Starbucks has opened its first store in Ecuador earlier this month, as part of its continued expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The new café, located at Scala Mall in Quito, is the first of five planned stores in the country over the next year. A second store opened at Condado Mall last Thursday, 22 August, followed by another at Centro Comercial Iñaquito, which is set to open in October. Two more stores are planned for 2025.

The stores will be operated by Delonorte, a subsidiary of Delosi, which also manages Starbucks locations in Peru and Bolivia.

The opening represents Starbucks' 25th market in Latin America and the Caribbean and the 8th globally. It also marks the company's 1,700th store in the LAC region.

The 140-square-metre store in Scala Mall is designed to reflect Ecuador’s rich coffee heritage. The café features a central mural by Ecuadorian artist Apitatán (also known as Juan Sebastián Aguirre Ríos), celebrating local culture with themes of ancestry, nature and coffee. The store also holds certification as a Greener Store, part of Starbucks' global initiative to reduce its carbon, water and waste footprints by 50% by 2030.

Ricardo Arias-Nath, SVP and president of Starbucks in Latin America and the Caribbean, said: “We are tremendously proud to celebrate our 1,700th store in Latin America and the Caribbean with the opening of Ecuador’s first Starbucks café in the historic and vibrant city of Quito".

"Starbucks has been sourcing high-quality Arabica coffee from Ecuador for over a decade, and with our first store opening in the market, we look forward to creating moments of connection over coffee for Ecuadorian customers and continuing the rich coffee traditions inherent to the region.”

Cristel Delgado, brand manager of Starbucks Ecuador, added: “Our commitment to Ecuador is long-term. We are very happy to be able to connect with the market’s coffee culture and traditions, and we are honoured to open our first store in Ecuador".

"We aim to make a positive impact in our communities by creating jobs, establishing a third place for our customers, elevating everyday moments and providing flavourful experiences for our partners and customers. This is just the beginning of our efforts to foster connections and celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community."

Last month, Starbucks appointed former PepsiCo chief strategy and transformation officer, Ricardo Arias-Nath, as its new senior vice president and president of its Latin America and Caribbean division.

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