"The Seattle-based coffee giant plans to open roughly 2,100 new locations worldwide next year, concentrating growth in the United States and China, CEO Kevin Johnson said. The chain reported increased sales in the most recent quarter, a performance analysts credit in part to a new line of healthier food and beverages. A recent corporate restructuring has also sped product development dramatically: new beverages can move from the company lab to cafes in about 100 days, compared with roughly 18 months before." - Chris Fuhrmeister