Starbucks Strategic Alliance Essay

Starbucks was bought out by current CEO Howard Schultz in 1987. Since then, Andrew Harrer (2012) reports the company has grown to operate over “17,244 stores worldwide” (para. 1). Fortune (n.d.) reports in its yearly 100 Best Companies to Work for that Starbucks employs “some 95,000 employees”. From only a handful of stores in 1987 to a billion dollar franchise today, the success of Starbucks is due in great deal to their corporate culture, specifically how employees, or as Starbucks calls them, partners are treated. Joseph Michelli (2007) echoes this sentiment, “A great cup of coffee is only part of the Starbucks success equation” (p. 767).

Starbucks is one of the leaders in coffee industry. Starbucks has entered into many new markets and today it has more than 16,000 outlets across the globe (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington 2011). Due to unlimited business opportunities, Starbucks Corp has set strategies to enter India as it is next major hub for development in near future. Previously Starbucks has gained wide success in China and Japan due to high consumption of coffee and tea. Since its inception, Starbucks has tapped the major markets across the world, India was left untapped. In India, Starbucks has setup alliances with TATA Global Beverages which is a unit of TATA Group of Companies. Starbucks along with TATA has started with an investment of $80 million and plans to open 50 coffee shops in a year. Currently few coffee shops has been setup by Starbucks, however in near future, it is expected that the company will achieve its target in capturing Indian market (Lamb2009). Thus, besides sourcing coffee beans from TATA, Starbucks can now explore more Asian markets (Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson 2012).

starbucks Corp., an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, has expanded rapidly since its opening in 1971. These outrageous success was due to its well-developed strategy vision which lay out the company's strategic course in developing and strengthening its business. Starbucks is a global corporation that sells authentic coffee in 30 countries, reporting revenues of nearly $5.1 billion in 2006. The main goal of Starbucks is to embrace diversity by applying the highest standards of excellence. Starbucks strives to perfect the relationship with the working class by making the service as fast as possible because they believe that every customer has their own personal rate. One

2) Garthwiate, Craig; Busse, Meghan; Brown, Jennifer; Merkley, Greg “Starbucks: A Story of Growth” Harvard Business Publishing, July 2012.

Starbucks advertises two essential mission statements. First and foremost, it strives to “establish [ourselves] as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while [we] grow(s).” (Starbucks) Reflective of its mission, Starbucks bases its strategic campaign and communications on six indispensable philosophies; structuring a pleasant work environment in which employees are treated with “respect and dignity,” incorporating diversity in all business aspects, purchasing, roasting and delivering fresh coffee, retaining satisfied customers, giving back to the community and environment, and developing

Starbucks’ lead in the specialty coffee industry exemplifies the result of deftly executing a well-planned business strategy. Moreover, Starbucks is well positioned for what is expected to be a continuing rise in the popularity of specialty coffee products. The question before Starbucks’ leadership, however, is what avenues will lead to Starbucks’ goal of remaining true to its core, the highest quality coffee products while providing a “total coffee experience” for its customers?

Starbucks is undoubtedly an international brand. The history of coffee traces back to Ethiopia, Africa, India, Arabia, and Europe, and has been traded abroad since the 11th century. Understanding the demand and widespread market for coffee, Starbucks has triumphantly capitalized both the domestic market, and the varied international markets as well. Possessing about 6,500 retail sites worldwide, Starbucks’ net is spread across thirty countries and has been found as one of the most recognized brands all over the globe in equality to McDonalds and Toyota. This organization’s ability to build an international brand has been unprecedented- particularly since it represents a specialty

This key acquisition is one of Starbucks’s main strategic goals for diversifing its brand by

The corporate level strategy is roughly the same as the business level strategy since Starbucks only has one primary business. I believe that fact that Starbucks only focuses on one primary business makes the organization stronger. For example, there is no chance for conflict between the business level strategy and the corporate level strategy and the entire organization can focus on a single mission. Furthermore, this strategy has allowed them to reproduce their model all over the globe. As is the case with the Japanese, Chinese

The Government of India at that time had loosened the regulations where foreign single brand companies could start investing in India, but, despite the norms being more relaxed, Starbucks had decided to use other ways of entering into India. Starbucks had met up with Tata Global Beverages whereby they had both discussed their interests to enter into a partnership to operate Starbucks in India. Starbucks had considered a partnership with Tata because they knew

As Starbucks continues to expand, more profits and more risks are in store. The corporation’s brand and reputation may be put at risk as the quality of the products supplied by third parties is outside of the company’s control (―Starbucks Corporation Fiscal 2009 Annual Report‖, 20). Partnering with farmers and suppliers meant letting go of control over the quality of certain products. In order to retain customers and protect their brand, Starbucks must establish and maintain effective working relationships with reputable farmers and suppliers, which could increase costs.

Starbuck has entered into these other categories through partnerships and joint ventures. These relationships make sense, because every partnership is with a company in an industry related to Starbuck’s industry (e.g. Pepsi, Kraft, Unilever, Green Mountain etc.). Starbucks does not enter into partnerships with only one company; but collaborates with many companies, that are the respective leaders in their industry. The coffee company uses many of their partners as guides to learn from, and build relationships in a particular industry. Strategically this makes sense because Starbucks is gaining knowledge and not spending a major amount of money. Therefore, when the

Starbucks have shown in the past that they are very good at taking advantage of opportunities. In an strategy alliance with Hewlett Packard, customers could create their own music CD within a Starbucks coffee shop. Thus the company could look for these kind of opportunities to seize. In addition, new markets for coffee are emerging such as India and the Pacific Rim nations, also Europe which is getting more and more accustomed with the brand name “Starbucks”. Co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink, and brand franchising to manufacturers of other goods and services both have potential.

India, like many other Asian countries, has a tea drinking culture, but the coffee market is catching up and growing fast. This case talked about the stories of Café Coffee Day (CCD), the Indian coffee industry market leader, along with its competitor Starbucks from USA. CCD was founded in 1996 and by April 2013 it had around 3,000 stores within the Indian market. CCD had not faced any severe threat up till 2012 when Starbucks made its entry into the Indian market through a joint venture with Tata. As the world’s largest coffee chain company, Starbucks wanted to get a slice of the cake. In 2013, it opened 11 stores in Delhi and Mumbai.

Starbucks’ retail entry model in the United States does not have the same strategy as their international model. In the states Starbucks holds great control as a corporation, but in international territory, country partnerships, cultural, government laws and politics play a very important role in Starbucks’ entry strategy. Starbucks has set it sights globally since the coffee market has come close to saturation in the U.S. which will give them the opportunity to continue to expand without fierce competition. Starbucks has looked to countries like India and other emerging markets with great growth potential to set down new roots. Starbucks recognizes India as a great choice to expand business internationally but also recognizes the complexity in the same market after several attempts to enter without success.