History

Milestone after milestone we are reminded that our progress and our successes only happen because of our amazing, hard-working partners and the customers they serve. While our growth could be considered phenomenal, we maintain our humility and look forward to the next decade serving our valued Chinese customers and sharing the coffee culture.

History

1999
1ST Starbucks
Store

In January 1999, Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland market by opening its 1st store in the China World Trade Building, Beijing
Stores

~8000
Stores in over 1000 counties across the Chinese Mainland

Starbucks currently operates 8,000 stores in over 1000 counties in the Chinese mainland, employing over 60,000 Chinese partners. This unique strength enables us to fulfill our commitment every day, through every Starbucks store.
Responsibility

2,000,000
HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Starbucks has been serving local communities and initiating social impact programs in different regions and cities since entering the Chinese mainland market. Since 2011, Starbucks partners and volunteers have served more than 2,000,000 hours in their local communities.

Starbucks Global

Founded in 1971 with the opening of the 1st location in Seattle’s Pike Place Market selling coffee beans only
Howard Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 as director of retail operations and marketing
Schultz purchased the company in 1987 and Starbucks Coffee Company opened the first store to sell brew coffee and espresso beverages
Completed IPO on NASDAQ in 1992 under the trading symbol “SBUX”, thus opening a new chapter of growth for the company
Now, Starbucks has more than 32,000 stores and employs more than 400,000 partners in 82 countries around the world.

Starbucks China Milestones

1999 - Starbucks opened its first store in the Chinese mainland in Beijing.
2009 - In celebration of its 10th anniversary in the Chinese mainland, Starbucks introduced its first blend that includes coffee beans from Yunnan province - South of the Clouds.
2011 - Starbucks launched My Starbucks Rewards program.
2012 - Starbucks University (China) was established.
2012 - Starbucks first Farmer Support Center in Asia was established in Pu’er, Yunnan province.
2014 - Starbucks Reserve® was launched in the Chinese mainland.
2017 - Starbucks launched its first single origin Chinese coffee bean - Starbucks Yunnan Coffee.
2017 - Starbucks launched “Say it with Starbucks”, a new social gifting feature on WeChat, in China.
2017 - Starbucks announced the provision of critical illness insurance for partners’ (employees) parents in China.
2017 - Starbucks acquired remaining shares from its East China joint venture partner to become the sole operator of all Starbucks stores in mainland China.
2017 - Starbucks opened the Shanghai Reserve Roastery - the first fully immersive coffee wonderland in China.
2017 - Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks China announced donations totaling approximately $20 million USD (RMB 132 million) over the next five years to drive social.
2018 - Starbucks and Alibaba Group formed comprehensive strategic partnership to advance ‘New Retail’ and transform the customer experience.
2018 - Starbucks launched Starbucks Delivers to bring best-in-class coffee delivery experience to customers in China.
2018 - Starbucks forged partnership with China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to jointly support coffee farming communities in Yunnan and create pathways out of poverty.
2019 - Starbucks unveiled its first International Reserve Cafe & Bar Mixato in Shanghai.
2019 - Starbucks opened the first signing store in Guangzhou.
2019 - Starbucks launched Starbucks Now, a mobile order & pay app technology in China.
2019 - Starbucks China became the first retail brand in China’s F&B industry to be awarded FSSC22000 certification.
2019 - Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Shanghai was certified LEED Platinum, the first within the =food retail industry in the Chinese mainland.
2020 - Starbucks launches second phase of social impact investment with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to create pathways out of poverty for Yunnan’s coffee farming communities.
2020 - Starbucks partnered with the China Women's Development Foundation to launch the ‘Rural Women’s Accelerator Project’, improving rural livelihoods by training women to produce and market their traditional handicraft.
2020 - Starbucks partnered with non-governmental organization ‘Shoulder Action’ to launch ‘Reading for the Future’ project to promote children literacy in Yunnan.
2020 - The Beijing Starbucks Foundation was established.
2020 - Starbucks donated approximately RMB 10 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
2021 - Launched the third phase of its Yunnan coffee industry support program, introducing smart agriculture to empower coffee farming communities.
2021 - Following the initial "Reading for Future" project in Yunnan, Starbucks partnered with a non-profit to launch the "Reading for Future County Deepening Plan.
2021 - Introduced Starbucks Greener Store Framework to China with the opening of the Greener Stloee Lab in Shanghai, exploring new models for sustainable retail.
2021 - The Beijing Starbucks Foundation, in collaboration with Beijing Haidian Rongairongle Family Support Center for People with Intellectual Disabilities, initiated the "Zhanxin Project - Promoting Inclusive Employment for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
2021 - All full-time retail partners (baristas) in China began receiving a 14th month of pay as an annual bonus, in addition to the standard 13th month starting from October.
2022 - Starbucks launched " Embroidery for the Future" program, aimed at economic empowerment and intangible cultural heritage preservation, marking the second phase of its "Rural Women’s Acceleration Program".
2022 - Launched the fourth phase of its Yunnan coffee industry support program, pioneering a new rural revitalization model integrating coffee and cultural tourism.
2023 - Starbucks China and Amap (Gaode Map) launched Starbucks Curbside, a new retail service channel.
2023 - Starbucks announced a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to implement the first "water replenishment" practice in China's coffee industry.
2023 - Established the Starbucks China Innovation and Technology Center (SITC) in Shenzhen
2023 - The Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park (CIP) officially commenced operations in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, making China the first market in Starbucks global network to achieve large-scale, integrated vertical supply chain from "bean to cup".
2024 - Introduced a new core espresso – Blonde Roast – to the Chinese mainland market.
2024 - Opened its 7,000th store in the Chinese mainland.
2024 - The Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park achieved LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum, and China Green Building Design Label 3-Star, becoming the first food and beverage company in China to hold all three sustainability certifications.
2024 - Announced the "Shared Value, Sourcing from Yunnan" rural revitalization project, focused on local talent development and cultural revitalization to sustain the vitality of coffee-origin villages.
2025 - Entered its 1,000th county-level market in China.
2025 - Launched the first Starbucks® CNY Blend in China.
2025 - Introduced the Sugar-free innovation system, leading the flavored coffee category into a zero-sugar era.
2025 - Formed strategic partnership with Envision Group to jointly build a carbon management platform for Starbucks China's supply chain.
2025 - Partnered with Red Note to transform over 1,800 stores marketwide into "Interest-Based Community Spaces" themed around pets, handicrafts, cycling, and running.
2025 - Starbucks Coffee Company announced a strategic partnership with Boyu Capital, a leading alternative asset management firm in China, to form a joint venture to operate Starbucks China’s retail business.

Starbucks China Recognitions

The 7-Star Food Quality Award
100 Trusted Brands Award
Aon Best Employers – China 2013
51 Job 2014 Best employer
Aon Best Employers – China 2015
Best Employers - Guangzhou Daily
Top 100 Enterprises - China Corporate Social Responsibility Innovation
Most Influential - China Corporate Social Responsibility Events
Outstanding China Charity Team
Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce/Make a Difference Alliance China Foreign Investment Enterprise - Good Neighborhood Award
The 12th China Excellent Corporate Citizenship Award
Golden Bee Corporate Social Responsibility
China List: Leader Enterprise
Top Retail Brand: China’s Most Attractive Employers 2017 - Yixing Consulting
Aon Best Employers – China 2017
Aon Best Employers – China 2018
Top 10 Green Service Enterprises 2019
Aon Best Employers – China 2019
Top 10 Enterprises of Action League Charity Ceremony 2019
Brand Finance - 2020 World’s Most Valuable Restaurant Brand