The Starbucks Paradox by Bernie HouFirst Starbucks opens in Phnom Penh
24 March 2009
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
It was talked about since long ago, but it could never be confirmed. Today, it is a done deal though: the first Starbucks Coffee will open its doors in a few days in Phnom Penh, inside The Place complex on Sihanouk Blvd.
The famous green logo will now sits in the entrance to the new sport and restaurant complex located the heart of the city, next to the Independence Monument. Following the opening of Pizza company, Swensen’s ice cream and KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), it is now the turn of Starbucks to leave its mark in Cambodia’s capital. According to the license owner who declines to talk publicly, the opening of this coffee shop, albeit the first one, is far from being the last one either. Cambodge Soir Hebdo was not able to glean additional information on the arrival of the coffee and retail giant which is now available in Cambodia.
Started in Seattle in the 70s, the first Starbucks shop earns its name from the US novel “Moby Dick” by Herman Melvilles.
For the past 10 years, the Starbucks phenomenon never ceases to grow. Currently, Starbucks has more than 9,000 shops spread in 30 countries in the world. Starbucks is omnipresent in all of Asia, in particular in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand.
Starbucks shares are also sold on the stock market.
The famous green logo will now sits in the entrance to the new sport and restaurant complex located the heart of the city, next to the Independence Monument. Following the opening of Pizza company, Swensen’s ice cream and KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), it is now the turn of Starbucks to leave its mark in Cambodia’s capital. According to the license owner who declines to talk publicly, the opening of this coffee shop, albeit the first one, is far from being the last one either. Cambodge Soir Hebdo was not able to glean additional information on the arrival of the coffee and retail giant which is now available in Cambodia.
Started in Seattle in the 70s, the first Starbucks shop earns its name from the US novel “Moby Dick” by Herman Melvilles.
For the past 10 years, the Starbucks phenomenon never ceases to grow. Currently, Starbucks has more than 9,000 shops spread in 30 countries in the world. Starbucks is omnipresent in all of Asia, in particular in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand.
Starbucks shares are also sold on the stock market.
19 comments:
I hope more of such will be coming to Cambodia
"Starbucks paradox: With a large number of Cambodians earning less than $0.50 a day, how can anyone afford a cup of Starbucks in the kingdoom?"
===>KI's above comment is biased. They just want to criticize everything that happens in Cambodia. Yeah, you are right. Many Cambodians live with the income less than 1 dollar a day. But Starbuck is targeting the high income population. Don't just criticize everything.
YEA KI
so are you guys gonna open up a jamba juice store too let me know LOL.........it beeter be like 2 dollars for the biggest cup
KI is just a fucking stupid political tool that biased against the CPP government. Loot at the KFC branch operation. KI, your brain can't comprehend it, I understand so leave it to the actually business people to do their work. Do you think starburcks don't think or plan strategically because they go venture into new region? Obviously, there is market position for them, that's why they start the business.
Stupid motherfuckers like KI which run by accoutant and financing pussies should know this already. or wait are they just too fucking cynical for their own good?
Learn about business market niche, fuckface. If there is money to be made, these corporate guys would know better than you stupid 9-5 bankers that work under them.
There are Khmer with high income as well as expats and foreign tourists as the potential customers.
In your dicksucking face, KI pussies.
While Cambodia takes off and moves forward, moronic KI like-minded people still be stuck in their own little world thinking Cambodia a shithole. Well, keep living in your own little donut shape world, people, it won't be long until Cambodia's growth and prosperity will shut blind ignorant biased cynics like these motherfuckers.
I can't wait until the day Cambodia is filled with skyscrapers and business booming and see KI people committing suicide because their dreamed world of taking Khmer down is shattered.
I can't wait, motherfuckers.
only corrupted khmer people can afford to drink
According to Phnom Penh Post, this place is not a licensed Starbucks store. I guess the article got wrong information.
3:22 your one of those people on ki media that hasnt been to cambodia in your life and love to talk shit on ki media.........YOU GUYS DONT KNOW SHIT ABOUT SROK KHMER.........there are normal hardworking khmer people that can afford a drink to fool not only currupted people.....
We Khmer did not know, where and who we are. Only one country in the world started with ZERO How far we are now ? Proud to be Khmer is not just in Cambodia, but all over, across America, Europe to Australia/New Zealand. Please provide your knowledge and brain to rebuild the Khmer Empire.
You guy is(Long sharpen nose, stupid westerner)fast to comment by using very rough ideas, opinions and comments again.
The Starbucks is illegale investment with the corrupted government by paying no taxes.
5:06 PM
Congratulation, how well you know about corrupted government and no taxes payed.
Hey 3:05, this article wasn't written by KI Media. Second, Starbucks are not investing in Cambodia, a khmer person is buying the franchise. And what about KFC branch operation? Any time I passed the place it was almost always empty, just like the Burger bar in the Soriya. Doesn't seem to be alot of money to be made in that. Sure some tourists will come to these places, but most tourists do not travel halfway around the world to eat the same food they get at home.
The point of the article, which you completely missed, or ignored so you could have a rant at KI Media is that this, to some people is further evidence at attempts to westernise and in turn dilute khmer culture, but the main point is that most cambodians cannot afford to drink here, and maybe instead of opening a place like this there should be more focus on lifting cambodians out of poverty
White people are not stupid. Marketing research and feasibility study are thoroughly conducted prior to commit a base to do business in Cambodia. Starbucks target the city dwellers with higher income and particular tourists. You will only find it in Phnom Penh, and other provinces where tourists attractions are offered.
I am from the land of Starbucks and happy to see that it is doing business in my mother land. This is what I love about Srok Khmer, if you can't afford Starbucks coffee you can always find one at your price level from the street vendors.
OMG! more stupid westerner influence.
Hanoi, please help us!
To 2:06pm;
I strongly agreed with you. I read most article about Cambodia. The authors never once failed to mention that Cambodian live on less than $1.00 per day.
Well what would they do about it? We know that Hun Sen is not going make it better tomorrow.
Cambodia is in a sad situation, that because of the effect of Vietnam War, and the super power nations (France, USA, China, U.S.S.R, U.K ETC) involved in its politic. Now our neighbour countries are trying to bring her down once more time.
Anyway, let leave the politics alone. If we read the article carefully. The owner of this "Starbuks Cafe" is targeting tourists, and wealthy Cambodians.
Please don't critize this legitimate business. I personally hope this cafe will be successful.
Regards,
Khmer/NY
What a shit load of crock, 8:40?
People in Cambodia grow much faster then people in the US, and it's all due to PM Hun Sen's hard works.
to 11:48am,
I don't know what part of Cambodia you live in. I have traveled to Cambodia many times. There are alots of pauverty all over the country. If you step out of you villa or fortress or Lexus once in a while you might find the reality of Cambodia.
I do not credit Hun Sen, because I do not or wish to participate to benefit myself from corruption moneys. Of course you are going to credit him and praise him, because you are being showered by corruption moneys.
You are right the US economy is not growing right now. However, we the majority of American do not live on less than $1.00 a day. Does not matter poor or rich, we still enjoy the equality of life here. Our gov't will support us and would not let us starve to death. Freedom is for everyone here unlike under Hun Sen's regime.
Another point, Cambodia is growing fast due to the Khmers people work hard "NOT" HUN SEN. He is working hard to keep his regime happy just like you. Other people outside the ring i.e. majority Khmers still living in pauverty everyday.
Anyway, I'm not part of any politician in Cambodia. I'm happy in the good old U.S.A. Just for your information, USA economy might be slow or not growing as Cambodia, but we don't have dirt road here only super highways!
And Cambodia is depending so much on USA I.E. garment export. Without USA, Cambodia would be growing at all.
Regards,
Khmer/NY
hole on!!! you guys seem intelligent, having good eyes which could see the reality of cambodia...:)...do you think you are? Yes you are!!! but you are biased. Hun Sen is not a good learder, but he is not as bad as you mentioned. Most cambodian people are self-corrupted but pointing out to another person. you can just see the people on the roads. how many of them respect the traffic law...is the majority of cambodian you know have tried their best to bring themselves up? I don't think...one or two people in the family work to support the whole family...students spend more time chatting and gossiping than time for studying...when will we could see the better day of the country???
I don't support CPP, but who to blame then? we should blame ourselves? did we try our best in high school? did we set a clear commitment what we want to be before enroll University? and who will give us the work if we don't qualify? we spend hours infront of computers giving shit to each other, while we never ask ourselves what have we done for the community; however, we could see there are many many things needed to be done???
While you guys said the shit as above, please remind yourself to respect other people... there are many corrupted people and they become rich because of their corruption. BBBBUUUUUTTTTT not all rich people in Cambodia get rich from that action. some of them work overtime and work for more than one place. they drop their sweat bfore they get money. and those people are normally well educated and work in the country which is lack of enough human resource. all members in some family go out to work and help each other. they deserve to be rich.
Poor. not all but some. i went out with some organisations collecting street kids. then give them the place to stay and the education too. finally there are some kids run away because they don't like to settle a place and study. who could help them?
we need short is education as the primary need. i am a journalist. i have done many interviews with many local and poor people... they 100% support CPP cos they think they were saved; they see him on tv everynight; throughout the nation, his name was built one the dam concrete, school and pargoda walls, and so on. this should be enough to prove the landslid victory of CPP.
starbucks coffee is expensive of course but if could not afford, just forget about it. do we need ot have the great hotel? we don't need but maybe some people need. the same in starburge case, we can not avoid. it is a demand.
US are helping Cambodia today because they have destroyed Cambodia a lots before... How many millions tonns of 52M booms were dropped in Cambodia? who force Cambodia to be democracy? Who supported the coup data during 1960s against the former King which resulted nearly 2 millions deaths. and it is common for developing country having dirt roads. do you study about US history? how long it take US to be like to days? how many years people had been evicted before the you city could have the clear places like today??? in addition, during 1960 phnom penh is the city pearl of SouthEast Asia...
i suggest you have to do more research for your own knowledge!!!
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