Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysian arm of global coffee chain Stabucks has released a public statement amidst an ongoing boycott globally in support of Palestine caused by the Israel-Gaza conflict, as well as allegations that the coffee chain and its CEO Howard Schultz providing financial support to Israel.
In the statement, Starbucks Malaysia stresses that despite false statements being spread through social media, they have no political agenda, and that they do not use their profits to fund any government or military operations anywhere.
Moreover, they have also reiterated that their position remains unchanged, with Starbucks condemning violence, the loss of innocent life and all hate and weaponized speech.
“What we do believe in, and remain focused on, is staying true to our company’s long-standing heritage – simply connecting with our partners and customers over a cup of high-quality coffee and offering the best experience possible to them – regardless of geographical location,” they said.
They have also added that Starbucks in Malaysia is wholly-owned by a public-listed Malaysian company, and that they currently have 5,000 employees across 400 stores in the country.
“For over 25 years, we have consistently demonstrated our commitment to serving the local community, which includes active support for local communities, Government of the day, and NGOs through a range of initiatives designed to directly uplift and benefit Malaysians,” they added.
It has also clarified that Starbuck’s previous closure of its Israel branches back in 2003 was not due to political reasons, but rather as a result of on-going operational challenges that they experienced in that market.
The boycott against Starbucks was rooted from a decision in October 2023 when the company sued Starbucks Workers United in US federal court, alleging trademark infringement after the union sent out a social media post saying “Solidarity with Palestine!” following the start of the Hamas attack in Israel in that same month.
As of this writing, there are more than 50 global brands included in the ‘boycott list’ ranging from insurance companies like AXA as well as energy companies like Chevron.