San Diego First to Launch Starbucks FoodShare Program

On August 30, Starbucks, Feeding America and Feeding San Diego announced the launch of the first Starbucks FoodShare program operations in the nation.

Through a strategic partnership announced earlier this year, the Starbucks FoodShare program will donate nourishing, ready-to-eat meals to Feeding America member food banks from its company-operated stores in the U.S. Building on a successful pilot program launched in San Diego earlier this year, donations from 190 local Starbucks locations are estimated to provide 750,000 pounds of food, or the equivalent of 625,000 meals, in the San Diego area annually.

“Starbucks has truly shown their commitment to hunger-relief,” said Al Brislain, CEO of Feeding San Diego. “With 1 in 8 San Diegans facing hunger, FoodShare will make a huge difference for those we serve and exemplify what we can accomplish when we work together.”

Celebrity chef, Brian Malarkey, joined FSD in the Miramar Starbucks store for a special “Behind the Bar” event. He learned about the new FoodShare program, spoke with community leaders, and even learned how to make a variety of coffee drinks. Following the event at Starbucks, the team traveled to FSD where Starbucks partners were waiting to volunteer and kick off the program with the help of community leaders Brian Malarkey, Bill Walton and Congresswoman Susan Davis, as well as Al Brislain, CEO of Feeding San Diego, and Laura Olson, Senior Manager, Global Social Responsibility for Starbucks.

“The partners in our San Diego stores are so excited to lead this effort, they know rescuing food at the end of their shift makes a difference and has a positive impact on their community.” said Alyssa Edelen, a Starbucks district manager. “From families struggling to make ends meet, to supporting those who are homeless, rescuing Starbucks food that would otherwise be wasted will change lives for people in the San Diego community. It makes me proud to know partners are the heroes in this.”

FoodShare donations will be picked up in refrigerated vans from Starbucks stores seven days a week, year round. At each site, drivers check all items for food safety and transport the food to Feeding San Diego or its distribution partners. Food items include Bistro Boxes, breakfast sandwiches, Paninis, salads, yogurts and high-quality baked goods.

In the first year alone, FoodShare will be able to provide nearly 5 million meals across the U.S. to individuals and families in need of nourishing food. Starbucks intends to scale this program over the next five years and rescue 100 percent of its food available for donation from participating company-operated U.S. stores.