Starbucks is investing $130 million to construct its first coffee roasting facility in China, an indication business is beginning to pick up following the outbreak of the COVI-19 coronavirus pandemic there, according to a Bloomberg News report.
The roasting operation is part of Starbucks’ new coffee innovation development scheduled to open in 2022 in Kunshan, a city south of Shanghai. The project is reported to be Starbucks’ largest production facility investment outside the United States and the first-ever in Asia.
The complex will encompass 80,000 square feet of space and include high-tech warehouses and a coffee roasting facility, reports indicate.The pandemic, originating in China, forced about 80% of Starbucks’ 4,300 stores to close in early February. More than a month later, most of those stores are once again open and operating with increased safety measures.