1983-2011 Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Starbucks, the Seattle-based global coffee chain, opened its first store in India on Friday, as it began its foray into the nascent café culture of the traditionally tea-drinking subcontinent. The 4,500ft store – far larger than many Starbucks shops around the world – is located in a restored heritage building owned by Starbucks’ Indian partner, the Tata group, in the heart of Mumbai’s commercial district. Howard Schultz, Starbucks chief executive, said the chain had been keen to enter the Indian market since 2006, but had taken years to find the right joint venture partner. The Indian government decided last year that it would permit so-called single-brand retailers – such as Starbucks and Ikea – to set up shop in India on their own. However, by then, Starbucks had already set up its partnership with Tata, which is also one of India’s largest coffee growers. Mr Schultz said he did not believe the delay would harm Starbucks’ prospects in the Indian market, given the excitement over its long-anticipated arrival. Mr Schultz’s presence in Mumbai ahead of the store’s opening was treated by India’s media as an event of national significance. Television reporters sipped imaginary coffee from empty mugs as they filed reports on the countdown to the launch. India is still in the early stages of its café culture. It is dominated by the Bangalore-based Café Coffee Day, which has more than 1,300 stores across India. According to Technopak, a New Delhi-based consultancy, total café market revenues are $230m a year – but it forecasts that the market will grow 13-14 per cent a year for the next five years to be valued at around $410m by 2017. In a market known for its extreme price sensitivity, Starbucks has chosen a price point designed to be accessible to a broad spectrum of Indians – a short cappuccino will cost Rs95 ($1.77), while a venti caramel frappuccino will cost Rs200. Like other global restaurant chains operating in India, Starbucks is also making concessions to the Indian palate . Along with its more typical muffins and sandwiches, Starbucks’ 42-item food menu for India will include such items as a cardamom-flavoured croissant, a chicken tikka panini and a tandoori paneer roll. The opening of the flagship store will be followed by the opening of two smaller stores in Mumbai next week, one in the Tata-owned five-star Taj Mahal Hotel, and another in an upmarket shopping mall. In January, Starbucks said its aim was to open 50 stores in India by the end of the year. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a538dc6e-19ed-11e2-a379-00144feabdc0.html#axzz29lAE0maB
Jersey #10 Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 It's that time to bring the 16 trillion dollars deficit back to the united states. Serve outsiders and bring in the profits. The best way to do it.
vvvslaxman Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Dunkin Donuts is better. We tried both at home. After long experiment I am an officially DUnkin Donuts coffee fan now.
vvvslaxman Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Tea>>>>Coffee when i went to chennai that's all i had. Tea, But i gave up easily once i got back to US. But coffee is more addictive. That is where i lost my will power. Just 2 coffees per day though. Little known secret is housewives in India don't prefer Tea. They are coffee addicts big time. The kind of work they do.. i understand. i am talking about old timers.
GautiMaan Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 when i went to chennai that's all i had. Tea, But i gave up easily once i got back to US. But coffee is more addictive. That is where i lost my will power. Just 2 coffees per day though. Little known secret is housewives in India don't prefer Tea. They are coffee addicts big time. The kind of work they do.. i understand. i am talking about old timers. Perhaps,but having Tea at a roadside Nair tea stall has a joy of its own
vvvslaxman Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Starbucks might be too strong for us. But never under-estimate Indians. Just for being hip they might start drinking coffee. For us even food is culture driven not taste driven or health driven.
Mariyam Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 I will wait for YamYAM's review. Will go there later this week. Not a big fan of coffee though. :P
cowboysfan Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Tea>>>>Coffee Coffee just about beats tea for me because i cant function without the caffeine hit in the morning,the chais and tea at starbucks suck really bad though.
Laaloo Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Vanilla Chai from Dunkin Donuts tastes really good
Utalk Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 $5 for a coffee? That's insane. You can have 50 cups of doodh patti from chaaye stall for that price back in Pakistan.
akshayxyz Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 when i went to chennai that's all i had. Tea, But i gave up easily once i got back to US. But coffee is more addictive. That is where i lost my will power. Just 2 coffees per day though. Little known secret is housewives in India don't prefer Tea. They are coffee addicts big time. The kind of work they do.. i understand. i am talking about old timers. You start asking them to make coffee 3 times a day, they will start loving Tea.
cowboysfan Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 I wonder if Starbucks has to import coffee beans,most of the coffee grown in India is Robusta and the considered inferior to Arabica beans though i think we like it so much is because it has more than twice the caffeine as regular arabica .the best tea according to me is Oolong,its partially oxidized tea and you drink it straight up without sugar or milk.
vvvslaxman Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 I wonder if Starbucks has to import coffee beans' date='most of the coffee grown in India is Robusta and the considered inferior to Arabica beans though i think we like it so much is because it has more than twice the caffeine as regular arabica .the best tea according to me is Oolong,its partially oxidized tea and you drink it straight up without sugar or milk.[/quote'] Whenever i drink tea i use PG Tea.
Cricketics Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Star bucks is not about coffee only. Those who hate coffee can always drink chai latte, shakes, frappicino, croissants, muffin, etc. You got to love the other fresh items they carry.
1983-2011 Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 what type of tea (or the other stuff they sell) is one supposed to order in these big fancy cafes if he is used to drinking indian tea?
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