Starbucks Moving Beyond Caffeine and Into India

On the Breakfast Grille is John Culver, president of Starbucks Coffee China and Asia Pacific.

In this role, John provides overall leadership to Starbucks company-operated markets in China, Australia, Singapore and Thailand, as well as the company's entry into India. He is also responsible for growing and developing Starbucks joint-venture and licensed operations in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Korea.

John discusses:

(1) Diversification:

-- into the juice business with new juice bar chain, Evolution Fresh -- one of the biggest moves outside coffee

-- single-serve coffee

-- more aqcuisitions for Starbucks? 

(2) Business model

-- expansion of drive-thru stores in Asia: About 40 percent of Starbucks' U.S. cafes are drive-thrus

(3) China

-- China to be Starbucks' second home market outside of the US

(4) India

-- Starbucks' foray into India, JV with Tata Group

-- Customising the menu to the local prefences of the Indian market