Starbucks' first cafe in Russia

Starbucks' first cafe in Russia finally will open next month.

Starbucks Corp., the world's largest coffee-shop chain, will open its first cafe in Russia next month after a decade of delays that included losing trademark rights.

The first shop will open in September in the Mega Mall north of Moscow, Starbucks spokeswoman Kate Bovey said Thursday by phone from Seattle.

Starbucks joins retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Carrefour SA in seeking to enter Russia, where consumer spending rose 24 percent last year, the most in Europe. Russians are expected to spend $12.5 billion eating out in 2009, after annual increases of more than 7 percent, according to OAO Rosinter Restaurants Holding, which operates T.G.I. Friday's and Benihana eateries.

Source: Bloomberg News