Starbucks to license out certain EMEA stores to Mexico's Alsea

(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp <SBUX.O> said on Thursday it would license out its operations in France, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to long-standing partner Mexico's Alsea SAB <ALSEA.MX>.

Restaurant chain operator Alsea will have the rights to operate and develop Starbucks stores in these markets, the company said in a statement.

Starbucks and Alsea first partnered in 2002, when together they opened Mexico City's first Starbucks store.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)