Starbucks Opens First Store in Paraguay

• The global coffee company partners with trusted licensed business operator Alsea to open a new store in capital city of Asunción, with two additional Paraguay stores planned for 2023.
• Opening marks Starbucks 24th market in Latin America and the Caribbean and 86th globally; underscores commitment to job creation and growth in the Latin America & Caribbean region.

Asunción, Paraguay – Starbucks, in partnership with licensed operator Alsea, today opened its first store in Paraguay, marking Starbucks 24th market in Latin America and the Caribbean, 86th market globally, and 12th together with Alsea. Located at Shopping DelSol in the capital city of Asunción, this is just the first of three Starbucks stores planned for Paraguay this year.

“It is an honor to bring the unparalleled Starbucks Experience to customers in Paraguay in partnership with Alsea,” said Tom Ferguson, president, Starbucks Latin America and the Caribbean. “Together, we look forward to serving our customers, celebrating local culture and coffee traditions, and creating a positive economic impact in the community.”

The opening in Paraguay marks a significant milestone in the South Cone region where Starbucks and Alsea are also celebrating 20, 15 and 5 years in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, respectively. Globally,  Starbucks and Alsea have a goal of operating 2,000 stores by the end of 2025.

“Our commitment to Paraguay is long term and it fills us with pride to become a part of this community,” said Santiago Farinati, Director of Alsea South Cone. “We look forward to creating local employment opportunities and delivering experiences full of happiness and flavor as we continue to elevate the customer experience across the region."

Locally-inspired Design with Coffee At Core

Starbucks stores are designed to create a warm and welcoming space rooted in local traditions and coffee heritage. The 2,153 sq. ft. store features elements inspired by the history of the Guaraní people and pays homage to the market’s unique culture, including a custom mural by local artist Oz Montanía. Through his artwork, Montanía tells the story of Iara, the ‘Mother of Waters’ in local folklore. Montanía shared that this character is a deity that protects rivers and its creatures. The Siren rests peacefully holding a coffee branch, as she protects the local sea life around her.

With an indoor café and a relaxing exterior patio with combined seating for up to 100 people, the Shopping DelSol store will offer classic preparations and innovative beverages for different tastes and seasons, as well as wide variety of whole bean coffee sourced from around the world including Starbucks® Espresso Roast, Starbucks® Caffè Verona®, Starbucks® Sumatra, Decaf Komodo Dragon Blend®, Starbucks® Pike Place® Roast, Starbucks® Guatemala Antigua, Starbucks® Colombia, Starbucks® Kenya, and Starbucks® House Blend.

Customers will also be able to enjoy local treats, including the Guayaba Pasta Frola, a delicious traditional pie prepared with guayaba paste and decorated with a latticed crust, and Chipa with Anís, a Guaraní cultural product made from cassava starch and Paraguayan cheese.

A Focus on Sustainability & Social Impact

Further to Starbucks aspiration to be a resource-positive company, those who visit the store will be able to order their favorite handcrafted beverages with alternative milks, including soy, almond and coconut. The store will also feature Starbucks Grounds for Your Garden program, where customers are given a free bag of used coffee grounds to enrich their gardens and compost.

Employing more than 15 green apron partners locally, Starbucks Paraguay also endeavors to give back to the community it serves. Green apron partners are already working with the local nonprofit organization Dequeni Foundation, which helps to take care of and protect children who live in communities affected by poverty.

“Each partner has been trained not only in the fundamentals of coffee, but also in the way Starbucks connects with its customers and the larger community, which is unique and recognized worldwide,” said Claudia Aburto, Director of Starbucks South Cone for Alsea. “We are confident that our Paraguayan partners will be our best brand ambassadors and absolute protagonists in this journey that we begin today. We feel honored and ready to provide this market with a truly unique coffee experience that will not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers every day.”

The Shopping DelSol store will operate from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm and Sunday from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm.