “It has been ten years since I joined Starbucks, and I am now a store manager who leads and trains partners,” says Allen. " Starbucks corporate mission has a great impact on me when I first joined Starbucks after graduating from university. I have found a sense of accomplishment and a sense of belonging in the store, and I hope to recruit more locals to become partners through this store.”

Since 1998, Starbucks Taiwan has opened more than 540 stores, with more than 5,600 partners now proudly wearing the green apron in the market. Committed to creating positive impact in the communities it serves, Starbucks Taiwan supported the educational development of indigenous children through its "Indigenous Hope" project since 1999. The project has provided nearly 46,000 indigenous children with scholarships, supported the establishment of seven recreational classrooms, one stadium, and two student centers, helping many tribal children to attend school and have an opportunity to develop their talents and dreams. This first Community Store in Hualien builds on this long-standing commitment to the indigenous community.

Starbucks opens first Community Store in Taiwan : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens first Community Store in Taiwan

The Starbucks Hualien Heping store is dedicated to uplifting Taiwan’s Indigenous Community.

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Available at Starbucks® stores for a limited time, unwind and recharge with new winter beverages across Asia.

NEW! STARBUCKS® HAZELNUT DOLCE LATTE

Enjoy a rich, hazelnutty hug in a mug that will keep you energized with Starbucks® new Hazelnut Dolce Latte. Our signature espresso is layered with creamy milk, slightly sweetened with rich Hazelnut Dolce sauce, and lightly dusted with mocha powder for an invigorating experience. Also available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

NEW! STARBUCKS® HAZELNUT DOLCE FRAPPUCCINO BLENDED BEVERAGE

Cozy up to creamy hazelnut goodness with the all-new Starbucks® Hazelnut Dolce Frappuccino Blended Beverage. Hazelnut Dolce sauce is combined with Starbucks Frappuccino of roasted coffee and milk, blended with ice, and topped with whipped cream and mocha powder for a delicious experience.

NEW! STARBUCKS® ICED JASMINE CLEMENTINE SHAKEN OOLONG TEA WITH PEARLS

Find a new sense of comfort with Starbucks® Iced Jasmine Clementine Shaken Oolong Tea with Pearls. Our floral Teavana™ Zen Clouds Oolong Tea with fresh floral notes is shaken with jasmine clementine sauce for that perfect balance of sweet and tangy. With added blood orange pearls to create an extra layer of texture, this beverage is a refreshing pick-me-up.

NEW! STARBUCKS® JASMINE CLEMENTINE PURE MATCHA LATTE

Unwind and recharge from the holidays with the Jasmine Clementine Pure Matcha Latte, serving up sweet citrus and floral notes for a soothing twist. Relish this unique combination of jasmine citrus-flavored milk topped with shots of lightly sweetened matcha for a full-bodied beverage. Also available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

Keep warm with Starbucks comforting new winter line-up : Starbucks Stories Asia

Keep warm with Starbucks comforting new winter line-up

Unwind and recharge with Starbucks new winter beverages across Asia.

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Today, Starbucks opened the doors of its first drive-thru store in Cambodia, located in front of AEON Mall Mean Chey – along Hun Sen Boulevard in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Operated by Coffee Concepts (Cambodia) Ltd., a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, the milestone demonstrates the company’s commitment to the market, offering more convenient ways for Cambodian customers to enjoy the Starbucks Experience through the expansion of its digital services.

The Starbucks AEON Mall Mean Chey drive-thru store is fully equipped with a digital check-in system, a digital menu, and two-way audio and video screen to assist customers in ordering their favorite beverages and food.&nbsp; The seamless and convenient drive-thru experience is a great option for customers who prefer to enjoy their beverage from the comfort of their own vehicles, especially those who want to have their Starbucks fix on-the-go.

In addition to the drive-thru experience, the 1,018 sqm store also offers spacious dine-in area, providing customers a warm and welcoming third place to enjoy freshly brewed coffee and pastries.

The store is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting the iconic Starbucks Siren and coffee flowers on the wall, adding delightful colors to the warm modern interior.&nbsp; The welcoming space is further enhanced by the natural lighting coming through the floor to ceiling windows, creating the perfect atmosphere for coffee lovers to connect as they sip their favorite coffee.

Cambodia is the 10th country in Asia Pacific region to offer drive-thru experience along with Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Starbucks opens first drive-thru store in Cambodia : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens first drive-thru store in Cambodia

Starbucks opens its first drive-thru store in Cambodia, offering more convenient ways for customers to enjoy their favorite beverages and food.

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December 16, 2022, Shanghai - Starbucks has been named as a “2022 Aon China Best ESG Employer” by leading global human resource consultancy Aon China. One of the most influential awards in China’s human resource industry, it comprehensively evaluates close to 200 companies on their environmental, social and governance practices, based on a combination of collected data and employee perception. Starbucks stood out for its outstanding performance in partner care, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.

“Starbucks is proud, and humbled, to be recognized as 2022 Aon China Best ESG Employer. Since entering China more than two decades ago, we have been committed to not only sharing our love for coffee, but also helping to build thriving communities and a greener environment,” said Belinda Wong, chairwoman and chief executive officer of Starbucks China. “Our commitment to ESG is unwavering. We will always be a company that puts people first – from our partners (employees) to our customers and communities across China.”

The accolade came after Starbucks was recently awarded for “Employer Excellence China” for the 10th straight year by leading Chinese online human resource platform 51job.com. The company was also recently recognized in the inaugural “Shanghai Charity Awards” organized by the Shanghai government, and received the “Rural Revitalization Action Award” in the 2022 Ifeng Action League held by leading Chinese portal website ifeng.com.

Exceeding Partners’ Expectations

Partners are the heartbeat of Starbucks. The company strongly believes that by exceeding the expectations of partners, they will in turn exceed customers’ expectation. Since the beginning, its mission has always been to take care of partners and their families, and helping them to realize their goals and career aspirations.

This commitment has been translated into a range of innovative partner investments and benefits in China. In 2017, Starbucks introduced a first-of-its-kind program to provide critical illness insurance for parents of eligible partners. Just last year, it launched “14th Month Pay”, a pioneering initiative giving retail partners an additional month’s salary as bonus on top of the 13th month pay they are eligible for, to be paid out at the end of every financial year. Partners can also select from a wide array of innovative flexible benefits such as HPV vaccinations and ‘pawternal’ care for new pets.

Starbucks China partners enjoy opportunities to pursue their coffee passion and career aspirations through initiatives such as talent exchange and barista championships, among others. The company also operates 12 signing stores in China, creating more employment opportunities for partners who are Deaf and hard of hearing, and dedicated spaces to celebrate Deaf and sign language culture.

Starbucks is committed to helping the communities it serves to thrive. Since 2012, it has been operating a Farmer Support Center in Yunnan, offering free open-source agronomy expertise and resources to help farmers grow better quality coffee and improve their livelihoods. A month ago, Starbucks announced its largest social impact investment to date in China, donating 17 million RMB (~US$2.5 million) to launch the “Beautiful Rural Community Project”, which will elevate the livelihoods of Yunnan communities by integrating coffee farming and tourism, connecting urban coffee lovers to farmers at the origin. It builds on previous projects that provided capacity building and livelihoods training for farmers, enhanced education and health examinations for children, and ‘smart’ agricultural practices to increase coffee yield leveraging big data and technology.

Beyond Yunnan, Starbucks has transformed the lives of underserved groups across China through programs such as ‘Reading for the Future’ to promote literacy for rural children, and ‘Rural Women Accelerator’ to teach rural ethnic minority women skills in local handicrafts and support them in marketing their work. The Beijing Starbucks Foundation was established in 2020, and has funded an ‘Inclusion Enabler’ program to support training and job placements opportunities for youth from the intellectual disability community, as well as various disaster relief efforts. Every April, Starbucks China partners celebrate Global Month of Good (GMOG) by taking part in local community service activities, contributing over 1.5 million service hours to date.

Advancing sustainability across the value chain

In the area of sustainability, Starbucks takes a comprehensive approach that addresses every stage of the coffee journey ‘from bean to cup’. At the first 10 feet, the Starbucks Yunnan Farmer Support Center has trained over 30,000 farmers on sustainable farming practices, with 2,860 farms verified through the Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. It has also invested US$156 in building a Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park which will feature Starbucks most sustainable roasting facility globally when operational in 2023. Starbucks introduced its ‘Greener Store’ framework into China last year with the opening of the Greener Store Lab in Shanghai, with plans to operate 2,500 Greener Stores in the market by 2025. It also inspires customers to make small changes toward more sustainable lifestyles with the introduction of plant-based food and beverage menu, lower-waste packaging, and discounts for customers who bring their own mugs.

China is Starbucks largest and fastest growing international market, with more than 60,000 partners who proudly wear the green apron. The company plans to create 35,000 new job positions in the market by 2025, to provide partners more fulfilling career opportunities while giving back to local communities and helping to build a leading specialty coffee industry in China.

Starbucks has been recognized as a top employer in China for performance in partner care and social impact.

Starbucks Named 2022 Aon China Best ESG Employer

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Rejuvenating the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present

Today, Starbucks Korea announced the opening of its fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ on December 16th, dedicated towards revitalizing and restoring the long-standing heritage of the Kyundong Market, alongside the local community of the marketplace.

As part of Starbucks Korea’s ongoing commitment to strengthen communities through the expansion of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-announces-aspirations/">Community Store program</a>, the Starbucks Korea ‘Kyungdong 1960’ Community Store will donate 300 Korean won (approximately 25 cents USD) for every item sold at the Community Store to the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP) to revive and refurbish the infrastructure of the Kyundong old market. The company will also host community gatherings and support various activities, creating a welcoming space for the local community to connect.

“This store not only stands for mutual growth with the local community but also a much-cherished meeting place for the locals,” said Jeonghyun Sohn, ceo of Starbucks Korea. “We hope to create meaningful occasions for customers of all generations and contribute to revitalizing the traditional marketplace.”

The new store pays tribute to the old Kyungdong Theater, originally built in the 1960’s, that has been lost since its closure in 1994. Previously, a beloved location as a community hub , Starbucks Korea pays homage by preserving the architect and existing materials of the old theater, modified with a touch of retro and modern design elements, bringing together the nostalgic ambience of 1960s and the signature Starbucks coffee experience.

The beautiful store spans two floors (third and fourth floors of Kyungdong Market) and 805 square meters with 143 seats. The double-doored entrance, which was preserved from the original structure, leads to the center of the store with the bar serving as the main stage. With seats in rows facing forward, customers can enjoy the view of the bar as if enjoying a performance in a theater. There will be regular cultural and musical performances by local artists in the store, providing a unique Starbucks experience for customers.

To commemorate the opening of its fifth Community Store, Starbucks Korea will sign a cooperative-coexistence agreement with the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP), the Kyungdong Market Merchants Association, and KD Market on December 15.

Since opening its first store in 1999, Starbucks Korea has opened more than 1,750 stores across 78 cities nationwide, with more than 21,000 partners now proudly wearing the green apron. Starbucks Korea opened its first Community Store in 2014, which supports lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program. Today, Starbucks Korea operates 5 Community Stores in the market, supporting local communities.

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community

The Community Store rejuvenates the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present.

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Today, Starbucks announces new ways to give the gift of Starbucks in Japan with digital gift cards available from December 7 on the Starbucks Japan mobile app and website. This exciting new feature coincides with the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.co.jp/ja/stories/2022/starbuckscard/">20th anniversary of Starbucks Cards in Japan</a>, and will feature 30 seasonal and everyday designs to spark connection over coffee.

Starbucks continues to offer customers more ways to personalize their Starbucks Experience through mobile ordering and customization, digital payments and gifting, and delivery.

Digital Starbucks Cards now available in Japan : Starbucks Stories Asia

Digital Starbucks Cards now available in Japan

Customers in Japan can give the gift of coffee with new digital Starbucks Cards.

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/29/2022/12/Japan-Digital-Starbucks-Cards-2-683x1024.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/digital-starbucks-cards-now-available-in-japan/