Starbucks is the world's largest specialty coffee
retailer, with over 1,700 coffee shops in 55
countries. For years, Starbucks grew throughout
the United States and internationally, opening
franchises at an impressive rate. From 2002 to 2007
alone, the company tripled the number of stores it
operated worldwide. Starbucks offers a unique experience:
high-end specialty coffees and beverages,
friendly and knowledgeable servers, and customerfriendly
coffee shops. This was a winning formula
for many years and enabled Starbucks to charge
premium prices.