Since its establishment in 1971, with a single retail location in Seattle, Washington, Starbucks ® has blossomed into Fortune 500 Company with retail locations in each hemisphere. In 1982, Howard Schultz brought, to Starbucks ®, the idea of the Milan styled Espresso bar, with its popularity and culture, to its location in Washington. It was a success and a result, in the 90's the company was able to branch out to other locations within the United States and eventually the throughout the world. As of 2005, Starbucks ® has more than 7000 retail location and its products can be found in grocery and convenience stores worldwide.
As a corporation, Starbucks ® prides itself on upholding the principles of corporate social responsibility in conjunction with its mission statement. From the reading in Chapter 4, which stated the company's 6 guiding and "uncompromising" principles, it seems that as long as they are followed the company cannot go wrong. When the company treats its employees with respect in dignity, it's like a cycle in which those employees, in turn, treat the customers with respect and dignity. One of the principles being to deliver "high standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting, and fresh delivery of" its coffee, means that nothing less than the best is expected to come from Starbucks ®, the best coffee, the best service, the best environment. When customers come to expect and actually get the "excellence" they are more likely to return and remain a customer. As an occasional customer, I personally can say that though I do not frequent Starbucks ® daily, of the few times that I have, each time has been a pleasant experience and I would gladly return. While the focus is on the customer, product, and service, the corporation does pu ...