This excerpt taken from the SBUX 10-K filed Nov 20, 2009. Product
Supply
Starbucks is committed to selling only the finest whole bean
coffees and coffee beverages. To ensure compliance with its
rigorous coffee standards, Starbucks controls its coffee
purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the global distribution
of coffee used in its operations. The Company purchases green
coffee beans from coffee-producing regions around the world and
custom roasts them to its exacting standards for its many blends
and single origin coffees.
The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant
volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market,
high-altitude arabica coffee of the quality sought by the
Company tends to trade on a negotiated basis at a substantial
premium above commodity coffee prices, depending upon the supply
and demand at the time of purchase. Supply and price can be
affected by multiple factors in the producing countries,
including weather,
Table of Contents
political and economic conditions. In addition, green coffee
prices have been affected in the past, and may be affected in
the future, by the actions of certain organizations and
associations that have historically attempted to influence
prices of green coffee through agreements establishing export
quotas or by restricting coffee supplies.
To help ensure sustainability and future supply of high-quality
green coffees and to reinforce the Companys leadership
role in the coffee industry, Starbucks operates Farmer Support
Centers in Costa Rica and Rwanda. The Farmer Support Centers are
staffed with agronomists and sustainability experts who work
with coffee farming communities to promote best practices in
coffee production designed to improve both coffee quality and
yields.
The Company buys coffee using fixed-price and
price-to-be-fixed
purchase commitments, depending on market conditions, to secure
an adequate supply of quality green coffee. As of
September 27, 2009, the Company had $238 million of
purchase commitments which, together with existing inventory, is
expected to provide an adequate supply of green coffee through
fiscal 2010.
The Company depends upon its relationships with coffee
producers, outside trading companies and exporters for its
supply of green coffee. The Company believes, based on
relationships established with its suppliers, the risk of
non-delivery on such purchase commitments is remote.
In addition to coffee, the Company also purchases significant
amounts of dairy products, particularly fluid milk, to support
the needs of its Company-operated retail stores. The
Companys highest volume of dairy purchases are in the US,
Canada and the UK. For these markets, Starbucks purchases
substantially all of its fluid milk requirements from six dairy
suppliers. The Company believes, based on relationships
established with these suppliers, the risk of non-delivery of
sufficient fluid milk to support these retail businesses is
remote.
Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold
in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of
different channels. Beverage ingredients other than coffee and
milk, including leaf teas and the Companys selection of
ready-to-drink
beverages, are purchased from several specialty suppliers,
usually under long-term supply contracts. Food products, such as
fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch items, are
purchased from national, regional and local sources.
Coffee-making equipment, such as drip and coffee press
coffeemakers, espresso machines and coffee grinders, are
generally purchased directly from their manufacturers.
Beverage-related accessories, including items bearing the
Companys logos and trademarks, are produced and
distributed through contracts with a number of different
suppliers. The Company also purchases a broad range of paper and
plastic products, such as cups and cutlery, from several
companies to support the needs of its retail stores as well as
its manufacturing and distribution operations. The Company
believes, based on relationships established with these
suppliers and manufacturers, the risk of non-delivery is remote.
These excerpts taken from the SBUX 10-K filed Nov 24, 2008. Product
Supply
Starbucks is committed to selling only the finest whole bean
coffees and coffee beverages. To ensure compliance with its
rigorous coffee standards, Starbucks controls its coffee
purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the distribution of
coffee used in its operations. The Company purchases green
coffee beans from coffee-producing regions around the world and
custom roasts them to its exacting standards for its many blends
and single origin coffees.
The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant
volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market,
high-altitude arabica coffee of the quality sought by the
Company tends to trade on a negotiated basis at a substantial
premium above commodity coffee prices, depending upon the supply
and demand at the time of purchase. Supply and price can be
affected by multiple factors in the producing countries,
including weather, political and economic conditions. In
addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past,
and may be affected in the future, by the actions of certain
organizations and associations that have historically attempted
to influence prices of green coffee through agreements
establishing export quotas or by restricting coffee supplies.
To help ensure sustainability and future supply of high-quality
green coffees in Central America and to reinforce the
Companys leadership role in the coffee industry, Starbucks
operates the Starbucks Coffee Agronomy Company
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S.R.L., a wholly owned subsidiary located in Costa Rica. Staffed
with agronomists and sustainability experts, this
first-of-its-kind Farmer Support Center is designed to
proactively respond to changes in coffee producing countries
that impact farmers and the supply of green coffee. During
fiscal 2008, the Company expanded this sustainability program to
Africa by establishing a Farmer Support Center in Rwanda.
The Company buys coffee using fixed-price and price-to-be-fixed
purchase commitments, depending on market conditions, to secure
an adequate supply of quality green coffee. Due to volatility in
green coffee commodity prices, the Company has historically used
fixed-price purchase contracts in order to bring greater
certainty to its cost of sales in future periods and promote
sustainability by paying an equitable price to coffee producers.
When green coffee commodity prices are high for sustained
periods of time, the Company is less likely to enter into
fixed-price contracts on favorable terms and more likely to
increase the use of price-to-be-fixed contracts to meet its
demand for coffee. These types of contracts state the quality,
quantity and delivery periods and fix the price relative to a
green coffee commodity benchmark, but allow the benchmark price
to be established after contract signing. An increased use of
price-to-be-fixed contracts instead of fixed-price contracts
decreases the predictability of coffee costs in future periods
until the price of green coffee becomes fixed by
either Starbucks or the seller.
During fiscal 2008 Starbucks more than doubled its volume of
price-to-be-fixed purchase commitments when compared to fiscal
2007, as a result of higher green coffee commodity prices.
During fiscal 2008, C coffee commodity prices traded
on the New York Board of Trade within a price range of $1.18 to
$1.67 per pound and prices were, on average, approximately 20%
higher than fiscal 2007 and 25% higher than fiscal 2006.
As of September 28, 2008, the Company had $583 million
of purchase commitments which, together with existing inventory,
is expected to provide an adequate supply of green coffee
through calendar 2009. Based on expected coffee delivery dates,
approximately 86%, 9% and 5% of these purchase commitments will
be received by Starbucks in fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011 and
later, respectively. Additionally, approximately
$246 million of these purchase commitments are
price-to-be-fixed contracts, most of which will be received by
Starbucks during fiscal 2009.
The Company depends upon its relationships with coffee
producers, outside trading companies and exporters for its
supply of green coffee. The Company believes, based on
relationships established with its suppliers, the risk of
non-delivery on such purchase commitments is remote.
In addition to coffee, the Company also purchases significant
amounts of dairy products, particularly fluid milk, to support
the needs of its Company-operated retail stores. Dairy expense
for the US segment represents a large majority of the
Companys total dairy expense; therefore significant
changes in US dairy prices can have a material impact on total
dairy expense. The US segments dairy costs, which closely
follow the monthly Class I fluid milk base price as
calculated by the US Department of Agriculture, can change
significantly in the short term. The Companys US dairy
costs remained higher throughout most of fiscal 2008 compared to
fiscal 2007, adversely affecting the US segments and the
Companys profitability. In the United States, the Company
purchases substantially all of its fluid milk requirements from
three dairy suppliers. The Company believes, based on
relationships established with these suppliers, that the risk of
non-delivery of enough fluid milk to support its US retail
business is remote.
The Company also purchases a broad range of paper and plastic
products, such as cups, lids, cutlery, napkins, straws, shopping
bags and corrugated paper boxes from several companies to
support the needs of its retail stores as well as its
manufacturing and distribution operations. The cost of these
materials is dependent in part upon commodity paper and plastic
resin costs, but the Company believes it mitigates the effect of
short-term raw material price fluctuations through strategic
relationships with key suppliers.
Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold
in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of
different channels. Beverage ingredients, other than coffee and
milk, including leaf teas and the Companys selection of
ready-to-drink beverages, are purchased from several specialty
manufacturers, usually under long-term supply contracts. Food
products, such as fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch
items, are generally purchased from both regional and local
sources. Coffee-making equipment, such as drip and coffee press
coffeemakers, espresso machines and coffee grinders, are
generally purchased directly from their manufacturers.
Table of Contents
Coffee-related accessories, including items bearing the
Companys logos and trademarks, are produced and
distributed through contracts with a number of different
suppliers.
Product Supply Starbucks is committed to selling only the finest whole bean coffees and coffee beverages. To ensure compliance with its rigorous coffee standards, Starbucks controls its coffee purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the distribution of coffee used in its operations. The Company purchases green coffee beans from coffee-producing regions around the world and custom roasts them to its exacting standards for its many blends and single origin coffees. The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market, high-altitude arabica coffee of the quality sought by the Company tends to trade on a negotiated basis at a substantial premium above commodity coffee prices, depending upon the supply and demand at the time of purchase. Supply and price can be affected by multiple factors in the producing countries, including weather, political and economic conditions. In addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by the actions of certain organizations and associations that have historically attempted to influence prices of green coffee through agreements establishing export quotas or by restricting coffee supplies. To help ensure sustainability and future supply of high-quality green coffees in Central America and to reinforce the Companys leadership role in the coffee industry, Starbucks operates the Starbucks Coffee Agronomy Company
Table of ContentsS.R.L., a wholly owned subsidiary located in Costa Rica. Staffed with agronomists and sustainability experts, this first-of-its-kind Farmer Support Center is designed to proactively respond to changes in coffee producing countries that impact farmers and the supply of green coffee. During fiscal 2008, the Company expanded this sustainability program to Africa by establishing a Farmer Support Center in Rwanda. The Company buys coffee using fixed-price and price-to-be-fixed purchase commitments, depending on market conditions, to secure an adequate supply of quality green coffee. Due to volatility in green coffee commodity prices, the Company has historically used fixed-price purchase contracts in order to bring greater certainty to its cost of sales in future periods and promote sustainability by paying an equitable price to coffee producers. When green coffee commodity prices are high for sustained periods of time, the Company is less likely to enter into fixed-price contracts on favorable terms and more likely to increase the use of price-to-be-fixed contracts to meet its demand for coffee. These types of contracts state the quality, quantity and delivery periods and fix the price relative to a green coffee commodity benchmark, but allow the benchmark price to be established after contract signing. An increased use of price-to-be-fixed contracts instead of fixed-price contracts decreases the predictability of coffee costs in future periods until the price of green coffee becomes fixed by either Starbucks or the seller. During fiscal 2008 Starbucks more than doubled its volume of price-to-be-fixed purchase commitments when compared to fiscal 2007, as a result of higher green coffee commodity prices. During fiscal 2008, C coffee commodity prices traded on the New York Board of Trade within a price range of $1.18 to $1.67 per pound and prices were, on average, approximately 20% higher than fiscal 2007 and 25% higher than fiscal 2006. As of September 28, 2008, the Company had $583 million of purchase commitments which, together with existing inventory, is expected to provide an adequate supply of green coffee through calendar 2009. Based on expected coffee delivery dates, approximately 86%, 9% and 5% of these purchase commitments will be received by Starbucks in fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011 and later, respectively. Additionally, approximately $246 million of these purchase commitments are price-to-be-fixed contracts, most of which will be received by Starbucks during fiscal 2009. The Company depends upon its relationships with coffee producers, outside trading companies and exporters for its supply of green coffee. The Company believes, based on relationships established with its suppliers, the risk of non-delivery on such purchase commitments is remote. In addition to coffee, the Company also purchases significant amounts of dairy products, particularly fluid milk, to support the needs of its Company-operated retail stores. Dairy expense for the US segment represents a large majority of the Companys total dairy expense; therefore significant changes in US dairy prices can have a material impact on total dairy expense. The US segments dairy costs, which closely follow the monthly Class I fluid milk base price as calculated by the US Department of Agriculture, can change significantly in the short term. The Companys US dairy costs remained higher throughout most of fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, adversely affecting the US segments and the Companys profitability. In the United States, the Company purchases substantially all of its fluid milk requirements from three dairy suppliers. The Company believes, based on relationships established with these suppliers, that the risk of non-delivery of enough fluid milk to support its US retail business is remote. The Company also purchases a broad range of paper and plastic products, such as cups, lids, cutlery, napkins, straws, shopping bags and corrugated paper boxes from several companies to support the needs of its retail stores as well as its manufacturing and distribution operations. The cost of these materials is dependent in part upon commodity paper and plastic resin costs, but the Company believes it mitigates the effect of short-term raw material price fluctuations through strategic relationships with key suppliers. Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of different channels. Beverage ingredients, other than coffee and milk, including leaf teas and the Companys selection of ready-to-drink beverages, are purchased from several specialty manufacturers, usually under long-term supply contracts. Food products, such as fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch items, are generally purchased from both regional and local sources. Coffee-making equipment, such as drip and coffee press coffeemakers, espresso machines and coffee grinders, are generally purchased directly from their manufacturers.
Table of ContentsCoffee-related accessories, including items bearing the Companys logos and trademarks, are produced and distributed through contracts with a number of different suppliers. This excerpt taken from the SBUX 10-K filed Nov 29, 2007. Product
Supply
Starbucks is committed to selling only the finest whole bean
coffees and coffee beverages. To ensure compliance with its
rigorous coffee standards, Starbucks controls its coffee
purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the distribution of
coffee used in its operations. The Company purchases green
coffee beans from coffee-producing regions around the world and
custom roasts them to its exacting standards for its many blends
and single origin coffees.
The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant
volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market,
high-altitude arabica coffee of the quality sought by the
Company tends to trade on a negotiated basis at a substantial
premium above commodity coffee prices, depending upon the supply
and demand at the time of purchase. Supply and price can be
affected by multiple factors in the producing countries,
including weather, political and economic conditions. In
addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past,
and may be affected in the future, by the actions of certain
organizations and associations that have historically attempted
to influence prices of green coffee through agreements
establishing export quotas or by restricting coffee supplies.
The Company depends upon its relationships with coffee
producers, outside trading companies and exporters for its
supply of green coffee. Due to volatility in green coffee
commodity prices, the Company has predominantly used fixed-price
purchase commitments in order to secure an adequate supply of
quality green coffee, bring greater certainty to its cost of
sales in future periods, and promote sustainability by paying an
equitable price to coffee producers. As of September 30,
2007, the Company had $324 million in fixed-price purchase
commitments which, together with existing inventory, is expected
to provide an adequate supply of green coffee through fiscal
2008. The Company believes, based on relationships established
with its suppliers, the risk of non-delivery on such purchase
commitments is remote. During fiscal 2007, C coffee
commodity prices traded on the New York Board of Trade within a
price range of $1.00 to $1.35 per pound and prices were, on
average, approximately 10% higher than in fiscal 2006. In
September 2007, prices moved sharply higher as poor weather led
to decreased expectations for the next harvest in the
worlds largest arabica coffee producer, Brazil.
Based on its market experience, the Company believes that
fixed-price purchase commitments are less likely to be available
on favorable terms when commodity prices are high. If prices
were to continue to move higher during fiscal 2008, Starbucks
likely would increase the use of price-to-be-fixed purchase
contracts to meet its demand for coffee. These types of
contracts state the quality, quantity and delivery periods but
allow the price of green coffee over a market index to be
established after contract signing. The Company believes that,
through a combination of fixed-price and price-to-be-fixed
contracts it will be able to secure an adequate supply of
quality green coffee. However, an increased use of
price-to-be-fixed contracts instead of fixed-price contracts
would decrease the predictability of coffee costs in future
periods. By volume, approximately 20% of the Companys
coffee purchase agreements entered during fiscal 2007 were
price-to-be-fixed contracts.
During fiscal 2004, Starbucks established the Starbucks Coffee
Agronomy Company S.R.L., a wholly owned subsidiary located in
Costa Rica, to reinforce the Companys leadership role in
the coffee industry and to help ensure sustainability and future
supply of high-quality green coffees from Central America.
Staffed with agronomists and sustainability experts, this
first-of-its-kind Farmer Support Center is designed to
proactively respond to changes in coffee producing countries
that impact farmers and the supply of green coffee. During
fiscal 2007, the Company announced plans to conduct similar
activities in East Africa.
In addition to coffee, the Company also purchases significant
amounts of dairy products, particularly fluid milk, to support
the needs of its Company-operated retail stores. Dairy expense
for the U.S. segment represents approximately 75% of the
Companys total dairy expense; therefore significant
changes in U.S. dairy prices can have a material impact on
total dairy expense. The U.S. segments dairy costs,
which closely follow the monthly Class I fluid milk base
price as calculated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
can change significantly in the short term. The Companys
U.S. dairy costs rose materially in fiscal 2007 compared to
fiscal 2006 and costs accelerated in the
Table of Contents
fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and have remained high, adversely
affecting the U.S. segments and the Companys
profitability. In the United States, the Company purchases
substantially all of its fluid milk requirements from two dairy
suppliers. The Company believes, based on relationships
established with these suppliers, that the risk of non-delivery
of enough fluid milk to support its U.S. retail business is
remote.
The Company also purchases a broad range of paper and plastic
products, such as cups, lids, cutlery, napkins, straws, shopping
bags and corrugated paper boxes from several companies to
support the needs of its retail stores as well as its
manufacturing and distribution operations. The cost of these
materials is dependent in part upon commodity paper and plastic
resin costs, but the Company believes it mitigates the effect of
short-term raw material price fluctuations through strategic
relationships with key suppliers.
Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold
in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of
different channels. Beverage ingredients, other than coffee and
milk, including leaf teas and the Companys selection of
ready-to-drink beverages, are purchased from several specialty
manufacturers, usually under long-term supply contracts. Food
products, such as fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch
items, are generally purchased from both regional and local
sources. Coffee-making equipment, such as drip and coffee press
coffeemakers, espresso machines and coffee grinders, are
generally purchased directly from their manufacturers.
Coffee-related accessories, including items bearing the
Companys logos and trademarks, are produced and
distributed through contracts with a number of different
suppliers.
This excerpt taken from the SBUX 10-K filed Dec 14, 2006. PRODUCT
SUPPLY
Starbucks is committed to selling only the finest whole bean
coffees and coffee beverages. To ensure compliance with its
rigorous coffee standards, Starbucks controls its coffee
purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the distribution of
coffee used in its operations.
The Company purchases green coffee beans from coffee-producing
regions around the world and custom roasts them to its exacting
standards for its many blends and single origin coffees.
The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant
volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market,
coffee of the quality sought by the Company tends to trade on a
negotiated basis at a substantial premium above commodity coffee
prices, depending upon the supply and demand at the time of
purchase. Supply and price can be affected by multiple factors
in the producing countries, including weather, political and
economic conditions. In addition, green coffee prices have been
affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by the
actions of certain organizations and associations that have
historically attempted to influence prices of green coffee
through agreements establishing export quotas or by restricting
coffee supplies.
The Company depends upon its relationships with coffee
producers, outside trading companies and exporters for its
supply of green coffee. With green coffee commodity prices at
relatively low levels in recent years, the Company has used
fixed-price purchase commitments in order to secure an adequate
supply of quality green coffee, bring greater certainty to the
cost of sales in future periods, and promote sustainability by
paying a fair price to coffee producers. As of October 1,
2006, the Company had $546 million in fixed-price purchase
commitments which, together with existing inventory, is expected
to provide an adequate supply of green coffee through fiscal
2007. The Company believes, based on relationships established
with its suppliers, the risk of non-delivery on such purchase
commitments is remote. During the first few months of fiscal
2006, green coffee commodity prices increased moderately. Since
then, commodity prices have stabilized but still remain above
the historically low levels experienced in recent years. Based
on its market experience, the Company believes that fixed-price
purchase commitments are less likely to be available on
favorable terms when commodity prices are high. If prices were
to move higher during fiscal 2007, Starbucks would likely return
to its previous practice of entering into
price-to-be-fixed
purchase contracts to meet a large part of its demand. These
types of contracts state the quality, quantity and delivery
periods but allow the price of green coffee over a market index
to be established after contract signing. The Company believes
that, through a combination of fixed-price and
price-to-be-fixed
contracts it will be able to secure an adequate supply of
quality green coffee. However, an increased use of
price-to-be-fixed
contracts instead of fixed-price contracts would decrease the
predictability of coffee costs in future periods.
During fiscal 2004, Starbucks established the Starbucks Coffee
Agronomy Company S.R.L., a wholly owned subsidiary located in
Costa Rica, to reinforce the Companys leadership role in
the coffee industry and to help ensure sustainability and future
supply of high-quality green coffees from Central America.
Staffed with agronomists and sustainability experts, this
first-of-its-kind
Farmer Support Center is designed to proactively respond to
changes in coffee producing countries that impact farmers and
the supply of green coffee.
In addition to coffee, the Company also purchases significant
amounts of dairy products to support the needs of its
Company-operated retail stores. Dairy prices in the United
States, which closely follow the monthly Class I fluid milk
base price as calculated by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, rose in both fiscal 2004 and 2005, then declined in
2006. Should prices rise significantly in the future, Starbucks
profitability could be adversely affected. In the United States,
the Company purchases substantially all of its fluid milk
requirements from two dairy suppliers. The Company believes,
based on relationships established with these suppliers, that
the risk of non-delivery of enough fluid milk to support its
U.S. retail business is remote.
Table of Contents
The Company also purchases a broad range of paper and plastic
products, such as cups, lids, napkins, straws, shopping bags and
corrugated paper boxes from several companies to support the
needs of its retail stores as well as its manufacturing and
distribution operations. The cost of these materials is
dependent in part upon commodity paper and plastic resin costs,
but the Company believes it mitigates the effect of short-term
raw material price fluctuations through strategic relationships
with key suppliers. In the United States, the Company is
contractually required to purchase all of its cups, lids, straws
and cutlery from a single supplier. Any material interruption in
the supply of these products to the Company, if not offset by
sufficient purchases from other suppliers, could materially
adversely affect the Companys supply chain and its ability
to serve its U.S. retail customers. The Company believes,
based on its relationship with this supplier, that the risk of
non-delivery of enough of these products to support its
U.S. retail business is remote.
Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold
in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of
different channels. Beverage ingredients, other than coffee and
milk, including leaf teas and the Companys menu of
ready-to-drink
beverages, are purchased from several specialty manufacturers,
usually under long-term supply contracts. Food products, such as
fresh pastries and lunch items, are generally purchased from
both regional and local sources. Coffee-making equipment, such
as drip and French press coffeemakers, espresso machines and
coffee grinders, are generally purchased directly from their
manufacturers. Coffee-related accessories, including items
bearing the Companys logos and trademarks, are produced
and distributed through contracts with a number of different
suppliers.
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