Ημερομηνία: 28/11/2007 9:32:00 μμ Περιοχή: Νέα Υόρκη ΗΠΑ Από: BW
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( BW)(WA-STARBUCKS)(SBUX) Ethiopian Prime Minister and Starbucks
Chairman Discuss Ways to Support Ethiopian Coffee Industry
Starbucks Announces Plan to Open First Farmer Support Center in
Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Business Editors/International Editors
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia & SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28,
2007--Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Starbucks Corporation
(Nasdaq: SBUX) chairman Howard Schultz today reaffirmed their
commitment to making Ethiopia a leading force in the global specialty
coffee marketplace. Schultz and Prime Minister Meles said their
discussions reflected a deepening relationship between Ethiopia, the
birthplace of coffee, and Starbucks, one of the world's largest
specialty coffee companies.
The Prime Minister and Schultz discussed ways to expand the
branding and marketing of Ethiopia's world-renowned fine coffees in
order to help achieve better prices for farmers and improved
opportunities for the millions of Ethiopians who depend on coffee for
their livelihood.
Schultz announced that the company will open a Starbucks Farmer
Support Center in the Ethiopian capital in 2008. The facility, the
first in Africa, will enable Starbucks to work collaboratively with
Ethiopian farmers to raise both the quality and production of the
country's high quality specialty coffees.
"We will be working closely with Starbucks to bring badly needed
investment and technology to our coffee industry, as well as brand
recognition and promotion for our high-grade Arabica beans," said
Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia. "These measures will afford Ethiopia new leverage in the
global coffee market. I am extremely encouraged that Starbucks
Chairman Howard Schultz shares our belief in a bright future for
Ethiopia's coffee economy."
Earlier this year, Starbucks signed a distribution, marketing and
licensing agreement with Ethiopia and has agreed to assist in
expanding consumer awareness of Ethiopia's famed coffee brands --
Sidamo, Harar/Harrar and Yirgacheffe.
In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Meles, Schultz and
other top Starbucks executives will have a roundtable discussion with
government officials, coffee farmers, exporters and other coffee
stakeholders to share ideas on how to strengthen the partnership and
improve the Ethiopian coffee industry. On Friday, Schultz will address
leaders of the Ethiopian business community and young entrepreneurs.
The Starbucks Farmer Support Center in Addis Ababa will provide
resources and ongoing support to coffee communities with the goal of
improving coffee quality and growing practices and increasing the
number of farmers participating in the Coffee and Farmer Equity
(C.A.F.E.) Practices, Starbucks sustainable coffee buying guidelines.
"This is an extraordinary opportunity for Starbucks to continue to
partner with the Ethiopian coffee community to support their efforts
to produce some of the world's finest coffees. We have always
recognized that coffee farmers play a critical role in Starbucks
success and we are proud to help expand the audience and demand for
Ethiopian specialty coffees. Prime Minister Meles has a deep
understanding of the global coffee business and is genuinely committed
to forging public-private partnerships to ensure a bright future for
Ethiopian farmers," Schultz said.
Between 2002 and 2006, Starbucks increased its Ethiopian coffee
purchases by nearly 400 percent. Today, Ethiopian coffee can be found
in nearly all of Starbucks U.S. stores. In 2008 Starbucks plans to
intensify its promotion of Ethiopian coffees.
As part of Starbucks expanded economic investment in the region,
Schultz also announced that the company is negotiating with an
Ethiopian apparel factory to manufacture its Starbucks black aprons,
worn by approximately 27,000 Coffee Masters worldwide. Starbucks also
invested in school and bridge infrastructure projects in Ethiopia, and
is working with the nonprofit organizations CARE and WaterAid to
address world development challenges in Ethiopian communities.
Schultz is joined in Ethiopia by Cliff Burrows, president
Starbucks EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Dub Hay, Starbucks
senior vice president of Coffee & Global Procurement; and Sandra
Taylor, Starbucks senior vice president of Corporate Social
Responsibility.
CONTACT: Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office
Getachew Mengistie, +251 11 5534969
gmengistie@yahoo.com
or
Starbucks Coffee EMEA B.V.
Hans van Bochove (for EMEA), +31 (0) 6 2111 3174
hvanboch@starbucks.com
or
Starbucks Coffee Company
Stacey Krum or Mark Lamb (for all markets except EMEA)
+01 206-318-7100
press@starbucks.com
or
http://www.businesswire.com/cnn/sbux.shtml
KEYWORD: WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENVIRONMENT FOODS/BEVERAGES RETAIL
SOURCE: Starbucks Coffee Company
Copyright Business Wire 2007
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