Magazine – Starbucks: promising results

Starbucks plans to open 600 new units in 2011 and another 800 in 2012 all over the world. In Hungary their fourth coffee house opened in August – we spoke to district manager Edit Szász.

Sz. E.: – The company became stable again in 2008, when founder Howard Schultz returned to the chairman’s seat. Actually Starbucks did not try to open coffeehouses, it were Hungarian investors who tried negotiating with the company about this. In Hungary it is Amrest Kávézó Kft. that owns the rights, in which Starbuck is co-owner, and it is their exclusive right to open new units. First we have to set our feet in Budapest and further expansion can only come in the next phase. All the units were designed in a fashion that young people, businesspersons and families can all feel at home. Anyone can come in for a cup as we sell quality coffee for already HUF 450. Absolutely, a Starbucks café is both guest- and staff-friendly. We call our colleagues partners and treat them accordingly. We chat with guests and help them find their favourite brew. Coffeehouses were designed to fit their environment so that locals can feel comfortable there.