Starbucks Corporation

Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves, founded in 1971 with a single store in Pike Place Market, Seattle. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and now operates thousands of stores across the globe. Its stated mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time.

The company sells handcrafted beverages, including lattes, cappuccinos, cold brews and seasonal specialties, alongside a range of food items and coffee products for home brewing. Starbucks also operates Starbucks Rewards, a loyalty programme in which customers earn Stars on purchases and redeem them for free drinks, food and merchandise. A further strand of the business is the roastery reserve format.

Starbucks describes its stores as a “third place” between home and work, with an emphasis on handcrafted drink quality and customer experience. Other stated commitments include sustainability, ethical sourcing through Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, and community engagement through The Starbucks Foundation.

The company operates across several industry verticals: coffeehouses and cafés, roastery reserves, food and beverage retail, retail coffee products, and loyalty and rewards programmes. Its geographic footprint spans the United States and worldwide markets.