An investigation revealed earlier this week that Starbucks has paid a paltry £8.6m in corporation tax over the past 14 years, and nothing in the past three years on turnover in excess of £3bn.
The Nottingham-based brewery and pub operator has been quick out of the blocks to offer a solution. Castle Rock pubs will be offering deals to attract the disaffected coffee consumer, including free top ups, buy one get one free, and half priced cakes and biscuits offers.
Castle Rock managing director Colin Wilde said: “Many people are confused and angered by Starbucks poor demonstration of business ethics towards taxation and I believe a line in the sand should be drawn.
“Castle Rock Brewery is a modest regional brewer paying £1.2m a year in beer duty, a duty that has resulted in thousands of pub closures and job losses. The pub trade is relatively speaking one of the most heavily taxed industries in the UK.
"High beer duty, VAT, business rates and corporation tax make up just some of the heavy calls on the British pub industry; it doesn’t seem fair that a giant business like Starbucks is behaving in this way, nor that it is even allowed to.”
Wilde adds, “Of course we are trying to attract business to our own pubs, but there are much more important issues at stake here and the whole pub industry should be tackling these issues head on. A warm, friendly and welcoming tax paying pub is the ideal surrounding to enjoy a cup of coffee, meet up with friends, have a business meeting or simply enjoy some me time! The trade needs to show want Starbucks customers are missing out on.”