Starbucks laying groundwork for global growth.(Brief Article)

Continental locations to be announced this year

The recent announcement of Starbucks Coffee Co.'s joint venture in Hong Kong figures as just part of the coffee giant's plans for global expansion this year.

Peter Maslen, the new president of Starbucks Coffee International, said the company will announce the first locations planned for continental Europe, as well as new markets in Asia, later this year.

In 1999, Starbucks conducted an indepth market study of mainland Europe's coffee business and identified eight markets where Starbucks will focus its expansion efforts, Maslen said in his first interview with the press since assuming the post last fall. Maslen replaced Howard Bebar, the high-profile Starbucks executive …