Starbucks

Starbucks is a multinational specialty coffee roaster and retailer whose business spans coffeehouses, packaged coffee, ready-to-drink beverages and digital customer services. Its retail offering combines handcrafted espresso drinks, cold brew, blended beverages and fresh food with whole-bean and ground coffee. The company operates across more than 80 international markets through a combination of company-operated coffeehouses and licensed partnerships.

Founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, the business began as a single storefront in Pike Place Market selling roasted whole-bean coffee. Its development into an international coffeehouse company accelerated during the 1980s under Howard Schultz. Drawing on Italian espresso culture, Schultz promoted the idea of the coffeehouse as a “Third Place” between home and work. His Il Giornale enterprise acquired the Starbucks retail chain in 1987, bringing the operations together under the Starbucks Corporation name.

The company completed its initial public offering in June 1992. Subsequent expansion combined its own retail operations with licensed stores, allowing the brand to develop a worldwide presence while working with local operating partners. Beyond its coffeehouses, Starbucks maintains roasting operations and a consumer packaged goods business that distributes products through channels outside its stores.

Its product portfolio includes the Frappuccino blended beverage range, Nitro Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Iced Shaken Espresso drinks. Starbucks Reserve Roasteries extend its coffee offering into experiential flagship venues, with locations in Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Chicago. Mobile ordering, digital payments and Starbucks Rewards connect its physical retail experience with customer loyalty services.

Product development also includes beverage equipment and service workflow innovation through the Tryer Center. Alongside its commercial operations, Starbucks supports coffee sourcing and farming communities through its Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices framework and agronomist support.