Seattle's Best Coffee Marks 35th Anniversary with First Seattle Area

Seattle's Best Coffee Marks 35th Anniversary with First Seattle Area Cafes in Borders Books and Music Stores

    Business Editors

    SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2005--

Celebratory First Pour Ceremony at Borders in Redmond and Introduction of Blend 35 Coffee Round Out the Festivities
    Seattle's Best Coffee(R) will mark its 35th anniversary with the opening of the first cafes in Seattle area Borders Books and Music(R) stores. These cafes, along with three other Washington state locations, are opening under a national licensing agreement between Borders, Inc. and Seattle's Best Coffee LLC announced in August 2004. Over the next few years, more than 400 existing Borders cafes across the nation will be converted to Seattle's Best Coffee cafes. Beginning this year, new Borders in the U.S. will feature Seattle's Best Coffee cafes.
    Borders stores in Redmond, Tukwila, Tacoma, Puyallup and Lynnwood, as well as those in Yakima, Spokane and Vancouver, Wash., underwent extensive renovations to convert the existing Borders-operated cafes to new Seattle's Best Coffee cafes. All eight Washington state cafes will celebrate their grand openings Saturday, March 12 at noon. The Redmond Borders store will be the centerpiece of the celebration with a special First Pour ceremony -- a ribbon cutting Seattle's Best Coffee-style. The event will feature welcome remarks from Borders Vice President of Operations Mike Oprins, and Seattle's Best Coffee vice president of Retail Operations, Craig Russell.
    "For 35 years, Seattle's Best Coffee has called Seattle home, and we are proud to open the first cafes in Borders stores in the Seattle area during our anniversary celebration," said Russell. "We are very excited about the future of our brand as we continue to grow across the U.S."
    Seattle's Best Coffee is celebrating the anniversary with the introduction of Blend 35, a special coffee blended and roasted specifically to celebrate this milestone for the brand. Blend 35, which will only be available for a limited time, combines the unique qualities of Kenya, Colombia and El Salvador single origin coffees to create a full and sweet flavor. Smooth roasted to a medium roast profile, this coffee brings together the blending and roasting artistry that makes Seattle's Best Coffee distinctive.
    Founded in 1970 on the Seattle waterfront using an old peanut roaster to smooth roast the first batch of high quality arabica beans, Seattle's Best Coffee retains its strong link to the Seattle coffee culture. After winning a local Seattle coffee competition in 1989, Stewart Brothers Coffee(R), the original name, was changed and the winning coffee called Seattle's Best Blend(R).

    About Seattle's Best Coffee

    Seattle's Best Coffee LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq:SBUX), was founded in 1970 and retains a strong link to Seattle coffee culture. Seattle's Best Coffee is available in the continental U.S. and Canada in company-operated and franchised locations, Borders Books and Music(R) stores, supermarkets, and at foodservice locations such as college campuses, restaurants, hotels and cruise lines. Seattle's Best Coffee features smooth roasted premium coffees across a broad product portfolio including blends, varietals, organics and flavored coffees that help to satisfy the variety-seeking nature of coffee consumers. Seattle's Best Coffee offers more than 30 whole bean and ground coffees, espresso beverages, JavaKula(TM) signature blended beverage line, Oven Song(TM) warm sandwiches and select coffee related merchandise.

    About Borders Group

    Borders Group Inc. (NYSE:BGP) is a leading global retailer of books, music and movies with annual revenues of $3.7 billion. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company employs approximately 32,000 people worldwide. Borders Group operates over 460 Borders superstores and approximately 700 Waldenbooks stores throughout the U.S. In addition, the company operates 42 Borders superstores outside the U.S., as well as 36 Books etc. stores located throughout Great Britain. Borders Group recently acquired Paperchase Products Limited, a leading stationery retailer in the U.K. with 70 locations. Teamed with Amazon.com, online shopping is available through Borders.com (www.borders.com) and Waldenbooks.com (www.waldenbooks.com). More detailed information on the company is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com. Information regarding Borders store locations, in-store events and title reservation is available through www.bordersstores.com.

--30--MRO/se*

CONTACT: Seattle's Best Coffee Shannon Jones, 206-318-7375 shjones@seattlesbest.com

KEYWORD: WASHINGTON MICHIGAN INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLISHING MUSIC RESTAURANTS FOODS/BEVERAGES RETAIL PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Seattle's Best Coffee

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