Starbucks to establish technology center in Chennai — Channel NewsAsia
US coffeehouse chain Starbucks has signed an agreement to establish a global capability center in Chennai, southern India. The company plans to hire about 800 technology specialists, Channel NewsAsia reports, citing the Tamil Nadu state government.
Center in Chennai
Tamil Nadu authorities did not disclose the amount of investment in the project. Starbucks did not respond to reporters' request for comment sent outside business hours.
In India, Starbucks has approximately 500 coffeehouses through a joint venture with Tata Consumer Products. According to a state government press release, Starbucks technology chief Anand Varadarajan said the company would benefit from the availability of skilled talent, lower employee turnover, and adequate infrastructure.
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Global capability centers in India
According to an estimate by the Tamil Nadu government, Chennai accounts for about one-tenth of India's global capability center base. The city already hosts technology centers of international companies, including Citi, Barclays, and American Express. A few days before the Starbucks agreement, US pharmacy chain Walgreens also signed an agreement with the state to establish such a center in Chennai.
According to the 2026 Nasscom-Zinnov report, more than 2,100 global capability centers operate in India, employing around 2.36 million people. Their combined revenue amounts to nearly $100 billion. Such centers perform not only low-cost back-office functions but also support headquarters in finance, software development, research, and development.
