More Starbucks customers doing drive-bys How much of the Starbucks brand is about the in-store experience? The coffee chain is finding out, as it opens more and more drive-through locations. Starbucks unveiled 354 new drive-throughs in the U.S. during its latest fiscal year, giving it 1,065 nationwide—nearly 15 percent of its roughly 7,300 domestic stores. Some critics say this trend will cement Starbucks reputation as the McDonald’s of coffee. But Starbucks president and CEO Jim Donald scoffs at that notion. “We are not the McDonald’s of anything,” he says. “The drive-through is another convenience for our customers as we want them to enjoy a great cup of coffee.” —Posted by Tim Nudd

December 26, 2005 | Permalink

Comments

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I hate the stores. They are cramped, the tables too small, and the music too damned loud. Their coffee is usually over pressed and tastes lousy.

But I buy the coffee beans by the unground pound and brew them at home, bringing a thermos to work and sipping it all day.

Posted by: Nathan Rudy | Dec 26, 2005 11:58:22 AM

Part of the reason I enjoy Starbucks, and many others as well, is due to the experiential aspects of sitting in the store and enjoying the coffee. The instrumental jazz music, dim lighting and couches separate the brand for your local coffee shop. Some customers may feel that this drive thru endeavor will cheapen the image of the store. But since the brand has reached such a mass market in terms of popularity, they may not feel that it will make much of a dent in terms of image, and will satisfy enough of the market via convenience to justify the move.

Posted by: JatinderDh | Dec 27, 2005 12:30:30 PM

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