Starbucks International Strategy

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Starbucks’ international strategy began with its first non-domestic store opening in Japan of 1996 under its global arm, Starbucks Coffee International. Since then, the company has followed a multi-domestic strategy to cater to its international clientele. Because of this strategy, Starbucks has experienced immense revenue growth from its international operations, which now accounts for 22% of its total revenue (SBUX 10-K, 2011). Most of the company’s international operations are in the early stages of development and require a more extensive support organization to properly capitalize on growth opportunities. In order to capture the most amount of potential revenue from international markets, Starbucks ought to focus less on international expansion and more on further penetration of its emerging market segments. Specifically focusing on the emerging markets of Mexico and Brazil could lead Starbucks to capture a high amount of sales revenue from these promising economies. Brazil was one of the last countries to be affected and the first one out of the global economic crisis while Mexico, who was greatly affected by American economic turmoil, recovered with a quick and steady pace (Schaeffer and Pickers, 2012). Demographically, both countries have a relatively high proportion of young people composing its populations who are driving up rates of urbanization and overall lifestyle changes. Because Starbucks holds an international branding position that lends itself to customers who tend to have disposable income that allows for such discretionary spending like premium coffee purchases, these emerging markets hold a unique opportunity for Starbucks to expand its product offering to these countries. Additionally, It is our belief that current political winds pointing towards free-market reformation will allow for a free flow of capital to fuel further business

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