Starbucks Malaysia refutes claims of 100 stores shutting down

Starbucks Malaysia has dismissed claims that it is shuttering more than 100 outlets in the country. The company said in a statement to Business Times that it has ceased only a few stores, and “most of the allegedly closed locations are only temporarily closed".

This is part of its ongoing assessment to align their presence while ensuring no job losses ensued, said the spokesperson. "Importantly, no employees have been affected by the permanent or temporary closures, as they have been reassigned to nearby stores to continue serving our customers seamlessly," the representative said.

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Nonetheless, the company has had a rough road in Malaysia. Berjaya Food, which operates the coffee chain in Malaysia saw a loss in the fourth quarter due to the Middle East conflict, which saw boycotts of the brand in Malaysia.

The company saw a net loss of RM38.2 million for the three months that ended in June, and sales fell by more than half.

“The significantly lower revenue and pre-tax loss incurred in the current quarter under review were mainly due to the current sentiment in relation to the conflict in the Middle East,” Berjaya Food said in the report published at the tail end of August.

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