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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
10.02.2007 - 11:16am ET
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Starbucks Celebrates Fair Trade Month, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Supporting Coffee Farming Communities
(CSRwire) SEATTLE - October 2, 2007 - Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) is proud
to join in the celebration of the fourth annual Fair Trade Month sponsored
by TransFair USA. Starbucks is one of the largest purchasers of Fair Trade
Certified™ coffee in the world, and we are eager to share Fair Trade
CertifiedTM coffee with our customers, helping to build awareness of
TransFair USA's work.
As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to sustainably source coffee and
to engaging with coffee farming communities, Starbucks will feature our
100% Fair Trade CertifiedTM Café Estima BlendTM as the "Coffee of the
Week" in participating Company-operated and licensed stores in the United
States and Canada for three weeks in October. Our 100% Fair Trade
CertifiedTM Café Estima BlendTM, a blend of Latin American and African
coffees, has a smooth texture and a complex flavor profile.
"We are extremely pleased to promote Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffees," said
Dub Hay, Starbucks senior vice president, Coffee and Global Procurement.
"We share many common goals with TransFair USA, including our mutual
commitment to helping ensure coffee farmers are treated fairly, and to
providing a platform for them to invest for their future."
"We are pleased that Starbucks is taking a leadership role during Fair
Trade Month by featuring their Fair Trade CertifiedTM Café Estima
Blend™ as 'Coffee of the Week' for a majority of the month," said Paul
Rice, the founding President & CEO of TransFair USA. "Starbucks commitment
to fair trade shows that you can give consumers a great product while still
paying farmers a fair wage and taking care of the environment. By featuring
Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee for the majority of October, Starbucks is
helping customers make a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands
of family farmers."
In fiscal 2006, Starbucks purchased 18 million pounds of Fair Trade
CertifiedTM coffee, a 50 percent increase over the 11.5 million pounds we
purchased in fiscal 2005. This represents 14 percent of global Fair Trade
CertifiedTM coffee imports, and about 30 percent of Fair Trade CertifiedTM
coffee imported into the United States.
Starbucks buys Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee in part because it benefits
small-scale coffee farmers organized into cooperatives. Starbucks is
increasing the use and visibility of Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee
throughout our business by:
Working actively with TransFair USA to promote Fair
Trade CertifiedTM coffee
Highlighting our 100% Fair Trade CertifiedTM Café
Estima BlendTM, as "Coffee of the Week" periodically throughout the year
Selling whole bean and ground 100% Fair Trade
CertifiedTM Cafe Estima BlendTM coffee by the bag
Making additional Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee options
available at college and university campus stores
Selling Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee under the
Kirkland Signature brand in Costco stores in the U.S. and Canada
Utilizing it in a variety of coffee blends. These
blends, however, cannot be marketed or sold as Fair Trade CertifiedTM
because Fair Trade beans do not comprise 100 percent of the product
"Offering premium quality Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee allows Starbucks
to help give our customers the opportunity to not only experience
wonderful coffees, but to support coffee farming communities," said Hay.
About Starbucks: Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting
experience that enriches people's lives one moment, one human being, one
extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit
www.starbucks.com.
About TransFair USA: TransFair USA is the only independent,
third-party certifier of Fair Trade CertifiedTM products in the United
States. TransFair USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S.
companies offering Fair Trade Certified products and their international
suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade
Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. TransFair USA certifies
coffee, tea, herbs, vanilla, cocoa, chocolate, rice, sugar, bananas and
flowers. For more information, visit www.FairTradeCertified.org.
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