Magnarmalok
The Resident Young'un
Interesting fun fact, wimpy smalls and medium sized cola's = same amount, go to any wimpy and ask for a small, and a empty medium glass, pour the small into the medium and you'll see
Starbucks arrives in South Africa
- Thread starter Lydon
- Start date
Interesting fun fact, wimpy smalls and medium sized cola's = same amount, go to any wimpy and ask for a small, and a empty medium glass, pour the small into the medium and you'll see
powderbucket
New member
"Why support Starbucks?" I ask from an objective 'proudly-South-Africa- Bafana-Bafana-is-going-to-WIN' perspective that this country wants everyone to have for the World Cup. I though this was all about supporting South African and African business and culture, not American (or Western) business and culture. Surely more money and effort could be made to promote some good South African coffee industries for the South African World Cup. Anyway, pessimism ends here. I hope they are as yummy as they profess to be.
Lupus
New member
Starbucks is horrible coffee, not sure why it would be popular in SA, Seattle might have a similar menu but their coffee isn't the same taste. If they'd bring Costa here I'd love it, giant cups. Oh and also I didn't see them on every corner in London. In Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness yes
Lydon
New member
South African coffee joints need to promote themselves. The introduction of a huge international brand like Starbucks will force our local stores to compete lest they fail. There's no reason why South African coffee shops can't expand internationally themselves. Look at the likes of Nandos and Spur.
Keeping on the coffee topic - Vida e Cafe has quite a large number of stores in Cape Town, and they're continually opening more stores across the country. They recently opened their second store in London. Starbucks and other very established chains are in large supply there, yet Vida has been able to make inroads there.
What it boils down to is that local chains will no longer get away with murder. Whilst some stores may go under in the long run, those that don't are the stores we should be supporting anyway, as they're clearly running their businesses intelligently. And it's only the consumer who will benefit in the long run from increased competition. The introduction of Starbucks doesn't remotely mean I'll stop supporting Vida, as I think they're awesome. There's no reason why they can't both exist in SA.
People always assume that the introduction of a big international (usually American) chain is going to floor local restaurants, yet look at Nandos, that has hundreds upon hundreds of stores all over the world.
It may not be big, but it's definitely a growing culture. Vida e Cafe has near exploded recently. They have a much bigger presence in Cape Town than they do in the rest of the country (for now), and as I mentioned above, they're expanding quite rapidly. There's definitely a market out there, it's just a matter of someone stepping up to the plate and offering the service in question, which hasn't been the case in the past. Sure, you could get a takeaway coffee, but you didn't have the convenience of a store you know and love being close almost no matter where you are, as is currently the case with me and Vida.
demon angel
New member
Starbucks in SA is not the way it was originally intended in the USA.
Perhaps is just a lets see how it goes project.
I sure as hell wont go to a hotel to go get some coffee.
Besides don't novelists usually go to Starbucks and spend an entire day there typing out there latest creation to get away from it all?
Perhaps is just a lets see how it goes project.
I sure as hell wont go to a hotel to go get some coffee.
Besides don't novelists usually go to Starbucks and spend an entire day there typing out there latest creation to get away from it all?
ZAP_Tech
New member
I have had starbucks overseas it isnt that great we have better coffe in SA, though alot of people belive starbucks is "THE SHIT" (forgive the language didnt no a better way to put that). Other thing you not really here if you dont got retail outlets so maybe they should rethink how they gonna advertise that i dont want to got to a hotel to have average coffee when i can go to Seattle to get something i like or Mugg and Bean to get a speciality coffee.
ZAP_Tech
New member
Sorry didnt read your post may have said similair thing to what you said. My apologies. But you do have appoint about the hotel thing.
Crzwaco
New member
Its like McD is the Sh!t with some people.Still don't get all the fuss about their stuff because dam its really not that great.
I have drank coffee from durbs, capetown and kimberley and well all of them almost have the same kind of taste so another coffee place would make no diffrence.
Azimuth
New member
It helps that Vida makes damn good coffee. I'm quite a coffee snob, but I absolutely love their stuff. I was there earlier today, actually.
