It's hard to believe that Starbucks (SBUX) started out as a single store. But it did. The company's very first location opened at Pike Place Market in Seattle in 1971. Owners Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl purchased high-quality whole coffee beans from farms in Latin America, Africa, and Asia—a practice that still continues. Master roasters bring out the balance andꦜ flavor that give the coffee its distinctive taste.

After Howard Schultz bought Starbucks in 1987, he replicated the vibe of Italian coffeehouses with their relaxed conversations and strong feeling of community. The menu expanded with popular teas, a bakery, and fresh food. In addition to acquiring multiple businesses over the years, Starbucks began selling coffee through U.S. supermarkets in 1998. The multi-billion dollar company operates more than 21,000 retail stores in 87 different markets.

The company's key suppliers are 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:domiciled in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, Indonesia, India, France, Canada, and other countries. This article looks at three of the chain's major suppliers.

Regency Centers Corp.

• Founded: 1963
• Headquarters: Jacksonville, Florida
• Market Capitalization (as of Nov. 27, 2024): $13.887 billion

Regency Centers (REG) leases property to Starbucks. The company aims to be an industry leader in the highly competitive and always-changing 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:real estate market. As of Dec. 31, 2023, Regency derives 0.8% of its annualized rent from Starbucks.

Founded by Martin and Joan Stein, the company focuses on owning, operating, and developing grocery-anchored shopping centers in prosperous areas. The Jacksonville, Florida–based company works with 澳洲幸🔜运5官方开奖结果体彩网:real estate investment trusts (REITs) a🧸nd sets ♉high standards for acquiring individual properties or portfolios.

Regency owns 483 different centers across the United States. This accounts for more than 61 million square feet in leasable space as of Q3 2024, with a primary focus on open-air shopping centers which are also called 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:power centers.

Regency focuses on a few different criteria when leasing out property—especially to Starbucks. Locations must be near well-positioned neighborhoods or community centers in major market areas, anchored by a dominant grocery store, and have above-average 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:household incomes. This is key to keep its revenue stream and position in the real estate market.

First Capital

• Founded: 1993
• Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Market Capitalization (as of Nov. 27, 2024): $3.764 billion

First Capital also leases property to the popular coffee chain. As one of Canada’s largest owners, developers, and managers of urban property, First Capital’s goal is to generate sustainable cash flow and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:capital appreciation of its real estate 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:portfolio. The company derives 0.6% of its revenue from Starbucks as of Dec. 31, 2023.

The Canadian company has properties in more than 142 different neighborhoods in the county. This represents a total of 22.3 million square feet of leasable space as of 2023. First Capital invests in ope⛄n𓆉-air properties offering grocery stores, banks, restaurants, and other services. High standards for potential acquisitions include well-located retail-centered urban properties with high sustainability and growth potential.

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp.

• Founded: 1991
• Headquarters: Tianjin, China

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp. (HKG: 0322)—which does business as Master Kong—manufactures and markets Starbucks’ ready-to-drink products in China. Starbucks entered into an agreement with the company in 2015 to mark its place within China's coffee and energy industry—one that was estimated to be worth $6 billion at the time.

China also represents the coffee chain's fastest-growing market outside the United States. The company has more than 6,500 locations across 250 different cities in mainland China as of 2024.

Tingyi and its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:subsidiaries produce and market instant noodles, ready-to-drink teas, bottled water, juice, and egg rolls throughout ꦗthe Asian country. Tingyi’s goal is to become the largest worldwide distributor of Chinese food and beverages.

The Bottom Line

Starbucks has grown from a single store in Seattle, Washington, to a billion-dollar brand with 21,000 retail stores in 87 different markets across the globe. To provide customers with signature Starbucks coffee drinks, the company relies on suppliers around the world. Huhtamaki, a Finland-based packaging company, is a new partner helping to supply molded fiber lids for cold beverages sold in new compostable cups. Starbucks plans to test the cups and lids in stores in California and Minnesota.