Through our extensive research and development, we believe we have hit the mark with the protein and fruit-blended beverage we have developed, which is made from simple ingredients that provide the benefit of sustained energy that our customers want.Schultz also hinted at some new secret "Italian" beverage:This new beverage will initially be available in two flavors and will include fresh fruit and a proprietary whey protein, with no artificial sweeteners, delivering 15 or more grams of protein with no more than 270 calories.
On a recent trip to Italy, we found a unique beverage platform that we believe to be a perfect complement to our overall beverage business. This exclusive, proprietary opportunity was developed through a partnership with our Italian supplier and represents a brand new category of beverage, which is both refreshing, low calorie, and indulgent at the same time. It offers a unique frozen, smooth texture, distinctive taste profiles and options ranging from fruit-based to dairy-based to yogurt-based ingredients...Wall Street doesn't seem to be too thrilled with the idea of Starbucks entering into the smoothie territory currently dominated by Jamba Juice. Portfolio says:And we believe customer acceptance of this new distinctive beverage category will create a new demand, drive incremental traffic to our stores much like Frappuccino did 10 years ago.
So even if Starbucks rolled out literally the best smoothies available in America, wiping Jamba Juice off the face of the earth and converting every last one of their customers, that would still increase revenue by just 11 percent. And the reality, of course, will be far more modest.Will you buy a Starbucks smoothie?Not only is the impact of the new beverages likely to be minimal, but they also seem at odds with C.E.O. Howard Schultz's stated intention to bring the focus at Starbucks back to coffee.
The labor intensity of making the drinks, the added blender noise, and the new task of sourcing fruit all add up to distractions from that core concern.
No Smoothie Sailing For Starbucks [Portfolio]
Starbucks F2Q08 (Qtr End 3/30/08) Earnings Call Transcript [Seeking Alpha]
(Photo: artnchicken )
There are only a few Roasts that SBUX offers that taste remotely burnt. Those would be the Komodo Dragon, and pretty much all the other "Extra Bold" roasts. But the Pikes Place has bold overtones but a mild roast. I personally like the brew, and only pretentious idiots who like to ride cliche propaganda-like bandwagons against successful corporations will say the blanket statement "...all Starbucks coffee tastes burnt!"
Maybe if your palate was accustomed to actual coffee instead of that dirt Folgers or what not, you'd understand not only why 20oz. of coffee is $2.09 but why Starbucks IS the premium purveyor of coffee, world wide.
And the smoothies... I've experimented with the NAKED drinks at my SBUX and came up with some pretty tasty bevs.
Italian Ice will probably be a bitch to make.
]]>I might get an iced tea on average of about once a month. If that. Now my kids, I think they're up to once a week. And they aren't 18 yet. (7 more days...)
]]>Am I the only one who's questioning the "unique" aspect of this whole thing? Italian shaved-ice and fruit concoction... Hmm. Sounds suspiciously like some of the offerings at any one of a half-dozen small indie shops down the road from my nearest Starbucks. Maybe they're looking for antoher industry to try to drive out of existence?
]]>No, Starbucks, you didn't find a "unique beverage platform." You found "a unique product that is new to American shores and will provide you with a new opportunity to better present your customers with a larger assortment of great Starbucks products."
See? It's not only LONGER and packed with MORE nonsense, but it doesn't misuse a single word.
]]>@COELACANTH: that would be the regular brewed coffee and Starbuck's brewed coffee has always tasted burnt to me.
@lizzybee: The coffee shop I used to work at did Creamosa's! Basically an Italian soda with a small splash of half and half. It's the most delicious thing ever, especially with strawberry syrup.
]]>@RandomHookup: Liberace = Polish-American.
The Starbucks here used to have Italian sodas, but they all stopped making them a couple of years ago. I never understood why. Joe Muggs still makes 'em, though.
I also miss Chantico. I think I was the only person I knew who could drink it.
]]>I thought the CEO was recently dismayed by a diversion away from coffee, and was trying to bring Starbucks back to basics, to be real coffeehouses "again".
Guess not.
]]>@Lambasted: I challenge you to show me a beverage that's made simply of water and burnt coffee beans.
Unless you're talking about a quintuple-shot espresso or something.
]]>**still bitter from the time she was craving an Italian soda, and all there was around was Starbucks**
]]>Will it blend?
]]>And who, pray tell, is this mysterious fruity Italian they are offering drinks...Liberace?
]]>@ChuckECheese: Three cheers for bacon!
]]>This is my main concern. When I go to Starbucks, it's usually to sit for an hour or two and read or do a little laptop work over a couple espresso drinks. It's a nice place to go that's not home or the office. The noise from the blenders (especially in the summer) destroys what little atmosphere they have and makes it not much better than McDonalds. If I have to listen to two blenders a minute, I'm not staying.
]]>@Sherryness: Do you think the whey protein will come from BGH-free cows?
]]>@B: Caffeinated bacon, served plain, or chocolate-coated!
@B: Italian ice? Yes, please!
]]>The whey protein is a plus - I avoid soy protein. And as long as it doesn't have high-fructose corn syrup, I'll probably give one a try.
]]>Italian Sodas I bet...
I thought Starbucks was trying to make an effort to go back to its roots?
]]>And (2) your lack of intuitiveness also precludes you from recognizing when someone is being facetious. Obviously my comment was meant to imply that Starbucks' coffee (IN WHATEVER FORM) is overpriced and so will their new concoctions.
But by all means, defend your $4 flavored syrup steamed milk and whatever else Starbucks serves to you in their overly hyped fashion. I prefer to spend my money on something that doesn't taste like crap.
]]>"Burnt" coffee and water will only cost you $1.72 for unlimited refill (if you use a registered gift card). Have you ordered anything from Starbucks recently?
]]>....
Am I the only person who read this and thought they found some new tables?
]]>@samurailynn: Sounds like that's along the same lines as Boost Guarana bars, apart from the caffeine bit. I remember one review I read likened the taste to 'camel sperm'. Which was nice.
I get a feeling these smoothies will be just as half-assed as the array of other products that Starbucks offer. Anyone else???
]]>Besides, if Starbucks charges $4 for a cup of water and burnt coffee beans what are they going to charge for a cup of shaved ice and flavored Kool-aid, $6?
]]>"umm yes, can I have a venti passion tea with honey"
]]>