Caribou Coffee® First in U.S. With Only Sustainable Coffee
April 07 2010 - 3:54PM
Business Wire
Caribou Coffee, the second-largest gourmet coffeehouse operator
in the nation, is proud to announce that it is the first major U.S.
coffeehouse committing to 100 percent Rainforest Alliance
certification for all of its coffees — a goal the company has set
to achieve by the end of 2011. To celebrate the announcement,
beginning April 15, guests can purchase two new 100 percent
Rainforest Alliance Certified™ blends, Lacuna and Lakeshore Blend,
at all Caribou Coffee locations nationwide and at
cariboucoffee.com.
Rainforest Alliance certification, the most comprehensive
sustainability certification developed to date, is managed by the
Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) — a coalition of independent,
nonprofit conservation groups. The certification is built on three
pillars of sustainability — environmental, social and economic —
and works by setting standards to guide growers and farm operations
of all sizes to true sustainable agriculture practices.
Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee farms ensure that the
environment and wildlife are protected; workers receive decent
wages and improved working and living conditions; workers and their
families have access to education, medical care and clean water;
and coffee is harvested and processed responsibly. Farms that
comply with certification criteria are awarded the Rainforest
Alliance Certified seal of approval.
“Caribou Coffee recognizes that a good cup of coffee goes beyond
taste — it starts with farming practices that are environmentally
and socially responsible,” said Chad Trewick, senior director of
coffee and tea for Caribou Coffee. “One hundred percent
certification is a very aggressive goal but one that we’re proud to
set. We’re helping ensure that our customers get premium coffee and
our sourcing partners benefit environmentally, socially and
economically.”
“Caribou Coffee’s tremendous commitment to sourcing 100 percent
of their coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms will
benefit the lives of thousands of farmers, farm workers and their
families,” said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest
Alliance. “It will also help protect waterways and wildlife,
conserve fragile ecosystems, and promote soil health. We hope other
retailers will see Caribou’s example and follow suit.”
As a part of this commitment, Caribou Coffee will work with its
current growers to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification before
sourcing new partners, according to Trewick. “Our close
relationships with our partners at origin lead to mutually
beneficial purchasing practices and the highest-quality coffee
available, so we are encouraging the farms that we currently buy
from to achieve certification. This means that not only are we
committed to furthering sustainable coffee production, we’re also
committed to preserving the long-standing sourcing relationships
that uphold the same flavor profiles of all of our traditional
blends.”
The two new coffees, Lacuna and Lakeshore Blend, will join the
five Caribou Coffee blends that are already 100 percent Rainforest
Alliance Certified — Colombia Timaná, Guatemala El Paraíso, Sumatra
Samosir Batak, La Minita Peaberry and Costa Rica Sombra del Poro.
Currently, almost all of Caribou Coffee’s blends are at least 30
percent Rainforest Alliance Certified and more than 85 percent of
the company’s overall coffee purchases in 2010 will be Rainforest
Alliance Certified, totaling around 17 million pounds.
Lacuna is a dark, bold coffee blend featuring coffees from
Guatemala, El Salvador and Ethiopia. It is a deliciously dark,
robust coffee with alluring deep cherry and cocoa notes combined
with the oakiness of fine bourbon. Lakeshore Blend is a medium
roast blend of coffees from Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ethiopia. It
is smooth and fresh with delicate citrus notes and a silky
body.
In honor of Earth Day, Caribou Coffee will be giving a free
reusable coffee clutch to every guest who purchases two pounds of
Lacuna or Lakeshore Blend starting April 15, while supplies
last.
About Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee (CBOU), founded in 1992, is the second-largest
company-owned gourmet coffeehouse operator in the world, based on
number of coffeehouses. At Caribou Coffee, our mission statement is
“an experience that makes the day better.” We provide this by
sourcing the highest-quality coffee in the world and craft roasting
it in small batches to bring out the best in every bean. We then
bring this extraordinary coffee to our customers via several
channels including grocery locations, online or our coffeehouses,
which provide a relaxing escape for our customers. Caribou Coffee
is committed to expanding our business by bringing this experience
to new customers through multiple means without compromising our
unwavering commitment to quality. Caribou Coffee is a proud
recipient of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAAs)
2008 Roasters Choice Tasting Competition Gold Award. For more
information, visit www.cariboucoffee.com.
About Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit
organization, works to promote sustainable agriculture, forestry
and tourism, based on environment, economics and social equity.
Farms that meet rigorous and comprehensive criteria of protecting
wildlife and the environment while promoting the well-being of
workers and their communities receive the Rainforest Alliance
Certified™ seal. And through better, more responsible farm
management, certified farms often produce superior tasting coffee.
For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.
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