Abstract
Taking its name from a character of the book Moby Dick, Starbucks specializes in coffee retailing. It is currently the most important chain in the coffee industry.
When Starbucks Coffee Company was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, an English teacher, Zev Siegel, a history teacher, and the writer Gordon Bowker, it was a business specialized in coffee.
In 1987, the founders sold their company to Howard Schultz, who named it Starbucks Corporation. The firm became international by opening and buying stores in many countries. As a proof of being a leader in its market, Starbucks Corporation is quoted on the Stock Exchange.
The main activity of Starbucks is to manage coffee shops. However, Starbucks Corporation also develops its own brand in a roasting activity.
The turnover of the firm is, according to Datamonitor, $9,411.5 million in the financial year ended 2007.
