Hong Kong – Global coffee chain has launched its first community store in Hong Kong, which also serves as the chain’s 50th community store in APAC. The new store is located at the East Asia Mansion in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and is the first community store to focus on providing meaningful opportunities for young people.
Starbucks Hong Kong is also collaborating to enhance youth development with the Vocational Training Council (VTC), a provider of professional and vocational education and training in Hong Kong, and Junior Achievement (JA) Hong Kong, a nonprofit that helps young people learn about the working world through the first-hand experiences of volunteers.
The new Community Store is set to become a nurturing hub for students to learn more about potential future careers, particularly in the food and beverage industry, through interactive workshops and career exploration programs funded by a grant from The Starbucks Foundation and a portion of the Community Store’s sales. Students will get the chance to gain hands-on experience, job shadowing, and mentorship from various Starbucks partners (workers).
To inspire and prepare the next generation of talent for employment in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, these workshops will also be guided by seasoned experts from a variety of business sectors. The project aims to improve the food and beverage (F&B) sector in Hong Kong, where more than 95% of restaurants have trouble filling positions.
The initiative is an extension of Starbucks Hong Kong and JA Hong Kong’s 2014 cooperation. With the help of The Starbucks Foundation, this collaboration has been able to provide over 350 kids from 21 nearby schools with the design thinking, coding, and entrepreneurial attitude they will need in the future starting in 2023.
Speaking about the launch, Alan Chan, general manager, Starbucks Hong Kong and Macau, said, “Apart from offering the unique Starbucks Experience, it is also our aim to dedicate our efforts to making our beloved city a better place for the future generation. The collaboration with JA Hong Kong is a testament to our dedication, we hope to empower more youth through this new Community Store, helping them to build a fulfilling career in the food and beverage industry as well as developing the skills and mindsets needed for long-term success.”
