For the sorts of profit Starbucks should be reporting it is 24% for 2012, 23% for 2013.
Should be, is the key word there, on paper they don’t make any profit.
One division of Starbucks based in a tax haven sells it’s coffee to another at an above market price. That division then ‘roasts’ it and then sells it on at an even higher price to the UK shops. The UK shops are now buying coffee at a higher price than they could probably get it from the local Co-Op.
Meanwhile, another sister division is ‘charging’ the UK shops a ‘royalty fee’ for allowing them to use the Starbucks brand… All of these costs are thrown into their costs which means they invoice themselves with overpriced costs to ensure they don’t make a profit..
The nobedds like UK Uncut who are targeting these companies are wasting their time, the UK government has allowed this to happen by leaving huge massive gaping holes in their tax system. Close the holes and reap the rewards, Starbucks won’t close down their shops because they have to pay tax.