Starbucks has officially opened its first café in Georgia, marking the brand's entry into the local market with a new location at Axis Towers in Tbilisi. The store, which began operating in soft-launch mode on July 3, is operated by Alshaya Group, Starbucks' licensed franchise partner for the Middle East and Turkey.
Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden said the company had considered entering the Georgian market for years but decided that "now was the right time" due to the country's growing coffee culture, strong consumer demand, and positive recognition of the Starbucks brand.
The company plans to expand its presence by opening several additional stores in Tbilisi over the next 12–18 months, before considering expansion into other Georgian cities.
Kuwait-based Alshaya Group operates more than 4,000 stores across 16 countries, representing around 70 international brands, including Starbucks, H&M, Chipotle, MAC, and American Eagle. In Turkey alone, the group manages 685 Starbucks locations.
