Starbucks: The origin of the international coffee brand

Starbucks: The origin of the international coffee brand

Starbucks is a world-renowned coffee chain that dates back to 1971. Over the past few decades, Starbucks has become one of the most well-known and successful coffee brands in the world through continuous innovation and expansion.

Born in Seattle

In 1971, three students from Seattle University, Jerry Baldwin, David Evans and Darren Baldwin, co-founded the first Starbucks store. They named it "STarbucks" after a sailor character in Herman Melville's famous novel "Moby Dick".

At first, Starbucks was just a company that sold beans, grinders, and distribution equipment to local coffee shops. However, after a few years, Jerry Baldwin decided to shift the focus to retail business and opened the first real Starbucks chain store.

From niche to mainstream

In 1982, Howard Schultz joined Starbucks and became the company's marketing director. He became very interested in Italian coffee culture and decided to introduce it to the American market.

Schultz went to Italy to learn coffee making technology and business philosophy in 1983. He was deeply influenced by Italian coffee culture and believed that coffee should be a social experience rather than just a drink.

After returning to the United States, Schultz began to promote Starbucks' transformation into a chain store centered on the coffee experience. He opened the first Starbucks store that provided seating, music, and freshly ground coffee, and expanded rapidly in the following years.

Global Expansion

In the early 1990s, Starbucks began to expand into the international market. It first entered the Asian market and opened flagship stores in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.

As time went by, Starbucks gradually established thousands of branches around the world. Today, Starbucks has become one of the most popular coffee brands in more than 80 countries and regions.

Social Responsibility

In addition to commercial success, Starbucks is also committed to fulfilling its social responsibility. The company gives back to society by promoting sustainable development, supporting farmers and protecting the environment.

Starbucks sources premium coffee beans and builds long-term partnerships with farmers, helping them improve their living conditions and coffee quality by paying fair prices and providing training.

In addition, Starbucks is actively involved in philanthropy and has pledged to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2020. They also encourage employees to participate in volunteer activities and contribute to communities around the world.

Conclusion

From a niche brand to today's internationally renowned company, Starbucks has achieved remarkable success over the past few decades. It has not only changed people's perception of coffee, but also established a positive and socially responsible corporate image.