JOIN USThe MoU will create avenues of collaboration between the two companies for sourcing and roasting high-quality green coffee beans in Tata Coffee’s Coorg, India facility, the company said. In addition, Tata and Starbucks will jointly explore the development of Starbucks retail stores in associated retail outlets and hotels.
Two companies will collaborate on the promotion of responsible agronomy practices, including training for local farmers, technicians and agronomists to improve their coffee-growing and milling skills. Commenting on the announcement Tata Coffee Chairman R K Krishnakumar said, “We welcome Starbucks entry into India because of both its unique experience with the store format and for its commitment to society, values that we share.”
“This MoU is the first step in our entry to India. We are focused on exploring local sourcing and roasting opportunities with the thousands of coffee farmers within the Tata ecosystem. We believe India can be an important source for coffee in the domestic market, as well as across the many regions globally where Starbucks has operations,” said Starbucks Coffee Company Chairman, President and CEO Howard Schultz.
Tata Coffee, with its large arabica coffee production base spread over different growing districts of South India, has supplied premium coffee beans for Starbucks in the past and is now building a structure for a long-term relationship, it said.
The US-based Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world, managing over 16,000 stores in more than 50 countries.