Which company operates the Starbucks coffeehouse chain?

Starbucks Corporation is the company that operates the Starbucks coffeehouse chain.

Starbucks is an American multinational company known for specialty coffee, tea, beverages, food, and branded merchandise. It operates company-owned stores and supports licensed locations around the world. Its large store network and global brand recognition have made Starbucks one of the largest publicly traded restaurant and beverage companies by market capitalization.

The first Starbucks store opened in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1971. Howard Schultz joined the company in the 1980s after being influenced by Italian coffee-bar culture, later acquiring Starbucks and expanding its café model. The company grew from a regional coffee retailer into an international chain with tens of thousands of locations.

Starbucks is not a subsidiary of McDonald’s or a beverage division of another restaurant conglomerate. It is a separate publicly traded corporation, although many Starbucks locations operate under licensing agreements rather than direct company ownership.