Franchising, retail, business
29/10/2015
Starbucks will today reveal its results for the year to the end of September. Investors are keen to see if the company can maintain its buzz: its market capitalisation has jumped by more than 60% in the past two years.
This is not merely froth: in July Starbucks reported its 22nd consecutive quarter of year-on-year sales growth. Howard Schultz, its chief executive, wants to lure customers in by offering a wider selection for different times of day—better food at lunch, for example, and wine in the evening. It is also testing smaller stores and letting customers order their lattes by smartphone. Unusually Starbucks got some unwelcome news this month: it must pay back up to €30m ($34m) it saved through a tax deal with the Netherlands. The ruling has broad implications for other firms, but for Starbucks the cost is a pittance in a sea of profit.
By:https://espresso.economist.com/73249e99015e707674b99a03ae88cd2f