Target, Starbucks team up

Target has announced it will partner with Starbucks in Canada on Wednesday.

According to a Toronto Star article, most of the 135 stores Target will open in 2013 will include a Starbucks licensed outlet.

In the U.S., Starbucks and Target have been partners for 12 years.

“Our goal is to bring the true Target brand shopping experience to our Canadian guests, so expanding our relationship with Starbucks as we enter the Canadian marketplace is a natural fit,” said John Morioka, senior vice-president of merchandising for Target Canada in the article.

Most major retailers contain a coffee outlet or fast-food restaurant; Tim Hortons has outlets in Metro stores; Starbucks are present in some Safeway stores.

The Starbucks/Target deal won't affect any of the existing relationships the coffee maker has with other Canadian retailers, says Colin Moore, CEO of Starbucks Canada in the article.