Multibrand restaurant company Maxim’s Caterers has been fully licensed to run Starbucks Coffee Company business in Singapore.

Maxim’s has been a long-time strategic partner of Starbucks, and the new agreement gives it the exclusive rights to develop and run the brand’s coffee stores in Singapore.

“We’re pleased to take another step in our ongoing growth aspirations in Asia by transitioning the Singapore business to Maxim’s Caterers, our trusted business partner with a successful track record in delivering the Starbucks Experience and developing our iconic brand,” says Starbucks International group president John Culver, who oversees channel development.

“Starbucks remains committed to growing in Singapore, an important market where we will build on 20 years of proudly serving customers.”

Starbucks opened its first store at Liat Towers in Orchard Road and now has more than 130 outlets.

“Our partnership with Starbucks is 17 years strong, and we are proud to deliver the Starbucks Experience to customers in Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Cambodia,” says Maxim’s chairman/MD Michael Wu.

Maxim’s now operates more than 210 Starbucks stores in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam and has a payroll of nearly 2900 employees.