Starbucks Corporation Headquarters Seattle, Washington www.starbucks.com Ownership, Partnerships and Affiliates Starbucks is publically traded -- shares are widely held 150 million shares have been authorized, of which 59.6% are on the market. Financial Information (for US parent corporation) 1997 revenues: US$966.9 million Percentage change since 1996: 38.8% 1997 profits: US$57.4 million Percentage change since 1996: 36.3% 1997 total employees: 25,000 (1460 of which are in Canada) Percentage change since 1996: 50.6% Products and Services Starbucks is a specialty coffee retailer, selling coffee drinks, coffee beans, fresh pastries, and other coffee accessories. The company also sells its beans to restaurants, airlines and hotels. In Canada, it has a an agreement to distribute its coffee in the Chapters bookstore chain. It also makes Frappuccino, a coffee drink co-developed with PepsiCo. Global Operations Starbucks is a highly globalized operation. In addition to North America, it has expanded retail operations in Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and England. Stores in Taiwan and South Korea are on the way. In 1997, it had 96 shops in BC, although the chain is in a state of perpetual growth. In the United States, it has over 1600 locations. All retail operations are owned by the company (ie. controlled from Seattle), though some franchising is expected in the future. Starbucks purchases coffee beans through subcontractors in most of the major coffee growing nations. Starbucks coffee comes from: Ethiopia; Indonesia (Java, Sualwesi and Sumatra), Guratemala; Mexico; Columbia; Costa Rica; Kenya; Saudi Arabia; and, New Guinea. Labour Considerations In September 1996, workers at 5 Starbucks locations signed up as part of the Canadian Auto Workers union. 11 Starbucks stores in BC are now unionized, as part of CAW Local 3000. However, union sources note that Starbucks strongly resisted efforts to unionize, with threats and rumors abounding that job losses may result if a union agreement was ratified. In July 1997, Vancouver Starbucks workers ratified their first contract by a 95% margin. Gains include: seniority as a key factor in shift scheduling; maternity leave; a 75 cent per hour wage increase; severance pay and retraining for laid-off distribution centre workers. Starbucks subsequently announced that these gains would be applied to all BC locations. Union representatives faced enormous difficulties in the 1997 contract negotiations. In April 1997, Starbucks announced that it would be closing its Burnaby distribution centre, whose workers had joined the union. Workers responded through protest in a high profile strike. The next round of labour negotiations is due for Summer 1999. The union is concerned about decertification in the interim. Starbucks is able to take advantage of rapid turnover in the service industry, and has been actively hiring younger employees, who are less likely to be interested in unions and labour issues, and more likely to fit into the "Starbucks lifestyle". An ongoing concern for the union is a system of computerized labour scheduling where employee schedules are worked out to the quarter hour, including breaks. It is common for workers to be scheduled for the legal minimum shift of four hours. Starbucks has also received negative press over the working conditions of its bean pickers in the South. Under public pressure, Starbucks issued their Framework for a Code of Conduct in 1995. In addition to their pledge to limit child labor and to support wage levels adequate for the basic needs of workers and their families, the Starbucks code states that they "believe in the importance of progressive environmental practices and conservation efforts," and that "people have the right to freely associate with whichever organizations they choose." Unfortunately, the Framework lacks any reference to enforcement mechanisms and, as such, its implementation has been continually delayed. In addition, overseas operations are conducted through subcontractors, which means that Starbucks may not be able to effectively monitor and enforce the Framework. Without any effective accountability, the Code may be meaningless. Vancouver's Christian Task Force on Central America has denounced Starbucks for inaction on the Framework. NGOs have approached Starbucks to sell fairly trade coffee in its stores, but so far the company has been resistant, even though this would be more consistent with their Framework. Notably, Starbucks has responded to customer complaints in the past. The company has taken a stand against activities in Burma, where a brutal military dictatorships holds power. It has specified that its Frappuccino drink with Pepsi (who does have operations in Burma) not be made or sold in Burma "as long as current conditions persist." Environmental Considerations Starbucks uses paper cups, rather than styrofaom, and has moved from doubling the cups (to guard against scalding from hot liquid) to smaller sleeves. Still, paper cup waste is a persistent problem. Starbucks does give a slight discount if the customer brings in their own cup. Non-organic production of coffee beans is a problem that affects growers. Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on crops provides bigger harvests and therefore lower prices, but is destructive in the longer term to the land and those that work on it. Community Issues Starbucks is involved in sponsoring various community events, although this could be taken to be part of its marketing than serious generosity. Sponsorship of the 1998 Lilith Fair is an example. More importantly, in Canada and the U.S., Starbucks has been moving into neighborhoods and drawing customers' dollars away from local businesses. One such case captured media attention in 1996, fueling Canadian resentment over the incursion of American business interests in this country. The location was Toronto, where Starbucks plans to have 100 stores by the year 2000. In the Annex area of the city, small business owner Graziano Marchese, who operates Dooney's cafe, was informed by his landlord that his lease would not be renewed to make room for a Starbucks that was moving into his location. Because of the activist orientation of this neighborhood, adjacent to the University of Toronto, Marchese's loyal customers, including a well-known Toronto journalist, rallied to his defense. Faced with intense media attention, protests and the threat of a boycott, Starbucks was forced to back down. Starbucks pledged to back out of its lease agreement, and barring that, to sublet to Marchese or help him relocate. As if such magnanimity were not enough, fearing boycotts at their other Toronto locations, Starbucks paid $40,000 for a full-page ad in the Toronto Star to inform their customers that they are "good corporate citizens, committed to local communities." Advertising and Marketing Strategy Starbucks sells a lifestyle, to customers and employees alike. It is a shrewd corporation that has learned from the experience of Coke, Pepsi and others to link its brand to all things hip and cool. Future moves may see the coffee giant hawking ice cream and other food products. Notably, low Starbucks profit levels stem from ongoing efforts to expand its number of stores. In some areas of Vancouver, Starbucks is everywhere, including across the street from each other.

December also begins the 5-year countdown to the Ateneo’s 150th anniversary, its sesquicentennial, in 2009.

 

The university begins preparations for its sesquicentennial by returning to its roots: by remembering the Ateneo’s history and celebrating the things that make the school distinctly Atenean: what we cherish, what we fight for, what we believe.

---

Boracay History... spacer spacer Kalibo, the capital town of the province of Aklan, is the gateway to Boracay Island – Paradise Island of the Philippines. Aklan, dubbed as “Land of the Atis,” is the oldest province in the Philippines. It was organized in 1213 by settlers from Borneo, as the Minuro it Akean to include what is now Capiz. Aklan became an independent province when President Magsaysay signed into law on April 25, 1956, Republic Act 1414 separating Aklan from Capiz. Aklan was inaugurated as an independent province on November 8, 1956.

---

Boracay - Beach Capital Of The Philippines spacer spacerBRIEF DESCRIPTION The palm-studded island of Boracay – with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather, and warm, crystalline waters – is like a hypnotic magnet. In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island at the northwestern tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can be spent simply lazing on the beach while nights are for indulging in the tropical party lifestyle. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach hailed as the “finest beach in the world.” The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! The code in Boracay is strictly informal. There is an undeniably easy atmosphere in the island, where walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. Even swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. There are no hang-ups here. During the day, tourists having a soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn, Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in. But first, let’s toast that sunset cocktail! Diversions are not a problem, with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments. There is plenty to do other than beachbumming and partyhopping. For the adventure-driven, there is ""Mambo Number 5"" – a little bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain biking, and a little bit of golf. On the eastern side of the island is Bulabog Beach, a boardsailor’s mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world, especially during the peak season from November to March. In January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup. Sailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities, with Boracay playing host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that makes use of the native outrigger. Dive sites surround the island and are learning venues to both novice and professional divers, guided by competent instructors of the many dive shops that operate in the area. Trekking and mountain biking can also bring the intrepid to the island's quaint interior villages and to the edges' scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many hidden coves with isolated beaches far from the tourist crowd. And for golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course. spacer spacerGeography Boracay Island belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, Region 6 of the Philippines, along with the western part of the province of Negros, the island of Panay, and many smaller islands. The westernmost island in Western Visayas, Boracay borders the provinces of Mindoro to the northwest and Romblon to the north. spacer spacerLanguages/Dialects Other than Tagalog/Filipino and other local dialects, English is widely spoken in Boracay. Akeanon is predominantly spoken in Aklan, the gateway to the island. spacer spacerClimate March to June are the summer months in Boracay, with temperatures reaching as high as from 28 to 38 degrees Celsius. November to February are spent with pleasant winds, cool nights, and occasional rain showers. July to October are the wettest months.