The Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks has announced that it will be expanding to the Italian market and opening its first store in Milan next year.
CNN Money reported that the announcement came via CEO Howard Schultz on Feb. 28, who explained why the company is choosing to open a store in Italy.
"Starbucks history is directly linked to the way the Italians created and executed the perfect shot of espresso," Schultz said in a press release. "Everything that we've done sits on the foundation of those wonderful experiences that many of us have had in Italy, and we've aspired to be a respectful steward of that legacy for 45 years."
The Associated Press noted that the company already has a strong presence; outside the U.S. Starbucks currently operates stores in Europe, the Middle East, the U.K. and Africa and plans to open several more stores after the initial shop in Milan opens in 2017.
The first Italian store will be run by the Percassi Group.