Starbucks Authorized Business Partner

Starbucks Coffee announced the acquisition of 23.5 Degrees in the UK, which is an important step in its expansion of self operated stores. This move not only expands Starbucks' wholly-owned business, but also aims to enhance the coffee shop experience for customers in the region. This acquisition includes Starbucks' largest authorized business partner in the UK market, adding 113 stores and 1650 employees to the brand. Through this acquisition, Starbucks has significantly expanded its wholly-owned footprint, increasing its total number of company owned stores in the UK to nearly 500.

Firstly, 23.5 Degrees is Starbucks' first franchise business partner in the UK, opening its first store in February 2013. The General Managers of Starbucks UK, Switzerland, and Austria expressed their gratitude to 23.5 Degrees and their dedicated Green Apron partner for their significant contributions. This strategic initiative will strengthen investment in new stores, enhance in store experience, and bring innovation to UK customers. Starbucks opened its first store in 1998 and currently has over 1000 stores in the UK. In March 2024, Starbucks reported that sales in the UK increased by 22% year-on-year to £ 547.7 million in the 12 months ending October 1, 2023. The coffee chain subsequently announced plans to open 100 more stores in the UK in the 2024 fiscal year, with a focus on drive in service stores and high traffic city center stores. The company already operates 340 drive in pick-up locations nationwide.

Secondly, Starbucks collaborates with coffee farmers around the world to expand its solutions and ensure that everyone can enjoy coffee in the future; Two new coffee innovation farms have been added in Guatemala and Costa Rica, and future farm investments will be made in Africa and Asia. Starbucks' investment in collaboration with farmers aims to help improve farm productivity, increase farmers' profitability, and mitigate the impact of climate change on coffee.

On the other hand, Starbucks announced the expansion of its coffee innovation collaboration network, further connecting farmers and resources around the world to protect the future of coffee. Building on the groundbreaking global agricultural innovation of Starbucks' first self operated coffee farm, the company has added farms located in Guatemala and Costa Rica, and will also invest in farms in Africa and Asia in the future. Studying on these farms aims to find solutions that improve farm productivity, support farmers in increasing profitability, and enhance climate resilience.

In addition, the Executive Vice President of Global Coffee and Sustainability at Starbucks stated that Starbucks collaborates with over 450000 farms that cultivate the world's highest quality Arabica coffee. Promise these farmers and their communities that we will always strive to ensure a sustainable future for coffee for all. The solution is to develop farm interventions that share seeds, research, and practices across the industry to help farmers mitigate the impacts of climate change. Starbucks purchases 3% of the world's coffee, only purchasing and roasting Arabica coffee beans, which are known for their rich and complex flavors. Climate change is affecting the supply of high-quality coffee around the world, and agricultural communities are feeling the impact on productivity, crop quality, and livelihoods. Rising temperatures leading to drought, coffee leaf rust, and other related climate challenges are affecting the supply, quality, and taste of coffee today.