Starbucks revamps menu . . . again
Filed under: Company News, Economy
On June 30, Starbucks is changing its menu. Again. Gone are the high-fructose corn-syrup-laden muffins, artificially flavored snacks and artificially colored pastries. Instead, the world's most ubiquitous coffee chain will serve up a selection of more healthful, more natural offerings, including a line of salads.It seems like only yesterday that Starbucks decided to reboot its menu. Actually, it practically was yesterday: last September, the company began offering a line of nutritious breakfast items to position itself as a healthier alternative to fast food. In February, the company added a line of coffee/sandwich breakfast combos designed to steal bargain-minded fast-food customers. All told, the moves have helped make Starbucks a credible alternative to its more mass-market brethren.
But in fighting fast food, Starbucks has also tried to remain separate from the pack. In this context, the company's latest move is less of a grab for market share and more of a branding initiative. Starbucks aims for a more health-conscious clientele, concerned with HCFCs and artificial ingredients, than most fast-food consumers. And although salads have long been a fixture on fast-food menus, Starbucks's contribution will presumably be as idiosyncratic as the rest of its menu.
While Starbucks vacillates between competing with and differentiating itself from fast food, it seems to be carving out a fresh space in the market: convenient meals concerned with flavor. With restaurants like Chipotle and Baja Fresh zeroing in on the same territory, it will be interesting to see what happens to the face of fast food in America.



























Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
6-03-2009 @ 2:13PM
speed5984 said...
Starbucks sucks they have the worst coffee and the coffee makers are punk kids that think they are important in this world calling them selves some special name... but to me they are just servers that's all.... Down with Starbucks..
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6-03-2009 @ 2:51PM
Starbuckslover said...
Really ? I love Starbucks coffee. As far as the punk kids at least the have a job and are working.
6-04-2009 @ 7:07AM
kada26 said...
You are a cruel human being I know alot of professional people with " REAL JOBS" that like Starbucks and the workers there are not "PUNK KIDS" they are adults . I know everyone is entitled to their opinion but attacking the people that work there is juvenile.
6-05-2009 @ 9:34AM
sareel said...
I am a punk kid. I am a college student and Starbucks offers me full benefits, a 401k, and competitive pay while I only work part time. I could do anything else but I picked Starbucks because of this. Hate the coffee as much as you want but it is unfair to hate the people who work to make the "Starbucks experience" happen. Trust me, it's not easy.
6-04-2009 @ 10:59AM
frank said...
just relax....with all the things going wrong with the world, like 228 lives lost in a horrible plane accident and we are arguing about starbucks?? number 1 everyone has a right to their opinion and every starbucks is different. there are some that i have been to where the workers are great and others where they are awful.. that is the way it is everyplace. some people like mcdonalds coffee and not burger king or dunkin donuts... chill out people and let's concentrate on the important things in life and be glad we are still here and able to drink or not to drink starbucks!
6-30-2009 @ 5:05PM
Andrew said...
I would think an Oil Refinery Engineer would have more important things to do with his time than reply 16 times to an article about Starbucks. If you don't like it GO SOME WHERE ELSE. If you make better coffee at home great, MAKE IT! People like you are the ones that service industry people don't want to deal with anyway. So do us all a favor, keep your cranky, self-righteous, bigoted behind at home. No one wants you around anyway!!
And just do you know, no I am not a Starbucks employee. I did however work in the service industry when I was in college. I HATED a-holes like you.
6-04-2009 @ 1:45PM
Green apron said...
Wow, you've got issues. Yeah, I pour coffee. I make lattes. I likely wouldn't drink the beverages very often if I didn't work there because they're something of an indulgence. But you have no right to knock those of us that do this particular job. At least I have a job! It makes me wonder if you actually have one, since you've got the time to respond to everyone's comments on here.
The baristas work damned hard for every last dime they earn, dealing with the rude, the kind, the obnoxious, the pleasant, the bigoted, the friendly, the haters, the charismatic -- people. Don't knock what we do, or the company we do it for just because you don't care for the coffee or whatever reason your fucked-up little mind comes up with.
6-04-2009 @ 2:10PM
noelle said...
i couldn't agree with you any more than i do. i LOATHE starbucks. i hate their coffee and i really HATED working for them. if they hadn't laid me off i would still be there miserably slaving away everyday to promote a product that i really don't believe in for a company that treats it's workers like they are slaves.
6-04-2009 @ 8:33PM
DAWillmore said...
If you don't like Starbucks, fine. Don't go. That will make our experience just that much more enjoyable.
One of those punck kids was my daughter who earned $3K in scholarships. Yuppies who don't have real jobs? My wife has her doctorate and is a registered dietician. I am a CPA managing the transportation department of a major hospital. We both seem to have real jobs and work pretty hard to get where we have gotten.
Get a life.
6-04-2009 @ 10:58PM
MICHAEL said...
I love starbucks, it makes me happy to be there, I love the kids that work there, at least they have a job and aren't sitting on their asses like Obama's people are. you suck you freak
6-05-2009 @ 1:04AM
Bill said...
Any Starbucks I have been to always has had very pleasant employees and if you notice their image is clean cut employees, no tattoos are allowed to show. I don't know any "punks" that work there, only clean cut hard working people that earn a paycheck that also pay their taxes like you and I. I support and respect anyone that works even if it is cleaning the toilet at a rest stop!!!!
6-06-2009 @ 11:00AM
Beccaboo said...
excuse me, but i just got a job there and im not some punk kid who thinks im better than you are. honestly, im a fan of dunkin donuts coffee, but who cares? if you hate the product, dont insult the ones who serve it. thats just their job. i dont go insulting you at your job.
6-06-2009 @ 11:05AM
Equality said...
WOW. "just servers" ? I'm sorry I didn't realize that a person's worth is based on how much money they make. Speed5984 it doesn't matter what job you have, you are equal to your "servers" and should treat them with respect because all humans are created equal.
6-06-2009 @ 2:17PM
matty b said...
Its all about Ma's Donuts guys!!! Come to Newport RI and try it, its a little bit addicting.
I think we live in a generation of haters. I know that sounds juvinille. But if you think about it, all we do is get mad about something, or someone and point fingers. Whats the point? Think about it. We are taught to create conflict. I know conflict is inevidible. Forget it I don't even know what I am saying anymore but maybe someone can elaborate on it for me
6-06-2009 @ 2:45PM
Jerry Vierna said...
Well at least those Punk Kids have a "servers" job unlke all those educated adult starbucks patrons that are jobless and clueless as to how to do something about it. Good for you starbucks , one of the few american companies giving a crap about both their product and patrons. keep trying and thanks for employing so many "servers" and not getting hand outs from our goverment.
6-06-2009 @ 6:13PM
YankeeFanatic22 said...
Oh please
6-08-2009 @ 11:39AM
lizel said...
The employees at the Starbucks I frequent are certainly not punks nor "just servers". They are well dressed, polite, knowledgeable people. These are working people, some retirees, some students, some working mother's, and some full time employees trying to make a living. Don't you have anything better to do with your life than down people who are trying to have a life? I suggest you get a life.
6-03-2009 @ 2:36PM
Amanda said...
QUIT CALLING STARBUCKS EMLOYEES PUNK KIDS! YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS YOU'RE NOT CLASSY ENOUGH TO DRINK IT AND FRANKLY PROBABLY CAN'T AFFORD IT....
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6-03-2009 @ 5:03PM
speed5984 said...
Class has nothing to do with buying an overpriced cup of crappy coffee... And trust me jealousy has nothing to do with it I am completely positive I make way more than you do and could afford it but why would I pay that when I can make a great cup of coffee at home for a lot less...
6-03-2009 @ 3:26PM
Fox said...
heyyyy now i work at starbuck's, it's a great job. I meet new people everyday and I think the word you are searching for is barista, there's a rigorous training program they put you through for two weeks in order to make EVERY drink. Not just anyone can work there, think about that next time you want a triple grande two pump nonfat no whip extra foamy latte, buddy!
drink at starbuck's!
Reply