Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) operates as a premier roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee worldwide. The company’s core business centers on the development and operation of company-owned and licensed stores, offering handcrafted coffee, tea, espresso beverages, fresh food and snacks. In addition to its in-store experience, Starbucks extends its brand through packaged and single-serve products, ready-to-drink beverages, and consumer packaged goods distributed through grocery and convenience channels.
Since its founding in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, Starbucks has grown from a single storefront into a global coffeehouse chain. The company’s expansion accelerated under the leadership of Howard Schultz, who joined in 1982 and later served as CEO and chairman. Schultz’s vision of creating a “third place” between home and work helped shape Starbucks’ culture and customer experience, emphasizing community, quality and innovation.
Starbucks now operates in over 80 markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The company adapts its menu to regional tastes by introducing local beverage offerings alongside its signature products, while maintaining its commitment to ethical sourcing through partnerships with coffee farmers and conservation programs such as C.A.F.E. Practices. Starbucks also invests in technology platforms, including mobile ordering, digital payments and a loyalty rewards program designed to enhance customer engagement.
Headquartered in Seattle, Starbucks is led by CEO Laxman Narasimhan, who took the helm in 2023, and board chair Mellody Hobson. Under their stewardship, the company continues to pursue strategic initiatives in sustainability, supply chain innovation and new retail formats. Starbucks remains focused on expanding its global footprint, strengthening its digital ecosystem and advancing its mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit—one cup and one community at a time.
