Starbucks to use new upscale format to make Italian debut

Starbucks Coffee Company will open for business in Italy for the first time in late 2018.



The coffee giant plans to open a 25,500-sq.-ft. Reserve Roastery outpost in late 2018 in Milan, in the historic, turn-of-the-century post office building in the city’s center. The Milan Reserve Roastery will be the first Starbucks Roastery to open in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and the fifth, globally. It is the first of additional Starbucks stores the company plans to open in Italy.



The Milan Roastery will feature the company’s premium, small batch, Reserve coffees served in a variety of brewing methods in a upscale environment.



“This store will be the culmination of a great dream of mine – 34 years in the making – to return to Milan with one of the most immersive, magical retail experiences in the world,” said Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz who has long credited the Italian coffee bar scene as the inspiration for his company.



The Milan location will be designed specifically for the Milanese customer, integrating Italy’s famous “theatre of coffee,” Starbucks said. It will also offer freshly-baked food on site from Italian artisan baker Rocco Princi, who is the exclusive food provider for all new global Roastery locations.



At its recent Investor Day, Starbucks announced its ongoing investment in the premium Reserve brand, including opening 20-30 Roastery locations around the world. Following the Roastery opening, Italian licensee and business partner Percassi will open a small number of Starbucks locations in Milan for the balance of 2018.



Each store will be carefully designed and curated to respect the local community and unique Milanese context.



Starbucks debuted Roastery in Seattle in 2014. Since then, the company has announced additional Roastery locations coming to Shanghai in 2017 and New York as well as Tokyo in 2018.