Starbucks plans to add 200 drive-in coffee shops in the UK

Starbucks said it would open new stores in the next five years. Starbucks already has nine drive-in coffee chains in the UK market, where drivers can buy drinks such as cappuccino iced coffee and gingerbread lattes. "customers want the best coffee wherever they are, not only when they treat them on the high street," Starbucks said in a statement today. " The plan will make Starbucks a leader in the UK drive-in coffee market, the statement said.

Starbucks, which derives more than 20 per cent of its sales from outside the US, currently has 10900 coffee chains in the US and more than 6000 in the international market. Starbucks said earlier this year that it planned to increase the number of its coffee chains in mainland China to 1500 by 2015, or more than three times the current number.

Euro Garages, the gas station operator, will operate about half of the drive-in cafes, many of which will be located in the middle and north of the UK, Starbucks said. Starbucks opened 35 new stores in the Welcome Break Highway Service area last year and now has more than 700 stores across the UK. Starbucks said it would open more traditional coffee shops in the UK market over the next five years.

Wang Jinlong, president of Starbucks Asia Pacific, said at the time that the company not only planned to triple the number of its coffee shops in China over the next four years, but would also accelerate its expansion in other parts of Asia. He said Starbucks plans to increase its total number of coffee shops in China to 1500 by 2015, and plans to open 700 new coffee shops in South Korea by 2016. the company currently has 370 coffee shops in the market.

Currently, Starbucks is looking at fast-growing emerging economies to help boost its sales. Starbucks said in July that its revenue from its international business rose 20% in the second quarter from a year earlier, accounting for 23% of the company's total sales of $2.93 billion. According to data released by Starbucks last month, same-store sales increased by 9% in the fourth quarter, including 10% in the United States and 6% in the international market.