Starbucks has reopened 85% of its retail stores in China after the coronavirus known as COVID-19 outbreak forced temporary closures.
Kevin Johnson, Starbucks’ c.e.o., announced the move Thursday, Feb. 27, in a letter to employees. The closures started in January and affected about 4,300 cafes throughout China.
The company directed the closures in the interest of public health and a desire to work with Chinese government officials to help step the spread of the virus. Since then, the situation has changed.
“With the number of new cases in China slowing, we are seeing the early signs of a recovery in the region. As a result, the situation is improving throughout major parts of China,” Johnson said in his letter. “We now have 85% of stores open across China and continue to assess the ongoing impact. Over time, we will see additional communities recover, more customer occasions in our stores, and we will continue our focus on the well-being of our partners and customers.”