Celebrate Starbucks’ 40th birthday with a foursquare badge

Starbucks is celebrating their 40th birthday this week by rolling out an all-new identity and launching an in-store celebration called Tribute Days. They’re letting foursquare users in on the celebration, too, by offering a new Starbucks Tribute badge.

Users will be able to unlock the badge by following Starbucks on foursquare and checking in at any US Starbucks location during Tribute Days, which run today through Saturday. The unlock text reads:

Thank you. We started in 1971 and are turning 40. You’ve earned this badge and a chance to win a $40 Starbucks card. Sweepstakes ends 3/12/11. For complete details: http://sbux.co/TributeBadgeRules

They’ll be giving away 500 of the $40 gift cards to lucky foursquare users. In addition to the contest, anyone who buys a beverage today from 2-5 pm will get one of their new Petites free. Petites are eight small sweets including Cake Pops (available in Birthday Cake, Rocky Road and Tiramisu flavors), Red Velvet Whoopie Pies, Mini Cupcakes (Carrot Cake and Peanut Butter) and Sweet Squares (Lemon and Salty Caramel).

Starbucks has partnered with foursquare in the past. The Barista badge — which launched a year ago tomorrow — honors users who’ve checked in at five different Starbucks. Last May, they became the first nationwide chain to offer a foursquare Mayor special. Mayors got $1 off a Frappuccino beverage. The campaign earned mixed reviews.

I’m a little disappointed that their beautiful new identity isn’t tied into the badge, but I’m glad to see Starbucks partnering up again with foursquare for this campaign. Limited time partner badges always garner a lot of attention among foursquare users, and this pairing with one of the country’s most ubiquitous brands should be no different.