What is the primary team responsible for negotiating contracts with suppliers at Starbucks?

The Starbucks Coffee Trading Company (SCTC) is the primary team responsible for negotiating contracts with suppliers at Starbucks. This team plays a crucial role in managing relationships with coffee growers and suppliers globally, ensuring that Starbucks sources high-quality coffee beans sustainably and ethically. The SCTC focuses on purchasing coffee that meets Starbucks' quality standards while also engaging in practices that promote environmental and social responsibility in the coffee supply chain.

While other teams, such as the Global Coffee Quality team, may be involved in assessing and ensuring the quality of the coffee sourced, their primary function does not include the negotiation of contracts. Similarly, the Marketing Team focuses on promoting products and engaging customers rather than directly managing supplier relationships. The Quality Assurance Team, while concerned with maintaining product quality, also does not handle contract negotiations but rather tests and ensures the coffee meets established standards before it reaches customers. Thus, the SCTC stands out as the dedicated team for supplier negotiations, ensuring a robust and responsible supply chain for Starbucks' coffee products.