From coffeehouse to communities: 10 years of partner-led hunger relief through FoodShare
When we say, “Everything we do starts and ends with our green apron partners,” for me, Starbucks FoodShare is one of the clearest examples of what that looks like in action.
Back in 2016, Starbucks partners (employees) championed the idea that our coffeehouses should donate unsold food to people facing hunger. That partner-led idea became Starbucks FoodShare. Ten years since, it’s grown into one of the most innovative food donation programs in the U.S. In partnership with Feeding America and other hunger relief organizations, our coffeehouses provide daily donations of nourishing, ready-to-eat meals while keeping surplus food out of landfills.
What started as a pilot in San Diego; Chicago; Orange County, Calif., and Seattle, has expanded to 100% of company-operated coffeehouses across North America — helping donate more than 121 million meals, which is equivalent to 144 million pounds of food diverted from waste streams. This work is made possible by our backhaul model: At close, partners set aside donations, and our refrigerated delivery trucks pick them up and take them to a distribution center. From there, the food is sorted and sent to regional food banks and local pantries, easing the burden on food banks so they can focus on serving their communities.
In my own community of Dallas, Texas, the impact has been inspiring. Just in fiscal year 2025, our teams have helped donate 470,000 meals to the local community. At our best, Starbucks coffeehouses are places of belonging, connection and impact, where partners have the opportunity to help nourish their community!
As a 14-year partner leading a coffeehouse in Prosper, Texas, I know there are many people in our broader Dallas/Fort Worth community who may not know where their next meal is coming from. Starbucks FoodShare matters because it allows us to continue supporting hunger relief right here in our communities.
FoodShare is also special because our food donations are matched with support for local hunger relief efforts — including capacity-building grants that help food banks expand things like storage, refrigeration and distribution. Knowing our daily work in the coffeehouse connects to that bigger impact is something I’m really proud of.
Ten years in, FoodShare’s legacy is shaped by partners and our community relationships, and I’m excited for the difference we’ll continue to make together.