Celebrating 50 Years of Starbucks Coffee Company
We know our success – past, present, and future – is built on how we partner together. This culture of belonging is both our heritage and our future.
A message from Kevin Johnson, Starbucks ceo to partners (employees)
Partners,
Fifty years ago, Starbucks opened our doors in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and our journey began. Today we are a proud part of more than 33,000 communities around the world. Since the beginning, we have been a different kind of company, grounded in our Mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.
This week, as we celebrate both National and International Coffee Days, we also continue to celebrate our milestone anniversary, honoring the legacy and heritage of Starbucks and all the partners who have come before us. I am filled with optimism for our future: one where we give more than we take from the planet, create a sustainable future for coffee, positively impact the communities we serve, and enhance the lives of all who connect with Starbucks.
The last 18 months have certainly brought unprecedented challenges in our society – with a historic global pandemic, extreme weather events, and racial and social injustice as just a few examples of what we’re navigating together. And as the economy continues to recover and more customers return to our stores, we’re navigating new supply chain challenges, staffing complexities, and other store pressures, much like others across the industry. Our operations and support teams have managed these challenges with flexibility and grace, working with urgency to find solutions. Starbucks partners have remained resilient, always rising to the occasion in support of other partners as we meet our customers where they need us to be. For that, and so much more, I am so grateful for each of you and so very proud to be a partner.
We know our success – past, present, and future – is built on how we partner together. This culture of belonging is both our heritage and our future.
Since 1971, we have sought to inspire and nurture the human spirit by asking ourselves, repeatedly and frequently, “what’s possible?” I ask you that same question today. What is possible if we spend the next 50 years using what we’ve learned in our first 50 to make people’s lives better, the planet better, and all of humanity, better?
I invite you to join me in building our next chapter. One where together, we create positive impact on people and the planet, grounded in what Starbucks has learned over the past 50 years: that “possible” is just the beginning.
With great respect and gratitude,
Kevin