SHAH ALAM - Starbucks Malaysia has denied claims that over 100 branches have closed in the country, stating that only some locations have temporarily halted operations.
According to the company, the move was part of an ongoing assessment to allow them to align their positions more strategically without losing employees.
"The statement that more than 100 Starbucks branches in Malaysia have closed is false.
"While we have suspended operations at only a few stores, most of the locations said to be closed are only temporarily closed," the company stated in a press release on Friday.
Previously, the operator of Starbucks Malaysia, Berjaya Food Berhad (BFood), reported a pre-tax loss of RM87.34 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, compared to a pre-tax profit of RM148.73 million in the previous year.
BFood, in a statement, said that the company recorded revenue of RM730.3 million compared to RM1.12 billion in the previous fiscal year.
In addition, Starbucks Malaysia emphasised that no employees were affected by either the permanent or temporary store closures.
They said that the affected staff had been reassigned to nearby stores to continue providing uninterrupted service to customers.
"We are also seeing a positive increase in sales as customers are beginning to realise that the accusations against the brand are untrue and Starbucks has never been on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Malaysia (BDS Malaysia) list," they said.