Dear Starbucks partners, customers and all stakeholders:

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Tomorrow, on March 2, a UK Channel 4 news show called Dispatches will air a program focused on child labor on coffee farms in Guatemala. Starbucks is one of the companies called out in the show. We take allegations like these extremely seriously, as we have zero tolerance for child labor anywhere in our supply chain.

We were deeply concerned when the show’s producers told us about the three farms they visited that may sell to Starbucks and what they witnessed. We immediately launched an investigation and confirmed that we have not purchased coffee from the farms in question during the most recent harvest season.

We remain concerned and are taking action due to the fact that these farms were verified in 2019 to conform to our ethical sourcing standards, which are the most comprehensive in the coffee industry.

As soon as we get an allegation of a violation of zero-tolerance standard like child labor, we stop any plans to purchase coffee from farms in question until we can verify that they are in full compliance with our stringent ethical sourcing requirements.&nbsp; 

We have a long history of working to support coffee farmers in Guatemala, and we care deeply about the well-being of the coffee farming communities there. To further support this community, we are taking these additional steps in 2020.

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Our ethical sourcing program is best in class, always with scrutiny for continual improvement. Our Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices, or <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/">C.A.F.E. Practices</a>, program is the cornerstone of our approach to ethical sourcing. This comprehensive and transparent program was developed in 2004 in partnership with Conservation International and defines comprehensive social, environmental and economic coffee sourcing standards.

With learning and continual improvement over nearly two decades, C.A.F.E. Practices today has more than 200 indicators to evaluate a farm’s performance against social, environmental and economic practices. During on-site auditing, third-party verification organizations evaluate farms against numerous positive measures in order to achieve C.A.F.E. Practices verification.

The auditors also evaluate against 22 “zero tolerance” standards, including zero tolerance for child labor, that must be met for farms to be part of the C.A.F.E. Practices program. If any one of these 22 standards is not met, the farm does not qualify. 

Full C.A.F.E. practice scorecards are <a href="https://www.scsglobalservices.com/services/starbucks-cafe-practices">publicly available</a>, and more about Starbucks comprehensive approach to ethical coffee sourcing and farmer support is <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/building-a-sustainable-future-for-coffee-together/">here on Starbucks Stories</a>. Additionally, <a href="https://www.starbucks.nl/media/Global-Human-Rights-Statement_tcm15-11251.pdf">here is our policy</a> on global human rights, which underscores our commitment to treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Through nearly two decades of auditing farms, evaluating results, and strengthening our auditing standards and practices to be among the most stringent in the industry, we’ve gained valuable insights into what support coffee farmers need. 

To that end, in addition to paying premiums for our coffee, we make a range of resources available so that farmers’ livelihoods and quality of life can improve alongside their coffee yields and coffee quality. These include agronomy support, support in improving on C.A.F.E. Practice standards, disease-resistant coffee trees, relief funds, loans, and Starbucks Foundation grants to nonprofit organizations that promote economic opportunities for women and families in coffee-growing communities.&nbsp;

We know our actions are meaningful for coffee communities, and we also know it’s vital for us and other coffee companies to continually commit to do more to support the future of coffee for all.

Michelle Burns svp, global coffee &amp; tea

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To uphold our commitment to transparency and accountability, we wanted to provide an update on the findings of the investigation into the claims of child labor in Guatemala as outlined below.

At the time the allegations were made, we confirmed no coffee had been purchased from the farms in question during the most recent harvest and immediately launched an investigation, working with SCS Global Services who is responsible for the oversight and training of third-party verification companies who perform <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/">C.A.F.E. Practices</a> verifications.

In late February, SCS Global Services met with management at the three cooperatives identified to us by Dispatches and conducted audits at 26 farms which resulted in the following findings:

We know these audits were conducted at the very end of the coffee harvest, thus the same level of activity on the farms as witnessed by Dispatches was not present. We are committed to more thoroughly investigating the matter and will conduct additional audits in Guatemala during the upcoming harvest, which typically starts in November. We will not purchase coffee from the three cooperatives until we evaluate the actions they have taken to prevent child labor and complete the C.A.F.E. Practices reverification process.

The safety and well-being of farmers and their families is of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to working with our suppliers, local government and NGOs to address the factors that can lead to child labor, take preventive action and provide solutions and alternatives to support the community. Work is well underway on the four commitments we made above, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.

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A message from Starbucks svp, global coffee: Zero tolerance for child labor - Starbucks Stories

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A message from Starbucks svp, global coffee: Zero tolerance for child labor

Michelle Burns, senior vice president of Global Coffee & Tea, affirms company’s ethical sourcing policy and details additional steps to support farmers, including piloting regional community and childcare centers.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/a-message-from-starbucks-svp-global-coffee-zero-tolerance-for-child-labor/

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It is often through times of adversity that values are tested and courage is demonstrated.&nbsp; 

Over the past few weeks, I have stayed close to the situation in China and how our Starbucks partners in China are navigating a very challenging situation in a way that makes us so proud.&nbsp; 

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) has disrupted people’s lives throughout China and yet Starbucks partners have risen to the occasion, acted with courage, and reinforced Starbucks mission and values through their actions.&nbsp;They are prioritizing the health and well-being of partners and customers.&nbsp;They are supporting government, local authorities and communities working to contain the virus. They have closed stores when necessary, secured masks and sanitizer to protect customers and partners, and they have enabled new ways of servicing customers through this period.

With the number of new cases in China slowing, we are seeing the early signs of a recovery in the region. As a result, the situation is improving throughout major parts of China. We now have 85 percent of stores open across China and continue to assess the ongoing impact. Over time, we will see additional communities recover, more customer occasions in our stores, and we will continue our focus on the well-being of our partners and customers.&nbsp;Meanwhile, our partners are doing what they love most – connecting with customers over a fantastic cup of Starbucks coffee. This is Starbucks resiliency at its best.&nbsp;

In fact, just yesterday, we reopened the Shanghai Roastery and you can see for yourself the joy of our China partners as they are back serving their customers again. You can watch the message Belinda Wong, chairman and ceo of Starbucks China, shared from the Roastery on reopening day below. 

Belinda and the entire China Leadership Team have been true servant leaders through this entire period, putting everything aside to ensure that partners and their families feel supported. As our Starbucks partners in China say, Be strong like coffee!&nbsp;

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With a global footprint, we are working in lockstep with Starbucks regional leaders to share preparedness guidelines and our learnings from China should they be needed. We are staying close to the situation in every single market through connections with local health officials and are prepared to take whatever actions necessary, market by market, to ensure the health and well-being of our partners and customers. I know many of you continue to have questions, so I would encourage you to take advantage of the resources and guidance available on the Partner Hub.

Partners are the heartbeat of Starbucks and will continue to be at the center of all decisions we make. 

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A message from Starbucks ceo: China partners make us proud as stores start to reopen - Starbucks Stories

A message from Starbucks ceo: China partners make us proud as stores start to reopen

As the Starbucks Shanghai Roastery and other stores open, ‘partners have risen to the occasion, acted with courage, and reinforced Starbucks mission and values through their actions,’ said Kevin Johnson.

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Our&nbsp;customers&nbsp;have long thought of Starbucks as their&nbsp;third place&nbsp;— the place between home and work where they can find comfort,&nbsp;familiarity and sip their favorite handcrafted beverage. &nbsp;And we know there are often times when customers are looking for speed and convenience on-the-go,&nbsp;particularly in high-traffic locations like airports. &nbsp;

We recognize the importance of bringing the elevated Starbucks Experience to our customers as they move throughout their day.

In airport locations,&nbsp;we&nbsp;specifically&nbsp;look to licensed business partners that bring the knowledge and&nbsp;capabilities to reach more&nbsp;air&nbsp;travelers. Through this model, we have successfully established and delivered the Starbucks Experience&nbsp;in&nbsp;airports across the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;for nearly 30 years.&nbsp;

With&nbsp;our customers&nbsp;in mind, we are expanding our&nbsp;airport&nbsp;licensed&nbsp;business&nbsp;model, adding&nbsp;Paradies Lagardère&nbsp;and&nbsp;OTG, along with HMS Host,&nbsp;as&nbsp;operators&nbsp;of our&nbsp;airport&nbsp;locations&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S. We expect to work with&nbsp;other&nbsp;likeminded operators in this growing industry over time to meet increasing customer demand.

Through these partnerships, we will grow our footprint in more U.S. airports and terminals, reaching&nbsp;more customers and laying the groundwork for future innovation. 

This includes&nbsp;new store&nbsp;concepts&nbsp;– imagine a “pop up” Starbucks, with digital capabilities&nbsp;outside your gate&nbsp;at the airport, ready to deliver your favorite beverage –&nbsp;in whichever stage of your&nbsp;journey.

This is an exciting time for Starbucks. We look forward to building upon these partnerships&nbsp;as we&nbsp;work to&nbsp;elevate and innovate the third-place experience&nbsp;to&nbsp;better serve our customers.

Elevating the Starbucks Experience for U.S. Air Travelers - Starbucks Stories

Elevating the Starbucks Experience for U.S. Air Travelers

With our customers in mind, we are expanding our airport licensed business model, adding Paradies Lagardère and OTG, along with HMS Host, as operators of our airport locations across the U.S.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/elevating-the-starbucks-experience-for-us-air-travelers/

As part of our support to communities affected by the ongoing bushfires in Australia, The Starbucks Foundation is donating $100,000 to relief and recovery efforts. Starbucks is also inviting customers who wish to help to donate through the Starbucks mobile app. 

Of the $100,000 The Starbucks Foundation is donating to efforts in Australia, $50,000 will be donated to the American Red Cross to support <a href="https://rdcrss.org/starbucks-newsroom">relief efforts led by the Australian Red Cross</a>. The Red Cross is delivering basics like food and water, arranging emergency accommodation, locating missing loved ones, and starting a cash grant program that will help people meet their immediate needs in addition to supporting local businesses. The other $50,000 will go to <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/ellenaustraliafund">Ellen DeGeneres’ Australia Bushfire Relief GoFundMe</a>. Working with GoFundMe.Org, the fundraiser supports both the Australian Red Cross and WIRES, Australia's leading wildfire rescue organization.

Beginning today, customers who wish to aid in the Australia bushfire relief efforts can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/starbucks-emp.html/?subcode=starbucks-newsroom">donate to the Red Cross online</a> or through the Starbucks mobile app in the U.S.

The Withers Group, our business partner in Australia, has also <a href="https://twitter.com/StarbucksAu/status/1215029103075581952?">pledged to donate $1 AUD from every coffee (hot and iced)</a> sold at Starbucks stores in Australia to the Australian Red Cross' Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund on Friday, January 10.

Starbucks supports Australia bushfire relief efforts - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks supports Australia bushfire relief efforts

As part of our support to communities affected by the ongoing bushfires in Australia, Starbucks is donating $100,000 to relief and recovery efforts.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/starbucks-supports-australia-bushfire-relief-efforts/

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Mental health needs are diverse, and in fact the mental health crisis is incredibly complex, with 1 in 5 adults experiencing some form of mental illness each year. Our partners and customers experience it firsthand every day – in their personal lives, in their stores, and in the neighborhoods we serve. 

At an event we held in September for store managers and field leaders from the U.S. and Canada, we laid out our commitment by declaring that at Starbucks,&nbsp;mental health matters. As our chief partner officer, Lucy Helm said, “Together, we’re on a mission to take a stand, help break the stigma, and get even more partners and their family the support they need.”

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Our work ahead will continue to be rooted in listening, learning and taking bold actions. 

Mental health is a fundamental part of our humanity. We have so much more opportunity ahead, and with each step, we want to ensure that every partner, in every store, feels supported and knows how and where to seek help for themselves and others. 

Starbucks commitment to supporting the mental health of partners - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks commitment to supporting the mental health of partners

As part of it’s pledge that mental health matters, Starbucks is offering a suite of new benefits and resources for its partners, including a free subscription to the mediation app Headspace.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/starbucks-commitment-to-partners-mental-health/

Starbucks and Kiefer Police Department will work together in coming days to promote greater civility and understanding.

Starbucks and the Kiefer Police Department issued the following statement Friday, Nov. 29, 2019:

Starbucks&nbsp;and the Kiefer Police Department are committed to using this regrettable incident as an opportunity to leverage our shared platforms to promote greater civility. In the coming days, Starbucks will be meeting&nbsp;with the Kiefer Police Department&nbsp;to begin discussing ways to work together, including a jointly hosted Coffee with a Cop event at&nbsp;Starbucks where local law enforcement can meet with baristas and members of the community to discuss the critical role dispatchers and police offers play in keeping our communities safe.&nbsp;Together with law enforcement agencies, Starbucks&nbsp;will jointly look for educational opportunities for our partners across the United States to promote better understanding and respect.

Statement from Starbucks spokesperson (Updated Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 at 3:45 p.m. PT) Nov. 28, 2019

This is absolutely unacceptable, and we are deeply sorry to the law enforcement officer who experienced this. We have also apologized directly to him and connected with the Chief of the Kiefer Police Department as well to express our remorse.

The Starbucks partner who wrote this offensive word on a cup used poor judgement and is no longer a partner after this violation of company policy.

This language is offensive to all law enforcement and is not representative of the deep appreciation we have for police officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.

Starbucks apologizes, issues statement with Kiefer, Okla., police on ‘unacceptable’ incident - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks apologizes, issues statement with Kiefer, Okla., police on ‘unacceptable’ incident

Starbucks and Kiefer Police Department will work together in coming days to promote greater civility and understanding.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/joint-statement-from-starbucks-and-kiefer-okla-police-after-regrettable-incident/

A letter from Kevin Johnson, Starbucks ceo, to all partners

The energy here in Chicago is palpable as we welcome our store managers and field leaders from around the US and Canada for Leadership Experience 2019! 

This is the largest partner experience in our company history, and a signal of our commitment to store managers and field leaders who are well positioned to lead us forward.&nbsp; What Rossann Williams, Francesca Peri and the entire Leadership Experience team have designed for these few days is unlike anything I could have ever imagined, and we will share this special experience to boldly reimagine an exciting future for Starbucks Coffee Company.

Over the past two years, we have all been on a journey to transform the partner and customer experience, as we build an enduring company for generations to come. We have reset our leadership team structure, reimagined what it means to create a third place, tackled many of the social issues that affect us as partners and as communities, and outlined an agenda for growth at scale that is grounded in Our Mission and Values. Our work is beginning to pay off, and it’s because of you. Together, our best ideas and boldest aspirations will allow us to continue doing what we do best: stay true to Our Mission and Values, challenge the status quo, and dream bigger than ever before as we look to the future.&nbsp; 

It has long been our belief that when we put our partners first, the result is an elevated Starbucks Experience for our stores, our customers, and our communities. “This Moment” in Chicago will be a defining milestone on our journey. We’re going to use our time together to have an honest conversation about the things to support you showing up as the leader your partners and customers need, and we’re going to deliver on a set of major commitments to help you on your Starbucks journey.&nbsp; Our store managers and field leaders will leave stronger and more equipped to carry Starbucks forward.&nbsp; This week, we will:

Leadership Experience 2019 is a galvanizing moment for all of us. No matter your role at Starbucks, we are all united in a common Mission as we embrace the next great chapter of our story. At this transformative time for the company, we must continue to have the wisdom to honor our heritage and stay true to our Mission and Values, while at the same time have the courage to boldly reimagine the future of Starbucks. 

At the conclusion of Leadership Experience 2019, Rossann Williams, executive vice president and president of U.S. Retail, shared this letter with partners

We just wrapped up an unforgettable Leadership Experience here in Chicago. It was a true celebration of the power of more than 12,000 Starbucks leaders coming together to reaffirm Our Mission and completely reimagine what’s possible. To the store managers, field leaders and support partners with us in Chicago… THANK YOU for making every moment count. 

We have been on a journey over the last two years to transform the customer and partner experience in every store and in every community. Your honest feedback through store visits, open forums, Workplace, and Partner Perspectives has helped inspire some much-needed changes like new laptops for store managers, improvements to our scheduling software with Teamworks, Clean Play, digital incident reporting, a way to print all on your Playbuilder updates, and more. These improvements, combined with your leadership and commitment to Our Mission, have allowed us to reach record performance. 

From our conversations, I know we can do more. Our stores and communities are constantly evolving, and we now serve 75 million customers a week! The Third Place is more necessary, yet more complex than ever before. Our roles might never be simple, but we need to reduce complexity. We have listened and learned so much from you and have some important decisions to share. This week, we made a series of commitments at the LE19 General Sessions, including:

We’ll have more in the Sept. 9 Weekly Update. We’re only just getting started. We will listen to your feedback to make sure we get it right, so you can be the very best you can be in your role as store leaders. And as we do that, we will continue to lend our voice to the most important issues affecting our communities, while creating opportunities for you to lead. As shared at LE19, these include:

The day we all get back home will be the most important day for our future as a company. As leaders, how will we show up differently for our partners? How will we pour as much love as we can into our customers? How will we lead our stores differently? With Our Mission and Values at our core, we now have everything we need to reimagine what’s possible, starting right now. You are in charge, and we are here to serve and support. You hold the keys to our future, and we want you to truly feel valued, loved and proud of what we are all building, together.

I leave Chicago knowing there are true heroes amongst us. They are our partners in green aprons, with dreams and aspirations bigger than ever before. They are our customers, who come to us for that great cup of coffee and a place that makes them feel welcomed with love and respect. They are the individuals in our communities working tirelessly to make a real difference in the lives of others. And they are leaders, like you, who are going to change the world by nurturing and inspiring the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. 

As I reflect on our time together this week, I am reminded of Kevin’s words: to build an enduring company, we must always have the wisdom to know what to honor and preserve from the past, and the courage to boldly reimagine the future. Standing here in Chicago with all of you, I feel so proud to work for a company that has the courage to dream big… and then, to dream even bigger! Chicago will forever be a defining milestone in our nearly 50-year history of living Our Mission and Values, and the starting line for what comes next. We’re all in this together. We will need to be more courageous than ever before. We are the leaders our partners, our customers and our communities are waiting for. 

Thank you for being on the journey. Thank you for being you.

Starbucks store managers gather for unprecedented Leadership Experience in Chicago - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks store managers gather for unprecedented Leadership Experience in Chicago

Starbucks ceo: Commitment to coffee heritage, communities, sustainability and mental health services are all themes of biggest-ever partner event in company history.

Starbucks store managers, field leaders gather for unprecedented Leadership Experience

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/kevin-johnson-sends-a-letter-to-all-partners/

Dear Chief Moir and the entire Tempe Police Department,

Thank you, Chief Moir, for the conversation today.&nbsp; On behalf of Starbucks, I want to sincerely apologize to you all for the experience that six of your officers had in our store on July 4. 

When those officers entered the store and a customer raised a concern over their presence, they should have been welcomed and treated with dignity and the utmost respect by our partners (employees). Instead, they were made to feel unwelcome and disrespected, which is completely unacceptable. 

At Starbucks, we have deep appreciation for your department and the officers who serve the Tempe community. Our partners rely on your service and welcome your presence, which keeps our stores and the community a safe and welcoming place. 

Our strong relationship with the Tempe Police Department has provided us the opportunity to host several “Coffee with a Cop” events in area stores, which bring residents and police together to discuss relevant issues and find common ground. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with you, and we agree that the experience of your officers requires an important dialogue - one that we are committed to being part of.

What occurred in our store on July 4 is never the experience your officers or any customer should have, and at Starbucks, we are already taking the necessary steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again in the future.

I will be in Tempe this evening and welcome the opportunity to meet with any of you in person to address concerns or questions.

Rossann Williams executive vice president, president U.S. Retail Starbucks Coffee Company

An Apology to the Tempe Police Department - Starbucks Stories

An Apology to the Tempe Police Department

After officers were made to feel unwelcome in one of our stores, Starbucks president of U.S. retails says situation was unacceptable and offers to meet with police representatives.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/an-apology-to-the-tempe-police-department/

As a company that buys three percent of the world’s coffee sourced from more than 400,000 farmers, Starbucks knows our success — and that of the industry at large — is directly linked to the success of the people who produce our coffee and the land on which it grows.

We are committed to sourcing coffee responsibly, for the betterment of both people and the planet. Starbucks® coffee has been verified as nearly 95 percent ethically sourced. While we are constantly striving for 100 percent, it is that last gap where some of our most important work happens — bringing on new farmers and cooperatives to help ensure the long-term future of coffee.

In addition to our ethical sourcing program for purchasing coffee, we are focused on providing holistic support to farmers and their communities to ensure a sustainable future of coffee for all. We have invested more than $150 million to date to increase the prosperity and resilience of the farmers and workers who grow coffee around the world by investing in coffee communities, sharing technical coffee knowledge, and innovating with new agricultural approaches.

Our industry-leading, open-source approach takes many forms:

OUR GOAL (accomplished): Train 200,000 coffee farmers by 2020 to help improve the long-term sustainability of their crops and their livelihoods through Starbucks Farmer Support Centers and other <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.starbucks.com%2Fnews%2Fstarbucks-and-usaid-empower-colombian-coffee-farmers&amp;data=02%7C01%7CMattie.Heider%40edelman.com%7Cc4d47a0ea8dd469c4ffb08d6acecd43c%7Cb824bfb3918e43c2bb1cdcc1ba40a82b%7C0%7C0%7C636886530514968257&amp;sdata=nHpZAgJkZ2g63Fbs%2BpEaUeqidFUaCr8%2F6rCD%2Bh7V3Zs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">innovative efforts</a>

“Providing healthy trees to farmers in coffee-growing regions makes existing lands more productive and keeps us from expanding into forests. We’re proud to stand alongside Starbucks in this long-term endeavor to ensure that both livelihoods and nature around the world are vibrant and healthy.” — Dr. M. Sanjayan, executive vice president and senior scientist at Conservation International

OUR GOAL: Provide&nbsp;<a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.starbucks.com%2Fpress%2F2017%2Fstarbucks-100million-coffee-trees%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CMattie.Heider%40edelman.com%7Cc4d47a0ea8dd469c4ffb08d6acecd43c%7Cb824bfb3918e43c2bb1cdcc1ba40a82b%7C0%7C0%7C636886530514958247&amp;sdata=Yky1zgzXo3cXIKqAraxcaztoEy3Pu0OJubNjzhBNRbw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">100 million trees to farmers by 2025</a>&nbsp;as part of a commitment to one billion coffee trees through the industry-wide Sustainable Coffee Challenge.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The National Coffee Association commends Starbucks for this important initiative to support coffee farmers, which is especially timely given that a rising supply of coffee has been impacting prices.” — Bill Murray, President and CEO, National Coffee Association, USA

OUR GOAL: Invest $100 million in farmer loans by 2025.

“The lack of access to loans is one of the reasons many coffee farmers in low income countries are struggling to earn a basic living and feed their families. USAID, through the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative, is proud to partner with companies like Starbucks to help ensure small-holder farmers are able to continue producing high quality coffee while reducing poverty in their households and communities.”&nbsp; – Aviva Kutnick, Division Chief, Private Sector Engagement Division in USAID’s Bureau for Food Security

OUR GOAL: Empower 250,000 women within coffee and tea communities by 2025. As of March 2020, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/women-and-girls-empowered-through-the-starbucks-foundations-origin-grants/">we have reached more than 125,000 women</a> through Origin Grants.

“The full participation of women is a critical ingredient of success in coffee farming families and communities. We’re pleased to partner with The Starbucks Foundation in supporting projects in Colombia and Indonesia to provide women with leadership skills and promoting essential elements of healthy homes for their families including clean water, sanitation, and hygiene among other components. Women leaders will use their voices and skills to strengthen the capacity of their families and communities to thrive.” — Rick Peyser, Senior Relationship Manager, Coffee &amp; Cocoa at Lutheran World Relief

Together, our mission is to ensure the future of coffee for all. For more information about Starbucks ethical sourcing, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/sourcing">starbucks.com/responsibility/sourcing</a>.

Building a Sustainable Future for Coffee, Together - Starbucks Stories

Building a Sustainable Future for Coffee, Together

Starbucks knows our success is directly linked to the success of the people who produce our coffee and the land on which it grows.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/building-a-sustainable-future-for-coffee-together/

Every day at Starbucks we set out to be a different kind of company that champions Our Mission and Values rooted in providing a third place that is welcoming to everyone. To live out this principle, we strive to create opportunity for all by elevating equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do – to benefit our partners, our customers and the communities we serve. Through ongoing community partnerships, feedback from our partners and customers, and counsel from civil rights leaders, Starbucks will continue our journey to be a place where everyone is welcome. 

Here are some of our latest updates on these efforts since we released the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-overview-of-the-covington-assessment-on-civil-rights-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/">Civil Rights Assessment</a> in January 2019:

We are committed to advancing this work as we aspire to live our Mission and Values and create an even more inclusive, diverse and equitable company where everyone is welcome.

To learn more, visit: <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/equity-inclusion/">https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/equity-inclusion/</a>

At Starbucks we set out to be a different kind of company and provide a welcoming third place for everyone. Here are the latest updates on our efforts.

An update on Starbucks ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts - Starbucks Stories

An update on Starbucks ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/update-on-starbucks-ongoing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts/

Earlier today, Kevin Johnson, ceo of Starbucks, shared the following message with Starbucks partners (employees).

Today we celebrate the launch of Howard’s next book,&nbsp;From the Ground Up, a story of Howard’s childhood, family journey, and his life’s work at Starbucks.&nbsp;It is a reminder to us that we are all part of a different kind of company; a company grounded in the joy of human connection, the romance of all things coffee, and a belief in serving others and doing good in this world.

As you know, Howard transitioned from the company last year. But he built a company that endures by staying true to Our Mission and Values while, at the same time, reimagining our future.&nbsp; 

Howard has moved forward to the next chapter of his life, where he has expressed an interest in public service, and potentially public office. Whatever he decides, it is my personal belief that Howard will continue to make a positive impact on the lives he touches, and I wish him well. 

Many of us will inevitably be asked if the company supports a possible presidential candidacy of Howard and what changes for Starbucks.&nbsp;As a company, we don’t get involved in national political campaigns.&nbsp;And nothing changes for Starbucks. &nbsp;

As we have for the past 48 years since Starbucks was founded,&nbsp;we will continue to live Our Mission and Values and create a great Starbucks customer experience in each of our stores.

This is what our partners and customers expect of Starbucks.

As we have always done, we remind you – that each of us, as citizens –&nbsp;has an opportunity to make our own informed decisions about politics and the future of our communities and our country.&nbsp;And as Starbucks partners, we have a responsibility to always recognize and respect the diversity of perspectives of all customers and partners on these topics.

Thank you for continuing to create those “best moments” for customers in our stores as we stay true to Our Mission to “Inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”

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Message to partners from Kevin regarding Our Mission and Values - Starbucks Stories

Message to partners from Kevin regarding Our Mission and Values

Earlier today, Kevin Johnson, ceo of Starbucks, shared the following message with Starbucks partners (employees).﻿

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2019/01/Starbucks-Social-Impact-Benefits-1024x773.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/message-to-partners-from-kevin-regarding-our-mission-and-values/

Since our founding in 1971, Starbucks has set out to be a different kind of company, one that puts people first: our partners, our customers and our communities. Our Mission and Values come to life in the promotion of equitable, diverse and inclusive cultures: in our workplace, our communities, and in our stores, a “third place” where everyone is welcome and we can gather, as a community, to share great coffee and deepen human connection. 

Starbucks commitment to live Our Mission and Values is reflected in the following principles: 

Creating a truly welcoming space, where people can come together with understanding, respect and compassion, and where diverse backgrounds and life experiences are embraced, is fundamental to our role and responsibility as a company. These principles will continue to guide Starbucks and we will hold ourselves accountable to them. Together, we can create and maintain a welcoming third place, where every individual is treated with humanity, dignity and respect.

Starbucks Principles For Upholding the Third Place: For Our Partners, Our Customers and Our Communities - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Principles For Upholding the Third Place: For Our Partners, Our Customers and Our Communities

Since our founding in 1971, Starbucks has set out to be a different kind of company, one that puts people first: our partners, our customers and our communities. Our Mission and Values come to life in the promotion of equitable, diverse and inclusive cultures: in our workplace, our communities, and in our stores, a “third […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-principles-for-upholding-the-third-place-for-our-partners-our-customers-and-our-communities/

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