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Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) SEHK: 4337), is a coffeehouse chain based in the United States. Named after the first mate in the novel Moby-Dick, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world,^[1] with 7,521 self-operated and 5,647 licensed stores in 40 countries, making a total of 13,168 stores worldwide.^[2] Starbucks serves drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, snacks and items such as mugs and coffee beans. Through its Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music brand, the company has ventured beyond refreshments into books, music, and film. Many of these products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks brand ice cream and coffee are also sold at grocery stores.

From its founding in Seattle, Washington, as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer, Starbucks has experienced a rapid expansion. In the 1990s, the company was opening a new store every workday, a pace that continued into the 2000s. Domestic growth has since slowed down, though the company continues to expand in foreign markets. The first international location outside of the U.S. and Canada was established in 1996, and they now constitute almost one third of Starbucks' stores.^[3] Read More...