Businessmen, students, and everyday coffee lovers can now enjoy their favorite coffee and frappuccino without leaving their desks or homes as Starbucks revealed its plans of offering a delivery option soon.
The announcement was made by Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz during an investors' meeting on Thursday wherein the company's financial statement was also discussed, Wall Street Journal reported.
"Imagine the ability to create a standing order of Starbucks delivered hot to your desk daily...That's our version of e-commerce on steroids," the report quoted Schultz as saying.
Meanwhile, Starbucks in its official Twitter account announced that the delivery may be available by 2015.
"Food, beverage delivery in select markets in late 2015. Schultz 'That's our version of e-commerce on steroids'," the company posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, CNBC news reported that Matthew Ryan, Starbucks Global Chief Strategy Officer, told them that it is "still early" to discuss the delivery plans and that the company cannot yet disclose any details about the plan. However, Ryan was quoted as saying in the report that the plan is "moving full speed ahead."
However, NBC News said that the delivery plan "will be offered to Starbucks loyalty program members as part of its new mobile order and pay app." It added that the app will be first launched in Portland, Oregon next month. It will be launched nationwide next year. The company's move, NBC News added, is part of the earlier vision of adapting to the current "shift in consumer behavior." It noted that most consumers nowadays shop more online and less in stores.
In June this year, Starbucks has introduced new several products called Fizzio Handcrafted Sodas and Teavana Shaken Iced Teas. There are three Fizzio Handcrafted Sodas -- the Spiced Root Beer, Golden Ginger Ale and Lemon Ale. There are three kinds of Teavana Shaken Iced Tea -- Teavana Shaken Iced Blackberry Mojito Tea Lemonade, Teavana Shaken Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade, and Teavana Shaken Iced Black Tea Lemonade.
However, an Associated Press report published in the Huffington Post said that the new Fizzio soda drinks were not selling that much, citing analysts from Wells Fargo. The report quoted CEO Troy Alstead saying that the new drinks are "doing exactly what they expected it to do." Alstead however said that a national launch of the drinks may not happen next year as there are still no plans about it.
Starbucks said that the Fizzio Handcrafted soda drinks are only available in Hawaii, Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Stockton and Modesto areas), Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada and Utah.
For the Christmas season, Starbucks has unveiled a new drink called Chestnut Praline Latte, the New York Daily News reported. It will join old Christmas drinks Gingerbread Latte and Peppermint Mocha this year.
According to its website, Starbucks has also new lunch sandwiches -- Turkey Pesto Panini, Old-Fashioned Grilled Cheese, Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Panini Sandwich, Chicken Santa Fe Panini Sandwich, Ham and Swiss Panini Sandwich, Chicken BLT Salad Sandwich, Egg Salad Sandwich, and Turkey and Havarti Sandwich. It also has new salad bowls -- Chicken and Greens Caesar, Hearty Veggie and Brown Rice, and Zesty Chicken and Black Bean. It also has bistro boxes.
In the investors' conference, it was announced that the consolidated net revenues of Starbucks for the fiscal fourth quarter grew by 10 percent to $4.2 billion. The company said in a statement posted on its website that consolidated operating income for the quarter reached $854.9 million. It also added that the company opened more than 500 net new stores during this quarter. For the fiscal year 2014, the company recorded a consolidated operating income of $3.1 billion and consolidated net revenues of $16.4 billion. For the fiscal year, Starbucks opened a total of 1,599 net new stores.
"Starbucks performance in fiscal 2014 was extraordinary by any metric or comparison...But we cannot be content with the status quo, as consumers continue to demand more and more in terms of convenience and excellence. You will see us continue to invest where it counts most, in mobile commerce, innovation, in the customer experience and the partners who drive it and in the quality of our coffees," Schultz said in a statement.