Starbucks laser-focused on China market

Coffee chain store operator continues with biz upgrading and expansion into lower-tier cities

Strong growth in China has continued to boost Starbucks Corp's financial results, reflecting the significance of the Chinese market where the world's largest coffee chain store operator has invested in upgrading stores, local plantation and expansion into lower-tier cities.

China's comparable same-store sales increased 6 percent, according to the company's first quarter report of fiscal 2018, which ended on Dec 31, 2017. In comparison, global store sales only grew 2 percent.