Starbucks will open in its first two locations in Brazil by the end of 2006, says its Mexican joint venture partner Alsea SA de CV. The company, which launched the brand in Latin America in Mexico City in 2002 and now has 101 outlets open, with a goal of 300.

The two Brazilian outlets are being developed in the Morumbi shopping centre in Sao Paulo, and are "a fundamental part of our expansion strategy into Latin America", says Alberto Torrado Martinez, Director General of Alsea, which is also the main franchisee for Domino's Pizza and Burger King in the region.