Starbucks opens first cafe in sub-Saharan Africa

AFP, JOHANNESBURG: Hundreds of coffee lovers queued early yesterday in an upmarket Johannesburg shopping centre as international chain Starbucks opened its first cafe in sub-Saharan Africa.
The US-based global brand plans to open 12-15 more stores in South Africa over the next two years,
with a long term plan of up to 150 outlets.
"The timing is right. We are going to offer coffee lovers a special experience," said Carlo Gonzaga, chief executive of Taste Holdings, the local partner of Starbucks Coffee Company.
The cafe's first customers formed a long line at Starbucks' doors in the Rosebank shopping centre before the opening at 7:30 a.m.
"This is long overdue," said Norma Cooper, a bank employee.
"Starbucks has been one of the things missing from the South African scene."

Starbucks opens first cafe in sub-Saharan Africa

AFP, JOHANNESBURG: Hundreds of coffee lovers queued early yesterday in an upmarket Johannesburg shopping centre as international chain Starbucks opened its first cafe in sub-Saharan Africa. The US-based global brand plans to open 12-15 more stores in South Africa over the next two years, with a long term plan of up to 150 outlets. The timing is right. We are going to offer coffee lovers a special experience, said Carlo Gonzaga, chief executive of Taste Holdings, the local partner of Starbucks Coffee Company. The cafes first customers formed a long line at Starbucks doors in the Rosebank shopping centre before the opening at 7:30 a.m. This is long overdue, said Norma Cooper, a bank employee. Starbucks has been one of the things missing from the South African scene.