The world’s largest coffee retailer, Starbucks Corp. is expanding its operations in the U.K., and bringing up to 5,000 new jobs.
Over the next five years, the Seattle-based coffeehouse chain will be employing 5,000 new staff, by expanding its “drive through” businesses that are located at U.K. motorway service stations, from nine to two hundred outlets.
Kris Engskov, managing director of Starbucks U.K. and Ireland, said in a statement: “Customers told us that they now expect the best possible coffee wherever they are and the success of our first drive-thru stores shows that this is a huge opportunity. It also means that we are able to create quality jobs at a time when they are most needed and because half of our baristas are under 24 years-old, this will particularly benefit young job-seekers at a time of record youth unemployment.”
Consumers will be able to purchase beverages including Frappaccino iced coffees and gingerbread lattes from their vehicles. Since 2010, Starbucks has opened 35 motorway outlets and has served seven million cups in the first year of operation.
It will also be opening 100 coffee shops on High Street in London.
“Customers want the best coffee wherever they are, rather than just as a High Street treat,” Starbucks announced.
Currently Starbucks runs more than 700 stores in the U.K. and 20 percent of its sales come from outside the United States, with more than 6,000 international stores compared with 10,900 stores in the U.S.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his appreciation of the international coffee chain’s investment. “I welcome Starbucks’ announcement, and I am glad to see continued investment and job creation in the private sector,” Cameron said.
Recent official statistics have illustrated a plunge in youth employment in the U.K. Job losses for 18-24 year olds in the U.K. increased to 1.02 million in the third quarter, a historical peak number since comparable records started in 1992.
