Starbucks' First South Africa Location Draws Crowds on Opening Day

The coffee goliath is now caffeinating Johannesburg

Starbucks became the latest American chain to open its doors in South Africa today, welcoming long lines into its new store in Johannesburg, Reuters reports. The coffee giant is carving a path for itself in a country where other brands are increasingly seeking a slice of a growing market, the Wall Street Journal writes.

People reportedly lined up starting at 6 a.m. to await the opening of the store in the affluent suburb of Rosebank, which has been in the works since Starbucks formed a partnership with a local company back in the summer of 2015. With consideration for local tastes, the store serves a South African favorite — rooibos tea. Starbucks worldwide sources coffee from nine countries in Africa.

The company has plans to open 12 to 15 additional locations in South Africa. Dunkin' Donuts plans to open its first store there in June, bringing in some possible competition for Starbucks.

This is the latest of Starbucks' planned global expansions, following last week's opening in Strasbourg, France, which also prompted crazy-long lines. The Seattle-based company is currently focusing its international expansion efforts in Asia, planning to open an additional 2,500 stores in China.

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