Retail expansion has brought the company's stores to the northwestmost region of the Chinese market to increase its availability. Starbucks opened two stores in Urumqi, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Sept. 29, including a Grand Bazaar flagship featuring Atlas silk, ethnic instruments, and a menu with milk-skin salty milk tea.

The move is another step in the chain's broadening footprint in China, although the Financial Times characterized the Xinjiang region as troubled in its coverage of the store launches.