Starbucks
To the Editor,
I believe that Alex Dubilet's column ("A cup of coffee," June 30, 2005) did not provide a fair and balanced view on Starbucks positive engagement with local communities.
At Starbucks, we believe that we have a responsibility to contribute positively to our communities in ways that benefit everyone. We hire local people for positions that offer some of the best pay and benefits packages in the industry. All eligible partners (employees) who work 20 hours a week or more receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes stock options.
Each of our stores supports local community groups and charities through financial and product contributions. Marked-out coffee and pastries are donated weekly to an organization chosen by the store manager. Our partners also get involved in the care of their neighborhoods by participating in community cleanups or "green sweeps." Partners often provide volunteer time and support to organizations of their choice in the communities that they serve.
Our store partners take considerable pride in the strong relationships they have established with our customers and the communities we serve. Experience has shown that in many neighborhoods, our presence has benefited other coffee retailers by increasing consumer traffic and raising awareness of specialty coffee.
Even as Starbucks has opened stores over the years, a growing number of independent coffee houses have also sprung up. With the addition of local gathering places, we believe that consumers benefit from more choices, new jobs are created and neighborhoods are enriched. We firmly believe that there is room for choice in every community because Starbucks and other coffee retailers offer a unique atmosphere and different products.
Starbucks has achieved success one cup at a time, one store at a time. We started as a small business more than 30 years ago. Since then, each one of our stores has become a unique part of its neighborhood. Our stores are about people. We believe that our customers and partners at each location give the store its own personality and atmosphere.
Starbucks is proud to have a store bearing our name on Penn's campus, and we would welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the university and its community. We recognize that our success is not an entitlement, and we will continue to work to earn the trust and respect of all our customers.
Lorraine Butler
The author is the Philadelphia regional director of
operations for Starbucks.
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