Starbucks introduced its employee stock program, Bean Stock, in 1991.
Bean Stock was created to give eligible Starbucks employees an ownership interest in the company. Starbucks generally calls its employees “partners,” and the program became part of the company’s broader approach to linking employees with Starbucks’ long-term performance.
The program was introduced before Starbucks became a public company in 1992. That timing is important: Bean Stock was established while Starbucks was still privately held, rather than being created only after the company’s stock began trading publicly.
Bean Stock is often confused with Starbucks’ employee benefits generally. Starbucks offers several forms of compensation and benefits, but Bean Stock specifically refers to equity awards. The company has changed the details and eligibility rules of its stock plans over time, while retaining the Bean Stock name in its partner-ownership tradition.