Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, said during a visit to Thailand to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its founding in the country, that Myanmar was one of the targeted countries for the firm to expand its business, which includes more shops in China and India. “Within the next couple of years, I’d say,” Mr Schultz said of the plan to enter Myanmar.

The company plans to boost the number of Starbucks stores in China to 1,500 stores by 2015, up from the current 850 stores in 70 cities after enter.

”We’ve built the kind of business that has garnered a fair amount of trust from multiple constituencies in China,” Mr Schultz said. “I think the market is large enough for many people, and I think we have a unique opportunity to maintain our leadership position.” “Success is not an entitlement anywhere in the world,” he said. “Certainly not in China. You have to earn it, and earn it every day.” Starbucks plans to open more stores in India, where it operates 12 shops. It has one outlet in Vietnam.

The company plans to double its size in Thailand to 320 branches within the next five year, he added.

Mr. Schultz on Monday announced to opening of the firm’s first community store outside the United States in Bangkok.

The first three Starbucks community stores are in its hometown Los Angeles, New York and Texas.

A portion of the revenues earned at the Starbucks store on Lang Suan Road will be directed toward farming communities in northern Thailand that grow coffee for the Seattle-based chain. The money will be directed to the Integrated Tribal Development Programme to support education, health and irrigation projects. more…