Revenue of Starbucks Vietnam surpassed their expectation thanks to these enthusiastic young people. — Photo gafin.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Starbucks Vietnam has surpassed expectations after opening its first outlet in February in HCM City, the company's country head says.

"We have been humbled by the support and love we have seen from our Vietnamese customers, right from our opening day on 1 February," Patricia Marques, General Manager of Starbucks Viet Nam, told Viet Nam News.

She declined to provide any market specific financial data or figures current and future plans.

Marques said many Vietnamese customers have chosen the global coffeeshop chain's only outlet in the country as a gathering place where they can chat, meet up with friends or even work, and "we could not be happier about it."

She said Starbucks is committed to a long term presence in the country and plans "thoughtful, disciplined growth that sets up for success over time."

Asked about challenges that the company has faced in the Vietnamese market, Marques said "we want to see these more as opportunities to better integrate into the local community."

"We know will be learning new things from Viet Nam's coffee heritage and culture," she said.

Marques responded to comments that Starbucks coffee is not as good as Vietnamese coffee and that its prices and styles do not match locals by saying they are committed to delivering a "locally relevant" experience.

She said they have already introduced products "inspired by local Vietnamese coffee traditions."

In the future, they expect to open more stores in big urban areas and maybe the next destination will be Ha Noi, a company representative had said at the opening ceremony of the first outlet at a premier location in HCM City.

The world's largest coffeeshop chain, the Starbucks franchise arrived in the country via Coffee Concepts Viet Nam.

Viet Nam is the 12th market that the company has entered in the Asia Pacific region. — VNS