Starbucks committed to India for the long-term: says John Culver

Starbucks committed to India for the long-term: says John CulverU. S.-based Starbucks Coffee has claimed that it is committed to India for the long-term and wanted to grow aggressively in the world's second most populous country.

Starbucks is operating in India as an equal joint venture (JV) with Tata Global Beverages. Tata Starbucks on Wednesday opened its 7th state-of-the-art new café at Connaught Place in New Delhi.

Speaking at the occasion, Starbucks Coffee President John Culver said that the JV had aggressive expansion plans for the country.

Speaking on the topic, Culver said, "We are committed to India for the long-term and we want to grow aggressively here. India will be our top five markets around the world over a long-term."

Currently, the U. S., Canada, Japan, Britain and China are Starbucks' top five markets.

The company had opened its first outlet in India in October last year in Mumbai.

Culver said the company was studying other markets in India to launch more outlets. He added that the company would try to earn its place in India not through its reputation but through quality and consistency.

However, Starbucks, which has missed its target of opening fifty outlets in India by the year 2012 by investing Rs 400 crore, remained non-committal on by when it would be able hit that milestone.