Summary: Mexican restaurant operator Alsea recorded a 3.6% year-over-year increase in 3Q2026 domestic same-store sales, anchored by an accelerating foot traffic recovery at Starbucks Mexico (up 3.1%) and resilient demand at Domino’s Pizza. The commercial rebound was reinforced by omnichannel momentum, with digital orders, delivery aggregators, and loyalty platforms reaching 9.1 million active users and generating 40.7% of total sales. Simultaneously, Starbucks Mexico advanced its corporate ESG agenda by rolling out a mandatory three-tier circular waste management model across 260 Mexico City locations to support its global 2030 sustainable packaging targets.
Mexican restaurant operator Alsea recorded a 3.6% year-over-year increase in 3Q2026 domestic same-store sales, driven largely by a sharp recovery in foot traffic at its flagship Starbucks franchise and sustained commercial momentum at Domino’s Pizza.
As Alsea posted solid third-quarter financial results across its domestic portfolio, its leading coffee brand simultaneously moved to strengthen its corporate sustainability profile by rolling out an expanded waste management and circular economy framework across its Mexico City operations.
Alsea closed September with 2,568 operating establishments in Mexico, up from 2,502 a year earlier. During the company’s quarterly earnings presentation, Alsea CEO Christian Gurría highlighted that Mexico served as one of the principal engines for the group’s corporate recovery, supported by a rebound in customer visits and disciplined commercial execution.
Starbucks Mexico, the crown jewel of Alsea’s beverage portfolio, posted a 3.1% rise in same-store sales—representing a robust five-percentage-point improvement compared to the previous quarter. According to Gurría, customer traffic recovered gradually following the World Cup and gained momentum toward the end of the quarter. The chain’s commercial calendar was anchored by a Peanuts promotional campaign, the launch of the Unicorn Frappuccino, and seasonal pumpkin spice beverages. Over the trailing 12 months, Starbucks opened 57 locations in Mexico, bringing its total national footprint to 976 stores.
Beyond the coffee segment, Alsea’s quick-service formats delivered strong results. Domino’s Pizza Mexico boosted same-store sales by 4.8%, buoyed by product innovations such as the “Sartén Orilla Suprema” crust. The pizza chain’s network reached 1,001 units, split between 518 corporate locations and 483 franchises. Altogether, Alsea’s fast-food segment in Mexico, which includes 168 Burger King restaurants, grew 4.9% in comparable sales.
Alsea’s full-service restaurants, including Vips, Italianni’s, Chili’s, P. F. Chang’s, and The Cheesecake Factory, registered a 3.2% advance in same-store sales, driven by new value propositions designed to increase visit frequency.
Domestically, Alsea emphasized the scale and growth of its digital sales channels and delivery aggregators. Across the entire corporate group, e-commerce, aggregators, and loyalty programs grew 11.3%, representing 40.7% of total quarterly sales. The company reported that its digital loyalty programs have reached 9.1 million active users.
While the Mexican market anchored corporate growth, Alsea’s international divisions reported mixed but generally positive results.
South American and European Performance
In South America, Alsea closed the quarter with 771 establishments and reported an 8.2% increase in same-store sales, overcoming varied consumption trends. Fast-food formats advanced 8.6%, while coffee shops grew 7.6%. The company noted that the divestment of the Archie’s brand in Colombia concluded in May 2026.
In Europe, Alsea ended the quarter with 1,496 units, a slight decrease from the previous year. However, same-store sales grew 3.5%, led by a 6.1% increase in coffee shop sales. Starbucks France notably grew comparable sales by 6.4%, driven by targeted marketing campaigns that brought traffic back to urban stores. Europe also led the corporate group in digital channel penetration and loyalty program adoption.
While Alsea focused heavily on driving digital engagement and foot traffic, Starbucks Mexico simultaneously launched a major initiative to address the environmental footprint generated by those increasing transactions.
Starbucks Expands Circular Economy Initiatives
As store traffic rebounded in the third quarter, Starbucks Mexico announced the implementation of a Waste Management Plan across 260 stores in Mexico City. The initiative introduces a mandatory three-category separation system for organic, inorganic, and compostable waste as part of the brand’s broader commitment to circular economy practices.
Sarai Jiménez, Director of Construction and Brand Reputation at Starbucks Mexico, stated that the plan translates abstract sustainability goals into daily operational realities, requiring active participation from both employees and customers, reported MBN.
The Mexico City initiative aligns with Starbucks’ global packaging strategy, which aims for 100% of customer-facing packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by the end of 2030, provided adequate local infrastructure exists. Globally, Starbucks reported that the use of reusable containers increased by 77% in fiscal 2025. The brand introduced cold beverage cups in North America that use up to 20% less plastic and hot cups containing 30% post-consumer recycled material.
To support these goals, Starbucks invested US$10 million in Circular Services and continues its partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Consequently, the company’s global waste diversion rate climbed from 28% in 2019 to 40% in 2025.
However, Starbucks acknowledges significant external challenges, including limited municipal recycling infrastructure, a scarcity of food-grade recycled plastics, and inconsistent consumer participation. These limitations were highlighted by environmental group Beyond Plastics Vermont, which tracked 36 single-use cups in the U.S. and found none reached a confirmed recycling facility. Starbucks disputed the tracking methodology, citing warnings from the Association of Plastic Recyclers that tracking devices can inherently divert materials from standard recycling streams.
In Mexico, the brand is pushing forward with broader environmental mitigations. Since 2023, new Starbucks locations have incorporated lower-emission designs, solar panels, and water-recycling systems to optimize resource consumption alongside the new waste separation protocols.
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