Is the Russian Version of "Starbucks" Opening Its First Overseas Store?!!

Stars Coffee Expands at Home and Plans an International Launch

The 130 stores acquired from Starbucks by Russian rapper Timur Yunusov and Russian entrepreneur Anton Pinsky have not yet fully resumed operations. Now Stars Coffee is working to expand its domestic footprint in Russia while planning its first overseas store.

On September 8 local time, Timur Yunusov, one of the co-owners of Stars Coffee, shared updates on the chain's store operations on Instagram, announcing that the first 3 of 15 stores in the St. Petersburg region are now open, with a goal of 100 stores by the end of September. They have also received roughly 50 overseas invitations and are currently working through those proposals.

Subsequently, TASS news agency reported that singer Timur Yunusov said in an interview this Thursday that Stars Coffee, the chain replacing Starbucks in Russia, is planning to open branches abroad. Meanwhile Anton Pinsky, the other co-owner, noted that the chain's first overseas branch would open in Armenia.

According to reports, Stars Coffee plans to open more than 20 overseas locations, potentially spread across countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Anton Pinsky explained that due to overwhelming demand, they are actively planning international expansion. There are 20 to 25 options on the waiting list, with requests coming from completely different countries.

According to Anton Pinsky, the regions on the waiting list include countries such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Palestine, Oman, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and others that, for various reasons, have no Starbucks presence. This is a rare opportunity for the Stars Coffee brand.

From Starbucks to Stars Coffee: A Brand Transition

After Starbucks announced on March 8 that it would end its 15-year franchise in Russia, the chain's 130 stores there were closed. On July 30, Pinskiy & Co. completed the acquisition of Starbucks' assets in Russia. On August 17, it was officially renamed Stars Coffee, with a logo showing a girl in a traditional Russian kokoshnik headdress in place of Starbucks' mermaid. On August 19, the Stars Coffee chain took over from Starbucks in Russia, welcoming its first customers in Moscow.

Image source: Internet

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