With more than 380,000 employees across the United States, Starbucks easily ranks among the top 10 largest employers. Coffee is big business, generating billions of dollars in revenue annually. The baristas and staff working at the thousands of Starbucks locations power those sales, supported by a supplier support network. For these businesses working with Starbucks, are vendor background checks a requirement?
The answer is yes, and the company clearly understands its requirements. A vendor background check refers to vetting processes used by companies that provide products and services to other businesses. The partner business, Starbucks, in this case, wants to protect itself from risk by ensuring it only works with vendors who can uphold the same standards the company expects of itself.
Companies must demonstrate to Starbucks that they meet its expectations in many areas. Here's more about what to know when setting up a compliant process to become a supplier.
Vendors can comprise a diverse group of supporting companies. That diversity is especially apparent in a food service company such as Starbucks. The business must source various ingredients, goods, and other products. From coffee beans to paper cups and pastries, many vendors may contribute to the supply chain that translates into quick service at the coffee counter.
Starbucks doesn't usually use vendors who visit stores and stock shelves. That kind of merchandising is typically left to the store employees. Instead, most Starbucks vendors and their partners are third-party companies. There is a lengthy vetting and application process for partners who wish to join the chain that serves Starbucks. Many of these requirements relate to business capabilities, financial strength, and other vital attributes. However, some of the rules also pertain to who your business hires.
Starbucks lays out its guidelines for many elements of supplier operations in a guide titled "Supply Chain Security Guidelines." This document is important, alongside many other supplier-related documents vendors should review. The guide aims to ensure that all Starbucks partners uphold the same level of security and responsibility. As a company deeply involved with international suppliers, Starbucks participates in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).
The CTPAT guidelines inform many elements of Starbucks' requirements. Vendors should note that Starbucks expects these guidelines to extend and apply to any third parties with whom your business works. In the "Personnel Security" section, Starbucks lays out three fundamental guidelines companies must follow. These are:
These requirements are a minimum threshold. If local law prohibits elements of these practices, the rules do not apply. Otherwise, vendors need screening services to vet all their employees thoroughly.
Starbucks is transparent that you should engage in a thorough background check process for your employees. Doing so is vital to safeguarding your business and preserving a working relationship with Starbucks. How can you build a team you can trust? The right tools make a difference. Here's an example of the solutions you may need from a background screening company to satisfy the personnel security mandates.
With an approach that examines applicants from every angle, you can satisfy the Starbucks requirements for peace of mind. Remember to follow state and local laws about criminal background checks. Obtain consent and provide disclosure as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Many steps can be involved in screening an applicant thoroughly enough to satisfy these vendor background check requirements. For some companies, that could mean a labor-intensive process spread across several reporting information providers. Is there an easier way for vendors to screen their employees? Yes. With backgroundchecks.com, the job is much simpler.
Our VendorSAFE program was explicitly designed to support companies like yours pursuing a compliant hiring process. VendorSAFE screening streamlines the process and packages all the reports you need into one simple solution. With this resource, you can examine criminal history and verify resume applications simultaneously. See how you can integrate this functionality into your hiring pipeline today.
Working with Starbucks as a vendor can be a valuable opportunity for your business. It could be an essential stepping stone on the road to growth. To follow that road, you must abide by the requirements from Starbucks for vendor background checks. Avoid the risks of negligent hiring and build a team that can deliver superior service to your corporate partners. Learn more about integrating the VendorSAFE solution from a trusted background check company into your workflow today.