Starbucks Coffee Company and food and drink concession specialists, SSP, have announced a partnership agreement to open more than 150 Starbucks stores in prime travel locations across Europe, over the next three years.

Starbucks will give SSP licensing rights to the Starbucks brand across key European travel markets, covering both railway and airport locations, which in some segments, including the UK, France and Germany, will be exclusive. The agreement also enables Starbucks to further realise its intent to increase its international store growth.

Commenting on the agreement, Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks, said: “It provides us with a strong platform to further expand the Starbucks brand across Europe. SSP’s experience and leadership position gives us great confidence that together we can deliver the unique Starbucks experience to more travellers in Europe.”

Andrew Lynch, chief executive officer, SSP, said: “SSP has been operating in travel locations in Europe for over 60 years; this experience and our insights into travelling consumers’ needs and behaviour, coupled with Starbucks’ unrivalled stature as the world’s leading coffee brand, is a formidable pairing.”