Did you know that Starbucks is launching in Cape Town in March 2016? And, did you know that Pizza Hut is making its way to our shores and that Domino’s Pizza is already in South Africa? While I am mostly interested to try out the South African Starbucks, the other US expansions are also certainly interesting…
I may not even be a huge donut (or doughnut, if you want to be South African about it!) fan, but when I heard the news that Dunkin’ Donut is coming to Cape Town, I was a teeny bit excited, even if not quite as much as I was about the thought of getting a new coffee outlet. This hugely popular fast-food outlet is one that most of us non-northern hemisphere consumers know, even if we’ve never been to the United States. This is where Liz Lemon, of the television show 30 Rock, over-indulges. It’s where the very nature of donuts is taken to a whole new level.
So, according to Business Day Live, Dunkin’ Donuts is expected to launch in South Africa in June 2016. Before that, we have a few other American franchises coming our way…
Starbucks in Cape Town: Coming This March
Ok, let’s be real for a moment. I have heard a lot about this coffee empire. Almost everyone says that they make good coffee. Many say that they charge a small fortune for that good coffee. Whatever reviews we have heard, we will be able to see for ourselves when Starbucks opens in Cape Town in March 2016.
Who is bringing this brand to South Africa, and what does the expansion mean for South Africans and the economy as a whole?
Taste Holdings, who brought Domino’s Pizza to South Africa, have been working with Starbucks to bring stores to Joburg and Cape Town. In a media statement made last year, Kris Engskov, president, Starbucks Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said, “We are proud to be bringing Starbucks to South Africa next year. Working with Taste, our partner, we’re going to deliver a great Starbucks experience. The coffee market here is vibrant and growing fast – we want to be part of that growth, bringing the passion and energy of this remarkable country into the design of our first store and our first barista team. We can’t wait to get started.”
Carlo Gonzaga, CEO of Taste, was equally excited about the move, saying, “We are very excited to be Starbucks partner in Southern Africa. As we’ve visited numerous Starbucks markets and partners around the world we’ve come to realise that we share similar core values, including a commitment to localisation and uplifting both direct and indirect partners. Starbucks supports the development of local suppliers and is fully committed to our Changing Lanes program wherein we have provided employment to previously unemployed people and expose them to global training initiatives and skills. Overall we’re a good partnership match.”
That all sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
So far, the latest reports state that the Cape Town Starbucks store will open in the early part of 2016. In the middle of the year, we can look forward to the Dunkin’ Donuts brand, which will also include access to the world-famous ice cream sold through this store. We will be waiting to hear exactly where these outlets will launch, but from earlier reports, it looks like major retail centres such as the V&A Waterfront and Canal Walk will be a likely choice.
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What do you think – are you excited to find Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts in Cape Town?
