To: craig crawford who wrote (51 ) 6/2/2001 1:56:30 PM From: craig crawford Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1643 SBUX COFFEE PRICES AND AVAILABILITY AND GENERAL RISK CONDITIONS The supply and price of coffee are subject to significant volatility. Although most coffee trades in the commodity market, coffee of the quality sought by the Company tends to trade on a negotiated basis at a substantial premium above commodity coffee prices, depending upon the supply and demand at the time of purchase. Supply and price can be affected by multiple factors in the producing countries, including weather, political and economic conditions. In addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by the actions of certain organizations and associations that have historically attempted to influence commodity prices of green coffee through agreements establishing export quotas or restricting coffee supplies worldwide. The Company's ability to raise sales prices in response to rising coffee prices may be limited and the Company's profitability could be adversely affected if coffee prices were to rise substantially. The Company enters into fixed-price purchase commitments in order to secure an adequate supply of quality green coffee and bring greater certainty to the cost of sales in future periods. As of April 1, 2001, the Company had approximately $167 million in fixed-price purchase commitments which, together with existing inventory, is expected to provide an adequate supply of green coffee for the remainder of fiscal 2001. The Company believes, based on relationships established with its suppliers in the past, that the risk of non-delivery on such purchase commitments is remote.