Representatives of Starbucks Store Development Greater China came to the Jinghu district of the city of Wuhu, Anhui province to do some research on the company’s first store in the Wuhu area.

The officials of the world-renowned coffee company were invited by the Jinghu District Merchants Bureau for possible business cooperation in the city.

Starbucks, which was established in 1971 with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, United States, has 12,000 outlets around the world and has become a coffee giant. In addition to its coffee selections, the company also provides tea, cakes, and sandwiches for customers.

The company entered the Chinese mainland market in 1999 and already has more than 740 stores in China. It established its China headquarters in Shanghai, in 2005 and is trying to reach an even broader market here to make it the second largest market in the world, after the US.

Wuhu has plans to develop three commercial centers under the 12th Five Years Plan and any investment from international brands such as Starbucks will certainly help improve the city’s commercial image and accelerate economic development.

Starbucks’ first store in Anhui province opened in Hefei, this May.

By Chen Zhilin (chinadaily.com.cn)

Editor: Roger and Audrey