Organic protesters step up the pressure on Starbucks

Environmental protesters in the USA have promised to make coffee shop giant Starbucks their number one target until the chain meets their demands.

Lobby group the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) met with Starbucks executives last week.

The meeting followed a two-day campaign in 200 American cities in which OCA members leafleted customers outside Starbucks shops.

OCA national director Ronnie Cummins said: "We're going to build up to the point where we have leafleters in front of every single store in the USA. We're digging in for the long haul and we aim to affect their worldwide image and bottom line."

The OCA wants Starbucks to remove genetically engineered ingredients from its food and drink, promote its Fair Trade coffee as a special of the day, and improve conditions for its suppliers' coffee workers in south America.

Starbucks claimed it was already taking steps to meet these demands.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said last week's meeting had been "cordial" but refused to discuss details.

Cummins said: "We're happy they're making some small moves in the right direction."

by Gillian Drummond gilian.drummond@rbi.co.uk

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 5-11 July 2001