History of Starbucks in Timeline
Starbucks is a multinational coffeehouse chain headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker, it began as a coffee bean wholesaler in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Howard Schultz, who later became CEO, transformed Starbucks into a coffee shop serving espresso-based drinks and spearheaded its rapid expansion across the West Coast.
March 30, 1971: Starbucks Opens First Store
On March 30, 1971, Starbucks originally opened its first store in Seattle, Washington. The founders were inspired by Alfred Peet to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment.
1971: Starbucks Founded
In 1971, Starbucks was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker at Seattle's Pike Place Market as a coffee bean wholesaler.
1971: First Starbucks store opens
In 1971, the first Starbucks store was located in Seattle at 2000 Western Avenue, selling only coffee beans.
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 moves location
In 1976, the Starbucks café moved to 1912 Pike Place.
1984: Starbucks Purchases 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 converted the business into a coffee shop serving espresso-based drinks.
1987: Second Starbucks Logo Used
From 1987 to 1992, the second Starbucks logo was used, where the siren's breasts were covered by her flowing hair, but her navel was still visible. The fish tail was cropped slightly, and the primary color was changed from brown to green.
1987: Starbucks revenue
In 1987, Starbucks had US$1.3 million in revenue.
1987: Starbucks Chain Sold and Expands
In 1987, the original owners sold the Starbucks chain to Howard Schultz, who rebranded his Il Giornale coffee outlets as Starbucks and began to expand the company, opening its first locations outside of Seattle, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Chicago, Illinois.
1989: Starbucks Store Count and Coffee Roasting
By 1989, there were 46 Starbucks stores located across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, and the company was roasting more than 2,000,000 pounds of coffee annually.
1990: Hear Music begins as catalog company
In 1990, Hear Music began as a music catalog company, later adding a few retail locations.
1990: George Howell criticizes Starbucks' dark roast coffee beans
In 1990, coffee veteran George Howell expressed his disapproval of the dark roasted beans sold by Starbucks, as recalled by Kevin Knox, who was responsible for doughnut quality at Starbucks at the time.
June 1992: Starbucks Initial Public Offering
In June 1992, Starbucks had 140 outlets, with revenue of US$73.5 million at the time of its initial public offering.
1992: Third Starbucks Logo Introduced
Between 1992 and 2011, the third version of the Starbucks logo was used, in which the siren's navel and breasts are not visible at all, and only vestiges remain of the fish tails.
1994: Starbucks Acquires The Coffee Connection
In 1994, Starbucks acquired The Coffee Connection, gaining the rights to use, make, market, and sell the "Frappuccino" beverage.
1994: Drafting plans for corporate social responsibility
In 1994, Starbucks began drafting plans for corporate social responsibility, partnering with Conservation International (CI) to develop and audit its coffee and farmer equity (C.A.F.E.) program.
1994: Starbucks settles lawsuit over racial discrimination
In 1994, Starbucks settled a lawsuit after two employees were dismissed due to their race, age, and sex. This case involved a black woman who was subjected to racist comments from her supervisor.
1995: Frappuccino Introduced Under Starbucks Name
In 1995, the "Frappuccino" beverage was introduced under the Starbucks name.
1998: Starbucks partners with Kraft Foods to sell products in Mondelez grocery stores
In 1998, Starbucks partnered with Kraft Foods to sell Starbucks products in Mondelez grocery stores owned by Kraft. However, this agreement later led to disputes and termination.
1999: Purchase of Hear Music by Starbucks
In 1999, Hear Music was purchased by Starbucks, expanding Starbucks' presence in the music industry.
1999: Starbucks Acquires Pasqua Coffee
In 1999, Starbucks acquired Pasqua Coffee, a San Francisco-based retail coffee chain.
1999: Starbucks Opens Eateries
In 1999, Starbucks experimented by opening eateries in the San Francisco Bay Area, under the Circadia restaurant brand. At the same time, Starbucks converted its Seattle Circadia restaurant into a Café Starbucks.
1999: "Grounds for your Garden" program
In 1999, Starbucks started the "Grounds for your Garden" program, providing leftover coffee grounds for composting to promote environmental friendliness.
July 2000: First Australian Starbucks Opens in Sydney
In July 2000, the first Starbucks location in Australia opened in Sydney, marking the company's entry into the Australian market.
2000: Howard Schultz Steps Down as CEO
In 2000, Howard Schultz stepped down 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, leading the company for five years and focusing on fair trade coffee.
2000: Logo alteration for Saudi Arabian market
In 2000, Starbucks altered its logo for the Saudi Arabian market by removing the siren, leaving only her crown, due to cultural sensitivities.
2000: Introduction of fair trade products
In 2000, Starbucks introduced a line of fair trade products to promote ethical sourcing.
September 2002: Starbucks Opens First Store in Latin America
In September 2002, Starbucks opened its first store in Latin America, located in Mexico City, marking its entry into the Latin American market.
2002: Starbucks opera album
In 2002, Hear Music, owned by Starbucks, produced a Starbucks opera album featuring artists such as Luciano Pavarotti.
2002: International logo in Saudi Arabia
In 2002, Starbucks announced they would use the international logo in Saudi Arabia, as reported by Colbert I. King in The Washington Post.
June 2003: Starbucks Japan Expansion
In June 2003, Starbucks Japan had 466 stores and planned to add 70-75 more in the 2003 financial year. The company also planned to install ovens in all stores to improve food offerings.
August 2003: Starbucks Opens First South American Store in Peru
In August 2003, Starbucks expanded into South America with the opening of its first store in Lima, Peru.
2003: Starbucks acquires Ethos Water
In 2003, Starbucks acquired Ethos Water, a bottled water brand sold at locations throughout North America, with a portion of proceeds funding clean water projects.
2005: Howard Behar President
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar served as the president of Starbucks North America.
2005: Jim Donald Becomes CEO of Starbucks
In 2005, Jim Donald became CEO of Starbucks, leading a large-scale earnings expansion for the company.
2005: National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award
In 2005, Starbucks received the National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award for its initiative to use 10% recycled paper in beverage cups.
2005: Targets to reduce child labour not met
Targets set in 2005 by the World Cocoa Foundation (backed by Starbucks) to reduce child labour have consistently not been met.
September 2006: Diedrich Coffee Sells Stores to Starbucks
In September 2006, Diedrich Coffee announced that it would sell most of its company-owned retail stores to Starbucks, including most locations of Oregon-based Coffee People, escalating regional coffee wars. Starbucks converted the Diedrich Coffee and Coffee People locations to Starbucks.
September 2006: Reintroduction of original brown logo
In September 2006, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups to celebrate 35 years of business and showcase its Pacific Northwest heritage.
October 2006: Apple adds Starbucks Entertainment area to iTunes Store
In October 2006, Apple added a Starbucks Entertainment area to the iTunes Store, which focused on selling music similar to that played in Starbucks stores as part of their collaboration on the "coffeehouse experience".
2006: Use of recycled paper in beverage 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 directly contacting food or beverages.
2006: Creation of Starbucks Entertainment
In 2006, Starbucks created Starbucks Entertainment, one of the producers of the film "Akeelah and the Bee".
2006: Starbucks Spokeswoman Explains Siren Logo
In 2006, Valerie O'Neil, a Starbucks spokeswoman, explained that the logo is 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, totaling 18 million pounds, were certified as fair trade.
2006: Support and promotion of Ethiopian coffees
In 2006, after a long-running dispute, Starbucks agreed to support and promote Ethiopian coffees, acknowledging Ethiopian ownership of coffee designations such as Harrar and Sidamo.
March 2007: Release of Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney
In March 2007, Hear Music released the CD "Memory Almost Full" by Paul McCartney, 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 Premium Roast
In the March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports, Starbucks' coffee was ranked behind McDonald's Premium Roast, with the magazine describing Starbucks coffee as "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".
September 2007: Apple enables iTunes Store browsing at Starbucks
In September 2007, Apple announced that customers could browse the iTunes Store at Starbucks via Wi-Fi in the US without logging in, targeting iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and MacBook users. The iTunes Store automatically detects recent songs playing in a Starbucks and offer users the opportunity to download the tracks.
2007: Howard Behar President
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar served as the president of Starbucks North America.
2007: EEOC raises allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in promotions
From 2007 to 2011, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions, allegedly based on workforce data that showed that minority retail partners in the United States received fewer promotions than statistically expected.
January 2008: Starbucks introduces "skinny" line of drinks
In January 2008, Starbucks introduced a "skinny" line of drinks, featuring lower-calorie and sugar-free options using skim milk and a choice of sweeteners.
February 2008: Starbucks terminated an estimated 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 "fresh-pressed" coffee system at several locations.
July 2008: Starbucks Closes Stores in Australia
In July 2008, Starbucks announced it would close 61 of its 84 stores in Australia due to failing to understand the country'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 company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty.
July 29, 2008: Starbucks Cuts Non-Retail Jobs
On July 29, 2008, Starbucks also cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its bid to re-energize the brand and boost its profit. Of the new cuts, 550 of the positions were layoffs and the rest were unfilled jobs.
October 2008: Report on water wastage
In October 2008, The Guardian reported that Starbucks was wasting 6.2 million U.S. gallons of water a day by constantly running taps for rinsing utensils.
2008: Starbucks offers limited digital downloads via iTunes
During 2007-2008, some Starbucks stores featured LCD screens with artist, song, and album information of currently playing songs in Seattle, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area. During the fall of 2007, Starbucks began to sell digital downloads of albums through iTunes and gave away 37 songs for free download through iTunes as part of the "Song of the Day" promotion. In 2008, a free "Pick of the Week" download was available from the App Store.
2008: George Howell speaks to The New York Times about Starbucks coffee
In 2008, George Howell told The New York Times that he believed the dark roast used by Starbucks did not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead could destroy nuances of flavor.
2008: Howard Schultz Returns as CEO
In 2008, Howard Schultz returned as CEO of Starbucks during the financial crisis, focusing on market share growth, expanded offerings, and corporate social responsibility.
2008: Environmental responsibility struggles
In 2008, Starbucks acknowledged that it continued to struggle with environmental responsibility, as none of its cups were recyclable and stores did not have recycling bins.
2008: New 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 continued its expansion in South America by opening stores in both Argentina and Brazil.
2008: Former engineer sues Starbucks for discrimination
In 2008, a former African American Starbucks engineer sued the company for discrimination after his supervisor failed to address racist bullying he was experiencing at the workplace.
2008: Starbucks Launches My Starbucks Idea Website
In early 2008, Starbucks started a community website, My Starbucks Idea, designed 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 celebrate 35 years of business and showcase its Pacific Northwest heritage.
2008: Targets to reduce child labour not met
Targets set in 2008 by the World Cocoa Foundation (backed by Starbucks) to reduce child labour have consistently not been met.
January 2009: Starbucks Announces Additional Store Closures and Job Elimination
In January 2009, Starbucks announced the closure of an additional 300 underperforming stores and the elimination of 7,000 positions. CEO Howard Schultz also announced that he had received board approval to reduce his salary.
March 2009: Starbucks introduces VIA "Ready Brew"
In March 2009, Starbucks introduced a line of instant coffee packets called VIA "Ready Brew", first unveiled in New York City.
June 1, 2009: Morning Joe presented as "brewed by Starbucks"
Starting on June 1, 2009, the MSNBC morning news program Morning Joe was presented as "brewed by Starbucks", with the show's logo including the company logo. This endorsement deal, where hosts had previously consumed Starbucks coffee on air without paid placement, was met with mixed reactions.
June 2009: Re-evaluation of dipper well system
In June 2009, Starbucks re-evaluated its use of the dipper well system in response to concerns over excessive water consumption.
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 new water-saving solution
In September 2009, Starbucks implemented a new water-saving solution in company-operated stores in Canada and the United States, saving up to 150 U.S. gallons of water per day per store.
2009: Buying preference for animal husbandry
In 2009, Starbucks established a buying preference in North America to use industry best practices for animal husbandry and processing, including egg production.
2009: Starbucks settles discrimination suit filed by former engineer
In 2009, Starbucks settled a discrimination suit filed by a former African American engineer who alleged that his supervisor failed to address racist bullying he experienced at work.
May 2010: Southern Sun Hotels Agreement with Starbucks
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 in South Africa, partially to serve Starbucks coffees during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
November 2010: Starbucks Opens First Central American Store in El Salvador
In November 2010, Starbucks inaugurated its first store in Central America, located in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.
December 2010: Starbucks Debuts First Starbucks at Sea
In December 2010, Starbucks debuted their first-ever Starbucks at sea, opening a shop aboard the Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's second-largest ship.
2010: Kevin Knox recalls George Howell's opinion on Starbucks beans
In 2010, Kevin Knox who was in charge of doughnuts food quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.
2010: Starbucks retrains baristas and changes roasting methods
In 2010, following criticism of over-roasting beans, Starbucks retrained its baristas and changed its roasting methods to "standardize quality over quantity", which slowed down orders but improved coffee quality.
2010: Donating leftover pastries
Since 2010, Starbucks has been donating leftover pastries in the United States to local food banks through Food Donation Connection.
2010: Targets to reduce child labour not met
Targets set in 2010 by the World Cocoa Foundation (backed by Starbucks) to reduce child labour have consistently not been met.
January 2011: Logo changes
In January 2011, Starbucks announced changes to its logo, removing the wordmark, enlarging the siren, and making it green.
November 10, 2011: Starbucks acquires juice company Evolution Fresh
On November 10, 2011, Starbucks acquired the juice company Evolution Fresh for US$30 million in cash and planned to start a chain of juice bars in 2012.
2011: EEOC raises allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in promotions
From 2007 to 2011, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions, allegedly based on workforce data that showed that minority retail partners in the United States received fewer promotions than statistically expected.
June 2012: Starbucks Opens Store in Costa Rica
In June 2012, Starbucks opened a new store in San Jose, Costa Rica, expanding its presence in Central America.
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 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 Plan to Open 1,000 Stores in the U.S.
In October 2012, Starbucks announced plans to open 1,000 new stores in the United States over the next five years, signaling significant expansion within its home market.
November 2012: Starbucks Verismo becomes publicly available
In November 2012, the Starbucks Verismo, a line of coffee makers that brew espresso and regular chocolate from coffee capsules, became publicly available.
December 2012: Starbucks Acquires Teavana
In December 2012, Starbucks acquired Teavana for US$620 million, expanding its presence in the tea business.
2012: Annual Frappuccino Sales
In 2012, Starbucks had annual Frappuccino sales of over US$2 billion.
2012: No improvement in animal welfare
Since 2012, organizations stated that Starbucks has not shown any demonstrable improvement in animal welfare.
April 2013: Introduction of reusable cups with discount
In April 2013, Starbucks introduced reusable cups, offering a small discount to customers who brought their own cup into any location.
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 Exceed 10%
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 plans to open Starbucks stores in Colombia, with the first café set to open in 2014 in Bogotá. Starbucks also announced a partnership with the Colombian Government and USAID to support local coffee growers.
August 2013: End of Starbucks endorsement deal with Morning Joe
In August 2013, the endorsement deal between Starbucks and the MSNBC morning news program Morning Joe came to an end.
October 2013: Tweet-a-Coffee Promotion Launched
In October 2013, Starbucks launched the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion, allowing customers to purchase a US$5 gift card for a friend via Twitter by using "@tweetacoffee" and the friend's handle in a tweet.
November 2013: Starbucks ordered to pay Mondelez International US$2.8 billion for terminating Kraft agreement
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 the agreement.
December 2013: Tweet-a-Coffee Promotion Results
A December 2013 media article reported that 27,000 people had participated in the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion, making US$180,000 of purchases to date.
2013: Ethiopian coffee sales
As of 2013, the Starbucks website sells only one Ethiopian coffee.
January 2014: Transition 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: Starbucks announces partnership with Arizona State University
In June 2014, Starbucks announced a partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), allowing Starbucks employees in their Junior and Senior years to complete four years of college online for around US$23,000 with a scholarship covering 44% of tuition.
August 2014: Starbucks opens store serving alcohol in Brooklyn
In August 2014, Starbucks opened its first store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which was among 30 locations at the time serving beer and wine.
2014: Milwaukee Starbucks incident leads to police shooting
In 2014, a Milwaukee Starbucks employee called the police on a black man sleeping in a park, resulting in the police fatally shooting him 14 times, sparking protests.
January 2015: Starbucks Rolls Out Teavana Teas
In January 2015, Starbucks began to roll out Teavana teas into Starbucks stores in both to-go beverage and retail formats, integrating Teavana products into its main stores.
April 2015: Starbucks and ASU expand College Achievement Program
In April 2015, Starbucks and Arizona State University (ASU) expanded the College Achievement Program to offer full-tuition reimbursement for all eligible part-time and full-time U.S. employees.
May 2015: Starbucks partners with Spotify
In May 2015, Starbucks partnered with Spotify, offering U.S.-based employees a Spotify premium subscription and influencing in-store music through Spotify playlists. Starbucks also gained a curated playlist on Spotify's mobile app.
June 19, 2015: Starbucks opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
On June 19, 2015, a Starbucks location opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Discovery Island. The location uses eco-friendly straws due to the park's ban on plastic straws. This was the sixth Starbucks 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 Opens in Almaty, Kazakhstan
On December 18, 2015, Starbucks opened its first location in Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking the company's entry into the Kazakh market.
2015: Public announcement to switch to 100% cage-free eggs
In 2015, Starbucks announced they would switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2020.
2015: Starbucks signs deal with PepsiCo for distribution in Latin America
In 2015, Starbucks entered into a deal with PepsiCo to market and distribute Starbucks products across several Latin American countries.
2015: Starbucks "Race Together" campaign faces criticism
In 2015, the Starbucks "Race Together" campaign, where baristas were instructed to write "Race Together" on customer cups to initiate a national dialogue about race, was heavily criticized and received backlash.
January 2016: Starbucks Announces Launch in Trinidad and Tobago
In January 2016, Starbucks announced that it would launch operations in Trinidad and Tobago, with plans to open its first store later that year.
March 2016: FoodShare program unveiling
In March 2016, Starbucks unveiled a five-year plan to donate 100% of unsold food from its U.S. stores to local food banks through the FoodShare program.
April 2016: Starbucks Opens First Stores in South Africa
In April 2016, Starbucks opened its first stores in South Africa in Rosebank, Gauteng, Johannesburg, and the Mall of Africa, after TASTE Holdings acquired outlet licensing for South African stores.
August 29, 2016: Starbucks Opens First Store in Trinidad and Tobago
On August 29, 2016, Starbucks inaugurated its first store in Trinidad and Tobago, located at South Park Mall in San Fernando, marking its entry into the Trinidadian market.
September 2016: Starbucks debuts "Upstanders" original content series
In September 2016, Starbucks launched "Upstanders", its first original content series featuring podcasts, written content, and videos. It was distributed through the Starbucks mobile app, online platforms, 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, opening its first store in Montego Bay at Doctor's Cave Beach Club and committing to work with local coffee farmers to increase productivity and compliance.
November 21, 2017: Starbucks Opens First Store in Jamaica
Starbucks Jamaica opened its first store on November 21, 2017, in Montego Bay, planning to open 15 locations island-wide over five years.
2017: FoodShare Program in 10 Markets
As of 2017, the FoodShare program was active in 10 different markets, including New York City, to donate food from Starbucks locations.
March 21, 2018: Starbucks Considers Blockchain Technology
On March 21, 2018, Starbucks announced that it was considering the use of blockchain technology to connect coffee drinkers with coffee farmers and track the bean-to-cup journey. The pilot program was planned to start with farmers in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Rwanda.
April 11, 2018: Starbucks Begins Operations in Uruguay
On April 11, 2018, Starbucks started operating in Uruguay, with its first location situated in the Montevideo Shopping mall, with plans to open approximately 12 cafes in the country.
April 12, 2018: Arrests at Philadelphia Starbucks Lead to Protests
On April 12, 2018, two men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks location, leading to protests due to the arrests' racially-motivated nature. CEO Kevin Johnson later apologized, and the company declined to press charges.
June 2018: Myron E. Ullman Becomes Chairman of Starbucks
In June 2018, Myron E. Ullman became the chairman of Starbucks, succeeding Howard Schultz, who transitioned to Chairman emeritus.
June 19, 2018: Starbucks Announces Closing of 150 Locations
On June 19, 2018, Starbucks announced the closing of 150 locations in 2019; three times the number the corporation typically closes in a single year. The closings were to happen in urban areas that already have dense clusters of stores.
June 21, 2018: Starbucks Opens First Kingston Store
On June 21, 2018, Starbucks opened its first store in Kingston, Jamaica, as part of its expansion plan to establish up to six stores in the city by 2019.
July 9, 2018: Ban of single-use plastic straws
On July 9, 2018, Starbucks announced it would ban single-use plastic straws by January 1, 2020, due to environmental concerns.
2018: Business Insider tests Starbucks coffee with experts
In 2018, Business Insider conducted a test of Starbucks coffee judged by 100 coffee experts. The test concluded that coffee quality materially improved with particularly strong showings in the firm's iced coffee and nitro cold brew coffee offerings, although staples of the menu were "too sugary". Experts noted that the coffee quality in Starbucks Reserves far surpassed that of the typical retail store.
2018: Commitment to cage-free eggs globally
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: Starbucks closes 8,000 cafes for racial bias training after incidents
In 2018, after multiple incidents of racial bias at individual cafes, Starbucks closed 8,000 cafes for a day to conduct racial bias training.
July 2019: Starbucks Discontinues Newspaper Sales
In July 2019, Starbucks announced that it would no longer be selling newspapers in its cafés.
August 2019: Franchised Location Opens in Cayman Islands
In August 2019, a franchised Starbucks location opened in the Cayman Islands, expanding the brand's presence through a franchise model.
September 2019: FoodShare program participation
In September 2019, 60% of Starbucks stores were participating in FoodShare, contributing to 20 million meals served to those in need.
September 2019: Starbucks Removes Kiosks for Snacks and Coffee
In September 2019, Starbucks also announced that kiosks for grab-and-go snacks and bags of whole-bean coffee would be removed from stores.
October 2019: Franchised Location Opens in Turks and Caicos Islands
In October 2019, a franchised Starbucks location opened in the Turks and Caicos Islands, contributing to the brand's continued expansion through franchise agreements.
2019: Starbucks Formally Announces "Bean to Cup" Program
In 2019, at the Microsoft Build conference, the coffee company formally announced its "bean to cup" program using the Microsoft's Azure-based blockchain service.
2019: Halt of personal cups during pandemic
In 2019, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Starbucks halted the use of personal cups due to concerns about the transferring of germs.
2019: Child slave labour practices in Brazil
In 2019, the Fair World Project released an article outlining child slave labor practices in Starbucks' Brazil production units despite their C.A.F.E. certification.
2019: Starbucks Announces Closing of 150 Locations
On June 19, 2018, Starbucks announced the closing of 150 locations in 2019; three times the number the corporation typically closes in a single year. The closings were to happen in urban areas that already have dense clusters of stores.
January 1, 2020: Elimination of single-use plastic straws
By January 1, 2020, Starbucks had eliminated single-use plastic straws in all locations worldwide for cold drinks, replacing them with alternative materials or straw-less lids.
January 2020: Oat milk available nationally
In January 2020, Starbucks made oat milk available nationally in its stores.
January 2020: New environmental sustainability commitment
In January 2020, Starbucks shared its new environmental sustainability commitment to become a resource-positive company, aiming to reduce its carbon emissions, waste output, and water impact by 50% by 2030.
March 2020: Starbucks announces free mental health support for employees
In March 2020, Starbucks announced that starting April 6, all U.S. employees and their eligible family members could access up to 20 free mental health therapy or coaching sessions annually, along with unlimited access to self-care apps through Lyra Health Inc.
March 20, 2020: Starbucks Closes Café-Only Stores Due to COVID-19
On March 20, 2020, Starbucks closed all the café-only stores in the United States for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only drive-thru and delivery-only services functioning. All workers were to be paid for the next 30 days whether they went to work or stayed home.
May 2020: Starbucks Asks for Reduced Rent
In May 2020, Starbucks asked for reduced rent from landlords due to the decrease in sales.
June 2020: Starbucks to close 400 stores
In June 2020, Starbucks announced it would close 400 stores in the US/Canada region over the next 18 months, shifting towards "convenience-led" formats with drive-through and curbside pickup, while planning to open 300 new stores focused on carryout and mobile orders.
November 2020: Starbucks Announces Plans to Open in Laos
In November 2020, Starbucks announced its plans to open an outlet in Laos, signaling further expansion in the Asian market.
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 the roughly 33,000 stores it had at the time.
December 2020: Starbucks to offer Oatly oat milk
In December 2020, Starbucks announced that it would offer Oatly oat milk in all US stores starting in spring 2021.
2020: Goal to reach 100% cage-free eggs
In 2020, Starbucks aimed to reach the goal of using 100% cage-free eggs and egg products in company-operated stores globally.
2020: Altered commitment to cage-free eggs
In 2020, Starbucks altered its commitment to 100% cage-free eggs, limiting it to company-owned locations, excluding around 40% of licensed restaurants.
2020: Starbucks prohibits employees from wearing Black Lives Matter symbols
In 2020, Starbucks prohibited its employees from wearing Black Lives Matter symbols or phrases on their clothing or accessories, which generated criticism.
2020: Reusable Cup campaign in Vietnam
In 2020, Starbucks successfully completed the Reusable Cup campaign in Vietnam to reduce waste.
June 2021: Reintroduction of personal reusable cups
In June 2021, Starbucks reintroduced personal reusable cups with a contactless method to eliminate shared touch points between customers and baristas.
August 2021: Buffalo Starbucks stores begin unionization attempt
In August 2021, three Starbucks stores in Buffalo, New York, began an attempt to unionize, forming an organizing committee called Starbucks Workers United affiliated with Workers United. They used Twitter to announce their efforts.
November 18, 2021: Mesa Starbucks store petitions for union election
On November 18, 2021, workers at a Starbucks store in Mesa, Arizona, petitioned the NLRB for a union election, inspired by their colleagues in Buffalo, to be represented by Workers United. This organizing effort was partly due to the termination of a well-liked manager who blew the whistle on Starbucks' anti-union plan.
December 9, 2021: Elmwood Avenue store becomes first unionized Starbucks in US
On December 9, 2021, workers at the Elmwood Avenue store in Buffalo, NY voted 19-8 to become the first unionized Starbucks workers at a Starbucks-owned location in the United States.
2021: Starbucks in Ireland fined for racist drawing on cup
In 2021, a Starbucks location in Ireland was fined €12,000 after an Irish Thai customer received their order with a racist drawing on the cup.
2021: Starbucks takes over Ghostbusters' firehouse in Ghostbusters: Afterlife
In the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ray Stantz mentions that Starbucks acquired the Ghostbusters' former firehouse headquarters on North Moore Street after they went out of business, converting it into a coffeehouse until Winston Zeddemore bought it back.
February 2022: Starbucks fires union leaders in Memphis
In February 2022, Starbucks fired seven workers in Memphis who had led the unionization effort and temporarily closed the store.
March 2022: Howard Schultz Returns as Interim CEO
In March 2022, Starbucks announced that Howard Schultz would return as CEO in April 2022 in an interim role.
April 2022: Howard Schultz Returns as Interim CEO
In April 2022, Howard Schultz returned as interim CEO of Starbucks.
July 2022: Starbucks explores selling UK stores
In July 2022, it was reported that Starbucks was exploring the sale of its stores in the United Kingdom through investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
August 2022: Unions certified at 211 Starbucks locations
As of August 2022, unions were certified at 211 Starbucks locations in the United States.
August 2022: NLRB accuses Starbucks of discriminating 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 and requested restitution. They also asked that Howard Schultz or a board official read a notice about this unlawful move.
October 1, 2022: Howard Schultz steps down as CEO
On October 1, 2022, Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO of Starbucks, and Laxman Narasimhan took over as the new 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. The company holds the position of the world's largest coffeehouse chain.
November 2022: Starbucks Store Count in Australia
As of November 2022, there are 59 Starbucks stores in Australia, spread across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
November 2022: Starbucks closes first unionized location in Seattle
In November 2022, Starbucks announced the closure of its first unionized location in Seattle, citing safety concerns as the reason.
November 17, 2022: Starbucks employees strike on Red Cup Day
On November 17, 2022, which was Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day, employees at over 100 locations went on strike seeking higher staffing levels, better wages, and consistent schedules.
December 18, 2022: Workers at over 100 Starbucks stores strike in the U.S.
On December 18, 2022, workers at over 100 Starbucks stores across the U.S. initiated a three-day strike to protest alleged union busting and demand better working conditions.
2022: Starbucks ends fairtrade bean certification
In 2022, Starbucks announced that they were going to stop certifying their coffee beans as fairtrade, in favor of their own in-house investigations.
2022: Starbucks terminates workers involved in union organizing
In 2022, Starbucks terminated over 85 workers in the U.S. who had been involved in organizing worker unions against unfair labor practices. The workers had accused Starbucks of creating a culture of fear and surveillance in the store.
2022: Starbucks faces pressure to halt operations in Russia following invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Starbucks faced growing pressure to halt operations in Russia. As of March 4, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson stated that the company has no business operations in Ukraine, but has 130 licensed locations in Russia wholly owned by a "licensed partner", and will donate any royalties to humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine.
March 2023: NLRB rules Starbucks refused to bargain with unions
By March 2023, the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) found no merit in Starbucks's complaints against Workers United and instead ruled that it was Starbucks who refused to bargain.
March 2023: Laxman Narasimhan Assumes CEO Role
In March 2023, Laxman Narasimhan assumed the CEO position at Starbucks sooner than planned.
March 23, 2023: CEO Narasimhan to work as barista
On March 23, 2023, Laxman Narasimhan, the CEO of Starbucks, announced to employees that he would work a half-day behind a store counter each month and trained as a barista to better understand the brand and connect with customers.
April 2023: Laxman Narasimhan to Succeed Howard Schultz as CEO
In April 2023, Laxman Narasimhan was initially planned to succeed Howard Schultz as CEO.
April 25, 2023: Starbucks Commences Operations in Guyana
On April 25, 2023, Starbucks began operations in Guyana, marking its entry into the Guyanese market.
June 2023: Starbucks faces 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, amid ongoing debate over LGBTQ+ rights in the US. This led to a strike at some stores.
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 a court found that she was fired 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 due to 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. The company will continue operating Starbucks locations normally while closing underperforming ones and restructuring through the bankruptcy procedure.
October 2023: Boycotts after 'Solidarity with Palestine' post
In October 2023, Starbucks faced boycotts after suing the Starbucks Workers United (SWU) union for a social media post stating "Solidarity with Palestine" following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Starbucks claimed the post harmed its reputation and sued for trademark infringement. The SWU responded by requesting continued use of the name and logo, alleging defamation. SWU President Lynne Fox stated the post was unauthorized and quickly deleted. CEO Laxman Narasimhan later stated, "We stand for humanity."
December 2023: Institutional Investors Own Majority of Starbucks Shares
As of December 2023, institutional investors own around 75% of all Starbucks shares.
April 29, 2024: Starbucks Announces Entry to Ecuador and Honduras
On April 29, 2024, Starbucks announced its official entry to Ecuador and Honduras, planned for mid-year and late 2024, respectively, furthering its reach in Latin America.
August 13, 2024: Starbucks announces CEO replacement
On August 13, 2024, Starbucks announced that it was replacing then CEO Laxman Narasimhan with Brian Nicool, who had served as the CEO of Chipotle since 2018.
August 14, 2024: Starbucks Commences Operations in Ecuador
On August 14, 2024, Starbucks opened its first location in Ecuador at Scala Shopping Mall in Quito and announced plans to open four more cafes in the capital city by the end of 2025.
August 2024: Laxman Narasimhan Ousted, Brian Niccol Replaces Him
In August 2024, Laxman Narasimhan was ousted and replaced with Brian Niccol, who became the chain's CEO on September 9.
October 2024: Starbucks Opens in Perth, Western Australia
On October 23, 2024, Starbucks opened its first store in Perth, Western Australia, and plans to open 11 more by the end of 2025.
November 2024: Starbucks ends upcharge for non-dairy milk
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', and now requires customers to make a purchase in order to use restrooms and the seating area.
2025: Court orders Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages
In 2025, Starbucks was ordered by a court 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 planning to phase 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% as part of its environmental sustainability commitment announced in January 2020.
2030: Public commitment to reduce waste by 50%
Starbucks has publicly committed to reducing waste by 50% by 2030.
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