Italy: Q8 homes first Starbucks drive-thru location

Both companies have partnered up to open the new venue in Brescia and offer clients the franchise’s classic menu.

A new Starbucks store has been opened in the Q8 service station located in North Italy’s Brescia. Percassi, the licensee of the American brand in the country, have partnered up with the service station chain to inaugurate its first drive-thru in the country. Customers can now order the franchise’s signature products while driving or enjoy the site’s experience indoors.

"Three years after its arrival in Italy, Starbucks has begun to expand the format of its stores to meet the evolving needs of its customers. This partnership with Q8 inaugurates a new way to live the Starbucks experience also in our country," commented Vincenzo Catrambone, General Manager of Starbucks Italy, in a press release published by the European Food Agency news site.

The site is the first Starbucks with a drive-thru format in the country, so that drivers looking for fuel in the Q8 station can now enjoy its products. It also welcomes its customers to experience its indoor commodities, with its two floors structure that also includes an outdoor area.

"We are very proud that the first Starbucks of the Italian fuel network has opened in one of our stations. Innovation has always characterized Q8, such as sustainability and customer focus we want to offer, also thanks to this prestigious partnership, a unique shopping experience with a wide range of high quality products and services for an increasingly complete and satisfying customer experience,” added Giuseppe Zappalà, CEO of Q8.

The Erbusco Q8 service station not only offers drivers the standard fueling services but is also equipped with photovoltaic panels on the shelter and high energy efficiency LED lighting. It guarantees as well high standards of service for mobility, including electric, thanks to the presence of two charging stations, one ultrafast with one maximum power of 300 kW in direct current to fill up 2 electric vehicles at the same time in a few minutes.

An Easy Wash system is also available on site for motorists looking to wash their vehicles. It also has integrated the new Q8 concept shop, the Svolta shop, which is equipped with digital service and sustainables infrastructure and products on sale.