‭For Release: December 10th, 2023‬

‭Starbucks Launches the Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices Program‬

‭(C.A.F.E.)‬
‭Program Launch‬

‭Today, the executive vice president and chief communications officer of public affairs, AJ Jones‬
‭II, announced the launch of Starbucks’s new Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices program. The‬
‭program, otherwise known as C.A.F.E, is set to create new unprecedented ethical and‬
‭environmental practices.‬

‭Starbucks is among the largest coffee bean buyers in the United States, with over 800 Million‬
‭pounds of coffee bought annually, making up over 5 percent of the world's coffee purchases. The‬
‭C.A.F.E program and practices are set to create guidelines for coffee growers to follow, growers‬
‭who meet the C.A.F.E standards will receive better contract terms and higher pricing for their‬
‭beans.‬

‭The C.A.F.E program will reward farmers who follow the C.A.F.E program guidelines to:‬
‭maintain economic transparency & social responsibility, follow environmental leadership‬
‭measures, and pass quality standard testing. These practices will create and promote mutually‬
‭beneficial relationships between major coffee bean suppliers and community stakeholders.‬

‭Starbucks believes and is committed to ensuring the ethical and sustainable sourcing of every‬
‭cup of coffee sold. The C.A.F.E program will ensure Starbucks' efforts toward the conservation‬
‭of human rights, the environment, and the well-being of farmers, and their communities.‬
 ‭Memorandum‬

‭ o: All Employees‬
T
‭From: Christobal Velez, Executive Vice President‬
‭Date: December 10, 2023‬
‭Subject: Starbucks Launches the Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices Program (C.A.F.E.)‬

‭Dear Starbucks Team,‬

I‭ am thrilled to share with you the launch of a new program that reflects our belief and ongoing‬
‭commitment to ethical & sustainable sourcing. Today, December 10th, AJ Jones II, Executive‬
‭Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of Public Affairs announced the launch of‬
‭Starbucks's Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices program, otherwise known as C.A.F.E.‬

‭ s many of you might already know, our company is one of the largest coffee houses and‬
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‭roasteries in the United States with over 800 million pounds of coffee beans being purchased‬
‭yearly. The C.A.F.E program being launched today has been carefully designed to establish‬
‭ethical and environmental standards in our suppliers' farming practices.‬

‭ he C.A.F.E program will host guidelines to ensure economic transparency and social‬
T
‭responsibility, adhering to environmental leadership measures, and passing rigorous quality‬
‭standard testing. Through this new program, growers who meet these guidelines will benefit‬
‭from improved contract terms but also enjoy higher pricing for their beans. Our goal is to create‬
‭and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between our major coffee bean suppliers and the‬
‭communities they serve.‬

‭ he C.A.F.E program is a reflection of our unwavering belief and commitment to ensuring the‬
T
‭ethical and sustainable sourcing of our products. As a result, we hope to solidify our efforts for‬
‭the conservation of our environment, workers' rights, and the well-being of our suppliers and‬
‭their communities.‬

‭ our support, dedication, and hard work are a crucial part of the success of initiatives like the‬
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‭C.A.F.E program. We look forward to collectively making a positive impact in the world.‬

‭Thank you for your continued commitment to Starbucks's values.‬

‭For more information please contact the Chief Communication Officer directly.‬

‭ arm regards,‬
W
‭Christobal Velez.‬
 ‭Brewing Change: Inside Starbucks's C.A.F.E. Program Launch‬
‭By Christobal Velez, Starbucks Executive‬
‭December 15th, 2023‬

‭Every day millions of people wake up with one goal‬‭in mind. Coffee. Now, it is no secret‬

‭that Starbucks is one of the largest coffee houses and roasteries in the world. But have you ever‬

‭wondered what makes Starbucks great? Is it the delicious coffee, or perhaps the warm and‬

‭inviting ambiance of every Starbucks location? The answer is simple. The people.‬

‭At Starbucks, employees don’t just wake up hungry for the best coffee in the world, they‬

‭wake up intending to change the world. At Starbucks, we believe and are committed to creating‬

‭ethical and sustainable coffee bean sourcing. That is why, this past week Starbucks’s Executive‬

‭Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of Public Affairs announced the Coffee and‬

‭Farmer Equity Practices program, otherwise known as C.A.F.E. The C.A.F.E program was‬

‭created to institute ethical and environmental criteria for farming and cultivation practices among‬

‭Starbucks suppliers. With millions of pounds of coffee beans bought annually, Starbucks holds‬

‭significant leverage in the industry, and the C.A.F.E program is Starbucks’s way of creating‬

‭equitable and positive change.‬

‭At the core of the C.A.F.E program is the belief that we can create sustainable and ethical‬

‭farming practices whilst also benefiting and aiding the farmers we rely on to bring you the best‬

‭cup of coffee. Farmers that meet the C.A.F.E program guidelines will not only benefit from‬

‭better contract terms but will also receive higher premiums for their coffee beans. The goal of the‬

‭C.A.F.E program is to create long-lasting relationships with farmers that not only benefit us but‬

‭also the families and communities our growers live in. By promoting and upholding the C.A.F.E‬

‭standards towards maintaining economic transparency, and social responsibility, adhering to‬
‭environmental leadership measures, and passing rigorous quality standard testing we can ensure‬

‭that every cup of coffee you buy meets higher quality standards.‬

‭The C.A.F.E program is a reflection of the ongoing commitment that Starbucks has‬

‭toward ensuring and promoting ethical and sustainable farming practices. The program is a‬

‭testament to the commitment of Starbucks's dedication to the conservation of human rights, the‬

‭environment, and the overall well-being of farmers and their communities. As people,‬

‭employees, consumers, and coffee lovers, we can all enjoy each cup of coffee knowing that it‬

‭comes from a place that believes in more than just profit. The C.A.F.E program is more than just‬

‭a program, it is the untethering conviction of every Starbucks team member toward a brighter‬

‭and better future --- one cup at a time.‬

‭Audio Recording Transcript‬

‭Every day millions of people wake up craving one thing, Starbucks. Now, it is no secret‬

‭that almost everyone loves a good warm, or cold cup of coffee. But have you ever wondered how‬

‭the coffee you love gets into your cup every morning? Well here at Starbucks we take pride in‬

‭knowing what makes our coffee great. Every year, Starbucks buys over 800 million pounds of‬

‭coffee from farmers all over the world. Without these farmers, our coffee would never be as‬

‭delicious as it is. To ensure you get the best cup of coffee we have officially announced the‬

‭Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices program. Through this program, we at Starbucks are‬

‭showcasing our ongoing belief and commitment to bringing our consumers sustainable and‬

‭ethically grown coffee. Growers who commit and uphold the values at the core of the C.A.F.E‬

‭program will not only be rewarded with better contract terms but also with better prices for their‬

‭coffee beans. Here at Starbucks, we believe that every cup of coffee tastes better, when it is‬

‭grown better. For more information visit our website at Starbucks.com and follow us on all your‬

‭social media.‬

‭Audio Recording Link:‬

‭https://clarku.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=a2d18631-b065-4005-b0c1-b0‬

‭d4005adf6e&start=0.701525‬
 ‭References‬

‭Michelle: Working to create a more sustainable future of coffee for all‬‭. (n.d.). Starbucks Stories.‬

‭https://stories.starbucks.com/people-in-coffee/2021/michelle-working-to-create-a-more-s‬

‭ustainable-future-of-coffee-for-all/‬

‭Starbucks. (n.d.).‬‭Where Does Coffee Come From? |‬‭Starbucks® At Home‬‭.‬

‭Www.starbucksathome.com.‬

‭https://www.starbucksathome.com/gb/story/where-does-coffee-come#:~:text=The%20Co‬

‭ffee%20Belt%20is%20divided‬

‭Starbucks. (2020, February 28).‬‭C.A.F.E. Practices:‬‭Starbucks Approach to Ethically Sourcing‬

‭Coffee‬‭. Starbucks Stories & News.‬

‭https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-s‬

‭ourcing-coffee/‬