Improvements in coffee makers and Keurig's innovation have allowed Starbucks to repackage their products and distribute them as a domestic product. Many of the flavors that consumers could only get from the store's Starbucks espresso machine can now be duplicated at home. The opportunity for continued expansion is present. Coffee is rapidly consumed in almost every country in the world, Starbucks has a legitimate opportunity to influence those countries where the Starbucks brand does not open their doors. Threats – Foreign Policy with Foreign Nations Hosting the Starbucks Brand. Import and export taxes are an expense that can become expensive and profits can be lost. Other companies like McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, and Coffee Beanery provide consumers with an ambient environment and some specialty coffee flavors. Proximity may be all that is needed for the consumer to select the services of rival coffee distribution companies. These are just a few of the many strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the Starbucks company may face. This is why a marketing team, along with data and analytics, is essential to building a new product. It requires research, innovation, hard work and a little luck: the Starbucks brand is much more than just coffee. It's a simple yet detailed product tailored to meet the needs of consumers at home, at work and in between. (Starbucks Corporation,