New Global Store Design Strategy Amplifies the Company’s Focus on Coffee Heritage, Local Relevance and Environmental Responsibility

Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced its new global store design strategy, setting the stage for a reinvigorated customer experience. Inspired by Starbucks™ Shared Planet™, the company’s ongoing commitment to ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community involvement, the new designs will reflect the character of each store’s surrounding neighborhood and help to reduce environmental impacts.

As company-operated stores are built and renovated, Starbucks will source materials and employ craftsmen on a localized basis, and will incorporate reused and recycled elements where possible. Starbucks aims to achieve LEED^® certification for all new company-operated stores beginning in 2010. In addition, Starbucks will provide licensed stores and other business partners with design plans and guidance on construction.

“We recognize the importance of continuously evolving with our customers’ interests, lifestyles and values in order to stay relevant over the long term,” said Arthur Rubinfeld, president, Starbucks Global Development. “Our new design approach will allow customers to feel truly at home when visiting their local store and give them opportunities for discovery at our other locations around the world.”

While the new store designs are highly interpretive, they share several core characteristics:

• Celebration of local materials and craftsmanship;
• Focus on reused and recycled elements;
• Exposure of structural integrity and authentic roots;
• Elevation of coffee and removal of unnecessary distractions;
• Storytelling and customer engagement through all five senses; and
• Flexibility to meet the needs of many customer types – individual readers and computer users, as well as work, study and social groups.

“Ultimately, we hope customers will feel an enhanced sense of community, a deeper connection to our coffee heritage and a greater level of commitment to environmental consciousness,” added Rubinfeld.