Starbucks Market Entry Mode by Ahmad Omar Rahman

According to the case article, Starbucks used different modes of entry for each of their main geographical locations: the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, China. In this case analysis, I analyzed the fit of each entry mode and market based on case information and my knowledge of the countries and the different entry modes.

Seattle based, Starbucks Corporation is the leading coffeehouse chain in the world. The company has its operations in more than 44 countries. The main products offered by Starbucks various kinds of drinks, snacks, coffee beans. The company also operates in the field of marketing of music, books (The Company, 2008).

Founded in 1985, Starbucks is one of the largest coffeehouse companies in the world with over 16,000 stores in 50 countries. This report evaluates major internal and external factors affecting Starbucks using various analytical techniques. Based on the Starbucks brand in UK, it identifies suitable marketing strategies for Starbucks to expand its business in the UK market within the next two years. In line with the chosen marketing strategies, recommendations for the marketing mix are discussed.

starbucks Corp., an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, has expanded rapidly since its opening in 1971. These outrageous success was due to its well-developed strategy vision which lay out the company's strategic course in developing and strengthening its business. Starbucks is a global corporation that sells authentic coffee in 30 countries, reporting revenues of nearly $5.1 billion in 2006. The main goal of Starbucks is to embrace diversity by applying the highest standards of excellence. Starbucks strives to perfect the relationship with the working class by making the service as fast as possible because they believe that every customer has their own personal rate. One

2) Garthwiate, Craig; Busse, Meghan; Brown, Jennifer; Merkley, Greg “Starbucks: A Story of Growth” Harvard Business Publishing, July 2012.

Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,366 stores in 61 countries, including 13,123 in the United States, 1,299 in Canada, 977 in Japan, 793 in the United Kingdom, 732 in China, 473 in South Korea, 363 in Mexico, 282 in Taiwan, 204 in the Philippines, 164 in Thailand and 3 in India.

Study shows that U.S. per capita coffee consumption has not really varied in over 15 years. Although the consumer has since evolved from regular brewed coffee to a more sophisticated gourmet brew, the overall intake for coffee has relatively remained the same based on the Gallup polls. (Brown, 2015) The Starbucks Company has managed to change the pallet of the consumer by the type of coffee they distribute. Companies like Dairy Queen, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts have had a complete coffee menu makeover in hopes to keep pace and their customer base. (Cowan, 2014) (Company Profile, 2015) Since 2003 there has been a noted growth of coffee import to the United States (U.S.), regions such as New York, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, and San Francisco have become major ports on handling imported coffee. The United States have increased their secondary countries in Latin and Central America in order to meet the demands of coffee beans here in the U.S. (Plume, 2003)

Market entry mode is to create the possibility by arranging company’s products, technology, human skills, management or other resources to enter into a foreign country. The problem faced by the company is what kind of strategy should be used for the entry mode selection.

Starbucks’ lead in the specialty coffee industry exemplifies the result of deftly executing a well-planned business strategy. Moreover, Starbucks is well positioned for what is expected to be a continuing rise in the popularity of specialty coffee products. The question before Starbucks’ leadership, however, is what avenues will lead to Starbucks’ goal of remaining true to its core, the highest quality coffee products while providing a “total coffee experience” for its customers?

Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,366 stores in 61 countries, including 13,123 in the United States, 1,299 in Canada, 977 in Japan, 793 in the United Kingdom, 732 in China, 473 in South Korea, 363 in Mexico, 282 in Taiwan, 204 in the Philippines, and 164 in Thailand.

In general the coffeehouse industry in the United States was experiencing an increase in coffee consumption per capita due to the “Starbucks effect”. At this time Starbucks was operating approximately 20,000 stores in the United States and was living a fast expansion strategy worldwide.

Entry modes are the strategic ways to enter a new country to achieve strategic goals of entering the target country. Thus an MNC deciding to enter a foreign market should decide upon which entry mode to choose.

The Starbucks Company is a purveyor of gourmet coffee that was founded in 1971 at Seattle’s Pike Place Market (Retrieved March 10, 2015, from http://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information). At that time Starbucks was a single storefront that offered premium, fresh roasted whole bean coffees. Since opening that single store Starbucks has grown to an international presence with branding that is recognizable worldwide. In addition, Starbucks has increased their product line beyond hot and cold coffee beverages to include hot and cold teas, packaged whole bean and ground coffees, high quality, fresh foods and coffee making equipment and supplies. Starbucks operates a total of 19,767 company operated and licensed stores and operates in 62 countries. In addition to the Starbucks’ brand the company also owns and operates other well-known brands such as Teavana and Seattle’s Best Coffee. (Retrieved March 10, 2015, from http://news.starbucks.com/uploads/documents/Starbucks_Fiscal_2013_Annual_Report_-_FINAL.PDF)

The reluctance of firms to change entry modes once they are in place, and the difficulty involved in doing so, make the mode of entry decision a key strategic issue for firms operating in today’s rapidly internationalizing market place.

Starbucks Corporation is a leading international coffee and coffeehouse retail chain based in Seattle, Washington, USA. Starbucks owns and operates over 6,000 retail stores and is the largest coffeehouse company in the world. Its annual sales in 2006 were $7.8 billion and it employed 140,000 people in 39 countries.