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Starbucks Swot

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SWOT Analysis: Starbucks
Hawaii Pacific University
Jennifer Rocha

Abstract

Starbucks Corporation, is a retail super chain whose specialty is selling a variety of hot and cold coffee. In addition to its retail coffee, Starbucks sells coffee brewing machines, tea, merchandise and hot and cold food items. The store began in 1971 with a single store in Seattle and has expanded to 23,305 stores in 65 countries and territories, including 13,049 in the United States, 1,909 in China, 1,555 in Canada, 1,089 in Japan and 927 in the United Kingdom (Wikipedia 2014). Howard Schultz, Chairman, Executive and Chief Executive Officer, has been at the helm of this coffee supergiant since 1987. Mr. Schultz is the dreamer behind the “place for conversation and community” experience that Starbucks provides (Starbucks Heritage, n.d.). Although Starbuck’s is a global corporation, it primarily operates out of its United States headquarters located in Seattle, Washington. Below I will provide a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis of Starbucks from a managerial perspective.

SWOT Analysis: Starbucks

Starbuck’s management team has done a phenomenal job of ensuring that they dominate the domestic and international coffee retail markets. The company’s global presence is one of their strongest attributes. It could be argued that morning commuters, soccer moms and college students across the globe wouldn’t be able to get through their days without their preferred Starbucks’ beverage. With a storefront on almost every corner Starbucks is able to fill this consistent need with great ease. The fact that Starbucks is an international entity works in their favor in that consumers are guaranteed an opportunity to satisfy their coffee dependencies when they are forced to travel away from their home. Starbucks overwhelming global presence no

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