Local coffee businesses in Nairobi will now brace themselves for competition after American coffee company and coffeehouse chain are working on setting up a business in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi. Kenya has recently emerged as a fast-growing market for international businesses and when Starbucks opens, more low-key outlets in Nairobi, won’t be without competition.
Surprisingly, though, coffee-drinking is a relatively young tradition in Kenya, although it’s one of the largest producers of the berry in east Africa.
Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee chain will realise one of its African dreams after opening the upmarket roastery and cafe in Nairobi along Mama Ngina Street, but the test will be to convince coffee-obsessed Kenyan’s to pay more for their daily espresso.
BREAKING NEWS: US Coffee giant, Starbucks is set to open its first coffee shop in Kenya. The coffee shop will be based along Nairobi’s Mama Ngina Street. @Starbucks pic.twitter.com/vLOTilRwPH
— Metropol TV Kenya (@MetropolTVKE) July 8, 2019
The store will be the Seattle-based giant’s first foray into the Kenyan market and its model and the economic sustainability of their stores will be built on a price of its flagship products – cappuccino, espresso and frappuccino.
Starbucks will find it hard to become an everyday choice for Kenyans, but is likely to attract customers looking for a more complete experience, particularly younger people