COVER STORY Starbucks
GROWTH WITH PURPOSE AS STARBUCKS MARKS ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF STARBUCKS ASIA PACIFIC SARA TRILLING TALKS TO GLOBAL COFFEE REPORT ABOUT THE COMPANY’S PLANET-FOCUSED ASPIRATIONS AND WHY IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN A COFFEE BRAND.
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rom its beginnings in Pike Place Market, Seattle in 1971, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. Over the next 50 years, former CEO Howard Schultz, backed with a formidable leadership team now led by President and CEO Kevin Johnston, helped turn one tiny shop front into a global roasting powerhouse with more than 33,000 stores and 400,000 partners across 84 markets. Senior Vice President and President of Starbucks Asia Pacific Sara Trilling says it’s Starbucks celebration of coffee and deliberate intention to leverage its scale for good, that has resonated with audiences most. “Starbucks is not just a coffee company— we’re a people company, tapping into the convening power of coffee. We believe in creating a positive impact for our partners, customers and society around three core areas – inclusion, opportunity, and community,” Trilling tells Global Coffee Report. “Everything we do is through the lens of humanity – creating a warm, welcoming experience for all who visit our stores, and a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace.” Curiosity is what led Trilling to Starbucks. When she first heard about “this company from Seattle”, she was immediately intrigued by its mission statement “to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time”. “This clear focus on taking care of people sparked my interest. I wanted to know if they really meant it. And that was what ultimately convinced me to join the Starbucks family. That curiosity continues to drive me, and as I’ve grown as a person and a leader, my love for this company has kept growing as well,” Trilling says. Prior to joining Starbucks in 2002, Trilling worked in design, and had the opportunity to manage a range of projects for a woman-owned business. It was during that time she learnt that good leaders feel comfortable not having all the answers, as long as they have a curiosity about people and seek to learn from others. In Trilling’s nearly two decades with Starbucks, every role has been a new adventure, from innovating the brand’s global retail store footprint to elevate its operations into profitable growth. Trilling says the many positions she’s held across the organisation have given her new perspectives and skillsets, all of which have led her to the people-focused position she holds today, growing store operations and cross-functional support of the Asia Pacific region’s 14 markets. “I believe Asia is one of the most dynamic and exciting regions we operate in, and the
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opportunity to learn and grow alongside so many phenomenal Starbucks partners has been truly life-changing,” Trilling says. “I am so proud of the connections our partners create for their communities every day, and I’m incredibly optimistic about the future of Starbucks in Asia.”
PROTECTING THE PLANET At the top of Starbucks’ goals for growth is an environmental commitment to the planet. In January 2020, Starbucks shared its multidecade commitment to becoming a resource positive company by storing more carbon than it emits, eliminating waste, and replenishing more freshwater than it uses. Then, at its 2020 Biennial Investor Day in November 2020, it formalised specific 2030 goals to cut its carbon, water, and waste footprints by 50 per cent. Trilling says these global goals are rooted in science, grounded in Starbucks’ mission and values, and informed by comprehensive market research and trials. “Since January, we’ve expanded plantbased menu options, found better ways to manage waste with greener cups and lids, and partnered with likeminded companies across industry on our sustainability journey. As we continue to progress against these goals, encouraging reusable behaviours and waste reduction is an important focus for Starbucks
