MEDIA ALERT: Starbucks Invites Customers to Celebrate 40th Anniversary with Tribute Days, March 10-12

WHAT: It's been 40 years since the first store opened in Pike Place Market in 1971. To thank and celebrate customers, Starbucks will offer a free Starbucks Petite to each customer purchasing any beverage on Customer Tribute Days: March 10, 11 and 12 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at participating stores in U.S. and Canada.

In celebration of four decades of sourcing, roasting and serving the world's highest quality coffee, Starbucks announced the roll out of a new brand identity system and a simultaneous global launch of handcrafted and artfully made beverage and food offerings. The new offerings showcase the core of what Starbucks does best – premium handcrafted espresso, exceptional coffee and food worthy of sharing.

ABOUT STARBUCKS TRIBUTE BLEND™:
This special coffee pays tribute to customers, partners [employees] and the accomplishments of coffee farmers and roasters over the past 40 years. Starbucks Tribute Blend™ is a blend of four amazing coffees, from three coffee growing regions using three different coffee processing methods:

• Aged Sumatra, that is semi-washed and aged
• Sun-dried Ethiopian coffee that is naturally processed
• Washed coffee from Papua New Guinea
• Washed coffee from Colombia

Also available as Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew™ for Starbucks Tribute Blend™ in an instant.

ABOUT STARBUCKS PETITES:
These eight delicious and craveable petite sweets are perfectly sized for a well-deserved afternoon treat. Starbucks Petites are made with only premium ingredients to offer the perfect amount of decadence. Each petite is under 200 calories, so you can feel good about treating yourself or sharing with a friend.

WHEN: March 10, 11 and 12, 2011

TIME: 2:00-5:00 p.m. local time

WHERE: Participating Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada while supplies last

ADDITONAL ASSETS AVAILABLE:
Images and b-roll provided by Starbucks – go to news.starbucks.com to download.

About Starbucks Coffee Company
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabicacoffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company 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 Experienceto life for every customer through every cup.

###

One per customer, U.S. & Canada stores only. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.