Brands/Products
Starbucks, Alibaba Partner to Satisfy Coffee Customers in China
By Dipo Olowookere
A partnership aimed to transform the coffee industry in China has been signed between Starbucks Coffee Company and Alibaba Group Holding Limited.
The strategic “New Retail” partnership will enable a seamless Starbucks Experience in China allowing the firm use the Alibaba ecosystem, including Ele.me, Hema, Tmall, Taobao and Alipay, to offer delivery services beginning September 2018.
This will allow the company establish “Starbucks Delivery Kitchens” for delivery order fulfilment and integrate multiple platforms to co-create an unprecedented virtual Starbucks store – an unparalleled and even more personalized online Starbucks Experience for Chinese customers.
The announcement marks a historic moment as two iconic, global companies build on their distinct retail and technology strengths to revolutionize the customer experience. Leveraging the Alibaba ecosystem and New Retail infrastructure, Starbucks will be able to further unify a seamless Starbucks Experience between its stores and online for customers.
“Thanks to the elevated customer experience delivered by our over 45,000 partners, Starbucks is growing and innovating faster in China than anywhere else in the world,” said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Our transformational partnership with Alibaba will reshape modern retail, and represents a significant milestone in our efforts to exceed the expectations of Chinese consumers. Starbucks China is one to watch, and I have full confidence in the team that will bring the new innovation behind the Starbucks Experience to life.”
Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Group, said, “Starbucks is more than a destination for premium coffee and we share the same vision to pioneer a new coffee culture and lifestyle through innovation and technology. Alibaba is thrilled to expand our existing partnership with Starbucks by leveraging our cutting-edge New Retail infrastructure and digital power to enable an unprecedented experience for consumers. This partnership is again a testament to the success of our New Retail strategy.”
The strategic partnership is part of Alibaba’s broader New Retail push, which aims to transform how commerce is conducted by merging online and offline experiences. New Retail was introduced by Alibaba in 2016 and has since become a hallmark strategy of the retail industry.
Creating an Unparalleled Order and Delivery Experience Powered by the Alibaba Ecosystem
Best-in-class coffee delivery service through Ele.me
Working with Ele.me, China’s leading on-demand food delivery platform with 3 million registered delivery riders, Starbucks will pilot delivery this September in 150 stores located in key trade zones in Beijing and Shanghai with plans to accelerate and expand its delivery program to more than 2,000 Starbucks stores across 30 cities by the end of calendar year 2018.
Both Starbucks and Ele.me collaborated to develop a unique, customized delivery infrastructure that has been meticulously determined each step along the way, including dedicated Ele.me delivery riders, precise delivery time, and custom carriers. Both companies have created a tailored order-to-delivery Starbucks program that upholds the unparalleled experience and quality that customers have come to expect in Starbucks retail stores. Through this delivery partnership, Starbucks and Ele.me have pioneered a best-in-class coffee delivery service standard for Chinese customers.
“Ele.me has a robust infrastructure for on-demand delivery in China. We are pleased to partner with Starbucks to launch these reliable and trusted delivery services to satisfy customers’ needs and capitalize on the delivery sector’s great potential. It is an important milestone for Ele.me to deepen our collaboration with retail chains and further expand our penetration in the food delivery sector,” said Wang Lei, Chief Executive Officer of Ele.me.
Distinct Fulfillment and Delivery Capabilities through Hema Supermarkets
In addition, Starbucks will partner with Hema supermarkets to be the first retail brand to establish dedicated “Starbucks Delivery Kitchens” within their locations. The “Starbucks Delivery Kitchens” will utilize Hema’s distinct fulfillment and delivery capabilities to complement the delivery of handcrafted Starbucks coffee and tea beverages offered through existing Starbucks stores. Starbucks will also leverage Hema’s highly effective consumer insights and unique fulfillment expertise to further penetrate and better serve the needs of individuals and families in communities across China.
This intentional strategy will inform the future network planning for new Starbucks stores, combined with “Starbucks Delivery Kitchen” locations, to further expand the scale and reach of Starbucks delivery services, while enabling our partners (employees) to continue to elevate the third-place experience for the customer. Starbucks will open “Starbucks Delivery Kitchens” in selected Hema supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou as soon as September 2018, with plans to expand its presence to other cities over time.
“Our Chinese customers have a high expectation of their Starbucks Experience and we are proud to introduce a premium delivery experience that reflects the same service and quality they’ve come to love and expect from us in our stores – we will never compromise,” said Belinda Wong, chief executive officer, Starbucks China. “More significantly, through our partnership with Alibaba, we are breaking the physical and virtual barriers between the home, office, in-store and digital space, making China the first Starbucks market to deliver a seamless Starbucks Experience across all facets of our customers’ lives and further reflecting the uniqueness and strategic importance of the market.”
Digital Innovations Transforming the Retail Industry
A key strategic initiative under the partnership is the development of a pioneering, first-of-its-kind virtual Starbucks store in China. This digital partnership will see Alibaba develop a centralized online management hub, with the unique capabilities to integrate and deliver a consistent Starbucks Experience across multiple digital platforms. This innovation will transcend the traditional limitations of a single-app visit by providing the consumer an elevated, and even more personalized Starbucks digital experience across the Starbucks app and Alibaba’s customer-facing mobile apps, including Taobao, Alipay, Tmall and Koubei.
This latest innovation will revolutionize the traditional offline-to-online model by effectively extending the reach of the Starbucks Experience into the everyday lifestyle ritual of the Chinese consumer, regardless of time or place. Whether it is at home or in the office, within a Starbucks store or online, Starbucks customers will be able to access and enjoy a one-stop Starbucks Experience when purchasing merchandise online, buying a Starbucks handcrafted beverage to be delivered to a friend or sending a Starbucks gift of love on the “Say it with Starbucks” social gifting platform. Starbucks will progressively integrate its Starbucks Rewards (SR) membership platform onto the centralized system to leverage its consumer insights to deliver a truly personalized experience to its customers, while establishing a strong foundation for the future development of Starbucks digital experiences in China.
Starbucks and Alibaba are trusted business partners who share common values in the spirit of innovation and the unrelenting pursuit of product and service excellence. This deepened partnership is a significant step as both companies partner together to elevate the customer experience across China.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigeria’s trusted hybrid and integrated electromechanical energy provider, JMG Limited, has completed the installation of solar power systems at three key fuel stations of NIPCO Plc.
The clean energy source was installed at NIPCO’s petrol dispensing outlets in Gwagwalada Abuja, Lekki Lagos, and Mpape Abuja.
This will help the organisation eliminate diesel reliance, and unlock more than N44 million in annual energy cost savings.
The installations feature advanced hybrid systems, combining solar arrays, lithium battery storage, and smart inverters to provide 24/7 energy for fuel pumps, lighting, and office operations. Each site has reported zero use of electricity or generator power since the systems were installed.
The three NIPCO stations now run on an advanced hybrid solar system that combines high‑efficiency PV panels, intelligent lithium‑battery storage and smart inverters.
Since commissioning, the sites have operated with zero grid or generator power, providing silent, clean, uninterrupted electricity for pumps, lighting and administration.
“We are proud to help NIPCO lead the energy transition at the retail level.
“The scalable architecture can be sized to each location and has already delivered significant savings, about 88,535 kWh/year, N44.4 million in annual cost savings and a 43.8‑tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions,” the Head of JMG’s Hybrid Solar Division, Mr Abbass Hussein, stated, adding that, “Collaborating with NIPCO on this initiative demonstrates a practical pathway for other firms to reduce both emissions and energy expenses.”
Also commenting, NIPCO’s Station Manager at Gwagwalada, Mr Idoko Jacob, said, “The stations have not relied on electricity or generator power on bright-weather days since commissioning. The solar systems fully meet our daily energy needs during such periods. On days with poor weather, we supplement the solar system with generator power to ensure uninterrupted operations.”
Business Post gathered that the NIPCO Gwagwalada Station has a solar output of 42,450 kWh/year, annual savings of N15.6 million, and CO₂ reduction of 15,332.76 kg/year, with a system installed consisting of a 20kW Deye LV Hybrid Inverter, 26.8kWp Solar PV, and 51.2kWh Lithium Battery Storage.
The NIPCO Lekki Station has a solar output of 3,635 kWh/year, annual savings of N12 million, and CO₂ reduction of 13,130.1 kg/year, with a system installed consisting of a 25kW Must Hybrid Inverter, 22.95kWp Solar PV, and 76.8kWh Lithium Battery Storage.
As for the NIPCO Mpape Station, it has a solar output of 42,450 kWh/year, annual savings of N16.8 million, and CO₂ reduction of 15,332.76 kg/year, with a system installed consisting of a 20kW Deye LV Hybrid Inverter, 26.8kWp Solar PV, and 61.44kWh Lithium Battery Storage.
MAGGI, the culinary brand from Nestlé Nigeria, has announced the launch of its festive campaign, Taste of Christmas, designed to celebrate the sights, sounds, and flavours that define the Nigerian Christmas experience.
Central to the campaign is a collaboration with Nigeria’s fast-rising pop star Qing Madi and the renowned Loud Urban Choir, resulting in a new Christmas anthem titled Taste of Christmas.
Now available across all major music streaming platforms, the song blends contemporary sound with cultural warmth, evoking the joy of family, togetherness, and shared meals that characterize the season.
Extending beyond music, the Taste of Christmas campaign will roll out a curated series of festive recipes and culinary inspiration over a 12-day period. The collection features creative twists such as Coco Bongus, alongside beloved Nigerian classics, encouraging families to explore new flavours while enjoying MAGGI’s trusted range of seasonings.
Commenting on the campaign, the Category Manager for Culinary at MAGGI, Ms Funmi Osineye, said, “Christmas is a time when family, culture, and shared experiences come alive. With the Taste of Christmas campaign, we set out to create a platform that resonates strongly with today’s young adults while still celebrating the warmth of home. Partnering with Qing Madi and The Loud Urban Choir allows us to connect music and food in a way that feels authentic, modern, and deeply Nigerian.”
The campaign further reflects MAGGI’s commitment to celebrating home-grown talent, nurturing culinary creativity, and strengthening the role of food as a unifying force in Nigerian homes.
Consumers can access festive recipes, campaign content, and the Taste of Christmas anthem on MAGGI’s digital platforms and social media channels. Conversations around the campaign can be followed using #MAGGIChristmas.
MAGGI is a leading culinary brand from Nestlé Nigeria, committed to inspiring better cooking habits and bringing families together through delicious, nutritious meals.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The decision of the federal government to suspend the ban on alcohol produced in sachets has been welcomed by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
The Director-General of the group, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, described it as a right step in the right direction because it respects existing National Assembly resolutions and restores regulatory clarity.
Recall that recently, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) ordered the suspension of the policy due to concerns raised by the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.
In a statement, the NECA chief said the immediate suspension of all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products, pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final policy directive, was good for the industry and the economy.
According to him, the sachet and PET segment of the alcoholic beverage industry accounts for a significant portion of the estimated N800 billion invested in the sector and supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs in manufacturing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail.
He stressed that in an economy already struggling with high unemployment and rising business costs, abrupt policy measures that threaten existing jobs and legitimate investments would be counterproductive.
“We fully acknowledge the need to address public health concerns, especially regarding children and young people, but the solutions must be evidence-based and carefully designed so as not to drive activities into the informal and unregulated economy or encourage illicit products.
“We are looking forward to a deepened consultation to enable the protection of jobs, livelihoods and legitimate investments, etc., while also ensuring that public health objectives are effectively and sustainably achieved,” Mr Oyerinde said.
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