Starbucks India posted a 5% rise in revenue to ₹1,277 crore in FY25, but the good news ended there. Losses widened significantly by 65% to ₹135.7 crore, up from ₹82 crore in the previous year, reflecting the growing strain on profitability amid soft demand in the quick service restaurant (QSR) segment.

Operating under a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Consumer Products as Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd, the company noted that almost half of the losses—₹67.6 crore—were borne by Tata Consumer. According to the brand’s annual report, demand across the QSR space remained muted through most of the year, though a rebound was noted in the latter half. Still, profitability remained under pressure.

Despite the headwinds, Starbucks continued to expand, opening 58 new outlets and entering 19 new cities, including several in tier-2 markets. However, this was a notable slowdown compared to the 95 new outlets launched in the previous year. As of now, Starbucks operates 479 stores across 80 Indian cities.

The company remains optimistic about long-term growth in India. “We remain committed to increasing our store base in India and get to 1,000 outlets by FY28, despite a more moderate number of store openings in the short term,” Starbucks said in a statement.

Tata Consumer Products Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed the broader economic landscape, noting that India remains a stronghold of economic growth amid global uncertainty. “India’s long-term growth is underpinned by strong demographic and economic fundamentals and ongoing structural reforms,” he told shareholders.

However, rising competition from both international and domestic brands continues to challenge Starbucks’ market share. Rivals like Tim Hortons and Pret A Manger have entered the Indian market with aggressive expansion plans, while homegrown brands like Third Wave Coffee and Blue Tokai already operate more than 250 outlets combined.

A senior QSR official highlighted a key operational challenge: “Starbucks’ revenue per square foot is about 35% lower compared to metros. Also, city stores seem to be cannibalising heavily after it opened stores at a record pace in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.”

While a strong takeaway culture offers a margin boost, uneven store performance continues to drag the bottom line. Some stores thrive, but others suffer from low footfalls and declining revenue per square foot, affecting overall profitability.

With the coffee wars heating up and Indian consumers spoilt for choice, Starbucks will need more than just store count to brew up sustained success in the coming years.