The FINANCIAL -- Starbucks Coffee Company in partnership with Alshaya Morocco S.A.S, a subsidiary of M.H.Alshaya Co., the Middle East’s leading retailer, opened their first two stores in  Morocco on December 5, at  the Morocco Mall. A third store is planned to open in March on the Boulevard d’Anfa, according to Starbucks Corporation.

Starbucks and Alshaya entered into a strategic partnership in 1999 and have since opened more than 500 stores throughout the Middle East and North Africa Russia and Turkey employing nearly 5,000 partners.

The Moroccan stores boast a comprehensive product offering, including 100% Fairtrade Certified espresso-based drinks, and freshly brewed coffees, teas and specialty beverages. The range of food items offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and snack items like muffins and other pastries, sandwiches and desserts.

The overall concept for all three shops is mercantile with American coffee shop roots mixed in with locally relevant collections found in markets in Marrakech and Casablanca. The stores were designed to provide the Starbucks “third place” experience – a social yet personal environment between one’s home and work where people can connect with others and re-connect with themselves. 

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