Starbucks to open shops in Bulgaria, Portugal

NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S. coffee chain Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) plans to open coffee houses in Bulgaria and Portugal next year as part of a European expansion.

The company recently extended a joint venture agreement with the Athens-based Marinopoulos Group to open stores in Bulgaria, and will work with its Spanish joint venture partner Grupo VIPS to open stores in Portugal.

Stores are expected to open in Sofia, Bulgaria and Lisbon, Portugal next year.

Starbucks has worked with the two companies to put stores in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Spain and France over the last five years. (Reporting by Emily Chasan; Editing by Paul Bolding)