Starbucks to establish first Indian technology hub in Chennai

Starbucks is establishing its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government to create a new technology hub intended to support its global business operations and strengthen connections between its international teams.

The new facility is expected to create approximately 800 high-paying jobs for technology professionals. According to Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Anand Varadarajan, the selection of Chennai was driven by the city’s deep pool of technical talent, strong infrastructure, and high employee retention rates. The hub aims to bring more technical capabilities in-house over time, reducing reliance on third-party service providers.

This move aligns with a broader trend in India, which currently hosts over 2,100 GCCs. The expansion in Tamil Nadu follows recent similar agreements by other multinational corporations, such as Walgreens, and highlights Chennai’s growing role as a global technology and business services hub.