From Times Online:
Whitbread, the leisure group, has signed a joint venture deal to develop its Costa coffee chain in China in the next stage of its strategy to turn the brand into a global competitor to Starbucks.
Costa, which is already in 14 territories, including India and countries in the Middle East, plans to open more than 300 stores across China over the next five years in partnership with Yueda Group ” a conglomerate with links to Carrefour, the French retailer, and Hyundai, the carmaker. [Full Text]
See also Costa Coffee set to open in China by BBC News; Costa to open 300 bars in China by Guardian Unlimited.
