Starbucks

Starbucks is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves that sources, roasts and sells high-quality coffee and related products. Founded in 1971, when it sold fresh-roasted whole bean coffees from a single store in Seattle's Pike Place Market, the company now operates more than 32,000 stores across 80 countries and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Its retail estate comprises Starbucks coffeehouses - environments designed as a "third place" between work and home, serving handcrafted coffee beverages and whole bean coffees - alongside Starbucks Roastery Reserve locations. The work behind the counter and behind the supply chain spans coffee sourcing and roasting, food and beverage retail operations, supply chain and ethical sourcing, and store experience and hospitality design.

In India, Starbucks operates as a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Consumer Products, running hundreds of stores across dozens of cities and employing thousands of partners. The company refers to its employees as partners and extends ownership in its success through Bean Stock equity grants. Benefits include comprehensive healthcare coverage, tuition reimbursement via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, and employee discounts.

Starbucks states its mission as "inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time". The stated culture emphasises welcoming store environments, ethical sourcing, sustainability and community engagement, with partners expected to build meaningful connections with customers.