Caribou Coffee® Leads Coffee Category as First Chain to Offer Clean Label Beverages

MINNEAPOLIS, March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Caribou Coffee has set a Clean Label standard for its US locations making the coffee company the first national coffeehouse chain to offer beverages made with Clean Label ingredients.  Caribou's Clean Label Commitment means the company will not add artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives, MSG or high fructose corn syrup to its beverages and all beverages will be made with Clean Label ingredients by 2018. 

The coffee company's Clean Label announcement doesn't come as a surprise given the brand's history.  In 2010, Caribou started using real chocolate chips rather than powdered chocolate which many other coffeehouses currently use.  Caribou was the first national coffeehouse company to offer 100% Rainforest Alliance beans in 2012.  In January of 2016, the brand introduced real caramel sauce and real vanilla syrup, made with only four ingredients: pure cane sugar, water, natural vanilla flavor and Madagascar vanilla beans extract. This focus on real ingredients has been a core component of Caribou's Clean Label commitment. 

"Offering premium great tasting drinks for our guests has long been in our DNA," says Michele Vig, President of Caribou Coffee. "Through our Clean Label commitment, all Caribou Coffee drinks will be made using only Clean Label ingredients by 2018." 

The Clean Label commitment at Caribou means creating handcrafted beverages without adding: 

• Artificial colors 
• Artificial flavors 
• Artificial preservatives 
• Artificial sweeteners 

Caribou set its Clean Label standard by creating an "Off-Limit list" of 70+ ingredients which will not be added to its beverages.  Ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, aspartame and many others will not be added into any Caribou Coffee beverage. Guests can see the entire "Off-Limit List" at CaribouCleanDrink.com. 

Caribou began working on a specific Clean Label plan in February of 2014. Traditionally hard in the coffee category to clean up ingredients, Caribou and its supply partners have been working diligently to lead the coffee industry with finding better ingredients that deliver a better tasting drink. Currently 91% of Caribou Coffee's handcrafted beverages are made with 100% Clean Label ingredients. The remaining 9% of beverages (those made with chai, sugar-free chocolate syrup, and two toppings) will meet Caribou's Clean Label standard by the end of 2018 to bring its drink menu to 100% Clean Label.  

To learn more, visit CaribouCleanDrink.com  for information on Caribou's commitment to Clean Label ingredients including a breakdown of Clean Label ingredients in Caribou's handcrafted beverages. 

About Caribou Coffee 
Founded in 1992, Caribou Coffee is the second largest company-operated premium coffeehouse in the United States with more than 263* company-owned stores and 50* Coffee & Bagels stores in partnership with Einstein Bros. Bagels, 142* domestic license locations in 19* states and 268* international franchise stores in 12* countries. Caribou Coffee provides high quality, handcrafted beverages and food options to fuel life's adventures, both big and small. Known for a commitment to sustainability, the Company was the first major U.S. coffeehouse to serve 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffees and espresso. Caribou Coffee products can also be found in grocery stores, mass retailers, club stores, foodservice providers, hotels, entertainment venues and online. To learn more about Caribou Coffee, visit CaribouCleanDrink.com.