United States
On Dec. 5th, Starbucks opened its first-ever Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, Wash. The official release announcing the opening calls this space a “first-of-its-kind union for Starbucks of coffee theater and manufacturing.” The company spent more than two years developing the concept and design for the 15,000-square-foot interactive retail environment devoted to beverage innovation and excellence.
“Everything we have created and learned about coffee has led us to this moment,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and c.e.o. of Starbucks. Schultz personally opened the new roastery’s doors to the public. “The Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting room is a multi-sensory experience that will transform the future of specialty coffee. We plan to take this super premium experience to cities around the world, elevating the Starbucks experience not only through these stores but across our entire business.”
The roastery will supply 1.4 million pounds of coffee to smaller reserve locations during the coming year.
Starbucks is on track to bring approximately 1,550 net new stores in FY14 and 1,600 net new stores in FY15 with nearly 300 net new company-operated locations in the U.S.