Six months after signalling a strategic reset and a sharper focus on profitability, Tata Starbucks is preparing to accelerate growth again. The 50:50 JV between Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks Corporation is now looking at a long-term opportunity of as many as 8,000 stores in India, a significant escalation from its earlier target of 1,000 outlets by 2028. The shift follows discussions between the two partners, according to an update provided by Tata Consumer chairman N Chandrasekaran at the firm’s 63rd annual general meeting last week. Chandrasekaran, also the chairman of Tata Sons, said that Starbucks was a “very high-potential business” that had significant growth prospects in India. ‘We have had discussions with our partner, and we think eventually the company can have 8,000 stores in India. We are continuing to add 50 to 100 stores a year,” he said.