Starbucks-Target licensing deal (1999)
Starbucks signed a licensing agreement with Target to open in-store coffee kiosks staffed by Target employees. The chain had already tested licensed stores in a few airports and hotels.
The Target deal expanded Starbucks into retail settings without Starbucks investing in real estate or staffing, and licensed stores became a growing share of the chain.
Licensing became core to Starbucks strategy, letting the brand reach venues it wouldn't operate directly, including grocery stores, airports, universities, and hospitals.
This permit for a temporary service counter relies on the same licensed-store model, placing a Starbucks-branded counter inside a hospital rather than a store.
