Made in the USA for Jobs in the USA

One of your top ideas is for us to add more products made in the U.S. to our merchandise lineup. Well, just in time for our nation’s birthday, I’m excited to announce the launch of our new Indivisible collection, an assortment of new products all made in the U.S., and all supporting the Opportunity Finance Network for the Create Jobs for USA Fund.

My favorite item is the Indivisible Blend™ coffee.  Blended, roasted and packaged in the U.S., Indivisible Blend™ is a Starbucks® Blonde Roast coffee made from washed Ethiopia and Kenya beans. Purchase it by the pound or through July 8 Brewed Indivisible Blend™ will be a featured coffee.  Starbucks will donate $5 to the Create Jobs for USA Fund for every pound of Indivisible Blend™ coffee sold, and $.05 for every cup of Indivisible brewed coffee purchased in our stores – and that will add up fast! 
 
There’s also a mug made in East Liverpool, Ohio by artisans at the American Mug & Stein factory ($2 donation); a reusable tumbler comprised of 35 percent recycled material and made in Chicago ($2 donation); and an inspiring book to add to your summer reading list:  We Can All Do Better by Bill Bradley ($5 donation by Perseus Books).

100 percent of donations to the Fund are distributed to Commuity Development Financial Institutions across the country so that they can make loans to community businesses in underserved neighborhoods.

I’m also thrilled to share that Citi Community Development and the Citi Foundation are making a $1 million contribution to the Create Jobs for USA Fund, bringing the amount of money raised to $11.5 million and has helped create and retain an estimated 3,800 jobs across the U.S.  They’re also inviting their customers to get involved by redeeming Citi “Thank You®” points to make donations to the initiative.  If you have a Citi Thank You Rewards eligible credit card or bank account you can donate your points beginning June 15 and help community businesses across America.  More information is available at createjobsforUSA.citi.com.

So, celebrate this Fourth of July with a small treat for yourself, and show your support for the U.S.!

 Inspired by your ideas:

More Products Made in the USA
posted by moonfish124



elannval
6/12/2012 8:48 AM

I see many comments about city mugs. Where can I submit images of original artwork of the city of Chicago? To put on mugs.

Seems everyone is interested in buying local and supportig the various communities when traveling.

Thank you,

Beth Valentine

gypsypotions
6/12/2012 7:12 PM

Starbucks would have a bigger impact on job creation in the USA if they would convert all cups, mugs, etc. to made in America products. In addition, think of the impact worldwide when others are drinking from products proudly made in America.

I am a Navy veteran and humbly ask you to bring the jobs home to America...start a trend. Donations from sales are good...but actually supporting an industry would be AWESOME!

lillywhite
6/14/2012 11:11 PM

"Made in the USA for Jobs in the USA

My favorite item is the Indivisible Blend™ coffee.  Blended, roasted and packaged in the U.S., Indivisible Blend™ is a Starbucks® Blonde Roast coffee made from washed Ethiopia and Kenya beans."

Maybe I've overlooked something, but ETHIOPIA and KENYA, are not part of the United States.  And, since there is coffee growing in the United States (Hawaii) isn't it just a bit too insulting to pass of IMPORTED produce, with a claim that because it's blended, roasted, and packaged in the US, so that somehow makes it "Made in USA"?  I don't think so.   What do others think?

dgt107ps
6/26/2012 12:21 PM

@lillywhite, if we used coffee from Hawaii, the coffee would cost about $20 or more a pound.  We would not be able to donate a portion of the sale to the create jobs program.  There just wouldn't be enough availability of coffee from Hawaii to make this feasible.

jaybo41
6/29/2012 5:25 PM

This a great start and certainly more than many other companies of Starbucks magnitude are doing these days.  For that I applaud you!  

With that said, I think Starbucks can do better.  Gypsypotions nailed it.  Why not convert as many things as possible to Made in the USA?  Large companies can make a difference.  

@gypsypotions--THANK YOU for your service!

DNiecey
6/30/2012 5:12 AM

ALL STARBUCKS COFFEE MUGS, GLASSWARE, ETC. should be made in U.S.A.  I was writing a fairly lengthy and somewhat critical opinion on this and my post disappeared.  I'll send a letter in.  I don't want to be critical, but Starbucks has a great opportunity to make an impact here.  I'm sure this will be taken up with Blair Taylor, your new chief community officer.  

I am definitely going to purchase the mug made out of Liverpool, OH.  Thanks for taking a first step forward on this.    

BPPhotog
6/30/2012 5:32 AM

Yes, this is something that should be addressed. It always bugs me to see things made in other countries (esp. China) at a business that in most other ways, exemplifies progressive thinking.

1halfcaf
6/30/2012 6:34 AM

Hurray for the 'made in America' products. Just to show my support I'm going to purchase one, or maybe more, of the American made mugs, whether I need them or not. Hopefully Starbucks is high lighting their line of American made products as being such and touting the issue of supporting American businesses. I have to believe that that will inspire people to buy them.

Thanks for hearing what your customers are saying and please keep this American made product line growing.

bluejacketljw
6/30/2012 9:06 AM

This is a good start but I want all glass/ceramic made in the USA.  I am not buying otherwise.

CeliBelli
6/30/2012 9:34 AM

I absolutely agree Starbucks should take the lead by selling as many products Made in the USA as possible.  Whenever I can, I, too, put products back on the shelf and do without if they are not American-made.  However, I will find reasons to purchase Starbucks products if they are made in America.  

What America needs is a long-term commitment to American manufacturing, not just a short-term small business loan program in underserved communities.  That's nice, but won't feed the bulldog.  Starbucks can and should be an agent of change in our society that helps people realize that the purveyors of "Everyday Low Prices!" made possible by slave labor in foreign countries are killing this country.  Starbucks should take up the flag and be the standard-bearer for a Made in the USA movement that is culturally transformative.  

And to the point made by lilywhite, if coffee grown in Hawaii is too rare and costly to use in your Made in the USA charity promotion, then promote it separately on a for-profit basis and hold it up as you do other special coffees from around the world.  If you can sell other expensive specialty coffees, I am sure you can sell Hawaiian, especially if your creative marketing staff put their minds to it.  

CeliBelli
6/30/2012 9:44 AM

Oh, and another thought.  I am betting that if you had Made in the USA holiday items, they would fly off the shelves.  First, because those of us that look for that on the label would chose such items over foreign-made items from other retailers.  Second, because many of us give gifts to others who feel strongly about this, too, and greatly appreciate receiving American-made gifts.  Since items Made in the USA are so hard to find, Starbucks would rapidly reap the benefit of offering American-made products.  

CeliBelli
6/30/2012 10:01 AM

And another thing...

While we're talking products grown in America, let's not forget that Starbucks sells more than just coffee.  Where is all that sugar grown?  Is it grown on foreign cane plantations under horrid working conditions?  Or is it from sugar beets grown here in the USA by American family farmers?  What about the packages of mixed nuts?  Are those packages of wonderful California almonds grown by our family-owned almond producers?  If so, why not promote them that way?  

And while you're at it, why not look for more treats you can produce that will specifically highlight wonderful regional American agricultural delicacies, such as California-grown dates (date bars, yum!), raisins, pistachios (sell them in bags like the almonds); pecan pralines from American-grown pecans; anything maple from American-grown maple trees.  

You get the idea.  Through the food products you sell, and how you package and market them, help make people aware again of where their food is produced and by whom.  

Bill3059
6/30/2012 2:04 PM

I bought a pound of the Indivisible coffee.  Would be interested in the Indivisible mugs if my local SB store(s) would only have them for sale.  They're never in stock.

gymrat@starbks
7/17/2012 9:51 PM

Recently saw a picture of an awesome ceramic cream + sugar set that fit nicely on a small bamboo tray. Was made by West Elm but now they have discontinued it. Thought a sbux version would compliment the new lineup nicely and I'm not aware of anything similar to it available anywhere else.

www.houzz.com/.../Sugar---Creamer-Set-on-Bamboo-Tray-modern-serveware

Gina W
7/23/2012 3:10 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments about the Create Jobs for USA program and our Indivisible products.  The products are doing well and we appreciate the excitement and support for USA-made products in our stores.  We will continue to review your ideas as we evolve our program.  

I also want to share that Starbucks just launched a 100% Oahu coffee in stores that carry Reserve coffees (www.starbucks.com/.../100-oahu-coffee).  While we could not source enough Hawaiian coffee for Indivisible because we wanted to carry the product in all our stores in the US, we do support Hawaiian-grown coffees on our Reserve program, and the stores in Hawaii always have Kona and Kauai whole bean.  

One final thing because we want to keep you up-to-date on Starbucks’ commitments in the US.  Last week we did the groundbreaking on a new State-of-the-Art manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia where we will produce our soluble products, like VIA.  The new plant will create 140 American manufacturing jobs – and hundreds of indirect jobs related to construction, shipping and more.  

Thanks for supporting the program and keep sharing your ideas

momteacher4
11/6/2012 9:01 AM

Kudos on the soluble products facility. We still need  insoluble merchandise in the stores that's made in the USA. Such a small fraction of customers would come to the message boards and then find the link to purchase the indivisable products. Why aren't they in the stores? Not only do I not buy the merch. that's made outside of the USA, I'm considering boycotting Starbucks altogether because of this issue and the apparent hypocrisy.


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