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This article presents information about Starbucks' efforts to introduce coffee to its Chinese customers in its China restaurants. Most Chinese people dislike coffee and most Starbucks in China only brewed coffee when a customer requested it. Stephanie Chen of Starbucks has been introducing coffee to Chinese people through sample tastings. Wang Jinlong, president of Starbucks Greater China, is betting that the young more affluent Chinese people will drink more coffee.

This article discusses the plans of Yum Brands, owner of the Pizza Hut Inc and KFC restaurant chains, to market Chinese fast-food in China. The chain caters to the Chinese palate, but utilizes western-style methods. Previous experiences with traditional KFC restaurants in China are related. Competitor strategies like those of Yonghe King are described.

The article reports that McDonald's is playing on beef's connotations of virility to introduce traditional American menu items to a Chinese audience. Advertisements for the newly introduced Quarter Pounder show young men and women in sensual poses eating hamburgers. The racy campaigns are part of a bid to appeal to the younger, affluent segment of the Chinese population.

The article discusses the price of Starbucks Corp.'s stock. Some analysts believe that the company's stock is over-valued. The company's stock is up 50% from May 2005 to May 2006. This compares to a Dow Jones Industrial Average increase of only 12%, and an increase of 27% on average for restaurant stocks. Growth opportunities for Starbucks in China, and also inside the United States, particularly near highways, are reported. Risks and opportunities for the Seattle retailer are discussed.

This article reports on the opening of four temporary McDonald's restaurants inside the Olympic Park during the 2008 Beijing Olympics being held in Beijing, China. These restaurants will be closed barely three weeks after the opening. This reflect the company's quest to be the dominant diner in the Olympics. McDonald's is the top sponsor for this event.

The article reports on the move of McDonald's to provide its restaurant crews at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with video cameras and create Asian-inspired versions of food around the world as part of advertising efforts for the Games. The fast-food chain produced a 310-calorie chicken Olympic burger in Denmark with the help of dietitians from the country's Olympic team. About 126 crew members of McDonald's from outside China will be given video cameras to record their experiences that lead them to the event.

The article reports that donut chain Dunkin' Donuts has started its expansion in China with the opening of a store in Taiwan.

The article discusses how several large U.S. corporations are using the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China to entertain clients and reward employees. General Electric Co. has 2,000 invited guests who attend Olympic events and enjoy sightseeing. Johnson & Johnson is hosting winners of an employee's essay-writing contest.

The article examines the dilemma posed to corporate sponsors of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing by the March, 2008 violent unrest in Tibet and China's policies towards Sudan. Companies such as Coca-Cola and Volkswagen paid up to $120 million to sponsor the Games in hopes of tapping China's vast market. International protests against government policies, however, put the companies in a bind, risking damage either to their image or from retaliation from China's government.