Ce-UnPac'd : Costa Coffee 2 - Reheated - The Cummins Accountability Project

You thought the first cup was bitter? Buckle up, because Costa Coffee’s cupboard of skeletons is far from empty. Part one hit you with a tragic allergy death, worker exploitation, and a tone-deaf transgender cartoon that sparked a shitstorm. But there was so much filth we couldn’t cram it into one article. From data breaches to animal cruelty, product recalls to greenwashing, Costa’s rap sheet just keeps growing. This isn’t your cosy coffee tale – it’s the raw, unfiltered truth, served black. And trust me, it’s uglier than a burnt espresso.

Data Breaches: Your Info, Their Mess

Costa’s been playing fast and loose with your data for years. Back in 2015, their Coffee Club loyalty program got hacked, leaking customer contact details like a busted pipe. No financial data, they claimed, but that’s cold comfort when your inbox is drowning in spam. Then, in 2018, their recruitment system, PageUp, was breached, exposing job applicants’ names and addresses. Whitbread, Costa’s parent company at the time, shrugged it off, but for those affected, it was a privacy shitshow. And just last year, Shanghai authorities slammed Costa for illegally collecting consumer data, demanding they “rectify” their shady practices. It’s like they can’t keep their digital house in order – or maybe they just don’t give a toss.

Animal Cruelty: Milk with a Side of Misery

Ever wonder where your latte’s milk comes from? In 2022, BBC Panorama caught workers at a Welsh dairy farm supplying Costa kicking and punching cows, twisting their tails, and smacking them with metal shovels. Some were left to die overnight, no vet in sight. Grim as hell. Then, in 2023, animal rights group Viva! uncovered more abuse at another farm feeding Costa’s supply chain – filthy conditions, neglect, the lot. Costa bangs on about ethical sourcing, but these exposés rip that lie wide open. It’s enough to make your stomach churn – and not just from the caffeine.

Product Recalls: Stones in Your Sandwich?

Costa’s quality control is a bloody joke. In 2023, they had to recall sandwiches and wraps because they might contain small stones. Yeah, actual rocks in your food. Fancy a chipped tooth with your lunch? And that’s not all – there were recalls for undeclared allergens in their Jammy Rudolph Shortcakes in 2020 and a chicken salad sandwich in 2022. It’s like playing Russian roulette with your sarnie. Costa scrambles to pull products when the shit hits the fan, but these cock-ups keep happening. Makes you wonder what else is lurking in their kitchens.

Greenwashing: Cups of Lies

Costa loves to flaunt their “recyclable” cups, but it’s all bollocks. Most of those cups end up in landfills because the UK’s recycling setup can’t handle them. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tore into them for it, and he’s spot on. In 2016, he blasted Costa for claiming their cups were recyclable when only a pitiful fraction actually are. Despite in-store recycling bins and grand promises, the truth is bleak. It’s greenwashing at its slickest – making you feel good while the planet drowns in plastic-lined paper. Next time you sip from that “eco-friendly” cup, know it’s likely headed straight to the dump.

Worker Exploitation: Same Shit, Different Franchise

The 2019 franchise scandal deserves a deeper cut. Workers at 29 stores run by Goldex Essex Investments Ltd and Bristal Investments Ltd alleged they were denied sick pay, forced to work overtime, and had their tips pinched by management. One ex-employee got £1,000 docked from their holiday pay. Another, Daniel Gyori, dragged them to court and won his withheld wages. “We were not treated like human beings,” he said. Costa kicked off an independent audit, but the damage was done. It’s the same tired story: big corporation, little guy gets fucked. And while Costa might’ve distanced themselves, the stink lingers.

The Bottom Line

So, what’s the verdict? Costa’s got a laundry list of fuck-ups: data breaches, animal cruelty, product recalls, greenwashing, and worker exploitation. It’s not just one bad apple – it’s a rotting core. Look, I get it. Their coffee’s decent, and those loyalty points are tempting. But at what cost? Dead cows, dodgy data practices, and a mountain of unrecycled cups? Next time you’re queuing for that flat white, ask yourself if it’s worth propping up this mess. Because, like we said before, behind that comforting brew, there’s a whole lot of ugly.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Sources:

Ce-UnPac’d : Costa Coffee 2 – Reheated