Starbucks opens its first store in Honduras

Starbucks Coffee Company, in partnership with Premium Restaurants of America, announced the opening of its first store in Honduras, on Tuesday, 10 December. The new store, located in the Pedregal area of San Pedro Sula marks the 26th market for the brand in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the 88th market globally.

Premium Restaurants of America (PRA) – Starbucks licensed business operator since 2010 – will operate the brand in Honduras, building on its success in the region. PRA currently manages 27 stores in Costa Rica, 28 in El Salvador, and 21 in Guatemala. The store opening is the first of four Starbucks locations planned for Honduras, with three additional stores set to open in San Pedro Sula by the end of 2025.

“We are proud to open our first Starbucks store in Honduras, marking a significant milestone in our long-standing partnership with Starbucks. This new café in San Pedro Sula is just the beginning, as we plan to expand the brand across the Honduran market, creating new opportunities for our partners (employees) and serving handcrafted beverages to even more customers,” said Sofia Flores, country manager of Starbucks Honduras.

“Starbucks is honoured to partner with Premium Restaurants of America to bring our unparalleled coffeehouse experience to Honduran customers,” said Ricardo Arias-Nath, svp of Latin American and the Caribbean. “Hondurans have a great appreciation for high-quality coffee, and we are excited to welcome our newest green apron partners to join us in creating moments of connection over coffee in our stores.”

The new Starbucks store in Pedregal, San Pedro Sula, is a 287 m² (3,091 ft²) drive-thru location with seating for over 70 customers. As part of Starbucks global commitment to sustainability, this store is certified as a Greener Store, adhering to the company’s Greener Store Framework. This initiative focuses on eight key dimensions: Site Criteria, Energy Efficiency, Water Stewardship, Waste Diversion, Renewable Energy, Responsible Materials, Engagement, Health & Well-being.

The store will feature artwork inspired by Honduran culture, celebrating the market’s rich heritage and traditions. Inside the store, a mural portrays a coffee farm landscape, with six farmers symbolising Honduras’ coffee-growing regions – Copán, Opalaca, Montecillos, Comayagua, El Paraíso, and Agalta – celebrating the dedication behind cultivating this crop. Created by Honduran artist Dalia Balmaceda, the mural also celebrates local fauna such as the Honduran emerald hummingbird and the jaguar. The piece blends elements of street art with traditional folk art, using textures and details that reflect Honduran cultural identity.

The store’s interior design incorporates woodwork inspired by local traditions and the Lenca culture, with patterns rooted in the region’s craftsmanship. The furniture and sloping tiled roof are influenced by Honduran vernacular architecture, reflecting rural community design. Stone walls, reminiscent of traditional haciendas, add texture that connects to the local environment and cultural context.

Honouring A Rich Coffee Legacy
To honour and celebrate Starbucks history in Honduras, the new drive-thru store will feature Honduras Cafico Reserve, a coffee that highlights the chain’s collaboration with coffee producers like the CAFICO cooperative, a locally renowned producer of specialty coffee. In addition, the store will offer pan catracho and semitas, beloved Honduran delicacies known for their savory and sweet flavours. The San Pedro Sula store will also sell Starbucks iconic Been There mugs, which celebrate the unique essence and coffee leadership of Honduras and provide customers with a special local memento.

As one of the largest coffee producers in Latin America and the Caribbean, Honduras plays a pivotal role in the global coffee supply chain. Starbucks connection to Honduras dates back to the late 1990s, when the brand first began sourcing coffee from the region. This year, Starbucks Honduran coffee is available in 15 markets across the world, underscoring the growing global demand for the market’s exceptional beans. Starbucks Single-Origin Honduras Marcala and Honduras Honey-Processed Los Naranjos showcase the excellence of the market’s coffee in Starbucks global portfolio.

All of the 36 Honduran partners hired for the San Pedro Sula store were trained in El Salvador for one- to three- months ahead of the store opening to learn about the Starbucks Experience and gain crucial skills in preparing handcrafted espresso-based beverages. The partners also completed Starbucks Greener Apron certification program, which equips partners with the information and tools needed to learn about how Starbucks is committed to global sustainable business practices.

Starbucks has also long supported Honduran communities through The Starbucks Foundation, with a focus on clean water access, empowering women in coffee, and supporting marginalised youth.
• Clean Water Access: In collaboration with Water1st International, Starbucks has provided safe water to communities in Potrerillo and Lempira, starting in 2018. This partnership continued in 2023, along with disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Eta in 2021, supporting recovery through grants to CARE International and the American Red Cross. Building on this, with the San Pedro Sula store opening, The Starbucks Foundation is announcing an expansion of its existing partnership with Planet Water Foundation to provide clean water to communities in Honduras, marking its 13th market collaboration with the global non-profit organisation.
• Empowering Women in Coffee: The Starbucks Foundation has also empowered women in coffee-growing communities through grants to the Hanns R Neumann Foundation starting in 2018. In 2023, The Starbucks Foundation expanded its support to provide training in entrepreneurship, income diversification, and WASH education to over 1,800 women, helping them build sustainable livelihoods in coffee production.
• Supporting Marginalised Youth: To celebrate the San Pedro Sula opening and through its Global Community Impact Grants program, The Starbucks Foundation is also awarding a USD $10,000 grant to Aldeas Infantiles SOS Honduras, a nonprofit focused on supporting vulnerable children and youth through education, healthcare, and family strengthening programs. This grant will provide 125 youth with job training to enhance their employability and career prospects.

“At Starbucks, we believe in making a positive impact in the communities we serve. Our new store in San Pedro Sula is not just about offering a great coffee experience — it’s also about supporting our local neighborhoods and creating meaningful connections with the community,” added Arias-Nath.

The San Pedro Sula store is open Monday to Sunday, from 6am to 10pm.

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