Business The Logistics Innovation Behind Starbucks Coffee in Korea
2024. 08. 30

Did you know that South Korea ranks second in the world for coffee consumption? With an average of 405 cups of coffee consumed per person each year, Starbucks stands at the heart of this coffee culture. CJ Logistics plays a crucial role in this, swiftly delivering fresh coffee to 1,937 Starbucks stores across the nation daily. Today, we’d like to share the fascinating story of the logistics behind each cup of coffee and the exciting collaboration between the leaders in coffee and logistics.
 

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Bringing the Taste of Seattle to You!
CJ Logistics Safeguards the Perfect Starbucks Coffee

The secret to Starbucks' consistent taste worldwide lies in the beans, which are roasted at its headquarters in Seattle, USA. Many who have tasted coffee at the original Seattle store have marveled at how the same taste is replicated in South Korea.

The freshness of the beans is crucial to the quality of the coffee, and since the flavor can vary greatly depending on temperature and humidity, meticulous distribution management is essential to deliver fresh beans to customers.

As a trusted logistics partner for Starbucks for many years, CJ Logistics ensures this consistency. Since 2012, CJ Logistics has partnered with Starbucks Korea, leveraging its specialized logistics infrastructure and expertise to maintain the rich flavor of Starbucks coffee for consumers.

 


 
The Reason Starbucks Coffee is Always Fresh: CJ Logistics’ Special Logistics Strategy

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In 2015, CJ Logistics opened the Deokpyeong Starbucks Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, a facility specially designed to manage Starbucks’ logistics services. Equipped with a 'three-temperature zone automated management system' that controls refrigeration, freezing, and room temperature environments, this center provides optimized logistics services for Starbucks. 

 

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Following the successful operation and the establishment of logistics competitiveness at the Deokpyeong Starbucks Center, the number of Starbucks stores has continued to grow steadily.

CJ Logistics and Starbucks Korea recognized the need for expanded logistics hubs, leading to the opening of the Busan Starbucks Center in 2022. Located near the Busan New Port and Garak Interchange, this center serves as a key logistics hub for the southern region. Busan Port is a crucial entry point for 93% of imported coffee beans, making this center vital for maintaining the freshness of Starbucks products.

The Deokpyeong Center handles logistics for the capital and central regions, while the Busan Center covers the southern regions, ensuring efficient delivery across the country. These operations are supported by a precise cold chain system and advanced logistics technologies.

 

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The Size of Six Soccer Fields! The Busan Starbucks Center Cuts Delivery Time by 90% with Advanced Logistics Technology

The Busan Starbucks Center is the largest coffee-dedicated logistics facility in South Korea, spanning approximately 38,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of six soccer fields. This vast space operates like a giant refrigerator, equipped with temperature-controlled storage systems that ensure the proper preservation of coffee beans, desserts, sandwich ingredients, and even non-perishable items like merchandise and napkins, all of which are distributed to Starbucks stores nationwide.

The Busan Starbucks Center employs advanced cold chain technology, which enables temperature and humidity control across different storage zones. It is also equipped with cutting-edge logistics automation technologies such as the Multi Picking System (MPS), Piece Assorting System (PAS), Auto Sorter, and Depalletizer.

According to Jang Jun-seok, the head of CJ Logistics' Busan Starbucks Center, "Thanks to these logistics technologies, the entire delivery process, from the logistics center to the store and ultimately to the customer, is optimized into a tailored service," highlighting that CJ Logistics' stable and advanced services are the foundation of its competitive edge and the trust it has built with customers.

 

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A significant focus has been placed on enhancing picking speed. Given the diversity of items and quantities ordered by each store, approximately 70% of the time from order to shipment is spent on picking. Technologies such as the Multi Picking System (MPS), Piece Assorting System (PAS), Auto Sorter, and Depalletizer have been introduced to address this.

The MPS (Multi Picking System) automates the handling of large quantities of boxes, while the PAS (Piece Assorting System) automatically sorts smaller individual items, allowing the system to handle both large and small volumes efficiently. The Auto Sorter automatically categorizes products by delivery region, and the Depalletizer is a robotic arm that effortlessly lifts and moves boxes of various sizes onto conveyor belts. 

These technologies operate much faster and more accurately than humans, eliminating the need for additional inspection and re-sorting at the store level. As a result, the logistics processing time has been drastically reduced from 90 minutes to just 10 minutes, significantly enhancing operational efficiency. 


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Effective inventory management is crucial for Starbucks as we handle a wide variety of products in large quantities. We manage everything from inventory control to the delivery process through comprehensive data management, continuously enhancing our technology and operational expertise to provide more efficient inventory management and services. We are committed to delivering satisfaction and trust to our store partners and customers through stable and advanced services across all areas of logistics.  
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Starbucks is a company that provides premium value to customers and leads contemporary trends beyond simply offering beverages, food, and merchandise. We strive for excellence in all areas, and particularly in logistics, we prioritize securing new hubs to integrate top-tier services and technologies, enhancing delivery quality while reducing costs and ensuring the safety of our field personnel. Through our collaboration with CJ Logistics, we are realizing these goals and aspire for Starbucks Korea to become a benchmark for Starbucks logistics worldwide.

 
Setting the Global Standard in Coffee Logistics

Starbucks is known worldwide for maintaining strict logistics standards. To meet these high standards, CJ Logistics has continuously pursued innovation in the storage and delivery of coffee. As a key partner trusted by global brands like Starbucks, CJ Logistics is more than just a logistics provider; it is a leader in logistics innovation across various industries, driven by cutting-edge technology and customized solutions.


 

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