Starbucks Corporation

What does Starbucks own?
Starbucks Corporation operates its coffeehouse business under multiple brands including Starbucks (core coffeehouse chain), Starbucks Reserve (premium small-batch coffee), Teavana (premium tea products), Evolution Fresh (fresh juices and food), and Seattle's Best Coffee (at-home coffee products). The Global Coffee Alliance with Nestle handles consumer packaged goods distribution globally.

Is Starbucks publicly traded?
Yes, Starbucks Corporation is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol SBUX. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in 1992.

Who founded Starbucks?
Starbucks was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Howard Schultz later acquired the company in 1987 and transformed it into the modern coffeehouse concept.

Where is Starbucks headquartered?
Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA, where the company was founded and maintains its corporate offices.

How many Starbucks locations are there?
Starbucks operates over 41,000 stores worldwide across company-operated and licensed locations as of 2026. The company plans to open approximately 600 to 650 net new coffeehouses globally in fiscal 2026.

Who owns Starbucks?
Starbucks Corporation is owned by its public shareholders through NASDAQ trading. The company has no controlling shareholder or parent company. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation.

What is Starbucks' revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended September 2025), Starbucks reported approximately $36.0 billion in annual revenue. In Q3 FY2026, consolidated net revenues were $9.3 billion.

Who is the CEO of Starbucks?
Brian Niccol is the current chairman and CEO of Starbucks Corporation, having joined in September 2024 from Chipotle. He is leading the "Back to Starbucks" transformation plan.

What happened with Starbucks China?
In April 2026, Starbucks finalized a joint venture with Boyu Capital for its China retail operations. Boyu Capital holds a 60% interest, while Starbucks retains 40% ownership and continues to own and license the brand. The JV operates approximately 8,000 coffeehouses with aspirations to grow to 20,000 locations. This shifted Starbucks China from a company-operated model to a licensed JV structure.

Starbucks was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker in Seattle's Pike Place Market. The original store sold high-quality coffee beans and coffee-making equipment, inspired by the coffee culture they experienced in Berkeley, California. The company was named after Starbuck, the first mate in Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick."

In 1982, Howard Schultz joined Starbucks as Director of Marketing and Operations. After a trip to Milan, Italy, Schultz was inspired by the Italian coffee culture and envisioned bringing a similar experience to America. When the founders were not interested in expanding into the cafe business, Schultz left to start his own coffeehouse chain called Il Giornale.

Schultz acquired Starbucks from its founders in 1987 and combined it with Il Giornale, creating the modern Starbucks concept. The company began rapidly expanding throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, introducing the Frappuccino in 1995 and expanding internationally. Starbucks went public on NASDAQ in 1992, providing capital for further expansion.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Starbucks continued its global expansion. The company introduced mobile ordering, expanded its food menu, and grew its consumer packaged goods business. Schultz returned as CEO in 2008 during a period of overexpansion and refocused the company on core coffee quality and store experience. Starbucks launched its mobile app and Rewards program, becoming a digital innovation leader in the restaurant industry.

In September 2024, Brian Niccol joined Starbucks as chairman and CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan. Niccol launched the "Back to Starbucks" transformation plan, focusing on coffee quality, customer experience, store ambiance, and operational efficiency. At the 2026 Investor Day, Niccol declared "Starbucks is back," describing progress in the transformation and detailing a financial framework for fiscal 2028.

A major strategic move occurred in April 2026, when Starbucks finalized a joint venture with Boyu Capital for its China retail operations. Funds managed by Boyu Capital acquired a 60% interest in Starbucks China retail operations, while Starbucks retained 40% ownership and continues to own and license the brand and intellectual property to the joint venture. The JV operates approximately 8,000 coffeehouses, with a long-term aspiration to grow to as many as 20,000 locations. This transaction shifted Starbucks China from a company-operated model to a licensed JV structure, aligning with Starbucks' operating model across many international markets. The total value of the China retail business was expected to exceed $13 billion, composed of proceeds from the sale, the value of Starbucks' retained interest, and the net present value of ongoing licensing economics.

Starbucks has developed comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, ethical coffee sourcing, and community engagement. The company has committed to ambitious climate goals while maintaining its position as the world's largest coffeehouse chain.

Starbucks has set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and supply chain. The company has committed to achieving net-zero emissions from its operations and supply chain by 2050, with interim targets including a 50% reduction in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2030. Starbucks has invested in renewable energy, achieving approximately 70% renewable energy usage in company-owned stores as of 2024.

The company's C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) Practices program, established in partnership with Conservation International, sets ethical sourcing standards for coffee. Starbucks sources coffee from over 400,000 farmers across more than 30 countries, with verification programs ensuring environmental and social responsibility standards are met.

Starbucks has committed to reducing waste through reusable cup initiatives, with a goal of 100% reusable or recyclable cups by 2030. The company offers reusable cup discounts and has piloted cup-sharing programs in select markets. Starbucks has also invested in sustainable store design, with over 8,000 Greener Stores certified to date.

The Starbucks Foundation supports education, youth development, and community initiatives. Starbucks employees volunteer thousands of hours annually, and the company provides disaster relief support through its global operations.

Starbucks is not a Certified B Corporation. The company does not hold B Corp certification.

Starbucks operates under regulatory scrutiny related to labor practices, environmental compliance, and competitive practices in the food service industry.

Labor relations and unionization efforts have been a significant challenge. Workers United has organized hundreds of Starbucks stores across the United States, and the company has faced National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings regarding alleged unfair labor practices. Starbucks and Workers United reached a framework agreement in 2024 to begin negotiations, though tensions remain.

Environmental compliance includes oversight regarding waste management, single-use cup waste, and the environmental impact of coffee operations. Starbucks faces scrutiny from environmental groups regarding plastic cup usage and water consumption in coffee farming.

The China JV transaction with Boyu Capital received regulatory scrutiny, including antitrust review, before closing in April 2026. The transaction was structured to comply with Chinese foreign investment regulations.

Consumer health and safety regulations include oversight regarding food safety standards and compliance with FDA and international food safety requirements across Starbucks' global store network.