Starbucks ditches Times for Guardian

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 13-Oct-08, 15:20

LONDON - The Guardian and The Observer are to succeed The Times as the exclusive newspapers on sale at Starbucks cafes after more than four years.

The US coffee chain has signed an initial one-year deal with Guardian News and Media to run from November 5.

The chain decided to end its deal with The Times and Sunday Times after a business review earlier this year, which established Guardian News and Media would be a "better partner", according to a Starbucks spokeswoman.

Starbucks and Times Media agreed their pioneering deal in March 2004, establishing a new sales channel for The Times and Sunday Times.

Brian Waring, marketing director of Starbucks UK, said: "We hope that the two million people who walk through our doors every week will enjoy being able to buy a copy of The Guardian along with the favourite cup of coffee."

The Times was unavailable for comment at the time of publication. It recently invested in a free home delivery service for readers within the M25.

Starbucks was recently carpeted by The Sun for wasting millions of litres of water each day after a special investigation by the red-top, which was followed up by The Guardian.

The chain subsequently pledged to reverse its policy of leaving the cold tap on its 'dipper well' sinks on all day to rinse utensils.