Starbucks currently has more than 1,300 stores in the region. The coffee chain faced backlash last year from customers accusing it of not doing enough to pressure Israel to end its offensive in Gaza. The boycotts had a significant impact on traffic and sales in the Middle East and also weighed on its US business, the company said.
Starbucks plans to expand in the Middle East, adding hundreds of new stores, as the global coffee chain seeks to bounce back in the region after facing challenging conditions and consumer boycotts last year.
The company plans to open about 500 new locations and add 5,000 jobs over the next five years in the region, CEO Brian Niccol said in an interview on Bloomberg Television on Friday.
