American coffee company Starbucks has said it plans to unveil a food and beverage delivery service. In a conference call with investors on 30 October, the company’s chief executive, Howard Schultz, announced initial plans for it to be rolled out.
“Imagine the ability to create a standing order of Starbucks delivered hot to your desk daily,” Schultz said, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. “That’s our version of e-commerce on steroids.”
When reached by email, a spokesperson for the company, based in Seattle, Washington, confirmed that a delivery service would be rolled out in the second half of 2015, tying in with the launch of mobile order and pay technology. The programme had been introduced during the investor conference call.
There have been mixed reactions to the news from Starbucks consumers on the social networking site Twitter:
“OH MY GOD” – my entire social media class’s reaction to learning that Starbucks is creating a delivery service.
— Aaron Koehler (@ayyoaaron) November 5, 2014
Why on earth are they thinking of doing @Starbucks delivery?! There’s one on every corner anyway!
— Al Smith (@ALSMITHY) November 4, 2014
Yes to Starbucks starting a delivery service
— Em Grimshaw (@emmygrimshaw) November 5, 2014
mixed feelings about a Starbucks delivery service.
— randall sta ana (@__randz) November 5, 2014
In development
The Starbucks spokesperson said that the delivery service would be in selected markets, but declined to comment on what markets those would be, or when it would be made available to other areas, including to customers in the UK.
“As a leader in mobile payments, we will continue to ensure that we offer not only secure and convenient solutions to our customers, but also push the envelope in term of mobile loyalty, customer engagement and relevance,” the spokesperson said.
Customers in Portland, Oregon will have access to a mobile ordering app that will allow them to order and pay for their beverages in advance of arrival beginning next month, according to a report from CNN.
The initial delivery service, once introduced, will be made available through the ordering app created by Starbucks, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Matt Ryan, Global Strategy Officer for Starbucks, is reported as saying that the programme was in its early days, but was on track to launch in the second half of 2015, on technology and culture site The Verge.
A meeting is due to take place with investors and Starbucks management in December in Seattle, says financial news service The Street, distributed by MSN. Further details may be made available at that point, but that has not yet been confirmed.
What do you think? Would you use Starbucks’ new delivery service? Have your say in the comments section below.
