Starbucks forms JV with Ai Ni Group in China
Starbucks Coffee has entered into an agreement to form a joint-venture (JV) company with Ai Ni Group in Yunnan Province, China.
The JV, which will be controlled by Starbucks, will purchase and export arabica Yunnan coffee beans and operate dry mills in the province.
Starbucks China and Asia Pacific president John Culver said the formation of the JV with Ai Ni Group marks another significant milestone in Starbucks continued efforts to help develop Yunnan's coffee industry.
With the establishment of the JV, Starbucks aims to increase its coffee-sourcing activities in the Yunnan region for use in the company's global blends and build long term relationships with Yunnan's coffee farmers.
The JV will also adopt 'best practice' processing methods to ensure a consistent and reliable source of quality coffee for Starbucks.
The Starbucks Farmer Support Center in Pu'er City, which will provide agronomy consultation services and support to Yunnan's coffee growers, is expected to be operational this year.
The Ai Ni Group, established in 1993, currently operates coffee processing facilities and two coffee farms with a total area of almost 500 hectares. The group operates four high-end restaurants in Yunnan Province and manages a cattle business of about 10,000 heads of beef cattle.
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