Starbucks opens more ‘Community Stores’ in Asia

The brand opened its first community store in Vietnam.

Starbucks has opened a slew of new community stores in Asia.

In Korea, Starbucks opened its Community Store Jeju Sehwa Drive-Thru branch located in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, early this November.

A portion of proceeds from the cafe will be donated to the K-Green Foundation to support the local community and raise greater awareness for sustainable practices.

In February 2023, Starbucks Korea held a contest with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare to identify programs to support through Community Stores. The K-Green Foundation was one of the final nonprofit organizations (NGO) selected by Starbucks employees which the brand calls partners and customers. 

As part of the Community Store program, Starbucks Korea will collaborate with the NGO to carry out eco-friendly programs engaging the local community and creating economic opportunities in Jeju, as well as campaigns encouraging sustainable practices across Korea.

In celebration of the new Community Store dedication, Starbucks Korea signed a partnership agreement with the K-Green Foundation at Starbucks Jeju Sehwa Drive-Thru. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Ryan Sohn, CEO of Starbucks Korea, Teayoung Jung, director of the K-Green Foundation, and Starbucks Korea partners.

As part of the agreement, Starbucks Korea will donate up to KRW100m ($76k) annually from a portion of proceeds from the cafe. The donation will support various eco-friendly activities, including volunteer activities for Starbucks partners and customers, environment-related workshops, upcycling of Starbucks coffee bean packages, and creating more economic opportunities for underserved groups in the local community.

Meanwhile, Starbucks marked a first in Vietnam as it opened its first Community Store in the country.

The Community Store is dedicated to supporting youth vocational education in Vietnam, with VND3,000 ($0.12) per beverage sold at the store contributing to training programs with nonprofit partner REACH over the next three years.

According to Starbucks the Community Store is part of a global initiative to strengthen communities, support economic opportunities, and create impact through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.

The Starbucks Nguyen Huu Huan Community Store will support REACH, which provides the most vulnerable youth with vocational training, skills, and employment opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their families. 

With grant funding from The Starbucks Foundation, Starbucks Vietnam first partnered with REACH, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, in 2016 to provide vocational training, career advice, and job placement services in the food and beverage industry (F&B) for young people in Vietnam. Starbucks Vietnam partners volunteered to help mentor youth and plan to continue volunteering with REACH's future cohorts.

The Starbucks Community Stores, introduced in 2011, were created to work with organizations that have a proven record of creating progress for disadvantaged communities. Beyond contributing financially, Starbucks would often share business expertise to help these groups fulfill their mission, provide strategic technical and management assistance, join together on community service projects and work with the organizations to support their job training and placement work.