Starbucks China: Cultural differences ironed out

By KRISTEN MILLARES BOLT
P-I REPORTER

When Starbucks Corp. executives talk about China, they tend to do so in superlatives.

And why not? China is the Seattle coffee company's fastest-growing international market and could become its largest global market.

As of April 4, there were 238 Starbucks locations in China, including Hong Kong and Macau. Thirty-five of those stores are company-operated, a departure from the company's initial strategy to seek joint-venture partners. In Taiwan, the company has 171 stores, all licensed.

More...