Caribou Coffee Partners with Project 7 to Launch Celebration of Earth Month

MINNEAPOLIS, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. announced today that it is joining forces with Project 7 and its fans this April to make a difference around the world. As the first major U.S. coffeehouse to source all coffees and espresso from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms, Caribou Coffee - a company committed to providing its fans with extraordinary beverage and food experiences - is equally committed to operating practices that promote sustainability and environmental protection.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130327/NY83977 )

Caribou and Project 7 share a commitment to both community and sustainability. Project 7 is a company dedicated to making "products for good™," focusing on seven areas of need around the globe: helping to Feed the Hungry™, Heal the Sick™, Hope for Peace™, House the Homeless™, Quench the Thirsty™, Teach them Well™ and Save the Earth™.

This year, understanding that many of Caribou's passionate and generous fans live beyond the communities in which there are coffeehouses, the company and Project 7 are launching a special social media initiative for Earth Month so that fans everywhere can participate and show their commitment to the environment. For every new "Like" on Caribou's Facebook page during the month of April, Caribou and Project 7 will plant a fruit tree in Central or South America. Together the companies will plant fruit trees to not only help restore the earth, but to provide a great source of food for the local community, that they can use for trading purposes to improve their economy.

Continuing with its year-round partnership, Caribou and Project 7 will also plant a fruit tree in Central or South America for every "Save the Earth" water, mints or gum that is purchased at Caribou coffeehouses in the U.S. during April. Throughout the year, Caribou contributes to Project 7 initiatives all over the world when guests purchase these Project 7 products in Caribou coffeehouses. The company is proud to announce that in 2012, this partnership helped to plant more than 100,000 trees, feed the hungry in U.S. communities with 35,000 meals, provide over 3,000 days of shelter for those in need, and much more.

"At Caribou, we believe that providing our fans with extraordinary coffeehouse experiences and being environmentally and socially responsible go hand in hand," said Alfredo Martel, senior vice president of marketing and product management. "We're thrilled to partner with Project 7 this year in celebration of Earth Month to provide support around the world in helping our society and environment. We also want to get our fans involved in the action, so we're excited to be able to engage them in stores and online, and rally them around this cause that's close to our hearts."

In 2012, Caribou became the first major U.S. coffeehouse retailer to source 100 percent of its coffee and espresso beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. This certification ensures that farmers, as well as their families and greater communities, receive decent wages, access to education and medical care, and that beans are harvested responsibly to protect the environment. More than a year after reaching this milestone, Caribou remains committed to maintaining this level of certification as it helps to improve the livelihoods of coffee farming communities across the globe, while providing consumers with high quality, sustainable coffee.

To encourage its fans to drink sustainably year-round, Caribou offers all customers who use a reusable tumbler in their locations a 10 cent discount on their beverage. Coffee drinkers should once again look forward to Caribou's Earth Day offer: the company will be providing a free coffee to all customers who bring in a reusable mug or tumbler on April 22, 2013.

For more information about Caribou Coffee, please visit Caribou Coffee's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cariboucoffee, follow Caribou on Twitter at @Caribou_Coffee or visit www.CaribouCoffee.com/EarthMonth.

About Caribou Coffee
Founded in 1992, Caribou Coffee Company is one of the leading branded coffee companies in the United States, with a compelling multi-channel approach to their customers. Based on the number of coffeehouses, Caribou Coffee is the second largest company-operated premium coffeehouse operator in the United States. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 610 coffeehouses, including 202 franchised locations, in 22 states, the District of Columbia and ten international markets. The Company's coffeehouses aspire to be the community place loved by guests who are provided an extraordinary experience that makes their day better. Caribou Coffee provides the highest quality handcrafted beverages, foods and coffee lifestyle items with a unique blend of expertise, fun and authentic human connection in a comfortable and welcoming coffeehouse environment. In addition, Caribou Coffee's unique coffees are available within grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, office coffee and foodservice providers, hotels, entertainment venues and e-commerce channels. Caribou Coffee is a proud recipient of the Rainforest Alliance Corporate Green Globe Award and is committed to operating practices that promote sustainability and environmental protection. For more information, visit the Caribou Coffee web site at www.cariboucoffee.com.

About Project 7
Founded in 2008 by Tyler Merrick, Project 7® makes everyday products for good and is committed to 'changing the score' by making a significant, measurable difference in the lives of people all over the world through the purchase of its everyday products including sugar-free gum and mints, organic fair trade coffee, bio-bottled water, eco-T-shirts and branded apparel.  For every purchase of a Project 7 product, the company makes charitable contributions to organizations dedicated to serving seven areas of need in the world - Feed the Hungry™, Heal the Sick™, Hope for Peace™, House the Homeless™, Quench the Thirsty™, Teach them Well™ and Save the Earth™.

Project 7 encourages consumers to help make a tangible difference by purchasing Project 7 products, volunteering their time and educating others.  To learn more about Project 7 or to purchase Project 7 merchandise, visit www.project7.com. You can also become a fan of Project 7 on Facebook and follow @Project7 on Twitter.

CONTACT:
Blythe Posner
Ruder Finn, Inc.
(212) 593-6306
[email protected]  

SOURCE Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.