Starbucks wants to recruit 10,000 military veterans, spouses to its ranks

Starbucks Corp is looking for thousands of good men. And women.

The world's biggest coffee chain said on Wednesday it would commit to hiring at least 10,000 veterans and spouses of active military in five years.

It also said five new and existing US Starbucks cafes on or near military bases will share a portion of each sale with non-profit organisations that help veterans re-enter the workforce.

Many US companies have committed to hiring thousands of military veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Seattle-based Starbucks said it will have specialised recruiters to match the unique skills of veterans and their spouses with company jobs.

"This demography represents one of the most underutilised talent pools in our country," said former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, now a Starbucks director.

Announced ahead of the US Veterans Day holiday on November 11, Starbucks' new effort aims to expand and strengthen its existing mentoring programme through the Armed Forces Network.

"This is not only about hiring baristas," Chief Executive Howard Schultz told Reuters.

Starbucks is seeking individuals with experience in everything from leading teams to building and managing complex, global supply chains, Schultz said.

As the company expands globally and gets coffee and tea from around the globe, veterans offer international experience and foreign language skills, Gates added.

"They bring an understanding of other cultures and they're accustomed to working with diverse and international partners," Gates said.

Starbucks employs roughly 134,000 people in the United States, including "thousands" of veterans and their spouses. It did not offer a more precise breakdown.

The five revenue-sharing stores near bases will donate 10 cents from every transaction, with a minimum annual gift of $100,000. The first two will be in San Antonio, Texas, and Lakewood, Washington. Donations from the stores will benefit Goodwill Industries International Inc programmes Operation Good Jobs, in San Antonio, and Vested in Vets, in Lakewood.