CANADA – Starbucks set to further accelerate growth at College and University Campuses with Fairtrade Espresso offering

TORONTO, ONTARIO –Starbucks Canada announced yesterday its plans to serve Fairtrade certified espresso exclusively at participating Starbucks campus stores at Canadian colleges and universities, beginning in spring 2015.
Today’s announcement lays the foundation for Starbucks continued expansion on campuses across Canada and builds on the last two consecutive years of record-breaking, +50% growth for the company in this segment. Starbucks has both entered new campuses, and expanded presence with existing campuses, including opening the largest Starbucks store in Canada at Carleton University last year, with seating for 100 customers.
The announcement also coincides with the first anniversary of the launch of a very successful Fairtrade certified espresso pilot at Simon Fraser University in B.C., which was the first campus and the first Starbucks store in Canada to offer a Fairtrade certified espresso option.
“We care about coffee farmers. We know many of these people personally and importantly, we know our long-term success is linked with theirs,” says Rossann Williams, president Starbucks Canada. “Ensuring that all Starbucks coffee is ethically sourced is a priority for us and we are proud to offer students a Fairtrade espresso option on all Canadian campuses.”
Starbucks has an ongoing and comprehensive commitment to sourcing high quality Arabica coffee in the most ethically responsible way possible and has set a goal for 100 per cent of its coffee to be externally verified or certified through their Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C.A.F.E. Practices) or Fairtrade by 2015. In 2013, 95 per cent of Starbucks coffee was ethically sourced, with some coffees receiving multiple certifications or verifications. All Starbucks Fairtrade certified offerings are also verified through their Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C.A.F.E. Practices).
Customer demand for Fairtrade certified coffees continues to be strongest on college and university campuses in Canada and therefore will be offered exclusively at those Starbucks stores.
“We’re excited to build on the incredible success of the Fairtrade offering at our store at Simon Fraser University and take it country-wide,” says Roger Aube, director of Licensed Stores for Starbucks Canada. “This is a significant point of differentiation, and we are looking forward to offering Fairtrade Espresso as we look to expand our Canadian campus presence.”
Starbucks Fairtrade certified espresso is expected to be available nationally at participating university and college campus stores starting spring 2015. There are no plans to offer Fairtrade espresso at Starbucks stores off-campus.
For more information about Starbucks ethical sourcing practices, visit:  http://www.starbucks.ca/responsibility/sourcing.
To download a copy of Starbucks most recent Global Responsibility report, please visit
http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/global-report.