Starbucks

Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle, Washington, selling high-quality coffee beans and equipment. It was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker, and was inspired by coffee roasting entrepreneur Alfred Peet. The name 'Starbucks' was derived from a mining town and the chief mate in the book Moby-Dick.

By the early 1980s, Starbucks had opened four stores in Seattle, distinguishing themselves with top-quality fresh-roasted coffees. This expansion marked the early success of Starbucks in the coffee industry.

In 1981, future CEO Howard Schultz first visited Starbucks, which eventually led to his significant role in the company.

In 1982, Howard Schultz joined Starbucks as the director of retail operations and marketing, marking a pivotal moment in the company's history.

In 1983, Howard Schultz was famously inspired by espresso bars in Milan and aimed to introduce the concept to the US.

He expressed his interest in Starbucks to the owners, Gerald Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, and convinced them of the potential for expansion. Subsequently, he was appointed as the director of operations and marketing.

The original owners of Starbucks, led by Jerry Baldwin, purchased Peet's Coffee in 1984. This acquisition marked a significant development in the company's history.

In March 1987, Howard Schultz used his coffee chain, Il Giornale, to purchase Starbucks with investor backing. He combined all his operations under the Starbucks brand and committed to the café concept for the business, leading to a period of rapid expansion.

In 1988, Starbucks expanded its presence by opening 12 stores in Chicago.

In 1991, Starbucks set itself apart in the growing coffeehouse industry in the US by introducing the tall, grande, and venti sizes, which became a defining feature of the brand.

In June 1992, at the time of its initial public offering, Starbucks had 140 outlets, with revenue of US$73.5 million, marking a significant milestone in the company's financial history.

In 1994, Starbucks acquired The Coffee Connection, gaining the rights to use, make, market, and sell the 'Frappuccino' beverage, which became a popular addition to the Starbucks menu.

Starbucks introduced the frappuccino in 1995 as a blend of coffee, milk, and ice, which became a popular beverage choice.

Starbucks expanded to Europe in 1998, further solidifying its global presence and becoming a part of the fabric of tens of thousands of neighborhoods around the world.

In 1999, Starbucks initiated the 'Grounds for your Garden' program, providing leftover coffee grounds to customers for composting, aiming to make the company more environmentally friendly.

In September 2002, Starbucks opened its first store in Latin America, in Mexico City. By 2016, there were more than 500 locations in Mexico.

In August 2003, Starbucks opened its first store in South America in Lima, Peru.

In 2005, Starbucks reached a milestone of 10,000 stores around the world, including in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

In January 2008, Howard Schultz returned to the helm as Starbucks’ CEO to address the company’s declining customer satisfaction, brand focus, and employee morale. He implemented a strategy that led to the closure of 900 stores and successful changes to menu offerings, ultimately contributing to the company's financial rebound by 2012.

In July 2008, Starbucks announced the closure of 600 underperforming company-owned stores and the reduction of almost 1,000 non-retail jobs amid the Great Recession. This decision aimed to re-energize the brand and improve profitability during the economic downturn.

In March 2009, Starbucks and the board approved a $100 million settlement in a barista-led class action lawsuit in California regarding back tips. This decision was part of the efforts to address employee work conditions and internal tipping policies.

In 2013, Starbucks continued its growth trajectory, further expanding its operations.

In May 2014, Starbucks announced its first café in Bolivia would open in 2014 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the first in Panama in 2015.

In June 2014, Starbucks announced a partnership with Arizona State University that allowed Starbucks employees to complete four years of college at ASU's online program for a reduced cost.

In January 2016, Starbucks announced that it would launch operation in Trinidad and Tobago. On August 29, 2016, Starbucks opened its first store at South Park Mall in San Fernando.

In March 2016, Starbucks unveiled a five-year plan to donate 100 percent of unsold food from its 7,600 company-operated stores in the U.S. to local food banks and pantries through the FoodShare program. This initiative aimed to provide millions of meals to those in need and reduce food waste.

In December 2016, Howard Schultz resigned as CEO of Starbucks and took on the role of executive chairman. During his tenure, nearly $100 billion was added to the company's market capitalization.

In November 2017, Starbucks commenced operations in Jamaica, where the first store opened in the resort city of Montego Bay on the shores of the Doctor's Cave Beach Club, offering views of the Caribbean Sea.

On June 4, 2018, Howard Schultz declared his retirement from active management of Starbucks after 37 years. He considered various options, including a potential U.S. presidential campaign.

On July 9, 2018, Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson announced that Starbucks will ban the single-use plastic straws by January 1, 2020, on all cold drinks from all locations worldwide due to climate change concerns, pollution, and sea turtle endangerment as the single-use plastic straws failed to be designed for recycling when they were invented.

In November 2019, the world's largest Starbucks location opened on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Starbucks closed all the café-only stores in the United States for two weeks, with only drive-thru and delivery-only services functioning. Workers were to be paid for the next 30 days whether they went to work or stayed home.

Workers at a Starbucks store in Mesa, Arizona petitioned the NLRB for a union election on November 18, 2021, to be represented by Workers United, partly due to a well-liked manager being terminated after whistle-blowing on Starbucks' anti-union plan.

On December 9, 2021, the workers at the Elmwood Avenue store became the first unionized Starbucks workers at a Starbucks owned location in the United States with a 19–8 vote.

Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO, with Laxman Narasimhan becoming Starbucks's next CEO.

On November 17, 2022, over 100 Starbucks locations had employees go on strike during the annual Red Cup Day, seeking higher staffing levels, better wages, and consistent schedules.

Narasimhan told employees that he would work a half-day behind a store counter each month, and he trained as a barista to immerse himself in the brand and stay close to customers.

On April 25, 2023, Starbucks commenced operations in Guyana.

On June 23, 2023, Starbucks workers at unionized stores went on strike over the company's stance on in-store LGBT pride decorations.

Starbucks is phasing out disposable cups in Korea entirely by 2025.

Starbucks has publicly committed to reducing waste by 50% by 2030.