Starbucks Starbucks, along with its partner Delek Group of Israel, closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment." The Starbucks location in the former imperial palace in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture." In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 underperforming company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks
Global Closure Systems Global Closure Systems Global Closure Systems is a privately owned French company which produces closures for beverage containers and other purposes. It operates from 21 plants globally under various brand names, including Astra Plastique, Bender, Massmould, Obrist, UCP and Zeller Plastik. The company was created as a result of the purchase by PAI Partners, a French private equity firm, of the closures business previously operated by Crown Holdings Inc for $750 million. Packaging giant RPC Group plc is set to significantly extend its global presence after it announced plans to buy Global Closure Systems for 650 million euros ($714.6 million).