Why there is still no Starbucks in Croatia

Why doesn’t Croatia have Starbucks?

Starbucks, the global coffee chain, operates in over 80 countries, yet Croatia remains one of the few European nations without a single location.

While it may seem like an obvious move for Starbucks to enter the Croatian market, there are clear reasons why this has not happened. Back in 2010, there were reports that Starbucks was set to open its first store in Arena Centre, but that never materialised.

Here are some of the key factors why. 

Croatians Don’t Drink Coffee in a Hurry

In Croatia, coffee is more than just a drink – it is a social event. An invitation for coffee often means spending hours at a favourite café, whether with friends or business partners.

Research suggests that the average Croatian spends around 182 hours a year drinking coffee, with some parts of the country boasting one café for every 100 residents.

By contrast, Starbucks’ business model is built on fast service and high customer turnover. In many countries, people grab their coffee “to go,” which simply is not a common practice in Croatia.

The Market is Already Saturated

Beyond cultural differences, economic factors also play a significant role. Croatia already has a dense network of cafés that offer good-quality coffee at affordable prices.

In Zagreb alone, there are over 4,500 cafés. Additionally, Croatians are loyal to their favourite coffee spots, making it even harder for a new brand to establish itself.

Starbucks Has No Plans for Croatia

Although there has been speculation about Starbucks entering Croatia, official statements from the company suggest otherwise.

Back in 2019, it was confirmed that there were no concrete plans for the Croatian market, and there has been no indication of change since.

Everything points to the conclusion that Starbucks does not see Croatia as a profitable market due to the mismatch between its business model and the local coffee culture.

Starbucks may dominate in many countries, but Croatia remains one of those exceptions. Some other European counties, like Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia also do not have Starbucks.

The tradition of long social coffee breaks, strong local competition, and lower prices mean that the global coffee chain has little room for success.