Starbucks plans to buy more African coffee

Java retailer also plans to open 1,500 more stores in 2005

LIVINGSTONE, Zambia - Starbucks plans to raise its coffee purchases from Africa, although the bulk of supply will continue to come from Latin America, an executive with the world’s largest coffee retailer said on Sunday.

Starbucks Coffee Trading Co., a unit of U.S.-based Starbucks Corp., would seek to expand its Africa purchasing through the Cafe practices certified coffee program that allowed Starbucks a direct link with farmers and promoted fair prices, said Colman Cuff, the company’s director for trading.

“Africa has high-quality coffee but our largest purchases will remain to be from Latin American, although we will see (other) regions increasing their volumes over the next couple of years,” said Cuff.

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