Episode 495

#495: Starbucks Rewards Shares MENA Success (Starbucks is Our Guests FAVORITE Loyalty Program)

Published on: 8th February, 2024

Today’s episode is available as a podcast as "Let's Talk Loyalty" as well as in video form on www.Loyalty.TV.

Starbucks is one of the world’s greatest brands and also our audience’s favorite loyalty program!


As a truly global brand, Starbucks operates in 84 markets, and today we’re here to hear about the incredibly successful launch of the Starbucks Rewards programme in the Middle East and North Africa, where there are over 1,900 stores in eleven countries.


In this region, Starbucks has partnered with one of the leading family-owned operators of international franchising brands, the Al Shaya Group, which has operated for over 20 years.


We are joined by Elisabetta Aiello, the Vice President of Marketing and Digital for Starbucks in the MENA and Turkey.


Starbucks Rewards launched in the UAE in February 2022, followed by other key regional markets soon afterwards, and to date, they have registered more than 3 million members.


I hope you enjoy my in-studio conversation all about Starbucks as a world-class brand focused on building customer loyalty in the Middle East and North Africa region.



Show Notes:


1) Elisabetta Aiello


2) Starbucks MENA


3) Starbucks Rewards


4) Al Shaya Group


5) Watch this episode at www.Loyalty.TV

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About the Podcast

Let's Talk Loyalty
“Let’s Talk Loyalty” is an industry podcast for loyalty marketing professionals.

If you work in loyalty marketing, join us every week to learn the latest ideas and marketing insights from loyalty specialists around the world.

Check out our website on: http://www.letstalkloyalty.com/

About your host

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Paula Thomas

Paula Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Let’s Talk Loyalty and Loyalty TV

Paula Thomas is an award-winning podcaster who founded the “Let’s Talk Loyalty” podcast and business in 2019.

She has over twenty-five years blue-chip marketing experience, including almost a decade leading consumer loyalty programmes in multiple sectors including telecommunications, the energy sector, banking and airline loyalty programmes.

She is from Ireland and lives in Dubai.

Paula is a former judge for the “International Loyalty Awards”, and the author of the book “Driving Loyalty in Convenience Retail”.

She holds an Executive MBA from Smurfit Business College, one of Ireland’s top universities, and is a “Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional”.