JEDDAH, 3 April 2005 — Something’s brewing at Starbucks, and executives hope the changes in their successful Saudization efforts will keep the program percolating.
A new initiative that will identify, attract and develop ambitious Saudis with the potential to fast-track their careers has been launched. A core part of the initiative will be an acceleration program for outstanding Saudis, following some recent successful trials that have led them to higher management positions.
“With so many young Saudis entering the labor market each year, we believe it’s important to provide high-quality and dynamic job opportunities that will appeal to them,” a top executive of an international trading company told reporters over the weekend.
“Alshaya International Trading Co. and Starbucks have launched a human resource (HR) initiative that sets targets and strategies to reach and exceed the Saudization targets,” said Haitham H. Alshaya, general manager of Alshaya International Trading Co., the licensed operator of Starbucks Coffee stores across the Kingdom.
Alshaya noted there already are a number of examples of Saudi nationals among Starbucks 389 employees who have joined and grown to occupy senior positions within the company.
Starbucks already is working with outstanding Saudi employees who have significant potential to grow. Ata Sami Elyas, who joined Starbucks as a barista (expert coffeemaker), is now an assistant store manager with aspirations of becoming an area manager in 18 months.
One of Alshaya’s initiatives to attract new employees to the company is the appointment of an English language specialist based in the Kingdom to work with them to enhance their language skills.
“Starbucks commitment is not only to serve the best coffee but also to become the preferred employer in the markets in which it operates,” said Alshaya. Its HR initiative will aim at significantly increasing existing programs for job enrichment and developing skills of employees in new areas, such as in-store and classroom learning, manager coaching and mentoring, coffee expert training and competitions.
This season, the expertly trained Saudi “Coffee Ambassador” and the team of coffee masters will be on-hand at Starbucks to specially design beverages according to the personal tastes of those ordering them from over 21,000 Espresso roast-based variations.
“Every day, in every store, we encourage and inspire coffee drinkers to create their own beverages and give them the opportunity to experiment and feel more confident ordering any drink on or off the menu,” said Alshaya. “This month we’re challenging coffee drinkers to visit us and order something that they have never tried before and we have never made before,” said Alshaya.
