Jan 30, 2003 12:00 PM

Sysco Corporation, Houston TX, has announced an agreement with Starbucks Coffee Company for distribution rights of Starbucks products to customers outside the Starbucks chain. Starting immediately, Sysco will begin handling Starbucks products at its 64 divisions throughout the US. In addition to Starbucks coffee, Sysco will distribute bottled coffee drinks and a line of super-premium ice cream. Target markets for the new distribution effort will be businesses, educational institutions, hotels, and restaurants. Starbucks says that the agreement will make its products available to a wider customer base and will make ordering and delivery of the products easier for Starbucks customers. Sysco serves about 415,000 customers from 149 distribution locations in the US and Canada.