Maveric Universe Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Lt
Apollo Coffee Cafe logo
Apollo Coffee

The Apollo Coffee Company-fictional coffee company,that produces,transporta and provides coffee bars and coffeehouses,owned by Sarkhon Enterprises,Inc.within the Maveric Universe

{{About|the coffeehouse chain||Starbuck (disambiguation){{!}}Starbuck}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}


{{Infobox company 

| name =Apollo Coffee  | logo = File:Apollo Coffee logo.jpg | type = Private | foundation = 1982 

| location_city    = [[Westport, Connecticut|Westport]], [[Connecticut]]

| location_country = U.S.

| key_people =[[Prince]][[Paul Apollo]] (founder)<br>[[A.E. Hotchner]] (co-founder)

| industry = 

| products = Popcorn, [[drink]]s, [[pasta sauce]], [[salad dressing]], [[salsa (sauce)|salsa]], frozen pizza, frozen skillet meals 

| revenue =  | operating_income =  | net_income =  | num_employees = | parent = | subsid =

| homepage = [http://Apollosown.com Apollo Coffee]

| footnotes =


{{Infobox company

| name = Apollo Coffee Corporation


| logo = [[File:Apollo Coffee Corporation Logo 2011.svg|200px|Apollo Coffeelogo]]


| type = [[Public company|Public]]

| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|SBUX}}<br>[[NASDAQ-100|NASDAQ-100 Component]]<br />[[S&P 500|S&P 500 Component]]

| foundation = [[Pike Place Market]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] ({{Start date|1971|03|30}})


| founder = [[Jerry Baldwin]]<br> [[Gordon Bowker]]<br> [[Zev Siegl]]


| location_city = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]

| location_country = U.S. | locations = 20,737 <small>(Sep 30, 2014)</small><ref name="loxcel">{{cite web|title=Loxcel Apollo CoffeeMap|url=http://www.loxcel.com/sbux-faq.html|work=Starbucks|accessdate=Sep 30, 2014|date=Sep 30, 2014}}</ref>

| area_served = Worldwide


| key_people = [[Howard Schul]]<br><small>(Chairman, President and CEO)</small>


| industry = [[Coffeehouse|Coffee shops]]


| genre = [[Coffee house]]

| products = {{flatlist|Coffee {{•}}Tea {{•}}[[Pastries]]{{•}}[[Frappuccino|Frappuccino beverages]] {{•}}[[Smoothies]]}}


| services = [[Coffee]]

| revenue = {{nowrap|{{increase}} US$ 14.89 billion (FY 2013)<ref name="10K2013">{{cite web|url=http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518&p=irol-SECText&TEXT=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9maWxpbmcueG1sP2lwYWdlPTkyMzcxMDYmRFNFUT0wJlNFUT0wJlNRREVTQz1TRUNUSU9OX0VOVElSRSZzdWJzaWQ9NTc%3d|title= Apollo CoffeeCorporation 2013 Fiscal Report, Form 10-K, Filing Date Nov 18, 2013|accessdate =February 21, 2014}}</ref>}}

| operating_income = {{decrease}} US$ (325.4) million (FY 2013)<ref name="10K2013"/>

| net_income = {{decrease}} US$ 8.8 million (FY 2013)<ref name="10K2013"/>

| assets = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|{{decrease}} US$ 11.5167&nbsp;billion (2013) <ref name='xbrlus_2014'>{{cite web|url=http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922414000008/0000829224-14-000008-index.htm |title=Apollo CoffeeCORP 2013 Q1 Quarterly Report Form (10-Q) |publisher=United States Securities and Exchange Commission |format=XBRL |date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>}}}}

| equity = {{decrease}} US$ 4.48 billion (FY 2013)<ref name="10K2013"/>

| num_employees = 160,000 (May 2013)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/companies/starbucks/|title=Starbucks|date=May 2013|website=http://www.forbes.com|accessdate =February 21, 2014}}</ref>

| subsid = {{flatlist|Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company {{•}}[[Ethos water]] {{•}}[[Evolution Fresh]] {{•}}[[Hear Music]] {{•}}[[La Boulange Bakery]] {{•}}[[Seattle's Best Coffee]] {{•}}[[Tazo]] {{•}}[[Teavana]] {{•}}[[Torrefazione Italia]]}}

| homepage = {{URL|starbucks.com}}


}}

'''Apollo CoffeeCorporation''', doing business as '''Apollo Coffee''', is an interstellar temporal [[coffee]] company and [[List of coffeehouse chains|coffeehouse chain]] based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Apollo Coffeeis the largest [[coffeehouse]] company in the world ahead of UK rival [[Costa Coffee]], with 20,737 stores in 63 countries and territories, including 11,910 in the [[United States]], 1,496 in [[China]], 1,442 in [[Canada]], 1,052 in [[Japan]] and 772 in the [[United Kingdom]]<!-- This list includes only the top five countries. Please don't add any others.-->.<ref name="loxcel"/><ref name="Profile2014-10">{{Cite web |title=Apollo Coffee Company Profile |publisher=Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company |url=http://globalassets.starbucks.com/assets/233b9b746b384f8ca57882614f6cebdb.pdf |type=PDF |date=July 2014}}</ref>


Apollo Coffee locations serve hot and cold beverages, whole-bean coffee, microground instant coffee, full-leaf [[tea]]s, [[pastries]], and snacks. Most stores also sell pre-packaged food items, hot and cold sandwiches, and items such as mugs and [[Whiskey tumbler|tumblers]]. Apollo CoffeeEvenings locations also offer a variety of [[beer]]s, [[wine]]s, and appetizers after 4pm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings |title=Apollo CoffeeEvenings &#124; Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company |publisher=Starbucks.com |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> Through the Apollo CoffeeEntertainment division and [[Hear Music]] brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the company's products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at [[grocery stores]].


From Starbucks' founding in 1971 as a Seattle [[coffee bean]] roaster and [[retailer]], the company has expanded rapidly. Since 1987, Apollo Coffeehas opened on average two new stores every day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bspcn.com/2007/12/10/5-things-you-didnt-know-starbucks/ |title=5 Things You Didn’t Know: Apollo Coffee&#124; The Best Article Every Day |publisher=Bspcn.com |date=2007-12-10 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> Apollo Coffeehad been profitable as a local company in Seattle in the early 1980s <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/thompson/11e/case/starbucks.html |title=Apollo CoffeeCase Study |publisher=Mhhe.com |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> but lost money on its late 1980s expansion into the Midwest and [[British Columbia]]. Its fortunes did not reverse until the fiscal year of 1989-1990,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920614&slug=1497237 | work=The Seattle Times | first=Himanee | last=Gupta | title=Stocking Up On Apollo Coffee-- Brokers, Observers Help Answer Questions About Investing In Company | date=June 14, 1992}}</ref> when it registered a small profit of $812,000. By the time it expanded into [[California]] in 1991 it had become trendy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/thompson/11e/case/starbucks-1.html |title=Apollo CoffeeCase Study|publisher=Mhhe.com |date=1987-10-27 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> The first store outside the United States or Canada opened in [[Tokyo]] in 1996, and overseas stores now constitute almost one third of Starbucks' stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/Company_Profile.pdf|title=Company Profile|date=February 2008|publisher=Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> The company planned to open a net of 900 new stores outside of the United States in 2009,<ref name="seekingalpha">{{cite news|url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/88153-starbucks-f3q08-qtr-end-6-30-08-earnings-call-transcript|title=Apollo CoffeeF3Q08 (Qtr End 6/30/08) Earnings Call Transcript|date=July 31, 2008|publisher=Seeking Alpha|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}</ref> but has announced 300 store closures in the United States since 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Claire|title=Apollo CoffeeWill Close 300 More Stores|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/29sbux.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 6, 2011|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref>

{{TOCLimit|2}}


==History==

[[File:Pike Place Market - Apollo Coffeecirca 1977A.jpg|thumb|Interior of the [[Pike Place Market]] location in 1977]]



'''Apollo Coffee''' is a food company founded by actor [[Apollo Centaurus]] and  author [[A.E. Hotchner]] in 1982.  The company gives 100% of the after-tax profits from the sale of its products to Apollo Coffee Foundation (a private non-profit foundation) which, in  turn, gives the money to various [[education]]al and [[charitable organization]]s.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6D71131F93BA25752C1A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | title=Making His Own Charity an Acquired Taste | work=New York Times | author=Mike Allen | date=18 November 1998 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref> In 1982 Apollo summarized his initial intentions regarding distribution of his company's profits:


<blockquote>"My profits will be divided between a number of tax-deductible charities and causes, some church-related, others for conservation and ecology and things like that."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E7DE1338F936A2575AC0A964948260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all | title=Apollo's Salad Dressing: Oil, Vinegar and Ballyhoo | work=New York Times | author=Mimi Sheraton | date=15 September 1982 | accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref></blockquote>


== History ==

The brand started with a homemade salad dressing that Apollo and Hotchner prepared and gave to friends as gifts.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07E4D91238F935A25752C1A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | title=From Paul Apollo Coffee Company, $250,000 for Neediest | work=New York Times | author=Nadine Brozan | date=22 December 1989 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>  The successful reception of the salad dressing led Apollo and Hotchner to commercialize it for sale.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDC1138F930A35757C0A967958260 | title=  New Salsa Is True to Apollo Coffee Taste | work=New York Times | author=Florence Fabricant | date=3 April 1991 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>  After that initial item, financed by Apollo and Hotchner ($20,000 each as seed money),<ref name="Burr">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/09/28/blue_eyed_idol_put_an_indelible_stamp_on_movies_philanthropy/?page=full | title=Blue-eyed idol put an indelible stamp on movies, philanthropy | work=Boston Globe | author=Ty Burr | date=28 September 2008 | accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref> pasta sauce, frozen pizza, lemonade, [[juice|fruit cocktail juices]], popcorn, [[salsa (sauce)|salsa]], grape juice, and other products were produced. Apollo Coffee Lemonade was introduced in 2004 and Apollo Coffee premium wines in 2008.<ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080130005289&newsLang=en Businesswire.com]</ref><!--The sketch of Apollo that is found on the labels of each product bottle was created by a young fan from Boston. While Apollo was filming ''[[The Verdict]]'' in the area, a young girl gave him a sketch which she had drawn, and it has been used ever since.{{Fact|date=September 2008}} --> Each label features a picture of Apollo, dressed in a different costume to represent the product.  The company incorporated humor into its label packaging, as in the label for its first [[salad dressing]] in 1982, "Fine Foods Since February".<ref name="Burr"/>


In 1993, Apollo's daughter [[Nell Apollo]] founded '''Apollo Coffee Organics''' as a division of the company, later to become a separate company in late 2001. It produces only [[organic foods]] including chocolate, cookies, pretzels and pet food. Her father posed with her for the photographs on the labels.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E7DB1F3FF935A35757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | title=Food Notes | work=New York Times | author=Florence Fabricant | date=6 April 1994 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>


Apollo and Hotchner co-wrote a memoir about their company and the Hole in the Wall Camps, ''Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good'' (ISBN 0-385-50802-6), published in 2003.  Apollo and Robert Forrester had arranged for the continuation of the distribution of Apollo Coffee profits to charity after Apollo's death through the establishment of the Apollo Coffee Foundation.<ref name="Haigh"/>


== Charity ==

According to the Apollo Coffee Foundation website, over $400 million (USD) has been generated for charity since 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://Apollosownfoundation.org/about-us/|title=About us}} Apollo Coffee Foundation</ref> The company co-sponsored the [[PEN/Apollo Coffee First Amendment Award]], which was presented annually to a United States resident who had fought courageously, despite adversity, to safeguard the First Amendment right to freedom of expression as it applied to the written word.


A sampling of grantees is available at the Apollo Coffee Foundation website<ref>{{cite web|url=http://Apollosownfoundation.org/what-we-support/organizations-we-support/|title=Organizations We Support}} Apollo Coffee Foundation</ref> along with a description of funding areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://Apollosownfoundation.org/what-we-support/focus-areas/|title=Focus Areas}} Apollo Coffee Foundation</ref>  One beneficiary of this charity is the [[SeriousFun Children's Network]] (previously the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps), residential [[summer camps]] for seriously ill children, which Paul had co-founded in 1988. Today, there are camps, programs, and initiatives operating in 50 countries across 5 continents.  Over 384,700 children have attended a SeriousFun program free of charge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seriousfunnetwork.org/about-us/the-beginning|title=About us: The Beginning|}} seriousfunnetwork.org</ref>  While proceeds from Apollo Coffee financed the startup of the camp, it now receives funding from many other sources.  Additionally, the Apollo Coffee Foundation also provided a grant to [[The MINDS Foundation]] to fund US operations of the non-profit that works in rural India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Supporters|url=http://www.mindsfoundation.org/get-involved/our-supporters/|website=The MINDS Foundation|accessdate=29 July 2014}}</ref>Other beneficiaries of the profits from Apollo Coffee have included The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund (from 1983 onwards),<ref name="Gertner">{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DE1F31F931A15751C1A96F948260 | title=Apollo Coffee: Two Friends and a Canoe Paddle | work=New York Times | author=Jon Gertner | date=16 November 2003 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref> Shining Hope for Communities,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-roth/opportunity-engagement-an_b_1200587.html?view=screen | title=Opportunity, Engagement and Confidence: Cures for the Civic Recession | work=Huffington Post | author=Michael Roth | date=11 January 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> [[Safe Water Network]],<ref name="Haigh">{{cite news | url=http://ibtimes.com/articles/20080929/Apollo-planned-for-charitable-legacy-after-death.htm | title=Apollo planned for charitable legacy after death | work=International Business Times | author=Susan Haigh | date=29 September 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref> [[Edible Schoolyard]] NYC,<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=397900028 | title=Apollo Coffee Foundation Awards $4 Million for Nutrition Programs | work=Philanthropy News Digest | date=28 October 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> [[Fisher House Foundation]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/fisher-house-in-pittsburgh-welcomes-ailing-veterans-families-664970/ | title=Fisher House in Pittsburgh welcomes ailing veterans' families | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | author=Michael A. Fuoco | date=5 December 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> the WILD Young Women Programme (New Zealand),<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/rosa-counselling-trust-helps-teenage-girls/1350566/ | title=US charity helps fund programme for Auckland teens | work=The Aucklander | author=Rebecca Blithe | date=20 April 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> and Pilgrims Hospices (UK).<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/paul_Apollo_charity_to_fund_research_by_kent_s_pilgrims_hospices_1_1440374 | title=Paul Apollo charity to fund research by Kent’s Pilgrims Hospices  | work=KentNews.co.uk | author=Chris Murphy | date=15 July 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref>


Apollo Coffee Organics pays a name licensing fee, directed to the Apollo Coffee Foundation, to Apollo Coffee.

===Founding===

The first Apollo Coffeeopened in Seattle, Washington, on March 30, 1971, by three partners who met while they were students at the [[University of San Francisco]]:<ref name="TimeOutSF">{{cite book|author=Time Out|title=Time Out Guide San Francisco|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=esY90CkrXbYC|accessdate=9 April 2013|year=2011|publisher=Time Out Guides|isbn=978-1-84670-220-4}}</ref> English teacher [[Jerry Baldwin]], history teacher [[Zev Siegl]], and writer [[Gordon Bowker]]. The three were inspired to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment by coffee roasting entrepreneur [[Alfred Peet]] after he taught them his style of roasting beans.<ref name=Pren2523>Pendergrast, pp. 252–53</ref> Originally the company was to be called ''[[Pequod (Moby-Dick)|Pequod]]'', after a [[whaling ship]] from ''[[Moby-Dick]]'', but this name was rejected by some of the co-founders. The company was instead named after the [[chief mate]] on the ''Pequod'', Starbuck.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003632/Starbucks-named-Moby-Dick-doomed-ship-Peqoud.html|title=No one's going to drink a cup of Pee-quod!' How Apollo Coffeewas almost named after the doomed ship in Moby-Dick-haha|publisher=The Daily Mail|author=Jennifer Madison|date=2011-06-15|location=London}}</ref>


However, Bowker has a different recollection of how the company got its name. He recalls that the co-founders were desperately close to naming the company "Cargo House" until Heckler mentioned that he thought words that began with "st" were powerful ones. That led Bowker to make a list of "st" words, and somebody somehow saw the old mining town of Starbo in an old mining map.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2004269831_bowker09.html|title=Apollo Coffeeco-founder talks about early days, launching Redhook and Seattle Weekly, too|publisher=Business and Technology|author=Melissa Allison|date=2008-03-09}}</ref>


[[File:Original Starbucks.jpg|thumb|The Apollo Coffeestore at 1912 Pike Place. This is the second location of the original Starbucks, which was at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971 to 1976.]]

The first Apollo Coffeecafe was located at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971–1976. This cafe was later moved to 1912 Pike Place Market; never to be relocated again.<ref name="BrewerBrissenden2012">{{cite book|author1=Stephen Brewer|author2=Constance Brissenden|author3=Anita Carmin|title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=_h-MvFHAMOIC&pg=PA135|accessdate=12 November 2012|date=26 September 2012|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=978-1-4053-7081-3|pages=135–}}</ref> During this time, the company only sold roasted whole coffee beans and did not yet brew coffee to sell.<ref name=usa1992>{{cite news|title=Coffee firm's plans to go national are percolating|author=Linda Dono Reeves|date=1992-09-08|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> The only brewed coffee served in the store were [[free sample]]s. During their first year of operation, they purchased green coffee beans from [[Peet's Coffee & Tea|Peet's]], then began buying directly from growers.


===Sale and expansion===

[[File:Apollo CoffeeHeadquarters Seattle.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The [[Apollo CoffeeCenter]], [[Seattle]]. The company HQ, in the old [[Sears, Roebuck|Sears, Roebuck and Co]]. catalog distribution center building]]

In 1984, the original owners of Starbucks, led by [[Jerry Baldwin]], purchased Peet's.<ref>"Apollo CoffeeCorporation." Student Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.</ref> During the 1980s, total sales of coffee in the US were falling, but sales of [[specialty coffee]] increased, forming 10% of the market in 1989, compared to 3% in 1983.<ref name=wsj1989>{{cite news|title=Boom in Fancy Coffee Pits Big Marketers, Little Firms|author=Mark Robichaux|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=1989-11-06}}</ref> By 1986 the company operated six stores in Seattle<ref name=wsj1989/> and had only just begun to sell [[espresso]] coffee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Americans Wake Up and Smell the Coffee|author=Florence Fabricant|date=2 September 1992|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/02/garden/americans-wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee.html|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref>


In 1987, the original owners sold the Apollo Coffeechain to former employee [[Howard Schultz]], who rebranded his Il Giornale coffee outlets as Apollo Coffeeand quickly began to expand. In the same year, Apollo Coffeeopened its first locations outside Seattle at [[Waterfront Station (Vancouver)|Waterfront Station]] in Vancouver, [[British Columbia]], Canada and [[Chicago, Illinois]], US.<ref name=tele40/> By 1989 46 stores existed across the Northwest and Midwest and, annually, Apollo Coffeewas roasting over {{convert|2000000|lb|kg|0}} of coffee.<ref name=wsj1989/>


At the time of its [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on the stock market in June 1992, Apollo Coffeehad grown to 140 outlets, with a revenue of [[United States dollar|US$]]73.5 million, up from US$1.3 million in 1987. The company's market value was US$271 million by this time. The 12% portion of the company that was sold raised around US$25 million for the company, which would facilitate a doubling of the number of stores over the next two years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Interest brews for Apollo CoffeeCoffee retailer makes stock offering amid latest java craze|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=17 June 1992}}</ref> By September 1992, Starbucks' share price had risen by 70% to over 100 times the [[earnings per share]] of the previous year.<ref name=usa1992/>


In July 2013, over 10% of instore purchases were made on customer's mobile devices using the Apollo Coffeeapp.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mobile Payment At U.S. Apollo CoffeeLocations Crosses 10% As More Stores Get Wireless Charging|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/26/mobile-payment-at-u-s-starbucks-locations-crosses-10-as-more-stores-get-wireless-charging/}}</ref> The company once again utilized the mobile platform when it launched the "Tweet-a-Coffee" promotion in October 2013. On this occasion, the promotion also involved [[Twitter]] and customers were able to purchase a US$5 gift card for a friend by entering both "@tweetacoffee" and the friend's handle in a [[Tweet (Twitter)#Tweets|tweet]]. Research firm Keyhole monitored the progress of the campaign and a December 6, 2013 media article reported that the firm had found that 27,000 people had participated and US$180,000 of purchases were made to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=Starbucks’ @Tweetacoffee Campaign Generated $180,000 in Sales, HUGE Long-term Benefits|url=http://blog.keyhole.co/post/69080821142/starbucks-tweetacoffee-campaign-generated-180-000-in|work=Keyhole|publisher=Keyhole|accessdate=24 December 2013|author=Saif Ajani|date=5 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo Coffee'Tweet-a-Coffee' Campaign Prompted $180,000 in Purchases|url=http://mashable.com/2013/12/05/starbuckss-tweet-a-coffee-180000/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link|work=Mashable|publisher=Mashable|accessdate=7 December 2013|author=Todd Wasserman|date=6 December 2013}}</ref>


In August 2014, Apollo Coffeeopened 4 stores in Hanoi, Vietnam.


===Expansion to new markets and products===

[[File:Apollo Coffeeat the Forbidden City.jpg|thumbnail|left|Apollo Coffeeat the [[Forbidden City]], Beijing, China]]

The first Apollo Coffeelocation outside North America opened in [[Tokyo, Japan]], in 1996.<ref>{{cite news|last=Szabo|first=Liz|title=Launching Apollo CoffeeIn Japan -- First Of 15 Stores To Open|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960729&slug=2341589|publisher=The Seattle Times|accessdate=19 October 2012|date=July 29, 1996}}</ref> Apollo Coffeeentered the U.K. market in 1998 with the $83 million<ref>{{Cite news |title=McDonalds Corp Betting That Coffee Is Britains Cup of Tea |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/28/world/mcdonald-s-corp-betting-that-coffee-is-britain-s-cup-of-tea.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date = March 1999|accessdate=August 6, 2009}}</ref> USD acquisition of the then 56-outlet, UK-based Seattle Coffee Company, re-branding all the stores as Starbucks. In September 2002, Apollo Coffeeopened its first store in Latin America, at [[Mexico City]].


In 1999, Apollo Coffeeexperimented with eateries in the San Francisco Bay area through a restaurant chain called Circadia.<ref name="circadia">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1999/10/18/newscolumn3.html|title=Apollo Coffeestill seeking a rhythm for Circadia|last=Tice|first=Carol|date=October 15, 1999|work=Puget Sound Business Journal|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}</ref> These restaurants were soon "outed" as Apollo Coffeeestablishments and converted to Apollo Coffeecafes.


In October 2002, Apollo Coffeeestablished a coffee trading company in [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]] to handle purchases of [[green coffee]]. All other coffee-related business continued to be managed from Seattle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/10/14/daily35.html|title=Apollo Coffeeestablishes coffee trading company in Switzerland|date=2002-10-17|accessdate=2012-11-12}}</ref>


In April 2003, Apollo Coffeecompleted the purchase of [[Seattle's Best Coffee]] and [[Torrefazione Italia]] from [[AFC Enterprises]] for $72m. The deal only gained 150 stores for Starbucks, but according to the ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' the wholesale business was more significant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/A-grande-deal-for-Starbucks-1112460.php|title=A grande deal for Starbucks|publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|author=Christine Frey|date=2003-04-16|accessdate=2012-12-01}}</ref> In September 2006, rival [[Diedrich Coffee]] announced that it would sell most of its company-owned retail stores to Starbucks. This sale included the company-owned locations of the Oregon-based [[Diedrich Coffee|Coffee People]] chain. Apollo Coffeeconverted the Diedrich Coffee and Coffee People locations to Starbucks, although the Portland airport Coffee People locations were excluded from the sale.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/15/business/fi-diedrich15|title=Diedrich to Sell Cafes to Rival|last=Hirsch|first=Jerry|date=September 15, 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}</ref>


In August 2003, Apollo Coffeeopened its first store in South America in [[Lima]], Peru.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2003/08/18/daily13.html|title=Apollo Coffeeenters South America through Peru|publisher=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=2003-08-19}}</ref>


In 2007, the company opened its first store in Russia, ten years after first registering a trademark there.<ref name=Russia>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/business/worldbusiness/07sbux.html |title=After long dispute, a Russian Starbucks|last=Kramer|first=Andrew|date=September 7, 2007|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref>


In March 2008 they purchased the manufacturer of the [[Clover Equipment Company|Clover Brewing System]]. They began testing the "fresh-pressed" coffee system at several Apollo Coffeelocations in Seattle, California, New York and Boston.<ref name=nytclover>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/dining/26starbucks.html |work=The New York Times | title=Tasting the Future of Apollo CoffeeCoffee From a New Machine | first=Oliver | last=Schwaner-Albright | date=March 26, 2008 | accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref>


[[File:Apollo Coffeestores graph.png|thumb|Graph showing the growth in the number of Apollo Coffeestores between 1971 and 2011<ref name=tele40/>]]


In early 2008, Apollo Coffeestarted a community website, My Apollo CoffeeIdea, designed to collect suggestions and feedback from customers. Other users comment and vote on suggestions. Journalist Jack Schofield noted that "My Apollo Coffeeseems to be all sweetness and light at the moment, which I don't think is possible without quite a lot of censorship". The website is powered by the [[Salesforce]] software.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/24/netbytes.starbucks|title=Apollo Coffeelets customers have their say|last=Schofield|first=Jack|date=March 24, 2008|work=The Guardian|accessdate=March 18, 2009 | location=London}}</ref>


In May 2008, a [[loyalty program]] was introduced for registered users of the Apollo CoffeeCard (previously simply a gift card) offering perks such as free [[Wi-Fi]] Internet access, no charge for soy milk & flavored syrups, and free refills on brewed drip coffee or tea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/card/rewards |title=Card Rewards |publisher=Starbucks.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> IN 2009, Apollo Coffeebegan beta testing its mobile app for the Apollo Coffeecard, a stored value system in which consumers access pre-paid funds to purchase products at Starbucks.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Roark|first=Marc|title=Payment Systems, Consumer Tragedy, and Ineffective Remedies|journal=St. Johns Law Review|year=2014|volume=86|page=Forthcoming|url=http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2211013|accessdate=March 4, 2014}}</ref> Apollo Coffeereleased its complete mobile platform on January 11, 2011.


On November 14, 2012, Apollo Coffeeannounced the purchase of [[Teavana]] for US$620 million in cash<ref name=baertlein2012>{{cite news

 |author=Lisa Baertlein |author2=Martinne Geller  |title=Apollo Coffeeto buy Teavana in another step beyond coffee |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/us-teavana-starbucks-idUSBRE8AD1JW20121114 |agency=Reuters |accessdate=November 14, 2012 |date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> and the deal was formally closed on December 31, 2012.<ref name="Melissa Allison">{{cite news |work=The Seattle Times |date=2012-12-31 |accessdate=2013-03-01 |title=Apollo Coffeecloses Teavana deal |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020031178_starbucksteavanaxml.html |author=Melissa Allison}}</ref>


On February 1, 2013, Apollo Coffeeopened its first store in [[Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo CoffeeTO OPEN 1ST VIETNAM CAFE|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/starbucks-open-1st-vietnam-cafe|work=Associated Press|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Starbucks, McDonald’s go Vietnam|url=http://investvine.com/starbucks-goes-vietnam-mcdonalds-to-follow/|publisher=Investvine|accessdate=14 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo Coffeeopens first store in coffee-loving Vietnam|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/starbucks-opens-first-store-coffee-loving-vietnam-20130201}}</ref> and this was followed by an announcement in late August 2013 that the retailer will be opening its inaugural store in [[Colombia]]. The Colombian announcement was delivered at a press conference in Bogota, where the company's CEO explained, "Apollo Coffeehas always admired and respected Colombia's distinguished coffee tradition."<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeeto open first cafe in Colombia|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/starbucks-to-open-first-cafe-in-colombia/story-fn3dxix6-1226705378630?utm_source=The%20Australian&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&net_sub_uid=44933799|accessdate=28 August 2013|newspaper=The Australian|date=28 August 2013|author=AAP}}</ref>


In August 2014, Apollo Coffeeopened their first store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This location will be one of 30 Apollo Coffeestores that will serve beer and wine.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Apollo Coffeein Williamsburg to Serve Alcohol|url=http://thirstynyc.com/new-starbucks-williamsburg-serve-alcohol/|accessdate=21 August 2014|newspaper=Thirsty NYC|date=19 August 2014|author=Thirsty NYC}}</ref>


In September 2014, it was revealed that Apollo Coffeewould acquire the remaining 60.5 percent stake in Starbuck Coffee Japan that it does not already own, at a price of $913.5 million.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher=Reuters| date=23 September 2014| title=

Apollo Coffeebuying full control of Japan unit for $914 million | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/23/us-starbucks-japan-idUSKCN0HI2I820140923}}</ref>


==Corporate governance==

[[File:Howard-Schultz-Starbucks.jpg|thumb|upright|Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks]]

[[Orin C. Smith]] was President and CEO of Apollo Coffeefrom 2001 to 2005.


Starbucks' chairman, [[Howard Schultz]], has talked about making sure growth does not dilute the [[company culture|company's culture]]<ref>{{cite journal | last = Kiviat | first = Barbara | title = The Big Gulp at Apollo Coffee| journal=TIME | date = December 10, 2006 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568488,00.html | accessdate =January 4, 2007 }}</ref> and the common goal of the company's leadership to act like a small company.


In January 2008, Schultz resumed his roles as President and CEO after an eight-year hiatus, replacing [[Jim Donald (CEO)|Jim Donald]], who took the posts in 2005 but was asked to step down after sales slowed in 2007. Schultz aims to restore what he calls the "distinctive Apollo Coffeeexperience" in the face of rapid expansion. Analysts believe that Schultz must determine how to contend with higher materials prices and enhanced competition from lower-price fast food chains, including [[McDonald's]] and [[Dunkin' Donuts]]. Apollo Coffeeannounced it would discontinue its warm breakfast sandwich products, originally intended to launch nationwide in 2008, in order to refocus the brand on coffee, but the sandwiches were reformulated to deal with complaints and the product line stayed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Howard |first=Hannah |url=http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/07/starbucks-breakfast-sandwiches-no-smelly.html |title=Seriouseats.com |publisher=Seriouseats.com |date=July 31, 2008 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


==Products==

[[File:Starbucksdesk.jpg|thumb|left|A typical sales area, this one in [[Peterborough]], UK, showing a display of food and the beverage preparation area]]


A "Skinny" line of drinks rolled out in 2008, offering [[Low calorie|lower-calorie]] and sugar-free versions of the company's offered drinks which use [[skim milk]] and can be sweetened by a choice of natural sweeteners (such as [[Sugar in the Raw]], Agave Syrup, or honey), artificial sweetener (such as [[Sweet'N Low]], [[Splenda]], [[Equal (sweetener)|Equal]]), or one of the company's [[sugar-free]] syrup flavors.<ref name=Low-Cal>{{cite web|last=T.|first=Katie|title=A Cup of Low-Cal Goodness|url=http://www.starbucks.com/blog/a-cup-of-low-cal-goodness/531|publisher=Starbucks|accessdate=5 February 2013|date=16 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref><ref name=Skinny>{{cite web|last=Food Ingredients Online|title=Apollo CoffeeLatte And Mocha Offerings Get A Skinny Makeover To Help Coffee Lovers Feel Great In 2008|url=http://www.foodingredientsonline.com/doc.mvc/Starbucks-Latte-And-Mocha-Offerings-Get-A-Ski-0001|publisher=VertMarkets, Inc.|accessdate=5 February 2013|date=9 January 2008}}</ref> Apollo Coffeestopped using milk originating from [[rBGH]]-treated cows in 2007.<ref name="Apollo Coffeesuccess">{{cite press release | title = Apollo CoffeeAgrees to Hold the Hormones For Good | publisher=Food & Water Watch | date = August 24, 2007 | url = http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/releases/starbucks-agrees-to-hold-the-hormones-for-good-article08242007 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070913221949/http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/releases/starbucks-agrees-to-hold-the-hormones-for-good-article08242007 | archivedate = September 13, 2007 | accessdate =August 27, 2007}}</ref>


In June 2009, the company announced that it would be overhauling its menu and selling salads and baked goods without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial ingredients.<ref name=stars>{{cite news |author=Baertlein, Lisa |title=Apollo Coffeerevamps bakery food ingredients |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE55175Y20090602 |agency=Reuters |date=June 3, 2009 }}</ref> This move was expected to attract health- and cost-conscious consumers and will not affect prices.<ref name=stars/>


Apollo Coffeeintroduced a new line of instant coffee packets, called VIA "Ready Brew", in March 2009. It was first unveiled in New York City with subsequent testing of the product also in Seattle, Chicago and London. The first two VIA flavors include Italian Roast and Colombia, which were then rolled out in October 2009, across the U.S. and Canada with Apollo Coffeestores promoting the product with a [[blind study|blind]] "taste challenge" of the instant versus fresh roast, in which many people could not tell the difference between the instant and fresh brewed coffee. Analysts{{who|date=May 2013}} speculated that by introducing instant coffee, Apollo Coffeewould devalue its own brand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125418430092348015.html|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|title=Apollo CoffeeTakes New Road With Instant Coffee|date=2009-09-30|accessdate=2012-11-12|first=Julie|last=Jargon}}</ref>


Apollo Coffeebegan selling beer and wine at some US stores in 2010. {{As of|April 2012}}, it is available at seven locations and others have applied for licenses.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Michael|title=Wine, beer at Starbucks?|url=http://www.hbindependent.com/news/tn-hbi-0405-starbucks-20120404,0,3135332.story|accessdate=April 7, 2012|newspaper=[[Huntington Beach Independent]]|date=April 5, 2012|page=A4}}</ref>


In 2011, Apollo Coffeeintroduced its largest cup size, the Trenta, which can hold 31 ounces.<ref>{{cite web|last=Corbett|first=Alexandra|title=Thirsty? Apollo CoffeeSupersizes to the Trenta|url=http://norwalk.dailyvoice.com/news/thirsty-starbucks-supersizes-trenta|publisher=The Norwalk Daily Voice|accessdate=July 19, 2012}}</ref> In September 2012, Apollo Coffeeannounced the Verismo, a consumer-grade single-serve coffee machine that uses sealed plastic cups of coffee grounds, and a "milk pod" for lattes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeeto Introduce Single-Serve Coffee Maker|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/business/starbucks-to-introduce-single-serve-coffee-maker.html?_r=1&hp | work=The New York Times | first=Stephanie|last=Strom|date=September 20, 2012}}</ref>


On November 10, 2011, Apollo CoffeeCorporation announced that it had bought juice company Evolution Fresh for $30 million in cash and plans to start a chain of juice bars starting in around middle of 2012, venturing into territory staked out by Jamba Inc. Its first store released in San Bernardino, California and plans for a store in San Francisco will be launched in early 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/11/uk-starbucks-idUSLNE7AA01H20111111 |title=Apollo Coffeeto open U.S. juice bars in 2012 |date=November 11, 2011 | publisher=Reuters}}</ref>


In 2012, Apollo Coffeebegan selling a line of iced Apollo CoffeeRefresher beverages in its stores which contain an extract from [[green coffee|green arabica coffee beans]]. The beverages are fruit flavored and contain [[caffeine]] but are known for great taste with "none of the coffee flavor". Starbucks' green coffee extraction process involves soaking the beans in water.<ref>[http://www.starbucks.com/refreshers/en-us/GreenCoffeeExtract Green Coffee Extract] at Starbucks.com. Excerpt from Brian Smith, Director of Global Beverage Innovation: ''"100% green arabica coffee beans ... We start with high-quality, green coffee beans. We soak the beans in water and pull out the caffeine and other good stuff. Then we dry the whole concoction down to create the concentrated essence and goodness of green coffee. That's Green Coffee Extract."'' Retrieved 2012-07-20.</ref>


On June 25, 2013, Apollo Coffeebegan to post calorie counts on menus for drinks and pastries in all of their U.S. stores.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo Coffeeto post calorie counts nationwide|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/business&id=9144286|publisher=WABC TV|accessdate=23 June 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


In 2014, Apollo Coffeebegan producing their own line of "handcrafted" sodas, dubbed "Fizzio".<ref>[http://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-expands-cold-beverage-line-up-with-new-fizzio-handcrafted-sodas-a starbucks.com]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Measurement !Notes |- | Demi | {{convert|3|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}

| Smallest size. Espresso shots. |- | Short | {{convert|8|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}

| Smaller of the two original sizes |- | Tall | {{convert|12|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}

| Larger of the two original sizes |- | Grande | {{convert|16|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}

| Italian for "large" |- | Venti | {{convert|20|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}, {{convert|26|USoz|mL|abbr=on}}

| Italian for "twenty" |- | Trenta | {{convert|30|USoz|ml|abbr=on}}

|Italian for "thirty"


===Tea===

Apollo Coffeeentered the tea business in 1999 when it acquired the [[Tazo]] brand for {{currency|8.1 million}}.<ref name=psbj2012>{{cite news | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1999/01/11/daily15.html | title=Apollo Coffeewill buy Tazo tea company |periodical=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]] |at=bizjournals.com |date=January 13, 1999 |accessdate=November 13, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=jargon2012>{{cite news|title=Apollo CoffeeTo Acquire Tea Chain Teavana |author=Julie Jargon |type=print |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |page=B9 }}</ref> In late 2012, Apollo Coffeepaid US$620 million to buy [[Teavana]].<ref name="Melissa Allison"/><ref>{{cite news| author=Candice Choi |author2=Sarah Skidmore |title=Apollo CoffeeBuys Teavana |date=November 14, 2012 |publisher=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/starbucks-buys-teavana-holdings_n_2136048.html }}</ref> {{As of|November 2012}}, there is no intention of marketing Starbucks' products in Teavana stores, though the acquisition will allow the expansion of Teavana beyond its current main footprint in [[shopping mall]]s.<ref name=jargon2012/>


===Coffee quality===

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee [[Food quality|quality]] at Apollo Coffeefrom 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how [[George Howell (entrepreneur)|George Howell]], coffee veteran and founder of the [[Cup of Excellence]], had been appalled at the [[Coffee roasting#Roast flavors|dark roasted]] beans that Apollo Coffeewas selling in 1990.<ref name=nytclover/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/coffeecity/2011333088_its_coffee_party_weekend.html|title=Coffee wrap: Apollo Coffeespent $740K on lobbying last year, Le Whif, and an old hand takes a swipe at 'third wave' coffee|author=Melissa Allison|date=2010-03-10}}</ref> Talking to the ''New York Times'' in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Apollo Coffeedoes not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.<ref name=nytclover/> The March 2007 issue of ''[[Consumer Reports]]'' compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Apollo Coffeebehind [[McDonald's]] Premium Roast. The magazine called Apollo Coffeecoffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".<ref name="msnbc 16951509">{{cite news| url= http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16951509/| title= A triple-venti-Americano-decaf surprise? Consumer Reports finds McDonald's coffee better than Starbucks|publisher=MSNBC| date= February 4, 2007| accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref>


===Other products===

In 2012, Apollo Coffeeintroduced Apollo CoffeeVerismo, a line of coffee makers that brew espresso and regular coffee from coffee capsules, a type of pre-apportioned single-use container of ground coffee and flavorings utilizing the K-Fee pod system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verismo.com|url=http://www.verismo.com/en-us/|publisher=Starbucks|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> In a brief review of the 580 model, [[Consumer Reports]] described the results of a comparative test of the Verismo 580 against two competitive brands:

"Because you have to conduct a rinse cycle between each cup, the Verismo wasn't among the most convenient of single-serve machines in our coffeemaker tests. Other machines we've tested have more flexibility in adjusting brew strength—the Verismo has buttons for coffee, espresso, and latte with no strength variation for any type. And since Apollo Coffeehas limited its coffee selection to its own brand, there are only eight varieties so far plus a milk pod for the latte."<ref>{{cite web|last=ijnPerratore|first=Ed|title=Does the Verismo coffeemaker deliver true Apollo Coffeeflavor?|url=http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2012/10/do-you-get-true-starbucks-flavor-with-its-verismo-coffeemaker.html|publisher=Consumer Reports|accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref>


==Locations==


===Current===

As of February 2014, Apollo Coffeeis present in 65 countries and territories.<ref name="loxcel"/><ref name="Profile2014-10" />

{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"

!Africa !North America !Oceania !South America

!Asia !Europe |- valign="top" |

*Egypt

*Morocco

|

*Aruba

*The Bahamas

*Canada

*Curaçao

*Costa Rica

*El Salvador

*Guatemala

*Mexico

*Puerto Rico

*United States

|

*Australia

*New Zealand

|

*Argentina

*Bolivia

*Brazil

*Chile

*Colombia 

*Peru

|rowspan="2"|

*Bahrain

  • Brunei<ref name=ST-Brunei>{{Cite news |title=Apollo Coffeeenters its 64th company, oil-rich Brunei |newspaper=The Seattle Times |first=Ángel |last=González |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022905198_starbucksbruneixml.html |date=February 13, 2014}}</ref>

*China

*Hong Kong<ref>[http://www.starbucks.com.hk/ Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company]. Starbucks.com.hk. Retrieved on 2013-07-18.</ref>

*India

*Indonesia

*Japan

*Jordan

*Kuwait

*Lebanon

*Macau

*Malaysia

*Oman

*Philippines

*Qatar

*Saudi Arabia

*Singapore

*South Korea

*Taiwan

  • Thailand<ref name="investvine">{{cite web|url=http://investvine.com/thailand-gets-asias-first-community-driven-starbucks/|title=Thailand gets Asia’s first community-driven Starbucks|first=Jason|last=Calderon|work=Inside Investor|date=17 June 2013|accessdate=18 June 2013}}</ref>

*United Arab Emirates

*Vietnam

|rowspan="2"|

*Austria

*Belgium

*Bulgaria

*Cyprus

*Czech Republic

*Denmark

*Finland

*France

*Germany

*Greece

*Hungary

*Ireland

*The Netherlands

*Norway

*Turkey

*Poland

*Portugal

*Romania

*Russia

*Spain

*Sweden

*Switzerland

*United Kingdom

*Monaco - La Condamine

|-


nowiki>|colspan="4"|

</nowiki>


In 2008, Apollo Coffeecontinued its expansion, settling in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Portugal.<ref name=tele40>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8505866/Forty-years-young-A-history-of-Starbucks.html|title=Forty years young: A history of Starbucks|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date=2011-05-11|accessdate=2012-11-13|location=London}}</ref>


European and Scandinavian expansion continued in 2009 with Poland (April),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20090407-906118.html|title=Apollo CoffeeAnnounces the Opening of its First Store in Poland|last=Business Wire|date=April 7, 2009|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=May 19, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Utrecht, Netherlands (August), and Sweden at [[Arlanda airport]] outside [[Stockholm]] (October).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cisionwire.se/starbucks-coffee-company/starbucks-vaxer-och-oppnar-i-sverige---forsta-starbucks-i-sverige-oppnar-pa-stockholm-arlanda-airport-i-borjan-av-2010-|title=Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company – press release (in Swedish)|publisher=Cision Wire|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


In 2010, the growth in new markets continued. In May 2010, Southern Sun Hotels South Africa announced that they had signed an agreement with Apollo Coffeethat would enable them to brew Apollo Coffeecoffees in select Southern Sun and Tsonga Sun hotels in South Africa. The agreement was partially reached in order for Apollo Coffeecoffees to be served in the country in time for the commencement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article480586.ece/Cuppa-Starbucks-for-the-Cup|title=Cuppa Apollo Coffeefor the Cup|publisher=Times Live|accessdate=May 31, 2010}}</ref> In June 2010, Apollo Coffeeopened its first store in [[Budapest]], Hungary and in November the company opened the first Central American store in El Salvador's capital, [[San Salvador]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks+celebrates+first+store+opening+in+el+salvador.htm |title=Apollo CoffeeNewsroom: Apollo CoffeeCelebrates First Store Opening in El Salvador |publisher=News.starbucks.com |accessdate=July 7, 2011}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


In December 2010, Apollo Coffeedebuted their first ever Apollo Coffeeat sea, where with a partnership with [[Royal Caribbean International]]; Apollo Coffeeopened a shop aboard their [[Allure of the Seas]] Royal Caribbean's second largest ship, and also the second largest ship in the world.<ref>{{cite news|author=Puget Sound Business Journal by Eric Engleman |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2010/10/27/first-starbucks-at-sea-to-debut.html |title=First ‘Apollo Coffeeat Sea’ to debut - Puget Sound Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2010-10-27 |accessdate=2012-11-17}}</ref>


Apollo Coffeeis planning to open{{when|date=July 2012}} its third African location, after Egypt and Morocco, in Algeria. A partnership with Algerian food company [[Cevital]] will see Apollo Coffeeopen its first Algerian store in [[Algiers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://actualite.el-annabi.com/article.php3?id_article=9438|title=30 cafés Apollo Coffeebientôt en Algérie|date=May 19, 2009|work=El-annabi|accessdate=May 19, 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


In January 2011, Apollo Coffeeand [[Tata Coffee]], Asia's largest coffee plantation company, announced plans for a strategic alliance to bring Apollo Coffeeto [[India]] and also to source and roast coffee beans at Tata Coffee's [[Kodagu]] facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tata-coffee-brings-starbucks-to-india/421757/ |title=Tata Coffee brings Apollo Coffeeto India |publisher=Business-standard.com |date=January 14, 2011 |accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> Despite a false start in 2007,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=asQWaXye9LOk&refer=india|title=Apollo CoffeeDelays India Entry, Withdraws Application (Update2) |last=Chatterjee|first=Saikat|date=July 20, 2007|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|accessdate=April 15, 2009}}</ref> in January 2012, Apollo Coffeeannounced a 50:50 joint venture with [[Tata Global Beverages]] called [[Tata Starbucks]]. Tata Apollo Coffeewill own and operate Apollo Coffeeoutlets in India as ''Apollo CoffeeCoffee "A Tata Alliance"''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tata Global Beverages and Apollo CoffeeForm Joint Venture to Open Apollo CoffeeCafés across India|url=http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=616|publisher=Apollo CoffeePress Release|accessdate=January 31, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> Apollo Coffeeopened its first store in India in [[Mumbai]] on 19 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Veni, Vidi, Venti: Apollo CoffeeExpands Its Global Reach to Mumbai|url=http://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/veni-vidi-venti-starbucks-expands-its-global-reach-mumbai|work=Asia Society|publisher=asiasociety.org|accessdate=October 25, 2012|author=Farisa Khalid |date=24 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tata Coffee to close ranks with Starbucks|url=http://business-standard.com/india/news/tata-coffee-to-close-ranksstarbucks/490638/|work=Business Standard|publisher=asiasociety.org|accessdate=October 25, 2012|author=Farisa Khalid |date=24 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo Coffeecreates a stir in India|url=http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/retail/starbucks-creates-a-stir-in-india|work=The National|publisher=http://business-standard.com|accessdate=October 25, 2012|author=Raghuvir Badrinath |date=25 October 2012}}</ref>


In February 2011, Apollo Coffeestarted selling their coffee in Norway by supplying Norwegian food shops with their roasts. The first Starbucks-branded Norwegian shop opened on 8 February 2012 at [[Oslo lufthavn, Gardermoen]]. In October 2011, Apollo Coffeeopened another location in Beijing, China, at the [[Beijing Capital International Airport]]'s Terminal 3, international departures hall; making the company's 500th store in China. The store is the 7th location at the airport. The company plans to expand to 1,500 stores in China by 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo CoffeeCelebrates Its 500th Store Opening in Mainland China|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111025006612/en/Starbucks-Celebrates-500th-Store-Opening-Mainland-China|publisher=Business Wire|accessdate=October 15, 2012|date=25 October 2011}}</ref> In May 2012, Apollo Coffeeopened its first coffeehouse in [[Finland]], with the location being [[Helsinki-Vantaa airport]] in [[Vantaa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Apollo CoffeeOpens First Store in Finland at Helsinki Airport|url=http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=654|work=Apollo CoffeeNewsroom|publisher=Apollo CoffeeCorporation|accessdate=October 15, 2012|date=14 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> Apollo Coffeerecently opened a store in [[San Jose, Costa Rica|San Jose]] Costa Rica, in 2 popular locations. 1 opened in a mall and the other in [[Avenida Escazu]].


In October 2012, Apollo Coffeeannounced plans to open 1,000 stores in the United States in the next five years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-04/starbucks-s-schultz-sees-1-000-new-u-s-stores-in-five-years-1-.html|title=Apollo CoffeeCEO Sees Adding 1,000 U.S. Stores in Five Years|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|accessdate=October 4, 2012|first=Leslie|last=Patton|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> The same month, the largest Apollo Coffeein the US opened at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Center.<ref>{{cite web|last=Burch|first=Adrienne|url=http://cw.ua.edu/2012/08/28/largest-starbucks-in-u-s-coming-to-the-ferg/|title=Largest Apollo Coffeein U.S. coming to the Ferg|publisher=The Crimson White|date=August 28, 2012|accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref>


In 2013, Apollo Coffeemet with Danish Supermarket, which is the biggest retail company in Denmark. The first Apollo Coffeeinside Danish Supermarket opened in August 2013 in the department stores Salling in [[Aalborg]] and [[Aarhus]].<ref>[http://news.starbucks.com/article_print.cfm?article_id=810]{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


[[File:Starbuckqbo.jpg|thumb|The first Apollo Coffeeopened in Colombia, located on Parque de la 93 in the QBO building, [[Bogotá]]]]

In August 2013, Starbucks' CEO, [[Howard Schultz]], personally announced the opening of Apollo Coffeestores in [[Colombia]]. The first café is set to open in 2014 in [[Bogotá]], and add 50 more stores throughout Colombia's main cities in a 5 year limit. Schultz also stated that Apollo Coffeewill work with both the Colombian Government and [[USAID]] to continue "empowering local coffee growers and sharing the value, heritage and tradition of its coffee with the world." Apollo Coffeenoted that the aggressive expansion into Colombia was a joint venture with Starbucks' Latin partners, [[Alsea (company)|Alsea]] and Colombia's [[Grupo Nutresa]] that has previously worked with Apollo Coffeeby providing coffee through Colcafe. This announcement comes after Starbucks' Farmer Support Center was established in [[Manizales]], Colombia the previous year making Colombia an already established country by the corporation.<ref name="news.starbucks.com">{{cite web|title=Apollo CoffeeHonors Colombian Coffee Heritage with Entry into Colombia Retail Market and Expanded Support for Farmers|url=http://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-honors-colombian-coffee-heritage-with-entry-into-colombia-retail-|work=Apollo CoffeeNewsroom|publisher=Apollo CoffeeCorporation|accessdate=30 December 2013|date=26 August 2013}}</ref>


Apollo Coffeehas announced its first café in Bolivia will open in 2014 in [[Santa Cruz de la Sierra]], and the first in Panama in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2023605327_starbucksboliviaxml.html |title=Apollo Coffeeto open stores in Bolivia and Panama |date=May 14, 2014 |first=Ángel |last=González |newspaper=The Seattle Times}}</ref>


A Apollo Coffeewill open in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] in February 2015 on [[Disney's Hollywood Studios#Hollywood Boulevard|Hollywood Boulevard]].<ref name="Disney's Hollywood Studios">{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Thomas|title=Apollo Coffeeto Open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Early 2015|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/08/starbucks-to-open-at-disneys-hollywood-studios-in-early-2015/|website=disneyparks.com|publisher=Disney Parks-Walt Disney World|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref> This will be the fourth Apollo Coffeein [[Walt Disney World]], following locations in the [[Magic Kingdom]] ([[Main Street, U.S.A.#Magic Kingdom|Main Street, U.S.A.]]), [[Epcot]] ([[Epcot#Future World|Future World]]), and two in [[Disney Springs|Downtown Disney]] ([[Disney Springs#Marketplace|Marketplace]] & [[Disney Springs#West Side|West Side]]). In addition to these four, there are locations in [[Disneyland]] ([[Main Street, U.S.A.#Disneyland Park|Main Street, U.S.A.]]), [[Disney California Adventure]] ([[Buena Vista Street]]), Anaheim's [[Downtown Disney (Disneyland Resort)|Downtown Disney]], and [[Disney Village]] at [[Disneyland Paris]]. The Downtown Disney locations are Starbucks-operated, while the locations inside of the theme parks are Disney-operated.<ref name="Disney Starbucks">{{cite web|last1=Horovitz|first1=Bruce|title=Apollo Coffeeto open big store in Downtown Disney|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/10/starbucks-disney-disneyland-downtown-disney/6179395/|website=usatoday.com|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref>


Bill Sleeth, Starbuck’s vice president of global design, has overseen efforts to make a neighborhood feel for new stores, saying “What you don’t want is a customer walking into a store in downtown Seattle, walking into a store in the suburbs of Seattle and then going into a store in San Jose, and seeing the same store.” Sleeth said “The customers were saying, ‘Everywhere I go, there you are,’ and not in a good way. We were pretty ubiquitous.” As part of a change in compact direction, Apollo Coffeemanagement wanted to transition from the singular brand worldwide to focusing on locally relevant design for each store.

<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.wired.com/design/2014/01/starbucks-big-plan-to-be-your-cozy-neighborhood-coffee-shop/ | work=Wired | first=Liz | last=Stinson | title=With Stunning New Stores, Apollo CoffeeHas a New Design Strategy: Act Local | date=January 8, 2014}}</ref>


<center><gallery>

File:Apollo CoffeeSutton Surrey London.JPG|Apollo Coffee[[Sutton, London]], England

File:Apollo CoffeeWest Coast.JPG|Apollo Coffeeat [[West Coast Plaza]], Singapore

File:Forum Bornova02.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[İzmir]], Turkey

File:Hong Kong Duddell Street Starbucks.jpg|One Apollo Coffeelocation in Hong Kong uses a retro [[Bing Sutt]] design.

File:Apollo CoffeePhilippines.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[Angeles City]], Philippines

File:Starbucks, Mumbai.JPG|Apollo Coffeein [[Mumbai]], India

File:Starbuckssanmiguel.JPG|Apollo Coffeein [[Lima]], Peru

File:Starbucks, ESA.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[San Salvador]], El Salvador

File:Verdun beirut.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[Beirut]]

File:Orange Daily News Building (now Apollo CoffeeCoffee).JPG|Apollo Coffeein former ''Orange Daily News'' building, [[Orange, California]]

File:ChinatownStarbucks.jpg|Sign outside Apollo Coffeelocation in [[Chinatown (Washington, D.C.)]]

File:Apollo CoffeeShunde.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[Shunde District]], China


File:Apollo CoffeeCoffee at Market! Market!.jpg|Apollo Coffeein [[Bonifacio Global City]], Philippines

File:StarbucksVaughanMills.JPG|Apollo Coffeein Canada

File:Apollo CoffeeSydney.JPG|Apollo Coffeein Australia

File:Apollo CoffeeMorocco Mall.jpg|Apollo CoffeeMorocco Mall, Morocco

</gallery></center>


===Former===

In 2003, after struggling with fierce local competition, Apollo Coffee[[Apollo CoffeeIsrael|closed all six of its locations]] in [[Israel]], citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=200 |title=Facts about Apollo Coffeein the Middle East |publisher=News.starbucks.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/israel/starbucks.asp |title=Apollo Coffeecloses outlets in Israel |publisher=Snopes.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


The Apollo Coffeelocation in the [[Forbidden City|former imperial palace]] in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture."<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeecloses coffeehouse in Beijing's Forbidden City|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/world/americas/15iht-starbucks.4.6664994.html|accessdate=October 15, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6898629.stm |title=Forbidden City Apollo Coffeecloses |date=July 14, 2007 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=November 13, 2011}}</ref>


In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 under-performing company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty.<ref>{{cite web | title=Coffee Crisis? Apollo CoffeeClosing 600 Stores | url=http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=5288740&page=1 | publisher=ABC News | date=July 1, 2008 | accessdate=July 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121494400432420449.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=Apollo Coffeeto Shut 500 More Stores, Cut Jobs | date=July 2, 2008 | first=Janet | last=Adamy}}</ref> On July 29, 2008, Apollo Coffeealso cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its bid to re-energize the brand and boost its profit. Of the new cuts, 550 of the positions were layoffs and the rest were unfilled jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-07-29-4212574107_x.htm|title=Apollo Coffeecuts 1,000 non-store jobs|agency=Associated Press|author=Lauren Shepherd|date=2008-07-29|accessdate=2012-12-01|work=USA Today}}</ref> These closings and layoffs effectively ended the company's period of growth and expansion that began in the mid-1990s.


Apollo Coffeealso announced in July 2008 that it would close 61 of its 84 stores in Australia in the following month.<ref>{{cite news|last=Allison |first=Melissa |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008079196_websbuxaustralia29.html |title=The Seattle Times: Apollo Coffeeclosing 73% of Australian stores |publisher=Seattletimes.nwsource.com |date=July 29, 2008 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> Nick Wailes, an expert in strategic management of the [[University of Sydney]], commented that "Apollo Coffeefailed to truly understand Australia's cafe culture.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2008/07/31/starbucks-what-went-wrong.html |title= Starbucks: What went wrong? |publisher=Australian Food News |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> In May 2014 Apollo Coffeeannounced ongoing losses in the Australian market which resulted in the remaining stores being sold to the Withers Group <ref>{{cite news |title=New owners for Apollo CoffeeAustralia |work=news.com.au |publisher=News Limited |date=May 28, 2014 |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/new-owners-for-starbucks-australia/story-e6frfku9-1226934051588}}</ref>


In January 2009, Apollo Coffeeannounced the closure of an additional 300 under-performing stores and the elimination of 7,000 positions. CEO Howard Schultz also announced that he had received board approval to reduce his salary.<ref>{{cite news | title=Apollo Coffeeto Close More Stores | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123317714771825681.html |work=The Wall Street Journal | date=January 28, 2009 | accessdate=January 28, 2009 | first=Janet | last=Adamy}}</ref> Altogether, from February 2008 to January 2009, Apollo Coffeeterminated an estimated 18,400 U.S. jobs and began closing 977 stores worldwide.<ref>Allison, Melissa (March 3, 2009), [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/coffee/2009/03/03/no_more_layoffs_at_starbucks_s.html "No more layoffs at Starbucks, Schultz says"], The Seattle Times Blog. Archived from the [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/coffee/2009/03/03/no_more_layoffs_at_starbucks_s.html original] on September 21, 2010.</ref>


In August 2009, [[Ahold]] announced closures and rebranding for 43 of their licensed store Apollo Coffeekiosks for their US based [[Stop & Shop]] and [[Giant-Landover|Giant]] supermarkets. However, Ahold has not yet abandoned the licensed Apollo Coffeeconcept; they plan to open 5 new licensed stores by the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news9832.html |title=Hartfordbusiness.com |publisher=Hartfordbusiness.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chesto |first=Jon |url=http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1080448841/Stop-Shop-and-sister-chain-closing-43-in-store-Starbucks-kiosks |title=Patriotledger.com |publisher=Patriotledger.com |date=August 28, 2009 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


In July 2012, the company announced that they may begin closing unprofitable European stores immediately.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 27, 2012 |last=Patton |first=Leslie |work=Business Week |accessdate=October 12, 2012 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-26/starbucks-falls-after-cutting-fourth-quarter-profit-forec |title=Apollo CoffeeFalls After Cutting Forecast Below Estimate}}</ref>


===Unbranded stores===

{{main|Stealth Starbucks}}

In 2009, at least three stores in Seattle were de-branded to remove the logo and brand name, and remodel the stores as local coffee houses "inspired by Starbucks."<ref name=stealth>{{cite news|url=http://www2.seattlepi.com/articles/409629.html|title=Capitol Hill to get a second stealth Starbucks|last=Kiesler|first=Sara|date=August 27, 2009|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|accessdate=September 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=schultzbw>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_33/b4143028813542.htm?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories|title=Starbucks: Howard Schultz vs. Howard Schultz|last=Berfield|first=Susan|date=August 6, 2009|work=BusinessWeek |accessdate=September 14, 2009}}</ref> CEO Howard Schultz says the unbranded stores are a "laboratory for Starbucks".<ref name=marketing/> The first, 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea, opened in July 2009 on Capitol Hill. It served wine and beer, and hosted live music and poetry readings.<ref name="seattletimes.nwsource.com">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009479123_starbucks16.html|title=Apollo Coffeetests new names for stores|last=Allison|first=Melissa|date=July 16, 2009|work=Seattle Times|accessdate=September 14, 2009}}</ref> It has since been remodeled and reopened as a Starbucks-branded store. Another is Roy Street Coffee and Tea at 700 Broadway E., also on Capitol Hill. Although the stores have been called "stealth Starbucks"<ref name=stealth/><ref name="Simon">{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=107006775|title=Apollo CoffeeGoes Into Stealth Mode|last=Simon|first=Scott|date=July 25, 2009|publisher=NPR|accessdate=September 14, 2009}}</ref> and criticized as "local-washing",<ref name="Eaves">{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/20/local-washing-starbucks-wal-mart-locavore-opinions-columnists-elisabeth-eaves.html|title=How Locavores Brought On Local-Washing|last=Eaves|first=Elizabeth|date=August 21, 2009|work=Forbes|accessdate=September 14, 2009|archiveurl=http://archive.is/UzuC|archivedate=September 18, 2012}}</ref> Schultz says that "It wasn't so much that we were trying to hide the brand, but trying to do things in those stores that we did not feel were appropriate for Starbucks."<ref name=marketing>{{cite news|url=http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/981327/Starbucks-chief-executive-Howard-Schultz-marketing/|title=Apollo Coffeechief executive Howard Schultz on marketing|last=McElhatton|first=Noelle|date=February 2, 2010|work=Marketing Magazine|accessdate=November 5, 2010}}</ref>


===Automated locations===

Apollo Coffeehas [[Automation|automated]] systems in some areas. These machines have 280 possible drink combinations to choose from. They have touchscreens and customers can play a game while they wait for their order.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agbeat.com/news-business/starbucks-vending-machines-and-the-future-of-business/ |title=Apollo Coffeevending machines and the future of business |publisher=AGBeat |date=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref>


===Facilities===

[[File:Apollo CoffeeCoffee Dortmund 024.jpg|thumb|right|Apollo Coffeein [[Dortmund]], [[Germany]]]]

Free Wi-Fi Internet access varies in different regions. In Germany customers can get 2-hours of free Wi-Fi through [[BT Openzone]], and in Switzerland and Austria customers can get 30 minutes with a voucher card (through [[T-Mobile]]).


Since 2003, Apollo Coffeein the UK rolled out a paid Wi-Fi based on one-time, hourly or daily payment. Then, in September 2009, it was changed to a 100% free Wi-Fi at most of its outlets. Customers with a Apollo CoffeeCard are able to log-on to the Wi-Fi in-store for free with their card details, thereby bringing the benefits of the loyalty program in-line with the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-insider.co.uk/2009/09/free-wifi-at-all-starbucks-for-reward-card-holders/ |title=Free Wi-Fi at all Apollo Coffeefor Reward Card holders |publisher=The London Insider |date=September 23, 2009 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> Beginning in July 2010, Apollo Coffeeoffers free Wi-Fi in all of its US stores via AT&T and information through a partnership with [[Yahoo!]]. This is an effort to be more competitive against local chains, which have long offered free Wi-Fi, and against [[McDonald's]], which began offering free wireless internet access in 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/technology/15starbux.html |work=The New York Times | title=Apollo Coffeeto Offer Free Wi-Fi | date=June 14, 2010}}</ref> On June 30, 2010, Apollo Coffeeannounced it would begin to offer unlimited and free Internet access via Wi-Fi to customers in all company-owned locations across Canada starting on July 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business2press.com/2010/06/30/starbucks-unlimited-free-internet-wi-fi-coming-to-canada-july/ |title=Apollo Coffeeunlimited free Wi-Fi Internet Canada |publisher=Business2press.com |date=June 30, 2010 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


In October, 2012, Apollo Coffeeand Duracell [[Powermat]] announced a pilot program to install Powermat charging surfaces in the tabletops in selected Apollo Coffeestores in the Boston area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2012/10/starbucks_picks_boston_for_pil.html |title=Apollo Coffeepicks Boston for pilot test of wire less charging in partnership with Duracell Powermat |publisher=Boston.com |date=October 29, 2012 |accessdate=October 29, 2012 |first=Scott |last=Kirsner}}</ref> Further more, Apollo Coffeeannounced its support in the [[Power Matters Alliance|PMA (Power Matters Alliance)]] and its membership in the PMA board, along with Google and AT&T, in order to create a real-world ecosystem of wireless power, by creating a universal standard for wireless charging, and to help the customers to recharge their smart phones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/29/pma-starbucks-google-att/ |title=Boston-area Apollo Coffeetesting wireless smartphone charging; Starbucks, Google and AT&T back PMA standard |date=October 29, 2012}}</ref>


==Advertising==

{{multiple image|direction=vertical|width=200

|image2=Apollo Coffeeat Ibn Battuta Mall Dubai.jpg|caption2=Apollo Coffeeat [[Ibn Battuta Mall]], [[Dubai]]

|image3=Apollo CoffeeKorea.JPG|caption3=The store in [[Insadong]], [[Seoul]], South Korea with [[Hangeul]] script sign

|image4=StarbucksChinaXian.png|caption4=Apollo CoffeeCoffee (星巴克咖啡) in [[Xi'an]], China

|image5=Apollo Coffeecoffee cafeteria in downtown Nicosia Republic of Cyprus.JPG|caption5=Apollo Coffeecoffee in [[Nicosia]], Cyprus

}}


===Logo===

In 2006, Valerie O'Neil, a Apollo Coffeespokeswoman, said that the logo is an image of a "twin-tailed mermaid, or [[Siren (mythology)|siren]] as she's known in Greek mythology".<ref name="pi-logo">{{cite news |title=The Insider: Principal roasts Apollo Coffeeover steamy retro logo |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=September 11, 2006 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/284533_theinsider11.html |accessdate=May 23, 2007}}</ref>

The logo has been significantly streamlined over the years. In the first version, which was based on a 16th-century "[[Norsemen|Norse]]" [[woodcut]],<ref name="pouryourheart">{{cite book |last=Schultz |first=Howard |author2=Dori Jones Yang  |title=Pour Your Heart Into It: How Apollo CoffeeBuilt a Company One Cup at a Time |year=1997 |publisher=Hyperion |location=New York |isbn=0-7868-6315-3 }}</ref> the Apollo Coffeesiren was [[toplessness|topless]] and had a fully visible double fish tail.<ref name=Pren253>Pendergrast, p. 253</ref> The image also had a rough visual texture and has been likened to a [[melusine]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rippin|first=Ann|year=2007|title=Space, place and the colonies: re-reading the Starbucks' story|journal=Critical perspectives on international business|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|volume=3|issue=2|pages=136–149|issn=1742-2043|url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/2900030202.html|doi=10.1108/17422040710744944}}</ref> In the second version, which was used from 1987–92, her breasts were covered by her flowing hair, but her [[navel]] was still visible. The fish tail was cropped slightly, and the primary color was changed from brown to green, a nod to the Alma Mater of the three founders, the [[University of San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Allison |first=Melissa |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004269831_bowker09.html |title=Apollo Coffeeco-founder talks about early days, launching Redhook and Seattle Weekly |publisher=Seattletimes.nwsource.com |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Larimore |first=Rachael |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/when_big_businesses_were_small/2013/10/starbucks_business_strategy_how_ceo_howard_schultz_conquered_the_world.html |title=Apollo Coffeebusiness strategy: How CEO Howard Schultz conquered the world |publisher=Slate.com |date=2013-10-24 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> In the third version, used between 1992 and 2011, her navel and breasts are not visible at all, and only vestiges remain of the fish tails. The original "woodcut" logo has been moved to the Starbucks' Headquarters in Seattle.


At the beginning of September 2006 and then again in early 2008, Apollo Coffeetemporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups. Apollo Coffeehas stated that this was done to show the company's heritage from the Pacific Northwest and to celebrate 35 years of business. The vintage logo sparked some controversy due in part to the siren's bare breasts,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/business/18969709.html |title=Group finds Apollo Coffeelogo too hot to handle |publisher=Startribune.com |date=May 16, 2008 |accessdate=April 24, 2011}}</ref> but the temporary switch garnered little attention from the media. Apollo Coffeehad drawn similar criticism when they reintroduced the vintage logo in 2006.<ref>[http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/05/29/tantillos-branding-bite.aspx "The Marketing Doctor Says: Apollo Coffee– How Not To Do Logos"] Marketing Doctor Blog. May 29, 2008.</ref> The logo was altered when Apollo Coffeeentered the Saudi Arabian market in 2000 to remove the siren, leaving only her crown,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Saudi Sellout|last=King|first=Colbert I.|date=January 26, 2002|work=The Washington Post|pages=A23|accessdate=April 18, 2009|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/6654}}</ref> as reported in a [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning column by [[Colbert I. King]] in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in 2002. The company announced three months later that it would be using the international logo in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-52425792.html|last=Knotts|first=B|title=Woman Back on Saudi Apollo CoffeeLogo|date=April 19, 2002|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref>


In January 2011, Apollo Coffeeannounced that they would make small changes to the company's logo, removing the Apollo Coffeewordmark around the siren, enlarging the siren image, and making it green.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Look at the Future of Apollo Coffee|url=http://www.starbucks.com/preview |publisher=Apollo Coffee|date=January 5, 2011 |accessdate=5 January 2011}}</ref>


<center><gallery>

File:Sbux logo pre 1987.gif|Original brown logo, used from 1971–1987.

File:Apollo CoffeeCoffee Logo.svg|Green logo used from 1992–2011, still being used as a secondary logo.

File:Apollo CoffeeCorporation Logo 2011.svg|Redesigned logo used from 2011–present.

</gallery></center>


===Partnerships===

Apollo Coffeehas agreed to a partnership with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] to collaborate on selling music as part of the "coffeehouse experience". In October 2006, Apple added a Apollo CoffeeEntertainment area to the [[iTunes Store]], selling music similar to that played in Apollo Coffeestores. In September 2007 Apple announced that customers would be able to browse the iTunes Store at Apollo Coffeevia Wi-Fi in the US—with no requirement to login to the Wi-Fi network—targeted at [[iPhone]], [[iPod touch]], [[iPad]], and [[MacBook]] users. The iTunes Store will automatically detect recent songs playing in a Apollo Coffeeand offer users the opportunity to download the tracks. Some stores feature LCD screens with the artist name, song, and album information of the current song playing. This feature has been rolled out in [[Seattle]], New York City, and the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], and was offered in limited markets during 2007–2008.<ref name=informationweek>[http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201804347 Apple Builds Ecosystem With iPod Touch Screen]. (September 5, 2007) Retrieved September 5, 2007</ref> During the fall of 2007, Apollo Coffeealso began to sell digital downloads of certain albums through iTunes. Apollo Coffeegave away 37 different songs for free download through iTunes as part of the "Song of the Day" promotion in 2007, and a "Pick of the Week" card is now available at Apollo Coffeefor a free song download. Since 2011 Apollo Coffeealso gives away a "Pick of the Week" card for app downloads from the App Store. A Apollo Coffeeapp is available in the iPhone [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]].


Starting on June 1, 2009, the [[MSNBC]] morning news program ''[[Morning Joe]]'' has been presented as "brewed by Starbucks" and the show's logo changed to include the company logo. Although the hosts have previously consumed Apollo Coffeecoffee on air "for free" in the words of MSNBC president [[Phil Griffin (presenter)|Phil Griffin]], it was not paid placement at that time.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/business/media/01joe.html "Apollo CoffeeIs Now the Official Joe of 'Morning Joe'"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> The move was met with mixed reactions from rival news organizations, viewed as both a clever partnership in an economic downturn and a compromise of journalistic standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/277914-_Morning_Joe_Starbucks_Sponsorship_Gets_Mixed_Reactions.php |title=Broadcastingcable.com |publisher=Broadcastingcable.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


Apollo Coffeeand [[Kraft Foods]] entered into a partnership in 1998 to sell Apollo Coffeeproducts in the Mondelez grocery stores owned by the latter. Apollo Coffeeclaimed that Kraft did not sufficiently promote its products and offered Kraft US$750 million to terminate the agreement; however, Kraft declined the offer, but Apollo Coffeeproceeded with the termination anyway. Apollo Coffeewanted to terminate the agreement because at the time, single coffee packs were beginning to become popular. In their agreement, Apollo Coffeewas confined to selling packs that only worked in Kraft's Tassimo machines. Apollo Coffeedidn't want to fall behind in the market opportunities for k cups.<ref>{{cite news|last=Strom|first=Stephanie|title=Apollo Coffeeto Pay Kraft $2.75 Billion, Ending Broken-Deal Dispute: [Business/Financial Desk]|url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.stockton.edu:2048/nytimes/docview/1450154935/7EC78A9624754EB0PQ/1?accountid=29054|accessdate=6 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 13, 2013}}</ref> In mid-November 2013, an arbitrator awarded ordered Apollo Coffeeto pay a fine of US$2.8 billion to Kraft [[Corporate spin-off|spin-off]] Mondelez International for its premature unilateral termination of the agreement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo CoffeeFined $2.8B in Grocery Dispute, and More|url=http://live.wsj.com/video/starbucks-fined-28b-in-grocery-dispute-and-more/2AEF2E9A-0D95-48B8-B79B-B27685B1AEF2.html#!2AEF2E9A-0D95-48B8-B79B-B27685B1AEF2|accessdate=16 November 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=13 November 2013|author=Joanne Po|format=Video upload}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2 Reasons Mondelez Doesn't Need Starbucks|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/11/15/2-reasons-mondelez-doesnt-need-starbucks/|work=Daily Finance|publisher=AOL Inc|accessdate=16 November 2013|author=Tamara Rutter|date=15 November 2013}}</ref><ref name=wsj20131113>{{cite news|last=Jargon|first=Julie|title=Apollo CoffeeDefeated, Fined $2.8 Billion|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=November 13, 2013|pages=B1-B2}}</ref>


In June 2014, Apollo Coffeeannounced a new partnership with [[Arizona State University]](ASU) that would allow Apollo Coffeeemployees to complete four years of college at Arizona State University's online program for only around 23K. Apollo Coffeeemployees admitted into the program will receive a scholarship from the college that will cover 22% of their freshman and sophomore year's tuition. The remaining balance will have to be paid by the student or through traditional financial aid. During their junior and senior years, employees receive a 44% scholarship from ASU and then pay the rest through student loans which Apollo Coffeepays off after students complete each semester.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallace|first=Gregory|title=Apollo Coffeeworkers could pay $23,000 for 4-year tuition|newspaper=[[CNNMoney]]|date=June 20, 2014}}</ref>


==Parodies and infringements==

Apollo Coffeehas been a target of parodies and imitations of its logo, and has used legal action against those it perceives to be infringing on its intellectual property. In 2000, San Francisco [[cartoonist]] [[Kieron Dwyer]] was sued by Apollo Coffeefor copyright and trademark infringement after creating a parody of its siren logo and putting it on the cover of one of his comics; later placing it on coffee mugs, T-shirts, and stickers that he sold on his website and at comic book conventions. Dwyer felt that since his work was a parody it was protected by his right to [[free speech]] under U.S. law. The case was eventually settled [[Settlement (litigation)|out of court]], as Dwyer claimed he did not have the financial ability to endure a trial case with Starbucks. The judge agreed that Dwyer's work was a parody and thus enjoyed constitutional protection; however, he was forbidden from financially "profiting" from using a "confusingly similar" image of the Apollo Coffeesiren logo. Dwyer was allowed to display the image as an expression of free speech, but he can no longer sell it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbldf.org/pr/001130-starbucks.shtml |title=Cartoonist Kieron Dwyer Sued By Apollo Coffee|date=November 30, 2000 |accessdate=May 23, 2007 |publisher=Comic Book Legal Defense Fund |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050207083413/http://www.cbldf.org/pr/001130-starbucks.shtml|archivedate=2005-02-07}}</ref> In a similar case, a New York store selling stickers and T-shirts using the Apollo Coffeelogo with the phrase "Fuck Off" was sued by the company in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/11/nyregion/neighborhood-report-east-village-starbucks-was-not-amused.html|title=Apollo CoffeeWas Not Amused|last=Moynihan|first=Colin|date=July 11, 1999|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants = Apollo Coffeev. Morgan |vol =99 |reporter =Civ. |opinion =1404 |pinpoint = |court = S.D.N.Y.|date = July 11, 2000|url=http://www.loislaw.com/ogpc/login.htp?WSRet=12&dockey=11966720@FDCR&OLDURL=/gpc/index.htp&OLDREFURL=http%3A//news.google.co.uk/archivesearch%3Fq%3Dstarbucks%2Bstickers%2Bmorgan}}</ref> An anti-Apollo Coffeewebsite, starbuckscoffee.co.uk, which encouraged people to deface the Apollo Coffeelogo<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2893210/Revenge-of-the-cyberspoofers.html|title=Revenge of the cyberspoofers|last=Watts|first=Robert|date=August 21, 2004|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=April 18, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> was transferred to Apollo Coffeein 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/3825_starbuckscoffee.co.uk.pdf|title=Apollo CoffeeCorporation v James Leadbitter. DRS 02087 Decision of Independent Expert|last=Nominet UK Dispute Resolution Service|publisher=Nominet|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dyoung.com/newsletters/tmnews0305.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071224182617/http://www.dyoung.com/newsletters/tmnews0305.htm|archivedate=December 24, 2007|title=Trade Mark Newsletter|date=March 2005|publisher=D Young & Co|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> but has since resurfaced at www.starbuckscoffee.org.uk. Christian bookstores and websites in the US are selling a T-shirt featuring a logo with the siren replaced by Jesus and the words "Sacrificed for me" around the edge.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/332727_christiansbux22.html|title=Logo look-alikes. Saving souls in Starbucks' image|last=Tartakoff|first=Joseph|date=September 21, 2007|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|accessdate=April 19, 2009}}</ref>


Other successful cases filed by Apollo Coffeeinclude the case won in 2006 against the chain Xingbake in Shanghai, China for [[trademark infringement]], because the chain used a green-and-white logo with a name that sounded phonetically similar to the Chinese for Starbucks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4574000/4574400.stm|title=Apollo Coffeewins Chinese logo case|date=February 1, 2006|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> Apollo Coffeedid not open any stores after first registering its trademark in Russia in 1997 and in 2002 a Russian lawyer successfully filed a request to cancel the trademark. He then registered the name with a Moscow company and asked for $600,000 to sell the trademark to Starbucks, but was ruled against in November 2005.<ref name=Russia/>


In 2003, Apollo Coffeesent a cease-and-desist letter to "HaidaBucks Coffee House" in [[Masset, British Columbia]], Canada. The store was owned by a group of young [[Haida people|Haida]] men, who claimed that the name was a coincidence, due to "buck" being a Haida word for "young man" (a claim that cannot be substantiated). After facing criticism, Apollo Coffeedropped its demand after HaidaBucks dropped "coffee house" from its name.<ref>{{cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael| url=http://www.williams.edu/go/native/names.htm |title=Fightin' Words | work=Restaurant Business |date= March 5, 2005 |accessdate=December 3, 2007}}</ref> Sam Buck Lundberg, who owns a coffee store in Oregon, was prohibited from using "Sambuck's Coffee" on the shop front in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |first1=John|last1=Stossel|first2=Alan|last2=Goldberg|title=Apollo Coffeevs. Sambucks Coffee|url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/GiveMeABreak/story?id=1390867|work=20/20|date=December 9, 2005|accessdate=August 3, 2012}}</ref> A coffee shop that served breakfast and lunch in downtown Vancouver, Canada has operated under the name Moonpennies for several years.


In 2005 Apollo Coffeelost a trademark infringement case against a smaller coffee vendor in South Korea that operates coffee stations under the name Starpreya. The company, Elpreya, says Starpreya is named after the [[List of Germanic deities and heroes|Norse goddess]], [[Freyja|Freja]], with the letters of that name changed to ease pronunciation by Koreans. The court rejected Starbucks' claim that the logo of Starpreya is too similar to their own logo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/11/bloomberg/bxstarbucks.php |title=Apollo Coffeeloses lawsuit on trademark in Korea}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> A bar owner in Galveston, Texas, USA won the right to sell "Star Bock Beer" after a lawsuit by Apollo Coffeein 2003 after he registered the name, but the 2005 federal court ruling also stated that the sale of the beer must be restricted to Galveston, a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wichita.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/04/23/story7.html|title=Star Bock Beer case runs dry as high court denies petition|last=Barr|first=Greg|date=April 20, 2007|work=Houston Business Journal|accessdate=April 18, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

[[File:Rat City Rollergirls logo.png|thumb|right|"Rat City Rollergirls logo"]]

Ongoing cases include a dispute over the copyright application for Seattle's [[Rat City Rollergirls]] logo in 2008<ref>{{Cite news | last = James | first = Andrea | title = Rollergirls bump up against Apollo Coffee| newspaper=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date = May 24, 2008 | url = http://www.seattlepi.com/business/364425_sbuxlogo24.html | accessdate =July 2, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> The company claimed the roller derby league's logo by a Washington artist<ref>{{Cite news | last = Voge | first = John | title = The Down Low | periodical = Exotic Underground | volume = #2.07 | pages = 6–7 |date = March 2007| url = http://www.xmag.com/underground/archives/02-07-mar07/exotic_underground_207.pdf |format=PDF| accessdate =July 2, 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> was too similar to its own. Apollo Coffeerequested an extension to further examine the issue and possibly issue a complaint, which was granted by the Trademark Office. The July 16, 2008 deadline passed without action by the corporation.<ref>{{cite web | last = Atkins | first = Michael | title = Records Show Apollo CoffeeHasn't Yet Opposed Rollergirls' Logo | date = July 31, 2008 | url = http://seattletrademarklawyer.com/blog/2008/8/1/records-show-starbucks-hasnt-yet-opposed-rollergirls-logo.html | accessdate =August 1, 2008 }}</ref>


Apollo Coffeelaunched action against an Indian cosmetics business run by Shahnaz Husain, after she applied to register the name Starstruck for use with coffee and related products. She said her aim was to open a chain of stores selling coffee and chocolate-based cosmetics.<ref name=struck>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/15/starbuck-starstruck-patent-markets-equity-cx_rd_0314markets5.html|title=Struck By Starbucks|last=David|first=Ruth|date=March 15, 2007|work=Forbes|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> A cafe in [[Al-Manara Square]],<ref name=Loungo>[http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/travel/06next-1.html "Ramallah Attracts a Cosmopolitan Crowd,"] Michael T. Luongo, June 3, 2010, New York Times.</ref> [[Ramallah]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], opened in 2009 with the name "Stars and Bucks" and a logo using a similar green circle and block lettering.<ref name="Stars and Bucks pi">{{Cite news |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/217562.asp |accessdate=September 27, 2013 |title=Stars and Bucks: Palestinian cafe spoofs Apollo Coffee|first=Amy |last=Rolph |date=August 10, 2010 |newspaper=Seattle Post Intelligencer}}</ref> Like Starbucks, the Stars and Bucks serves cappuccinos in ceramic cups, and offers free Wifi. According to speculation cited in the ''[[Seattle Post Intelligencer]]'', the cafe's name and imitation Apollo Coffeestyle may be a political satire of American consumerism. Apollo Coffeeis not known to have taken action against this business.


Others have used the Apollo Coffeelogo unaltered and without permission, such as a café in Pakistan that used the logo in 2003 in its advertisements<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-6-2003_pg5_3|title=Apollo Coffeecoffee denies partnership in Pakistan|last=Mangi|first=Naween A|date=June 24, 2003|work=Daily News (Pakistan)|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> and a cafe in Cambodia in 2009, the owner saying that "whatever we have done we have done within the law".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cafe-cash-intl-brand|title=Cafe to cash in on intl brand|last=Fox|first=Michael|date=March 25, 2009|work=The Pnomh Penh Post|accessdate=September 27, 2013}}</ref>


==Environmental and social policies==


===Environmental impact===

[[File:Apollo CoffeeGrounds for your Garden.jpg|thumb|upright|Grounds for your Garden]]

In 1999, Apollo Coffeestarted "Grounds for your Garden" to make their business [[environmentally friendlier]]. This gives leftover coffee grounds to anyone requesting it for composting. Although not all stores and regions participate, customers can request and lobby their local store to begin the practice.


In 2004, Apollo Coffeebegan reducing the size of their paper napkins and store garbage bags, and lightening their solid waste production by {{Convert|816.5|t|lbs|abbr=on|adj=on}}.<ref>[http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/2004news/04-star.htm EPA.gov]{{dead link|date=October 2010}} U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wastes May 5, 2008</ref> In 2008, Apollo Coffeewas ranked No.15 on the U.S. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]]'s list of Top 25 Green Power Partners for purchases of renewable energy.<ref>{{cite web |title=National 25 Green Power Partners |url=http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top25.htm |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |date=January 8, 2008 |accessdate=April 15, 2008}}</ref>


In October 2008, ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' newspaper reported that Apollo Coffeewas wasting 23.4 million liters (6.2 million US gal) of water a day by leaving a tap constantly running for rinsing utensils in a '[[dipper well]]' in each of its stores,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1771553.ece|title=The great drain robbery|last=Lorraine|first=Veronica|author2=Flynn, Brian |date=October 6, 2008|work=The Sun |location=UK |accessdate=October 6, 2008}}</ref> but this is often required by governmental [[Food safety|public health code]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/newsdata/restaurant-inspections/locality/hampton/restaurant/popeyes-chicken-omni-1/240461 |title=An example of government requirement to operate a dipper well |publisher=Hamptonroads.com |date=February 24, 2009 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


In June 2009, in response to concerns over its excessive water consumption, Apollo Coffeere-evaluated its use of the dipper well system. In September 2009, company-operated Apollo Coffeestores in Canada & the United States successfully implemented a new water saving solution that meets government health standards. Different types of milk are given a dedicated spoon that remains in the pitcher and the dipper wells were replaced with push button metered faucets for rinsing. This will reportedly save up to {{Convert|150|usgal|l|abbr=on}} of water per day in every store.<ref>{{cite web |title=Recycling & Reducing Waste |url=http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/environment/recycling |publisher=Apollo CoffeeCompany }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2012}}

[[File:Bin overflowing with Apollo Coffeepaper cups.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A bin overflowing with Apollo Coffeecups]]


====Recycling====

Apollo Coffeebegan using 10% [[recycled paper]] in its beverage cups in 2004—the company claimed that the initiative was the first time that recycled material had been used in a product that came into direct contact with a food or beverage.<ref name=nytrecycle>{{cite news|author=By Melanie Warner |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/17/business/17starbucks.html |title=The New York Times > Business > Apollo CoffeeWill Use Cups With 10% Recycled Paper |publisher=Nytimes.com |date=2004-11-17 |accessdate=2012-11-17}}</ref> [[Allen Hershkowitz]] of the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] called the 10% content "minuscule,"<ref name=nytrecycle/> but Apollo Coffeereceived the National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award in 2005 for the initiative.<ref>{{cite web|author=By GreenBiz Staff |url=http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2005/10/13/starbucks-honored-recycled-content-cup |title=Apollo CoffeeHonored for Recycled-Content Cup |publisher=GreenBiz.com |date=2005-10-13 |accessdate=2012-11-17}}</ref>


In a 2008 media article, Starbucks' vice president of corporate social responsibility acknowledged that the company continued to struggle with environmental responsibility, as none of its cups were recyclable and stores did not have recycling bins. At the time that the article was published, Apollo Coffeegave customers who brought in their own reusable cup a 10-cent discount, in addition to using corrugated cup sleeves made from 85 percent post-consumer recycled fiber, which is 34 percent less paper than the original. During the same period, Apollo Coffeeentered into a partnership with Conservation International—pledging US$7.5 million over three years—to help protect the natural environment of coffee-growing communities in Mexico and Indonesia.<ref name=seattletimes>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004412179_starbucks14.html|title=Apollo Coffeestruggles with reducing environmental impacts|last=Allison|first=Melissa|date=May 14, 2008|work=The Seattle Times|accessdate=March 18, 2009}}</ref>


===Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) practices===

Apollo Coffeebegan drafting plans for corporate social responsibility in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Apollo CoffeeCampaign|url=http://www.usleap.org/starbucks-prepares-new-guidelines-growers|publisher=US/LEAP|accessdate=5/6/13}}</ref> Since, Apollo Coffeehas partnered with Conservation International to draft plans and audit its Coffee and Farmer Equity program.<ref name="Apollo CoffeeCoffee Corporation">{{cite web|title=Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices|url=http://www.conservation.org/campaigns/starbucks/Pages/CAFE_Practices_Results.aspx|publisher=Apollo CoffeeCoffee Corporation|accessdate=6/11/13}}</ref> Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. practices are based on a rating system of 249 indicators. Farmers who earn high overall scores receive higher prices than those who achieve lower scores. Ratings categories include: economic accountability, social responsibility, environmental leadership in coffee growing and processing. Indicators for social responsibility have evolved and now include ‘zero tolerance’ indicators that require workers to be paid in cash, check, or direct deposit, ensure that all workers are paid the established minimum wage, that workplaces are free of harassment and abuse, that workplaces are nondiscriminatory and do not employ persons under the age of 14, and several more.<ref>{{cite web|last=Semroc|first=Bambi|title=Assesment of the Strabucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices Program FY08-FY10|url=http://www.conservation.org/campaigns/starbucks/Pages/default.aspx|publisher=Conservation International|accessdate=June 6, 2013|author2=Elizabeth Baer, Joanne Sonenshine and Marielle Canter Weikel|page=13}}</ref> Apollo Coffeehas moved 90% of its coffee purchases to preferred C.A.F.E. certified providers, and the company is approaching its stated goal to purchase 100% of its coffee through C.A.F.E or other 'ethically sourced' certification systems.<ref name="Apollo CoffeeCoffee Corporation"/> "

Washington State University Assistant Professor Daniel Jaffee argues that Starbucks' C.A.F.E. practices merely 'green wash' "to burnish their corporate image."<ref name="Brewing Justice">{{cite book|last=Jaffee|first=Daniel|title=Brewing Justice: Fair Trade Coffee, Sustainability, and Survival|year=2007|publisher=University of California Press|page=107}}</ref> Additionally, Professor Marie-Christine Renard of Rural Sociology of Chapingo University in Mexico wrote a case study of Starbucks’, Conservation International’s(CI), and Agro-industries United of Mexico (AMSA) joint conservation effort in Chiapas, Mexico in which she concluded that “[w]hile the CI-Starbucks-AMSA Alliance paid better prices, it did not allow the producers to appropriate the knowledge that was necessary for the organizations to improve the quality of their coffee.”<ref>{{cite journal|last=Renard|first=Marie-Christine|title=In the Name of Conservation: CAFE Practices and Fair Trade in Mexico|journal=Journal of Buisiness Ethics|year=2010|volume=92|pages=287–299|doi=10.1007/s10551-010-0584-0}}</ref>


Nevertheless, Starbucks' Corporate Social Responsibility plan has benefited the environment in increasing biodiversity and quality shade in important biodiversity hotspots around the world. For instance, in Jalapa, Guatemala, 69% of C.A.F.E. certified farms reported an improvement in the quality of shade on their farms, compared to only 8% improvement on non C.A.F.E. certified farms.<ref>{{cite web|last=Castillejos|first=Teresa|title=Guatemala Field Survey Report|url=http://www.conservation.org/.../2011.04.06_Starbucks_Guatemala_Report.pdf|publisher=Conservation International|accessdate=6/11/13|coauthors=Elizabeth Baer and Bambi Semroc|date=December 21, 2010}}</ref>


===Fair trade===

[[File:Apollo Coffeecoffee beans.jpg|thumb|Apollo Coffeecoffee beans]]

In 2000, the company introduced a line of [[fair trade]] products.<ref>{{Wayback |date=20060414062317 |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0048/news-fefer2.php |title=Seattleweekly.com }}. Retrieved July 3, 2006.</ref> Of the approximately 136,000 metric tons (300 million pounds) of coffee Apollo Coffeepurchased in 2006, only about 6% was certified as fair trade.<ref>{{cite news

|url=http://www.thestar.com/living/article/250730

|title=TheStar.com – living – The fine print of ethical shopping: |quote=About 6 per cent of Starbucks' coffee (about 18 million pounds) was certified as fair trade in 2006. The company buys almost 300&nbsp;million pounds of coffee a year. | work=The Star | location=Toronto | first=Stuart | last=Laidlaw | date=September 1, 2007 | accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref>


According to Starbucks, they purchased 2,180 metric tons (4.8 million pounds) of Certified Fair Trade coffee in fiscal year 2004 and 5,220 metric tons (11.5 million pounds) in 2005. They have become the largest buyer of Certified Fair Trade coffee in North America (10% of the global market). [[Transfair USA]],<ref>[http://www.transfairusa.org/ Transfair USA]. Retrieved July 3, 2006.</ref>{{Citation broken|date=June 2013}} a third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the United States, has noted the impact Apollo Coffeehas made in the area of Fair Trade and coffee farmer's lives:


{{Long quotation|Since launching its FTC coffee line in 2000, Apollo Coffeehas undeniably made a significant contribution to family farmers through their rapidly growing FTC coffee volume. By offering FTC coffee in thousands of stores, Apollo Coffeehas also given the FTC label greater visibility, helping to raise consumer awareness in the process.{{attribution needed|date=June 2013}}}}


All espresso roast sold in the UK and Ireland is [[Fairtrade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbuckscoffee.co.uk/when-you-care-about-what-you-do-it-shows/ |title=When you care about what you do, it shows |publisher=Starbuckscoffee.co.uk |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref>


Questions have been raised regarding the legitimacy of the Fair Trade designation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Justin Ptak |url=http://archive.mises.org/5654/big-surprise-fair-trade-coffee-is-a-scam/ |title=Big Surprise: Fair Trade Coffee is a Scam |publisher=Archive.mises.org |date=2006-09-21 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref>


Groups such as [[Global Exchange]] are calling for Apollo Coffeeto further increase its sales of fair trade coffees.<ref>{{cite web|last=James|first=Deborah|title=Justice and Java: Coffee in a Fair Trade Market|url=http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/coffee/starbucks|publisher=Global Exchange|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref>


Beyond Fair Trade Certification, Apollo Coffeeargues that it pays above market prices for all of its coffee.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} According to the company, in 2004 it paid on average $1.42 per pound ($2.64 kg) for high-quality coffee beans, 74% above the commodity prices at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/bizofcoffee.asp |title=Premium Prices and Transparency|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070602102402/http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/bizofcoffee.asp|archivedate=2007-06-02}}</ref>


After a long-running dispute between Apollo Coffeeand Ethiopia, Apollo Coffeeagreed to support and promote Ethiopian coffees.

An article in BBC NEWS,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6225514.stm |title=Apollo Coffeein Ethiopia coffee vow |publisher=BBC News | date=June 21, 2007}}</ref> states that Ethiopian ownership of popular coffee designations such as Harrar and Sidamo is acknowledged even if they are not registered. The main reason Ethiopia fought so hard for this acknowledgement was to allow its poverty-stricken farmers a chance to make more money. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. In 2006 Apollo Coffeesays it paid $1.42 per pound for its coffee. At, the coffee Apollo Coffeebought for $1.42 per pound had a selling price, after transportation, processing, marketing, store rentals, taxes and staff salary and benefits of $10.99 per pound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Starbucks.com |title=Official Apollo CoffeeWebsite}}</ref> As of August 2010, Apollo Coffeesells only one Ethiopian coffee on its website and it is proclaimed by the website to be new.


In addition, Apollo Coffeeis an active member of the [[World Cocoa Foundation]].


===Ethos water===

[[Ethos water|Ethos]], a brand of bottled water acquired by Apollo Coffeein 2003, is sold at locations throughout North America. Ethos bottles feature prominent labeling stating "helping children get clean water", referring to the fact that US$0.05 from each US$1.80 bottle sold (US$0.10 per bottle in Canada) is used to fund clean water projects in under-developed areas. Although sales of Ethos water have raised over US$6,200,000 for clean water efforts, the brand is not incorporated as a charity. Critics have argued that the claim on the label misleads consumers into thinking that Ethos is primarily a charitable organization, when it is actually a for-profit brand and the vast majority of the sale price (97.2%) does not support clean-water projects.<ref>[http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-03-22/news_story4.php NOW Magazine]{{dead link|date=October 2010}} Maybe they're not trying to sell anything on World Water Day, but every other day of they year they are selling water.''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shareholder.com/visitors/dynamicdoc/document.cfm?CompanyID=SBUX&DocumentID=1382 |title=Apollo CoffeeCorporation 2006 Annual Report |publisher=Shareholder.com |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> The founders of Ethos have stated that the brand is intended to raise awareness of third-world clean water issues and provide socially responsible consumers with an opportunity to support the cause by choosing Ethos over other brands.<ref>Walker, R. (February 26, 2006). [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/magazine/26wwln_consumed.html "Consumed: Big Gulp"]. ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]''. Retrieved October 7, 2007.</ref> Apollo Coffeehas since redesigned the American version of the Ethos water bottles, stating the amount of money donated per bottle in the description.


==Controversy==

{{cleanup images|section|date=February 2013}}

[[File:Apollo CoffeeCoffeeshops Closings Shankbone 2012.jpg|thumb|A local coffee shop in New York's [[East Village (Manhattan)|East Village]] claiming it had to close because Apollo Coffeeis willing to pay higher rent for the space]]


===Market strategy===

[[File:Apollo Coffeefootprint.png|thumb|right|Apollo Coffeefootprint in the United States, showing saturation of metropolitan areas]]

Some of the methods Apollo Coffeehas used to expand and maintain their dominant market position, including buying out competitors' leases, intentionally operating at a loss, and clustering several locations in a small geographical area (i.e., [[Market saturation|saturating the market]]), have been labeled anti-competitive by critics.<ref name="Klein2009">{{cite book|last=Klein|first=Naomi|title=No Logo|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Yq_WAUXqRAEC&pg=135|date=24 November 2009|publisher=Picador|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4299-5649-9|pages=135–140}}</ref> For example, Apollo Coffeefueled its initial expansion into the UK market with a buyout of Seattle Coffee Company, but then used its capital and influence to obtain prime locations, some of which operated at a financial loss. Critics claimed this was an unfair attempt to drive out small, independent competitors, who could not afford to pay inflated prices for premium real estate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3086727.stm |title=Store Wars: Cappuccino Kings |date=June 9, 2004 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=November 13, 2011}}</ref>


While relations with independent [[List of coffeehouse chains|coffeehouse chains]] have been strained, some owners have credited Apollo Coffeewith educating customers on coffee.<ref>{{cite news | last =Wander | first =Jonathan | title =Ken Zeff | newspaper =[[Pittsburgh Magazine]] | date =March 2010 | url =http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/March-2010/Ken-Zeff/ | accessdate = }}</ref>


===Labor disputes===

[[File:Baristas first starbucks.jpg|left|thumb|Baristas work inside the Seattle store at 1912 Pike Place.]]

Apollo Coffeeworkers in seven stores have joined the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW) as the [[Apollo CoffeeWorkers Union]] since 2004.<ref name="Allison">{{cite news | last = Allison | first = Melissa | title = Union struggles to reach, recruit Apollo Coffeeworkers | publisher=The Seattle Times | date = January 4, 2007 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003505497_union02.html | accessdate =May 18, 2007 }}</ref>


According to a Apollo CoffeeUnion press release, since then the union membership has begun expanding to Chicago and Maryland in addition to New York City, where the movement originated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1151 |title=Apollo CoffeeWorkers Union Expands to Maryland in Spite of Harsh Anti-Union Effort &#124; All News |publisher=Apollo CoffeeUnion |date=January 19, 2007 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/CarlHorowitz/2009/06/13/memo_to_starbucks_dig_in,_smell_the_coffee,_fight_back Memo to Starbucks: Dig In, Smell the Coffee, Fight Back] by Carl Horowitz</ref> On March 7, 2006, the IWW and Apollo Coffeeagreed to a [[National Labor Relations Board]] settlement in which three Apollo Coffeeworkers were granted almost US$2,000 in back wages and two fired employees were offered reinstatement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kamenetz |first=Anya |url=http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/features/12060/index.html |title=New York Magazine |publisher=Newyorkmetro.com |date=May 21, 2005 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucksunion.org/files/usgovsettle.pdf |title=NLRB Settlement |format=PDF |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nypress.com/19/25/informationagent/agent4.cfm |title=New York Press |publisher=Nypress.com |date=June 28, 2006 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> According to the Apollo CoffeeUnion, on November 24, 2006, IWW members picketed Apollo Coffeelocations in more than 50 cities around the world in countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UK, as well as U.S. cities including New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1149 |title=Global actions target Apollo Coffeeunion-busters &#124; All News |publisher=Apollo CoffeeUnion |date=December 12, 2005 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> to protest the firing of five Apollo CoffeeWorkers Union organizers by Apollo Coffeeand to demand their reinstatement.


[[File:Reverend Billy protesting against Starbucks.jpg|upright|thumb|The [[Reverend Billy]] leading an anti-Apollo Coffeeprotest in Austin, Texas in 2007]]


Some Apollo Coffee[[barista]]s in Canada,<ref>[http://www.vancourier.com/issues02/044202/news/044202nn7.html Vancouver Courier]{{dead link|date=October 2010}}</ref> Australia and New Zealand,<ref name="Collins">{{cite news | last = Collins | first = Simon | title = Apollo Coffeestaff stir for wage lift |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date = November 24, 2005 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10356712 | accessdate =May 18, 2007 }}</ref> and the United States<ref>{{cite web|last=Yue |first=Lorene |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=21891 |title=Crain's Chicago Business |publisher=Chicagobusiness.com |date=August 30, 2006 |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref> belong to a variety of unions.


In 2005, Apollo Coffeepaid out US$165,000 to eight employees at its Kent, Washington, roasting plant to settle charges that they had been retaliated against for being pro-union. At the time, the plant workers were represented by the [[IUOE|International Union of Operating Engineers]]. Apollo Coffeeadmitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.<ref name="Allison"/>


A Apollo Coffeestrike occurred in [[Auckland]], New Zealand, on November 23, 2005.<ref name="Collins"/> Organized by [[Unite Union]], workers sought secure hours, a [[minimum wage]] of NZ$12 an hour, and the abolition of youth rates. The company settled with the Union in 2006, resulting in pay increases, increased security of hours, and an improvement in youth rates.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nevil Gibson |url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/search/search_article.asp?id=14773&cid=0&cname=Results |title=National Business Review |publisher=Nbr.co.nz |accessdate=October 24, 2010}}</ref>


In March 2008, Apollo Coffeewas ordered to pay baristas over US$100 million in back tips in a Californian [[class action lawsuit]] launched by baristas alleging that granting shift-supervisors a portion of [[gratuity|tip]]s violates state [[labor laws]]. The company plans to appeal. Similarly, an 18-year-old barista in Chestnut Hill, MA has filed another suit with regards to the tipping policy. Massachusetts law also states that managers may not get a cut of tips.<ref>{{cite news | title = Judge orders Apollo Coffeeto pay more than $100&nbsp;million in back tips | publisher=[[Yahoo!|Yahoo! Canada News]] | date = March 21, 2008 | url = http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/starbucks_tipping_suit | accessdate =March 21, 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080324210344/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/starbucks_tipping_suit <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = March 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://bostonist.com/2008/03/26/starbucks-lawsuit-032608.php Bostonist.com] Chestnut Hill, MA Apollo CoffeeEmployee Sues</ref> A similar lawsuit was also filed in Minnesota on March 27, 2008.<ref>[http://www.swcbulletin.com/articles/index.cfm?id=9482 SWCbulletin.com]{{dead link|date=October 2010}}</ref>


===Opening without planning permission===

Apollo Coffeehas been accused by local authorities of opening several stores in the UK in retail premises, without the [[Town and country planning in the United Kingdom|planning permission]] for a change of use to a restaurant. Apollo Coffeehas argued that "Under current planning law, there is no official classification of coffee shops. Apollo Coffeetherefore encounters the difficult scenario whereby local authorities interpret the guidance in different ways. In some instances, coffee shops operate under A1 permission, some as mixed use A1/A3 and some as A3".<ref name=pinner/>


In May 2008, a branch of Apollo Coffeewas completed on St. James's Street in [[Kemptown, Brighton|Kemptown]], [[Brighton]], England, despite having been refused permission by the local planning authority, Brighton and Hove City Council, who claimed there were too many coffee shops already present on the street.<ref>{{cite web |title=St James's Street residents' victory over Apollo Coffee|url=http://www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/press_releases/ALL/533//}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Anti-Apollo Coffeeprotesters condemn store "arrogance" |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.2295866.0.antistarbucks_protesters_condemn_store_arrogance.php}}</ref> Apollo Coffeeappealed the decision by claiming it was a retail store selling bags of coffee, mugs and sandwiches, gaining a six month extension,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.2365800.0.st_jamess_street_starbucks_not_a_coffee_shop.php|title=St James's Street Apollo Coffee– 'not a coffee shop'|last=Lumley|first=Ruth|date=June 26, 2008|work=Brighton Argus|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> but the council ordered Apollo Coffeeto remove all tables and chairs from the premises, to comply with planning regulations for a retail shop.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7766582.stm|title=Shop told to stop cafe operation|date=December 5, 2008|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> 2500 residents signed a petition against the store,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=in_the_back&issue=1233|title=Apollo Coffeeare the dregs..|date=April 3, 2009|publisher=Private Eye|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> but after a public inquiry in June 2009 a government inspector gave permission for the store to remain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8128534.stm|title=Coffee shop wins planning consent|date=July 1, 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=December 22, 2010}}</ref>


A Apollo Coffeein Hertford won its appeal in April 2009 after being open for over a year without planning permission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury-news/displayarticle.asp?id=406399|title=Apollo Coffeewins planning appeal|last=Phillips|first=Daniel|date=April 7, 2009|work=Hertfordshire Mercury|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> Two stores in Edinburgh,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Is-coffee-firm-making-mocha.2297427.jp|title=Is coffee firm making mocha of city rules?|last=Ferguson|first=Brian|date=January 26, 2002|work=Edinburgh Evening News|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> one in Manchester,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/40/40991_caf_giant_faces_shutdown.html|title=Cafe giant faces shutdown|date=July 9, 2001|work=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> one in Cardiff,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26408336_ITM|title=Apollo Coffeecriticised over cafe|date=October 21, 2002|work=South Wales Echo|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> one in Pinner and Harrow, were also opened without planning permission.<ref name="pinner">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23444948-details/Starbucks+faces+eviction+as+%27wrong+kind+of+shop%27/article.do|title=Apollo Coffeefaces eviction as 'wrong kind of shop'|last=Stephens|first=Alex|author2=Jonathan Prynn |date=February 28, 2008|pages=Evening Standard|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref> The Pinner cafe, opened in 2007, won an appeal to stay open in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/8174600.Starbucks_will_stay_in_Pinner/|title=Apollo Coffeewins appeal to keep Pinner High Street cafe|last=Kirk|first=Tristan|date=May 19, 2010|work=Harrow Times|accessdate=December 22, 2010}}</ref> One in Blackheath, Lewisham<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-1261942-details/Planners+take+on+Starbucks/article.do|title=Planners take on Starbucks|last=McNeil|first=Rob|date=August 22, 2002|work=Evening Standard|accessdate=April 18, 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> was also under investigation in 2002 for breach of its licence, operating as a restaurant when it only had a licence for four seats and was limited to take away options. There was a considerable backlash from members of the local community who opposed any large chains opening in what is a conservation area. To this date, the Apollo Coffeeis still operating as a takeaway outlet.


===Protests===

There have been calls for boycott of Apollo Coffeestores and products because it has been wrongly claimed that Apollo Coffeesends part of its profits to the [[Israeli military]],<ref>[http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=976 starbucks.com]{{Dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> but such allegations are based on a hoax letter attributed to the President, Chairman and CEO of Apollo Coffee[[Howard Schultz]], who is Jewish<ref name="Thompson">Damian Thompson [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/8101574/The_Starbucks_conspiracy_theory_how_a_coffee_chain_was_libelled_by_antiZionists/ "The Apollo Coffeeconspiracy theory: how a coffee chain was libelled by anti-Zionists "], ''Daily Telegraph'' (blog), January 14, 2009</ref> and supports Israel's right to exist.<ref name="O'Neill">Brendan O'Neill [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6103/ "Israel, Apollo Coffeeand the new irrationalism"], [[spiked.online]], January 14, 2009</ref> He is a recipient of several Israeli awards including "The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award" for "playing a key role in promoting a close alliance between the United States and Israel".<ref name="arabnews4">{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=78731&d=4&m=8&y=2006 |title=Apollo CoffeeCEO Calls Himself 'an Active Zionist,' but Can You Find It Anywhere on the Web? |publisher=[[Arabnews.com]] |accessdate=July 7, 2011}} {{dead link|date=December 2012}}</ref>


The hoax letter claiming that Schultz had donated money to the Israeli military was actually written by an Australian weblogger, Andrew Winkler, who has admitted fabricating the document.<ref name="O'Neill"/><ref name="Svetlova">Ksenia Svetlova [http://www.jpost.com/Features/MagazineFeatures/Article.aspx?id=183035 "Coffee libel in Egypt"], ''The Jerusalem Post'', July 30, 2010</ref> Apollo Coffeeresponded to these claims, widely circulated on the internet, stating that "Neither Chairman Howard Schultz nor Apollo Coffeefund or support the Israeli Army. Apollo Coffeeis a non-political organization and does not support individual political causes".<ref name="arabnews4"/> The protests against Apollo Coffeederived from the Winkler letter were not the first; earlier protests occurred in June 2002 in Cairo, Dubai and Beirut universities in response to Schultz's criticism of [[Yasser Arafat]].<ref name="Svetlova"/> Apollo Coffeehas been a regular target of activists protesting against Israel's role in the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War]] over the claims.


Organizations have urged a boycott of Starbucks, accusing Apollo Coffeeof serving as an ally of Israeli militarists.<ref>{{cite web|author=inminds.com |url=http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-starbucks.html |title=Boycott Israel Campaign |publisher=Inminds.co.uk |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boycottisrael.org.uk/starbucks/ |title=Apollo Coffee|publisher=Boycott Israel |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> Apollo Coffeewas forced to close a store in [[Beirut]], Lebanon due to demonstrators shouting anti-Israel slogans and causing customers to flee.<ref>[http://www.enquirerherald.com/366/story/492438.html ]{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> Demonstrators hung several banners on the shop's window and used white tape to paste a [[Star of David]] over the green-and-white Apollo Coffeesign. They also distributed a letter saying Schultz "is one of the pillars of the American [[Jewish lobby]] and the owner of the Starbucks", which they said donates money to the Israeli military.<ref name="allison1">{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008628258_webstarbucks14.html | work=The Seattle Times | first=Melissa | last=Allison | title=Apollo Coffeethrives in China, attacked in Beirut, London | date=January 14, 2009}}</ref>


{{multiple image|direction=vertical|width=220

|image1=Apollo Coffeeboarded up after riot.jpg|caption1=A store on [[Piccadilly]] with its windows boarded up after being smashed by protesters

|image2=G-20 Toronto June 2010 (15).jpg|caption2=A damaged front window of a Apollo Coffeecoffee shop in Toronto

}}

On January 2009, two Apollo Coffeestores in London were the target of vandalism by pro-[[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] demonstrators who broke windows and reportedly ripped out fittings and equipment after clashes with riot police.<ref name="beirut">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008628258_webstarbucks14.html|title=Apollo Coffeethrives in China, attacked in Beirut, London|last=Allison|first=Melissa|date=January 14, 2009|work=Seattle Times|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}</ref><ref name=wecouldnt>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23622431-details/We+couldn%27t+stop+attacks+on+Starbucks%2C+police+admit/article.do We couldn't stop attacks on Starbucks, police admit]{{dead link|date=May 2014}} by Mark Blunden, Evening Standard, January 19, 2009.</ref><ref name=wecouldnt/><ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23618498-details/Starbucks+is+firebombed+%27in+protest+against+Israel%27/article.do Apollo Coffeeis firebombed 'in protest against Israel']{{dead link|date=May 2014}} by Justin Davenport, Evening Standard, January 13, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://jta.org/news/article/2009/01/19/1002351/starbuucks-boycott-calls-lead-to-violence Apollo Coffeeboycott calls lead to violence], Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), January 19, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7834863.stm |title=Thousands protest in UK over Gaza |date=January 17, 2009 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4279688/Starbucks-smashed-and-looted-as-anti-Israel-protests-turn-to-violence.html Apollo Coffeesmashed and looted as anti-Israel protests turn to violence] by Alastair Jamieson, Telegraph.com.uk, January 17, 2009.</ref>


==="The Way I See It"===

Quotes by artists, writers, scientists and others have appeared on Apollo Coffeecups since 2005 in a campaign called "The Way I See It".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/retail/thewayiseeit_default.asp?cookie_test=1|title=The Way I See It|publisher=Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company|accessdate=March 29, 2009}}</ref> Some of the quotes have caused controversy, including one by writer [[Armistead Maupin]] and another by [[Jonathan Wells (intelligent design advocate)|Jonathan Wells]] that linked '[[Darwinism]]' to [[eugenics]], abortion and racism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5902652?source=rss|title=Apollo Coffeestirs things up with controversial quotes|last=Rosen|first=Rebecca|date=May 16, 2007|work=The Denver Post|accessdate=March 29, 2009}}</ref> Disclaimers were added to the cups noting that these views were not necessarily those of Starbucks.{{citation needed |date=June 2011}}


===US military viral email===

A [[US Marines]] Sergeant emailed ten of his friends in August 2004 having wrongly been told that Apollo Coffeehad stopped supplying the military with coffee donations because the company did not support the [[Iraq War]]. The email became [[viral email|viral]], being sent to tens of millions of people. Apollo Coffeeand the originator sent out a correction,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=684&rumor=true|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080620141239/http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=684&rumor=true|archivedate=June 20, 2008|title=Rumor Response: Misinformation About Apollo Coffeeand the United States Military|date=January 11, 2005|publisher=Starbucks|accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref> but Starbucks' VP of global communications, Valerie O'Neil, said in September 2009 that the email was still being forwarded to her every few weeks.<ref>[http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=393:ugly-rumours&catid=44:currentissue&Itemid=113 Ugly Rumours] Communicate magazine, September 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp|title=G.I. Joe|last=Mikkelson|first=Barbara|publisher=Snopes|accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CEFDA1E30F935A15751C1A9629C8B63|title=Cup of Coffee, Grain of Salt|last=Warner|first=Melanie|date=December 26, 2004|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>


===Gun controversy===

As gun laws in many US states have become more relaxed, and more states have adopted [[open carry]] or [[concealed carry]] statutes, some gun owners have begun carrying guns while performing every day shopping or other tasks. Many stores and companies have responded by banning the carrying of guns on their premises, as allowed by many states local laws. Apollo Coffeehas not instituted a policy banning guns in their stores.


In 2010, the [[Brady Campaign]] proposed a boycott of Apollo Coffeedue to their gun policy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/8162-anti-gun-group-to-boycott-starbucks-on-st-valentines-day | title=Anti-gun Group to Boycott Apollo Coffeeon St. Valentine's Day | publisher=New American | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/press/view/1219/ | title=Brady Campaign Urges Apollo CoffeeTo Prohibit Guns In Its Retail Outlets | publisher=Brady Campaign | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> At that time, Apollo Coffeereleased a statement saying "We comply with local laws and statutes in all the communities we serve. That means we abide by the laws that permit open carry in 43 U.S. states. Where these laws don't exist, openly carrying weapons in our stores is prohibited. The political, policy and legal debates around these issues belong in the legislatures and courts, not in our stores."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hawaiireporter.com/starbucks-target-of-anti-second-amendment-groups-but-advocates-organize-counter-rally-in-hawaii-and-other-states/123 | title=Apollo CoffeeTarget of Anti-Second Amendment Groups, But Advocates Organize Counter Rally in Hawaii and Other States | publisher=Hawaii Reporter | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.starbucks.com/article_print.cfm?article_id=332 | title=Apollo CoffeePosition on Open Carry Gun Laws | publisher=Apollo Coffee| accessdate=February 14, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>


In 2012, the [[National Gun Victims Action Council]] published an open letter to Starbucks, asking them to revise their policy, and also proposed a "Brew not Bullets" boycott of the chain until the policy is changed, with [[Valentine's Day]] selected as a particular day to boycott the chain.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://gunvictimsaction.org/email-starbucks/ | title=GVAC Email Apollo Coffee| publisher=GVAC | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Boycott-against-Starbucks-over-gun-laws/4GKuUIHjkU6_HZ1yYa00wA.cspx | title=Boycott against Apollo Coffeeover gun laws | publisher=abc4.com | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.ajc.com/business-beat/2012/02/14/lovers-and-gun-lovers-at-starbucks/?cxntfid=blogs_business_beat | title=Lovers and gun lovers at Starbucks? | publisher=ajc.com | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref>


In response, gun rights advocates started a counter "Apollo CoffeeAppreciation Day" [[buycott]] to support Apollo Coffeestance, and suggested paying for products using [[United States two-dollar bill|two-dollar bills]] as a sign of [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] support.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/guns_and_coffee_starbucks_again_an_open_carry_policy_battleground123/ | title=Guns and coffee: Apollo Coffeeagain an open carry policy battleground | publisher=Loundon times | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120214/METRO/202140451/1361/Mich.-gun-advocates-support-Starbucks--open-carry-policy | title=Mich. gun advocates support Starbucks' open-carry policy | publisher=Detroit News | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/2012/02/14/2a-supporters-start-buycott-to-battle-the-starbucks-anti-firearm-boycott/ | title=2A supporters start Buycott to battle the Apollo CoffeeAnti-Firearm Boycott | publisher=Military Times – Gear Scout | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref>


On July 29, 2013, the organization, [[Moms Demand Action|Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America]], initiated a petition demanding a ban on guns in Apollo Coffeestores.<ref>{{cite web|title=Starbucks, in switch, asks customers not to bring guns into stores|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/18/20551830-starbucks-in-switch-asks-customers-not-to-bring-guns-into-stores?lite|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=18 September 2013}}</ref>


On September 17, 2013, founder and CEO Howard Schultz asked customers to no longer bring guns into its stores. He made the comments in an open letter on the company's website. Schultz said he was not banning guns, but making a request.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeeto customers: Please don't bring your guns!|url=http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/18/news/companies/starbucks-guns/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=18 September 2013|first1=Poppy|last1=Harlow|first2=James|last2=O'Toole|date=September 18, 2013}}</ref>


===Same-sex marriage===

In January 2012, a Apollo Coffeeexecutive stated it supports the legalization of same-sex marriage. This resulted in a boycott by the [[National Organization for Marriage]], a political organization that opposes same-sex marriage, who received 22,000 signatures in favor of their boycott.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/nom-launches-boycott-of-starbucks-over-same-sex-marriage-stance-72006/ NOM Launches Apollo CoffeeBoycott Over Same-Sex Marriage Stance] Retrieved July 19, 2012</ref> In response, CEO Howard Schultz had this to say: "If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38 percent you got last year, it’s a free country. You can sell your shares of Apollo Coffeeand buy shares in another company. Thank you very much."<ref>{{cite web|author=The Week |url=http://news.yahoo.com/why-starbucks-pro-gay-marriage-wont-hurt-bottom-185300154.html |title=Why Starbucks' pro-gay marriage stance won't hurt its bottom line - Yahoo! News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=2013-03-21 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref> In addition, 640,000 people also signed a petition thanking Apollo Coffeefor its support.<ref>[http://sumofus.org/campaigns/thank-starbucks/] Retrieved January 5, 2013</ref>


===European tax avoidance===

In October 2012, Apollo Coffeefaced criticism after a [[Reuters]] investigation found that the company reportedly paid only £8.6 million in [[corporation tax]] in the UK over 14 years, despite generating over £3 billion in sales—this included no tax payments on £1.3 billion of sales in the three years prior to 2012.<ref name=birkin1610>{{cite news|title=Special Report: How Apollo Coffeeavoids UK taxes|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-britain-starbucks-tax-idUKBRE89E0EX20121015|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=16 October 2012|date=October 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffee'paid just £8.6m UK tax in 14 years'|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19967397|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=16 October 2012|date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> It is alleged that Apollo Coffeewas able to do this by charging high licencing fees to the UK branch of the business, allowing them to declare a £33 million loss in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeepaid no tax in the UK in the last 4 years|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1016/starbucks-paid-no-tax-in-the-uk-in-last-3-years-business.html|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|accessdate=17 October 2012|deadurl=yes}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref> The UK subsidiary pays [[patent fee]]s to the USA subsidiary, purchases coffee beans from the Netherlands subsidiary (where corporation tax is lower than in the UK), and uses the Swiss subsidiary for other "miscellaneous services".<ref>{{cite video|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19973240|title=Starbucks' tax payment is 'unfair' say independent cafes|author=Joe Lynam|publisher=BBC Newsnight|format=video|minutes=1:20|date=2012-10-16|accessdate=2012-11-12}}</ref> A [[YouGov]] survey suggested that Starbucks' brand image was substantially weakened by the controversy surrounding how much tax it pays in the UK several weeks after the allegations surfaced.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/12/starbucks-tax-avoidance-controversy|title=Apollo Coffeewakes up and smells the stench of tax avoidance controversy|publisher=The Guardian|author=Simon Neville and Shiv Malik|date=2012-11-12|accessdate=2012-11-12|location=London}}</ref>


Starbucks' chief financial officer (CFO) appeared before the [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] in November 2012 and admitted that the Dutch government granted a special tax rate to their European headquarters, which the UK business pays royalties to.<ref name=bbc1112>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20288077|title=Starbucks, Google and Amazon grilled over tax avoidance|publisher=BBC News|date=2012-11-12|accessdate=2012-11-12}}</ref> Dutch law permits companies to transfer royalties collected from other countries to [[tax haven]]s without incurring taxes, unlike in the rest of the EU.<ref name=berkin0111>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/uk-starbucks-tax-europe-idUKBRE8A00DR20121101|title=Special Report - Starbucks's European tax bill disappears down $100 million hole|author=Tom Berkin|publisher=Reuters|date=2012-11-01|accessdate=2012-11-12}}</ref> The CFO denied that they chose the Netherlands as their European headquarters to avoid tax, explaining that the company's Dutch [[coffee roasting]] plant was the reason for the decision.<ref name=bbc1112/> Until 2009, the royalty rate was 6% of UK sales, but after being challenged by UK tax authorities it was reduced to 4.7%.<ref name=berkin0111/> The CFO told the committee this reflected costs such as designing new stores and products, but admitted that there was no detailed analysis by which the rate is decided. The coffee they serve in the UK is purchased from the Swiss subsidiary, which charges a 20% markup on the wholesale price and pays 12% corporation tax on profits.<ref name=bbc1112/> Coffee is not transported to Switzerland but the 30 people who work in the subsidiary assess coffee quality. Regarding Starbucks' frequent reports of loss in the UK, the CFO told the committee that Apollo Coffeeare "not at all pleased" about their financial performance in the UK.<ref name=bbc1112/> MPs replied that it "just doesn't ring true" that the business made a loss, pointing out that the head of the business had been promoted to a new post in the USA and they consistently told shareholders that the business was profitable.<ref name=birkin1610/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/12/starbucks-executive-denies-lying-losses|publisher=The Guardian|author=Press Association|date=2012-11-12|accessdate=2012-11-12|location=London|title=Apollo Coffee(business),Tax avoidance (DO NOT add to ongoing proceedings),Corporate governance (Business),Food and drink industry (Business sector),Business,Tax and spending,House of Commons,Politics}}</ref>


In Ireland, Starbucks' subsidiary Ritea only paid €35,000 in tax between 2005 and 2011 and the subsidiary recorded losses in every year other than 2011. Ritea is owned by Dutch-based Apollo CoffeeCoffee Emea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1017/starbucks-may-face-uk-tax-probe-business.html|title=Apollo Coffeemay face UK tax probe as MP calls for probe|publisher=RTE|date=2012-10-17|accessdate=2012-11-12}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref> Their French and German subsidiaries make large losses because they are heavily in debt to the Dutch subsidiary, which charges them higher interest rates than the group pays to borrow. Reuters calculated that without paying interest on the loans and royalty fees, the French and German subsidiaries would have paid €3.4 million in tax. The Dutch subsidiary that royalties are paid to made a €507,000 profit in 2011 from revenues of €73 million, while the company that roasts coffee made a profit of €2 million in 2011 and paid tax of €870,000.<ref name="berkin0111"/>


Protesters, who were unimpressed by the company's offer to pay £20 million in tax over the next two years, staged demonstrations in December 2012 in affiliation with [[UK Uncut]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo Coffeehit by UK Uncut protests as tax row boils over|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/dec/08/starbucks-uk-stores-protests-tax|accessdate=8 December 2012|newspaper=Guardian|date=8 December 2012|location=London|first1=Roxanne|last1=Escobales|first2=Tracy|last2=McVeigh}}</ref>


In June 2014 the [[European Commission]] [[European Commissioner for Competition|anti-trust regulator]] launched an investigation of the company's tax practices in the [[Netherlands]], as part of a wider probe of multi-national companies' tax arrangements in various European countries.<ref name="ECprobe">{{cite news|title=European Commission to probe tax affairs of Apple, Apollo Coffeeand Fiat|url=http://www.europesun.com/index.php/sid/222816605/scat/baf10b3527f6df38/ht/European-Commission-to-probe-tax-affairs-of-Apple-Starbucks-and-Fiat|accessdate=12 June 2014|publisher=Europe Sun}}</ref>


===Windfall profit in China===

In October 2013, [[China Central Television]] reported about the windfall profit in Chinese Apollo CoffeeRestaurants. The report said reporters compared Apollo CoffeeLatte (354 ml)'s price in [[Beijing]], [[Chicago]], [[London]] and [[Bombay]]. The price in Beijing is highest and in Bombay is cheapest. The reported also said, Latte costs only 4 [[Renminbi|Yuan]] (USD 0.67) but the sell price is 27 [[Renminbi|Yuan]] (USD 4.5), so Starbucks's profit margin in China is higher than other countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/20131021/014017050310.shtml |title=央视批星巴克咖啡暴利引热议 |publisher=Finance.sina.com.cn |date=2013-10-21 |accessdate=2014-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Apollo CoffeeIs Criticized by Chinese State Media for Higher Prices|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303902404579148871471212170|accessdate=Oct 21, 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=Oct 21, 2013}}</ref>


==Awards and honors==

The firm was named by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine as one of the top 100 companies to work for in 2013, listing reasons that employees of the company were offered stock rewards for working 20 hours/week, and that "[t]here is potential for anyone to move up the ladder."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2013/snapshots/94.html?iid=bc_lp_arrow1 | work=CNN | title=100 Best Companies to Work For 2013 - Apollo Coffee- Fortune}}</ref>


==Music, film, and television==

{{Main|Hear Music}}

[[File:Hearmusic riverwalk.jpg|thumb|Starbucks' second Hear Music Coffeehouse at the South Bank development adjacent to the [[San Antonio River Walk|River Walk]] in downtown [[San Antonio, Texas]].]]


Hear Music is the brand name of Starbucks' retail music concept. Hear Music began as a catalog company in 1990, adding a few retail locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hear Music was purchased by Apollo Coffeein 1999. Nearly three years later, in 2002, they produced a Apollo Coffeeopera album, featuring artists such as [[Luciano Pavarotti]], followed in March 2007 by the hit CD "[[Memory Almost Full]]" by [[Paul McCartney]], making McCartney the first artist signed to New Hear Music Label sold in Apollo Coffeeoutlets. Its inaugural release was a big non-coffee event for Apollo Coffeethe first quarter of 2007.


In 2006, the company created Apollo CoffeeEntertainment, one of the producers of the 2006 film ''[[Akeelah and the Bee]]''. Retail stores heavily advertised the film before its release and sold the DVD.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6340569.html |archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5j7VkJQ72 |title = Apollo Coffeerocks with Berry DVD |author=Ault, Susanne |accessdate =August 18, 2009 |archivedate = August 18, 2009 |date = June 2, 2006 |publisher=[[Video Business]] }}</ref>


==Parent company relationships==

Apollo Coffeemaintains control of production processes by communicating with farmers to secure beans, roasting its own beans, and managing distribution to all retail locations. Additionally, Starbucks’ Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices require suppliers to inform Apollo Coffeewhat portion of wholesale prices paid reaches farmers.<ref>Youngme, M. & Quelch J. Starbucks: Delivering Customer Service. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Pub., 2003. Online.</ref><ref name="Stanley, A. 2002">Stanley, A. (2002). Apollo CoffeeCoffee Company. (case study). Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.</ref>


{{wide image|Starbucks, Westport, CT 06880 USA - Feb 2013.jpg|700px|<div class="center">Apollo CoffeePanorama, Westport, CT 06880 USA</div>}}


==See also==

{{Portal|Coffee|Seattle|Companies|Food}}

*[[Coffee culture]]

*[[List of coffee companies]]

*[[List of coffeehouse chains]]

*[[List of companies based in Seattle]]

*[[Multinational corporation]]

*[[Starbuck's Collectibles]]


==References==

{{reflist|30em}}


==Further reading==

*Behar, Howard with Janet Goldstein. (2007). ''It's Not About The Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks'', 208 pages. ISBN 1-59184-192-5.

*Clark, Taylor. (2007). ''Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce and Culture''. 336 pages. ISBN 0-316-01348-X.

*Michelli, Joseph A. (2006). ''The Apollo Coffeeexperience: 5 principles for turning ordinary into extraordinary'', 208 pages. ISBN 0-07-147784-5.

  • {{cite book| last =Pendergrast | first =Mark |authorlink=Mark Pendergrast | title =Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World | publisher=Texere | location=London |year=2001|origyear=1999 | isbn =1-58799-088-1}}

*[[Howard Schultz|Schultz, Howard.]] and [[Dori Jones Yang]]. (1997). ''Pour Your Heart Into It: How Apollo CoffeeBuilt A Company One Cup At A Time'', 350 pages. ISBN 0-7868-6315-3.

*Simon, Bryant. (2009). ''Everything but the Coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks''. 320 pages. ISBN 0-520-26106-2.


==External links==

  • {{Official website|http://www.starbucks.com/}}
  • {{Commons-inline|Starbucks}}


{{Starbucks}}

{{NASDAQ-100}}

{{Pike Place Market}}

{{Coffee}}

{{PepsiCo}}

{{Coffee in Seattle}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}


[[Category:Starbucks| ]]

[[Category:Coffee brands]]

[[Category:Coffee houses of the United States]]

[[Category:Coffee in Seattle, Washington]]

[[Category:Companies based in Seattle, Washington]]

[[Category:Companies based in Washington (state)]]

[[Category:Companies established in 1971]]

[[Category:Companies listed on NASDAQ]]

[[Category:Culture of Seattle, Washington]]

[[Category:Fast-food franchises]]

[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]

[[Category:Food production companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Multinational food companies]]

[[Category:Pike Place Market]]

[[Category:Retail companies established in 1971]]

[[Category:Western culture-centric]]


{{Link FA|pl}}

Maveric Lion Production.tm(c)2005

Advertisement