ROME, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks's debut in Italy with the Milan Reserve Roastery has been confirmed Wednesday by its chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in Milan.
The establishment will be located in a former post building in Milan's Piazza Cordusio, and be the first Starbucks Roastery to open in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
It will open in 2018 with some 350 employees, Schultz said.
"This store will be the culmination of a great dream of mine -- 34 years in the making -- to return to Milan with one of the most immersive, magical retail experiences in the world," he said.
Starbucks has established collaboration with the historic bakery Princi in Milan, which will provide all of the baked goods. Following the Roastery opening, Italian licensee and business partner Percassi will open a small number of Starbucks stores in Milan for the balance of 2018.
Starbucks has the ambition to show its interpretation of coffee to Italians, he argued.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala expressed his suppot for Starbucks opening in his city. "As mayor and as a citizen of Milan I am pleased that an international company, known for its standing and reliability such as Starbucks, has decided to invest in our city," said Sala.
