Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.
Starbucks Coffee Japan is beginning the slow process of recovery. We have confirmed the safety of all our partners who were working when the earthquake and tsunami occurred. We are still working to verify the safety of a few remaining partners in the hardest hit areas who were not working. About 30 of the more than 900 stores in Japan are closed, however hours of open stores may vary due to rolling power outages.
The Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks Coffee Japan contributed ¥100 million (US$1.2 million) to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan (press release: Starbucks to Contribute ¥100 Million to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Efforts).
Additionally, Starbucks partners (employees) in the U.S. and Canada can contribute directly to the Red Cross or other emergency relief organizations and Starbucks will match those donations of $20 or more.
As a company, we are using our store footprint around the world to help customers support donations to the Red Cross and other relief organizations. To date, Red Cross donations through stores in the U.S. and Canada have generated more than US$140,000. In EMEA and the U.K., customers may donate through various in-store collection points, and in Asia Pacific, our business partners have provided donations directly to their local Red Cross or other NGOs engaged in relief work in Japan. The Philippines stores are matching customer donations, Taiwan and Hong Kong stores are donating portions of sales for relief efforts, and the Asia Pacific region and Starbucks Singapore are matching partner contributions.
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