Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz has confirmed China as the Seattle coffee giant's key expansion target, the Wall Street Journal reported. "The No.1 priority for our company in terms of new growth is China," Mr. Schultz said. "We are as excited and enthused about our course in China as about any country we have entered." Since entering China in 1999, Starbucks has invested heavily to try and establish a first mover advantage. Last year, it increased its total number of stores to 209, up from 152 at the end of 2004. It also opened new stores in second-tier cities Qingdao, Dalian and Chengdu.
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