Starbucks Case Study

Although the competition for Starbucks remains at an all-time high, they continue to have 32.8% of the market share. Starbucks has 23,043 stores both, licensed and company operated, worldwide. Their nearest competitor, according to Statista.com (2016) is Dunkin’ Donuts, with 10,858 stores worldwide, retaining 16.1% of the market share (“Starbucks Fiscal”, 2016).

This report is on the Starbucks coffee shop company. Starbucks was founded around 45 years ago in 1971. Its first store was located at 2000 Western Avenue in Seattle, Washington until 1976, when it moved its operations to Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay, Seattle, Washington, U.S. where they began selling espresso coffee in 1986. The three founders Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker were former students of the University of San Francisco. Their plan was to sell high quality coffee beans and roasting equipment. They did not know at the onset the company would become so successful.

Starbucks is a worldwide coffee company that produces world-class coffee, pastries and beverages. They are known as one of the most productive global coffee companies. Starbucks began as a small coffee and was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker in Seattle, Washington in 1971. It is now headquartered in Seattle, Washington and incorporated in Olympia, Washington. The company’s fiscal year end date is September 27th. Although Starbucks has its own audit and compliance committee, that puts together their financial statements and reviews all accounting and financial processes pertaining to the financial status of Starbucks Company, KPMG also audits their financial statements.

1. In the beginning, how was Starbucks different from other coffee options for coffee drinkers in the United States? What activities and assets did Starbucks leverage to differentiate itself from competitors?

Today, Starbucks coffee an American global coffee company has 21,160 stores in 63 countries. Coffee shop that scored top rating for customer satisfaction in 2008 American customer satisfaction index. With its practices, Starbucks take advantage in the five stages in consumer purchase decision making process. Next, Starbucks’ marketing strategy

     Transnational corporations have had a tremendous impact on the interconnectivity that between countries, corporations, and people on a global landscape. Fueled by capitalistic ideals of increasing profits numerous corporations have expanded there operations into the global marketplace, some with much more success than others. One such transnational corporation that has embodied this pursuit of expansion in domestic and foreign markets for profit is the Starbucks Coffee Company. This company, which finds its roots in the opening of a single retail location in Pike place Market of Downtown Seattle in 1971, has been able to infiltrate into countless foreign domains and grow into a global powerhouse of

Starbucks has become the largest buyer of Certified Fair Trade coffee in North America (10% of the global market) (Sewer, 2004). Groups such as Global Exchange are calling for Starbucks to further increase its sales of fair trade coffee. However, fair trade certification can be costly based on the size of the producer group and length of time the inspections take, and many growers are unwilling or unable to pay for certification. Beyond Fair Trade Certification, Starbucks argues that it pays above market prices for all of its coffee. According to the company, in 2004, it paid on average $1.42 per pound for high quality coffee beans. This is in comparison to commodity prices which were as low as $.50-$.60 in 2003-2004 (Sewer, 2004).

The company many sales drink, Food and Nutrition. Drink comprises of the finest coffee from best beans procured all around the world and various other products. They also serve food which is good from the customer’s nutrition point of view. They also serve various beverages cold drink, brewed coffee etc. They not only serve food with nutritional value but also salads, sandwiches etc.

“Today, the company ownes 22,000 retail stores in 67 countries besides the revenue growth also reflects its success that Starbucks annual revenue more than tripled in the last ten years”. (Starbucks.com). Starbucks was

Starbucks has always taken exceptional care in keeping its brand value.  In fact, Starbucks prides itself in its brand, particularly the power it has to keep its customer base strong. Before analyzing this loyal customer base it is best to consider the particular characteristics of the brand that has led to Starbucks having such devoted patrons.

The context change in form that Starbucks found itself competing with smaller chains that resembled its former pre-expansion model with competitors focusing in creating symbolic-expressive value and fast food restaurants that had started to offer specialty coffee with more aggressive advertisement at a lower cost. The competitive context changed for Starbucks because it’s focus in mass distribution channels and its retail footprint strategy stated its product within a standard performance product value; this affected the value perception of the product.

Starbucks dates back from 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded by Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin and Zev Siegl and it

Howard Schultz asked Bowker and Baldwin to allow him to partner with them. Although the pair was leery of him, and questioned his dedication, they eventually gave in. The two initially denied his request, but Schultz was able to convince Baldwin that he could do it. Baldwin agreed to hire Schultz. Schultz became the head of marketing and appointed the task of overseeing all of the retail stores in 1982. He quickly became knowledgeable about the day-to-day operations of Starbucks. His dedication and love for coffee was no longer in question. He brought new ideas to streamline the ordering process and make for a smoother in-store experience.

Starbuck’s strategy focused on three components; high-quality coffee, intimate service, and ambient atmosphere. Starbucks worked closely with growers in Africa, South and Central America, and Asia-Pacific regions to insure the quality of its product. Starbucks called all employees' "partners" and worked hard to train them with the skills necessary to best serve the customer. The atmosphere at Starbucks was crafted after the European-style espresso bar. The company goal was to create ambience through the Starbucks "experience" and by making the area comfortable, yet upscale.

#1) Identify the controllable and uncontrollable elements that Starbucks has encountered in entering global markets: