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Starbucks, DoorDash, more companies sign letter in support of voting rightsStarbucks, DoorDash, more companies sign letter in support of voting rights

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson: “The right to vote is core to the integrity of our Democracy”

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

July 14, 2021

2 Min Read
Starbucks storefront
Starbucks is the largest restaurant company that signed the letter.Starbucks

Joanna Fantozzi

Starbucks, DoorDash, Ben & Jerry’s and more major foodservice and retail companies are among the 160+ American corporations that signed a letter to Congress in support of amending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to further protect voting rights.  

The letter was sent out on the heels of a growing wave of GOP-backed voting legislation that would restrict voting, like the Texas bills that were introduced this month that add identification requirements for voting by mail and ban drive-thru voting and extended hours during early voting, according to NPR.

Although the letter does not mention specific current bills, the text makes clear that the group of employers does not support the latest restrictions being introduced and passed nationwide by conservative legislators.

“The election highlighted deep inequities in how our elections are run. Despite decades of progress, impediments to exercising the right to vote persist in many states, especially for communities of color,” the letter reads. “We need federal protections to safeguard this fundamental right for all Americans.”

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan passed the fourth reauthorization of the original 1965 Voting Act, extending the law’s reach by 25 years and in 2013, certain provisions outlined in the 1982 bill were declared unconstitutional in the landmark Shelby County V. Holder case.

“Within days, states formerly covered by the law began passing legislation to make voting more difficult with burdensome voter ID requirements, polling place closures, reductions in early voting, the elimination of same-day voter registration, and purging voter rolls, all of which disproportionately affected communities of color,” the letter signed by the 160 employers stated, calling for Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act to “restore necessary safeguards” against discrimination.”

In a letter to Starbucks employees, CEO Kevin Johnson outlined why he believed it was important for Starbucks to sign the letter urging Congress to consider action.

“The right to vote is core to our Democracy,” Johnson said, noting Starbucks’ policies to help create voting plans for employees. “The struggle for civil rights and racial equity in America exists in every aspect of our society, and the democratic process is no exception. We believe that voting should be free of discrimination of any kind.”

The list of foodservice and food retail companies that signed the letter includes:

  • Mars, Incorporated 

  • Mom’s Organic Market

  • Ben & Jerry’s

  • Mondelez

  • Nestle

  • PepsiCo

  • Clif Bar & Company

  • Danone

  • Sameem Afghan Restaurant

  • DoorDash

  • Starbucks

  • Hershey

  • Unilever 

Other companies that did not sign the letter but still have expressed support of voting rights include Chipotle and &pizza.

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Contact Joanna at [email protected]

Find her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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