McDonald's
Just as in the U.S., this will put the company squarely in competition with Starbucks
In a customer's eyes, what immediately sets Starbucks apart from the competition is its decor and no-smoking policy. With convenient locations and a similar no-smoking policy, McDonald's Japan might be able to siphon off some traffic from Starbucks. I, for one, will be paying close attention.
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Nathan Parmelee owns shares in Starbucks, but has no ownership stake in any of the other companies mentioned. Starbucks is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor selection. The Motley Fool has an ironclad disclosure policy.