Which Fortune 500 company owns the Starbucks coffeehouse chain?

Starbucks Corporation owns and operates the Starbucks coffeehouse chain.

Starbucks began in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, where its first store sold coffee beans and equipment. Howard Schultz joined the company in 1982 and later developed the coffeehouse concept after seeing espresso-bar culture in Italy. He acquired Starbucks in 1987 and expanded the brand beyond its original retail format.

The company’s stores became known for espresso beverages, brewed coffee, pastries, and a café atmosphere. Starbucks grew through company-operated stores, licensed locations, and international expansion. Its green siren logo became one of the most recognizable symbols in the global coffee business.

Starbucks is sometimes confused with restaurant holding companies such as Yum! Brands or Restaurant Brands International. Those corporations own multiple restaurant chains, whereas Starbucks is itself the corporate owner of the Starbucks brand. The company also sells packaged coffee and ready-to-drink products through partnerships and retail channels.