Famed American coffee brand, Starbucks Cafe, yesterday opened its doors in Guyana at the Amazonia Mall, Providence on the East Bank Demerara.
Starbucks’ Amazonia branch is expected to provide employment for more than 50 persons and will bring increased economic activity to the area. Tagman Media’s, Alex Graham, said “The transforming of Georgetown and this East Bank corridor has been underway for most of the last decade and there is still a lot of development to come from this corridor. A Starbucks Cafe is a long overdue welcome addition to what features a healthy mix of local, regional and international brands”.
Amazonia Mall’s Marketing Manager, Cindy Ramnarine added, “We first heard Starbucks was entering the Guyana market in 2022 and this immediately created quite a storm and instantly became a trend across social media. The Amazonia Mall welcomes this opportunity. With employment of over five hundred individuals, our facility is known for its safety, convenience and known for the best in family entertainment.”
Starbucks has a presence in eighty-five markets across the globe, and said it is “excited to be here partnering with Prestige”. Starbucks also plans to establish a new service, a drive through, which it says is a new concept for them. Patrons can also access pre-order service through a mobile app, then just walk up and request their order.
“We want Starbucks to reach the needs of the people. And we’re here to adapt as we go forward. So thank you to Prestige. Thank you to all of you. Simon mentioned we gave a Starbucks grant to the Safety Foundation. And really it’s about children and computer literacy, and we’re going to be able to help over 200 children this year through that grant from our Foundation in partnership with Christine, we’re very proud of that” said the chairperson of Prestige Holdings Limited, Christian Mouttet.
President Irfaan Ali who was present at the launch noted “Starbucks does not just pick itself up and go to any market, they follow the development of countries, and they follow the development market…It is a market that Starbucks would soon realize, apart from any other market globally, we will not separate ourselves based on our own appreciation of what we offer but value countries around the world. I see this as an important investment for the services industry, and I pray for all the partners.”
“Global Brands must be able to create new products and then take that wherever they are to grow standards and move forward, not only our local products which they have incorporated [locally] but also into their global brand which is the greatest realization of corporate social responsibility. That will be your greatest contribution to the development of the local industry and [it] positions you as a champion in the investment markets.”
The first Starbucks Café was launched in 1971 along the cobblestone streets of Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. It was where they opened their first store, offering fresh-roasted coffee beans, tea and spices from around the world. The names were inspired by the classic tale, “Moby-Dick,” evoking the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders.
In December last year, the Agostini Group which represents Starbucks in Trinidad and which falls under Prestige Holdings Limited’s management had announced plans during an interview with Stabroek News for seven Starbucks stores in Guyana.
