Starbucks shuts its only Munster store

STARBUCKS has closed its last remaining store in Munster but the coffee giant said it remains committed to Ireland.

The company has ceased operating at Cork Airport and said its focus at the moment in Ireland is on “being thoughtful” and ensuring that it develops business in existing retail stores and adds new stores “carefully”.

It said it is continuing to make “relevant investments” in its Irish stores.

A Starbucks spokesperson said: “Like many other retailers, and as part of the normal course of our business over the year, we regularly review our stores and together with our licensed partner we took the decision not to renew our partnership at Cork Airport, from September 2011.”

A spokesperson for Cork Airport said HMS Host manages all the concessions at the airport and they are responsible for agreeing the providers and contracts. She said HMS Host have now decided to appoint a local provider at the airport.

There are 23 Starbucks stores in Ireland. 17 are company-owned and six are operated under license by a third party.

Although the licensed outlet at Cork Airport was the last remaining store in Munster, Starbucks has a food service in the area, where its coffee is available in canteens.

In Munster these sites include University College Cork and Quinn Insurance and Bank of New York at the Cork Business Park.

The company said it has also has a “significant renovation” planned for its College Green store in Dublin.

Latest accounts for Starbucks Coffee Company (Ireland) show its pre-tax losses doubled to €3.28 million in the 53 weeks to the end of October 2010. Revenues at the company fell by 10% last year to €16.1m.

Its employee figure fell to 234 from 280, with staff costs down from €6.1m to €5.2m.