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As part of our ongoing efforts to transform the company and renew our focus on the customer, we have announced an historic in-store education and training event for our more than 135,000 store partners across the United States. We will close each of our nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m., local time, to conduct a nationwide hands-on espresso training experience, designed to energize partners and transform the customer experience. Stores with evening hours will re-open at 8:30 p.m.

Our unprecedented level of commitment to and investment in our people will provide them with the tools and resources they need to exceed the expectations of our customers. We believe that this is a bold demonstration of our commitment to our core and a reaffirmation of our coffee leadership.

The comprehensive educational curriculum for all U.S. store partners will provide a renewed focus on espresso standards that will help ensure the exceptional quality of every beverage. As a result, baristas will be better prepared to share their passion and knowledge with customers. Customers will be able to truly enjoy the art of espresso as Starbucks baristas demonstrate their passion to pull the perfect shot, steam milk to order, and customize their favorite beverage.

This unique in-store education event signals the company's focus on transforming the Starbucks Experience for both our customers and our partners. We hope that any customers inconvenienced by the early closures will see this as an investment that will have long term benefits. Starbucks partners will have an opportunity to connect and deepen their passion for coffee with the ultimate goal of transforming the customer experience.

I am really excited about this and the impact it will have on you and our customers. And don't be surprised if I stop by one of the stores during this time!

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #6 - Starbucks Stories

Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

Starbucks Stories

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Starbucks Corporation

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #6

Dear partners, As part of our ongoing efforts to transform the company and renew our focus on the customer, we have announced an historic in-store education and training event for our more than 135,000 store partners across the United States. We will close each of our nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2019/01/Starbucks_Logo_Hi-res.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/howard-schultz-transformation-agenda-communication-6/

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Launching the next phase of Starbucks ongoing efforts to transform the company and renew its focus on the customer, Starbucks today announced an historic in-store education and training event for its more than 135,000 store partners (employees) across the United States. The company will close each of its nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m. local time to conduct a nationwide education event, designed to energize partners and transform the customer experience. Stores with evening hours will re-open at 8:30 p.m.

"Our unprecedented level of commitment to and investment in our people will provide them with the tools and resources they need to exceed the expectations of our customers," Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo said. "We believe that this is a bold demonstration of our commitment to our core and a reaffirmation of our coffee leadership."

This unique in-store education event signals the company's focus on transforming the Starbucks Experience for both customers and partners. Starbucks hopes any customers inconvenienced by the early closures will see this as an investment that will have long term benefits. For their part, Starbucks partners will have an opportunity to connect and deepen their passion for coffee with the ultimate goal of transforming the customer experience.

About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with nearly 16,000 stores and more than 170,000 partners (employees) in 44 countries, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/">www.starbucks.com</a>.

Starbucks Demonstrates Unprecedented Level of Commitment to Partner (Employee) Coffee Education and Training - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Demonstrates Unprecedented Level of Commitment to Partner (Employee) Coffee Education and Training

Launching the next phase of Starbucks ongoing efforts to transform the company and renew its focus on the customer, Starbucks today announced an historic in-store education and training event for its more than 135,000 store partners (employees) across the United States. The company will close each of its nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/starbucks-demonstrates-unprecedented-level-of-commitment-to-partner-employe/

February 4, 2008<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" ?>>

What I Know to be True

Dear partners,

As I sit down to write this note (6:30 a.m. Sunday morning) I am enjoying a spectacular cup of Sumatra, brewed my favorite way ? in a French press. It has been three weeks since I returned to my role as ceo of the company I love. We have made much progress as we begin to transform and innovate and there is much more to come. But this is not a sprint ? it is a marathon ? it always has been. I assure you that when all is said and done, we will, as we always have, succeed at our highest potential. We will not be deterred from our course ? we are and will be a great, enduring company, known for inspiring and nurturing the human spirit.

During this time, I have heard from so many of you; in fact, I have received more than 2,000 emails. I can feel your passion and commitment to the company, to our customers and to one another. I also thank you for all your ideas and suggestions ... keep them coming. No one knows our business and our customers better than you. I have visited with you in many of your stores, as well as stopping by to see what our competitors are doing as well.

It's been just a few days since my last communications to you, but I wanted to share with you

what I know to be true:

? Since 1971, we have been ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality Arabica coffee in the world, and today there is not a coffee company on earth providing higher quality coffee to their customers than we are. Period!

? We are in the people business and always have been. What does that mean? It means you make the difference. You are the Starbucks brand. We succeed in the marketplace and distinguish ourselves by each and every partner embracing the values, guiding principles and culture of our company and bringing it to life one customer at a time.

Our stores have become the Third Place in our communities - a destination where human connections happen tens of thousands of times a day. We are not in the coffee business serving people. We are in the people business serving coffee. You are the best people serving the best coffee and I am proud to be your partner. There is no other place I would rather be than with you right here, right now!

? We have a renewed clarity of purpose and we are laser-focused on the customer experience. We have returned to our core to reaffirm our coffee authority and we will have some fun doing it. We are not going to embrace the status quo. Instead, we will be curious, bold and innovative in our actions and, in doing so, we will exceed the expectation of our customers.

? There will be cynics and critics along the way, all of whom will have an opinion and a point of view. This is not about them or our competitors, although we must humbly respect the changing landscape and the many choices facing every consumer. We will be steadfast in our approach and in our commitment to the Starbucks Experience - what we know to be true. However, this is about us and our customers. We are in control of our destiny. Trust the coffee and trust one another.

? I will lead us back to the place where we belong, but I need your help and support every step of the way. My expectations of you are high, but higher of myself.

? I want to hear from you. I want to hear about your ideas, your wins, your concerns, and how we can collectively continue to improve. Please feel free to reach out to me. I have been flooded with emails, but believe me, I am reading and responding to all of them.

As I said, I am proud to be your partner. I know this to be true. Onward ... Howard P.S. Everything that we do, from this point on (from the most simple and basic), matters. Master the fundamentals. Experience Starbucks

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #4 - Starbucks Stories

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #4

February 4, 2008 What I Know to be True Dear partners, As I sit down to write this note (6:30 a.m. Sunday morning) I am enjoying a spectacular cup of Sumatra, brewed my favorite way ? in a French press. It has been three weeks since I returned to my role as ceo of the […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/howard-schultz-transformation-agenda-communication-4/

To:&nbsp;&nbsp;All Starbucks Partners From:&nbsp;&nbsp;Howard Schultz

Earlier this month, we communicated our plan to transform Starbucks for the future, and we said action would come fast. It has, and I am writing today to share with you what has happened so far, and what's next.

The new senior leadership team and I have met almost every day over the last few weeks, creating the action plan to transform our company that not only resonates with our customers, but with our people. We are dramatically changing the way we manage the company and make decisions. We are laser focused on the customer, which will enable us to transform Starbucks.

The three parts of our transformation agenda are: improve the current state of our U.S. business; reignite the emotional attachment with our customers; and make foundational changes for the long term.

We have now assigned accountabilities to our leadership team and their direct reports. They will own everything about their business and be responsible for specific projects to drive us forward in all three of these areas. We have also validated a number of programs that were already in the pipeline that will support and further our vision for the Starbucks Experience.

Some of the actions we've identified will occur in the near future and we have a short timeframe to make them happen. We expect that the initial result of our work will be seen in our U.S. business. Other changes will take place in the coming months.

Currently, we have identified the following action steps:

Slow the pace of U.S. store openings and accelerate internationally

We now plan to open a total of 1,175 net new stores in the U.S. this year, down more than 34 percent from our fiscal 2007 openings. That includes closing approximately 100 underperforming stores. In addition, for 2009 we plan to open less than 1,000 new U.S. stores. This fiscal year, we will also open an additional 75 net new stores in international markets, increasing the international store opening target to approximately 975 stores. In 2009 that will rise to over 1,000 stores internationally, and mark the first time that our International store openings will outpace those in the U.S.

This will allow us to optimize our resources and potentially reduce cannibalization from existing stores.

By the end of fiscal year 2008, discontinue warmed breakfast sandwiches at our North American stores

We made this decision because, in short, the scent of the warmed sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores, which is key to the coffee experience that forges our connection with customers. Moreover, while our customers liked our sandwiches, they told us that they missed the aroma of coffee. We will continue offering warmed pastries and selling lunch, but there will be some modifications to the line up, as is our normal practice. The highest priority for our food team is to develop the right offerings to complement our superior coffee and espresso beverages.

Manage our business the right way

We are giving ourselves and the financial community a new way to measure our progress, which we believe is a more thoughtful approach to managing our business for the long term. Going forward, we will not report same store sales comps as they will not be an effective indicator of our performance and we will no longer give annual guidance beginning in 2009 and beyond. I believe that this will help us make better decisions and focus on the customer, while building long-term shareholder value.

Reinvent partner training

In the coming months, you will see a renewed level of commitment to providing superior training for our retail partners. We will invest in tools and provide them with the resources they need to exceed customer expectations.

Reinstate regularly scheduled open forums

As you know, we believe passionately that when we invest in our people, build an emotional connection with each other and fully engage every partner in our strategy and agenda, we see positive results. Therefore, effective immediately, we are reinstating regularly scheduled open forums in the field.

Bring back the Leadership Conference

We believe that this is the most important and strategic event that we can hold for our store managers and above, because this is another way to build understanding of our vision and strategy, as well as connect and help continue career development. We will hold our leadership conference in Fall 2008. Details will be forthcoming, so stay tuned. And I promise you that it will not be cancelled!

These and future actions will reaffirm for customers and the market that, unlike others, we are not a reseller of commodity-based coffee roasted by a third party.&nbsp;We never have been and we never will be.&nbsp;We will utilize our 35-plus years of ethically sourcing, buying and roasting the finest coffee in the world to reaffirm our coffee authority.&nbsp;

We will continue to communicate with you about our progress.&nbsp;We plan to do so, once again, at our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on March 19, when we will lay out five specific, bold "consumer-facing" initiatives that will be a major catalyst for change and transformation. They will extend our coffee leadership; ensure that our stores are the third place for the next decade; encourage a deeper dialogue with our customers; and further strengthen our partners' and customers' relationships with one another. And this is just the beginning!

On another note, we have received a lot of attention in the last week about the $1 brewed coffee 8 ounce short test. Testing is a way of life for us as we continue to find ways to enhance the customer experience. Right now, as a test, it makes sense to us. I'd like to reiterate that Starbucks is built on premium coffee and a premium experience. We intend to maintain our leadership position at the high end, while broadening our appeal. And similar to other leading global consumer brands, we believe there are opportunities to create segmentation, provide an entry point for new customers, and generate trial in a way that will also maintain the value of our core brand proposition. What you can expect in the near term

Over the next several days, you will hear from your manager about the specific role you and your team plays in executing our transformation agenda. We will continue to conduct a thorough and rapid review of every part of our business to ensure we are using our resources as effectively as we can to continually improve the Starbucks Experience.

Most importantly, I ask everyone to please keep your ideas coming and your enthusiasm high. It is the passion and dedication of our partners that are critical elements in bringing to life the creativity and innovation that will drive our ongoing success. Our customers see your commitment, your excitement – and they respond.

Executing our agenda takes each and every one of us. Thank you for your excitement, and your continued focus on helping to build the best Starbucks Experience for our customers and for each other. We know what we need to do to be the best, and we will do it.

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #3 - Starbucks Stories

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #3

To:&nbsp;&nbsp;All Starbucks Partners From:&nbsp;&nbsp;Howard Schultz Earlier this month, we communicated our plan to transform Starbucks for the future, and we said action would come fast. It has, and I am writing today to share with you what has happened so far, and what&#8217;s next. The new senior leadership team and I have met almost every […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/howard-schultz-transformation-agenda-communication-3/

Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX), today announced the Starbucks leadership team who will be directly responsible for executing the Company's transformation agenda. The changes are designed to focus the organization on providing customers with a superior Starbucks Experience and building on Starbucks legacy of innovation.

Schultz will continue to work with Martin Coles, chief operating officer; Pete Bocian, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer, and Paula Boggs, executive vice president, Law and Corporate Affairs; as well as the following direct reports in new roles and/or positions:

- Terry Davenport will be promoted to senior vice president, marketing, and will lead a new Marketing and Brand Strategy function. Davenport and his team will be responsible for the Company's overall marketing plan and calendar, product development, consumer insights and innovation for food and beverage and unifying Starbucks brand to the customer;

- Harry Roberts, a former Starbucks executive, is returning to the Company as senior vice president and chief creative officer. In this newly created role, Roberts and his team will be responsible for the customer in-store experience, including creative expression, merchandise strategy and the overall "look and feel" of the Company's stores;

- Michelle Gass will assume the role of senior vice president, Global Strategy, office of the ceo, and will work to implement all aspects of the transformation plan;

- Chet Kuchinad has been promoted to executive vice president, Partner Resources, and will lead the Company's development and execution of its innovative human resources strategy;

- An executive will be hired to lead Global Real Estate Design and Architecture and an executive will be identified to head the Public Affairs function, which includes Global Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility.

With the Company's renewed focus on customer engagement, Chris Bruzzo has been named to the newly created position of vice president, chief technology officer, and will also serve as acting chief information officer. Bruzzo will leverage technology to create innovative ways for Starbucks to connect with our customers and build loyalty programs. In this capacity, Bruzzo will report to Coles.

"As the leader of this talented senior executive team, I accept full responsibility for and am totally committed to the in-store customer experience," Schultz said. "I will be directly engaged in ensuring a superior experience for our customers. Everything that touches the customer will be a priority. Change will not happen overnight. It will evolve over time, but I ensure you a positive change will occur. I, along with our dedicated partners (employees), will strive to exceed the expectations of our customers every day."

About Starbucks Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people's lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit <a href="http://www.starbucks.com">www.starbucks.com</a>.

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #2 - Starbucks Stories

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #2

Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX), today announced the Starbucks leadership team who will be directly responsible for executing the Company&#8217;s transformation agenda. The changes are designed to focus the organization on providing customers with a superior Starbucks Experience and building on Starbucks legacy of innovation. Schultz will […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/howard-schultz-transformation-agenda-communication-2/

Letter To: All Partners From: Howard Schultz

Twenty-five years ago, I walked into Starbucks first store in Seattle's Pike Place Market, and from that day forward we have taken the road less traveled. Working with an exceptional group of people and summoning all the courage we could muster, we created a new kind of place ? one that served the kind of coffee that most people had never tasted, an environment that didn't look like any other store, and hiring people who were fanatically passionate about coffee and celebrated their interaction with customers. To do this, we focused every ounce of our beings on creativity and innovation. Over the years, together we have built one of the most recognized and respected brands in the world. When we went public in June 1992, we had 119 stores. We now have more than 15,000 stores and a significant and growing presence in 43 countries, serving 50 million customers a week. These customers have placed their trust in us, and for them and for each other we need to ensure that our future is as exciting as our past.

If we take an honest look at Starbucks today, then we know that we are emerging from a period in which we invested in infrastructure ahead of the growth curve. Although necessary, it led to bureaucracy. We will now shift our emphasis back onto customer-facing initiatives, better aligning our back-end costs with our business model. We are fortunate, though, that the challenge we face is one of our own making. Because of this, we know what needs to be done to ensure our long-term future success around the world.

Transforming the Starbucks Experience

The Board decided that I should lead this transformation. Given this, effective immediately, in addition to my existing role as chairman, I have returned as chief executive officer for the long-term. Jim Donald is leaving the Company. I want to pay tribute to Jim's leadership. He was a passionate and tireless advocate for Starbucks, and his contribution to our company cannot be overstated. 

Looking ahead, the reality we face is both challenging and exciting. It's challenging because there are no overnight fixes. Rather, our success will come in the rigorous execution of several new strategic initiatives ? that capitalize on our heritage to drive our successful future. And our reality is exciting because there is so much opportunity ahead for Starbucks. 

Our new transformation agenda includes: - Improving the current state of the U.S. business: by giving our store partners better training and tools, launching new products ? some of which will have an impact as significant as Frappuccino® products and the Starbucks Card ? and introducing new concepts in store design, among other enhancements to the Starbucks Experience. At the same time, we will slow the pace of our U.S. store openings and close a number of underperforming locations, so we can renew our attention on store-level unit economics and be laser-focused on flawless execution.

- Re-igniting our emotional attachment with our customers by restoring the connection our customers have with you, our coffee, our brand, and our stores. Unlike many other places that sell coffee, Starbucks built the equity of our brand through the Starbucks Experience. It comes to life every day in the relationship our people have with our customers. By focusing again on the Starbucks Experience, we will create a renewed level of meaningful differentiation and separation in the market between us and others who are attempting to sell coffee. - Building for the long term, which has two distinct pieces: re-aligning Starbucks organization and streamlining the management of the organization to better support customer-focused initiatives by ensuring our support and planning functions -- from back-end IT systems to store operations -- are most effectively dedicated to the customer experience. This will help us to make smarter decisions about new products and initiatives and bring them to market more quickly than ever in our past.

- Expanding our presence around the world, by building a profitable business outside the U.S., and capitalizing on the enormous, untapped potential for our brand. We will redeploy a portion of the capital originally earmarked for U.S. store growth to the international business. Though we have 5,000 international stores today, we are just at the beginning.

Taken together, these initiatives will help drive our enduring success. And they will come with changes in our organization?some big and some small. I will be decisive in making them. Right now, I can tell you they will include a realignment of our leadership structure, as well as a series of actions to reduce costs and reallocate resources to customer-focused initiatives.

But even as we execute this transformation, there are certain integral aspects of our company that will not change at all. These include our commitment to treating each other with respect and dignity, providing health care and Bean Stock for all of our eligible full- and part-time partners, and our commitment to our community efforts, our ethical sourcing practices and encouraging our coffee suppliers to participate in our CAFE practices program in our origin countries.

Stay Tuned I know that you may have a number of questions. Attached is a brief Question and Answer document that answers some of them. And you have my commitment that there will be more information to come over the next few weeks and I will keep you informed. Specifically, I will be meeting with the leadership of the Company in the near future to discuss our transformation agenda, and in the coming weeks we will communicate these details with you, including your role in it.

In the meantime, I want to thank you for your dedication to Starbucks and for your commitment to earning the trust of our customers every day. Our success is up to us. We know what we need to do to win, and we will do it. 

Voicemail To: All Partners From: Howard Schultz

Hello partners, this is Howard Schultz. Today, Starbucks is announcing a series of strategic initiatives to increase shareholder value and capitalize on our significant U.S. and international opportunities.

Going forward, we will be refocusing our entire organization on the Starbucks Experience, by going back to our heritage and what made us so successful in the first place; putting the customer back at the center of everything we do.

The execute this transformation, the Starbucks Board of Directors has asked me to return as your chief executive officer, in addition to serving as chairman, effective today. This is not an interim role for me. I'm in it for the long-term and I promise to be decisive and do all I can to lead Starbucks to new heights.

Jim Donald will be leaving the Company and let me just pay special tribute to Jim who has been a passionate and tireless advocate of the company. I'm grateful and I thank him for his significant contributions and I wish him nothing but the best in the future. He's been a business partner and a dear friend and I'm sorry to see him leave and I think it's clear to say that his contribution to our Company cannot be overstated.

The success of Starbucks rests on the emotional connection we have with each other and with our customers. It also rests on how we implement our strategy and innovate to stay ahead in a competitive marketplace and tough economic environment.

I think recently we have become victims of our own tremendous success. We are emerging from a period in which we have invested heavily in infrastructure ahead of the growth of the company and, although necessary, it has lead to bureaucracy that has both slowed us down and cost us money. We now shift our emphasis back to consumer facing initiatives, betting aligning our back end costs with our business model.

In refocusing our Company, we are going to play to our strengths ? to what has made Starbucks and the Starbucks experience so unique; ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality coffee in the world, the relentless focus on our customers, the trust we have built with our people, and the smart, entrepreneurial risk-taking, innovation and creativity that are the hallmarks of our company.

To this end, in the coming months you will be seeing internal changes and exciting new developments at Starbucks.

We'll share the specifics as soon as we can. But in general, I can tell you that our transformational agenda will have three objectives:

- To improve the current state of the U.S. business

- To re-ignite the Starbucks experience through driving improvement and change in all areas that "touch the customer"; and

- To build for the long term; this has two distinct pieces;

- Realign our organization and streamline the management of the organization to support customer focused intitiaves and

- Accelerate our International success story and growth even further

In closing, let me say that we are truly in this together. Every partner plays a critical role. I am asking that each of us focus on carrying out our responsibilities in the best way possible, and help to create welcoming and distinctive places that are truly a "third place" for customers and the communities that we serve.

Let me just say to everyone who is listening, I am sincerely excited and energized by the challenges and the opportunities we have. I am here for the long term. I'm here to help every one of you succeed and to restore the company to the greatness it has been.

But our success is up to you, not only me, but all of you and all of us. We know what we need to do to win and we will do so.

Thanks for all you do and all you have done and for contributing so much to Starbucks and to all those people who work so hard and tirelessly behind the scenes who contribute to so much.

Howard<a href="https://pinpoint.sbux.com/"></a>

For more information: <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=813 ">Questions &amp; Answers</a> <a href="http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518&amp;p=irol-IRHome">Investor Relations</a>

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #1 - Starbucks Stories

Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #1

Letter To: All PartnersFrom: Howard Schultz Twenty-five years ago, I walked into Starbucks first store in Seattle&#8217;s Pike Place Market, and from that day forward we have taken the road less traveled.  Working with an exceptional group of people and summoning all the courage we could muster, we created a new kind of place ? […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/howard-schultz-transformation-agenda-communication-1/

The Board of Directors of Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced a series of initiatives aimed at driving shareholder value by refocusing the Company on providing customers with the distinctive Starbucks Experience and building on Starbucks legacy of innovation. To accomplish this objective, the Board has appointed Howard Schultz, chairman, to take on the additional role of chief executive officer, effective immediately, replacing Jim Donald, who is leaving the Company.

"Howard is the architect of the Starbucks brand and the visionary behind the unique customer experience that is at the heart of this remarkable company's success," said Craig Weatherup, chairman of the Starbucks Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. "Given what the Board believes needs to be done, there is no better person to drive change and ensure that Starbucks is positioned to innovate, execute and relentlessly focus the entire organization on the customer."

Schultz served as chief executive officer of the Company from 1987 to 2000. During that period, the Company went public in 1992 and enjoyed exceptional U.S. and international growth. From 2000 onward, in his role as chairman, Schultz focused on the Company's global strategies and expansion, which now includes a significant and growing presence in 43 countries. As chairman and chief executive officer, he will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company, with a predominant focus on everything that touches the customer. Martin Coles, chief operating officer, will work closely with Schultz and have oversight responsibility for all operational aspects of the business.

"I am enthusiastic about returning to the role of chief executive officer for the long term and excited to lead Starbucks and its dedicated partners (employees) to even greater heights of achievement on a global basis," Schultz said. "We must address the challenges we face and we know what has to be done. Put simply, we are recommitting ourselves to what has made Starbucks and the Starbucks Experience so unique: ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality coffee in the world; the relentless focus on the customer; the trust we have built with our people, and the entrepreneurial risk-taking, innovation and creativity that are the hallmarks of our success."

Schultz stated that his agenda will include: - improving the current state of the U.S. business by refocusing on the customer experience in the stores, new products and store design elements, and new training and tools for the Company's store partners to help them give customers a superior experience; - slowing the Company's pace of U.S. store openings and closing a number of underperforming U.S. store locations, enabling Starbucks to renew its focus on its store-level unit economics; - re-igniting the emotional attachment with customers and restoring the connections customers have with Starbucks® coffee, brand, people and stores; - re-aligning Starbucks organization and streamlining the management to better support customer-focused initiatives and reallocating resources to key value drivers; and - accelerating expansion and increasing the profitability of Starbucks outside the U.S., including by redeploying a portion of the capital originally earmarked for U.S. store growth to the international business.

"Taken together, these initiatives will help transform Starbucks and drive the Company's enduring success. We know that we can improve our performance by getting back to the essence of what drove Starbucks past success ? our passion for the business and a complete focus on the customer and our relationship with our people. In doing so, we will rely on the continued efforts and dedication of our partners all around the world, who have and will continue to contribute so much to the Starbucks success story," commented Schultz.

Starbucks will provide further details about its updated store growth strategy and other actions during its 2008 first quarter earnings call on January 30, 2008.

Schultz stated that there are no one-shot solutions or overnight fixes, rather success lies in rigorous execution of the objectives he outlined for the Company. "The position we hold today in our customers' and partners' hearts and souls all around the world is not an entitlement. We must earn the trust of our customers every day ? by how we conduct our business, how we treat each other as people and how we act as a responsible corporate citizen. We remain committed to providing health care for all full and part-time partners, executing our best-in-class Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, and encouraging our coffee suppliers to participate in our C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmers Equity) practices program in our origin countries.

"On behalf of the Board and all Starbucks partners, I would like to thank Jim Donald for his numerous contributions to our Company. Jim was a passionate and tireless advocate for our brand, and we wish him success in his future endeavors," concluded Schultz.

Widely known as the architect of Starbucks brand image, Howard Schultz joined Starbucks Coffee Company as director of operations and marketing in 1982, when the Company had only four stores. In August 1987, Schultz purchased Starbucks Coffee Company. Under Schultz's leadership, Starbucks was one of the first companies in North America to offer two unique benefits to its eligible full- and part-time partners: healthcare benefits, and grants in the form of stock options, called Bean Stock. In June 1992, Starbucks was the first specialty coffee company to become a public company and is now the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. In addition to its retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, Starbucks sells coffee and tea products through its specialty operations, and licensed stores.

Conference Call with Financial Community

The Company will host a conference call for the financial community today at 5:30 p.m. (EST) to discuss the announcement. The call will be available as an audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at <a href="http://investor.starbucks.com">http://investor.starbucks.com</a>.

Following today's call, the Company's next conference call will be to discuss its financial results for the 2008 first quarter as well as to provide further details on its store growth strategy and other actions. The call will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2008, following the issuance of its 1Q08 financial results press release.

About Starbucks Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people's lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit <a href="http://www.starbucks.com">www.starbucks.com</a>.

Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements about recent trends in the company's business and the company's future business plans, initiatives and objectives. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, coffee, dairy and other raw material prices and availability, successful execution of internal performance and expansion plans, fluctuations in U.S. and international economies and currencies, the impact of initiatives by competitors, the effect of legal proceedings, and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section of Starbucks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. The company assumes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

To read a letter to Starbucks customers, go to <a href="http://www.starbucks.com">www.starbucks.com</a>

Starbucks Announces Strategic Initiatives to Increase Shareholder Value; Chairman Howard Schultz Returns as CEO - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Announces Strategic Initiatives to Increase Shareholder Value; Chairman Howard Schultz Returns as CEO

The Board of Directors of Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced a series of initiatives aimed at driving shareholder value by refocusing the Company on providing customers with the distinctive Starbucks Experience and building on Starbucks legacy of innovation. To accomplish this objective, the Board has appointed Howard Schultz, chairman, to take on the additional […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/starbucks-announces-strategic-initiatives-to-increase-shareholder-value-cha/

Twenty-five years ago, I walked into Starbucks first store and I fell in love ? with the coffee I tasted, with the passion of the people working there, and with how it looked, smelled and felt.Â From that day, I had a vision that a store can offer a welcoming experience for customers, be part of their community, and become a warm "third place" that is part of their lives everyday ? and that it can provide a truly superior cup of coffee.

Based on that vision, I, along with a very talented group of people, brought Starbucks to life. We did it by being creative, innovative and courageous in offering coffee products that very few in America had ever tasted; by celebrating the interaction between us and our customers; by developing a store design unlike any that existed before; and by bringing on board an exceptionally engaged group of partners (employees) who shared our excitement about building a different kind of company.

In doing this, we developed a culture based on treating each other, our customers and our coffee growers with respect and dignity. This includes embracing diversity, committing ourselves to ethical sourcing practices, providing health care and stock options to all of our eligible full- and part-time partners, supporting the communities we serve, and, most of all, ensuring that we are a company you can be proud to support.

I am writing today to thank you for the trust you have placed in us and to share with you my personal commitment to ensuring that every time you visit our stores you get the distinctive Starbucks Experience that you have come to expect, marked by the consistent delivery of the finest coffee in the world.Â To ensure this happens, in addition to my role as chairman, I am returning to the position of chief executive officer to help our partners build upon our heritage and our special relationship with you, and lead our company into the future.Â Â 

We have enormous opportunity and exciting plans in place to make the Starbucks Experience as good as it has ever been and even better.Â In the coming months, you will see this come to life in the way our stores look, in the way our people serve you, in the new beverages and products we will offer. That is my promise to you. Everyone at Starbucks looks forward to sharing these initiatives with you.

For more information: <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=814">Letter and Voicemail to Starbucks Partners (employees)</a> <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=813">Questions &amp; Answers</a> <a href="http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518&amp;p=irol-IRHome">Investor Relations</a> (webcast available after 2 p.m. PST.)Â Â

Letter to Customers - Starbucks Stories

To Our Customers:Â Â  Twenty-five years ago, I walked into Starbucks first store and I fell in love ? with the coffee I tasted, with the passion of the people working there, and with how it looked, smelled and felt.Â  From that day, I had a vision that a store can offer a welcoming experience for […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2008/letter-to-customers/

Letter to Customers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC's Web site at

www.cpsc.gov.)<dir>
Name of Product: Starbucks Fusion Coffee Mugs

Units: About 167,000

Importer: Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.

Manufacturer: lab921, Seattle, Wash.

Hazard: The plastic handle can detach from the body of the mug when filled with hot liquids, posing a minor burn hazard to consumers. 

Incidents/Injuries: Starbucks has received 23 reports of handles detaching from the mug, including nine that resulted in minor burns.

Description: This recall involves two styles of Starbucks 14-ounce Fusion Coffee Mugs. The mugs are white and have a black plastic handle, and a stainless steel base. The cups have "Starbucks Coffee" printed on a black stamp or a brown original Starbucks logo stamp. 

Sold at: Mugs with the "Starbucks Coffee" stamp were sold at Starbucks stores nationwide from February 2007 through November 2007 for about $11. Mugs with the original logo stamp were sold only at Starbucks Pike Place store in Seattle, Washington during the same period and for the same price.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the mugs and contact Starbucks for instructions on returning the cups for a full refund. Starbucks is also offering a free beverage as an incentive to return the recalled mugs.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Starbucks at (800) 624-8678 anytime or visit the firm's web site at 
</dir>www.starbucks.com

core/freeform

Starbucks Recalls Coffee Mugs Due to Burn Hazard; Product Manufactured by lab921 - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Recalls Coffee Mugs Due to Burn Hazard; Product Manufactured by lab921

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC&#8217;s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.) Name of Product: Starbucks Fusion Coffee Mugs […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2007/starbucks-recalls-coffee-mugs-due-to-burn-hazard-product-manufactured-by-la/

LONDON; Nov 20, 2007--Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX), has been awarded the prestigious First Magazine Award for Responsible Capitalism 2007.

Presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon Alistair Darling MP, the annual award recognises business leaders who put social responsibility at the heart of their commercial strategy. In making the award, the judging panel considers a company's commitment to establishing a responsible approach to business, its relationship with its customers, suppliers and the local communities it operates in.

On receiving the award Schultz said, "It is a great privilege to receive this recognition. Starbucks is committed to doing business responsibly and ethically, and it is an honour to be recognised in this way as a socially responsible company, both in the communities where we have retail locations and the countries where our coffees are grown. I couldn't be more proud of the passion and commitment the leadership team and all our partners show in ensuring that this approach is adopted throughout the business at every level."

In making the award to Schultz, Lord Woolf, chairman of the judging panel, said, "Mr. Howard Schultz has demonstrated how it is possible to combine being an extremely successful leader of a highly innovative company with social responsibility, concern for the environment, the well-being of the local communities in which the company operates around the globe and the integrity of its products and services."

The First Magazine Award for Responsible Capitalism is presided over by a distinguished panel of business and political leaders. Previous award winners include Ratan N Tata, chairman of Tata Sons; Alan Wood CBE, UK Chief Executive of Siemens; and Morris Tabaksblat KBE, chairman of Reed Elsevier.

First Magazine instituted the Award for Responsible Capitalism in 2000 to mark the Millennium. The award was presented on 20 November 2007 at a ceremony held at Marlborough House, London.

Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people's lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit

www.starbucks.co.uk.

FIRST was established in 1984 to enhance communication between leaders in industry, finance and government at the strategic level. FIRST brings together the ideas and opinions of the global leadership community in a publication that represents a unique forum of influence. 

The First Magazine judging panel includes: 

<dir><dir>
? Rt Hon Lord Woolf (Chairman) 
? Lord Dahrendorf fba, kbe
? Rt Hon Lord Howe of Aberavon ch qc
? HEChief Emeka Anyaoku gcvo tc cfr
? Lord Plant of Highfield
? Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge
? Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chair, Carlson Companies
? Sir Robert Wilson kcmg, Chairman, BG
? Dr Daniel Vasella, Chief Executive, Novartis
? Morris Tabaksblat kbe
? Hon Philip Lader, Chairman, WPP Group
? Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group
? Sir Patrick Cormack, fsa mp, President, FIRST 
</dir></dir>

Starbucks Chairman Receives First Magazine Award For Responsible Capitalism - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Chairman Receives First Magazine Award For Responsible Capitalism

LONDON; Nov 20, 2007&#8211;Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX), has been awarded the prestigious First Magazine Award for Responsible Capitalism 2007. Presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon Alistair Darling MP, the annual award recognises business leaders who put social responsibility at the heart of their commercial strategy.  In making the […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2007/starbucks-chairman-receives-first-magazine-award-for-responsible-capitalism/

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC's Web site at <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/">www.cpsc.gov</a>.)

Name of Product: Starbucks Children's Plastic Cups

Importer: Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.

Hazard: If the cup is dropped, the colorful face on the cup can break off and leave small parts or sharp exposed edges that can pose a choking or laceration hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Starbucks has received seven reports of the cups breaking, including two reports in which a child began to choke on a broken piece. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall includes four styles of Starbucks children's plastic 10-ounce cups. Styles include: "Dot" Red Ladybug; "Dash" Green Turtle; Bunny Pink; and Chick Yellow cups.

Sold exclusively at: Starbucks stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2007 for about $5.95 USD or $7.95 CAN.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled cups away from young children and contact Starbucks for instructions on returning the cups for a refund. Starbucks is also offering a complimentary beverage as an incentive to return the recalled cups.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Starbucks at (888) 288-4008 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/">www.starbucks.com</a>.

Starbucks Recalls Children's Plastic Cups Due to Choking and Laceration Hazards - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Recalls Children&#8217;s Plastic Cups Due to Choking and Laceration Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC&#8217;s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.) Name of Product: Starbucks Children&#8217;s Plastic Cups […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2007/starbucks-recalls-childrens-plastic-cups-due-to-choking-and-laceration-haza/

Starbucks Recalls Children’s Plastic Cups Due to Choking and Laceration Hazards

StarbucksÂ is a gathering place for the entire community.Â We care about giving our customers a personal and enjoyable experienceÂ in an environment where they can relax with a good cup of coffee, share a treat with friends, find a gift for a family member or discover new music. &lt;?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /&gt;

As we grow, our customer base has expanded and includes parents, children and teenagers. Our goal is to offer a variety of high quality products that appeal and are appropriate for all of our customers.

All of our marketing practices, from advertising to event sponsorships, undergo careful scrutiny to ensure that they are appropriate for the community and our customers. Starbucks continually reviews our marketing and product purchasing practices to ensure that we meet the expectations of the communities that we serve.

Starbucks Statement: Marketing and Product Purchasing Practices - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Statement: Marketing and Product Purchasing Practices

StarbucksÂ is a gathering place for the entire community.Â  We care about giving our customers a personal and enjoyable experienceÂ in an environment where they can relax with a good cup of coffee, share a treat with friends, find a gift for a family member or discover new music. &lt;?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = &#8220;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office&#8221; /&gt; […]

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