SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002--Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) announced today that Willard (Dub) Hay has been named senior vice president, Coffee. Hay will join Starbucks on November 18 and will spend the next several months in immersion. He will officially assume the daily responsibilities of managing Starbucks Coffee Department and green coffee functions in March 2003, and will report to Ted Garcia, executive vice president, Supply Chain & Coffee Operations.

At the same time, the Company also announced that Mary Williams, current senior vice president, Coffee, will change her role to become an advisor to the Company on coffee strategy and coffee operations on a global basis, including Starbucks Coffee Trading Company in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Hay joins Starbucks from UBSPainewebber in Sonoma, Calif. where he served as First Vice President, Investments and was responsible for coffee commodities and traveled extensively to coffee origin countries. Previously, Hay had served as a commodity specialist for Merrill Lynch. Additionally, Hay was a vice president for Nestle USA where he was responsible for all coffee blends and quality. Prior to Nestle USA, Hay was a manager for green coffee buying for Proctor & Gamble Co.

"We are pleased to welcome Dub Hay, a true coffee veteran with a strong passion for quality coffee, to the Starbucks family," said Ted Garcia. "Dub shares our commitment to sourcing the best quality coffee the world has to offer as well as our commitment to social responsibility and helping to provide a livable wage for coffee farmers in origin countries."

Williams will work closely with Hay over the next several months to transition her responsibilities and will officially retire from Starbucks at the end of calendar year 2004.

"Starbucks has benefited greatly from 10 years of Mary Williams' leadership and passion for the highest quality coffees in the world," said Orin Smith, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. "As Starbucks has grown, Mary has been instrumental in helping us educate customers about what makes our specialty coffees so exceptional."

"Together Mary and Dub will ensure that Starbucks will continue to meet the ongoing needs of the Starbucks global organization," Smith continued. "I am confident that Dub will be an excellent successor to the leadership position in Coffee and will continue to build on the foundation of excellence and passion for great coffee that Mary has created."

Hay is currently a member of the Board of Managers, New York Board of Trade and serves as the Chairman of the Coffee committee. He is also a past member of the Boards of Directors for the National Coffee Association and the Pacific Coast Coffee Association. Hay received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and his Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University.

About Starbucks Coffee Company

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 5,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot(TM) coffee drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's other brands enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products: Tazo Tea Company offers a line of innovative premium teas, and Hear Music produces and distributes a line of exceptional compact discs.

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