Follow the history of Starbucks on its journey from one local retail store in Seattle to a global chain of coffeehouses found in more than 47 countries around the world.

Starbucks tells the story of how a single retail outlet opened in 1971 became the world's largest chain of coffeehouses, and for that matter, one of the largest franchises of any kind, with over $10 billion in sales in 2008.



Starbucks offers readers the opportunity to get to know this extraordinary corporation's leaders, employees, guiding principles, corporate innovations, competitive strategies, setbacks, and future prospects. Along the way, it explores a number of fascinating issues, including the company's pivotal decision to use Arabica beans instead of mass-produced coffee and its efforts to support sustainable coffee farming worldwide. The book also looks at how Starbucks is coping with the global economic downturn, detailing its recent initiatives to reduce costs, offer healthier food, and re-embrace its coffee-centered, customer-based roots.









Offers a number of stimulating sidebars, including Coffee Talk, Word Search, Coffee Quiz, Schultz Time!, and Coffee Recipe



Features a "You Decide" section at the end of each chapter where readers can provide their own responses to issues Starbucks has faced recently



Provides photos of Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, interior shots of the original store, Starbucks baristas, and Starbucks coffee traders in Rwanda



Includes a glossary of coffee-related terms



Outlines a Starbucks timeline from 1971 to 2009, noting major business and product events