Response from Costa Coffee & More About the Primate Pet Trade

Further to my post on 29th October regarding the latest advert from Costa Coffee, I have received a response from the Marketing Director Jim Slater...

"Thank you for your email.

 

I want to assure you that we are concerned about animal welfare and insist that no compromise is made regarding animal welfare standards. 

 

By way of background, the idea for our advert focuses on the comparatively well known "infinite monkey theorem", which contends that because monkeys are highly intelligent, if you give a roomful of monkeys a typewriter each, they will eventually produce the entire works of Shakespeare. This is why monkeys are central to the film.

 

Although our advert looks like there were many monkeys in a room at the same time, in fact only a small number of monkeys were filmed - and never at the same time. The monkeys were filmed sensitively and individually and a veterinary surgeon was present on the set at all times. To be very clear, no monkeys were harmed during the filming of our advert. Special effects were used in the post-production process to create the impression of lots of monkeys together in one place. 

 

The monkeys were provided by a specialist organisation called Amazing Animals and have appeared in movies and on TV many times before, so are used to being around people. They were accompanied at all times by their own highly experienced and loving handlers, and left to do what came naturally to them. 

 

For your further assurance, I attach a copy of the letter from J Stephen Ware, BVM&S MRCVS the on-set supervisory veterinary surgeon.  Stephen Ware states he is happy with the way the animals were treated during the creation of the advert. 

 

I hope that this information goes some way to assure you of our high standards.

Yours sincerely
Jim Slater
Marketing Director"

Mr Slater enclosed a letter from Stephen Ware as mentioned but I am unable to insert a copy to this post at the moment, it basically agreed with what was written above.  This response has reassured me that the animals used were well looked after but the fact still remains that it using animals in this manner is simply encouraging people to see them as figures of fun and even as pets, instead of wild animals.  I am going to write back and tell Mr Slater this as it seems they have no intention of withdrawing the advert and this means no more Costa Coffee for me...

I have found out about a campaign currently run by Wild Futures asking for support in banning the UK Primate Pet Trade, read about it here and please take a minute to sign their petition here and consider writing to your MP with the template letter provided.

Action Alert ~ Costa Coffee Adverts.

I've received an Action Alert from The Captive Animal's Protection Society (CAPS) with news about Costa Coffee using monkeys in its first televised advertising campaign and have explained "Using primates in such a way has a negative impact on conservation messages as well as risking the welfare of the animals used."  CAPS, along with, Wild Futures, International Primate Protection League, BUAV and Born Free have sent a joint letter to Costa Coffee asking them to cancel further screenings of the advert. 

There is also an article on this in The Observer which points out the although Costa are certified by the Rainforest Alliance their relationship is under strain after questions arose regarding whether Costa was in breach of the Rainforest Alliance's code of conduct which states that certified partners must respect wildlife.  

How You Can Help:

1.  Read the article from The Observer.

2.  Sign the petition

3.  Write a polite e-mail of complaint to Costa Coffee at this address customer.relations@whitbread.com

4.  Write a polite e-mail of complaint to The Advertising Agency

5.  Ask The Rainforest Alliance to take action by sending a polite e-mail here info@ra.org

6.  Tell your friends!

(When I have written my complaints I will add them in to give you some inspiration)

E-mail to Costa Coffee

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing regarding your television advertisement entitled “Monkeys and Typewriters”.  As a long time customer of Costa Coffee I was greatly disappointed that you have chosen to use captive primates to sell your products.  I am shocked that as a company certified by the Rainforest Alliance you risked rebelling against their Code of Conduct in order to produce and air the commercial.

Using captive primates in this way has a very negative impact on conservation messages and also puts the welfare of the primates used at risk.

I would like to inform you that I will no longer be a customer at Costa Coffee whilst this advert is broadcast and whilst your attitude to captive animals is as such.  I will be spreading the word and asking my friends and family to avoid Costa Coffee for the same reason.

Yours faithfully...

Please feel free to use this as a guide and add anything you feel appropriate.  More e-mail suggestions to follow.