History of Starbucks in Timeline
Starbucks is an American multinational coffeehouse chain founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. Initially a coffee bean wholesaler, it transformed into a coffee shop under Howard Schultz, CEO from 1986-2000. Schultz spearheaded Starbucks' aggressive expansion across the West Coast. Today, Starbucks is one of the most recognizable coffeehouse chains in the world.
March 30, 1971: Starbucks Opens in Seattle
On March 30, 1971, Starbucks originally opened in Seattle, Washington, selling high-quality coffee beans and equipment. It was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker, who were inspired by Alfred Peet. The name was derived from "Starbuck" in Moby-Dick.
1971: Starbucks Founded
In 1971, Starbucks was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker at Seattle's Pike Place Market. Initially, it operated as a coffee bean wholesaler.
1971: First Starbucks store opens
In 1971, The first Starbucks store was located in Seattle, at 2000 Western Avenue.
1973: Alfred Peet stops supplying Starbucks
In 1973, Alfred Peet stopped supplying Starbucks with green coffee beans and helped train their new Roastmaster, Jim Reynolds.
1976: Starbucks store move
In 1976, The Starbucks café was moved to 1912 Pike Place.
1984: Starbucks Owners Purchase Peet's Coffee
In 1984, the original owners of Starbucks, led by Jerry Baldwin, purchased Peet's Coffee.
1986: Starbucks Sells Espresso Coffee
By 1986, Starbucks was operating six stores in Seattle and had begun to sell espresso coffee.
1986: Howard Schultz Becomes CEO
In 1986, Howard Schultz became the chief executive officer of Starbucks and led the expansion of the franchise across the West Coast.
1987: Second Starbucks Logo Introduced
In 1987, Starbucks introduced its second logo where the siren's breasts were covered by her flowing hair and the primary color was changed from brown to green.
1987: Revenue US$1.3 million
In 1987, Starbucks revenue was US$1.3 million.
1987: Starbucks Chain Sold to Howard Schultz
In 1987, the original owners sold the Starbucks chain to their former director of marketing, Howard Schultz, who rebranded his Il Giornale coffee outlets as Starbucks and began to expand the company.
1989: Starbucks Expansion in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest
By 1989, there were 46 Starbucks stores located across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. The company was roasting over 2,000,000 pounds of coffee annually.
1990: Hear Music Began
Hear Music began as a music catalog company in 1990, adding a few retail locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1990: George Howell Criticizes Starbucks' Dark Roasted Beans
In 1990, coffee veteran George Howell criticized Starbucks' dark roasted beans, opining that the dark roast destroys the flavor nuances of the coffee. This occurred during Kevin Knox's tenure overseeing doughnut quality at Starbucks.
June 1992: Starbucks Initial Public Offering
In June 1992, Starbucks had its initial public offering. At the time, it had 140 outlets with revenue of US$73.5 million. The company's market value was US$271 million.
1992: Third Starbucks Logo Introduced
In 1992, Starbucks introduced its third logo where the siren's navel and breasts were not visible and only vestiges remained of the fish tails.
1994: Starbucks Acquires The Coffee Connection
In 1994, Starbucks acquired The Coffee Connection, gaining the rights to the "Frappuccino" beverage.
1994: Settlement of Lawsuit over Racial Bias
In 1994, Starbucks settled a lawsuit after two employees were dismissed because of their race, age, and sex. The case involved a regional vice president making a racist comment.
1994: Drafting Plans for Corporate Social Responsibility
Starbucks began drafting plans for corporate social responsibility in 1994.
1995: Frappuccino Introduced Under Starbucks Name
In 1995, the "Frappuccino" beverage was introduced under the Starbucks name.
1998: Partnership with Kraft Foods
In 1998, Starbucks partnered with Kraft Foods to sell Starbucks products in Mondelez grocery stores owned by Kraft.
1999: Purchase of Hear Music by Starbucks
Hear Music was purchased by Starbucks in 1999.
1999: Starbucks Acquires Pasqua Coffee
In 1999, Starbucks acquired Pasqua Coffee, a retail coffee chain with almost 60 locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.
1999: Starbucks Experiments with Eateries
In 1999, Starbucks experimented by opening eateries in the San Francisco Bay Area under the Circadia restaurant brand and converted its Seattle Circadia restaurant into a Café Starbucks.
1999: Launch of Grounds for your Garden Program
In 1999, Starbucks started the "Grounds for your Garden" program, giving leftover coffee grounds for composting to make the company environmentally friendlier.
July 2000: First Australian Location Opens in Sydney
In July 2000, Starbucks opened its first location in Australia, situated in Sydney, marking its entry into the Australian market.
2000: Howard Schultz Ends First CEO Tenure
In 2000, Howard Schultz ended his first tenure as chief executive officer of Starbucks.
2000: Orin Smith Succeeds Howard Schultz as CEO
In 2000, Orin Smith succeeded Howard Schultz as CEO of Starbucks, and subsequently positioned Starbucks as a large player in fair trade coffee.
2000: Introduction of Fair Trade Products
In 2000, Starbucks introduced a line of fair trade products.
2000: Logo Alteration in Saudi Arabia
In 2000, the logo was altered when Starbucks entered the Saudi Arabian market to remove the siren, leaving only her crown.
September 2002: Starbucks Opens First Store in Latin America
In September 2002, Starbucks opened its first store in Latin America, located in Mexico City.
2002: Starbucks Opera Album Production
In 2002, Hear Music produced a Starbucks opera album, featuring artists such as Luciano Pavarotti.
2002: International Logo use in Saudi Arabia
In 2002, Starbucks announced three months later that it would be using the international logo in Saudi Arabia.
June 2003: Starbucks Japan Expansion Plans
In June 2003, Starbucks Japan had 466 stores and planned to add another 70 to 75 in the 2003 financial year. Ovens were to be installed in all stores to improve food offerings.
August 2003: Starbucks Opens First Store in South America
In August 2003, Starbucks opened its first store in South America, located in Lima, Peru.
2003: Starbucks Acquires Ethos Water
In 2003, Starbucks acquired Ethos water, a brand of bottled water. Ethos bottles feature labeling stating "helping children get clean water", with a portion of sales funding clean water projects. Critics have argued that the label misleads consumers into thinking Ethos is primarily a charitable organization.
2005: Howard Behar President of Starbucks North America
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar served as the president of Starbucks North America.
2005: Recycling Works Award
In 2005, Starbucks received the National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award for its initiative to use 10% recycled paper in its beverage cups.
2005: Targets to Reduce Child Labour
In 2005, the World Cocoa Foundation backed targets to reduce child labour.
September 2006: Diedrich Coffee to Sell Stores to Starbucks
In September 2006, Diedrich Coffee announced it would sell most of its company-owned retail stores to Starbucks, including most locations of Oregon-based Coffee People. Starbucks converted the locations.
September 2006: Reintroduction of original brown logo
In September 2006, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups to show the company's heritage and celebrate 35 years of business. This vintage logo sparked some controversy due to the siren's bare breasts.
October 2006: Apple adds Starbucks Entertainment to iTunes
In October 2006, Apple added a Starbucks Entertainment area to the iTunes Store, selling music similar to that played in Starbucks stores as part of a partnership to collaborate on selling music as part of the "coffeehouse experience".
2006: Use of Recycled Paper in Cups
In 2006, Starbucks began using 10% recycled paper in its beverage cups, claiming it was the first time recycled material had been used in a product that came into direct contact with a food or beverage.
2006: Creation of Starbucks Entertainment
In 2006, Starbucks created Starbucks Entertainment, one of the producers of the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee.
2006: Starbucks Spokeswoman Discusses Logo
In 2006, Valerie O'Neil, a Starbucks spokeswoman, described the logo as an image of a "twin-tailed mermaid, or siren as she's known in Greek mythology".
2006: Fair Trade Coffee Purchases
In 2006, about 6% of Starbucks' coffee purchases were certified as fair trade.
2006: Agreement to Support Ethiopian Coffees
In 2006, after a long-running dispute between Starbucks and Ethiopia, Starbucks agreed to support and promote Ethiopian coffees, acknowledging Ethiopian ownership of popular coffee designations.
March 2007: Signing of Paul McCartney to Hear Music
In March 2007, Hear Music signed Paul McCartney, releasing the hit CD Memory Almost Full, making McCartney the first artist signed to the new Hear Music label sold in Starbucks outlets.
March 2007: Consumer Reports Ranks Starbucks Coffee Behind McDonald's
In the March 2007 issue, Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine described Starbucks coffee as "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".
September 2007: iTunes Store Wi-Fi browsing at Starbucks
In September 2007, Apple announced that customers could browse the iTunes Store at Starbucks via Wi-Fi in the US without needing to log in, targeting iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and MacBook users. The iTunes Store would automatically detect songs playing in a Starbucks and offer downloads.
2007: EEOC Allegations of Racial Bias
Based on workforce data from 2007 to 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions, alleging that minority retail partners in the United States received fewer promotions than statistically expected.
2007: Howard Behar leaves President of Starbucks North America position
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar served as the president of Starbucks North America.
January 2008: Starbucks Introduces "Skinny" Line of Drinks
In January 2008, Starbucks introduced a "skinny" line of drinks, offering lower-calorie and sugar-free versions of its drinks, using skim milk and a choice of natural or artificial sweeteners, as well as sugar-free syrup flavors.
February 2008: Starbucks Terminated 18,400 U.S. jobs
From February 2008 to January 2009, Starbucks terminated an estimated 18,400 U.S. jobs and began closing 977 stores worldwide.
March 2008: Starbucks Acquires Coffee Equipment Company
In March 2008, Starbucks acquired Coffee Equipment Company, manufacturer of the Clover Brewing System, and began testing the system at select locations.
July 2008: Starbucks to Close Stores in Australia
In July 2008, Starbucks announced that it would close 61 of its 84 stores in Australia. It was attributed to a failure to understand Australia's café culture.
July 2008: Starbucks Announces Store Closures and Expansion Cuts
In July 2008, during the Great Recession, Starbucks announced it was closing 600 underperforming stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans due to economic uncertainty.
July 29, 2008: Starbucks Cuts Non-Retail Jobs
On July 29, 2008, Starbucks cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its effort to re-energize the brand and boost profits.
October 2008: Report on Water Waste
In October 2008, The Guardian reported that Starbucks was wasting 6.2 million U.S. gallons of water a day by leaving a tap constantly running for rinsing utensils.
2008: Roll out of Apple partnership in limited markets
During 2007–2008, Starbucks rolled out features from their partnership with Apple such as LCD screens displaying artist and song information, and digital album downloads through iTunes, in Seattle, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and other limited markets. Also Starbucks gave away 37 different songs for free download through iTunes as part of the "Song of the Day" promotion.
2008: Environmental Responsibility Struggles
In 2008, Starbucks acknowledged that the company continued to struggle with environmental responsibility, as none of its cups were recyclable and stores did not have recycling bins.
2008: Announcement of Animal Welfare Policy
In 2008, Starbucks announced a comprehensive new animal welfare policy banning many inhumane farming practices, including the caging of hens.
2008: Starbucks Expands to Argentina and Brazil
In 2008, Starbucks expanded its presence in South America by opening stores in Argentina and Brazil.
2008: Discrimination Lawsuit by Starbucks Engineer
In 2008, a former African American Starbucks engineer sued the company for discrimination after his supervisor failed to address racist bullying. The lawsuit was settled in 2009.
2008: Howard Schultz Returns as CEO
In 2008, during the financial crisis, Howard Schultz returned as CEO of Starbucks, focusing on growing the company's market share and reorienting the brand around corporate social responsibility.
2008: Targets to Reduce Child Labour
In 2008, the World Cocoa Foundation backed targets to reduce child labour.
2008: Starbucks Launches My Starbucks Idea Community Website
In early 2008, Starbucks started a community website, My Starbucks Idea, to collect suggestions and feedback from customers.
2008: Reintroduction of original brown logo
In early 2008, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups to show the company's heritage and celebrate 35 years of business. The vintage logo sparked some controversy due to the siren's bare breasts.
January 2009: Starbucks Announces Additional Store Closures and Job Eliminations
In January 2009, Starbucks announced the closure of an additional 300 underperforming stores and the elimination of 7,000 positions. CEO Howard Schultz also reduced his salary.
March 2009: Starbucks Introduces VIA "Ready Brew" Instant Coffee
In March 2009, Starbucks introduced a line of instant coffee packets, called VIA "Ready Brew", first unveiled in New York City. Financial analysts speculated that by introducing instant coffee, Starbucks would devalue its own brand.
June 1, 2009: Morning Joe "brewed by Starbucks"
Starting on June 1, 2009, MSNBC's Morning Joe began being presented as "brewed by Starbucks," with changes to the show's logo. This move was met with mixed reactions, viewed as both a clever partnership during an economic downturn and a potential compromise of journalistic standards.
June 2009: Re-evaluation of Dipper Well System
In June 2009, in response to concerns over its excessive water consumption, Starbucks re-evaluated its use of the dipper well system.
August 2009: Ahold Announces Closures and Rebranding of Starbucks Kiosks
In August 2009, Ahold announced closures and rebranding for 43 of its licensed store Starbucks kiosks for their US-based Stop & Shop and Giant supermarkets.
September 2009: Implementation of Water Saving Solution
In September 2009, company-operated Starbucks stores in Canada and the United States implemented a new water saving solution, replacing dipper wells with push button metered faucets, reportedly saving up to 150 U.S. gallons of water per day in every store.
October 2009: VIA Instant Coffee Rolled Out Across US and Canada
In October 2009, Starbucks rolled out its VIA "Ready Brew" instant coffee across the U.S. and Canada. Starbucks stores promoted the product with a blind "taste challenge" of the instant versus fresh roast, in which many people could not tell the difference.
2009: Establishment of Buying Preference
In 2009, Starbucks established a buying preference in North America to use industry best practices for animal husbandry and processing, including egg production.
2009: Settlement of Discrimination Lawsuit
In 2009, Starbucks settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former African American engineer who experienced racist bullying and was given extra work after complaining.
May 2010: Agreement with Southern Sun Hotels South Africa
In May 2010, Southern Sun Hotels South Africa signed an agreement with Starbucks to brew Starbucks coffees in select Southern Sun and Tsonga Sun hotels, aiming to serve Starbucks coffees during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
November 2010: First Central American Store Opens in El Salvador
In November 2010, Starbucks opened its first Central American store in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.
December 2010: First Starbucks at Sea Debuts
In December 2010, Starbucks debuted its first-ever Starbucks at sea in partnership with Royal Caribbean International, opening a shop aboard the Allure of the Seas.
2010: Starbucks Retrains Baristas and Changes Roasting Methods
In 2010, Starbucks retrained its baristas and changed its roasting methods in order to "standardize quality over quantity" after criticism for over-roasting beans. This slowed down orders but maintained quality.
2010: Targets to Reduce Child Labour
In 2010, the World Cocoa Foundation backed targets to reduce child labour.
2010: Donating Leftover Pastries
Since 2010, Starbucks has been donating leftover pastries in the United States to local food banks through Food Donation Connection.
January 2011: Logo Change Announcement
In January 2011, Starbucks announced that it would make small changes to the company's logo, removing the Starbucks wordmark around the siren, enlarging the siren image, and making it green.
November 10, 2011: Starbucks Acquires Juice Company Evolution Fresh
On November 10, 2011, Starbucks acquired juice company Evolution Fresh for US$30 million in cash and planned to start a chain of juice bars starting in around the middle of 2012. Its first store released in San Bernardino, California and plans for a store in San Francisco were to be launched in early 2013.
2011: EEOC Allegations of Racial Bias
Based on workforce data from 2007 to 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions, alleging that minority retail partners in the United States received fewer promotions than statistically expected.
June 2012: Starbucks Opens Store in San Jose, Costa Rica
In June 2012, Starbucks expanded its presence in Central America by opening a store in San Jose, Costa Rica.
August 2012: Largest Starbucks Opens in US
In August 2012, the largest Starbucks in the US opened at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Centre.
September 2012: Starbucks Announces Verismo Single-Serve Coffee Machine
In September 2012, Starbucks announced plans to introduce the Verismo, a consumer-grade single-serve coffee machine that uses sealed plastic cups of coffee grounds, and a "milk pod" for lattes.
October 2012: Starbucks Announces Plans to Open 1,000 Stores in the United States
In October 2012, Starbucks announced plans to open 1,000 new stores in the United States over the next five years, signaling significant domestic expansion.
November 2012: Starbucks Verismo Coffee Makers Publicly Available
In November 2012, the Starbucks Verismo became publicly available. The Verismo line consisted of coffee makers that brew espresso and regular chocolate from coffee capsules, a type of pre-apportioned single-use container of ground coffee and flavourings utilizing the K-Fee pod system.
December 2012: Starbucks Acquires Teavana
In December 2012, Starbucks acquired Teavana for US$620 million, aiming to expand Teavana beyond shopping malls.
2012: Starbucks Frappuccino Sales
In 2012, Starbucks had annual Frappuccino sales of over US$2 billion.
2012: Lack of Improvement in Animal Welfare
Organizations such as World Animal Protection and Compassion in World Farming have stated that Starbucks has not shown any demonstrable improvement in animal welfare since 2012.
April 2013: Introduction of Reusable Cups with Discount
In April 2013, Starbucks introduced reusable cups where customers would be able to bring their cup into any location and receive a small discount on their drink.
June 25, 2013: Starbucks Posts Calorie Counts on Menus
On June 25, 2013, Starbucks began to post calorie counts on menus for drinks and pastries in all of its U.S. stores.
July 2013: Mobile Purchases at Starbucks
In July 2013, more than 10% of in-store purchases were made on customers' mobile devices via the Starbucks app.
August 2013: Starbucks Announces Expansion into Colombia
In August 2013, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced the opening of Starbucks stores in Colombia. The first café was scheduled to open in 2014 in Bogotá. Schultz stated that Starbucks would collaborate with the Colombian Government and USAID to empower local coffee growers.
August 2013: Endorsement deal with MSNBC ends
In August 2013, the endorsement deal between Starbucks and MSNBC, where the morning news program 'Morning Joe' was presented as 'brewed by Starbucks', came to an end.
October 2013: Starbucks Launches Tweet-a-Coffee Promotion
In October 2013, Starbucks launched the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion, allowing customers to purchase a US$5 gift card for a friend by entering "@tweetacoffee" and the friend's handle in a tweet.
November 2013: Arbitrator orders Starbucks to pay Mondelez International $2.8 billion
In mid-November 2013, an arbitrator ordered Starbucks to pay a fine of US$2.8 billion to Mondelez International, a corporate spin-off of Kraft, for its premature unilateral termination of their agreement to sell Starbucks products in Mondelez grocery stores. This termination occurred because Starbucks wanted to sell K-Cups and was confined to Kraft's Tassimo machines.
December 2013: Tweet-a-Coffee Campaign Update
By December 2013, the "Tweet-a-Coffee" campaign had seen 27,000 people participate and US$180,000 of purchases made.
2013: Availability of Ethiopian Coffee
As of 2013, the Starbucks website sells only one Ethiopian coffee.
January 2014: Starbucks Shifts Focus to Locally Relevant Design
In January 2014, Starbucks transitioned from a singular brand worldwide to focusing on locally relevant design for each store.
May 2014: Starbucks Announces Losses in Australian Market
In May 2014, Starbucks announced ongoing losses in the Australian market, which resulted in all remaining stores being sold to the Withers Group.
June 2014: Partnership with Arizona State University
In June 2014, Starbucks announced a partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) to allow employees in their Junior and Senior years of college to complete a four-year online degree at ASU for around US$23,000, with scholarships covering 44% of tuition.
August 2014: Starbucks Opens First Store Serving Alcohol in Brooklyn
In August 2014, Starbucks opened its first store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn which by then was among 30 locations serving beer and wine. Starbucks began selling alcoholic beverages at some stores in the United States in 2010.
2014: Milwaukee Starbucks Incident
In 2014, a Milwaukee Starbucks employee called the police on a black man sleeping in a park, resulting in the police officer killing him by shooting him 14 times, prompting protests.
January 2015: Starbucks Rolls Out Teavana Teas
In January 2015, Starbucks began rolling out Teavana teas into Starbucks stores, both as to-go beverages and retail formats.
April 2015: Expansion of the College Achievement Program with Arizona State University
In April 2015, Starbucks and ASU announced an expansion of the College Achievement Program to allow all eligible U.S. employees to enroll in the program for full-tuition reimbursement, paid after each semester's completion.
May 2015: Partnership with Spotify
In May 2015, Starbucks partnered with Spotify, providing U.S.-based employees a Spotify premium subscription and involving them in influencing in-store music playlists. Starbucks also gained its own curated Spotify playlist on the Spotify mobile app.
June 19, 2015: Starbucks Opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
On June 19, 2015, a Starbucks opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom, featuring eco-friendly straws. This was the sixth Starbucks location in Walt Disney World.
October 2015: Starbucks Hires First Chief Technology Officer
In October 2015, Starbucks hired its first chief technology officer, Gerri Martin-Flickinger, to lead its technology team.
December 18, 2015: Starbucks Opened in Almaty, Kazakhstan
On December 18, 2015, Starbucks expanded its global presence by opening a store in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
2015: "Race Together" Campaign
In 2015, Starbucks launched the "Race Together" campaign, instructing baristas to write "Race Together" on customer cups to start a national dialogue about race. This campaign was heavily criticized and received significant backlash.
2015: Public Announcement to Switch to Cage-Free Eggs
In 2015, Starbucks made a public announcement that they will switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2020.
2015: Partnership with PepsiCo in Latin America
In 2015, Starbucks signed a deal with PepsiCo to market and distribute Starbucks products in several Latin American countries.
January 2016: Starbucks Announces Launch of Operations in Trinidad and Tobago
In January 2016, Starbucks announced that it would launch operations in Trinidad and Tobago, marking its entry into the Caribbean market.
March 2016: Unveiling of Five-Year Food Donation Plan
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.
April 2016: Starbucks Opens First Stores in South Africa
In April 2016, after TASTE Holdings acquired outlet licensing, Starbucks opened its first stores in South Africa in Rosebank, Gauteng, Johannesburg, and the Mall of Africa.
August 29, 2016: Starbucks Opens First Store in Trinidad and Tobago
On August 29, 2016, Starbucks opened its first store at South Park Mall in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.
September 2016: Debut of "Upstanders" original content series
In September 2016, Starbucks launched "Upstanders", its first original content series. This series, featuring podcasts, written pieces, and videos, aimed to inspire and was available on the Starbucks mobile app, online, and in-store digital networks.
July 2017: Starbucks Acquires Remaining Stake in Chinese Venture
In July 2017, Starbucks acquired the remaining 50% stake in its Chinese venture from Uni-President Enterprises Corporation (UPEC) and President Chain Store Corporation (PCSC) for US$1.3 billion.
November 2017: Starbucks Commences Operations in Jamaica
In November 2017, Starbucks commenced operations in Jamaica, with the first store opening in Montego Bay. They committed to working with local coffee farmers to improve productivity and international standards.
November 21, 2017: Starbucks Jamaica Opens First Store
On November 21, 2017, Starbucks Jamaica opened its first store in Montego Bay, located on the shores of Doctor's Cave Beach Club. The company also planned to open 15 locations island-wide over five years.
2017: FoodShare Program in Multiple Markets
As of 2017, the FoodShare program was in 10 different markets, including New York City, with plans to expand it to all 305 Manhattan stores.
March 21, 2018: Starbucks Considers Blockchain Technology
On March 21, 2018, Starbucks announced that it was considering using blockchain technology to connect coffee drinkers with coffee farmers, beginning with a pilot program in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Rwanda.
April 11, 2018: Starbucks Begins Operations in Uruguay
On April 11, 2018, Starbucks started operations in Uruguay, opening a location in the Montevideo Shopping mall, with plans for approximately 12 cafes in the country.
April 12, 2018: Arrests at Philadelphia Starbucks
On April 12, 2018, two men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks location after a manager claimed they were trespassing, leading to protests over racial motivation. The CEO apologized, and charges were not pressed.
June 2018: Myron E. Ullman Becomes Chairman of Starbucks
In June 2018, Myron E. Ullman became chairman of Starbucks, succeeding Howard Schultz who had served in that capacity since 2008.
June 19, 2018: Starbucks Announces Store Closures
On June 19, 2018, Starbucks announced the closing of 150 locations in 2019, primarily in urban areas with dense store clusters.
June 21, 2018: Starbucks Opens First Store in Kingston, Jamaica
On June 21, 2018, Starbucks opened its first store in Kingston, Jamaica, expanding its presence beyond Montego Bay.
July 9, 2018: Ban on Single-Use Plastic Straws Announced
On July 9, 2018, Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson announced that Starbucks would ban 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.
2018: Racial Bias Training After Incidents
In 2018, Starbucks closed 8,000 cafes for a day for racial bias training following incidents of racial bias at individual Starbucks cafes. In another 2018 incident, a black man was denied the code for the restroom for not being a customer, even though at the same time a white man was given that code before ordering anything.
2018: Commitment to Cage-Free Eggs
In 2018, Starbucks committed to reaching the goal of using 100% cage-free eggs and egg products in company-operated stores globally by 2020.
2018: Business Insider Conducts Coffee Quality Test
In 2018, a Business Insider test judged by 100 coffee experts found that while staples of the menu were "too sugary", coffee quality materially improved, particularly in iced coffee and nitro cold brew coffee offerings. Experts noted that Starbucks Reserves surpassed the quality of typical retail stores.
July 2019: Starbucks to Stop Selling Newspapers
In July 2019, Starbucks announced that it would no longer be selling newspapers in its cafés.
August 2019: Franchised Location Opens in the Cayman Islands
In August 2019, a franchised Starbucks location opened in the Cayman Islands, expanding the brand's presence through partnerships.
September 2019: FoodShare Participation
In September 2019, 60% of Starbucks stores are participating in FoodShare, contributing to 20 million meals served to those in need.
October 2019: Franchised Location Opens in the Turks and Caicos Islands
In October 2019, a franchised Starbucks location opened in the Turks and Caicos Islands, further extending its reach in the Caribbean.
2019: Child Slave Labor Practices in Coffee Production
In 2019, the Fair World Project released an article outlining child slave labor practices being present in Starbucks' Brazil production units.
2019: Halt of Personal Cup Use
When the COVID-19 pandemic first began in 2019, Starbucks halted the use of personal cups due to concerns with the transferring of germs.
January 1, 2020: Single-Use Plastic Straws Ban
By January 1, 2020, Starbucks banned single-use plastic straws on all cold drinks from all locations worldwide.
January 2020: Starbucks Makes Oat Milk Available Nationally
In January 2020, Starbucks made oat milk available nationally in its stores. Starbucks also offers non-dairy creamers at retail in partnership with Nestle SA.
January 2020: Environmental Sustainability Commitment
In January 2020, Starbucks shared its new environmental sustainability commitment to become a resource positive company.
March 2020: Starbucks offers free mental health sessions to employees
In March 2020, Starbucks announced that starting April 6, all U.S. employees and their eligible family members could use up to 20 free mental health therapy or coaching sessions per year, with access to counselors and self-care apps through Lyra Health Inc.
March 20, 2020: Starbucks Closes Cafés Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 20, 2020, Starbucks closed all café-only stores in the United States for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, offering only drive-thru and delivery services. Workers were paid for 30 days.
May 2020: Starbucks Asks for Reduced Rent
In May 2020, Starbucks asked for reduced rent from landlords due to decreased sales resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Starbucks to Close 400 Stores and Focus on Convenience-Led Formats
In June 2020, Starbucks announced it would close 400 stores in the US/Canada region over the next 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company planned to shift towards "convenience-led" formats with drive-through and curbside pickup, while also opening 300 new stores focused on carryout and mobile orders. The Starbucks mobile app was to be integrated for prepayment and order pickup, with some stores modified to include a separate counter for mobile orders.
November 2020: Starbucks Plans to Open in Laos
In November 2020, Starbucks announced its plans to open a store in Laos, marking further expansion into Southeast Asia.
December 2020: Starbucks to Offer Oatly Oat Milk in US Stores
In December 2020, Starbucks announced it would offer Oatly oat milk in all US stores starting in spring 2021.
December 2020: Starbucks Plans to Increase Store Count
In December 2020, Starbucks announced plans to increase its store count to approximately 55,000 by 2030, a significant increase from roughly 33,000 stores.
2020: Reusable Cup Campaign in Vietnam
After successfully completing the campaign to provide the Reusable Cup in Vietnam in 2020.
2020: Altered Commitment to Cage-Free Eggs
In 2020, Starbucks altered its commitment to switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2020 to just company-owned locations, excluding around 40% of its licensed restaurants.
2020: Prohibition of Black Lives Matter Symbols
In 2020, Starbucks prohibited employees from wearing Black Lives Matter symbols or phrases on their clothing or accessories, contributing to controversies surrounding racial bias.
2020: Goal of Using 100% Cage-Free Eggs
In 2020, Starbucks' goal was for all their products to meet high quality and ethical standards, with a commitment to social responsibility standards with animal welfare as a primary focus
December 31, 2020: Starbucks Discontinues K-Fee Pods for Verismo Machines
As of December 31, 2020, Starbucks discontinued producing their own K-Fee pods for Verismo machines. However, third-party companies continue to produce coffee pods for K-Fee machines, with which the Starbucks Verismo is compatible.
June 2021: Reintroduction of Personal Reusable Cups
In June 2021, Starbucks reintroduced personal reusable cups with a contactless new method to eliminate shared touch points between customers and baristas.
August 2021: Starbucks Workers in Buffalo Begin Unionization Effort
In August 2021, workers at three Starbucks stores in Buffalo, New York, began an attempt to unionize. They announced the formation of an organizing committee, Starbucks Workers United, affiliated with Workers United, via Twitter. The company responded by sending managers and executives to engage with employees, closing some stores for remodeling, and adding staff to a store preparing to vote, which workers saw as anti-union tactics. Workers United filed petitions for elections at additional stores in November.
November 18, 2021: Starbucks Workers in Mesa, Arizona Petition for Union Election
On November 18, 2021, inspired by the unionization efforts in Buffalo, New York, workers at a Starbucks store in Mesa, Arizona, petitioned the NLRB for a union election to be represented by Workers United. The organizing in Mesa was partly motivated by the termination of a manager who whistle-blew on Starbucks' anti-union plan.
December 9, 2021: Elmwood Avenue Store Becomes First Unionized Starbucks in the U.S.
On December 9, 2021, the workers at the Elmwood Avenue store in Buffalo, New York, became the first unionized Starbucks workers at a company-owned location in the United States, with a 19–8 vote. However, the Camp Road location voted against unionization. Starbucks had previously worked with Littler Mendelson, a firm known for union-busting, and had requested the NLRB to include all Buffalo locations in the vote, which was rejected.
2021: Reusable Cup Event in Korea
In 2021, Starbucks held a reusable cup event in Korea, providing reusable cups instead of disposable cups.
2021: Starbucks Fined for Racist Drawing on Cup
In 2021, a Starbucks in Ireland was fined €12,000 after an Irish Thai customer received her order with a racist drawing on the cup.
2021: Ghostbusters' Firehouse Taken Over
In the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, it's revealed that Starbucks took over the Ghostbusters' firehouse headquarters on North Moore Street after they went out of business and turned it into a coffeehouse before Winston Zeddemore bought it back.
February 2022: Starbucks Fires Union Leaders in Memphis and Temporarily Closes Store
In February 2022, Starbucks fired seven workers in Memphis who had been leading the unionization effort and temporarily closed the store.
July 2022: Starbucks Considers Selling UK Stores
In July 2022, Bloomberg reported that Starbucks was exploring the sale of its stores in the United Kingdom through investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
August 2022: 211 Starbucks Locations in the US Certified with Unions
As of August 2022, unions were certified at 211 Starbucks locations in the United States.
August 2022: Starbucks Sells Russian Stores to Rapper Timati
In August 2022, Starbucks sold all its stores in Russia to Russian rapper Timati after months of suspension due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The stores were rebranded as "Stars Coffee" and remained very similar to the former Starbucks locations. Starbucks declined to comment on the new ownership.
August 2022: NLRB Accuses Starbucks of Illegal Discrimination Against Unionized Workers
In August 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accused Starbucks of illegally discriminating against unionized workers by denying them wage and benefit increases. The NLRB requested restitution and asked then-CEO Howard Schultz or a board official to read a notice about the unlawful actions.
October 1, 2022: Howard Schultz Steps Down as CEO, Laxman Narasimhan Appointed
On October 1, 2022, Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO of Starbucks, and Laxman Narasimhan became the next CEO.
November 2022: Starbucks Store Count
As of November 2022, Starbucks had 35,711 stores in 80 countries, with 15,873 located in the United States.
November 2022: Starbucks Store Count in Australia
As of November 2022, there were 59 Starbucks stores in Australia, distributed across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
November 2022: Closure of Unionized Seattle Location
In November 2022, Starbucks announced it would close a Seattle location, the first to unionize, citing safety concerns as the reason for the closure.
November 17, 2022: Starbucks Employees Strike on Red Cup Day
On November 17, 2022, coinciding with Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day and one of the busiest days for employees, over 100 locations saw employees go on strike. The workers were seeking higher staffing levels, better wages, and consistent schedules.
December 18, 2022: Three-Day Strike Across U.S. Stores
On December 18, 2022, workers at over 100 Starbucks stores across the U.S. commenced a three-day strike in response to alleged union busting and to demand better working conditions.
2022: Starbucks Faces Pressure to Halt Operations in Russia
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Starbucks faced pressure to halt operations in Russia. CEO Kevin Johnson stated that they have 130 licensed locations in Russia owned by a licensed partner and would donate royalties to humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine.
2022: Stop Certifying Coffee Beans as Fairtrade
In 2022 Starbucks announced that they were going to stop certifying their coffee beans as fairtrade, in favour of their own in-house investigations.
2022: Termination of Union Organizers
In 2022, Starbucks terminated more than 85 workers in the U.S. who had been involved in organizing worker unions against unfair labor practices and creating a culture of fear and surveillance.
March 2023: NLRB Rules Starbucks Refused to Bargain with Union
By March 2023, the NLRB found no merit in Starbucks's complaints against Workers United and instead ruled that it was Starbucks who refused to bargain with the union.
March 23, 2023: CEO Laxman Narasimhan to Work as Barista Monthly
On March 23, 2023, Laxman Narasimhan announced to 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 Starbucks brand and stay close to customers.
April 25, 2023: Starbucks Commences Operations in Guyana
On April 25, 2023, Starbucks began operations in Guyana, marking its entry into another South American market.
June 2023: Controversy Over Pride Month Decorations
In June 2023, Starbucks faced controversy for allegedly not allowing workers at some locations in 22 states to put up Pride Month decorations, amidst heightened scrutiny over LGBTQ+ rights in the US. A strike at some stores was announced as a result.
June 2023: Starbucks Ordered to Pay Damages in Discrimination Case
In June 2023, Starbucks was ordered to pay $25 million in punitive damages and $600,000 in compensatory damages to a former regional manager after the court found that Starbucks fired her in 2018 because she was white.
June 23, 2023: Starbucks Workers Strike Over LGBT Pride Decorations
On June 23, 2023, Starbucks workers at unionized stores went on strike over the company's stance on in-store LGBT pride decorations.
October 2023: Starbucks Operator in Brazil Declares Bankruptcy
In October 2023, SouthRock Capital, the operator of all Starbucks locations in Brazil, declared bankruptcy. SouthRock will continue to operate Starbucks locations normally while closing a few underperforming ones and will restructure through the bankruptcy procedure.
October 2023: Boycotts and Lawsuit over Social Media Post
In October 2023, Starbucks faced boycotts after suing the Starbucks Workers United (SWU) union for a "Solidarity with Palestine" social media post following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Starbucks claimed the post damaged its reputation and sued for trademark infringement. The SWU responded, seeking continued use of the name and logo and alleging defamation.
December 2023: Major Starbucks Shareholders
In December 2023, institutional investors owned about 75% of Starbucks shares, with the 10 largest shareholders listed.
April 29, 2024: Starbucks Announces Entry to Ecuador and Honduras
On April 29, 2024, Starbucks announced its official entry to Ecuador and Honduras, scheduled for mid-year and late 2024, respectively.
August 13, 2024: Starbucks Announces Brian Niccol as New CEO
On August 13, 2024, Starbucks announced Brian Niccol as the new CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan. Niccol had previously served as the CEO of Chipotle since 2018.
August 14, 2024: Starbucks Commences Operations in Ecuador
On August 14, 2024, Starbucks began operations in Ecuador, with its first location at Scala Shopping Mall in Quito. The company announced plans to open four more cafes in the capital city by the end of 2025.
August 2024: Laxman Narasimhan ousted and replaced with Brian Niccol as CEO
In August 2024, Laxman Narasimhan was ousted and replaced with Brian Niccol, who became the chain's CEO on September 9 after leaving his position as Chipotle's CEO. Niccol received a starting salary of $1.6 million a year and a $10 million starting bonus.
October 2024: Overview of Starbucks
As of October 2024, providing general overview of the company.
October 23, 2024: First Store in Perth, Western Australia Opens
On October 23, 2024, the first Starbucks store in Perth, Western Australia, opened, with 11 more planned to open by the end of 2025.
November 2024: Starbucks Ends Upcharge for Non-Dairy Milk Additions
With the launch of their holiday menu in November 2024, Starbucks ended the upcharge for non-dairy milk additions to drinks.
January 2025: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy
In January 2025, Starbucks ended its 'open-door policy,' now requiring customers to make a purchase in order to use restrooms and the seating area.
2025: Court orders Starbucks to pay $50 million to a driver
In 2025, a court ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million to a driver who suffered burns after an unsecured hot drink spilled on him.
2025: Phase Out Disposable Cups in Korea
Starbucks is phasing out disposable cups in Korea entirely by 2025.
2030: Target to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Waste Output and Water Impact
By 2030, Starbucks aims to reduce its carbon emissions, waste output, and water impact by 50%.
2030: Waste Reduction Commitment
Starbucks has publicly committed to reducing waste by 50% by 2030.
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