9 New Things Happening With Starbucks This Year

"With Starbucks One Tree for Every Bag Commitment, every time a customer purchases a bag of coffee from participating Starbucks stores this year, a rust-resistant coffee tree will be donated to farmers in need. Starbucks is on track to donate 20 million rust-resistant coffee trees, planted by the end of 2016. To start, 11 million seedlings will be donated to farms in Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador in May."

"Starbucks will launch a bottled Cold Brew Coffee at select Starbucks stores nationwide and at select grocery stores regionally this summer. Handcrafted Cold Brew was a hugely popular addition to Starbucks store menus since its launch last year. This summer, customers can bring the smooth, slow-crafted taste of Cold Brew Coffee in a convenient bottle, for enjoyment on-the-go.

"This summer Starbucks will also launch an entirely new K-Cup line - the Starbucks Latte K-Cup - which will include customer favorites such as Caramel, Mocha and Vanilla Latte."

"The new Starbucks Rewards will launch April 12. With that comes new ways to earn Stars – and not just at Starbucks! Adding to Stars-earning relationships with Spotify and Lyft and New York Times, Starbucks announced the new Starbucks Rewards Prepaid Card from Chase, a reloadable prepaid card that allows customers to earn Stars for all card purchases made virtually anywhere that Visa is accepted. It’ll be available by the end of this year."

"Starbucks is teaming up with Democracy Works to launch the TurboVote Challenge. Along with Airbnb, Arizona State University, Fusion, Lyft, Mic, Spotify, Target, theSkimm, Univision, The Video Game Voters Network, Westfield Corporation, WeWork and others, the goal is to engage 80 percent of all eligible voters to participate in our democracy by 2020 (only 60 percent cast votes in 2012 national elections)."

"Starbucks believes it can use its scale for good by providing opportunity youth (there are 6 million in the U.S.) with access to a real future through job opportunities.

"Last year, Starbucks announced its commitment to hiring 10,000 opportunity youth by 2018. Today, Starbucks announced it has hired 7,000."

"Starbucks is committed to creating opportunity for veterans as they transition from military service to civilian careers.

"Today Starbucks announced it has hired 6,500 U.S. veterans and military spouses, with the goal to hire at least 10,000 by the end of 2018.

"Starbucks dedicated 20 'Military Family Stores' this year, which are located next to military bases and employ many veterans and military spouses, and partner with nonprofits to provide services in an environment that makes them feel welcome and recognized. There are plans for 30 of these stores by the end of 2016."

"Starbucks will donate its breakfast sandwiches, Paninis, Bistro Boxes and salads from its more than 7,000 U.S. stores to the millions of Americans who are in need through a partnership with Feeding America (Starbucks already donates pastries)."

"Starbucks College Achievement Plan offers Starbucks partners full tuition reimbursement through Arizona State University online. Today, more than 5,000 Starbucks partners (employees) are enrolled, with the goal of helping 25,000 graduate by 2025."

"Teavana teas are available at Starbucks stores the U.S. and Canada, and will expand to locations across EMEA and China/Asia Pacific later this year."