MULHOLLAND EXPRESSES DELIGHT AT VICTORY IN STARBUCKS CAMPAIGN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jul 2007

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, has expressed his delight that, following the Early Day Motion that he tabled in Parliament, coffee company Starbucks has reached an agreement with the Ethiopian Government which will allow them to distribute, market and license their own coffee brands.

This agreement will mean that the Ethiopian Government will be able to register its Sidamo, Harar and Yirgaraffe brands, a move worth an estimated £47m a year according to Oxfam.

Commenting on the agreement Mr Mulholland said:

"I am delighted that Starbucks and the Ethiopian Government have been able to reach an agreement.

"Allowing Ethiopia to register its own coffee brands is a vital step in ensuring that the farmers in one of the world's poorest nations finally get a fair reward for their hard work. "15 million people in Ethiopia depend on coffee to get by, and this will provide a massive boost to attempts to provide food, healthcare, and education in the country."