SEATTLE, May 23, 2012 – Ten years ago, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) opened its first two stores in Madrid. This week Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, and EMEA president Michelle Gass join hundreds of partners (employees) to celebrate a decade of growth with 75 stores throughout Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia. 2012 also marks notable Starbucks anniversaries in eight additional countries across three continents.
From Madrid, Schultz said, “Back in 2002, we placed a bet on Spain with local business partner Grupo Vips. With the support and passion of our partners and customers, we’ve grown to become a recognized and relevant brand and a part of the daily routine of thousands of Spaniards across the country. With this week’s celebrations, we also recognize other Starbucks 10- and 25-year anniversaries around the world, which provide an opportunity to thank the more than 60 million customers who visit our stores weekly and the 200,000 partners who support and share the Starbucks Experience with these customers every day.”
Source: Starbucks