FDBusiness.com

AmRest Holdings, Starbucks exclusive licensed partner in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and soon in Slovakia, has signed an agreement with Starbucks Coffee Company to acquire its retail stores in Germany. The move is expected to take effect in late May of 2016, and will mean that AmRest has the license to operate and develop the Starbucks brand further in the country.

Since entering Germany in 2002 with two stores in Berlin, Starbucks has expanded to 158 stores across the country. The 144 equity stores, plus 14 stores owned by licensees New Vision, SSP Germany and Marche, makes Germany the largest market for Starbucks in continental Europe. Late last year Starbucks announced a deal with REWE to open stores in its grocery channel.

“We’ve built an impressive business in Germany over the past 14 years, employing nearly 2,000 partners across the market. But we know Germany could be a much bigger market for us and we have ambitious growth plans to be where our customers live, work and travel,” explains Kris Engskov, president of Starbucks, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “We are proud to expand our partnership with AmRest, who are recognized across Europe as one of the most entrepreneurial, people-focused companies in food retail, and have been remarkably successful in bringing the Starbucks experience to these important markets.”

AmRest, founded in 1993 by current supervisory board member Henry McGovern, and based in Wroclaw, Poland has been a partner licensee for Starbucks since 2008, when the company opened its first store in the Czech Republic. Since then, AmRest has operated Starbucks stores in Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and recently adding Slovakia where the first store is planned to be opened by the middle of 2016. Currently, AmRest operates 103 Starbucks stores, a portfolio to which the 144 stores in Germany will be added.

“We are excited to take the AmRest relationship with Starbucks to the next level by adding the German market to our portfolio. This development, which will double the size of our Starbucks business, is yet another proof that Anything is Possible on our journey to strengthen our presence in Europe,” adds Henry McGovern.

Currently, the majority of the more than 2,400 Starbucks stores in EMEA are licensed-owned and operated. The licensing model allows Starbucks to partner with brands that have a strong foothold in geographies and channels across Europe. These partners have experience in running highly profitable businesses.