First term Saanich councillor Ned Taylor is among those opposing the University of Victoria decision to replace the Finnerty Express cafe with a Starbucks franchise.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 hold it against my council colleagues if they chose not to take a stance on this issue, but as a Saanich councillor representing the best interests of my community I just canB次元官网网址檛 stand by and watch a local business replaced by a large international chain,B次元官网网址� Taylor said.
B次元官网网址淚 feel itB次元官网网址檚 my duty as a local politician to stand up for local businesses.B次元官网网址�
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Taylor, 19, worked at the Shelbourne Plaza Starbucks while finishing high school at Reynolds secondary and says he witnessed excessive waste, coupled with a lot of imported products.
B次元官网网址淔or me, Finnerty is sourcing local products adequately for the students, for me itB次元官网网址檚 doing things right, why would I want to support a large chain that isnB次元官网网址檛 doing things right,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no reason to replace it.B次元官网网址�
UVic campus services announced in November that it purchased a Starbucks franchise with a plan to install it into the space thatB次元官网网址檚 long been occupied by Finnerty Express below the UVic Bookstore.
Located in the bus loop, the spot is ideal as thousands of UVic students commute daily through the loop.
A student-led has reached more than 2,000 signatures.
However, there is support for brand names on campus such as Tim Hortons and Starbucks, said UVic director of campus operations Jim Forbes.
B次元官网网址淯VicB次元官网网址檚 customer base of students, faculty, staff and campus visitors has consistently voiced a preference through surveys, advisory committees, and focus groups that select brands are desired to complement the range of self-operated food locations,B次元官网网址� Forbes said. B次元官网网址淪tarbucks has consistently ranked as one of three brands that was lacking on our campus.B次元官网网址�
That said, when Taylor thinks of Finnerty Express, he thinks of the additional local jobs it creates by selling Salt Spring Coffee and local baked goods. But when he thinks of Starbucks, he thinks of how much waste he saw, as well as profits being shipped out of town.
B次元官网网址淲hen I look at Starbucks, the products are not sourced by local companies, and the store produces excessive food and plastic waste, which I witnessed on the job, thatB次元官网网址檚 the norm,B次元官网网址� Taylor said. B次元官网网址淗aving seen it first hand I know that Starbucks isnB次元官网网址檛 leading the way in terms of environmental sustainability or in terms of reducing food waste, thereB次元官网网址檚 things theyB次元官网网址檙e doing right, and thereB次元官网网址檚 areas for improvement.B次元官网网址�
Forbes said UVic is committed to transitioning Salt Spring Coffee and local bakery products to other retail locations on campus, and that FinnertyB次元官网网址檚 currently unionized employees will have the opportunity to transfer.
