POPSUGAR UK

Starbucks Announced New Precautions Due to Coronavirus, Including a Pause on Personal Cups

16/03/2020 - 11:10 AM

TIANJIN, CHINA - 2016/11/08: A Starbucks coffee cup on table, beside which a customer is reading on mobile phone.  At the end of November, a Chinese customer posted an open letter online to the chief executive of Starbucks in China to complain about the way Starbucks calls its different size cups, which had long brought annoyance to Chinese customers. (Photo by Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Starbucks just announced its precautionary measures [1] amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak [2]. Following the news that cases of the strain, also referred to as COVID-19, had been confirmed in the United States [3], the coffee chain rolled out a five-pronged plan to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. Most notably, Starbucks will pause the use of personal cups in stores — a measure the company will also be taking in the UK.

"The health and well-being of our partners and customers remains top of mind and our highest priority, and we will continue to act thoughtfully and courageously," said Rossann Williams, executive vice president and president of US company-operated business and Canada, in a press statement. She added, "As part of communities worldwide, we are navigating this situation with nimbleness, learning and adapting as new information is made available."

On 6th March, the coffee chain's Europe spokesman, Robert Lynch, confirmed this practise would be extended to the UK. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are pausing the use of personal cups or tumblers in our stores across the UK," he told the BBC. "However, we will continue to honour our 25p discount for anyone who brings in a personal cup." He added that Starbucks would suspend its 5p charge for customers asking to use a paper cup.

Below are the five measures Starbucks has outlined:

Though the company is "optimistic this will be a temporary situation," the precautions currently appear to be indefinite.


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