Starbucks Indonesia opens first community store

Starbucks Indonesia has opened its first community store, aiming to support local children by funding scholarships through a portion of sales.

Located in the Tanah Abang neighborhood in Jakarta, the store partners with two local NGOs, Yayasan Sahabat Anak and the Indonesian Street Children Organization (ISCO).

“Starbucks is committed to using our scale and brand reputation as a force for good,” said Anthony Cottan, director, Starbucks Indonesia, at PT Sari Coffee Indonesia. “Since opening our first store in 2002, we’ve invested in creating long-term positive social impact across Indonesia, growing our community involvement alongside our businesses.”

Occupying a 250sqm area and spanning four floors, the Starbucks Indonesia community store provides space for workshops and classrooms, and undertakes “social impact initiatives”. Most of its staff come from the Tanah Abang area, making them representative of the community, the company said in a statement.

“One of the most important contributions Starbucks can make in return is serving as a catalyst for positive change in the communities we serve,” said Sara Trilling, senior VP, and president of Starbucks Asia Pacific. “Over the years, we’ve continued to expand the number of community stores in the region including in Thailand, South Korea, and now Indonesia.”

Chairman of Yayasan Sahabat Anak, Dian Novita Elfrida, said with the support of Starbucks, local children will be given more opportunities for better education.

Starbucks Indonesia operates more than 430 outlets countrywide.