Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR)’s Unique Story, Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)’s Repurchase Plans & Sodastream International Ltd (SODA)

Starbucks’ grande latte costs $1 more in China (BizJournals)
If you buy a Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) grande latte in China, you’re going to pay $4.80, which is about $1 more than what you’d pay in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal broke down the cost of a latte in China, with Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) officials attributing the higher costs to higher rents paid in China, due to the stores there being larger. The higher prices put a dent in China coffee drinkers’ wallets: the average per capita income in China is about $7,500, compared with more than $42,500 in the U.S.

SodaStream: Plenty of Growth Left (DailyFinance)
As with any Israeli company, the threat of war in the Middle East always causes investors to pause on investments in the region. Recent threats of military action in neighbor Syria only add to those fears. Possibly this is part of the reason that, despite all the positive news, Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) continues to trade at market low multiples, even compared to slower growing Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ:GMCR) and Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ:MNST). While threats of war probably won’t ever go away, the market for home beverage machines has plenty of catalysts to reach its goal of $1 billion in revenue by 2016.

Harper’s reports on campaign against Israeli-made SodaStream (NCROnline)
The latest issue of Harper’s Magazine provides a detailed and fascinating report about the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA), a kitchen appliance made by an Israeli company. The company has been the target of various boycotts, including one launched earlier this year by an interfaith group in the United States. Those interested in the nonviolent leverage of economic boycotts will find the Harper’s summary a fascinating and, in some respects, encouraging read.

GMCR Consolidates Canadian Coffee, Portion Pack Production To Montreal Facility (VendingMarketWatch)
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ:GMCR) announced it would consolidate all of its Canadian coffee and portion pack production to its Montreal, Quebec facility in Canada. GMCR expects to cease production at its Toronto, Ontario facility by March 5, 2014 affecting a total of 120 production and production support employees, or approximately two percent of its total workforce, whose positions will be eliminated, according to the press release.