KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, says the establishment of operations in Jamaica by American coffee company, Starbucks, will serve to strengthen the country’s appeal to international visitors. Bartlett said that, “alliances with international brands, such as this, do well to drive the marketing of Jamaica”.
He indicated that Starbucks would be utilising Jamaican Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffee in their products manufactured locally.
This, the Minister added, would ultimately redound to the benefit of Jamaica and the American firm.
Bartlett indicated that Starbucks’ move to commence local operations was consistent with the Government’s growth agenda targeting increased investments.
Last week, Starbucks announced that it had entered into a geographic licensing agreement with Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited, a consortium led by Margaritaville Caribbean Group.
The agreement grants Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited the exclusive rights to own and operate Starbucks stores in the country.
Magaritaville Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ian Dear, said that the negotiations, which were on-going for several months, culminated with an official agreement being reached on May 1.
Jamaica will be Starbucks 17th market in Latin America and the Caribbean region, with the first store slated to open in Montego Bay.
Starbucks’ Caribbean franchises comprise 43 stores operating in Aruba, the Bahamas, Curacao, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.
