(Yicai Global) Nov. 30 -- A Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room will start welcoming customers in Guangzhou Parc Central soon. Starbucks Corp. [NASDAQ:SBUX] opened its first Chinese location in Shenzhen in 2002. It has about 530 stores in four provinces in South China, more than 30 of which are Reserve Roastery and Tasting Rooms, China News Service reported.

"2017 is the 15th year since Starbucks entered the South China market, and it is also a year of continuous innovation in Guangzhou," said Chen Yueming, general manager of Starbucks' South China business. Starbucks opened its first public arts space on Zhongshansan Road this year and set up its first community experience store in Global Villa in Panyu district, Chen said.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Rooms formally entered the Chinese market in 2014. They are decorated differently from other Starbucks cafes and offer distinct products.

Starbucks adopted a direct operation strategy and repurchased the management rights in East China from Uni-President Enterprises Corp. for about USD1.3 billion in July.

Starbucks reported main business revenue of USD5.7 billion in its latest quarterly financials, which it released on Nov. 4. Net profit attributable to the company fell 1.6 percent to USD788.5 million.