<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-2"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Starbucks Newsroom</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/news/international/asia+pacific/</link><description>Asia Pacific</description><copyright>Copyright 2012</copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>TEKmedia v7</generator><item><title>Starbucks Strengthens Commitment to Being the Employer of Choice in China</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=648</link><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;BEIJING, April 18, 2012 - As Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) continues to accelerate its plans toward making China its second home market, the company today announced a series of new initiatives aimed at further differentiating Starbucks as the employer of choice in this important market. This employee (partner) investment, together with Starbucks commitment to build thriving communities, will continue the rapid growth the company has seen in China over the previous decade.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks, will join more than 1,200 Starbucks partners and their parents and family members at two separate Starbucks Partner Family Forums in Beijing and Shanghai. Themed &amp;amp;ldquo;Growing Together&amp;amp;rdquo;, the event is the first of its kind for the company and it recognizes the special role Chinese families traditionally play, while highlighting the commitment by Starbucks to grow and develop its partners. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=648</guid><pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks Believes that China Will be Second Largest Market by 2014</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=641</link><description>&lt;div&gt;BOAO, CHINA, April 1, 2012 &amp;amp;ndash; Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) today reiterated that China will remain the focal point of its international expansion efforts. Speaking at the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Conference 2012, John Culver, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific confirmed that Starbucks believes its operations in China will be its second largest, outside of the United States, by 2014. In addition, Starbucks is confident that it will exceed 1,500 stores, across China, by 2015.&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=641</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks to Partner with Ai Ni Group to Bring China&amp;rsquo;s Yunnan Coffee to the World</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=617</link><description>&lt;div&gt;KUNMING, China, February 06, 2012 -         As part of its ongoing efforts to help elevate the coffee industry in        China&amp;amp;rsquo;s Yunnan Province, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX)        announced that it has signed an agreement to form a joint-venture        company with Ai Ni Group, one of the province&amp;amp;rsquo;s most established coffee        operators and agricultural companies in Yunnan. The joint-venture        company, which will be controlled by Starbucks, will purchase and export        high-quality &lt;i&gt;arabica&lt;/i&gt; Yunnan coffee beans, as well as operate dry        mills in the province.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=617</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Tata Global Beverages and Starbucks Form Joint Venture to Open Starbucks Caf&amp;eacute;s across India</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=616</link><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;MUMBAI, India, January 30, 2012 -         Tata Global Beverages Limited and&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;Starbucks Coffee        Company&amp;amp;nbsp;(Nasdaq: SBUX) today announced a joint venture between&amp;amp;nbsp;the        iconic international coffee brand and the 2nd largest branded tea        company in the world. The 50/50 joint venture, named TATA Starbucks        Limited, will own and operate Starbucks caf&amp;amp;eacute;s which will be branded as        Starbucks Coffee &amp;amp;ldquo;A Tata Alliance.&amp;amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;The retail stores will be developed&amp;amp;nbsp;in cities across the country,        beginning with stores in&amp;amp;nbsp;Delhi&amp;amp;nbsp;and Mumbai in calendar 2012.     &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=616</guid><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks Enters Five New Cities Across Mainland China</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=600</link><description>&lt;div&gt;SHANGHAI, December 08, 2011 -         Riding on the momentum from the opening of its 500&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; store in        Mainland China in October, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX)        entered another five new Chinese cities: Langfang (Hebei Province),        Zhengzhou (provincial capital of Henan Province), Harbin (provincial        capital of Heilongjiang Province), Xiangtan (Hunan Province) and        Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province). In the past year, Starbucks has        successfully entered 13 new cities in Mainland China and the stores in        these communities have been popular and well-accepted by local customers.     &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=600</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks Coffee Japan Continues its Dedication to Japan&amp;rsquo;s Relief and Recovery Efforts</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=577</link><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;SENDAI, Japan, October 12, 2011 -         As part of its long-term dedication to the relief and recovery efforts        following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on        March 11, Starbucks Coffee Japan today announced the establishment of        the Starbucks CUP Fund (Caring Unites Partners).&amp;amp;nbsp;Affected partners        (employees) in Japan will be eligible to receive cash grants based on        their needs and situation.&amp;amp;nbsp;Established with the help of a personal        donation of US$1 million by Howard and Sheri Schultz, the CUP Fund will        continue on and provide support for partners in the future as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;The CUP Fund, which currently operates in the U.S., Canada and China,        was inspired and created by a group of partners in 1999. The program        empowers partners to help other partners experiencing significant        hardship due to catastrophic circumstances beyond their control,        including natural disasters. All partners are eligible to apply for        assistance. This program is funded solely by partner contributions and        fundraising activities.     &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=577</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks VIA&amp;reg; Ready Brew Six-Country Asia Expansion Starts in Singapore</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=566</link><description>&lt;div&gt;SINGAPORE; Sept. 6, 2011 &amp;amp;ndash; Today, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced the expansion of Starbucks VIA&amp;amp;reg; Ready Brew to Singapore, one of its first six additional Asia Pacific markets to launch this breakthrough innovation for the company. By the end of September, Starbucks stores in South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia will carry Starbucks VIA&amp;amp;reg; Ready Brew, bringing its availability to all Starbucks locations in Asia. This expansion further builds upon the Company&amp;amp;rsquo;s coffee leadership and expertise through a broadened coffee portfolio offering in the region.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;Starbucks VIA&amp;amp;reg; Ready Brew is a revolutionary instant coffee that helps extend the relevance of the Starbucks brand beyond our stores, and expand our customer-base across Asia-Pacific,&amp;amp;rdquo; said Jinlong Wang, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. &amp;amp;ldquo;We see immense opportunity for Starbucks VIA&amp;amp;reg; in Asia, especially with the popularity and significant size of the region&amp;amp;rsquo;s instant coffee category. We are confident that Starbucks VIA&amp;amp;reg; will create new market demands for premium single-serve coffee to enjoy at home or on-the-go and become a new growth engine for Starbucks in the region.&amp;amp;rdquo;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=566</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks To Contribute &amp;yen;100 Million to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Efforts</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=505</link><description>&lt;div&gt;SEATTLE &amp;amp;amp; TOKYO, March 15, 2011 -         In response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan,        Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) and Starbucks Coffee Japan today        committed support and funding to the relief effort in partnership with        the American Red Cross and Japan Red Cross. The Starbucks Foundation and        Starbucks Coffee Japan will contribute &amp;amp;yen;100 million (approx. USD$1.2        million) to aid immediate humanitarian and relief efforts.     &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=505</guid><pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Starbucks Statement re: Taiwan on Starbucks.com</title><link>http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=227</link><description>&lt;div&gt;Taiwan was previously labeled &amp;amp;ldquo;Taiwan, Province of China&amp;amp;rdquo; on the store locator system on Starbucks.com in deference to International naming conventions. Because Starbucks takes no position on political issues, the system has been adjusted and the store locator is now labeled &amp;amp;ldquo;Taiwan.&amp;amp;rdquo;&lt;/div&gt;</description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=227</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss> 
