Starbucks' presence in Africa limited to only three countries
Starbucks, the US-based coffee giant with over 22,000 cafes globally, has a limited presence in Africa, operating in just three countries: Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa.
The coffee brand made its African debut in 2016 in South Africa through a partnership with Taste Holdings. Despite its global reach, Starbucks has yet to expand majorly across the continent, focusing its efforts primarily on these three markets.
In North Africa, Starbucks has established itself in Morocco and Egypt, with one of its stores in Casablanca’s Franklin Roosevelt Villa.
Starbucks sources a substantial portion of its coffee beans from Africa, with nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa contributing to its supply chain.
The company also works with small-batch reserve coffees from around the world. To support the farmers who supply its coffee, Starbucks operates farmer support centres in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania, providing training and resources aimed at improving coffee quality and increasing yields.
Since opening its first store in its Europe, Middle East, and Africa region in 1998, Starbucks has expanded to over 2,400 stores across 38 countries.
