Portion of every purchase in this store directly supports scholarships and after-school learning through nonprofit partners, Young Focus and AHA! Learning Center

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Today, Starbucks Philippines proudly opened the Abad Santos Tondo Community Store, in celebration of its 25th year in the market and its unwavering dedication to creating positive impact in communities it serves. The Community Store is dedicated to supporting youth education in the Philippines, where a portion of every purchase in this store will enable scholarships and after-school learning programs in partnership with Young Focus Foundation and AHA! Learning Center.

“Starbucks has always been a different kind of company, staying true to its mission to nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection,” says Noey Lopez, president of Starbucks Philippines. “Through this first Community Store in the country, we hope that this is the start of creating a positive and lasting impact on the youth within our local communities.”

The Abad Santos Tondo Community Store in the Philippines joins more than 200 Starbucks Community Stores around the world to strengthen communities, support economic opportunities, and create impact through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;

Empowering one mind at a time

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Young Focus Foundation extends scholarships to out-of-school youth through its network of partner schools and universities. Presently, they have two centers located in Tondo and Cavite, offering support to more than 1,000 students, and guiding them from elementary school through to college. Starbucks is committed to expanding this support, empowering out-of-school youth to pursue their education at both high school and collegiate levels.

“Starbucks doesn't just serve coffee but also serves the community of Tondo through education. We look forward to this special partnership with the first Community Store in the Philippines. This is an amazing investment for the youth to reach their potential,” says Paul van Wijgerden, Managing Director of Young Focus.

Meanwhile, AHA! Learning Center is dedicated to offering free after-school learning programs to public school students, focusing on areas including academics and social-emotional skills. Currently, they operate from a community center on Radial Road 10 serving over 180 learners spanning various age groups. Starbucks will expand this initiative, providing additional opportunities for more learners to benefit from AHA! Learning modules and continue their after-school programs.

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The store opens up inviting spaces for hosting future workshops, fostering both learning and connections. In addition to a full café, the area features a series of murals entitled, "Brewing Knowledge, Blossoming Communities," by visual artist Anina Rubio. The series beautifully intertwines elements of books, indigenous flora and fauna, and the diverse wildlife from coffee-growing regions, seamlessly blending with the store's interior. &nbsp;The exceptional artwork symbolizes how education serves as the catalyst for individuals to rise to new heights and achieve their aspirations.

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Portion of every purchase in this store directly supports scholarships and after-school learning through nonprofit partners, Young Focus and AHA! Learning Center

Starbucks Philippines opens first Community Store dedicated to supporting youth education : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Philippines opens first Community Store dedicated to supporting youth education

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Starbucks Philippines Opens First Community Store Dedicated to Supporting Youth Education

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/starbucks-philippines-opens-first-community-store-dedicated-to-supporting-youth-education/

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Starbucks Vietnam and Food Bank Vietnam joined together in partnership to combat hunger by signing a strategic cooperation agreement on August 22, 2023. Through the agreement, the two parties announced their plans to conduct a pilot program that aims to enhance awareness about food waste reduction and provide quality food supplies to communities in need.

Partnership in reducing food waste and combating hunger

Starbucks Vietnam and Food Bank Vietnam are constructing a pilot program focused on reducing food waste in select stores in Ho Chi Minh City. This initiative sets the premise for programs to minimize food waste in the community as well as provide food to communities in need.

Through this partnership, the two parties are jointly committed to creating a positive impact on the communities in need in Vietnam.

"We are really happy to kick off this project with Food Bank Vietnam. Starbucks truly appreciates what the community gives us, and our mission is to give back as much as possible to create a better and more sustainable life," said Ms. Patricia Marques, General Manager of Starbucks Vietnam. "After a decade in the Vietnamese market, we continue to commit to sustainable business practices, reducing environmental impacts, and working towards a modern sustainable community. This agreement is the first stage of our commitment to hunger relief, and we look forward to expanding this meaningful initiative in the future."

The partnership between Food Bank Vietnam and Starbucks Vietnam marks a significant step towards food waste reduction and environmental protection. Both organizations will make efforts to continuously cooperate and present new initiatives in order to enhance the environment and provide hunger relief in Vietnam.

"The agreement solidifies both enterprises as significant partners to co-create and develop new societal values in the future” said Ms. Nguyen Hoang Truc Linh, CEO of Food Bank Vietnam. "Food Bank Vietnam takes on the role of raising awareness and combating food waste through green activities, including distributing and sharing Starbucks products with various entities, including organizations, shelters, open homes, and individuals in need."

In addition to the partnership with Food Bank Vietnam, Starbucks Vietnam, together with its nonprofit partners, has also created positive impact on the local communities it serves. Starbucks partners (employees) have assisted in the building of nine Aqua Towers with Planet Water Foundation, providing access to clean, safe drinking water, handwashing and sanitation infrastructure across rural Vietnam. A "Reusable Campaign” at stores also encourages customers to shift from single-use plastics to reusables, including reusable cup through a "Personal Cup" campaign encouraging customers to enjoy their favorite drinks with their own serve ware.

Starbucks and the Food Bank launch hunger relief pilot program in Vietnam : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks and the Food Bank launch hunger relief pilot program in Vietnam

Through the agreement, the two parties announced their plans to conduct a pilot program that aims to enhance awareness about food waste reduction and provide quality food supplies to communities in need.

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Portion of proceeds from store will be donated to provide skills training, career development and academic scholarships for family members of those who served with distinction

The Community Store is a partnership between Starbucks Korea, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Korea National Council on Social Welfare

Starbucks Korea inaugurated its Dongnimmun Station store as the sixth Community Store in the market on August 18th, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for families of men and women of national merit who served with distinction.

A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Korea National Council on Social Welfare to provide academic scholarships and coffee skills training for underserved youth, who are descendants of men and women of national merit, seeking employment opportunities in the coffee industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In celebration of the new Community Store dedication, Starbucks Korea signed a three-way agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. The signing ceremony was attended by:

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As part of the agreement, Starbucks Korea plans to donate a total of 300 million KRW (approximately $224,000 USD) in scholarships over the next three years, while also conducting a coffee skills-training program in partnership with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The new Community Store, which is located near a historic site, Dongnimmun, features a mural by local artist Lee Eunjoo, honoring the valor and noble spirit of men and women who served the country. There is also a digital community board showcasing various social impact activities by Starbucks Korea to support the local community.

“The support from Starbucks Korea and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare will provide greater stability for the descendants of those who have devoted themselves to serving the country. We will continue our efforts to honor and support this community and hope the interest will spread across our society,” said Park Minshik, minister, Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

“We are pleased to be part of this very meaningful agreement to provide aid for descendants of men and women of national merit. We will focus on developing more innovative social impact models in the future,” said Kim Soung-Yee, president, Korea National Council on Social Welfare.

“This Community Store speaks to our mission to help nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection, as we contribute positively to the community," said Michael Conway, group president, Starbucks International and Channel Development. “We are proud that through this store model, we’re able to create environments for Starbucks partners to connect with, engage and give back to the communities they serve in meaningful ways around the world.”

“We were able to honor the service of men and women who served with distinction by providing academic scholarships to their descendants since 2015 and our new Community Store represents our unwavering commitment and continued support,” said Ryan Sohn, ceo, Starbucks Korea. “Starbucks remains committed to creating more meaningful occasions for our customers and partners through its Community Stores.”

Starbucks Korea opened its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2014/starbucks-opens-first-community-store-in-korea-to-create-pathways-to-opport/">first Community Store</a> in 2014, which supports lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Youth Leadership Program. Today, Starbucks Korea operates 6 Community Stores in the market, and has donated over 3 billion KRW (approximately $2.2 million USD) cumulatively to support local communities. Since entering the market in 1999, Starbucks Korea has grown to be one of the largest markets for Starbucks, with 1,848 stores across 82 cities. Today, more than 23,000 partners (employees) proudly wear the green apron.&nbsp;

Starbucks dedicates its 6th Community Store in South Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks dedicates its 6th Community Store in South Korea

Portion of proceeds from store will be donated to provide skills training, career development and academic scholarships for family members of those who served with distinction

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On August 17th, Starbucks Malaysia proudly announced the inauguration of its first Signing Store in Borneo, located at Vivacity Megamall, Kuching. This store marks a significant milestone in the market as the third Signing Store in Malaysia after <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2016/deaf-partners-build-careers-at-starbucks/">Kuala Lumpur</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2019/career-opportunities-expand-in-malaysia-with-opening-of-new-starbucks-signing-store-in-penang/">Penang</a>. The store aims to uplift the local community by fostering inclusivity and celebrating the vibrant culture of the Deaf and hard of hearing people. Since its soft launch on 27 July 2023, the store saw an overwhelming and positive response from its customers.

"Creating a space that truly embraces diversity and empowers the Deaf and hard of hearing community has been a journey close to our hearts. The opening of the Signing Store at Vivacity Megamall reflects our unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the communities we serve,” said Dato’ Sydney Quays, Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Food Berhad and Managing Director of Starbucks Malaysia &amp; Brunei. “Through this store, we aim to create a welcoming environment that not only offers exceptional coffee but also fosters a sense of belonging and equal opportunity."

Over the past 24 years, Starbucks Malaysia has strived to be a transformative force in Malaysia, driven by a vision that places humanity at the core of its operations and the Starbucks mission to nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection. With the introduction of the first Starbucks Signing Store concept globally back in 2016, the company took a bold step towards this aspiration, fostering personal growth and empowerment, and enhancing self-confidence and self-reliance of the Deaf and hard of hearing community in Malaysia. Since then, Starbucks has opened 20 Signing Stores in China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and United States.

With the opening of the third Signing store in Malaysia, the company advances further in its goal to promote awareness and appreciation of the Deaf community by creating employment opportunities and advancement for Deaf partners (employees), fostering meaningful connections between partners and customers. Starbucks remains the only coffee chain brand in Malaysia to establish stores dedicated to supporting the Deaf community.

Starbucks Malaysia works closely with the Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD) to provide professional Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) interpretation services and to host various activities for the Deaf and hard of hearing community – providing a platform where they can gather to share ideas, learn more about job opportunities, or connect with each other on current issues.

"This inclusive effort by Starbucks Malaysia to foster a supportive environment for the Deaf and hard of hearing community is truly commendable. Such initiatives pave the way for greater community integration and empowerment.” said Dato’ Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development.

Every detail of the Signing Store, from the carefully designed touchpoints catering to the Deaf and hard of hearing, to the spacious café area ideal for community workshops, reflects Starbucks commitment to creating an inclusive and enriching environment.

Moreover, Starbucks Malaysia is dedicated to endorsing local artists, including those with disabilities. This commitment is exemplified through collaborations with Deaf artists on exclusive commissioned artwork featured in Signing Stores as well as a core Starbucks® stores. Inside this third Signing Store is a captivating mural by Deaf artist Madang Ding Anyi, from the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak, celebrating the coffee growing essence of Asia Pacific and depicting the flora of Borneo.

As part of this occasion, Starbucks Malaysia introduces an exclusive range of Signing Store merchandise, including keychains, tote bags, ceramic mugs, stainless steel tumblers, plastic cold cups, and limited-edition Starbucks Card, available exclusively in Signing Stores.

Starbucks Malaysia launches first Signing Store in Borneo and the third in Malaysia : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Malaysia launches first Signing Store in Borneo and the third in Malaysia

On August 17th, Starbucks Malaysia proudly announced the inauguration of its first Signing Store in Borneo, located at Vivacity Megamall, Kuching. This store marks a significant milestone in the market as the third Signing Store in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

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Market unveils 2nd Community Store, with plans to expand to 800 stores and 8 Community Stores by 2030

This year, Starbucks Thailand celebrates 25 years of nurturing human connection, uplifting local communities and celebrating coffee. A testament to the dedication and commitment to the Thailand market, the milestone anniversary is celebrated with a nationwide anniversary promotion and a Starbucks® Rewards member event on 7-8 July for customers. The brand has also transformed the largest store in Thailand, Starbucks Reserve® Chao Phraya Riverfront at ICONSIAM, into the 2nd Community Store in the market.

The 25-year journey of Starbucks Thailand has seen the brand expand across 465 stores with over 4,300 partners (employees) delivering the&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;every day. Serving over 800,000 customers every week, the brand continues to nurture relationships with customers and communities, by creating more opportunities to connect over coffee.

“I am very grateful to our customers and partners for their continuous support of Starbucks Thailand throughout the years,” said Nednapa Srisamai, managing director, Starbucks Thailand. “We are committed to connecting with all cultures and customers while continuing to raise the bar on coffee quality and craft, elevating coffee experience for our customers for many years to come.”

The company plans to expand to 800 stores, including 8 Community Stores by 2030, reaffirming the commitment to accelerate growth across one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets and deepen its relations with local communities.

25th Anniversary celebration event and limited-edition merchandise

On 7-8 July, the 25th Anniversary Starbucks® Rewards member event took place at Suralai Hall, ICONSIAM 7th Floor where Starbucks® Rewards members enjoyed celebration activities including engaging in fun games and tasting sessions of exclusive coffee such as PrinciTM Blend, Reserve Galapagos La Tortuga, and more. Limited-edition collectible merchandise such as the 25th Anniversary Bling Cold Cup and community merchandise sourced from local Thai communities; Benjarong collection and Water Hyacinth tote bag, were also available only at the event.

Transforming the ICONSIAM flagship store to further uplift communities

The Starbucks Community Store creates an environment where partners can connect and engage with the communities they serve in unique ways. The new Community Store at <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-unveils-largest-store-in-thailand/">ICONSIAM</a>, Starbucks Thailand’s largest store, will have a meaningful impact on local communities through a profit-sharing business model where 10 baht (approximately 30 cents USD) from every handcrafted coffee beverage sold will be equally shared between two nonprofit organizations, Integrated Tribal Development Foundation (ITDF) and Scholars of Sustenance (SOS). Two community rooms will also be available as dedicated space to conduct training sessions and community activities by ITDF and SOS. This new Community Store supports Starbucks global commitment to open 1000 Community Stores by 2030.

“This new Community Store at ICONSIAM speaks to our brand promise to help nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection and move towards a more sustainable future, as we continue to focus on the wellbeing of our coffee farming communities in the northern part of Thailand,” added Nednapa.

Meaningful partnership to support and uplift communities

Starbucks Thailand is committed to supporting programs that create meaningful local impact, expanding on the company’s ambition to enhance the well-being of all who connect with the company, from coffee-growing communities to families in neighborhoods around its stores.&nbsp;

Since the launch of Thailand’s first Community Store in 2013 in the Langsuan neighborhood of Bangkok, Starbucks Thailand has contributed over 17 million baht (approximately $500,000 USD) through a profit-sharing business model, with 5% of sales from Muan Jai™ Blend coffee bean and 10 baht from every Starbucks® beverage purchased at the Community Store going to support coffee farming communities in Northern Thailand. These contributions enabled The Integrated Tribal Development Foundation (ITDF) to implement initiatives ranging from providing clean drinking water, schools and facilities, to training for villagers and coffee facilitators to support hilltribe farmers in coffee quality control and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/">C.A.F.E. practices</a>.

With a focus on minimizing food waste and improving access to nutritious food for all, Starbucks Thailand partners with SOS to collect unsold food from participating Starbucks® stores in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Phuket, to deliver to communities in need.&nbsp; From July 2022 to date, over 18,000 kg of meals have been collected from Starbucks Thailand stores and delivered to underserved communities, while more than 1.45 million baht ($44,620 USD) has been donated to SOS by The Starbucks Foundation to support SOS Rescue Kitchen Program to improve access to nutritious food in vulnerable communities.&nbsp;

In addition to ITDF and SOS, Starbucks Thailand has a long history of working with Books for Children, which promotes literacy through local reading events, book corners and community libraries. Recent Global Community Impact Grants from The Starbucks Foundation are helping to expand the Reading Hero project to youth and families in underserved communities.

Sustainable growth, by giving more than we take

Starbucks Thailand is committed to delivering a sustainable future through the reduction of carbon emissions, wastewater, and waste footprint, starting with the introduction of &nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2023/whats-inside-a-greener-store/">Starbucks Greener Stores</a> in Thailand.

The framework, co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), includes a set of 25 performance-based standards across environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste diversion, designed to accelerate the transformation of retail towards lower-impact stores, supporting the company’s 2030 goals of reducing carbon, water, and waste footprints by 50%.

To date, Thailand has certified three Greener Stores that operate entirely on electricity and feature precise energy monitoring capabilities using a detailed energy management system (EMS) that captures energy use data in real-time to maintain high performance and efficiency. The system will enable the stores to identify inefficiencies and help control and conserve energy in the future.

In addition, Starbucks Thailand is supporting customers to make more sustainable choices through reusable programs such as For-Here-Ware and Reusable Cup Program, with customers receiving a 10-baht discount when bringing their own tumblers to stores, as well as the Grounds for Your Garden program, where everyone can pick up a bag of coffee grounds for free to enrich their gardens and compost at home.

“The future is not only about growth, but also about giving back to the families and communities of our coffee farmers, nurturing the wellbeing of our partners and their connections to coffee, serving quality cups of coffee and beverages to our customers, to give back more than we take and to uplift our communities through social impact initiatives,” said Nednapa. “With every cup, with every conversation, and with every community, Starbucks Thailand is working towards the mutual success of everyone; from coffee farmers to our partners (employees), to customers, to business partners, and to our local communities”.

Starbucks Celebrates 25 years of Coffee and Connections in Thailand : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Celebrates 25 years of Coffee and Connections in Thailand

Market unveils 2nd Community Store, with plans to expand to 800 stores and 8 Community Stores by 2030

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The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation announced a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world. In the second year of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/global-community-impact-grants/">Global Community Impact Grants</a> program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded grants to more than 90 nonprofits, all nominated by Starbucks international licensees, and will reach communities in more than 45 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, more than $3.8 million was awarded in 2023 for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth workforce development, inclusion &amp; diversity, social services, hunger relief, economic opportunity, and coffee-, tea- and cocoa-growing communities. In Asia Pacific, the Foundation awarded 29 grants across 14 markets for causes ranging from youth empowerment and hunger relief, to promoting economic opportunity to workforce development, and social services. Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations in Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a> about the program and organizations we support in Asia Pacific and across the globe. Highlights from select grantees in Asia Pacific include:

ChildFund Korea, South Korea The Starbucks Youth Leadership Program, supported by Starbucks Korea’s first Community Store, is a holistic 4-year program that partners with ChildFund Korea to offer academic scholarships through college graduation. The program also provides a unique curriculum focused on building business acumen, collaborative communications, and social consciousness as part of its aim to prepare young people from disadvantaged backgrounds for educational and career opportunities in Korea’s economy.

 With additional support from The Starbucks Foundation, over 80 students have been supported through the program and new students will be selected in May 2023. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will support the current group of students to gain business development skills and other training for career development over the coming year.

Gawad Kalinga, Philippines As part of the Global Community Impact Grants, The Starbucks Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga in April 2022 supporting nutrition for 600 youth in two communities in Quezon City and Laguna, as well as providing nutrition education and support for building and maintaining community vegetable gardens. Starbucks Philippines donated an additional $25,000 each to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation and Gawad Kalinga to expand its hunger relief programs in 2023 in the Visayas region. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant from The Starbucks Foundation will enable Gawad Kalinga to provide nutritious meals to an additional 1,200 children, host family health and nutrition educational workshops, and train 30 Community Food Farmers to build vegetable gardens.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Indonesia

In September 2022, The Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks Indonesia partnered with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in Bojong Koneng village in Bogor district, West Java, Indonesia. Over 70 Starbucks Indonesia partners (employees) and Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, helped to build 21 toilets to support the wellbeing, health, and resilience of this rural community. 

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia is a long-time partner on disaster relief. Most recently, The Starbucks Foundation supported rebuilding efforts in Cianjur West Java, after an earthquake struck in November 2022. This included providing temporary shelter to families, as well as latrines for impacted communities. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will help Habitat for Humanity improve wellbeing, health status, and resiliency of the Karawang community in West Java through safe and decent housing and household WASH improvements for low-income families. 

Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS), Thailand The Scholars of Sustenance Foundation’s Rescue Kitchen provided more than 430,000 meals to communities from October 2022 to March 2023, with the support of a Global Community Impact Grant. Fifty partners assisted in these efforts by preparing meals for Klong Ladpachee and Wat Ampawa communities. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will further expand the Rescue Kitchen’s network through a “cooking hero” training for community volunteers that will increase community access to nutritious food. The Global Community Impact Grant complements Starbucks Thailand’s FoodShare program which has donated more than 6,500 kilograms of surplus food, representing nearly 28,000 meals to communities in need, in January to March 2023.

Supporting Economic Opportunity, Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief and Social Services in Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Supporting Economic Opportunity, Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief and Social Services in Asia Pacific

In Asia Pacific, the Starbucks Foundation awarded 21 grants across 12 markets for causes ranging from youth empowerment and hunger relief to promoting economic opportunity to workforce development to hunger relief to social services.

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On this International Women’s Day, what better reason to celebrate our female partners (employees) from across Asia? Meet our 4 female partners who share the stories and passions behind their Starbucks journeys, explaining what continues to drive and motivate them to this day.

Rany Men, retail store manager, Cambodia

Although Rany Men’s hometown lies in the Cambodian province of Pursat, her Starbucks journey started in Siem Reap, where she moved to pursue her studies. Joining as a barista at Starbucks Siem Reap International Airport five years ago, she fell in love with the company – and has not looked back.

Rany is now a retail store manager in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, which she calls her “dream job”. She describes one of her proudest moments as introducing Cambodia’s country mug to tourists and seeing their reactions when she explains the cultural symbols and icons it depicts.

She is also particularly passionate about empowering others – just as she herself has been throughout her career at Starbucks. “I love that Starbucks commits to priorities such as a sustainable future, social inclusion and equity at the workplace, which encourage a female partner like me to become a leader for my own store,” Rany says.

“There’s endless access to coffee knowledge and skill development, which I can build for my future career and use to teach my juniors,” she continues. “Watching my partners grow stronger as they learn from new challenges and develop themselves has always been the biggest driver for me. All this encourages me to find myself in the right place to challenge the status quo and become the strong independent woman I am today.”

Ultimately, it all comes back to Rany’s dedication to Starbucks mission and values – which she encapsulates as “providing a welcoming place to everyone” and “inspiring partners to achieve the impossible.”

Amy Lai, coffee master, Hong Kong

A humble cup of coffee really can change someone’s life – as Amy Lai discovered when she purchased her very first Starbucks latte.

“Despite my hearing impairment, the partner serving me at the Starbucks store was very patient with all of my questions, which made me feel valued as a customer,” Amy says. It was this experience that inspired her to join Starbucks, beginning as a barista; nine years later and she is now a Coffee Master at the Starbucks Reserve Coffee Experience Bar in Hong Kong’s bustling Taikoo Cityplaza store.

Being hard of hearing has not held Amy back, with her teammates describing how her resilience, enthusiasm, and positive energy “make everyone’s day brighter”.

Amy herself relishes the sense of connection that Starbucks offers; she describes her greatest passion as not only hand-dripping coffee with different beans to create different flavors, but that she can then, “communicate and share these tastes with different customers.” Her most memorable moments are when she sees customers grow more familiar with Starbucks offerings and become regulars at her store.

“I think Starbucks mission and values are to provide a third place for customers to feel relaxed outside of their home and workplace,” Amy explains, “To create every cup of coffee with a familiar taste and to connect with customers with a human touch.”

Marie Valido, learning and development manager, the Philippines

Marie Valido’s action-packed Starbucks career began 24 years ago after graduating college and has encompassed countless roles – from barista and shift supervisor, to district manager, advanced classroom facilitator and global coffee master.

Having won Store Manager of the Year in 2009 and the District Manager Business Excellence Award in 2013, Marie’s love for learning propelled her to her current position – learning and development manager at Starbucks Philippines, where she is responsible for retail partner training and coffee leadership activities. This included heading the launch of a digital training program available for partners.

“For me, coffee is like music,” she says, “It brings people together, giving us endless opportunities to showcase what we can do and experience life-changing moments.”

One such moment came for Marie on an Origin Experience trip to Sumatra; she then shared her experiences with 300 coffee masters at a Starbucks leadership summit, where she took the opportunity to celebrate the hard work of those involved in growing, processing and purchasing coffee.

“I said every time you drink a cup of Starbucks coffee, remember that it has the stamp of the passion, dedication and above all, quality of all the people who have handled it,” she recalls. “Our work goes far beyond purchasing and ethically sourcing coffee – we help ensure that we enrich the lives of the people and community involved in the process.”

Of course, this includes the partners that Marie loves seeing progress under her training – and for fellow women in the industry, she has some sage advice.

“Grab every opportunity or make the opportunity to grow continuously; we have the ability to shape our path to success. And every time we are given a chance to showcase ourselves, put in the work and do our absolute best – because even if at times we fail, we still gain learning experiences that make us better than what we were yesterday.”

Phoenix Shih, category manager of the coffee and beverage team, Taiwan

When Phoenix Shih initially joined Starbucks on a university classmate’s invitation, she didn’t drink coffee; fast-forward 22 years and now her partners tell her that “what runs through my veins isn’t blood, but coffee!”

Phoenix’s decades at Starbucks have seen her progress to category manager of the coffee and beverage team in Taiwan, where she is responsible for Starbucks Reserve projects such as introducing Reserve coffee beans, certifying partners’ coffee making skills and promoting coffee education and engagement – including hosting coffee competitions and coaching competitors.

Under her training, partners in Taiwan have claimed runner-up title at Starbucks Asia Pacific Regional Barista Championships in 2017, third place in 2018, and been crowned Latte Art Champion three times. Phoenix fondly remembers watching the first-ever competitor she coached take to the stage in 2016 – “It moved me to tears because I realized how happy and proud I was to help my partner grow and achieve personal success.”

Regarding her own journey, she remarks, “I was fortunate enough to experience a variety of job opportunities within Starbucks, which allowed me to continue to grow.” As an authorized SCA Trainer and certified CQI Grader, Phoenix now judges local barista competitions such as the Taiwan Brewers Cup – and even plans her holidays around coffee expos. She says, “I am very lucky that my job is coffee and I want to spread that passion.”

Reflecting upon International Women’s Day, Phoenix shares the African proverb: “When you educate a man, you educate an individual; when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” She continues, “As a woman in the coffee industry, I hope to use my contributions and influence to help more partners progress and develop, enabling them to make a positive impact and fulfil their potential.”

Celebrate International Women's Day with 4 inspiring partners from Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Celebrate International Women&#8217;s Day with 4 inspiring partners from Asia Pacific

Meet our 4 female partners who share the stories and passions behind their Starbucks journeys, explaining what continues to drive and motivate them to this day.

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Celebrate International Women’s Day with 4 inspiring partners from Asia Pacific

Starbucks Philippines strengthened its partnership with Gawad Kalinga for its Kusina ng Kalinga Program as part of the company’s continuous global advocacy for hunger relief. Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga have a shared goal to help fight hunger and support communities in the Philippines.

Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program is their strategic response to address hunger and malnutrition among Filipino children and pregnant and lactating mothers. It is a food donation program where thousands of nutritious meals are prepared and distributed to those in need. These meals are prepared by volunteers in their community kitchens, then picked up by parents and guardians or directly distributed to children in public schools, on the streets, and even in disaster and conflict areas.

As part of the Global Community Impact Grants, The Starbucks Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga in April 2022 supporting nutrition for 600 youth in two communities in Quezon City and Laguna, as well as providing nutrition education and support for building and maintaining community vegetable gardens. Starbucks Philippines donated an additional $25,000 each to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation and Gawad Kalinga to expand its hunger relief programs in 2023 in Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Taking the first steps towards fighting hunger

In July 2022, the Kusina ng Kalinga program started the implementation of the program in Gawad Kalinga communities in Toyota, Sta. Rosa Laguna and Tribuin, Batasan Hills.

On December 13, Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga held a face-to-face volunteering program together in Gawad Kalinga Batasan, Quezon City. This program was implemented across three GK barangays: GK Pioneer, GK Tribu, and GK Telus II and Starbucks partners (employees) volunteered to help prepare and serve meals to 300 children in need of nutrition.

“Starbucks Philippines is committed to help fight hunger and support thriving communities. As we work towards fighting hunger, we are honored to be serving our beneficiaries alongside our friends at Gawad Kalinga. We are only at the start of this fight against hunger in the country and we aim to be able to help more communities in the coming months,” said Char Vilchez, manager for Marketing &amp; Global Responsibility at Starbucks Philippines.

Starbucks Philippines addresses hunger relief through Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Philippines addresses hunger relief through Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program

Starbucks Philippines strengthened its partnership with Gawad Kalinga for its Kusina ng Kalinga Program as part of the company’s continuous global advocacy for hunger relief. Starbucks Philippines and Gawad Kalinga have a shared goal to help fight hunger and support communities in the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga program is their strategic response to […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/starbucks-philippines-addresses-hunger-relief-through-gawad-kalingas-kusina-ng-kalinga-program/

New Hualien Heping store, dedicated to uplifting Taiwan’s Indigenous Community, joins hundreds of Starbucks® Community Stores operating globally

Today, Starbucks Taiwan celebrated the grand opening of its first Community Store located in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, reaffirming the brand’s global commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity. Around the world, Starbucks recognizes a responsibility to strengthen the communities it serves and has opened more than 150 Community Stores in service of this aspiration. In partnership with Uni-Wonder Corporation, Starbucks licensed business operator in the market, the new store provides more career opportunities for green apron partners (employees) from Taiwan’s indigenous communities and a dedicated space to celebrate indigenous culture.

Community Stores around the world are inclusive of several store models, from serving under-resourced communities, to empowering farmers, youth and women, and creating impact in partnership with local nonprofit organizations.

The Starbucks® Hualien Heping Community Store has been designed as a community-based third place that strengthens ties between residents in the neighborhood, while fostering pride in the region's diverse indigenous culture. A portion of profits from this store will be donated to Hualien County Private Heping Sustainable Charity Foundation, an organization with deep roots in the area and community, to support a local emergency relief fund.

The store design draws on the rich indigenous culture in Hualian, including featured artworks created by indigenous artists Miru Hayung and Eleng Luluan. Miru Hayung, an artist from the Atayal Zihing community, used vibrant images to illustrate how coffee connects people and the environment. Eleng Luluan, a teacher from Drekay Kucapungane community, used local textiles and embroidery cloth to create an artistic landscape of plants and coffee trees.

The celebration of indigenous culture extends beyond store design. A one-of-a-kind totem embellishment, created by Truku traditional weaving master, Shi Ma Hsiu-Hua in collaboration with tribal women, is woven into the iconic green apron partners wear at the Community Store. Representing the pride of the Truku people, the design pays tribute to the enthusiasm and connection Starbucks partners proudly bring to customers.

Growing up in Xiulin Township, Hualien County as part of the Truku tribe, store manager Allen is proud to support his community through the Community Store. “It has been ten years since I joined Starbucks, and I am now a store manager who leads and trains partners,” says Allen. " Starbucks corporate mission has a great impact on me when I first joined Starbucks after graduating from university. I have found a sense of accomplishment and a sense of belonging in the store, and I hope to recruit more locals to become partners through this store.”

Since 1998, Starbucks Taiwan has opened more than 540 stores, with more than 5,600 partners now proudly wearing the green apron in the market. Committed to creating positive impact in the communities it serves, Starbucks Taiwan supported the educational development of indigenous children through its "Indigenous Hope" project since 1999. The project has provided nearly 46,000 indigenous children with scholarships, supported the establishment of seven recreational classrooms, one stadium, and two student centers, helping many tribal children to attend school and have an opportunity to develop their talents and dreams. This first Community Store in Hualien builds on this long-standing commitment to the indigenous community.

Starbucks opens first Community Store in Taiwan : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens first Community Store in Taiwan

The Starbucks Hualien Heping store is dedicated to uplifting Taiwan’s Indigenous Community.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/starbucks-opens-first-community-store-in-taiwan/

Today, Starbucks opened the doors of its first drive-thru store in Cambodia, located in front of AEON Mall Mean Chey – along Hun Sen Boulevard in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Operated by Coffee Concepts (Cambodia) Ltd., a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, the milestone demonstrates the company’s commitment to the market, offering more convenient ways for Cambodian customers to enjoy the Starbucks Experience through the expansion of its digital services.

The Starbucks AEON Mall Mean Chey drive-thru store is fully equipped with a digital check-in system, a digital menu, and two-way audio and video screen to assist customers in ordering their favorite beverages and food.&nbsp; The seamless and convenient drive-thru experience is a great option for customers who prefer to enjoy their beverage from the comfort of their own vehicles, especially those who want to have their Starbucks fix on-the-go.

In addition to the drive-thru experience, the 1,018 sqm store also offers spacious dine-in area, providing customers a warm and welcoming third place to enjoy freshly brewed coffee and pastries.

The store is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting the iconic Starbucks Siren and coffee flowers on the wall, adding delightful colors to the warm modern interior.&nbsp; The welcoming space is further enhanced by the natural lighting coming through the floor to ceiling windows, creating the perfect atmosphere for coffee lovers to connect as they sip their favorite coffee.

Cambodia is the 10th country in Asia Pacific region to offer drive-thru experience along with Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Starbucks opens first drive-thru store in Cambodia : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens first drive-thru store in Cambodia

Starbucks opens its first drive-thru store in Cambodia, offering more convenient ways for customers to enjoy their favorite beverages and food.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-opens-first-drive-thru-store-in-cambodia/

Rejuvenating the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present

Today, Starbucks Korea announced the opening of its fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ on December 16th, dedicated towards revitalizing and restoring the long-standing heritage of the Kyundong Market, alongside the local community of the marketplace.

As part of Starbucks Korea’s ongoing commitment to strengthen communities through the expansion of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-announces-aspirations/">Community Store program</a>, the Starbucks Korea ‘Kyungdong 1960’ Community Store will donate 300 Korean won (approximately 25 cents USD) for every item sold at the Community Store to the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP) to revive and refurbish the infrastructure of the Kyundong old market. The company will also host community gatherings and support various activities, creating a welcoming space for the local community to connect.

“This store not only stands for mutual growth with the local community but also a much-cherished meeting place for the locals,” said Jeonghyun Sohn, ceo of Starbucks Korea. “We hope to create meaningful occasions for customers of all generations and contribute to revitalizing the traditional marketplace.”

The new store pays tribute to the old Kyungdong Theater, originally built in the 1960’s, that has been lost since its closure in 1994. Previously, a beloved location as a community hub , Starbucks Korea pays homage by preserving the architect and existing materials of the old theater, modified with a touch of retro and modern design elements, bringing together the nostalgic ambience of 1960s and the signature Starbucks coffee experience.

The beautiful store spans two floors (third and fourth floors of Kyungdong Market) and 805 square meters with 143 seats. The double-doored entrance, which was preserved from the original structure, leads to the center of the store with the bar serving as the main stage. With seats in rows facing forward, customers can enjoy the view of the bar as if enjoying a performance in a theater. There will be regular cultural and musical performances by local artists in the store, providing a unique Starbucks experience for customers.

To commemorate the opening of its fifth Community Store, Starbucks Korea will sign a cooperative-coexistence agreement with the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP), the Kyungdong Market Merchants Association, and KD Market on December 15.

Since opening its first store in 1999, Starbucks Korea has opened more than 1,750 stores across 78 cities nationwide, with more than 21,000 partners now proudly wearing the green apron. Starbucks Korea opened its first Community Store in 2014, which supports lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program. Today, Starbucks Korea operates 5 Community Stores in the market, supporting local communities.

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community

The Community Store rejuvenates the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-opens-fifth-community-store-kyungdong-1960-to-support-the-local-community/

The store in Jakarta is the company’s 17th Signing Store globally creating equal opportunities for the local Deaf and hard of hearing community

Tomorrow, Starbucks Indonesia will open its first Signing Store dedicated to the Deaf, hard of hearing, and sign language communities in Jakarta, Indonesia. Designed with inclusivity and accessibility at its core, customers at the Starbucks Tata Puri Community Store will be served by Deaf and hard of hearing baristas who proudly wear the green apron. The store is located on Jl. Tanjung Karang No.3 Kebon Melati in Central Jakarta.

Creating Equal Opportunities and an Inclusive Customer Experience

The Starbucks Tata Puri Community Store provides a third place where all customers, including the Deaf and hard of hearing community can gather, socialize, and nurture human connections. Deaf baristas will wear green aprons with the company’s name, Starbucks, embroidered in sign language. Partners (employees) who can use Bisindo sign language will wear an “I Sign” pin. Customers also will be able order beverages and food using a writing tablet.

The store also offers a community area for members of the Deaf community to support and conduct programs from Gerkatin (Gerakan untuk Kesejahteraan Tunarungu Indonesia) and Pusbisindo (Pusat Bahasa Isyarat Indonesia) – two organizations Starbucks has partnered with in Indonesia to support sign language education for the broader community. To encourage a culture of human connections through the celebration of Deaf culture and sign language, the store will also host sign language lessons and coffee workshops in sign language.

"The inauguration of the Signing Store is a major achievement for Starbucks Indonesia as it celebrates its 20th anniversary in the market,” said Anthony McEvoy, leader of PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, Starbucks licensee partner in Indonesia. "The Signing Store demonstrates our commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse work environment, and to widening access to all communities.”

“We were delighted to see the enthusiasm from the Deaf and hard of hearing community when we opened applications. More than 150 people applied from across the country. The baristas who have been selected are a diverse group, including a former swimming para-athlete and fashion models,” said Anastasia Dwiyani, senior general manager of Human Capital at PT Sari Coffee Indonesia. “As with all our partners, we are excited to help nurture their talent and advance career opportunities.”

The Spirit of the Deaf Community Decorates All Corners of the Store

United by the culture of sign language, this store is filled with design elements that bring communities together. The signature siren logo with Bisindo is immediately visible as customers pass the busy main road, Sudirman Street. With the Starbucks® logo with Bisindo above the main door, customers are greeted by a mural wall as soon as they enter the store and a collection of exclusive merchandise - clear cup tumblers, stainless-steel tumblers and mugs. The elongated oval shape community table, and circle details on the floor, also symbolize the store that unites the community. The most notable feature is a 4m high mural painting by Deaf artist, Indira Natalia, which extends more than 11m outside the store, depicting the warm and welcoming Starbucks experience. The signature artwork can be seen by passersby in the street.

“As a Deaf artist, I am so proud to share my art with customers and partners at Indonesia’s first Signing Store. While brainstorming, I realized that Starbucks has always strived to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and belongs – and the inspiration for my work came from that, by presenting many different figures (communities) united by sign language and Starbucks,” says Indira. “Art can break boundaries and unite people, just like the connection people share when they drink coffee. There are many ways to communicate and connect people from diverse backgrounds, and at Starbucks, coffee makes this happen.”

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