On November 11, Starbucks Coffee Company signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) agreements with Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science (YAAS) and People’s Government of Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. The company agreed to collaborate with the two governmental organizations to help local farmers promote responsible coffee-growing practices and develop localized high-quality coffee.

For its more than 50-year long history, the Swedish furniture retailer IKEA managed to become an epitome of stylish and affordable furniture all around the world. The company offers a plethora of inexpensive self-assembled pieces, both simple and convenient, which nowadays can be found in every other European household as well as in modern art collections of works by celebrated designers. This long brand’s dedication to comfort and beauty is celebrated in a new book by Staffan Bengtsson, one of Scandinavia’s design authorities and editor of Form magazine.

Starbucks announced the expansion of its Starbucks Card Mobile payment test to nearly 300 company-operated stores in New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. This builds on the successful launch of Starbucks Card Mobile App for select BlackBerry® smartphones, iPhone® and iPod® touch, and the Starbucks mobile payment test which started in fall 2009. Now, Starbucks next mobile move will offer customers in the New York City area an enhanced Starbucks Experience, including the ease and convenience of paying for their favorite Starbucks® beverage with their mobile phone.

On October 20, Starbucks launched the Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo! in nearly 6,800 U.S. venues of the chain. Serving up a collection of hand-picked premium news, entertainment and lifestyle content along with local insights and events, the Starbucks Digital Network, is powered by free Wi-Fi and available only in the chain’s stores. Developed for screens big and small, customers with Wi-Fi enabled laptops, tablets or smartphones can visit the network while in line or while enjoying their favorite beverage in the café.

Starbucks is serious about making recycling an integral part of its stores’ activity. “By 2015, we plan to have recycling available in all of our stores where we control waste collection and serve 25% of beverages in reusable cups,” stated the global coffee retailer last year, and now it is making small steps towards the huge goal. This summer, the brand hold the Betacup competition sourcing customer-generated ideas focused on reusable, recyclable or compostable cups, and this time the Starbucks is into nine-week tests of its recycling initiative in NYC.

Do you know people who can tell much about national Swedish cuisine? Or maybe you are one of those who specialize in it? If the answers to both questions are “no,” the new online classes run by Chef Jørn and sponsored by IKEA will help you learn more about the unique world of northern dishes. As it may turn out, these can be as delicious and filling as the Italian menu and in some way as exotic as the Japanese one.