Thursday, 19 February 2009

Mandelson and Starbucks Clash on UK Economy: Attack stirs furious business secretary to defence of Britain

Listen to GUARDIAN audio: Andrew Clark on Peter Mandelson's tirade against Starbucks >>> Patrick Wintour, Political Editor | Thursday, February 19, 2009

THE INDEPENDENT: Mandelson strop: Who the F@#! Is Howard Schultz?

The Starbucks boss provoked an extraordinary response from Lord Mandelson when he dared to criticise the state of the British economy

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Howard Schultz, the Starbucks boss and one of America’s most senior entrepreneurs, upset Lord Mandelson by criticising the British economy. Lord Mandelson used a four-letter expletive. Photo courtesy of The Independent

Lord Mandelson’s famed silver-tongue deserted him on a business trip to New York when he responded with a four-letter tirade against one of America’s most senior entrepreneurs, the Starbucks boss Howard Schultz.

The American, chief executive of the world’s biggest coffee chain, spoke of his corporation’s recent struggles in a television interview. “The concern for us is western Europe and specifically the UK,” he said. “The UK is in a spiral.” Mr Schultz described consumer confidence in Britain was “very, very poor”. >>> By Martin Hickman and Nigel Morris | Thursday, February 19, 2009

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