SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced an elevated digital news experience for the Starbucks® mobile app, the result of an expanded relationship with The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) which publishes one of the most widely-read and authoritative news publications in the world. As part of the agreement, The New York Times top news of the day as well as a selection of other articles addressing key social, political and economic issues will be available for free via the Starbucks® mobile app for the 10 million My Starbucks Rewards® loyalty members. These customers will also have the opportunity to earn “Stars” through paid digital and print subscriptions to The New York Times.
“We see a future in which the Starbucks retail experience seamlessly extends to the mobile devices our millions of customers carry with them every day,” said Howard Schultz, chairman and ceo of Starbucks. “Our relationship with The New York Times is the perfect example of bringing this vision to life. We have proudly sold millions of copies of the paper in Starbucks stores for more than a decade, and are excited to bring this experience to the next level by enabling Starbucks loyal customers to take the best of The New York Times with them wherever they go, whenever they want it.”
Beginning in the first half of 2016, as part of this Starbucks digital news experience, the daily and weekend briefings from The New York Times will be delivered to My Starbucks Rewards® loyalty members through the Starbucks® mobile app as well as other relevant articles from The Times recommended by Starbucks. Additional articles recommended by Starbucks will come from other media sources over time.
Mark Thompson, president and CEO of The New York Times Company, said, “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful association with Starbucks and we’re delighted that this agreement will further extend our digital relationship. This is another in a series of arrangements we have made recently in order to ensure that The Times continue to expand the reach of our journalism to new and interesting pools of readers. We’re particularly happy that Starbucks has also put in place an appealing incentive to turn these readers into subscribers.”
Free digital access to 15 articles per day on NYTimes.com is currently available in many U.S.-based Starbucks stores through the Starbucks Digital Network. The New York Times newspaper is also widely distributed in Starbucks stores across the country.
“This expanded relationship with The New York Times allows us to directly engage our most loyal customers with the latest and most relevant news of the day,” added Kevin Johnson, president and coo of Starbucks. “Through these types of relationships, we are well on our journey to provide our most loyal customers with the opportunity to earn Stars everywhere and redeem them for food and beverages in Starbucks stores.”
My Starbucks Rewards® loyalty members will be able to “Earn Stars Everywhere,” through both Starbucks and non-Starbucks purchases. Starbucks recently announced a multi-year deal with Spotify, which first introduced this new opportunity for Starbucks loyalty program members to earn Stars through purchases made with other companies. As part of today’s announcement, My Starbucks Rewards customers will also earn Stars by purchasing paid digital and print subscriptions to The New York Times. Customers will then have the ability to redeem those earned Stars for food and beverages at participating Starbucks® stores.
The agreement with The New York Times links more than 7,000 company-operated Starbucks stores in the U.S. with the 10 million My Starbucks Rewards® loyalty members in a new and highly relevant way. Furthering its plan to build one of the most robust digital ecosystems of any retailer in the world, Starbucks continues to find new ways and platforms to engage and stay connected with its customers. Providing its most loyal customers with the most relevant news of the day from one of the most trusted news authorities, The New York Times, is one more way that Starbucks enriches its customer relationships with benefits that are meaningful and unique.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com. Learn more about us by visiting the Starbucks Newsroom: www.news.starbucks.com.
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The company includes The New York Times, International New York Times, NYTimes.com, INYT.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. Follow news about the company at @NYTimesComm.
