Wake up and reinvent the coffee

September 26, 2008

YOU'D think the coffee business was about selecting and suppling the product as in any food and beverage business.

But in reality it has more in common with the mobile phone business, where handsets are supplied in exchange for spending lots on phone calls. The difference in the coffee business is that the old school coffee roasters tie cafes to contracts that guarantee volumes of bean sales in exchange for a free coffee machine.

It was busting this model open that inspired Ramez Abdulnour and a new generation of roasters to start businesses that focused on the quality and origin of beans and attractive cafe accessories while not tying cafes to contracts.

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Coffee defies commodities slump

Robert Laing
Published:Sep 26, 2008
The Times (New Zealand)

NEVER mind gold or oil, buy coffee. The ‘‘coffee and tea” item in August’s producer price index basket showed the biggest month-on-month jump of 12.6 percent.

Coffee defied August’s general slump in commodity prices, which saw crude petroleum and natural gas fall 7.8 percent, bringing oil’s annual inflation to zero.

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) said August’s price jump partly due to hurricanes destroying coffee plantations in key Caribbean growing areas like Cuba and Haiti.

While Brazil is expected to produce a record coffee crop this year, its growing domestic consumption means its exports are likely to drop.

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Starbucks Offers Free Coffee for Homeschool Parents

This coming Monday, September 29, homeschool parents will be able to pick up a complimentary tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of Pike Place Roast from Starbucks.

This promotion is part of Starbucks “Great Start for Great Teachers” promotion, and is now open to all teachers.

HSLDA intervened when we were alerted that homeschool parents were not included in the promotion.

We are pleased that Starbucks is recognizing the contribution of homeschool parents by extending their program to us.

In order to pick up your free cup of Pike Place Roast you will need to present evidence that you are a homeschooler.

Any one item on the following list should be accepted by Starbucks:

* Home School Legal Defense Association membership card.
* Membership card from a state homeschooling organization.
* Notification from a school district or state government recognizing compliance with compulsory attendance.
* Paperwork submitted showing intent to establish a homeschool program.
* Paperwork showing the establishment of a private school.

If you don’t have one of the items on this list be creative and try to provide other proof of homeschooling.

Please note: the final decision about whether to accept proof of homeschooling resides with Starbucks.
We hope you choose to take advantage of this offer.

SOURCE

Marketers Eye Fair Trade Certified As the New 'Green'

Sept 23, 2008

-By Mike Beirne

Organic has been around for about 15 years, and "green" marketing is so last month. So marketers looking for the next socially responsible effort are flocking to the Fair Trade Certified category, whose products are getting more shelf space nationwide.

So far this year, 284 Fair Trade Certified products—typically coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fruit, sugar, rice, spices and even cut flowers—were launched in the U.S. compared with 130 last year and 17 in 2003, according Mintel, Chicago.

The designation, which is handled exclusively in the U.S. by TransFair USA, Oakland, Calif., means that farmers in such locations as Ghana or Costa Rica work in safe labor conditions, use environmentally friendly practices and are paid at least a minimum floor price for their crop. These family farmers may also belong to a co-op that democratically decides how to invest their profits in building schools, health clinics or developing better business and sustainability practices.

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Starbucks to introduce new breakfast pastries

Associated Press 09.23.08,

SEATTLE -

Starbucks Corp. plans to introduce new warm breakfast pastries next week, the company said Tuesday.

The items, called Piadini, will feature artisan bread and will be filled with either sausage, egg and cheddar cheese or portobello mushroom, spinach, egg and feta and ricotta cheese. They are priced at $3.25.

"We're bringing something new to the category," said Michelle Gass, the company's senior vice president of marketing.

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World coffee consumption to touch 128 million bags in ’08

Jaishankar Jayaramiah
Sep 22, 2008

World coffee consumption, both in producing and exporting countries, is likely to touch 128 million bags (60-kg per bag) in 2008.

According to recent statistics released by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), the preliminary estimation of world coffee consumption in the calendar year 2007 stood at around 124.7 million bags, up by 2.9% from 121.1 million bags consumed in 2006.

"If current growth continues, world consumption could increase to around 128 million bags in 2008," said Nestor Osario, executive director of ICO in his latest statement.

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Saxbys Coffee buys Bucks

Kathy Wang
The Daily Pennsylvanian

Financial firms aren't the only companies being taken over these days. Come Oct. 1, Bucks County Coffee, the popular student cafe and campus alternative to Starbucks, will become Saxbys Coffee.

The Philadelphia-based Saxbys - which opened its first location in 2004 and now operates around 70 chains nationwide - purchased Bucks County Coffee Company earlier this year for an undisclosed sum. Bucks has around 35 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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