Starbucks Joins (RED)
Partnership furthers Starbucks Shared Planet Commitment to the People and Communities that Grow Its Coffee.
Starbucks Coffee Company and (RED) announced a multi-year partnership that will give coffee lovers a chance to do good every day. Through the partnership, launched as part of the Starbucks Shared Planet commitment to communities, a portion of the proceeds from special STARBUCKS (PRODUCT)RED products will go to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa, a key coffee growing region for Starbucks.
Starting on November 27, 2008 and continuing through January 2, 2009, Starbucks will contribute five cents from the sale of any (STARBUCKS)RED EXCLUSIVE beverage at all company-owned and licensed stores in the United States and Canada to the Global Fund to invest in AIDS programs in Africa.
Once (STARBUCKS)RED EXCLUSIVE Holiday beverages leave stores, the company will offer its customers the opportunity to make (RED) choices in their purchases every day. The (STARBUCKS) RED EXCLUSIVE beverages are Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle only at participating locations.
Bono, co-founder of (RED), joined the partnership announcement in front of 10,000 Starbucks partners (employees) at the company’s 2008 Leadership Conference in New Orleans on October 29th together with Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and CEO.
“(RED) is coming to a corner near you thanks to Starbucks. I’m very excited to be able to say that,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED) and lead singer of U2. “The business of Starbucks with roots in Africa and branches all over the world is an ideal fit for (RED). It’s pretty mind-blowing to think that millions of people can buy (RED) going about their daily lives and in doing so raise millions of dollars to fight AIDS in Africa. That’s not a bad hit from your caffeine.”
Starbucks partnership with (PRODUCT)RED reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to the people and communities that grow its coffee. This is a key component of Starbucks Shared Planet, the company’s approach to doing business responsibly. Starbucks currently buys coffee from ten African countries including Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In 2009 Starbucks plans to open Starbucks Farmer Support Centers in Ethiopia and Rwanda.
More Info: www.joinred.com www.starbucks.com
