This pair of maps show the global presence of Starbucks coffee shops and McDonald's restaurants. When examined graphically, both companies act as global hubs that connect some of the world's poorest, most remote countries with some of the wealthiest.
There was only around 1000 Starbucks in the mid-90s and around 6000 today. An increase of only 6x, yet the bar for today is probably around 100x the size of the bars in the mid-90s.
The majority American junk food lovers are happy to see this report, Thank god for them Starbucks & McD's. are all over the world. I can't imagine having to take a vacations without thier coffee or McSlop burger!
This is an interesting article I found
Global coffee giant Starbucks has opposed a plan by Ethiopia to gain more control over its coffee trade and a larger share of the earnings for millions of coffee farmers living in poverty, international agency Oxfam revealed today.
Last year the Ethiopian government filed applications to trademark its most famous coffee names, Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe. Securing the rights to these names would enable Ethiopia to capture more value from the trade, by controlling their use in the market and thereby enabling farmers to receive a greater share of the retail price. Ethiopia's coffee industry and farmers could earn an estimated $88 million (USD) extra per year. Read More
Hummmmmm, Yippee! More over priced coffee, bad food and crappy jobs. It truly is a virus!
I wonder if the average McDonald's "wage slave" can even afford a daily Starbuck$?
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But Marena-Wotete, the point of the article… ita about the licencing and trademarking of the names…
Sidamo, Hara and Yrgacheffe should be trademarked…
if it means more over priced coffee so be it!
anyways its interesting that most of the buna exports coems from middle american a and north of south american..
only ethio and kenya from africa… although countries like malawi, mozabique, zaire have similar weather like that of southern ethiopia… ideal for coffee…aydel…
anyways i thought brazil was the largest coffee exporter in the world… but starbucks doesnt buy from them…
More power to the unfortunate, overworked and underpaid farm workers in Ethiopia. I know business is business but I just don’t get how Mr. Starbucks would be so affected if Ethiopia was granted the trademark.
M&W “I wonder if the average McDonald’s ‘wage slave’ can even afford a daily Starbuck$?” I could care less, they can get free coffee in McDonalds. My concern is for the farmer’s who are trying to put food on their table. As tax payers if we can’t make a difference then we have to pay the price.
On the personal side, I’m 100% Peet’s coffee lady. Starbucks is overrated anyway. They’re known for their fufu drinks with all the fixings. Peet’s is straight up jet fuel. One shot and you’re home in 30 seconds or less guaranteed. I even travel with my Peet’s. I don’t play when it comes to my coffee.
so what peet? is that an east american coffee shop?
i like the roasted coffee beans, it reminded me of when they bring the roasted to make you smell it…
what is that thing the roast it with called? and when they make u smell it what is it called…
all i remember is ahndegna huletagna sostegna… in my gradfathers place they dirnk arategna..
they dont have anything to do all day but play cards and drink coffee..
Lets do our part, sign the petition…
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/335760574?ltl=1162482991
Is it me or there seems to be a basic mis-understanding between bloggers on this topic? I thought Marena was on the Ethiopian farmers’ side. Maybe I am missing something.
Chereka, that would be interesting to know, because I was under the impression it was the other way around. I think maybe M&W needs to clarify.
Poohoo, not to be off subject but The founder of Peets got the Starbucks mafia where they are today only to have them end up a main rival….If you don’t know now you know. Mainly located in the west coast…don’t knock it til you try it.
Starbucks might be the largest retailer of cofee but the largest cofee purchaser in the world is 1. Phillip Morris, 2. Nestle … 5. Starbucks. In other words what these other companies do affects the farmers more than what Starbucks does. That said, trademarking is still a good for the ET farmers.
Starbucks might be the largest retailer of coffee but the largest coffee purchaser in the world is 1. Phillip Morris, 2. Nestle … 5. Starbucks. In other words what these other companies do affects the farmers more than what Starbucks does. That said, trade marking is still good for the ET farmers.
Ohillip Morris? Interesting! You have the source for this? I beg to differ. If your stat is true, what ALL of these companies do affects the farmers. It does not necessarily absolve Starbucks of its greedy action.
chereka it might phillip morris owns a bunch of diff3erent things eko…
and coffee is used for all beverage including ice tea and coke… aydel ende
I just attended coffee fest in Seattle this weekend. Lots of retailers, suppliers etc. Phillip Morris (Altria group) does own a lot of companies like craft foods, Nabisco, Miller brewing etc…
forgot Maxwell house…..
Are we drifting off the topic a little bit here? lol I don’t care what Phillip Morris owns! I just don’t want these companies taking advantage of the poor farmers in Ethiopia. The numbers in the article indicate that the farmers stand to lose $88 Million annually just from Starbucks alone! Phillip Morris, or Mike Morris or whatever, they need to play by the rules! Period!
I’m in Seattle arrived yesterday for business. I have a nice rental with Navigation system. Curious, I punched “STARBUCKS” into the touch-screen search query bar while I was cruising the downtown area. Several seconds later:
183 MATCHES FOUND
This search spanned a mere two or so square miles.
I was like, WTF? it’s true Starbucks is growing by the minutes and can afford to give Market Fair share to our Ethiopian Farmers… Not to mention the brand name rights.
M&W
speaking of Starbucks in Seattle, there is just one not so big shopping center with 3 Starbucks shops apart. Different kinds of crowds hang out in each. and chances are there are many like that.
and lately, I have been seeing some “Ethiopia Germanado(?) Coffee” at some Starbucks. God only knows what a Germanado is… is it their way of avoiding Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, … and adopting a new one that hasn’t created a hoopla about trade marking, but still looking like they support ET coffee farmers?
This may be just a myth, but didn’t Ethiopia opt to sell enormous amounts of coffee farmland (instead of branding and selling actual coffee) to Starbucks not too long ago? Now they want to take that decision back…hmmm…?
before starbuck there was another seattle shop.. called seattles best, and starbucks bought it out … that is when starbucks blew up in seattle….since they both had so many stores already… as some stores were converted… so they own it that chain…
makeda, ethiopia and other 3rd, are bent over and drilled… by big american corps…
equatorial guiness oil exploration for example… i think i saw on 60 minutes last year that 40% of its profits go to texas…..
peeps ..watch BLACK GOLD …puts things into perspective
sign the petition…voice your opinion….support our poor farmers!
hi people you can see the film about the ethiopian farmers getting ripped off on the internet
http://www.blackgoldmovie.com