Starbucks India Champions Inclusivity With New Initiative in Kerala

KOCHI:

Starbucks India in collaboration with TRRAIN (Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India) recently hosted an inclusivity initiative in Kochi. This program for Kerala has been designed in collaboration with TRRAIN’s flagship initiative, PANKH which supports people with disabilities through skill development and employment opportunities.

As part of the engagement, for the first time ever, 15 students from TRRAIN were invited into the Starbucks Kochi bypass store for an immersive introduction to the world of coffee and customer service. The session was led by Starbucks expert, Vibhor Mishra, Coffee Ambassador for China and APAC region, who provided the youth a hands-on understanding of the brand, and India’s dynamic F&B retail industry. Vibhor was also joined by regional and national team members from Starbucks including Madhav, District Manager – Kerala, and Niladri Biswas from the Learning & Development vertical.

During the 2.5-hour interactive session, students learnt about the Starbucks leaders’ professional journeys, including key learnings from their experience and how to navigate challenges while working in the ever-evolving F&B world. The leaders also answered career-related queries and shared professional advice for the students who aspired to work in the F&B retail industry. After this, the group participated in an engaging coffee tasting experience, over a round of fun games. Additionally, the students also got an opportunity to interact with and learn from some of Starbucks Signing partners (baristas who are proficient in sign language to enhance accessibility for speech and hearing-impaired customers and colleagues), gaining inspiration from their journey and experience of working with the brand.

Adrit Mishra, coo, TATA Starbucks, said: “Beyond serving coffee, we aspire to create meaningful impact in the communities where we operate. Through our partnership with TRRAIN and the PANKH initiative, we hope to accelerate career opportunities for persons with disabilities, while fostering inclusivity. By giving these students, a glimpse into the way the brand operates, and access to key leaders, we hope to celebrate diversity, inspire confidence, and create a truly inclusive Starbucks experience across Kerala.”

As Starbucks deepens its presence and engagement in Kerala, this initiative is a continuation of the brand’s ongoing collaboration with TRRAIN aimed to create more inclusive opportunities, particularly for persons with disabilities by hiring more signing partners in the region. Currently, Starbucks operates 4 Signing stores in India and plans to open more such stores in Kerala and across South India. Through these Signing stores, Starbucks is focused on providing career development training and job opportunities to enhance the livelihood of partners from the Deaf community.