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.

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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 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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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/starbucks-and-the-food-bank-launch-hunger-relief-pilot-program-in-vietnam/

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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

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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;

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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.

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“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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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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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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On November 23, Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its Juksun branch as the fourth Community Store in the market, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for young people leaving care homes to begin their adult lives. A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Beautiful Foundation to support life skills development programs. In addition, Starbucks will provide coffee skills training for young people seeking employment opportunities in the coffee industry, as well as career readiness training for underserved youth. “Starbucks Community Store is a creative social impact model that helps consumers participate in sharing in their everyday life and contributes to prospering together with the local community.” said Chan Hee Han, chairman of the Beautiful Foundation. He added, “I hope this will be an opportunity to inform young people who are preparing for self-reliance that our society is cheering for them.” Starbucks has partnered with the Beautiful Foundation since January 2020. Over the past three years, the partnership has created a KRW 900 million self-reliance fund to help young people leaving care homes develop a strong foundation for their future. Starbucks and the Beautiful Foundation will continue to provide opportunities and support through this new Community Store.

To expand outreach to local communities through Community Stores, Starbucks is hosting a “Build Your Community Store” contest, with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, and accepting applications from nonprofit organizations (NGO) through December 5. The contest will culminate in the opening of a new Community Store with the winning NGO, a prize of KRW 50 million to help launch the NGO’s program, as well as an opportunity to visit a Starbucks Community Store in another market. Participating NGOs may submit a proposal addressing one of the following topics: creating employment opportunities for vulnerable communities; expanding community outreach and engagement; providing skills training and self-reliance support; or a topic of choice aimed at solving a community problem. A total of three projects will be selected by a panel of professional judges, voting by customers and partners.

Starbucks opens fourth Community Store in Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens fourth Community Store in Korea

On November 23, Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its Juksun branch as the fourth Community Store in the market, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for young people leaving care homes to begin their adult lives. A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Beautiful Foundation to support life skills development programs. […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-opens-fourth-community-store-in-korea/

The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/the-starbucks-foundation-launches-global-community-impact-grants-initiative/">announced</a>&nbsp;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 inaugural year of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/supporting-youth-empowerment-hunger-relief-and-refugees-in-emea/">Global Community Impact Grants</a> program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded&nbsp;grants to nearly 90 nonprofits, all of which were nominated by Starbucks international licensees and will reach communities in more than 40 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, over $3.2 million was awarded in 2022 for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth empowerment, inclusion &amp; diversity, social services, hunger relief, economic opportunity, and coffee-, tea- and cocoa-growing communities.

In Asia Pacific, The Starbucks Foundation awarded 24 grants across 10 markets for causes ranging from youth empowerment and hunger relief to promoting inclusion &amp; diversity and advancing economic mobility &amp; opportunity. Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a>&nbsp;about the program and organizations we are supporting in Asia Pacific and across the globe.

Supporting Youth Empowerment, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion & Diversity in Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Supporting Youth Empowerment, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion &#038; Diversity in Asia Pacific

Learn about how The Starbucks Foundation is working with non-profits in Asia to build community.

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Supporting Youth Empowerment, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion & Diversity in Asia Pacific

Starbucks today announced a new program to reduce food waste at select Starbucks stores across Japan. To ensure unsold food does not go to waste, participating stores have the option of marking down select bakery products by 20% several hours prior to closing. As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to fight against hunger, the company will donate part of the revenue of these discounted sales to Musubie, a local non-profit which provides meals for children across Japan.

A Starbucks partner in Japan places food in a bakery case

Starbucks Japan launches new program to reduce food waste : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Japan launches new program to reduce food waste

As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to fight against hunger, participating stores will mark down select bakery products prior to closing.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-japan-launches-new-program-to-reduce-food-waste/

Today, Starbucks announced the opening of a first-of-its-kind Starbucks store focused on inclusive design in South Korea. Located at Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH), the store reaffirms Starbucks commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and expands career opportunities for Starbucks partners (employees) with disabilities.

“Opening a store focused on inclusive design marks an important moment for Starbucks in South Korea and around the world,” said David Song, ceo, Starbucks Coffee Korea. “We are excited to have this opportunity to bring Starbucks Mission and values to life in our community and expand opportunities for our partners to develop their careers at Starbucks. Through our partnerships with organizations like the Korea Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled (KEPAD), we hope to lead the way for other business in South Korea to create an inclusive environment for all.”

Starbucks partners in the disability community had raised the concept for such a store as an opportunity for the company to have a positive impact. From the beginning, Starbucks Coffee Korea partners with disabilities guided store development and operational testing to create a welcoming Third Place community for partners and customers alike. The company also partnered with the KEPAD and other advocates in the disability community to consult on store design and training.

Anyone who is passionate about access and disability inclusion can work at the new store. Half of the staff are partners with disabilities, and hold positions at nearly every level. In partnership with KEPAD, partners all receive customized training and development, including basic expressions in Korean Sign Language.

The store’s central art piece demonstrates the positive impact that Starbucks partners with disabilities have had on the company and partners’ hopes to make a place where all people can come together over a cup of coffee. Partners from across South Korea, as well as partners based at the store, contributed individual clay pieces arranged to create the word “Together” in English, mounted on a background of upcycled Starbucks coffee grounds.

“I’m so proud of this new store and the important role it will play in bringing our community together and enhancing the career development journey of Starbucks Korea partners,” said Elena Choi, assistant manager of the new store, and a partner who is hard of hearing. “Creating an inclusive space expands the ability of partners to learn and grow in their role, and we’re so excited to welcome customers to our new store.”

The store was designed to be a warm and inclusive space for people with a wide range of disabilities, from customers to partners. Partners are equipped with digital tablets to facilitate communication with customers, and the store floor, back room and bar have all been designed with additional space for comfortable wheelchair access—a first-of-its kind for Starbucks globally. At the Starbucks design lab in South Korea, members of the disability community helped test the store’s unique bar to better optimize the space for partners using mobility aids like wheelchairs.

“The new store represents our enduring commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in every market we serve,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “We understand we are still early in our journey, and will continue to learn and expand our design principles. With feedback from partners, customers and the community, we are constantly reimagining how we build stores to create a Third Place environment that nurtures and inspires all people.”

Other unique features of the store include a dual-monitor POS that shows customers their order, mobile POS, contactless speech-to-text voice recognition through a tablet at the register, Braille menu,&nbsp;and digital signage lets customers track the progress of their order.

Braille tactile maps and signs around the store help customers and partners navigate by touch as well as sight. All entrance doors are automatic, with sensors and push button switches to welcome customers and partners into the store with ease. A digital community board inside the store also showcases Starbucks social impact initiatives and local activities.

Starbucks Coffee Korea plans to launch regular community engagement programs at the store to provide a platform for members of the disability community, including partner-led coffee seminars and art contests to design exclusive store merchandise—expanding supplier diversity.

“I’d like to congratulate Starbucks on the opening of this first-of-its-kind store with inclusive design,” said Jong Ran Cho, president of KEPAD. “Starbucks Coffee Korea is a company committed to creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. KEPAD will continue to support Starbucks in this journey to create social impact through the employment of people with disabilities.”

Since 2012, Starbucks Coffee Korea has worked with the KEPAD to recruit partners with disabilities, and has held an annual Barista Championships for partners with disabilities since 2015, though this year’s event was postponed due to COVID-19. The company has also worked with the Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute (KODDI) to provide additional training and expand career opportunities for people with disabilities across South Korea since 2018.

Since entering the market in 1999, Starbucks Coffee Korea has grown rapidly to become Starbucks fifth largest international market, with more than 1,400 stores across 78 cities nationwide. Today, more than 17,000 partners proudly wear the green apron in South Korea.

Partners at new store in South Korea communicate in Korean Sign Language

Starbucks opens store focused on inclusive design in South Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens store focused on inclusive design in South Korea

Starbucks opens a new store focused on inclusive design in South Korea.

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Today, Tata Starbucks proudly announced the Tata Starbucks Empowering Girls and Young Women program, a new initiative to support girls and young women in India through education, skills development and economic empowerment. As part of Tata Starbucks ongoing commitment to creating equal opportunities, the program will provide girls and young women with the education, financial assistance and community support they need to develop their skills and find careers.

Tata Starbucks will collaborate with non-profit organizations, Educate Girls, to improve girls’ education in rural and underprivileged areas, and VIDYA India, to provide volunteering and educational support to girls and young women who have relocated to urban cities from villages.

In the first year of the program, Tata Starbucks will support 2,000 girls and young women across India, creating education, skills development and mentoring opportunities that will empower participants to create a better future for themselves and their communities.

Every Starbucks store across India will sponsor and support the education of a girl in primary school by covering the cost of enrolment, while improving learning outcomes and school retention rates. In addition, the company will also donate a percentage of all transactions in the new all-women stores in India to helping mobilize communities around the importance of girls’ education through the partnership with Educate Girls. The program aims to increase educational enrolment and retention within rural communities, while improving literacy and numeracy skills.

Tata Starbucks partners can also volunteer to support girls aged 4 to 18-years old who have relocated to urban cities from villages. Through the VIDYA India collaboration, partners can help to conduct training for life skills, numeracy and literacy, and volunteer as teachers’ aides to make online classes more effective and engaging. Partners are also invited to participate in parental education awareness programs, designed to advance understanding and engagement around the importance of their children’s education.

“We are delighted to announce this new initiative that provides girls and young women in India with education and tools to build a better life for themselves and for their communities,” said Navin Gurnaney, ceo, Tata Starbucks Private Limited. “Throughout India, gender disparity remains a significant barrier to education – more than 4 million girls are out of school and we are still 15% away from closing the literacy gender gap between men and women. As a leading employer in India, we have a responsibility to invest in initiatives that advance education and skills development among girls and young women. We also continue to encourage diversity and gender equality in this dynamic region. It drives sustainable growth, elevates innovation through diverse thinking and deepens understanding of communities.”

“Educate Girls is glad to collaborate with TATA Starbucks. It is the first time we are collaborating in this unique model with every Starbucks store supporting a girl’s education. Starbucks commitment to creating inclusion, diversity and equity, and our vision to empower out-of-school girls from India’s most remote and rural geographies to get back to education, is well aligned. Together we hope to strongly advocate for gender equality, equal right to education and enable our girls to become contributing members of our society,” said Safeena Husain, Founder and Executive Director of Educate Girls.

“VIDYA’s partnership with Starbucks is a momentous step towards scaling up our reach and impact, and moving closer to our vision of an India where every child receives a high-quality holistic education, every youth gets an opportunity to succeed and every woman gains economic independence and social equality. We are excited and deeply honoured to enter into a partnership with Starbucks,” said Rashmi Misra, founder-chairperson of VIDYA.

Since entering the market in 2012, Tata Starbucks has honored its commitments to diversity and inclusion in India through empowering women in new and meaningful ways. Earlier this year, it opened three stores in India operated entirely by women,&nbsp;with the number of women-led stores to double by the end of the year. In 2019, Tata Starbucks achieved 100% gender pay equity and set an ambitious target to increase its workforce female representation to 40% by the end of 2022.

As Tata Starbucks continues to grow in India, the company is deeply committed to being an active member of the community and creating positive impact in the neighborhoods it serves.&nbsp;

Tata Starbucks Launches Initiative to Transform Lives of Girls in India Through Education : Starbucks Stories Asia

Tata Starbucks Launches Initiative to Transform Lives of Girls in India Through Education

Today, Tata Starbucks proudly announced the Tata Starbucks Empowering Girls and Young Women program, a new initiative to support girls and young women in India through education, skills development and economic empowerment. As part of Tata Starbucks ongoing commitment to creating equal opportunities, the program will provide girls and young women with the education, financial […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2020/tata-starbucks-empowering-girls/

Today, Starbucks celebrated the opening of its second Community Store in South Korea. Located in the Seongsudong neighborhood of Seoul, the new store will serve as a hub for young people and prospective startups to share information about networking and starting their own businesses. Nearby a major metro station, the lively neighborhood surrounding the store is home to many startup and social venture companies, which focus on creating positive impact through their businesses.

Through the new Starbucks Youth Startup Entrepreneurship Program, funded by a portion of sales from the store, Starbucks will host an ongoing series of startup workshops for young people at the Community Store and leverage other stores across the market as satellite hubs to offer the program to youth across South Korea. The expansive community space within the store features movable walls and furniture to fit any occasion, as well as traditional café seating for customers to enjoy. 

The new community store highlights Starbucks Korea’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people, in partnership with South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups. For every item purchased at the store, KRW 300 (about 25 cents) will be donated to a partnering non-profit to fund the Starbucks Youth Startup Entrepreneurship Program.

Starbucks opens second Community Store in South Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens second Community Store in South Korea

Starbucks celebrates the opening of its second Community Store in South Korea, a hub for young entrepreneurs.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2020/starbucks-celebrates-opening-of-second-community-store-in-south-korea/

As the disruption of COVID-19 continues to impact families and communities around the world, Starbucks partners across Asia are taking care of their customers and frontline workers in remarkable ways. In markets including South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia partners have organized food and coffee donations to hospitals, non-profits, local police and health officials, and other frontline workers who play a crucial role in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Our partners continue to be the heartbeat of Starbucks, everywhere around the world. In this time of great upheaval, they are taking care of their communities by demonstrating the best of Starbucks Mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Partners in South Korea move donation boxes together

Starbucks partners offer support to frontline workers across Asia : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks partners offer support to frontline workers across Asia

As COVID-19 continues to impact families and communities, Starbucks partners are taking care of frontline workers in remarkable ways.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2020/starbucks-partners-offer-support-to-frontline-workers-across-asia/