[Frank Sesno, Cnn Anchor:] Here in the United States, Starbucks coffee the houses, the coffee houses rather have become something of a fixture. In order to keep that growing and keep that latte flowing, the company is looking overseas for its growth, especially to the Pacific Rim. CNN's Lisa Barron looks at Starbucks' latest grand opening.
[Unidentified Female:] Three, two, one, please pull.
[Lisa Barron, Cnn Correspondent:] Pour your heart into it. That's what U.S. coffee giant Starbucks says, it's doing with its expansion into Hong Kong, and further afield in Asia.
[Howard Schultz, Starbucks Coffee Company:] At Starbucks, we really have emerged as one of the leading consumer brands to come out of North America, and now we're embarking on a real milestone for the company, beginning with the fact that, globally, outside of North America, we feel that the largest market for the company, outside of North America, is the Pacific Rim and Asia. And as a result of that, we have got a big push on.
[Barron:] A push that will launch nearly a Starbucks a day all this week. The first Hong Kong store, located just minutes from the stock exchange, opened on Tuesday, the day after the coffee chain opened its flagship store in Seoul. Wednesday brings Hong Kong's second outlet, in the heart of the Causeway Bay shopping mecca, while Starbucks Shanghai will open its doors to the public on Thursday.
[Schultz:] Despite the language difference and the difference in culture, the need for human connection in the world we live in today is greater than ever before, and coffee is such a social beverage that the relationship we've built between our customers around the environment, in what we have called the third place between home and work is as relevant in Hong Kong as it is in our home town in Seattle.
[Barron:] But in Hong Kong, as elsewhere in the region, coffee- touting competitors have already set up shop. Still, analysts say, given its track record, Starbucks moves in with almost guaranteed success.
[Henry Lee, Hendale Asia:] Starbucks has proven to be a very exportable brand. Starbucks at this point is a global brand, and most global brands that have expanded into Hong Kong do quite well.
[Barron:] Starbucks says this is just a start. The long-term plans are to have 20,000 stores worldwide, most of them outside the United States, and with the U.S. close to saturation, Asia could be the hottest market on the horizon. Lisa Barron, CNN Financial News, Hong Kong.