SBUX Starbucks Corporation

   By Dominic Chopping 
 

STOCKHOLM--Swedish retailer ICA Gruppen AB (ICA.SK) said Tuesday it has signed a licensing agreement with Starbucks Coffee Company to open Starbucks retail stores in its Swedish stores.

The cafes will be operated by ICA according to the Starbucks licensing concept and under the Starbucks brand.

ICA chief executive Per Stromberg said "the cafe sector is growing and this is part of our plan to strengthen our customer offering over time."

Initially, the plan is to open three Starbucks retail stores during 2015. These will then be evaluated before a decision is made on the possible establishment of more cafes.

-Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com; Twitter: @WSJNordics

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