Caribou Coffee DEF 14A Definitive proxy

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

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o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429

April 30, 2008

Dear Shareholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Caribou Coffee Company Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at 10 a.m. (Central Time). The meeting will be held at the Hotel Ivy, 201 South Eleventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The matters to be acted upon are described in the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting and proxy statement. At the meeting, we will also report on Caribou Coffee Company’s operations and respond to any questions you may have.

Very truly yours,

Rosalyn Mallet

Chief Executive Officer

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we urge you to vote your proxy by telephone, the Internet or by mail in order to ensure the presence of a quorum. If you attend the meeting, you can revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from them to vote your shares.

CARIBOU COFFEE COMPANY
3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be held
August 6, 2008

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (“we” “us” “Caribou” or the “Company”) will be held at the Hotel Ivy, 201 South Eleventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at 10 a.m. (Central Time) for the following purposes:

1. To elect seven directors to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2008.

3. To consider any other business to properly come before the meeting.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2008 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

Our proxy statement is attached to this notice of Annual Meeting of shareholders. Financial and other information concerning us is contained in the Caribou Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Dan E. Lee

Secretary

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

April 30, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS		1
ABOUT THE MEETING		1
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS		3
Nominees for Directors		4
Recommendation of the Board of Directors		5
Affirmative Determinations Regarding Director Independence and Other Matters		5
Board Committees		5
Board and Committee Meetings		5
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee		6
Responsibilities and Duties of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee		6
Corporate Governance Materials		6
Compensation of Directors		7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION		8
Executive Compensation Policies		8
Base Salary		8
Performance-Based Cash Bonus (Non-equity incentive plan)		8
Long-Term Incentive Compensation		9
Equity Grant Policies		9
Other Benefits		9
Summary Compensation Table		10
Employment, Severance andChange-in-Control Arrangements		11
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End		13
Potential Payment Upon Termination and Change in Control		13
Definition of a Change in Control		14
Equity Compensation Plan Information		14
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock		15
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions		16
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance		16
Audit Committee Report		16
PROPOSAL NO. 2 — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM		17
Recommendation of the Board of Directors		17
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees		18
OTHER BUSINESS		18
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS		18
Shareholder Communications with our Board of Directors		19
Householding		19
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS ANDFORM 10-K		20

CARIBOU COFFEE COMPANY
3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429

PROXY STATEMENT
for the
2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

This proxy statement is furnished by and on behalf of the board of directors of Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” “Caribou” or the “Company”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10 a.m. (Central Time) on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at the Hotel Ivy, 201 South Eleventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card will be first mailed on or about July 1, 2008, to our shareholders of record on June 16, 2008.

We will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this proxy statement and the proxies we are soliciting. Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited by directors, officers and other Caribou employees, without additional remuneration, in person or by telephone or facsimile transmission. We will also request brokerage firms, banks, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of common stock as of the record date and will reimburse such persons for the cost of forwarding the proxy materials in accordance with customary practice. Your cooperation in promptly voting your shares and submitting your proxy by telephone, the Internet or by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card will help to avoid additional expense. Proxies and ballots will be received and tabulated by Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, the Company’s transfer agent and the inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting.

ABOUT THE MEETING

What am I voting on?

You will be voting on the following: (1) to elect seven directors, (2) to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, and (3) to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. No cumulative rights are authorized, and dissenter’s rights are not applicable to the matters being voted upon.

Who is entitled to vote?

You may vote if you owned our common stock as of the close of business on June 16, 2008, the record date. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. As of April 21, 2008, we had 19,370,590 shares of common stock outstanding.

How do I vote if I do not plan to attend the meeting?

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you can arrange for your shares to be voted at the meeting. There are three ways to vote your Proxy:

1. VOTE BY PHONE — TOLL FREE —1-800-560-1965

2. VOTE BY INTERNET —http://www.eproxy.com/cbou/

3. VOTE BY MAIL — Mark, sign and return the enclosed proxy card.

If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or another nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares.

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Can I vote at the meeting?

You may vote your shares at the meeting if you attend in person and the shares are registered in your name. If your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or another nominee, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a signed proxy from your broker, bank or another nominee. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares by completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting by phone or the Internet.

Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card or vote via phone or the Internet?

If you are a shareholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the meeting. You may do this by (i) executing and delivering a later dated proxy card to the Secretary of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting, (ii) delivering written notice of revocation of the proxy to the Secretary of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting, or (iii) attending and voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute a revocation of a proxy. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other nominee.

If you voted by internet or by phone you may change your vote at any time up until 24 hours prior to the Annual Meeting by resubmitting a new internet or phone vote. Your last Internet or phone vote will be the one, which is used for voting purposes.

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

It means that you have multiple accounts with brokers, banks or other nominees. Please vote all of these shares. We recommend that you contact the record holder of your shares to consolidate as many accounts as possible under the same name and address.

How can I attend the meeting?

The Annual Meeting is open to all holders of our common stock as of the record date. To attend the meeting, you will need to bring evidence of your stock ownership. If your shares are registered in your name, your admission card is included with this proxy statement. You will need to bring the admission card together with valid picture identification. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or another nominee or you received your proxy materials electronically, you will need to bring evidence of your stock ownership, such as your most recent brokerage account statement, and valid picture identification.

May shareholders ask questions at the meeting?

Yes. Representatives of the Company will answer shareholders’ questions of general interest at the end of the meeting. In order to give a greater number of shareholders an opportunity to ask questions, individuals or groups will be allowed to ask only one question and no repetitive orfollow-up questions will be permitted.

How many votes must be present to hold the meeting?

Your shares are counted as present at the meeting if you attend the meeting in person, if you properly return the enclosed proxy card or if you grant a proxy to vote via the Internet or Phone. In order for us to conduct our meeting, a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock as of June 16, 2008, must be present in person or by proxy at the meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Abstentions will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum at the meeting.

How many votes are needed to elect directors?

The seven nominees that receive the greatest number of votes “For” will be elected as directors. This is called a plurality. Abstentions are neither counted for or against in a plurality.

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How many votes are needed to ratify the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm?

The ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm must receive a “For” vote from a majority of the voting power of the shares present and entitled to vote on the election of directors at a meeting which a quorum is present. If you abstain from the vote, it will have the same effect as a vote against.

What if I sign and return my proxy card but do not provide voting instructions or vote by phone or the Internet?

If the enclosed proxy card is signed and returned (and not revoked) prior to the Annual Meeting, but does not provide voting instructions, the shares of common stock represented thereby will be voted: (1) “For” the election of the seven director candidates nominated by the Board of Directors; (2) “For” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2008 (“fiscal 2008”); and (3) in accordance with the best judgment of the named proxies on any other matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

Will my shares be voted if I do not sign and return my proxy card?

If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee and you do not provide voting instructions, under certain circumstances the nominee may vote your shares on your behalf. Brokerage firms have authority to vote shares for which their customers do not provide voting instructions on certain “routine” matters. The election of directors and the ratification of an accounting firm are routine matters.

If you do not provide voting instructions to your brokerage firm, the brokerage firm may either: (1) vote your shares on routine matters, or (2) leave your shares unvoted. We encourage you to provide instructions to your brokerage firm by signing and returning your proxy or by using the Internet or Phone voting options. This ensures your shares will be voted at the meeting.

When a brokerage firm votes its customers’ unvoted shares on routine matters, these shares are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum to conduct business at the meeting and determining the outcome of the vote on routine matters.

Can my shares be voted on matters other than those described in this proxy statement?

Yes. We have not received proper notice of, and are not aware of, any business to be transacted at the meeting other than as indicated in this proxy statement. If any other item or proposal properly comes before the meeting, the proxies received will be voted on those matters in accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders.

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the number of directors to constitute the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. The number of directors that constitute the Board is currently set at eight.

Nominees for director are elected to serve for a term of one year and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. Each director shall hold office until the next regular meeting of the shareholders after such director’s election and until a successor is elected and has qualified, or until the earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification of the director.

The terms of the current eight directors, Messrs. Caffey, Coles, Doolin, Graves, Griffith, Neal and Ogburn and Ms. Palisi Chapin, expire upon the election and qualification of the directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated Messrs. Caffey, Coles, Doolin, Graves, Griffith, and Ogburn and Ms. Palisi Chapin for reelection to the Board of Directors as directors at the Annual Meeting, to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Neal has made the decision to not stand for re-election at

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the end of his current term. Effective August 6, 2008, the Board seat occupied by Mr. Neal will be vacant.

Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the proxy intend to vote all proxies “For” the election of Messrs. Caffey, Coles, Doolin, Graves, Griffith, and Ogburn and Ms. Palisi Chapin to the Board of Directors. The nominees have consented to serve as directors if elected. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of the nominees is unable or declines to serve as a director, the discretionary authority provided in the enclosed proxy will be exercised to vote for a substitute candidate designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe any of the nominees will be unable or will decline to serve as a director.

Set forth below is certain information furnished to us by the director nominees. The ages provided for each nominee are as of March 30, 2008. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Nominees for Directors

Kip R. Caffey, age 52, has served as a director since October 2005. Mr. Caffey has been Managing Director of Cary Street Partners, LLC, an investment banking and wealth management firm, since July 2004. From July 1999 to March 2004, Mr. Caffey was employed by SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and its predecessor firm, The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc., where he was Senior Managing Director andco-head of Investment Banking.

Michael J. Coles, age 64, has served as a director since June 2003. He previously served as our Chief Executive Officer from June 2003 until November 2007 and as the Chairman of our Board from July 2005 to November 2007. From June 2003 until March 2007, Mr. Coles served as our President. From 1987 until 2003, Mr. Coles served on the board of Charter Bank & Trust, of which he was a founder, and from 1998 to 2001, Mr. Coles was chairman of the board. From 1999 through 2003, Mr. Coles was a consultant and private investor providing strategic and management advice to a number of private companies and served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations.

Wallace B. Doolin, age 61, has served as a director since October 2005. Mr. Doolin has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Buca, Inc., an owner and operator of full service restaurants, since November 2004. Mr. Doolin is also the former Chief Executive Officer and President of Buca, Inc. From May 2002 to October 2004, Mr. Doolin was Chief Executive Officer and President of La Madeleine de Corps, Inc., a French restaurant and bakery company.

Gary A. Graves,age 48, has served as our Non-Executive Chairman since November 2007 and as a director since August 2007. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of American Laser Centers, Inc. From August 2002 to January 2007, Mr. Graves served as President and Chief Executive Officer for La Petite Academy, a preschool educational facility.

Charles L. Griffith, age 53, has served as a director since July 2005. Mr. Griffith has been an Executive Director of Arcapita Bank B.S.C. (c) since February 2005. From 2003 until 2004, he served as Group President for Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company that manufactures insulation and building products. From 2002 until 2003, Mr. Griffith served as Executive Vice President of Electronic Data Systems Corporation, a global technology services company.

Charles H. Ogburn, age 52, has served as a director since January 2003. Mr. Ogburn has been an Executive Director of Arcapita Bank B.S.C. (c) since March 2001. Prior to joining Arcapita, Mr. Ogburn spent more than 15 years at the investment banking firm of The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc., most recently as Senior Managing Director and co-head of Investment Banking.

Sarah Palisi Chapin, age 46, has served as a director since August 2007. Since 2004, Ms. Palisi Chapin has been a founding partner in The Chain Gang, a private equity restaurant investment practice. From 1995 to 2003, Ms. Palisi Chapin was Chief Executive Officer of Enersyst Development Center, a research and development, intellectual property, food and technology incubator, and from 2002 to 2003 Ms. Palisi Chapin served as Chair. She currently serves on the board of directors of Sandstone, IRM and PrimeSource Foodservice Equipment.

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SEVEN NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Affirmative Determinations Regarding Director Independence and Other Matters

The Board has determined that Kip R. Caffey, Wallace B. Doolin, Gary A. Graves, and Sarah Palisi Chapin are “independent directors” as defined under NASDAQ rules.

In this proxy statement the directors who have been affirmatively determined by the Board to be “independent directors” under this rule are referred to individually as an “Independent Director” and collectively as the “Independent Directors.”

The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the three committees of the Board meets the independence requirements applicable to those committees prescribed by Nasdaq and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Board of Directors has further determined that Mr. Caffey is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined by SEC rules.

Board Committees

During fiscal 2007, the Board of Directors had three standing committees: the Compensation Committee, the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Committee and committee chair assignments are made annually by the Board at its meeting immediately following the Annual Meeting of shareholders. The current composition of each Board committee is as follows.

		Nominating and Corporate
Audit	Compensation	Governance
Kip R. Caffey (Chair)	Sarah Palisi Chapin (Chair)	Wallace B. Doolin (Chair)
Gary A. Graves	Wallace B. Doolin	Sarah Palisi Chapin
Wallace B. Doolin	Kip R. Caffey	Gary A. Graves
Jeffrey C. Neal

The Board committee assignments are not expected to change following the Annual Meeting other than that Mr. Neal will no longer serve on the Board or the Audit Committee. Mr. Neal has chosen not to stand for re-election at the Annual Shareholders Meeting, but will complete his current term, which ends on August 6, 2008.

Board and Committee Meetings

During fiscal 2007, the Board of Directors held four meetings, the Audit Committee held seven meetings, the Compensation Committee held three meetings and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held two meetings. Each director attended at least 75% or more of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the meetings of each committee on which the director served during fiscal 2007. We have not adopted a formal policy regarding Board members’ attendance at the Annual Meetings; however, all Board members attended the 2007 Annual Meeting.

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NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

The Responsibilities and Duties of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to:

A. identification of individuals qualified to become Board members and recommendation of director nominees to the Board prior to each Annual Meeting of shareholders;

B. recommendation of nominees for committees of the Board; and

C. matters concerning corporate governance practices.

To carry out its nominating function, the Committee has the following responsibilities and duties:

1. Retain, as deemed necessary, and terminate any search firm to be used to identify director candidates. The Committee has sole authority to select such search firm and approve its fees and other retention terms.

2. Determine desired board skills and attributes. The Committee shall consider personal and professional integrity, ability and judgment and such other factors deemed appropriate.

3. Actively seek individuals whose skills and attributes reflect those desired and evaluate and propose nominees for election to the Board.

4. Review the slate of directors who are to be re-nominated to determine whether they are meeting the Board’s expectations of them.

5. Make recommendations to the full Board for appointments to fill vacancies of any unexpired term on the Board.

6. Annually recommend to the Board nominees for submission to shareholders for approval at the time of the Annual Meeting of shareholders.

7. Annually review committee chairs and membership and recommend any changes to the full Board.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not adopted a specific policy regarding the consideration of shareholder director nominees, but its general policy is to welcome future nominees recommended by shareholders. Shareholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to our board of directors may do so by submitting a written recommendation to Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., 3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429, Attention: Secretary. Submissions must include sufficient biographical information concerning the recommended individual, including age, five year employment history with employer names and a description of the employer’s business, whether such individual can read and understand basic financial statements and board memberships (if any) for the Committee to consider. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates nominees based on whether or not the nominee was recommended by a shareholder.

Corporate Governance Materials

The following materials related to our corporate governance are available publicly on our web site atwww.cariboucoffee.com/aboutus/investorrelations.asp under Corporate Governance.

•  Audit Committee Charter

•  Compensation Committee Charter

•  Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter

•  Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

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Copies may also be obtained, free of charge, by writing to: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Caribou Coffee Company, 3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, 55429. Please specify which documents you would like to receive.

Compensation of Directors

Our directors who also are our employees or are affiliated with our largest shareholder; an affiliate of Arcapita Bank B.S.C. (c), receive no compensation for serving on the Board of Directors. We historically have provided our independent directors $15,000 per member in cash consideration annually for serving on our Board of Directors, an additional $5,000 per member for serving on any committee of our Board of Directors and an additional $2,000 per Board meeting attended in person or by telephone. On March 27, 2007, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the compensation received by our independent board members. Effective March 30, 2007, each independent will receive $30,000 in cash consideration annually for serving on our Board of Directors and an additional $5,000 per member for serving on any committee of our Board of Directors, except for the chairman of the audit committee who will receive $7,500 annually. In addition, under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, each independent director will receive an initial option grant to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock that will vest in four equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant with a per share exercise price equal to the closing market price on the date of grant. On March 30, 2007, we granted Messrs. Caffey, Doolin and Neal options to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock with a per share exercise price equal to the closing market price on the date of grant. We have agreed to reimburse all of our directors for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their duties as directors.

The table below sets forth, for each independent director that served during fiscal 2007, the amount of compensation paid for his or her service.

	Fees
	Earned
	or Paid		Option
	in Cash		Awards		Total
Name	($)(1)		($)(2)(4)		($)
Kip R. Caffey		42,250		18,180		60,430
Sarah Palisi Chapin		12,115		1,476		13,591
Wallace B. Doolin		42,250		18,180		60,430
Gary A. Graves		12,115		1,476		13,591
Jeffrey C. Neal		42,125		18,180		60,305
Rosalyn Mallet(3)		16,000		—		16,000

(1)	Mr. Caffey, Mr. Doolin, Ms. Mallet and Mr. Neal received $9,000 each in 2007 for 2006 board service. Ms. Palisi Chapin and Mr. Graves were appointed to our board of directors on August 27, 2007. Ms. Mallet resigned from our Board on March 5, 2007.
(2)	At the end of fiscal 2007, the aggregate number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding option awards to directors was: Mr. Caffey — 15,000; Ms. Palisi Chapin — 10,000; Mr. Doolin — 15,000; Mr. Graves — 10,000; Mr. Neal — 15,000.
(3)	Represents compensation received by Ms. Mallet as a director through the date of her resignation from our Board on March 5, 2007.
(4)	The amount shown represents the expensed fair value of options determined under SFAS 123(R) and not the compensation realized by the director. The Black-Scholes option pricing model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount is included in Note 9 to our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007, included in our annual report onForm 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2008.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee is responsible for all decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for the oversight of our stock option plan.

The following discussion summarizes the philosophies and methods the Compensation Committee uses in establishing and administering our executive compensation and incentive programs, including the development of compensation programs designed to provide executive officers with ownership interests in Caribou and motivation to build shareholder value.

Executive Compensation Policies

Our executive compensation policies are designed to attract and retain qualified executives, to reward individual achievement and to align the financial interests of our executives with those of our shareholders. To accomplish these objectives, the executive compensation program generally is comprised of (1) base salary, (2) an annual performance-based cash bonus, (3) long-term incentive compensation, consisting of fair market value stock options (fair market value is defined as the closing market price for our stock on the date of grant), and (4) other benefits that are intended to provide competitive compensation which includes 401(k) savings, medical and dental insurance, life insurance and short-term and long-term disability. These four elements generally comprise our executive officer’s total compensation.

In addition, in connection with the initial employment arrangements with the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer our Compensation Committee approves any signing bonus and equity grants.

Decisions regarding the level of base salary, performance-based cash bonus and stock options for our executive officers are primarily based upon (1) individual experience and technical capability needed to administer and execute the responsibilities of the position (2) competitive practices for executive talent in our industry and for our size company, and (3) our operating performance.

Base Salary

Base salary is designed to compensate the executive for the individual experience and technical capability needed to administer and execute the responsibilities of their respective position. Given our growth objectives, consideration is given to not only the experience and technical capability needed today but also those experiences and technical capabilities needed to execute the responsibilities of the executive officer’s position in a larger company.

Base salaries for the executive officers are reviewed annually. In evaluating whether an adjustment to an executive’s base salary is appropriate, factors such as changes in the scope of the individual’s job responsibilities, his or her individual performance against stated objectives and our overall performance over the past year are considered. These evaluations along with proposed salary adjustments for all executive officers, except our Chief Executive Officer, are forwarded by our Chief Executive Officer to the Compensation Committee for review and approval. Our Chief Executive Officer’s annual base salary review is conducted by the Compensation Committee and considers the same factors described above for our other executive officers. Our Compensation Committee will review the evaluations and proposed salary adjustments and apply their experience, judgment, market data and practices and periodic benchmarking data from third party executive compensation consultants in determining the appropriateness of the adjustments.

Performance-Based Cash Bonus (non-equity incentive plan)

The purpose of our performance-based cash bonus plan is to unite the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders through the attainment of shareholder value added objective approved by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of each year.

The performance-based cash bonus plan approved by our Compensation Committee provides our named executive officers, excluding our Vice President of Global Franchising, an opportunity to earn a cash bonus ranging from 20% to 100% of base salary, upon the achievement of performance goals set by the Compensation Committee set the performance goal a specific Adjusted EBITDA target. Adjusted EBITDA is defined in Item 6, Selected Financial Data, in our annual report onForm 10-K filed on March 21, 2008. The plan requires a minimum

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Adjusted EBITDA be achieved before any bonus is paid. If the actual fiscal year Adjusted EBITDA is greater than the minimum Adjusted EBITDA but less than the target Adjusted EBTIDA, the plan allows for a portion of the bonuses to be paid. No bonus will be paid if we do not achieve the minimum Adjusted EBITDA. The plan also allows for an upside if we achieve an Adjusted EBITDA greater than the target Adjusted EBITDA.

Our Vice President of Global Franchising is eligible to receive a performance-based cash bonus designed to motivate and reinforce the commitment to growing our global franchising business. This position is eligible for a bonus equal to 10% of initial franchise fees actually received up to a maximum of 50% of base salary. Generally, the franchisee’s coffeehouse must be opened before the bonus is paid.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

Our long-term incentive compensation, which is comprised of stock option grants, is intended to provide a means of encouraging an ownership interest in our company by those employees who have contributed, or are determined to be in a position to contribute to our success. Because the value of stock option grants bear a direct relationship to the price of our shares, the Compensation Committee believes that stock option grants are a means of encouraging our executive officers to increase long-term shareholder value.

Equity Grant Policies

The Compensation Committee has been given oversight responsibility for our stock option plan by our Board of Directors. The general terms of our stock option grants have been pre-established by the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (our stock option plan), including the life of the options (10 years) and the vesting schedule (25% per year from the date of grant). The Compensation Committee is therefore primarily concerned with the number of options granted, whom the options are granted to and the date of grant. The exercise price for all stock option grants is the closing market price on the date of grant. We do not back-date or re-price stock options.

We typically grant options two times per year. The Compensation Committee has pre-established the last Friday in February and the first Friday in September as our semi-annual dates of stock option grants. In establishing these semi-annual stock option grant dates, the Compensation Committee considered the timing of our routine information releases. If facts and circumstances indicate that a pre-established stock option grant date is not appropriate because of a pending release of non-routine material information or other reason, the Compensation Committee maintains the authority to change the stock option grant date to a more appropriate date.

The Compensation Committee also maintains the authority to approve a stock option grant on a date other than the pre-established dates of grant. This exception is typically used to grant stock options to a new executive officer or other key position upon hire. The number of stock options granted to a specific position is determined by a pre-defined stock option grant schedule by position. It has been our practice to not only grant stock options to our executive officers but also to other non-executive officer managers including our coffeehouse managers. A stock option grant schedule has been established for all the positions, which typically are granted stock options. The stock option grant schedule provides for more stock options to be granted to those positions which have been determined to contribute more to our success. For most of our executive officers, the stock option grant schedule requires that 25,000 options to be granted upon hire followed by a 5,000 stock option grant each year thereafter until the executive officer has been granted 50,000 options. The Compensation Committee may in its discretion, alter this grant schedule both in terms of timing and in terms of the total number of stock options granted.

Other Benefits

Our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, may participate in our other employee benefit plans at their discretion. These other benefit plans include our 401(k) savings plan, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability. Our executive officers may participate in these other benefit plans on the same terms, conditions and cost that all of our other benefit eligible employees (benefit eligibility is defined by each individual benefit participant. We do not provide any pension plans or deferred compensation plans to our executive officers other than our 401(k) savings plan. We make a matching contribution to all of our 401(k) savings plan participants equal to 25% of the first 5% of a participant’s contribution. We do not provide any other perquisites to our executive officers.

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Summary Compensation Table for 2007

The following table sets forth compensations information for our named executive officers for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2006:

					Option					Non-Equity			All Other
			Salary		Awards					Incentive Plan			Compensation		Total
Name and Principal Position	Year		($)(1)		($)(2)		Bonus ($)			Compensation ($)			($)(8)		($)
Rosalyn Mallet		2007		281,882		142,741		25,000	(3)		—			398		450,021
Interim Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer
Michael J. Coles(7)		2007		481,500		45,236					—			1,356,305		1,883,041
Former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board		2006		475,442		40,285					—			2,772		518,499
Amy K. O’Neil		2007		258,320		71,625		58,122	(4)		—			3,459		391,526
Senior Vice President of Store Operations		2006		256,863		24,167					—			2,829		283,859
Christopher B. Rich		2007		261,645		60,195					50,350	(5)		1,893		374,083
Vice President of Global Franchising		2006		250,000		80,500					60,875	(6)		43,837		435,212

(1)	Represent base salary paid during the year.
(2)	Represents the expensed fair value of options determined under SFAS 123(R) and not compensation realized by the named executive officer. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 9 to our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007, included in our annual report onForm 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2008.
(3)	Represents a signing bonus paid pursuant to Ms. Mallet’s employment offer letter.
(4)	Represents discretionary bonus amount awarded to Ms. O’Neil for 2007 performance. The amount was paid in 2008.
(5)	Represents amount awarded to Mr. Rich under the Vice President of Global Franchising Bonus Plan, $34,850 was earned and paid in 2007 and $15,500 was earned in 2007 and paid in 2008.
(6)	Represents amount awarded to Mr. Rich under the Vice President of Global Franchising Bonus Plan, $18,000 was earned and paid in 2006 and $42,875 was earned in 2006 and paid in 2007.
(7)	Mr. Coles’ employment with Caribou ended on January 11, 2008. In November 2007, the Board of Directors modified the vesting schedule to immediately vest all of Mr. Coles’ unvested options.
(8)	All Other Compensation consists of the items detailed in the table below:

			Matching		Life		Medical		Termination		Relocation			Total All Other
			Contributions		Insurance		Benefits		Benefits		Awards			Compensation
Name	Year		401(k) ($)		($)		($)		($)(1)		($)			($)
Rosalyn Mallet		2007		—		398		—		—		—			398
Michael J. Coles		2007		1,325		1,980		—		1,353,000		—			1,356,305
		2006		792		1,980		—		—		—			2,772
Amy K. O’Neil		2007		1,325		225		1,909		—		—			3,459
		2006		792		222		1,815		—		—			2,829
Christopher B. Rich		2007		1,325		568		—		—		—			1,893
		2006		982		552		—		—		42,303	(2)		43,837

(1)	Represents termination benefits payable pursuant to Mr. Coles’ employment agreement.
(2)	Represents amounts paid to Mr. Rich for relocation benefits of $20,833, which was paid in 2006, and $21,470 which was paid in 2007.

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Employment, Severance andChange-in-Control Arrangements

Employment Arrangements

Roslyn Mallet

On April 2, 2007, we offered employment to Rosalyn Mallet to be our President and Chief Operating Officer. Pursuant to the employment offer letter, Ms. Mallet shall receive annual base salary of $360,000 and she is eligible to earn a target annual bonus of up to 50% of her base salary. Ms. Mallet was paid a $25,000 signing bonus.

Upon the start of employment, Ms. Mallet received a grant of options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock at $7.30 per share that will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of her employment and will expire on April 2, 2016. Upon a change of control event, all of the stock option grants that were not otherwise exercisable will be accelerated.

In the event of the termination of Ms. Mallet’s employment during the first 36 months of employment for any reason other than “cause” she is entitled to a severance payment equal to 12 months of salary at the most recent rate of pay.

Ms. Mallet has entered into an Employee, Non-Disclosure, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreement that applies during the term of her employment and for a12-month period thereafter. We have also agreed to make available to Ms. Mallet our employee benefit plans, programs and policies, which are generally available to employees.

Amy K. O’Neil

We entered into an employment agreement, effective as of July 1, 2005, with Amy K. O’Neil to serve as our Senior Vice President of Store Operations. The employment agreement for Ms. O’Neil provides for an annual base salary of $250,000 and the grant of options to purchase 133,333 shares of our common stock at $9.87 per share that will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of her employment agreement and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date. The employment agreement provides that, if Ms. O’Neil is terminated by us without “cause” or by Ms. O’Neil for “good reason” (each as defined in the employment agreement), Ms. O’Neil will be entitled to all base salary and bonus, if any, which were earned and payable on the date of termination. If upon such a termination Ms. O’Neil executes a general release of claims, Ms. O’Neil will be entitled to 18 consecutive monthly payments which, in the aggregate, will be equal to one and one-half times:

•  Ms. O’Neil’s annual base salary then in effect; and

•  the most recent annual bonus paid to Ms. O’Neil.

However, if Ms. O’Neil is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) at the time Ms. O’Neil has a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code), we will not make any of the above payments before the date that is six months after the date of Ms. O’Neil’s termination.

The employment agreement has an initial term of two years, and each year thereafter, the agreement automatically extends for an additional year unless either party to the agreement notifies the other that it wishes to terminate the agreement at least 90 days before the scheduled expiration of the agreement.

The employment agreement provides for eligibility for target annual bonuses to be determined by our compensation committee, which will be equal to 50% of the then applicable average annual base salary. Also, under the employment agreement, we have agreed to make available to Ms. O’Neil our employee benefit plans, programs and policies, which are generally available to our similarly situated senior executives.

Under the agreement, we have agreed to make an additional taxgross-up payment to Ms. O’Neil if any amounts paid or payable to the executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed on certain so-called “excess parachute payments” under Section 4999 of the Code. However, if a repayment of the payments and

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benefits by the executive to us of $50,000 or less would render the excise tax inapplicable, then the executive will make such repayment to us.

If Ms. O’Neil’s employment terminates as a result of her death or disability, our only obligation is to pay Ms. O’Neil or, in the case of Ms. O’Neil’s death, Ms. O’Neil’s estate, the annual base salary and target annual bonus, if any, which were earned and payable on the date Ms. O’Neil’s employment terminated.

The employment agreement also contains non-compete, confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions that apply during the term of the employment agreement and for an18-month period thereafter.

Michael J. Coles

In connection with Mr. Coles’ resignation from the Company on November 12, 2007, we entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) that modifies Mr. Coles’ amended and restated employment agreement with us, dated June 29, 2005 (the “Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Letter Agreement for a period of 60 days, Mr. Coles remained an employee. Under the Letter Agreement, we continued to pay Mr. Coles his current base salary for the 60 day period, and, upon completion of such period, we provided Mr. Coles with (1) any accrued obligations and other benefits provided for in the Employment Agreement, (2) an amendment immediately vesting all of his outstanding options and allowing him to exercise such options for a period of 90 days after he ceases to be a director or until the end of the original option term, whichever occurs earlier and (3) reimbursement for reasonable moving costs, not to exceed $25,000, and reasonable attorneys’ fees, not to exceed $10,000. If Mr. Coles enters into a general release and covenant not to sue us, we will also provide him with (1) a lump sum payment of $963,000 (two times his last salary) plus $390,000 (two times average annual bonus) made six months plus one day following the 60 day employment period and (2) payment for continued group health insurance coverage for Mr. Coles and his dependents for up to 24 months. Mr. Coles will remain subject to the obligations in the Employment Agreement relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidential information and proprietary information.

Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, for so long as Mr. Coles remains one of our directors, he will receive the same compensation as other non-employee (and non-Arcapita) directors.

Retirement Benefits

We do not provide any pension plans or deferred compensation plans to our executive officers other than our 401(k) savings plan. We make a matching contribution to all of our 401(k) savings plan participants equal to 25% of the first 5% of a participant’s contribution.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 30, 2007

Upon a “change of control event,” all of the executives’ outstanding equity awards that are not otherwise exercisable will be accelerated.

	Option Awards
	Number of		Number of
	Securities		Securities
	Underlying		Underlying		Option
	Unexercised		Unexercised		Exercise		Option
	Options		Options		Price		Expiration
Name	(#) Exercisable		(#) Unexercisable		($)		Date
Michael J. Coles(1)		666,666		—	$	6.70		1/14/13
		133,333		—		9.87		7/15/15
		9,135		—		8.95		3/17/16
Rosalyn Mallet		2,500		7,500		8.53		5/25/16
		—		200,000		7.54		4/02/17
		—		14,590		6.00		9/07/17
Amy K. O’Neil(3)		33,333		—		5.62		1/2/11
		33,333		—		6.70		9/15/13
		66,667		66,666		9.87		7/15/15
		1,370		4,110		8.95		3/17/16
Christopher B. Rich(4)		12,500		12,500		14.00		10/4/15
		1,563		1,562		11.00		11/14/15
		5,469		16,406		7.70		9/17/16

(1)	In November 2007, the Board of Directors modified the vesting schedule to immediately vest all of Mr. Coles’ unvested options.
(2)	Ms. Mallet unexercisable options become exercisable as follows: 50,000 options on April 1, 2008, 2,500 options on May 24, 2008, 3,648 options on September 6, 2008, 50,000 options on April 1, 2009, 2,500 options on May 24, 2009, 3,648 options on September 6, 2009, 50,000 options on April 1, 2010, 2,500 options on May 24, 2010, 3,648 options on September 6, 2010, 50,000 options on April 1, 2011 and 3,648 options on September 6, 2011
(3)	Ms. O’Neil unexercisable options become exercisable as follows: 1,370 options on March 17, 2008, 33,333 options on July 15, 2008, 1,370 options on March 17, 2009, 33,334 options on July 15, 2009 and 1,370 options on March 17, 2010.
(4)	Mr. Rich unexercisable options become exercisable as follows: 5,469 options on September 17, 2008, 6,250 options on October 4, 2008, 781 options on November 14, 2008, 5,469 options on September 17, 2009, 6,250 options on October 4, 2009, 782 options on November 14, 2009 and 5,468 options on September 17, 2010.

Potential Payments Upon Termination and Change in Control

Ms. Mallet’s employment offer letter provides for certain severance payments in the event her employment is terminated without cause. Ms O’Neil has an employment agreement with us that provides for certain severance payments in the event her employment is terminated without cause or with good reason, or due to death or disability.

Pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan all unexercisable stock options will become exercisable upon a change in control.

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Definition of a Change in Control

Under the terms of our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, a change in control is deemed to have occurred as a result of any one of the following events:

•  A person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of our then outstanding securities for the election of directors;

•  Our stockholders approve a dissolution or liquidation of our company or any sale or disposition of 50% or more of our assets or business;

•  Our stockholders approve a merger or consolidation to which we are a party (other than a merger or consolidation with one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries), or a share exchange in which we exchange our shares for shares of another corporation as a result of which the person who were our stockholders immediately before the effective date of the merger, consolidation or share exchange have beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the effective date of the merger, consolidation or share exchange;

•  The individuals who constitute the Board cease for any reason during the period to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election or nomination for election of each new member of the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board then still in office who were members of the Board at the beginning of the period; or

•  There is a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to the proxy rules and regulations.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 30, 2007 regarding shares outstanding and available for issuance under the Company’s existing equity incentive plan.

					(c)
					Number of Securities
					Remaining Available for
	(a)		(b)		Future Issuance Under
	Number of Securities		Weighted-Average		Equity Compensation
	to be Issued Upon		Exercise Price of		Plans (Excluding
	Exercise of		Outstanding		Securities Reflected in
Plan Category	Outstanding Options.		Options.		Column(a))
2005 Equity Incentive Plan approved by security holders		2,570,746	$	7.46		213,017
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders		—	$	—		—
Total		2,570,746	$	7.46		213,017

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK

The following table sets forth information as of April 1, 2008 concerning the beneficial ownership of common stock of (i) 5% beneficial owners of the outstanding common stock, (ii) the directors, (iii) the named executive officers and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, the beneficial owners listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to shares beneficially owned. An asterisk in the percent of class column indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

	Amount and Nature of			Percent of
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner	Beneficial Ownership			Class(1)
Caribou Holding Company Limited		11,672,245	(2)		60.3	%
c/o Arcapita, Inc.
75 Fourteenth Street, 24th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30309
Arcapita Investment Management Limited		11,672,245	(2)		60.3	%
c/o Paget Brown & Company Ltd.
West Wind Building
P.O. Box 1111
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands, B.W.I
Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c)		11,672,245	(3)		60.3	%
P.O. Box 1406
Manama, Bahrain
Michael J. Coles		1,080,776	(4)		5.6	%
Kip R. Caffey		10,250	(5)		*
Wallace B. Doolin		11,250	(6)		*
Charles L. Griffith		9,000	(2)		*
Jeffrey C. Neal		36,250	(7)		*
Charles H. Ogburn		53,200	(2)		*
Rosalyn Mallet		56,000	(8)		*
Amy K. O’Neil		136,073	(9)		*
Christopher B. Rich		19,531	(9)		*
All current directors and executive officers as a group (18 persons)		1,700,680	(10)		8.8	%

*	Less than 1%
(1)	Based on 19,370,590 shares of Common Stock outstanding on April 1, 2008.
(2)	As of December 31, 2006, Caribou Holding Company Limited (“CHCL”) has 150,600 shares of voting stock and 6,815,038 shares of non-voting stock outstanding. 5,971,218 of the shares of non-voting stock are held by five companies (the “Five Non-Voting Holding Companies”), which are Cayman Island entities owned by approximately 160 international investors. Arcapita Bank B.S.C. (c) (“Arcapita Bank”) holds a minority interest in three of the Five Non-Voting Holding Companies, which each own 1,587,180 shares of the non-voting stock of CHCL. 572,820 of the remaining shares of non-voting stock are held by Premium Coffee Holdings Limited, an indirect subsidiary of Arcapita Bank. The remaining 271,000 shares of non-voting stock are held by Arcapita Incentive Plan Limited (“AIPL”), a Cayman Islands entity owned by management of Arcapita Bank (including Messrs. Ogburn and Griffith). 10,040 shares of voting stock are held by each of the 15 separate Cayman Island entities formed by Arcapita Bank (“the Voting Cayman Entities”). The Voting Cayman Entities are owned by approximately 50 international investors (the “International Investors”). Each of the Voting Cayman Entities owns 62/3 % percent of the voting stock of CHCL. Each International Investor has granted Arcapita Investment Management Limited (“AIML”), a direct subsidiary of Arcapita Bank, a revocable proxy to vote its shares of voting stock in the Voting Cayman Entities on all matters. In addition, each Voting Cayman Entity has entered into an administration agreement with AIML pursuant to which AIML is authorized to vote the

15

	voting stock of CHCL held by such Voting Cayman Entity. Each administration agreement is terminable by a Voting Cayman Entity upon 60 days’ prior written notice to AIML by a vote of two-thirds of its shareholders.
(3)	Arcapita Bank does not directly own any stock of CHCL, Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., AIPL or the Voting Cayman Entities. The number of shares of stock shown as owned by Arcapita Bank includes all of the shares of CHCL subject to the revocable proxies granted to AIML as described in note (2) above. Arcapita Bank is a Bahrain joint stock company.
(4)	Includes 809,134 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008.
(5)	Includes 6,250 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008. The address for Mr. Caffey isc/o Cary Street Partners, 3060 Peachtree Road, Suite 265, Atlanta, Georgia 30305.
(6)	Includes 6,250 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008. The address for Mr. Doolin is 100 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas, 75201.
(7)	Includes 6,250 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008. The address for Mr. Neal is 1099 Pelham Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093.
(8)	Includes 55,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008.
(9)	Represent shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008.
(10)	Includes 1,326,038 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2008.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In accordance with our Audit Committee charter, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the terms, conditions and arrangements involving any related party or potential conflict of interest transaction and for overseeing our Code of Business Conduct, which includes disclosure requirements applicable to our employees and our directors relating to conflicts of interest. Accordingly, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the terms and conditions of all transactions that involve the company, one of our directors or executive officers or any of their immediate family members. Although we have not entered into any such transactions since January 2, 2006 that meet the requirements for disclosure in this Proxy Statement, if there were to be such a transaction, we would need the approval of our Audit Committee prior to entering into such transaction.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial ownership (“Forms 3”) and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company (“Forms 4”). Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders of the Company are required by SEC rules to furnish to the Company copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. The Company files Section 16(a) reports on behalf of its directors and executive officers to report their initial and subsequent changes in beneficial ownership of Common Stock. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the reports filed by persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock and the reports filed on behalf of its directors and executive officers by the Company and written representations from such persons that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock were complied with for fiscal 2007.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

During fiscal 2007, Messrs. Jeffrey C. Neal, Kip R. Caffey, and Gary A. Graves served on the Audit Committee. Messrs. Neal, Caffey and Graves (i) meet the independence criteria prescribed by applicable law and the rules of the SEC for audit committee membership and are “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq rules, and (ii) meet Nasdaq’s financial knowledge and sophistication requirements. Mr. Neal has been determined by the Board of Directors to be an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules. The audit

16

committee will help ensure the integrity of our financial statements and the qualifications and independence of our independent auditors.

The audit committee:

•  evaluates the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence and performance;

•  determines the terms of engagement of the independent auditors;

•  approves the retention of the independent auditors to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services;

•  monitors the rotation of partners of the independent auditors on the engagement team as required by law;

•  reviews our financial statements;

•  reviews our critical accounting policies and estimates; and

•  discusses with management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and the review

of our quarterly financial statements, among other things.

Based upon the Audit Committee’s review of the audited consolidated financial statements and its discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, including a discussion regarding SAS 61 and the written disclosures and letter from Ernst & Young required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 regarding their independence, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007, be included in the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K filed with the SEC.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey C. Neal (Chair)

Kip R. Caffey

Gary A. Graves

As a result of the decision by Jeffrey C. Neal not to stand for re-election at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on August 6, 2008, Wallace B. Doolin will join the audit committee as of May 1, 2008. As of May 1, 2008, Mr. Caffey will assume the role of the Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Caffey has been determined by the Board of Directors to be an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules. From May 1, 2008, to the August 6, 2008 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting the Audit Committee shall be made up of Messrs. Caffey, Doolin, Graves and Neal.

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors requests that shareholders ratify its selection of Ernst & Young to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2008. Ernst & Young audited our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2007. A representative of Ernst & Young will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions by shareholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL 2008.

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006 by Ernst & Young LLP:

	Fiscal 2007		Fiscal 2006
Audit Fees	$	493,000	$	452,500
Tax Fees		124,100		92,717
Total	$	617,100	$	545,217

Audit Feesfor fiscal 2007 and 2006 consist of fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements included in the Annual Report onForm 10-K and review of financial statements included in the Quarterly Reports onForm 10-Q.

Tax Feesconsist of fees for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal, state and international tax compliance, return preparation and tax audits.

Pursuant to its charter, our Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors and will not approve any services that are not permitted by SEC rules. In fiscal 2007 and 2006, all audit and non-audit services were pre-approved.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, however, the persons appointed in the accompanying proxy intend to vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment.

PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2008 Annual Meeting”) must be received by us at our executive offices at 3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on or prior April 10, 2009.

Shareholder proposals intended for consideration at the 2009 Annual Meeting but not submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting, including shareholder nominations for candidates for election as directors, generally must be received by us at our executive offices on or prior to April 10, 2009 in order to be considered timely under SEC rules and our Amended and Restated Bylaws. However, if the date of the 2009 Annual Meeting is a date that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the Annual Meeting, notice by the shareholder of a proposal must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th calendar day after the first public announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting. A public announcement includes disclosure in (1) a document filed by us with the SEC, (2) a mailed notice of the 2009 Annual Meeting, and (3) a press release reported by a national news service. Under applicable rules of the SEC, our management may vote proxies in their discretion regarding these proposals if (1) we do not receive notice of the proposal on or prior to April 10, 2009, or (2) we receive written notice of the proposal on or prior to April 10, 2009, describe the proposal in our proxy statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting and state how the management proxies intend to vote with respect to such proposal.

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Shareholder Communications with our Board of Directors

Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors, any of its committees, or one or more individual directors should send all written communications to: Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., 3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429, Attention: Secretary. Written correspondence will be forwarded to the appropriate directors.

Householding

As permitted by the Exchange Act, only one copy of this Proxy Statement is being delivered to shareholders residing at the same address, unless such shareholders have notified us of their desire to receive multiple copies of the Proxy Statement. Upon oral or written request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Proxy Statement to any shareholder residing at an address to which only one copy was mailed. Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards. Also, householding will not in any way affect dividend check mailings.

Shareholders residing at the same address and currently receiving only one copy of the Proxy Statement may contact us to request multiple copies in the future, and shareholders residing at the same address and currently receiving multiple copies of the Proxy Statement may contact us to request a single copy in the future. All such requests should be directed to Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., 3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429, Attention: Secretary, or by phone at(763) 592-2200.

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ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS ANDFORM 10-K

The 2007 Annual Report including our fiscal 2007Form 10-K (the “200710-K”) (which is not a part of the proxy soliciting materials) is being mailed to shareholders with this proxy statement. The 2007Form 10-K and the exhibits filed with it are available at our web site atwww.cariboucoffee.com/aboutus/investorrelations.asp under Corporate Governance, or upon request by any shareholder to Investor Relations at:

Investor Relations

Integrated Corporate Relations

Kathleen Heaney

(203) 803-8535

ir@cariboucoffee.com

A copy of any or all exhibits to the 200710-K will be furnished for a fee, which will not exceed our reasonable expenses in furnishing the exhibits.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Dan E. Lee

Secretary

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

April 30, 2008

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CARIBOU COFFEE

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
10:00 a.m. (Central Time)

Hotel Ivy
201 South Eleventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.
3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 proxy

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.

The shares of stock you hold in your account will be voted as you specify on the reverse side.

If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1 and 2.

By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Kaye O’Leary and Dan E. Lee, and each of them, with full power of substitution, to vote your shares on the matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting and all adjournments and postponements.

See reverse for voting instructions.

There are three ways to vote your Proxy
 COMPANY #
 

Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

VOTE BY PHONE — TOLL FREE — 1-800-560-1965 — QUICK *** EASY *** IMMEDIATE

• Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on August 6, 2008.

• Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions the voice provides you.

VOTE BY INTERNET — www.eproxy.com/cbou — QUICK *** EASY *** IMMEDIATE

• Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on August 6, 2008.

• Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot.

VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we’ve provided or return it to Caribou Coffee, c/o Shareowner Services^y, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873.

If you vote by Phone or Internet, please do not mail your Proxy Card

Please detach here

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Proposals 1 and 2.

1. To elect seven (7) Directors
to hold office until
the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2008: NOMINEES:
01 Kip R. Caffey
02 Sarah Palisi Chapin
03 Michael J. Coles
04 Wallace B.Doolin 05 Gary A. Graves
06 Charles L. Griffith
07 Charles H. Ogburn   o Vote FOR
all nominees
(except as marked) o Vote WITHHELD
from all nominees

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,
write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)

2. Ratification of appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm for fiscal year 2008 o For o Against o Abstain

In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. A properly executed proxy will be voted in the manner directed by the person(s)signing below. If you make no choice, your proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1 and 2.

Address Change? Mark Boxo Indicate changes below:	Dated	, 2008
	Signature(s) in Box
	Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears at left. In the case of joint owners, each should sign. If signing as executor,trustee, guardian or in any other representative capacity or as an officer of a corporation, please indicate your full title.