History of Starbucks in Timeline
Starbucks is a multinational coffeehouse chain founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. Initially a coffee bean wholesaler, it transitioned into a coffee shop under Howard Schultz's leadership, who spearheaded its rapid expansion. Schultz served as CEO from 1986 to 2000 and was responsible for the company's growth across the West Coast.
1912: Relocation to Pike Place
In 1912, Starbucks relocated the cafe to 1912 Pike Place.
March 30, 1971: Starbucks Opens First Store
On March 30, 1971, Starbucks originally opened in Seattle, Washington, selling 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. Initially, it operated as a coffee bean wholesaler.
1971: First Starbucks Store Location
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 coffee beans to Starbucks. Peet helped train their new Roastmaster, Jim Reynolds.
1976: First Starbucks Store Relocation
In 1976, the first Starbucks store was moved from 2000 Western Avenue.
1984: Purchase of 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 of Starbucks
Howard Schultz was the CEO of Starbucks starting in 1986.
1986: Howard Schultz Becomes CEO
In 1986, Howard Schultz became the CEO of Starbucks. He converted the business into a coffee shop serving espresso-based drinks and led the expansion of the franchise.
1987: Starbucks Revenue
By June 1992, Starbucks had revenue of US$73.5 million, up from US$1.3 million in 1987.
1987: Second Starbucks Logo Used
From 1987 to 1992, the siren's breasts were covered by her flowing hair, but her navel was still visible in the second logo.
1987: Kevin Knox in charge of Doughnut Food Quality
In 1987, Kevin Knox was put in charge of doughnut food quality at Starbucks.
1987: Sale to Howard Schultz and Expansion
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. Starbucks also opened its first locations outside of Seattle, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Chicago, Illinois.
1989: Starbucks Expansion in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest
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 beginnings
Hear Music began as a music catalog company in 1990, adding a few retail locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1990: George Howell Appalled at Starbucks Beans
In 1990, George Howell, founder of the Cup of Excellence, expressed his dismay at the dark roasted beans Starbucks was selling.
June 1992: Starbucks Initial Public Offering
In June 1992, at the time of its initial public offering, Starbucks had 140 outlets, with revenue of US$73.5 million. The company's market value was US$271 million by this time.
September 1992: Share Price Increase
By September 1992, Starbucks' share price had risen by 70%.
1992: Third Starbucks Logo Used
Between 1992 and 2011, the siren's navel and breasts are not visible at all, and only vestiges remain of the fish tails in the third version.
1993: Kevin Knox Last Year in charge of Doughnut Food Quality
1993 was Kevin Knox's last year in charge of doughnut food quality at Starbucks.
1994: Acquisition of The Coffee Connection
In 1994, Starbucks acquired The Coffee Connection, gaining the rights to the "Frappuccino" beverage.
1994: Drafting plans for corporate social responsibility
In 1994, Starbucks began drafting plans for corporate social responsibility.
1994: Settlement of Discrimination Lawsuit
In 1994, Starbucks settled a lawsuit after two employees were dismissed because of their race, age, and sex.
1995: Introduction of the Frappuccino
In 1995, the "Frappuccino" beverage was introduced under the Starbucks name.
1998: Partnership with Kraft Foods
In 1998, Starbucks entered into a partnership with Kraft Foods to sell Starbucks products in Mondelez grocery stores, which were owned by Kraft.
1999: Starbucks purchased Hear Music
Hear Music was purchased by Starbucks in 1999.
1999: Acquisition of Pasqua Coffee
In 1999, Starbucks acquired Pasqua Coffee—a San Francisco-based retail coffee chain with almost 60 locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.
1999: Starbucks Acquires Tazo Brand
In 1999, Starbucks entered the tea business by acquiring the Tazo brand for US$8,100,000.
1999: Circadia Restaurant Experiment
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: Starbucks Starts "Grounds for your Garden" Program
In 1999, Starbucks started the "Grounds for your Garden" program, giving leftover coffee grounds to anyone requesting it for composting to make the company environmentally friendlier.
July 2000: First Australian Starbucks Opens in Sydney
In July 2000, the first Starbucks location in Australia opened in Sydney.
2000: Howard Schultz Steps Down as CEO
In 2000, Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO of Starbucks, after leading a period of aggressive expansion.
2000: Orin Smith Succeeds Howard Schultz as CEO
In 2000, Orin Smith succeeded Howard Schultz as CEO of Starbucks.
2000: Introduced a line of fair trade products
In 2000, Starbucks introduced a line of fair trade products.
2000: Logo Altered for Saudi Arabian Market
In 2000, the Starbucks logo was altered when the company entered the Saudi Arabian market to remove the siren, leaving only her crown.
2002: Starbucks opera album
In 2002, Hear Music produced a Starbucks opera album, featuring artists such as Luciano Pavarotti.
2002: Saudi Arabia
Reported in a Pulitzer Prize-winning column by Colbert I. King in The Washington Post in 2002.
June 2003: Starbucks Japan Expansion Plans
As of June 2003, Starbucks Japan had 466 stores and planned to add another 70 to 75 in the 2003 financial year. The president of Starbucks Japan, Yuji Tsunoda, announced plans to install ovens in all stores to improve food offerings.
2003: Starbucks acquires Ethos Water
In 2003, Starbucks acquired Ethos Water, a bottled water brand. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle is used to fund clean water projects in underdeveloped areas.
2005: Howard Behar becomes President of Starbucks North America
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar was president of Starbucks North America.
2005: Jim Donald Becomes CEO
In 2005, Jim Donald became the CEO of Starbucks, orchestrating a large-scale earnings expansion.
2005: Received 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 set in 2005 to reduce child labour
Starbucks is an active member of the World Cocoa Foundation, although targets set in 2005 to reduce child labour that the Foundation has backed have consistently not been met.
September 2006: Starbucks Reintroduces Original Brown Logo
At the beginning of September 2006, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups.
September 2006: Acquisition of Diedrich Coffee Stores
In September 2006, Diedrich Coffee announced that it would sell most of its company-owned retail stores to Starbucks, escalating regional coffee wars.
October 2006: Added Starbucks Entertainment area to the iTunes Store
In October 2006, Apple added a Starbucks Entertainment area to the iTunes Store, selling music similar to that played in Starbucks stores.
2006: Introduction of recycled paper 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 direct contact with food or beverages.
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 Explains Logo
In 2006, Valerie O'Neil, a Starbucks spokeswoman, said 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 was certified as fair trade.
2006: Agreement to support and promote Ethiopian coffees
In 2006, after a long-running dispute, Starbucks agreed to support and promote Ethiopian coffees, acknowledging Ethiopian ownership of popular coffee designations such as Harrar and Sidamo.
March 2007: Consumer Reports Coffee Ranking
In March 2007, Consumer Reports ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast, criticizing its coffee as "strong, but burnt and bitter".
March 2007: Paul McCartney signs to Hear Music
In March 2007, Paul McCartney released the hit CD Memory Almost Full, making McCartney the first artist signed to the new Hear Music label sold in Starbucks outlets.
September 2007: Browsing the iTunes Store at Starbucks
In September 2007, Apple announced that customers would be able to browse the iTunes Store at Starbucks via Wi-Fi in the US.
2007: Howard Behar ends term as President of Starbucks North America
From 2005 to 2007, Howard Behar was president of Starbucks North America.
2007: EEOC Allegations Against Starbucks
In 2007, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions.
January 2008: Starbucks launches "skinny" line of drinks
In January 2008, Starbucks introduced a "skinny" line of drinks, featuring lower-calorie and sugar-free versions of its beverages with options for natural and artificial sweeteners.
February 2008: Starbucks Terminated Jobs
Altogether, from February 2008 to January 2009, Starbucks terminated an estimated 18,400 U.S. jobs and began closing 977 stores worldwide.
March 2008: Acquisition of Coffee Equipment Company
In March 2008, Starbucks acquired Coffee Equipment Company, which manufactured the Clover Brewing System.
July 2008: Closure of Australian Stores
Additionally in July 2008, Starbucks announced that it would close 61 of its 84 stores in Australia. The closures were attributed to a failure to understand Australia's café culture.
July 2008: Store Closures and U.S. Expansion Cuts
In July 2008, during the Great Recession, Starbucks announced it was closing 600 underperforming stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty.
July 29, 2008: Non-Retail Job Cuts
On July 29, 2008, Starbucks cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its bid to re-energize the brand and boost its profit.
October 2008: Starbucks Water Usage Reported
In October 2008, The Guardian newspaper reported that Starbucks was wasting 6.2 million U.S. gallons of water a day by leaving a tap constantly running for rinsing utensils in each of its stores.
2008: Mass-closure of Starbucks Stores in Australia
Before the mass-closure of 61 of their 85 stores in 2008, there were also Starbucks stores in Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Wollongong.
2008: Howard Schultz Served as Chairman and CEO
From 2008 to 2017, Howard Schultz served as both the chairman and CEO.
2008: Howell's Opinion on Starbucks Coffee
In 2008, George Howell shared his opinion with The New York Times, stating that Starbucks' dark roast did not improve the coffee flavor and could destroy its nuances.
2008: Schultz Returns as CEO during Financial Crisis
In 2008, Howard Schultz returned as CEO during the financial crisis.
2008: New animal welfare policy announced
In 2008, Starbucks announced a comprehensive new animal welfare policy banning many inhumane farming practices, including the caging of hens.
2008: Starbucks Faces Downturn in Australia
In 2008, Starbucks faced a massive downturn in Australia, which led to significant changes in its operations.
2008: African American Engineer Sues for Discrimination
In 2008, a former African American Starbucks engineer sued the company for discrimination after his supervisor failed to address racist bullying.
2008: Environmental responsibility struggles acknowledged
In a 2008 media article, 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. At the time, Starbucks gave customers who brought in their own reusable cup a 10-cent discount.
2008: Launch of My Starbucks Idea
In early 2008, Starbucks started a community website, My Starbucks Idea, to collect suggestions and feedback from customers.
2008: Starbucks Reintroduces Original Brown Logo Again
In early 2008, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups.
2008: Targets set in 2008 to reduce child labour
Starbucks is an active member of the World Cocoa Foundation, although targets set in 2008 to reduce child labour that the Foundation has backed have consistently not been met.
2008: Roll out in Seattle, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area
This feature was rolled out in Seattle, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area, and was offered in limited markets during 2007–2008.
January 2009: Further Store Closures and Job Cuts
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" instant coffee
In March 2009, Starbucks launched VIA "Ready Brew", a line of instant coffee packets, initially unveiled in New York City before testing in other locations.
June 1, 2009: Morning Joe presented as "brewed by Starbucks"
Starting on June 1, 2009, the MSNBC morning news program Morning Joe has been presented as "brewed by Starbucks" and the show's logo changed to include the company logo.
June 2009: Re-evaluation of dipper well system
In June 2009, Starbucks re-evaluated its use of the dipper well system due to concerns over excessive water consumption.
August 2009: Ahold Kiosk Closures
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 successfully implemented a new water saving solution in company-operated stores in Canada and the United States, replacing dipper wells with push button metered faucets, reportedly saving up to 150 gallons of water per day per store.
2009: Buying preference established 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: Settlement of Discrimination Suit
In 2009, Starbucks settled the discrimination suit filed by a former African American engineer.
May 2010: Southern Sun Hotels South Africa Signs 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.
December 2010: Starbucks Debuts First Starbucks at Sea
In December 2010, Starbucks debuted their first-ever Starbucks at sea in partnership with Royal Caribbean International, opening a shop aboard the Allure of the Seas.
2010: Kevin Knox Blog Post
In 2010, Kevin Knox recalled on his blog how George Howell had been appalled at Starbucks coffee.
2010: Change Roasting Methods
In 2010, Starbucks retrained baristas and changed roasting methods to standardize quality in response to criticism over-roasting beans.
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 set in 2010 to reduce child labour
Starbucks is an active member of the World Cocoa Foundation, although targets set in 2010 to reduce child labour that the Foundation has backed have consistently not been met.
January 2011: Starbucks Announces Logo Changes
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.
2011: Third Starbucks Logo Used
Between 1992 and 2011, the siren's navel and breasts are not visible at all, and only vestiges remain of the fish tails in the third version.
2011: EEOC Allegations Against Starbucks
In 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission raised allegations against Starbucks for racial bias in its promotions.
March 2012: Starbucks begins selling Starbucks Refresher beverages
In March 2012, Starbucks began selling a line of iced Starbucks Refresher beverages containing green coffee extract.
June 2012: Starbucks Opens Store in Costa Rica
In June 2012, Starbucks expanded its global presence by opening a store in San Jose, Costa Rica.
August 2012: Largest US Starbucks Opens
In August 2012, the largest Starbucks in the US opened at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Centre.
September 2012: Starbucks announces plans to introduce Verismo
In September 2012, Starbucks announced its plans to introduce the Verismo, a consumer-grade single-serve coffee machine utilizing sealed plastic cups of coffee grounds and a "milk pod" for lattes.
October 2012: Starbucks Announces Expansion Plans in the U.S.
In October 2012, Starbucks revealed its intention to open 1,000 new stores across the United States over the subsequent five years, signifying a significant domestic expansion.
November 2012: Starbucks Verismo becomes publicly available
In November 2012, Starbucks Verismo became publicly available, consisting of a line 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 Buys Teavana
In December 2012, Starbucks paid US$620 million to buy Teavana, expanding its presence in the tea market.
2012: Frappuccino Sales
In 2012, Starbucks had annual Frappuccino sales of over US$2 billion.
2012: Lack of animal welfare improvement
Since 2012, organizations such as World Animal Protection and Compassion in World Farming have stated that Starbucks has not shown any demonstrable improvement in animal welfare.
April 2013: Introduction of reusable cups
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: 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
In July 2013, more than 10% of in-store purchases were made on customers' mobile devices via the Starbucks app.
August 2013: Starbucks Announces Entry into Colombia
In August 2013, Starbucks's CEO Howard Schultz personally announced the opening of Starbucks stores in Colombia, marking the company's expansion into the South American coffee-producing nation.
August 2013: Endorsement deal with Morning Joe ended
The endorsement deal between Starbucks and Morning Joe ended in August 2013.
October 2013: Tweet-a-Coffee Promotion Launch
Starbucks launched the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion in October 2013, allowing customers to purchase a US$5 gift card for a friend via Twitter.
December 2013: Tweet-a-Coffee Success
By December 2013, the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion had 27,000 participants and US$180,000 in purchases.
2013: Limited Ethiopian coffee sales
As of 2013, the Starbucks website sells only one Ethiopian coffee.
January 2014: Shift to Locally Relevant Design
In January 2014, Starbucks management transitioned from a singular brand worldwide to focusing on locally relevant design for each store.
May 2014: Starbucks Announces First Café in Bolivia
In May 2014, Starbucks announced its first café in Bolivia would open in 2014 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
May 2014: Australian Market Losses
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 offer Starbucks employees a subsidized online college education.
June 2014: Starbucks begins trialing Fizzio
In June 2014, Starbucks began trialing its own line of carbonated sodas, dubbed "Fizzio".
August 2014: Starbucks opens store serving alcohol in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
In August 2014, Starbucks opened its first store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, among 30 locations serving beer and wine.
2014: Shooting in Milwaukee Starbucks
In 2014, a Milwaukee Starbucks employee called the police on a black man sleeping in a park, resulting in the police fatally shooting him, which led to protests.
2014: First Starbucks Café Set to Open in Bogotá
In 2014, the first Starbucks café was set to open in Bogotá, Colombia, as part of an expansion plan that included adding 50 more stores throughout Colombia's main cities in a 5-year limit.
2014: Remaining Australian Starbucks Sold
In 2014, the remaining Australian Starbucks stores were sold to the Withers family, signaling a shift in the company's strategy for the region.
January 2015: Starbucks Begins Rolling Out Teavana Teas
In January 2015, Starbucks began to roll out Teavana teas into Starbucks stores, both in to-go beverage and retail formats.
April 2015: Expansion of College Achievement Program
In April 2015, Starbucks and ASU expanded the College Achievement Program to allow all eligible U.S. employees to enroll with full-tuition reimbursement.
May 2015: Partnership with Spotify
In May 2015, Starbucks partnered with Spotify, providing U.S. employees with premium subscriptions and influencing in-store music.
June 19, 2015: New Starbucks Opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
On June 19, 2015, Starbucks opened a new location at Disney's Animal Kingdom, featuring eco-friendly straws to comply with the park's environmental policies.
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.
2015: Kevin Johnson Becomes President and COO
In 2015, Kevin Johnson became president and chief operating officer of Starbucks.
2015: Starbucks Announces First Café in Panama
In 2015, Starbucks announced its first café in Panama.
2015: Public announcement to switch to 100% cage-free eggs
In 2015, Starbucks made a public announcement that they will switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2020.
2015: Deal with PepsiCo
In 2015, Starbucks signed a deal with PepsiCo to market and distribute Starbucks products in several Latin American countries.
2015: "Race Together" Campaign
In 2015, the Starbucks "Race Together" campaign, aimed at starting a national dialogue about race, received heavy criticism and backlash.
January 2016: Starbucks Announces Launch in Trinidad and Tobago
In January 2016, Starbucks announced that it would launch operation in Trinidad and Tobago.
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 for South African stores, 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 original content series "Upstanders"
In September 2016, Starbucks announced a debut of its first-ever original content series called "Upstanders", which aimed to be inspirational.
2016: Starbucks locations in Toronto announce they will serve alcohol
In 2016, three Starbucks locations within Toronto, Ontario, announced they would serve alcohol and upscale appetizers.
July 2017: Acquisition of Remaining Stake in Chinese Venture
In July 2017, Starbucks acquired the remaining 50% stake in its Chinese venture for US$1.3 billion.
November 2017: Starbucks Commences Operations in Jamaica
In November 2017, Starbucks commenced operations in Jamaica.
November 21, 2017: Starbucks Jamaica Opens First Store
On November 21, 2017, Starbucks Jamaica opened its first store in the resort city of Montego Bay on the shores of the Doctor's Cave Beach Club, offering views of the Caribbean Sea.
2017: Food donation program in 10 markets
As of 2017, the food donation program was in 10 different markets, including New York City, with plans to expand the program to all 305 Manhattan stores.
2017: Kevin Johnson Succeeds Schultz as CEO
In 2017, Kevin Johnson succeeded Howard Schultz as CEO of Starbucks.
March 21, 2018: Consideration of Blockchain Technology
On March 21, 2018, Starbucks announced that it was considering the use of blockchain technology to connect coffee drinkers with coffee farmers.
April 11, 2018: Starbucks Begins Operations in Uruguay
On April 11, 2018, Starbucks began operations in Uruguay, with a location in the Montevideo Shopping mall.
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. The arrests led to protests and accusations of racial bias.
June 2018: Myron E. Ullman Becomes Chairman
In June 2018, Myron E. Ullman became chairman of Starbucks.
June 19, 2018: Store Closures Announced
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: First Kingston Starbucks Store Opens
On June 21, 2018, the first of the Kingston stores opened in Jamaica.
July 9, 2018: Ban on single-use plastic straws announced
On July 9, 2018, Starbucks announced it would ban single-use plastic straws by January 1, 2020, on all cold drinks from all locations worldwide due to climate change concerns.
2018: Business Insider Coffee Test
In 2018, Business Insider conducted a coffee test judged by 100 experts, noting improved coffee quality in iced coffee and nitro cold brew.
2018: Cage-free eggs in company-operated stores by 2020
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: Racial Bias Incidents
In 2018, Starbucks faced criticism over incidents of racial bias at individual cafes, including arrests and discriminatory treatment, leading to a company-wide racial bias training.
2018: Starbucks Shuts Down Teavana
Starbucks shut down Teavana in early 2018.
July 2019: Newspaper Sales Discontinued
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.
September 2019: FoodShare participation leading to 20 million meals
In September 2019, 60% of Starbucks stores are participating in FoodShare, which led to 20 million meals served to those in need.
September 2019: Removal of Kiosks for Snacks and Coffee
In September 2019, Starbucks 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.
2019: Starbucks Jamaica Announces Plans to Open Stores in Kingston
By 2019, Starbucks Jamaica announced plans to open up to six stores in Kingston, Jamaica.
2019: Formal Announcement of "Bean to Cup" Program
In 2019, Starbucks formally announced its "bean to cup" program using Microsoft's Azure-based blockchain service.
2019: Child slave labor practices found in Brazil production units
In 2019, the Fair World Project released an article outlining how Brazilian labor inspectors had proof of child slave labor practices being present in Starbucks' Brazil production units, despite Starbucks certifying them as slave free.
2019: Halt of personal cup use due to COVID-19
In 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic first began, Starbucks halted the use of personal cups due to concerns with the transferring of germs.
2019: 150 Store Closures Announced in June 19, 2018
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: Single-use plastic straws banned
By January 1, 2020, Starbucks banned the single-use plastic straws from all locations worldwide. Frappucinos received sustainable straws, while other cold drinks get straw-less lids.
January 2020: Oat milk becomes available at Starbucks nationally
In January 2020, Starbucks made oat milk available nationally in its stores. The company also offers non-dairy creamers at retail in partnership with Nestle SA.
January 2020: New environmental sustainability commitment
In January 2020, Starbucks shared its commitment to become a resource positive company. It announced targets to reduce carbon emissions, waste output, and water impact by 50% by 2030.
March 2020: Mental Health Benefits for U.S. Employees
In March 2020, Starbucks announced that starting April 6, all U.S. employees and eligible family members would receive up to 20 free mental health therapy or coaching sessions per year.
March 20, 2020: Store Closures Due to COVID-19
On March 20, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Starbucks closed all the café-only stores in the United States for two weeks, only offering drive-thru and delivery-only services. Employees were paid for 30 days regardless of whether they worked.
May 2020: Request for Reduced Rent
In May 2020, Starbucks asked for reduced rent from landlords due to the decrease in sales caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Starbucks to close 400 stores
In June 2020, Starbucks announced it would close 400 US and Canada locations over the next 18 months, shifting to "convenience-led" formats with drive-through and curbside pickup.
December 2020: Starbucks plans to increase store count to 55,000 by 2030
In December 2020, Starbucks announced its plans to expand its store count to approximately 55,000 by 2030, a significant increase from its then-current number of around 33,000.
December 2020: Starbucks to offer Oatly oat milk in all US stores
In December 2020, Starbucks announced that it would offer Oatly oat milk in all US stores starting in Spring 2021.
2020: Cage-free eggs implemented
By 2020, Starbucks had 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 cage-free eggs 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, sparking controversy.
2020: Reusable Cup campaign in Vietnam
In 2020, Starbucks successfully completed the campaign to provide the Reusable Cup in Vietnam.
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, after halting them due to COVID-19 in 2019.
August 2021: Buffalo Starbucks stores begin unionization effort
In August 2021, three Starbucks stores in Buffalo, New York, initiated a unionization effort, announcing the formation of Starbucks Workers United.
November 18, 2021: Mesa, Arizona Starbucks petitions for union election
On November 18, 2021, inspired by Buffalo, workers at a Starbucks store in Mesa, Arizona, petitioned the NLRB for a union election to be represented by Workers United, spurred by the termination of a manager who reported an anti-union plan.
December 9, 2021: First Starbucks in US votes to unionize
On December 9, 2021, workers at the Elmwood Avenue Starbucks store in Buffalo, New York, voted 19-8 to become the first unionized Starbucks-owned location in the United States.
2021: Reusable Cup event in Korea
In 2021, Starbucks held the same reusable cup event in Korea where a reusable cup was provided instead of a disposable cup.
2021: Starbucks in Ireland Fined
In 2021, a Starbucks in Ireland was fined €12,000 after an Irish Thai customer received their order with a racist drawing on the cup.
2021: Ghostbusters' firehouse headquarters turned into a Starbucks
In the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, it is stated that Starbucks had taken over the Ghostbusters' firehouse headquarters and turned it into a coffeehouse.
January 2022: Starbucks launches "Baya" canned energy drinks
In January 2022, Starbucks launched a line of canned energy drinks called "Baya", containing caffeine from the coffee fruit.
February 2022: Starbucks fires union leaders in Memphis and closes store
In February 2022, Starbucks fired seven workers in Memphis who had led the unionization effort and temporarily closed the store.
March 2022: Schultz Returns as Interim CEO
In March 2022, Starbucks announced that Schultz would return as CEO in April 2022 in an interim role.
April 2022: Schultz Returns as Interim CEO
In April 2022, Schultz would return as CEO in an interim role.
July 2022: Starbucks explores selling its 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: 211 Starbucks locations in the US certified as unions
As of August 2022, unions were certified at 211 Starbucks locations in the United States.
August 2022: NLRB accuses Starbucks of illegal discrimination against unionized workers
In August 2022, the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of illegally discriminating against unionized workers by denying them wage and benefit increases, seeking restitution, and asking that Howard Schultz read a notice about this unlawful move.
October 1, 2022: Howard Schultz steps down as CEO
On October 1, 2022, Howard Schultz officially 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, making it the world's largest coffeehouse chain.
November 2022: Starbucks Store Count in Australia
As of November 2022, there are 59 Starbucks stores in Australia; 23 in New South Wales, 19 in Queensland and 18 in Victoria.
November 2022: Closure of First Unionized Location
In November 2022, Starbucks announced it would close the first location in Seattle that had unionized, citing safety concerns.
November 17, 2022: Starbucks employees strike on Red Cup Day
On November 17, 2022, over 100 Starbucks locations experienced employee strikes on Red Cup Day, 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 stores across the U.S. began a three-day strike in response to alleged union busting and to demand better working conditions.
2022: Fair Trade Overturned
Fair trade was overturned during Kevin Johnson's leadership in 2022.
2022: End of fairtrade coffee bean certification
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 were involved in organizing worker unions, raising concerns about unfair labor practices.
March 2023: NLRB rules Starbucks refused to bargain with unions
By March 2023, the NLRB found no merit in Starbucks's complaints and instead ruled that it was Starbucks who refused to bargain with unions.
March 2023: Narasimhan Assumes CEO Position
In March 2023, Laxman Narasimhan assumed the CEO position sooner than planned.
March 23, 2023: Narasimhan to work as a 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 to stay connected to the brand and customers.
April 2023: Laxman Narasimhan to succeed Schultz
In September 2022, Laxman Narasimhan was appointed to succeed him in April 2023, with Schultz remaining a member of the board of directors.
April 25, 2023: Starbucks Commences Operations in Guyana
On April 25, 2023, Starbucks commenced operations in Guyana.
June 2023: Pride Month Decoration Controversy
In June 2023, Starbucks faced controversy for allegedly not allowing Pride Month decorations at some locations, amidst public furor over LGBTQ+ rights, leading to a strike at some stores.
June 2023: Starbucks ordered to pay damages in racial 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 who the court determined 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 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. They will continue to operate normally while restructuring.
December 2023: Major Shareholders
In December 2023, the 10 largest shareholders of Starbucks were listed.
April 29, 2024: Starbucks Announces Entry to Ecuador and Honduras
On April 29, 2024, Starbucks announced its official entry to Ecuador and Honduras in mid-year and late 2024, respectively.
August 13, 2024: Starbucks announces a CEO change
On August 13, 2024, Starbucks announced the replacement of 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 commenced operations in Ecuador, with its first location in the country at Scala Shopping Mall in Quito.
August 2024: Niccol to Replace Narasimhan as CEO
In August 2024, Laxman Narasimhan was ousted and replaced with Brian Niccol.
October 2024: Starbucks Stats
As of October 2024, the company provided updated statistics.
October 2024: First Starbucks Store in Perth Opens
The first Starbucks store in Perth, Western Australia opened on 23 October 2024.
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 requires purchase for restroom and seating access
In January 2025, Starbucks ended its 'open-door policy', and began requiring customers to make a purchase to use the restrooms and seating area.
2025: Starbucks Plans to Open More Cafes in Quito
In 2025, Starbucks plans to open four more cafes in the capital city of Quito, Ecuador.
2025: Phase out disposable cups in Korea
Starbucks is phasing out disposable cups in Korea entirely by 2025.
2025: Planned Starbucks Store Openings in Perth
There are plans to open another 11 Starbucks stores in Perth, Western Australia by the end of 2025.
2030: Targeted reduction of emissions, waste and impact
By 2030, Starbucks aims to reduce its carbon emissions, waste output, and water impact by 50% as part of its new environmental sustainability commitment.
2030: Target waste reduction
Starbucks has publicly committed to reducing waste by 50% by 2030.
