MUMBAI, 12 MAY, 2020 (GPN): Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown in India, Tata Starbucks is beginning the process of re-opening responsibly and serving its customers in multiple ways under modified operations including relaunch of its much awaited takeaway service, across select stores in Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Surat, in addition to the home delivery service, which resumed last month.

Placing health and safety of customers and partners (employees) as priority, Tata Starbucks has introduced a slew of precautionary measures in its operational stores. Some of which include:

• Temperature checks of baristas, customers, delivery executives before placing orders
• For takeaways lines, there are designated waiting areas and grid marks for customers to keep a 4 feet distance; amidst the current social distancing norms. Once order is placed, there are designated waiting areas maintained
• Customers are also encouraged to use electronic mode of payments such as Starbucks App, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for a contactless experience
• If using debit or credit cards at the Point of Sale (POS) counter, customers are advised to use hand sanitizers that are placed at every part of the store and swipe their own card
• Condiments bar has been discontinued and will be available on request from the counters
• All stores will be sanitized every 30 minutes and baristas follow a strict sanitization protocol including wearing masks and gloves all the time for optimum safety
• Starbucks kitchens across stores follow global safety norms and the restrooms are temporarily closed for use
• Contactless delivery operations are also available with delivery partners

Navin Gurnaney, ceo, Tata Starbucks, says, “We are glad to be back with our authentic Starbucks Experience for our beloved customers through take away and online deliveries. At Tata Starbucks, the safety of our partners (employees) and customers is our top priority, and we have multiple measures to ensure a safe environment for them. We are also closely monitoring the health situation with local authorities. We are poised to adapt very rapidly, in meaningful ways that enhance the Starbucks Experience for our partners, customers, and the communities we serve. ENDS

About Tata Starbucks Private Limited

Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Global Beverages and currently operates 185 stores in India across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara through a network of over 2,000 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, TATA Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee – “A Tata Alliance.”