Starbucks joins (RED) fight against AIDS

Starbucks is partnering with (RED), the Global Fund organisation to help support AIDS programmes in Africa.

The coffee chain has added to its reward card programme and created the (Starbucks) RED Card. Every time a customer uses the (RED) card at participating outlets, Starbucks will donate 5p to the Global Fund.

As part of the partnership, Starbucks has created the (Starbucks) RED Tumbler, and will donate £3 to the Global Fund each time one is purchased.

In addition, customers can benefit from extra rewards such as free in-store wi-fi, when using their registered (RED) card as well as money off their hot drink when re-using the tumbler.

The UK initiative, which launches on Wednesday (4 November), follows the coffee chain’s partnership with (RED) in the US and Canada which launched in 2008.

Brian Waring, marketing director at Starbucks UK, says the collaboration is an opportunity for the chain to use its size to do good and “invest in the health and well-being of the communities that grow its coffee.”

(RED) is a global initiative that partners with companies to create branded (RED) products and contribute a percentage of the sales to fund AIDS programmes in Africa that provide counselling, medicine and testing for people affected by HIV.

Brands including Apple, Converse and Dell have supported (RED) by creating limited edition products and donating a percentage of their revenue to the Aids fund.