Core Viewpoint - Recent reports from individuals claiming to be Starbucks employees indicate that they are being pressured to purchase mooncakes out of pocket due to unmet sales targets, raising concerns about the company's sales practices [1][2][3] Group 1: Employee Experiences - Part-time employees report being forced to buy mooncakes, with one individual stating they had to purchase 15 boxes, costing nearly 3000 yuan, which has strained their finances [1] - Full-time employees also face significant pressure, with one reporting a target of 25 boxes and having already purchased 5, amounting to over 1000 yuan, and potential penalties for not meeting sales goals [2] - There are multiple listings on second-hand platforms for reselling Starbucks mooncakes, with original prices of 358 yuan per box being sold for between 139 to 175 yuan [2] Group 2: Company Response and Business Strategy - Starbucks has stated that it does not allow employees to purchase products out of pocket and is currently verifying the claims made by employees [3] - The company is considering selling its business in China, with over 20 institutions reportedly interested in acquiring shares, while maintaining a significant stake in the market [3] - Potential buyers include well-known investment firms such as Hillhouse Capital and KKR, with valuations for the Chinese business estimated between 5 to 6 billion USD (approximately 36 to 43 billion yuan) [3] Group 3: Financial Performance - For the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, Starbucks reported a consolidated net revenue increase of 4% to 9.5 billion USD, despite a 2% decline in global same-store sales [3] - In the Chinese market, revenue reached 790 million USD, an 8% year-over-year increase, with same-store sales up by 2% [4] - The company opened 308 new stores in the third quarter, bringing the total number of stores to 41,097 globally, with 7,828 located in China [4]

Group 1 - Starbucks is reportedly considering selling a stake in its China business, with potential buyers including major private equity firms such as Hillhouse Capital, Carlyle, KKR, and Dazhong Capital [2][3] - The valuation of Starbucks China is estimated at $10 billion, attracting nearly 30 private equity firms [3] - Starbucks may retain a 30% stake in the business, with the remaining shares distributed among multiple buyers, each holding less than 30% [4] Group 2 - Starbucks is currently not considering a full sale of its China operations, focusing instead on strategies to enhance growth and increase the number of stores from 8,000 to 20,000 [4] - The company reported a revenue of $2.958 billion in the Chinese market for fiscal year 2024, marking a 1.4% decline year-over-year, the first drop in recent years [6] - In Q1 2025, Starbucks China generated revenue of $739.7 million (approximately 5.317 billion RMB), reflecting a 5% year-over-year increase, with a total of 7,758 stores [6] Group 3 - Dazhong Capital, a significant shareholder in Luckin Coffee, is also on the list of potential buyers for Starbucks China, indicating a strategic interest in the coffee sector [5] - Luckin Coffee reported a 41.2% year-over-year revenue increase to 8.87 billion RMB in Q1 2025, with self-operated store revenue growing by 42.2% [6] - As of now, Luckin Coffee has a total of 24,097 stores globally, with a quarterly transaction volume exceeding 10.4 billion RMB [6]