AS Starbucks Philippines marks its 25th year in the country, the company plans to open more stores and find various ways to connect with its customers.
Starbucks Philippines opened its first store in the Philippines at 6750 Ayala in December 1997, and has since grown to a network of 424 stores across the country. At the heart of the Starbucks business model is the relationship of Starbucks and its partners to the community and the customers. “I know it sounds corny but there’s a deeper purpose behind everything and if you find something deeper in what you’re doing, it gives it more meaning. I always remind myself that Starbucks is not a coffee business. It is a people business where we serve coffee.”
Alleviating hunger is also a major concern for Starbucks Philippines. The company works with the Philippine Foodbank Foundation and partners like Grab in donating 300,000 units of food through the Foodshare program. Starbucks also works with Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program, which focuses on young children and pregnant women who have no access to food.