e-retail merchandising concept in the mid-1980s and was listed in the Fortune 500 beginning in 2003, operates more than 270 stores in Canada (Starbucks, 2002).
Coffee beans are commodities that importers and wholesalers trade in capital markets designed for the purpose. TCI regularly trades futures contracts on the Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange in New York and on London's Futures and Options Exchange. Although TCI does trade futures from time to time (chiefly to protect against foreign-exchange exposure), it is the company's practice to take delivery on and warehouse contracted goods for roasting and/or distribution.
Both wholesale and retail markets for imported coffee beans exist. Importers of green coffee may wholesale the beans to roasters, who in turn may wholesale their roasted coffee to retailers. Some retailers also roast their own coffee for sales to counter patrons or consumers desiring to prepare premium coffee at home. The Specialty Coffee Association (2004) breaks down the channels of distributi
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