Starbucks is pulling up stakes today inside all the Target stores across Canada. They shut their doors tonight. But it's what's happening tomorrow morning that is troubling many. There is a lot of product still on the shelves of those Starbucks stores inside Target. CTV News is hearing that product is going in the garbage. At the five Target stores in Ottawa, Starbucks is often the first stop for many, looking for a quick "pick me up" before shopping.
‘Twice a day,’ says Starbucks customer Wendy Lorraine, ‘Once in the morning and once in the afternoon.’
Target announced earlier this month that it was closing all 133 stores across Canada. The Starbucks are operated as franchises within Target. A decision was made to close them today.
Carly Suppa with Starbucks Coffee Canada wrote in an email to CTV Ottawa, ‘The reason Starbucks made the decision to have all stores in Targets close today is in effort to preserve that extraordinary experience our customers expect from Starbucks.’
Now CTV News has learned from some employees within the stores that all of the product left on the shelves after tonight will be tossed in the garbage tomorrow.
‘It’s crazy,’ says Starbucks customer Diane Lane, ‘they should even sell it to their regular customers who come in and enjoy a cup of coffee every day. I would gladly buy a bag.’
Starbucks deferred to Target which runs the coffee shops in the stores and employees the staff within them. Target would not answer the question.
In an email, Target spokesperson Eric Hausman said, ‘I can confirm that all Starbucks locations in Target Canada are closing today. I don’t have anything additional to share related to the specifics of the closure.’
‘There's lot of people they could give it to,’ says customer Wendy Lorraine, ‘to the homeless or the Ottawa Mission. I'm sure they'd love a hot cup of coffee.
That's what the Ottawa Mission said as well.
Ric Watson is the head chef at the Mission, ‘That's just ridiculous. That’s one thing we don't get donated is coffee and treats. It’s a special thing for clients to have. We have two coffee breaks a day; one at 10 and one in evening so it's ridiculous that someone will throw this in the garbage . It’s stuff we can use and something we have to purchase with money.’
The employees at Starbucks, meantime, will be re-assigned within Target. But Starbucks is interested in them and is holding open houses until next Friday to give those employees priority as it moves to fill approximately eight thousand jobs within Canada in the coming year.
The Ottawa Mission, meantime, is hoping to connect with those Starbucks stores within Target tonight to see if it can arrange to pick up any product before it is tossed out.
