It’s no wonder why news about Starbucks prompts such strong reactions in people. Some weeks 
there will be an announcement about a really worthwhile initiative, and only a little while later, something sort of repulsive.
- Awesome: Starbucks will be the first private investor, committing $1.3 million, to the Fairtrade Access Fund. The Fund will provide farmers’ cooperatives with several types of long-term loans needed to renew their farms, adopt new technologies, or purchase equipment, as well as a facility that will allow farmers to get timely information on Fairtrade certification practices, crop management, and localized market information via their mobile phones. The Fund is being established by Incofin Investment Management, Fairtrade International, and the Grameen Foundation.
- Also pretty cool: In mid-June, Starbucks launched the Indivisible collection, which includes Indivisible Blend Coffee and products such as coffee mugs to support Create Jobs for USA. With every purchase from the Indivisible collection, Starbucks will make a donation to Opportunity Finance Network for the Create Jobs for USA Fund to help create and retain jobs across the country.
- Modest overall impact, but nice symbolism: a struggling Ohio company was chosen to produce the Indivisible mugs rather than outsourcing to another country.
- And…just yuck: Starbucks’ Seattle’s Best Coffee division to sell coffee in thousands of Coinstar-owned kiosks in the U.S.
If you’ve read any of Shultz’s books you know that it’s all about the money, even humanitarian and conservation acts. It doesn’t ever feel like it comes from the heart, which is why some great news about Starbucks is often followed by something “repulsive.” Most of us can sniff out genuine, like your site, as opposed to those businesses that try to remain politically correct to bolster sales.
Comments on this entry are closed.