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Industry Expert Mary Williams Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference

Industry Expert Mary Williams Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Conference

Published 04-29-03

Submitted by Starbucks Corporation

SEATTLE,WA – Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) are pleased to announce that Mary Williams was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the SCAA national conference on Saturday, April 26 in Boston. Williams recently retired as the senior vice president of Coffee for Starbucks and currently serves as an advisor to the Company.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually at the SCAA national conference in recognition of general career excellence in providing inspiration, direction and leadership. The award is given to a professional in the coffee industry whose positive influence transcends the limits of an individual’s company and its profit, and whose work inspires others to contribute their best efforts toward attaining the best in specialty coffee and providing consumers with the finest cup of coffee in the world. The selection of Mary Williams for the 2003 award was made by the SCAA awards committee, chaired by Danny O’Neill, immediate past president of the SCAA.

“Mary’s passion for the highest quality coffee has made an indelible impression on the specialty coffee industry,” said Orin Smith, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. “She is highly supportive of coffee producing countries where she has been instrumental in helping to enhance coffee quality and standards, improving the health and education of the people employed in growing coffee, and establishing direct relationships. Starbucks has been fortunate to have worked with Mary for the last 10 years and we have benefited from her leadership, vision and passion for high quality specialty coffee.”

“Mary has always been a quality advocate, but during her career with Starbucks she became a quality ambassador,” said Steve Colton, president of the Specialty Coffee Association of America. “Mary helped develop programs that recognize coffee growers as equal partners in excellence and the programs are now models for the specialty coffee industry.”

“I am honored that the SCAA selected me as the recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement award,” said Mary Williams. “Some of my most cherished memories are of my extensive travels in coffee origin countries developing personal relationships and working directly with farmers and coops. It was my pleasure to introduce hundreds of producers to Starbucks and bring the finest quality coffee to Starbucks consumers around the world.”

Williams’ Background
As one of the most skilled coffee tasters in the world and one of the few women in the green coffee business, Mary Williams’ 30 years of experience made her part adventurer and part determined investigator. Williams joined Starbucks Coffee Company in 1993 as vice president, Green Coffee, and was promoted to senior vice president, Coffee in 1997. In 2002, she was named chairman of Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, Lausanne, Switzerland. As senior vice president, Coffee, Williams was responsible for ensuring that Starbucks serves only the best coffees the world has to offer, overseeing green coffee purchasing, roasting, blending, recipe development and coffee education of Starbucks partners (employees). Williams will continue to serve as an advisor to Starbucks and is currently in her second term as chairwoman of the National Coffee Association of America.

SCAA Background
Founded in 1982, SCAA is the world’s largest coffee trade association with 2,500 member companies. SCAA members are located in 40 countries and represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, from growers to coffee roasters and retailers. The SCAA’s mission is to be the recognized authority on specialty coffee, providing a common forum for the development and promotion of coffee excellence and sustainability. The SCAA’s dedication to excellence in coffee is realized through the setting of quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment, and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and services for members.

About Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 6,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot™ coffee drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company’s other brands enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products: Tazo Tea Company offers a line of innovative premium teas, and Hear Music produces and distributes a line of exceptional compact discs.

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