Berjaya Starbucks clarifies Labuan outlet opened since 2016, new Perlis store to give coffee chain 'full presence' in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 28): Berjaya Food Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Co Sdn Bhd (BStarbucks), which operates Starbucks coffee outlets in Malaysia, clarified that Starbucks already has presence in Malaysia's three federal territories, namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, and that the group’s plan to open a new store in Perlis by end-2021 will allow Starbucks to have a "full presence" in the country.

In a WhatsApp text message and emailed statement to theedgemarkets.com on Wednesday, BStarbucks public relations and digital marketing manager Chloe Pan said the group has been operating a store in Labuan since 2016 although the Labuan outlet was not specified in Berjaya Food’s latest annual report.

Pan said in the emailed statement: "Please be informed that Starbucks Malaysia already has presence in all three federal territories, including Labuan since 2016. The reason that it is not stated in the annual report is due to it not being reclassified from Sabah. Rest assured that in the next financial year (annual) report (of Berjaya Food), Labuan will have its own store count."

"That said, Perlis is the only state in Malaysia in which Starbucks does not currently have a presence in. However, as stated in the annual report, we are planning to open a new store in Perlis by end-2021,” she said.

In the WhatsApp text message, Pan said Perlis will be the state that will allow Starbucks to have "full presence" in Malaysia.

Malaysia comprises 13 states and three federal territories.

BStarbucks was responding to theedgemarkets.com's query on the status of Starbucks’ presence in Labuan as the Labuan outlet was not indicated in Berjaya Food’s latest annual report, which was filed with Bursa Malaysia on Tuesday (Oct 26).

According to Berjaya Food's latest annual report, as at June 30, 2021, BStarbucks had 327 stores across Malaysia, except in the state of Perlis.

“In the financial year (ending June 30,) 2022, BStarbucks plans to open 38 new stores with one additional reserve drive-thru concept store and a store in Perlis, the only state which Starbucks is not currently present in.

"BStarbucks will focus on unique and elevated store designs with relevant local elements to create affinity for local Malaysians and strengthen its brand presence across the country.

"In addition, BStarbucks will continue to introduce innovative food and beverage offerings that resonate with its customers' tastes and expectations of Starbucks as a premium coffee company," Berjaya Food said.

At Bursa on Thursday (Oct 28), Berjaya Food’s share price was down one sen or 0.48% at 4:37pm at RM2.06, valuing the group at about RM798.87 million.

Berjaya Food’s latest-reported number of issued shares stood at 387.8 million, according to the company’s Bursa filing on Wednesday (Oct 27).

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