Starbucks

[Virgil Reality]

Starbucks closes 61 out of its 84 stores in Australia

The US giant announced last week that it would close 61 of its 84 Australian outlets by Sunday, saying "challenges unique to the Australian market" were behind the decision, which cost almost 700 jobs.

The statement from Starbucks' head office in Seattle did not say what made Australia different, but did point out: "There are no other international markets that need to be addressed in this manner."

Starbucks Asia Pacific president John Culver was more forthcoming about why the company was on the retreat in Australia, eight years after opening its first store in Sydney.

"I think what we've seen is that Australia has a very sophisticated coffee culture," he said in a newspaper interview.

A wave of post-war immigrants from Turkey, Greece and particularly Italy means that for decades Australians had been enjoying the "coffee experience" Starbucks virtually created from scratch in the United States.

But where else can I get my pumpkin frappucino come October when it's not even fall but spring! And the gingerbread drink atr Christams time when it's 40 degrees C outside?

I joke (I think) We don't even have Starbucks here.

[starkiller]

Aug 3, 2008 16:13:52 GMT 8 Virgil Reality said:

Starbucks closes 61 out of its 84 stores in Australia

The US giant announced last week that it would close 61 of its 84 Australian outlets by Sunday, saying "challenges unique to the Australian market" were behind the decision, which cost almost 700 jobs.

The statement from Starbucks' head office in Seattle did not say what made Australia different, but did point out: "There are no other international markets that need to be addressed in this manner."

Starbucks Asia Pacific president John Culver was more forthcoming about why the company was on the retreat in Australia, eight years after opening its first store in Sydney.

"I think what we've seen is that Australia has a very sophisticated coffee culture," he said in a newspaper interview.

A wave of post-war immigrants from Turkey, Greece and particularly Italy means that for decades Australians had been enjoying the "coffee experience" Starbucks virtually created from scratch in the United States.

But where else can I get my pumpkin frappucino come October when it's not even fall but spring! And the gingerbread drink atr Christams time when it's 40 degrees C outside?

I joke (I think) We don't even have Starbucks here.

Can't say I'm surprised, although I will miss the uber expensive double chocolate frappacino.

But yes indeed, I know when I'm hot and sweaty and it's a nice, chilly 45oC in the shade, the thing I want most in the world is a piping hot gingerbread coffee...

[zhivago]

There isn't a Starbucks where I live. I've only had the Starbucks drinks from the convenience store.

[Gg]

There's a Starbucks on every corner in the US it seems but many are closing here too.

I prefer Pete's myself