Starbucks expands licensed model across Latin America

Starbucks is expanding its international operations through local partnerships and differentiated store formats requiring less capital expenditure. Around 90% of the chain's international portfolio currently operates under licensing agreements.

Ricardo Arias Nath, president of Starbucks LATAM, noted in an interview with Expansión that Latin America represents the company's highest relative growth region for new store opportunities. As of the end of the fiscal third quarter of 2026 in June, Starbucks reported 22,933 international locations after adding 189 stores in the period. International comparable store sales rose 5.7%, supported by a 2.6% increase in transactions and a 3.1% rise in the average ticket.

A key partner in the region is Mexican operator Alsea, which recently renewed its agreement to develop the brand in various markets through 2046. Alsea runs approximately 1,900 Starbucks stores across 12 countries, including ongoing store additions and remodels in Mexico after 24 years of brand presence, alongside nearly 170 locations in Chile. Starbucks also recently opened its 1,900th Latin American store in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Latin America also remains vital to the coffee supply chain for Starbucks. Arias Nath stated that more than half of the coffee purchased by the company originates in Latin America, with 14 of the 26 regional countries where it operates actively producing coffee. In Mexico, all coffee served locally is sourced domestically, while the country exports coffee to more than 22 international Starbucks markets.