Chennai is set to add another major global technology operation, with Starbucks planning to establish a global capability centre (GCC) in the Tamil Nadu capital and create around 800 technology jobs.
The coffee chain has signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government to set up the GCC and hire roughly 800 technology professionals. The state government has not disclosed the investment amount.
Starbucks operates around 500 cafes in India through its joint venture with Tata Consumer Products. The company did not respond to a request for comment outside office hours.
The development comes days after US pharmacy chain Walgreens signed an agreement with Tamil Nadu to establish a GCC in Chennai. The city is already home to technology centres of global business groups such as Citi, Barclays and American Express.
According to the state government, Chennai accounts for around 10 percent of India’s GCC base. The availability of skilled professionals, lower employee attrition and strong infrastructure are expected to support Starbucks’ technology operations.
Starbucks technology chief Anand Varadarajan said these factors would help the company, according to a state government press release.
India has emerged as the world’s largest GCC hub, with more than 2,100 centres employing around 2.36 million people and generating nearly $100 billion in revenue, according to a 2026 report by an industry research group.
GCCs have also expanded beyond low-cost back-office work. Companies now use these centres for higher-value functions, including finance, software development and research and development, supporting their global headquarters.
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