Seattle’s Best Coffee Fast-Tracks Expansion of Drive-Thru Stores with 15 New Locations Opening in Spring 2013

15 New Drive-Thrus to Open in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2013; Providing More Than 150 New Full- and Part-Time Jobs to the Local Economy

SEATTLE - Seattle’s Best Coffee, featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), today announces 15 new locations will open in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2013. Following the exciting launch of the new drive-thru concept in Seattle last fall, Seattle’s Best Coffee marked Dallas-Fort Worth--one of the fastest growing and most populous markets in the country1--as a prime location for multi-store expansion of 14 company-operated stores and one franchised location.

The new small footprint drive-thru-only locations are built for a large and growing audience of customers who are increasingly getting their coffee on-the-go. According to one survey, Dallasites eat out 70 percent more than the national average, creating a vast opportunity for Seattle’s Best Coffee to reach new customers who are in need of a coffee that fits their lifestyles.2

“We believe that everyone deserves a great cup of coffee, even if they don’t have time to sit in a café,” said Frank Sica, vice president and general manager for Seattle’s Best Coffee. “That’s why we’re opening 15 new drive-thrus in Dallas that serve up our high-quality arabica coffee and a dashboard-friendly food menu. We’re offering a fast, friendly and delicious coffee experience that fits the lives of Dallas-area commuters.”

The soon-to-open Seattle’s Best Coffee drive-thrus will serve the new Seattle’s Best Coffee® menu of dashboard-friendly food choices including delicious coffee, dessert-inspired specialty coffee drinks, hearty egg sandwiches and pretzel melts, and sweet and savory handheld “Anytime Pies.” The Seattle’s Best Coffee drive-thru menu offers value to customers through coffee and food “Combos,” all priced under $5.

The expansion of the Seattle’s Best Coffee drive-thru to Dallas-Fort Worth is building upon positive consumer response in the region to the brand’s packaged coffee, found in the grocery aisle.

“We know how important coffee is to our customers, and we’re focused on giving them a great cup, whether they’re at home or on the road,” said Jennifer Dimaris, vice president, brand management, for Seattle’s Best Coffee. “With our drive-thru expansion in Dallas, we want to give time pressed, value-conscious customers a great cup of coffee, served by people who are passionate about coffee.”

New Jobs Created with Seattle’s Best Coffee Drive-Thru Expansion

The launch of the new drive-thru locations in Dallas-Fort Worth will not only provide upgraded coffee and breakfast choices to customers, 150 new full- and part-time jobs will be added in the region. Each new Seattle’s Best Coffee location will be hiring 10 new employees. Positions will include shift leads and barista positions; a hiring fair is scheduled to take place in early April.

“Seattle’s Best Coffee is dedicated to becoming an integral part of the local community through job creation and development,” said Sica. “Texas has long been a part of our expansion plan and we are thrilled to finally bring Dallas-Fort Worth partners on board.”

About Seattle’s Best Coffee

Seattle’s Best Coffee LLC has been roasting premium coffee since 1970 and today roasts more than 20 million pounds of coffee every year and millions of cups of our coffee are served every day. A freshly-brewed cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee is currently available in more than 50,000 locations including cafes, college campuses, restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, grocery stores and movie theatres. Seattle’s Best Coffee is a featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX). For more information, please visit Seattle’s Best Coffee online at www.seattlesbest.com, become a member of the coffee community at www.facebook.com/SeattlesBestCoffee or follow Seattle’s Best Coffee on Pinterest for unique coffee inspiration at www.pinterest.com/seattlesbest.

1 Census Bureau & CNNMoney.com, 2010
2 Bundle.com, May 2012, http://www.bundle.com/article/how-america-eats-out/