Starbucks Corporation operates coffee shops globally. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the company reports the following operating costs:

Cost Category	Amount ($)
Rent	1 billion
Employee Benefits	500 million
Store Operations	2 billion
Marketing	300 million
Supplies	200 million

Required:

• Calculate the total operating costs for Starbucks Corporation for 2024.
• Determine the cost per store assuming 30,000 stores globally.
• Analyze the fixed and variable components of operating costs.
• Discuss the cost behavior of operating costs in the retail industry.
• Recommend cost reduction strategies for Starbucks Corporation.