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Starbucks signs agreement with TransFair USA




Embargoed until Monday April 10, 2000 at 9:00 am PDT								
Contacts:
Alan Gulick, Starbucks Coffee Company, 206-318-8482  agulick@starbucks.com
Paul Rice, TransFair USA, 510-663-5261  paul.rice@transfairusa.org

Starbucks and TransFair USA Enter into Breakthrough Alliance to Promote 
Fair Trade Certified Coffee
_________________________________________________________________
SEATTLE / OAKLAND, Calif.; April 10, 2000 - Starbucks Coffee Company 
(Nasdaq:SBUX) and TransFair USA have formed an innovative alliance in which 
Starbucks will market Fair Trade Certified coffee in over 2,000 retail 
locations across the United States and through the Starbucks.com 
website.  Starbucks purchases of Fair Trade Certified coffee will be from 
certified importers who have paid the farmers a fair price (as defined by 
internationally accepted Fair Trade standards for coffee), which will be a 
premium over the prevailing market price.

Under the agreement, Starbucks will develop marketing, promotional and 
educational materials about Fair Trade Certified coffee and display 
TransFair USA's Fair Trade Certified label on coffee that has been grown, 
processed, traded and marketed in accordance with international Fair Trade 
criteria.  Under the terms of the agreement, Starbucks will source, roast 
and sell Fair Trade coffee to meet growing consumer demand.  After one year 
from the date the Fair Trade Certified coffee is introduced into the 
stores, Starbucks and TransFair will evaluate the success of the initiative 
and define ongoing collaboration based on consumer demand.

"This is a breakthrough for Fair Trade Certified coffee in the United 
States," said Paul Rice, Executive Director, TransFair USA.  "At a time 
when international coffee prices continue to fall, farming families around 
the world depend on the US coffee industry to share the success of the 
coffee boom.  Starbucks extensive network of stores provides an excellent 
forum to educate customers about Fair Trade.  We believe that Fair Trade is 
the most powerful and direct way for customers to help improve the lives of 
coffee farmers and their families around the world."

"We are very excited about the opportunity to bring Fair Trade coffee 
certified by TransFair USA to our customers," said Dave Olsen, Starbucks 
senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility.  "This program will 
provide an additional opportunity for Starbucks to have a meaningful impact 
on the working and living conditions faced by many who grow, harvest and 
process coffee throughout the world."

Starbucks has already purchased and will roast and sell Fair Trade 
Certified coffees initially from both Guatemala and Nicaragua in calendar 
year 2000.

Starbucks considers promoting Fair Trade Certified coffee as one of several 
promising approaches to improving the lives of coffee farmers and their 
families.  Starbucks will continue its efforts with organizations that are 
helping coffee farmers and their families through support of CARE, 
Conservation International and other similar organizations.

As part of Starbucks comprehensive strategy to support sustainable coffee 
production, the company also will expand its purchases of shade grown and 
organic coffees.  Starbucks is committed to its goal of sourcing coffees of 
the highest quality that support a sustainable social, ecological and 
economic model for the production and trade of coffee.   Starbucks believes 
that continued and growing participation with these organizations 
demonstrates our commitment to coffee producers and their families, 
communities and natural environment.

TransFair USA, a non-profit agency, is the only organization providing 
independent, third-party certification of Fair Trade products in the US. 
TransFair promotes mutually-beneficial relationships between farmers and 
coffee companies, and educates consumers about international trade and 
economic development.   Through regular visits to Fair Trade farmer 
cooperatives, and partnerships with participating coffee companies in the 
US, TransFair guarantees that farmers who produce Fair Trade Certified 
products have received a decent living wage. By monitoring trade from crop 
to cup, TransFair guarantees that Fair Trade Certified products were grown 
and traded responsibly.

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of 
specialty coffee in the world. In addition to its retail locations in North 
America, the United Kingdom, the Pacific Rim, and the Middle East, 
Starbucks sells whole bean coffees through its specialty sales group, 
direct response business, supermarkets and online at Starbucks.com. 
Additionally, Starbucks produces and sells bottled FrappuccinoŽ coffee 
drink and a line of premium ice creams through its joint venture 
partnerships and offers a line of innovative premium teas produced by its 
wholly owned subsidiary, Tazo Tea Company.

                                          -30-

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