Friday, December 28, 2007

Learn Chinese online - Starbucks acquires local coffee company

BIZCHINA / Top Biz News

Starbucks acquires local coffee company

By Zheng Lifei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-25 11:17

Starbucks, the world's biggest coffee chain operator, bought Beijing Mei
Da Coffee Co yesterday, its authorized developer in North China, as it
steps up its expansion in the country.

A Starbucks employee pours coffee beans into a grinder at the
Seattle-based company's first retail coffee store in Beijing in this Jan.
11, 1999 file photo. Starbucks Corp. said Tuesday it has expanded direct
control of its operations in China by buying a Hong Kong company that has
operated more than 60 of its coffee houses.[AP Photo]

The Seattle-based coffee chain yesterday acquired High Grown Investment
Group (Hong Kong), the majority shareholder of Beijing Mei Da, from H&Q
Asia Pacific, a private equity firm.

Beijing Mei Da currently operates more than 60 Starbucks retail outlets
in Beijing and the nearby port city of Tianjin.

Both sides declined to reveal the financial terms of the deal.

The latest acquisition, which gives Starbucks a 90 per cent controlling
stake in Beijing Mei Da, will help the coffee company "achieve greater
operational efficiencies and accelerate our expansion in China," said
Wang Jinlong, president of Starbucks Greater China, yesterday.

1 2 3 

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.

Learn Chinese online