Starbucks

NY high court eyes who can tap Starbucks' tip jars

The Associated Press — Tue, 28 May 2013 19:30:23 +0000

Starbucks is defending its tip-sharing policy in New York, with its attorney telling the state's top court that baristas and shift supervisors divide up the cash jar weekly because they essentially provide the same customer service.

Attorney Rex Heinke says assistant store managers are excluded because they have an essentially different role and "real power" over the others.

Starbucks, Green Mountain extend partnership

The Associated Press — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:10:55 +0000

Starbucks says it signed a new five-year contract to make single-serve packs for Green Mountain's Keurig brewing machines, a deal that also expands the companies' partnership beyond North America.

The deal comes after Starbucks last year introduced its own single-serve brewing machine, which was seen by many as posing a threat to Green Mountain's popular machines.

Starbucks sales and profit climb, company adds 590 new stores

Ashley Gross — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:52:28 +0000

If you have a daily Starbucks fix, you’re not alone. The company took in $3.6 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter.

Starbucks added 590 stores around the world— including Ho Chi Minh City—in the first three months of this year. And they weren’t just coffee shops; more than 300 were tea shops that Starbucks acquired through its purchase of Teavana.

Did Starbucks' same-sex marriage stance really hurt its bottom line?

Gabriel Spitzer — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:07:29 +0000

Did Starbucks’ stance on same-sex marriage hurt its bottom line?

A shareholder claimed as much during the company’s annual meeting last month, prompting a heated exchange with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. The shareholder, citing a boycott by the National Organization for Marriage of the company, hinted that Starbucks’ stock price had suffered.

Schultz defends Starbucks' support of same-sex marriage

Gabriel Spitzer — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:10:07 +0000

The CEO of Starbucks defended his support of same-sex marriage at the company’s annual meeting in Seattle. Starbucks came out in favor last year of Washington’s referendum legalizing same-sex marriage. Opponents of that measure vowed to make Starbucks pay, and the National Organization for Marriage launched a boycott of Starbucks.

At the company’s annual meeting Wednesday, shareholder Tom Strobhar suggested that the boycott had indeed bled the company of value.

Starbucks seeks to double loyalty card membership

The Associated Press — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:14:40 +0000

Starbucks is planning a big push behind its loyalty program, with plans to double membership by the end of the year.

Starting in May, the world's biggest coffee company says members will be able to earn points when they buy bags of Starbucks coffee at supermarkets. Customers would have to go online and enter a code on the bag to get their point.

Starbucks profit, sales rise, boosted by Asian demand

Ashley Gross — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:10:22 +0000

Starbucks says profit in its most recent quarter climbed 13 percent as the coffee giant benefits from a big push into Asia.

How are employers observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Ashley Gross — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

If you’re looking forward to a long weekend, you’re in the minority. The number of employers closing for business on Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been inching up in recent years, but it’s still only 32 percent.

Starbucks adopting 'Square' payments; Will other merchants follow?

Steve Henn — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:14:33 +0000

You could soon pay for a latte at Starbucks simply by walking into the store with a smartphone in your pocket and giving the cashier your name.

Square, a San Francisco-based payments startup unveiled a deal Wednesday with the world's largest coffee chain that will move its mobile payments products into Starbucks stores around the U.S.

Sayonara, pumpkin scones? Starbucks buys San Francisco bakery chain

Ashley Gross — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:02:10 +0000

Starbucks is thinking beyond cake pops and pumpkin scones. The coffee giant says it’s spending $100 million to buy a company called Bay Bread in San Francisco. It’s an acknowledgement that the company’s baked goods have lagged behind the quality of its coffee.

Stung by bug controversy, Starbucks switches ingredients

Jake Ellison — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:20:50 +0000

In response to the hubbub started by Change.org, Starbucks has announced today that it will stop using the bug extract cochineal as a colorant in four food and two beverage offerings in the United States, according to its Website.

Same-sex marriage foes take Starbucks attacks abroad

Chris Lehman — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:12:27 +0000

A group that opposes same-sex marriage is taking its boycott of Starbucks to the other side of the world.

Redbox took out Blockbuster, will its $1 coffee take out Starbucks?

Jake Ellison and Amelia Greim — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:11:02 +0000

Perhaps Starbucks has gotten so good at making coffee without people that it sees brick-and-mortar coffee shops as a thing of the past - much how Redbox’s automated DVD dispensing helped usher in the demise of the video store.

Or, perhaps the deal it has struck with Bellevue-based Coinstar (which owns Redbox) to dispense Starbucks' Seattle’s Best brand coffee for a buck at every convenience store and street corner across the nation is just a way to make a … buck.

Starbucks is flying high

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

2011 was a terrific year for the Seattle-based Starbucks coffee chain. The stock shot up 43% last year and recently hit record highs.

Financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer look at the successful company on this week's Money Matters.

Swing by Starbucks to help local classroom projects

Vanessa Romo — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:19:29 +0000

What do coffee drinkers and teachers have in common?

A shared passion to educate local school kids. At least, that’s what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Starbucks are counting on. The two mega-institutions have teamed up to help King County public school teachers get money for unfunded classroom projects.