KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): Berjaya Food Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Co Sdn Bhd (BStarbucks), which operates Starbucks coffee outlets in Malaysia, is expected to have a near-complete presence across the country with a proposed new store in Perlis by end-2021 in line with Berjaya Food's plan to open about 40 new stores across the nation in current financial year ending June 30, 2022 (FY22).
According to Berjaya Food's latest annual report filed with Bursa Malaysia on Tuesday (Oct 26), as at June 30, 2021, BStarbucks had 327 stores across Malaysia, except in the state of Perlis.
"In FY22, 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.
Diversified group Berjaya Corp Bhd owned an indirect 53.195% stake in Berjaya Food as at Aug 16, 2021, according to Berjaya Food's Bursa filing on Aug 18.
Last Tuesday (Oct 19), Berjaya Corp chief executive officer Abdul Jalil Abdul Rasheed wrote in an update on Twitter that BStarbucks was expected to be present in Perlis by end-2021.
"Yes, coming soon in Perlis by year end. When we open that (Starbucks outlet), we will be present in all (13) states in Malaysia," Abdul Jalil said.
Malaysia comprises 13 states and three federal territories.
According to Berjaya Food's annual report, BStarbucks' 327 Starbucks outlets across Malaysia as at June 30, 2021 comprised entities across all states except Perlis.
BStarbucks, which is also present in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, however, did not have a presence in the federal territory of Labuan, Berjaya Food's annual report showed.
According to Berjaya Food, the first Starbucks retail store in Malaysia opened in the Fahrenheit88 mall (previously known as KL Plaza) here on Dec 17, 1998.
For FY21, BStarbucks' number of stores across the country increased to 327 from 316 in the previous financial year, according to Berjaya Food.
"The new store openings included two Starbucks Reserve Stores, Tropicana Gardens Reserve, which opened in March 2021 and is the largest Starbucks Reserve store in Malaysia, as well as Eco Majestic, which opened in May 2021 and is the second Starbucks Reserve drive-thru store in Malaysia.
"The number of drive-thru stores is 58 with six new drive-thru stores opened during FY21," Berjaya Food said.
At 5pm on Tuesday (Oct 26), Berjaya Food’s share price closed up three sen or 1.47% at RM2.07, valuing the group at about RM799.7 million.
Berjaya Food’s latest-reported number of issued shares stood at 386.33 million, according to the company’s Bursa filing on Thursday (Oct 21).
Get the latest news @www.EdgeProp.my
Subscribe to ourTelegramchannel for the latest stories and updates
