Starbucks continues Caribbean expansion

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Heads up, Caribbean-bound coffee lovers: there’s a new Starbucks in town. The region’s 33^rd outpost is now open in San Fernando, Trinidad’s SouthPark Entertainment Complex.

Operated by local restaurant management company Prestige Holdings Limited, the country’s first store employs 35 staff and sells the United States-based chain’s signature hot and cold beverages, snacks and accessories.

A custom edition of the company’s signature ceramic signature mug, with artwork depicting local architecture, is sure to be coveted by collectors worldwide.

“We are pleased to be working with Starbucks and look forward to leveraging our expertise and knowledge of the market to deliver the Starbucks Experience to customers in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Charles Pashley, chief executive officer of Prestige Holdings Limited. “Like Starbucks, we are committed to creating moments of connection for our valued customers by delivering a fantastic retail experience, high-quality products and world class operations.”

Prestige plans to open two more coffee houses – at MovieTowne in Port-of-Spain in October, followed by another in Chaguanas – this year, which will offer an alternative to local coffee purveyor, Rituals, which has 45 locations in the twin-island nation and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The Seattle-based company, meanwhile, has more than 24,000 branches around the world, including 33 stores across Aruba, the Bahamas, Curacao and Puerto Rico, where it opened its first Caribbean outlet in 2002.