Brands
Starbucks unveils 50 store in Bengaluru with first drive-thru outlet
MUMBAI: Starbucks marked a significant milestone with the opening of its 50 store in Bengaluru, also unveiling its first drive-thru outlet in South India. The occasion was commemorated with a special event attended by Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash and Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor.
The event highlighted the strength of the long-standing partnership between Starbucks and Swiggy, which began eight years ago with just six stores in Mumbai. Since then, the collaboration has expanded across 70 cities and 350+ stores nationwide, supported by Swiggy’s robust delivery ecosystem.
As part of the celebration, Kapoor joined 50 Swiggy delivery partners on a ride to the new store, capping the journey with a cup of Starbucks coffee. Dash added a personal touch by brewing a signature Americano for Kapoor symbolising their shared passion for quality and consistency.
Tata Starbucks CEO Dash shared, “Our 50 store in Bengaluru and first drive-thru in South India marks an exciting new chapter in our growth journey one rooted in accessibility, innovation, and deep local relevance. At Starbucks, we use the specialty grade Arabica for every cup of coffee, serving the finest quality to every consumer. Swiggy has been a trusted partner in this journey, helping us deliver the Starbucks experience to customers wherever they are. As we expand across India, we remain committed to crafting new moments of connection, whether in-store or delivered to your doorstep.”
Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Kapoor added, “Starbucks’ 50 store in Bengaluru is not just a milestone for their retail footprint, but also a marker of how far this partnership has come. From just a handful of stores in one city to now serving customers in 70 cities Swiggy has been proud to partner with Starbucks every step of the way. Together, we’ve worked to make high-quality coffee and food experiences more accessible to millions of consumers across the country. As we scale further, we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries and delivering memorable experiences, one order at a time.”
The duo has collaborated on popular campaigns such as ‘Double the Love,’ ‘Friday Frappuccino,’ and ‘Items at 199,’ and co-created the ‘Classics’ menu tailored to Indian palates. This celebration reflects not just a store count but a shared mission to bring premium coffee and food closer to consumers, in-store and at home.
Brands
Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
