A letter to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America

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What I’ve learned and love so deeply about us is that we are built on human connection. Our strength comes from our relationships and how we show up for each other. Partners listen and hear each other, bear witness to what’s happening in each others’ lives, support each other, celebrate successes, figure out challenges together, and discuss ideas that make us all better. It’s incredibly special. Everything we do best and love most about Starbucks is thanks to partners working together and supporting one another. I want to thank you for everything you do each and every day to bring the very best of Starbucks to life. I am proud to be on this journey together.

For the last three months in Buffalo, we’ve been working hard on creating the very best Starbucks partner experience. And we’ve been learning a lot about unions and hearing talk of “corporate versus partners.” What I know is that we are all partners and we, all of us, ARE Starbucks. Every day I work alongside the most incredibly talented partners. We will keep listening, we will keep connecting and we will keep being in service of one another because that’s what we’ve always done and what it means to be partner.

Partners in three Buffalo stores voted on union representation and the ballots were counted today. We had a split vote: one store voted to keep working directly together, one store voted to be represented by a union, and the third store doesn’t have a final result because some unopened “challenged” ballots can determine the tally. It may be some time before we know if or when those ballots can be opened and counted.&nbsp;

So what happens from here? Put simply, we continue on as we did today, yesterday and the day before that. These are preliminary results with no immediate changes to our partner relationship as the NLRB process continues.

Most important, the vote outcomes will not change our shared purpose or how we will show up for each other. We want to protect partner flexibility, transferability and benefits across all stores in a market or a district because we know that’s important to partners. This is why we strongly believe that every partner in a district or market should have the opportunity to vote on such an important decision.

Starbucks is one of the most respected and admired companies in the world, built by partners in service of partners, customers and neighborhoods all across the country. I am so proud to be your partner and to continue moving forward stronger, together.

We want every partner to love working at Starbucks. We will keep finding new and better ways to continue leading on wages and benefits, improve our listening and active partnership, and keep building a company that matters. Because we are partners.

Buffalo union vote results and what matters most - Starbucks Stories

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Buffalo union vote results and what matters most

A letter to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America.

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“You can trust that while we are on this journey together, we will always be one Starbucks, grounded in the belief that partners are the heartbeat of this company,” writes chief executive officer Kevin Johnson in a holiday message.

As I enjoy one of my favorite coffees, Starbucks Christmas Blend, I reach out to you today to reflect and to share some thoughts about the future.

Staying true to our Mission and Values

We’ve navigated a global pandemic by staying true to our Mission and Values and by prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our partners and customers. Together, we implemented new store safety protocols, provided economic certainty to our fellow partners, invested in comprehensive COVID-19 care and benefits and gave free coffee to front line health care workers and first responders. And through it all, the hero in this story is you – our Starbucks partners – who show up in service of people and communities every day. We are all feeling stress and living with the fear of COVID, yet you bring joy to people seeking that special Starbucks Experience. You continue to be a light for each other, for our customers and for the communities we serve. And for that, I am so proud and grateful.&nbsp;

The world has forever changed

As we face the future, it’s clear COVID has changed everything.&nbsp;For example, 5 million Americans have left the workforce during the pandemic, a reality you experience daily. Global supply chain dislocations continue to impact businesses around the world, including Starbucks. Inflation is creating financial pressure on families, and the struggle for racial justice and equity continues. And now, the Omicron variant is creating more challenges in an already uncertain environment. This weighs on humanity, our society and on each of us.

Fortunately, humanity is core to Starbucks, and we take pride in challenging the status quo and leading during times of adversity. And this time will be no different. My commitment to you is that we will continue to navigate into the future together, as one Starbucks.

Together, we will overcome these challenges

We are taking action, quickly, because we know that with more customers coming back to our stores, these macro challenges have created even more pressure for our stores, and all of you. We have heard you, and we are making progress on the toughest obstacles – increasing recruiting staff across the U.S., hiring 5,000 new partners each week, investing an unprecedented $1 billion in wages, training, and hours, deploying new equipment and technology and continuing to support leaders in markets across the country.

There is more to do as we continue to adapt to the long-term realities of COVID. This will involve reimagining our future – continuously listening to improve the partner experience and treating each other with respect and dignity. And although we will never be perfect, together we will create our best path forward.

There is only one Starbucks

That leads me to the situation in Buffalo, where this week partners in three individual stores will decide if they want to be represented by a union.

Unlike others in our industry who operate a franchise model, we have a network of company-operated stores that work together to create a better partner experience. Why does this matter?&nbsp;Many of you have told me you greatly value the flexibility to work between stores, to swap and pickup shifts, giving you the opportunity to connect with partners across different stores as one community. Because of this, we feel strongly that all partners in Buffalo should have a voice in the elections, which may unfortunately not be the case. While we recognize this creates some level of uncertainty, we respect the process that is underway and, independent of any outcome in these elections, we will continue to stay true to our Mission and Values.&nbsp;

Optimistic for the future

As they have through our 50-year history, our Mission and Values will guide us to lead and innovate in ways that are most meaningful to our partners. In fact, the achievements and offerings we are most proud of are because of you: health care benefits, Bean Stock to give you each equity in the company, the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, mental health support through Lyra, our Third Place Policy, our parental and sick leave benefits, evolution of our dress code, some of our most innovative menu offerings and so much more.&nbsp;

So, what can you expect going forward? First, we will work each day to exceed the expectations of our partners as you, in turn, create that great Starbucks Experience for our customers. Second, we will always be transparent and authentic – even when we need to have tough conversations. And finally, you can trust that while we are on this journey together, we will always be one Starbucks, grounded in the belief that partners are the heartbeat of this company.&nbsp;

These principles will guide us, ensuring that our legacy of treating one another as partners is lived out every day, in every market, in every store.

Happy holidays, and I look forward to connecting again soon.&nbsp;

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“You can trust that while we are on this journey together, we will always be one Starbucks, grounded in the belief that partners are the heartbeat of this company,” writes ceo Kevin Johnson.

A message from Kevin Johnson: Going forward together as one Starbucks

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“You can trust that while we are on this journey together, we will always be one Starbucks, grounded in the belief that partners are the heartbeat of this company,” writes chief executive officer Kevin Johnson in a holiday message.

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A letter to U.S. Starbucks partners (employees) from Howard Schultz, Starbucks founder

It was 40 years ago when I first crossed the threshold of our store at Pike Place, only beginning to imagine the possibilities of what this company could one day become. It had always been my dream to build a different kind of company – one where we create new opportunities for our people and build community, together, over coffee.

Over the years I’ve traveled all over the world to meet with our teams in over 80 markets. It has always energized me to meet with our partners and hear about their hopes and dreams. In this 50th year of the company’s existence, our Starbucks leaders have asked me to share our foundational stories around the world. It’s a privilege for me given my profound love for the company and what we have uniquely built together as partners over the years.

Today, I am writing to you from Buffalo, New York. Since my last trip here to meet with Store Managers in September, I have had the great privilege of hearing deeply personal stories about our Buffalo partners’ own journeys.

My purpose here has been to listen and learn. And to share with our partners - so many here who are new to the company - about the values and principles that have served as our foundation.

Buffalo in many ways is like so much of America today, navigating a confluence of social and economic challenges as we address the pandemic environment. Starbucks has not been immune from these challenges, and we have been dedicated across the country for much of the past year to focus on areas the company must improve in many of our stores. There is simply no better way to do this than to double down on our belief in servant leadership, ensuring we meet the expectations of our partners and customers in this next chapter.

I shared with our partners tonight who may not have known that I worked for so many years to build a company that my father never had a chance to work for. That as a blue-collar worker and veteran, he taught me the meaning of hard work after an on-the-job injury left our family without an income or insurance, literally no safety net. This traumatic moment fueled me to frame the vision and guiding principles of Starbucks, creating a company of partners that aspired to build a for-profit company imbued with love, social conscience and shared success based on shared responsibility.

Through our direct and shared relationship as partners we began to build a different kind of company, bringing to life:

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What the leadership team has done in Buffalo is what we have always done. We listen. We learn. We get better together. No partner has ever needed to have a representative seek to obtain things we all have as partners at Starbucks. And I am saddened and concerned to hear anyone thinks that is needed now. The rituals of the company for so many years include forums like we had tonight. And 1:1 and team conversations between district managers and store managers and baristas. The direct engagement is a true hallmark of Starbucks. Our leaders’ responsibility to practice servant leadership is an accountability that has zero compromise.

As I leave tonight, I can’t help but think how the success of our company has come from a simple truth.&nbsp; That when we exceed the expectations of our people, they in turn exceed the expectations of our customers. This is what we know we need to continue to do in Buffalo and everywhere around the country. Leaders must learn from what is happening in Buffalo, and I know they are. I see the changes, commitments and engagement happening. And the leadership team and I will continue these forums around the country, creating more opportunities to learn from one another and improve. We must remember to earn success and trust each day, taking accountability and correcting when there are missteps.

I know deep in my heart that the best is yet to come for Starbucks. It remains my greatest aspiration that Starbucks partners will stay together carrying forward the legacy of working together with compassion and with love, and providing a welcoming and uplifting third place for one another and our customers. To every Starbucks partner, whether you are new to the company or you have been here for some time, this is our time to come together to show the world what it means to build a great and enduring company, unlike anything out there. Just we as partners, dreaming bigger than ever before.

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On November 6, 2021 Starbucks founder Howard Schultz spoke with Starbucks partners (employees) at a&nbsp;Partner Open Forum in Buffalo, N.Y.

See Highlights from the Conversation

Hear Howard on Starbucks Partner Benefits

Watch the Entire Open Forum

“To every Starbucks partner, whether you are new to the company or you have been here for some time, this is our time to come together to show the world what it means to build a truly different kind of company, unlike anything out there,” writes Starbucks founder Howard Schultz.

A message from Howard Schultz: From Buffalo with love

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A letter to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America: More investments for store partners in pay, labor, training, equipment and technology

I was so proud to join Starbucks 17 years ago, because I was joining a different kind of company whose values matched mine. A purpose-driven company with deep respect, care and love for its employees (who we embrace as partners), its customers and communities. Our founder Howard Schultz believed in the dignity of the human experience, in building a successful company, and that our success should always be shared. And under Kevin’s leadership, we all remain committed to this today. This has always been us, and it will always be what we do. Partners always work together to understand the challenges and opportunities of the day. We always reimagine and trailblaze some of the most amazing benefits and services of any retail company in the country – from providing health care to part time as well as full time partners, to annual stock grants for every partner, to 100% college tuition coverage, mental health support and even free Spotify. &nbsp;We always challenge ourselves: what’s needed now, what more can we do, and what are our biggest dreams? And we always start with our partner experience first. Always.

I am proud of how we continue to work together to protect our business and support our partners through the most challenging 18+ months of our lives in this ongoing pandemic. When others were closing stores and laying off people, we doubled down with COVID-19 pay and benefits AND we made a record investment in partner wages and experience. And today, based on what we’ve seen and heard across the country, we’re announcing yet again one of the biggest partner investments in our history! I am forever proud and grateful to be your partner and I’m pleased to share the investments we’re making in our partner experience this fiscal year across the country:

We want to thank and reward partners who have been with us the longest. You have helped build this company and supported us over two of the most challenging years. In late January, most baristas and shift supervisors across the country with two or more years of service will get up to a 5% raise, and most hourly partners with five or more years will get up to a 10% raise. This is in keeping with our long history of investing in our partners.

In December 2020 we announced that we would raise our minimum wage to $15/hour nationally and in Summer 2022 we will have achieved that goal. This will of course support current partners, and importantly it will also reinforce Starbucks as an employer of choice for future partners as we enhance recruitment efforts in the challenging labor market that we – like other retailers – face.&nbsp; And when we make this increase to $15/hour in markets that are not already at that level, we will ensure partners with two or more years of service are paid above their market start rate. This means baristas will make between $15 and $23/hour based on market and tenure, and we will maintain a 27% difference between Barista and SSV start rates. And we continue to offer career development opportunities like the barista trainer program and promotions to grow earning potential.

Our wage increases from Dec. 2020 to the Summer of 2022 will mean at least a 17% increase for partners, and at least 20% for tenured partners, in two years. I share all this only to reaffirm our belief that investing in our partners is not a cost, it’s an opportunity – and we intend to let our shareholders and peers know the same.&nbsp;

We’re adding hourly recruiting specialists in the regions, extending the $200 referral bonuses, and redesigning Barista Basics with added training time as well as plans to add funded practice shifts for new hires. The positive responses we’re getting from partners around the country tells us we’re on the right track – thank you! In addition, we are learning from the 40 stores we temporarily repurposed for training needs in markets around the country and will continue to build on this work.

We’re making more cold beverages than ever before so last month, we launched a major update to our labor model to reflect the demand, the time it takes to make these customized drinks, and the prep (from cold brew prep to nitro kegging). What that means is a more accurate forecast you can trust, and a better staffed shift. To better ensure staffing on a day-to-day basis, we’re also testing solutions like an app to help partners communicate and make sure there is coverage for all available shifts, which should reduce the impact of call outs. Our labor team, made up of the best data analysts and former store partners, and our Store Manager Council, is shaping this work.

Wages and benefits are important, and so is the day-to-day experience of your work and your store environment. So we’re moving fast to get Mastrena IIs, our new Cold Brewers and MerryChef ovens in every store, MacBooks to ASMs and SMTs by December, and rolling out more Handheld Order Points, Playbuilder, My Daily upgrades and Automated Ordering (which is saving stores 25 minutes a day!). We’re testing Cold Beverage Station redesigns now in Tryer and will begin testing in stores in January to make it easier to handcraft drinks and connect with customers. Behind the scenes, we’re also testing ingredient dispensers and sustainable water dispensers, thanks to your ideas.

Every decision and every investment we make is in partnership with you. We are listening and learning in every market where we operate – in partner roundtables, open forums, Workplace, Partner Hub, Partner Experience Surveys and through 1:1s with you and your leaders. Our goal is to create the best, and safest partner experience for you. This is why we continue to offer competitive pay, flexible hours, borrowed shifts, paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid family leave, free college, healthcare, stock, 401k plans, childcare, Lyra mental health benefits, transgender benefits, vaccine benefits, Spotify, Headspace, partner networks and more. We want you to know about and use everything Starbucks has to offer to pursue your biggest dreams – whether it’s with us, or beyond!

Your partner experience is our top priority. And the only thing that makes me prouder than investing in you, is what we stand for together. We inspire and nurture the human spirit. We have the opportunity every day to create a different kind of company whose DNA is human connection. One Best Moment at a time, one conversation at a time, one community service event at a time, one smile at a time. The world has never needed inspiration and nurturing more than it does now.

Thank you for all you do, and how much it matters to your fellow partners, your customers, and your communities. It is my greatest honor to be in service of you and our Mission.

A letter to Starbucks partners from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America: More investments for store partners in pay, labor, training, equipment and technology.

Message from Rossann Williams: Investing Our Success in You

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A letter to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America: More investments for store partners in pay, labor, training, equipment and technology.

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A message to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America

I am writing you today from Buffalo, NY where I have been connecting with partners, as I often do in my role around the country. I wanted to pause and check in as some of you have asked about three stores here that have petitioned to join a union called Workers United. I want to make sure you are hearing directly from us, and me personally, so you know our position and have the facts.&nbsp;

For context, I first came to Buffalo in early September to see for myself the working conditions and operational challenges our partners had shared with us. From what I have seen and heard, from both newer and tenured partners, it’s 100% clear that they have not had the Starbucks Experience that we work so hard to create for you, and all of our partners across the country. So, we are here to ensure that we can give them just that. Some stores are well supported, but there are serious gaps in too many other stores in this market that fall short of the Starbucks Experience and represent some of the most challenging conditions, over and above the everyday complexity COVID-19 has brought. We are working to deliver the Starbucks standard, with humility, care and urgency. This is what every partner deserves – the very best partner experience we can offer. Our local operations team is leading the work, with a focus on staffing, training (both in-store and at our two temporary training stores), and creating the store environment partners expect and deserve, while ensuring every local leader is dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment for our Buffalo partners. A team of regional operations, facilities, technology, PRO, Store Dev and support manager partners are on the ground to help too.&nbsp;

There are many changes happening to close the operational gaps, but even positive changes can take time for partners to adjust to, so I am personally trying to stay as close as I can while also overseeing North America and what’s important to all partners. I will continue to meet with as many partners as possible across Buffalo and around the country to be in service wherever I can. Being in the stores, working shoulder to shoulder, is the part of the job that brings me the most energy and has for my 17 years at Starbucks.

In terms of the three petitions, an election date has not yet been set. We have also asked the National Labor Relations Board to allow all partners in Buffalo stores to vote, instead of just three stores. As you know, Starbucks stores in a city or market are deeply interconnected – partners like to routinely work shifts in other stores, we transfer and promote partners between stores, we share inventory across the market, we operate under the same policies, and we share the same set of leaders. In fact, like other markets, nearly half of the partners in the Buffalo market have worked in multiple stores this past year. We believe rather than restricting the vote to three stores, all Buffalo store partners should vote because every partner’s voice matters, especially in an important decision that may affect them all.&nbsp;

In the meantime, we want to make sure our partners here in Buffalo know the facts and have a space to hear from us directly so they can make their own informed decision. We are hosting partner meetings so we can share information and partners can ask us questions – like what the vote actually decides, what collective bargaining entails, how a union works, and how to make the most of the benefits we already offer. And we want partners to know how unionizing would fundamentally change their direct relationship with Starbucks. We care deeply about our partners here in Buffalo, as we do in every market across the country, and we want to preserve our partner to partner relationship. While it is certainly our partners’ right to make their own decision – and one we fully respect – I do hope our partners will give us a chance as they make the best decision for themselves, their families and their fellow partners. &nbsp;

I want to be clear that our actions in Buffalo are not about whether we are pro-union or anti-union. &nbsp;It’s quite simply that we are pro-Starbucks partners. As you know, our heritage and culture are built on the belief that by working directly together as partners, we can build a different kind of company. We do that by listening, having real talk, and lifting one another up, always with Our Mission and Values at our core. It’s what I truly love most about Starbucks – and I know many of you do too. Every success we have ever achieved has been in direct partnership with one another – without an outside party between us.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, what I’ve seen and heard in the market shows we have partners who don’t feel the partnership we pride ourselves on having, which is heartbreaking to me. And truth be told, the operational challenges I described, like staffing, training, call outs, or repairing equipment, can only be solved by us, from within Starbucks. That responsibility, along with the responsibility to offer even part-time workers our total pay and benefits package and COVID benefits are uniquely Starbucks to own. So, we are asking partners to vote “no” to a union – not because we’re opposed to unions but because we believe we will best enhance our partnership and advance the operational changes together in a direct relationship.&nbsp;

I know some of these operational gaps are not unique to Buffalo. As I shared in my message to you a few weeks ago, the pandemic has fundamentally changed our jobs and partners are navigating more complexity than ever imaginable. I want you to know that across the country, we will continue to make the investments we need to ensure an elevated Starbucks Experience, just as we have this last year – like accelerating wage investments, investing in cold beverage labor, fixing and innovating equipment and technology in stores, repurposing 40 stores around the country for new partner training, expanding referral bonuses, adding hourly recruiting specialists and more. Ensuring your care and safety remains the top priority. And with that, continuing our direct conversations as partners. Our only goal is that you feel safe, supported and truly LOVE what you do at Starbucks. You deserve that and more!

I often hear stories of incredible strength and resilience from partners, and I can say with conviction that there is no situation, pandemic or otherwise, that can shake the heart and soul of our company. We are not perfect – we make mistakes, we stumble – but we listen, grow together and take action. This work doesn’t happen in a boardroom in Seattle – it starts with open and honest conversations, in stores – learning, asking what’s possible, and committing to making ourselves, and our company, better.&nbsp;

Thank you for taking time to read this message as I felt the details were important to share. I will continue to check in. Thank you for your partnership, and thank you for standing with Starbucks.

A message to Starbucks partners (employees) from Rossann Williams, evp, president North America.

Working Directly Together as Partners, We Can Build a Different Kind of Company

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A message from Kevin Johnson, Starbucks ceo to partners (employees)

Fifty years ago, Starbucks opened our doors in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and our journey began. Today we are a proud part of more than 33,000 communities around the world. Since the beginning, we have been a different kind of company, grounded in our Mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

This week, as we celebrate both National and International Coffee Days, we also continue to celebrate our milestone anniversary, honoring the legacy and heritage of Starbucks and all the partners who have come before us. I am filled with optimism for our future: one where we give more than we take from the planet, create a sustainable future for coffee, positively impact the communities we serve, and enhance the lives of all who connect with Starbucks.

The last 18 months have certainly brought unprecedented challenges in our society - with a historic global pandemic, extreme weather events, and racial and social injustice as just a few examples of what we’re navigating together. And as the economy continues to recover and more customers return to our stores, we’re navigating new supply chain challenges, staffing complexities, and other store pressures, much like others across the industry. Our operations and support teams have managed these challenges with flexibility and grace, working with urgency to find solutions. Starbucks partners have remained resilient, always rising to the occasion in support of other partners as we meet our customers where they need us to be. For that, and so much more, I am so grateful for each of you and so very proud to be a partner.

We know our success – past, present, and future – is built on how we partner together. This culture of belonging is both our heritage and our future.<a></a>

Since 1971, we have sought to inspire and nurture the human spirit by asking ourselves, repeatedly and frequently, “what’s possible?” I ask you that same question today. What is possible if we spend the next 50 years using what we’ve learned in our first 50 to make people’s lives better, the planet better, and all of humanity, better?

I invite you to join me in building our next chapter. One where together, we create positive impact on people and the planet, grounded in what Starbucks has learned over the past 50 years: that “possible” is just the beginning.

We know our success – past, present, and future – is built on how we partner together. This culture of belonging is both our heritage and our future.

Celebrating 50 Years of Starbucks Coffee Company

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By 2030, 50% of water withdrawal will be conserved or replenished across our direct operations, stores, packaging and agricultural supply chain from FY19, prioritizing action in high-risk water basins while supporting watershed health, ecosystem resilience and water equity.

In January 2020, Starbucks set an ambitious goal to conserve or replenish 50% of water used in green coffee production in our direct operations, as part of the company’s multi-decade commitment to become a resource positive company. In August 2021, Starbucks expanded this goal to include global operations, agricultural supply chain, and packaging, increasing the projected water conserved or replenished and addressing some of the biggest impacts on Starbucks water footprint. In addition, Starbucks will also prioritize action in high-risk basins to support watershed health and actively address ecosystem resilience and water equity. This approach aims to achieve sustainable water security for our business and works to reliably provide clean, safe water to high-risk communities.&nbsp;

Our approach to meet this updated target will include efforts to:

By 2030, 50% of water withdrawal will be conserved or replenished across our direct operations, stores, packaging and agricultural supply chain.

Starbucks expands commitment to water

Starbucks expands commitment to water and outlines comprehensive strategy

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In response to the relief efforts underway&nbsp;following the tornadoes in the Midwest this weekend,&nbsp;The Starbucks Foundation contributes&nbsp;$50,000&nbsp;of its broader commitment to strengthen communities.

The Starbucks Foundation will contribute $50,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief in response to the tornadoes in the Midwest. This contribution is part of The Starbucks Foundation’s $1 million commitment to the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program – an effort designed to help make resources available for people and communities as soon as needs arise. 

In addition to this contribution from The Starbucks Foundation, effective December 13 Starbucks will offer customers the opportunity to donate to the Red Cross directly through the point of sale in nearly 9,000 U.S. company-operated locations.

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In response to the relief efforts underway for Hurricane Ida and the western wildfires, The Starbucks Foundation contributes $400,000 of its broader commitment to strengthen communities. 

The Starbucks Foundation Commits $1 million to American Red Cross Disaster Relief

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In a message to&nbsp;Starbucks&nbsp;partners (employees),&nbsp;ceo&nbsp;Kevin Johnson&nbsp;encouraged partners to use their voice to make a difference in the communities it serves, reinforcing Starbucks commitment to civic engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

I am proud to share that today Starbucks joined the <a href="https://www.businessforvotingrights.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Business for Voting Rights Coalition</a> in calling on Congress to update the Voting Rights Act, to help ensure protection of the right to vote for all. This builds on our multi-year non-partisan effort to encourage partners and customers to vote, while ensuring that no partner has to choose between working or voting on (or before) Election Day.&nbsp;

Throughout our history, Starbucks has been committed to ensuring that the voices of our partners are heard. The Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and was designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.&nbsp; We believe civic engagement is critical in building stronger communities and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-unveils-plan-to-support-partner-and-customer-voter-engagement/">we will continue to provide tools and resources</a> to help you use your voice to make a difference in your communities. Voting is one way this can come to life and protecting the right to vote for every eligible American, regardless of who they vote for, is core to the integrity of our Democracy.&nbsp;

Every election, whether it be for President of the United States or your local mayor or city council member, is important. We will continue to ensure that Starbucks partners have access to expanded tools and resources to participate in the democratic process. You will also hear more from us on the ways you can get involved in your communities, and how Starbucks is supporting you in this work. Based on your feedback, we continue to focus on:

The right to vote is core to our Democracy. The struggle for civil rights and racial equity in America exists in every aspect of our society, and the democratic process is no exception. We believe that voting should be free of discrimination of any kind.

A letter to Starbucks partners from Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and ceo.

Starbucks ceo: The right to vote is core to our Democracy

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In a message to Starbucks partners, ceo Kevin Johnson encouraged partners to use their voice to make a difference in the communities it serves, reinforcing Starbucks commitment to civic engagement.

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A letter to local Seattle partners (employees) from Camille Hymes, vice president of community impact at Starbucks

From our start as a single store at the Pike Place Market 50 years ago, our aspiration has always been to be a different kind of company. A company that looks for opportunities to bring people together for conversation and connection, making a positive impact in the communities we serve. 

Today is a proud moment for our hometown partners and ice hockey fans across the country as Starbucks and the Seattle Kraken, a new professional ice hockey expansion team, announce a multi-year partnership to celebrate and strengthen the Seattle community.&nbsp; This partnership will focus on building community and advancing equity in Seattle – amplifying Starbucks existing investments and partnerships in the Seattle community and the Kraken’s ongoing efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

When we learned of this unique opportunity to engage in a partnership with the&nbsp;Kraken&nbsp;organization, the first question we asked ourselves was, “Will this partnership make our partners proud?”&nbsp;And after learning that the ethos of the organization is to promote a more equitable society, a healthier planet and a world where people can realize a brighter future, the answer was a resounding “YES”!&nbsp;

I want to reiterate to you that this is about more than ice hockey; it’s about supporting communities and our hometown. Together, Starbucks and the Kraken are committed to serving the Seattle community via the newly named Kraken Community Iceplex. It will serve as a space to support the Northgate community – one of Seattle’s most diverse neighborhoods – bringing people together and fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging through community programming and of course, ice hockey.

And, inside the Kraken Community Iceplex, we will open our 21st Starbucks Community Store where a percentage of store profits&nbsp;will support the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena’s <a href="https://onerooffoundation.org/">One Roof Foundation</a> and local nonprofit organizations with a focus on youth&nbsp;homelessness, environmental justice and providing access and opportunities in youth ice hockey. It is set to open with Kraken Community Iceplex this September.

Even more, as one of the Community Impact Partners of the Seattle Kraken, Starbucks will:

And partners, this is just the beginning of the incredible community impact we know we can have in partnership with the Kraken.

There is an old African proverb I am reminded of, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In this partnership, we will further amplify our community efforts and there is no limit to how far we can go.&nbsp;

A letter to local Seattle partners (employees) from Camille Hymes, vice president of community impact at Starbucks.

Our New Community Impact Partnership in Seattle

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In a letter to US partners (employees) global chief inclusion and diversity officer Dennis Brockman shares an invitation to pause, reflect, and to explore the history of Juneteenth.

The events of the last year have produced a broader awakening across this country and around the globe in the fight for racial and social equity. This is true at Starbucks, too. While this is not a new journey for us, we have spent the last year looking deeper, listening more intentionally, and reflecting on our responsibility to each other – to care for one another, to strengthen our communities and to ensure diverse voices are heard at all levels of the company.

Last June, we paused to examine how we were living up to Starbucks Mission and Values. We did this by listening to our Partner Networks and by embracing guidance from our Black Partner Network. Together, we unequivocally stood in solidarity with our Black partners to celebrate freedom, condemn oppression and recognize Juneteenth as an annual U.S. company holiday. This was one of many actions we’ve taken to promote an environment where our partners see and feel real progress. At Starbucks, Our Mission and Values aren’t just words, they are at the core of who we are.

Juneteenth is a day celebrated by many Black and African Americans as our Independence Day. The history of this day always gives me pause. On June 19, 1865 enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were told by Union soldiers that the Civil War had ended, and they were free. This came almost two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation ending legal slavery. I think about this delay – how my people remained enslaved years after they were legally free, about the systems in place to keep them enslaved, and about the systems still in place today that keep people of color from reaching our full potential. Juneteenth is a day of celebration, but it also a day to reflect on and learn about its history. It is a day that inspires me to keep doing the work to unravel these systems so we can feel truly seen, heard and valued.

This year marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, and I invite you to pause, reflect, and to explore the history of Juneteenth through the stories and resources shared on <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/celebrating-juneteenth-progress-made-isnt-progress-secured/">Starbucks Stories</a>. I also invite you to share the spirit of Juneteenth in your homes by spending the day with family and friends in community around shared food and traditions.

We acknowledge that there is much to be done at Starbucks and around the world to help ensure every individual, regardless of their background, can succeed and thrive. As we work to advance racial and social equity within our company, our stores, and our communities, we remain committed to being transparent, intentional and to holding ourselves accountable.

I know our partners and communities have been through a lot, and I want to thank each of you for your hard work and trust. The journey we are on is a marathon and not a sprint, and I value days like Juneteenth that inspire me to pause and reflect not only on the past, but on the road ahead.

I wish you all a happy and healthy Juneteenth!

Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society."&nbsp; – John Lewis

In a letter to US partners, global chief inclusion and diversity officer shares an invitation to pause, reflect, and to explore the history of Juneteenth.

Message from Dennis Brockman: What Juneteenth Means to Me

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Each year since 2001, Starbucks has reported on its efforts to make a positive impact in the communities it serves. Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson reflects on our 2020 impact and shares the company’s progress for global initiatives in people, planet and coffee.

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Dear Starbucks partners, customers and stakeholders:

As a company grounded in a mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, Starbucks has always looked to make positive connections and impact on people and communities around the world. So, 20 years ago, we made a commitment to report transparently and regularly about our efforts to improve economic conditions for coffee farmers, minimize our environmental footprint, make positive contributions to the communities we serve, and create a culture of inclusion, belonging and opportunity for all Starbucks partners (employees).&nbsp;

In this FY20 report, you’ll see that even through a historic global pandemic, we remained steadfast in our commitment to people and to the planet. Our goal to make a positive impact on the lives of partners and customers and to give more than we take from the planet is central to the work we do. I’m tremendously proud of all Starbucks partners who prioritized the health and safety of people and showed up for their communities as we navigated COVID-19 together.

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Accordingly, you will see that we have added additional rigor to this work by providing data consistent with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting standards.&nbsp;

While this report covers the progress we made in FY20, our key areas of focus continue in FY21. Most recently, our partners have seen a substantial wage increase; our renewable energy investments are benefitting our stores and the communities around them; we have set new <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-announces-new-commitments-to-advance-racial-and-social-equity/">inclusion and diversity goals and commitments</a>; we committed to invest $100 million to support small businesses and community development projects in Black, Indigenous and People of Color <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-expands-initiatives-to-advance-opportunity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-communities-it-serves/">(BIPOC) neighborhoods</a>; we added another $50 million to our global coffee farmer fund; and we’re doing more each day.

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We have a unique opportunity at Starbucks to use our reach and scale to create a better society in many ways, big and small. I have immense gratitude and pride for all Starbucks partners who have worked together through this historic time in service of their communities, creating a third place where we can all find community, acceptance and a sense of belonging.

Now, meeting the ambitious targets set out in this report will take time … and Starbucks is wholeheartedly committed to these environmental and social goals for the long term. They are core to our mission, they are core to our business and they are core to who we are as Starbucks partners.&nbsp;

Supporting documents and data tables for the 2020 Report, including the Impact Summary Scorecard, Planet Positive Performance and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Reporting, can be found&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2021/04/2020-Starbucks-GESI-Report-Supporting-Documents.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson reflects on our 2020 impact and shares the company’s progress for global initiatives in people, planet and coffee.

A message from Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson: Our 2020 impact

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