{
  "id": 11137413,
  "title": "‘Billion-dollar business’ plan: DFI to expand Starbucks footprint in Thailand, Vietnam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/billion-dollar-business-plan-dfi-to-expand-starbucks-footprint-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T07:23:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
    "slug": "the-business-times-companies-markets",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/billion-dollar-business-plan-dfi-expand-starbucks-footprint-thailand-vietnam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DFI Retail Group plans to expand Starbucks' presence in Thailand and Vietnam as it aims to turn the newly acquired license into a \"billion-dollar business\" within three years. The retail company intends to open 250 more stores, primarily in these high-growth coffee markets. DFI will assume all existing interests in the Starbucks-licensed business, comprising over 1,100 coffee houses in the five countries. The capital expenditure for new stores is estimated at US$90 million to US$100 million over the next three years. Investors reacted positively to the move, with the share price gaining up to 7.5% in early trade on Thursday. DFI aims to increase average customer spend by introducing new beverage options and premium all-day snacking. The expansion will help reduce operating expenses by integrating Starbucks into its regional retail infrastructure, making it the second-most profitable business for DFI.",
  "summary": "DFI will also take over the coffee chain’s operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Macau and Laos",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}