Starbucks is entering the Georgian market, the company announced today. The brand’s stores will be opened in partnership with Alshaya Group, one of Starbucks’ largest licensed partners globally.
According to the Enterprise Georgia agency, this development marks a significant milestone for both expanding Starbucks’ global network and strengthening Alshaya Group’s operations in the Eurasian region. The project is expected to contribute to job creation and support the country’s economic and social development.
“The first Starbucks store in Georgia will open in Tbilisi in the summer of 2026, located on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue at Axis Towers. In the following months, expansion to other cities across Georgia is also planned.
The entry of the Starbucks brand into Georgia was supported by the Enterprise Georgia agency under the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Georgia in Kuwait, and the Embassy of Turkey in Georgia,” the Enterprise Georgia stated.
Saleh Alshaya, President of Starbucks at Alshaya Group, said the brand’s arrival in Georgia comes with high expectations.
“We are proud to introduce Starbucks to Georgian coffee lovers. This entry reflects the country’s developed café culture and young, dynamic consumer environment. Our goal is to bring Starbucks’ high quality and exceptional hospitality to as many people as possible, while supporting local suppliers and creating new employment opportunities,” he said.
Duncan Moir, President of Starbucks for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, mentioned that the company operates in over 90 countries and is expanding further through its partnership with Alshaya Group.
“We can now offer our unique coffee experience to new customers in Georgia. This step allows us to contribute to the growing coffee culture in the region, build new connections, and invest in the communities we serve,” he said.
According to Mikheil Khidureli, Director of the Enterprise Georgia, the process took several years of negotiations and coordination, including multiple visits by company representatives to Georgia, detailed market research, and location assessments.
“This was a long and intensive process. Today we have a concrete result—the entry of one of the world’s most recognized brands into our country, which will create new jobs and strengthen Georgia’s investment attractiveness,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Irakli Nadareishvili, welcomed the investment, stating that Starbucks’ entry sends a positive signal to other global investors.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili, added that the Ministry continues to work through diplomatic missions to attract international brands to Georgia.
Alshaya Group currently operates over 800 Starbucks stores across Eurasia, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and the Middle East, and manages a portfolio of approximately 2,000 stores across 13 markets.
Founded in 1971, Starbucks is one of the world’s leading speciality coffee companies, with more than 40,000 stores globally.
