Report: Starbucks to sell Top Pot "Hand Forged" Donuts in at least some stores

A Seattle-based STARBUCKS GOSSIP tipster reports the coffee giant will be selling donuts from boutique Seattle donut-maker, Top Pot. This is "mega-exposure for what was, until last year's downtown shop, Capitol Hill's little secret, more or less," says our source. Seattle stores only? We're not sure. Any Starbucks employees out there have more details to share?
> "These are for sure some of the best donuts in Seattle"

Comments

[anon]

Top Pot's "hand forged" doughnuts (actually a commercial Just Add Water mix) will in fact be at Starbucks throughout Seattle with likelyhood of further expansion. Many of Top Pot's smaller cafe accounts have already been cut off.

[Aragorn]

Behold! The shards of the doughnut Jellyfill have been reforged! I hold in my hand the doughnut Yellowsprinkly. Bow down and give me your allegience.

You can have my Pink Boa when you pry it from my COLD, DEAD HANDS.

[trachea]

Top Pot should do some research before they sign a contract with Starbucks. Example: Judy's Bakery in Evanston IL. Back in 1999, Judy's supplied Starbucks with 42,000 lemon knot and 19,000 carmelita cookies per week (remember those cookies? they were great). After signing a contract with *$, Judy & her husband leveraged their business, rented a warehouse, hired staff & bought supplies to fulfill their contract. With two weeks notice, Starbucks illegally pulled the contract from them and gave it to another vendor. Judy lost her home and had to sell the bakery, a family business which was held in awe and treasured by a lot of Chicagoans. Top Pot beware!

How was the Judy's Bakery contract illegally cancelled?

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster]

Here's a little more info on Judy's Bakery and Starbucks:

http://eatthestate.org/04-17/Backtalk.htm

(See the last item -- "Screwed by Starbucks")

The full story on what happened here hasn't come out. I overheard a Starbucks store manager discussing it, and he gave a reason for the contract being pulled -- one that I've never seen printed or mentioned. (I'm not going to mention it here because it's unconfirmed and unfair to Judy to publish.) Sorry to tease, but...

[SeanTC]

Aw, c'mon, it's a gossip site. What's one more unsubstantiated rumor? Kidding, of course, no reason to make the Mermaid's lawyers annoyed and/or make Judy revisit a part of her life she probably considers closed.

I did a little reading, came across a few other tidbits but didn't think to bookmark them. From what I can gather, they poured a lot of money and risk into setting up an industrial bakery operation, ignoring their own retail operations in the process, and never bothered pursuing any additional commercial clients.

Whether or not Starbucks acted legally or honorably is now a matter of opinion. However, it seems to me that the biggest reason Judy's Bakery tanked was that Judy put all of her eggs in one basket.

[jyl]

Top Pots donuts are pretty to look at but are just okay as far as donuts go. I seem to always get the greasy donuts. Sara Dickerman at The Stranger didn't seem totally impressed with them either back in October.
Starbucks and Top Pot will be the perfect couple.

[pnwgal]

Yesterday morning, I made the plunge and tried a double chocolate Top Pot doughnut at Starbuck's.

Not only should I have been smacked upside the head for paying a buck and a half for a damn doughnut, it was the greasiest doughnut I'd ever eaten...I ended up dumping half of it. I should have had a clue when the bag they put the thing in was transparent by the time I got to eating it.

[Cunning Stunt]

The Top Pots finally made it to SODO Lobby this week (or perhaps I just noticed them). Consensus in the corporate hive is that the chocolate is great, the others are so-so.

[sorenbee]

Starbucks- Get a Clue
You guys need to check out Mighty-O Donuts down in Wallingford. I just checked them out and they are (wow!) a small little cafe that wholesales to Whole Foods and PCC and smaller folks- they are at 55th and Meridian 2 doors down from Elysian Brewery

All organic ingredients -no cholesterol, NO Trans- Fats!! vs. artery-hardening hydrogenated oil, greasy, sub-par Top Pots?(should be greasy pot donuts)
Chocolate Rasperry, French Toast, Organic Coffee..
These folks are setting the new standard in donuts ****

[SeaCyn]

Go Mighty-O! Top Pot is coming to my neighborhood and I'm excited (we don't have any donuts yet) but I'd be blown away if Mighty-O came to my neighborhood. Mighty-O is hands down the best donut shop in Seattle.

[topo]

Dear Howard Schultz,
Starbucks is making a mistake carrying Top Pot donuts. If Starbucks is a true leader of Social Responsible Businesses you would not be feeding people the trans-fat laden artery clogging hydrogenated oil sponges that Top pot calls donuts. WWW.bantransfats.com will bring you up to speed. You talk about health cost and responsibility, well it all starts at home. How are we going to ask for better solution if we don't correct what we are doing ourselves? While you telling us to "Pour Your Heart Into It" please be careful about pouring artery clogging tranfats into our hearts. If you care and truly love donuts like most of America, check out something truly innovative in the donut world, visit Mighty-O in Wallingford and eat an ORGANIC DONUT, without the trans-fats of course.

[topo]

Mr Schultz
Why don't you ask Mighty-O to make your donuts???

[GINA]

Quite frankly the treats at Starbucks have pretty much sucked from day one. The coffee cakes are bland, the biscotti cardboard-y, the muffins just so-so. They actually impressed me with their recent inclusion of cup cakes, which are small enough to be not-too-sinful, and mighty delicious. Adding Top Pots is better yet. As a Canadian surrounded by Tim Hortin's outlets, I'm loyal only to Top Pot which I have to leave the country to enjoy. Now if only Starbucks could figure out how to produce a latte as good as the lattes at Top Pot ...

[OSU]

Top Pot donuts have made it to Corvallis, Oregon.

[imabarrista]

What's a Buckeye doin' in Corvallis?

[FORMERSTARBUCKY]

Just saw Top Pot doughnuts in my local starbucks in Henderson, Nevada. Had to do a double take and remind myself that I was no longer in Seattle.

Top Pot doughnuts have just been implemented in all of the western states; Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, El Paso TX, etc. They're sweeping the country, the apple fritters are delicious.

[fiesty]

top pot is full of crap! marketing a pretty doughnut full of unhealthy ingredients, and the dreaded hydrogenated oil!! yuck, that stuff doesnt even melt off a street corner on a hot summer day! does bottom pot even make their mix? what does hand forged really mean. i think someone HANDles a machine. top pot is greasy and gross.

[common sense]

I forgot that I ate dougnuts to be healthy... Who are you kidding? The doughnuts taste awesome, who cares how they are made.

[donut guy]

top pot donuts are disgusting. these thingshave way too much sugar and the fats are actually dangerous to your health.

image.

really really gross.

i am not sure mighty of would sign a contract with starbucks.

they are insanely idealistic about health and fair trade.

starbucks isnt.

[Death Cab for Qbert]

I gotta laugh at you peeps crying about how fat and sugary Top Pot donuts are. They're DONUTS, people. They're supposed to be sweet and greasy.

That said, they are some of the finest sweet-n-greasies I've tasted. But nothing tops the Mighty-O.

i live in dallas and we will have them in our store

[DJ in Texas]

I just moved to Amarillo TX from Seattle and found Top Pot in my local Starbucks. What a surprise!

[Sheryl Klepac]

FYI
All of starbuck's pastries now have no artificial trans fats.And also under 500 calories.
I am in Texas and they are delivered fresh each morning.If you are getting stale pastries you need to notify the manager.

[the Dog]

To the poster above: you have no problem posting unsubstantiated rumors about Starbucks, claiming they treated a vendor unfairly and illegally, but when it comes to the possibility that what they did was justified, you're going to stand on principle and not post it out of "fairness" to the vendor?

(btw, this may mean nothing, but I lived in Evanston for 3 years and never heard of Judy's Bakery -- maybe it was in a different part of twon or something)

[Blech]

I just tried a top pot original glazed donut and it's really blah. No taste and dry! Yuck.

[John A. Troland]

Ever heard of Donut World 4 Kids? E-mail me at johntroland@msn.com for more info?

[Laurie Ross Clements]

Another bad move...

$1 short free refill appears to be in response to MCD. Sbux shouldn't even enter to win a price war.

Adding fat laden doughnuts appears to be in response to Dunkin' Doughnuts.
It's not the image SBUX established.

I don't get it. These places are NOT the competition. Responding to these preceived threats is a poor decsion and shows weakness and lack of company focus.

It's a mistake to try and be everything to everybody. Sbux risks losing their identity and image. It's a big powerful brand, but it can still get tarnished.

The company should stay focused on COFFEE and the coffee house experience.
While Sbux is out responding to the non contenders for gourmet coffee, small indy coffeehouses are opening everywhere and feature independant roasted coffee

They remind a little bit of my first Starbucks.

I've posted this before but it bears repeating. The bigger a company becomes the smaller they need to act.

Inspired by the bean,
Laurie

[mainebux]

Top Pots

This is HOWARDS first Big announcement? We are now going to flash freeze and SHIP all OVER North America, Doughnuts. Carbon FootPrint?

Social Resonsbility? How about BUY LOCAL? Why should EAch Starbucks be a cookie cutter of the next is that NOT what you are Trying to FIX? Come on. LOCAL. That what starbucks was based and founded on the Best and LOCAL foods. I mark out on a daily Basis at least a Dozen items which we HAVE to have in OUR Case ALL DAY.

YOu want the Country and Communities to truly embrace Starbucks than maybe rather than allowing your store managers to spend time working on OUTSIDE projects which have ZERO relevance to the operation of the store to be out in the LOCAL community sourcing and purchasing for the "local" neighboorly coffee shop.

You want to be unique than be unique. I really don't care that i can get a TOP POT Donut in Maine or in Kansas City or in the Middle of Downtown LA. how about "whats Local?" BE UNIQUE. I want to work for YOU, but if this is the direction you are TRULY Going. Im going to have to take my Talents elsewhere.

Big Box Managers? i.e. Target and Gap. I work in adistrict of them. Zero Sense of hospitality and "food business" is that who you truly want running your stores during this time and transformation? Hospitality and Culinary Professionals?

Mr. Schultz I hope you read this, if your not than are you truly "lazer focused" on the customer

I looked forward..

[Bananas :)]

top pot donuts are NASTY!!! my store stopped ordering then after like a month. they taste like sugary grease balls and can be stale most of the time

We've had the Top Pot in the West Texas market for a good six months. They're alright. The best is the "maple bar" because it's not a cake doughnut but a real doughy masterpiece. Anyway, lets not complain about their sugary greasiness. Like someone above put it -- "It's a doughnut!"

[NYBarista]

we already sell three top pot donuts at my store. the apple fritter is edible but nothing amazing. our old fashioned donut sells well but the classic glazed are horrible. i think top pot was a bad idea

[Akesha]

I just saw Top Pot doughnuts at a Starbucks in Boston (Brookline Village). I didn't think it could really be the same Top Pot, but the employee said yes, they were from Seattle- that Starbucks had "bought out" Top Pot! This spurred my internet research, and I'm glad to see that that part isn't true. I do agree with the buy local ideal. I'm not sure how much Starbucks worries about their carbon footprint, what are a few donuts when they ship coffee/ceramics/espresso makers all over. The dunkin donuts parallel also crossed my mind here in the heartland of "America thrives on Dunkin"...

[Mike Drips]

No Top Pots at the Starbucks here in California, possibly due to our state's tougher laws on carcinogenics.
I did go to Top Pot in downtown Seattle in December upon the recommendation of a friend. I didn't find anything special about their coffee or their doughnuts. I guess the good news in all of this is that Starbucks is finally dropping their horrid microwave breakfast sandwiches.

[jenniferjane]

I'm from Seattle, used to live a block from Top Pot, and miss it like crazy (when they're fresh- they're amazing). I now live in Albuquerque, there are starbucks everywhere- but I cant find out which ones sell the top pot goodies. Can anyone direct me to that information??

[the naz]

Ok, Top Pot donuts are unhealthy greasebombs of trans-fat. But Mighty-O? C'mon people, you must be joking. These are the greasiest, grittiest, nastiest donuts I've ever had, and I'm vegan! I'm supposed to be their tatget audience! Everyone involved needs to get off their lazy asses and make foods that are wholesome AND yummy. It's not that hard. The only problem with fresh food is shelf life, and donuts and coffee shouldn't have any anyways.

[Becky]

People it is a doughnut. If you are looking for healthy, don eat a doughnut. If Starbucks should worry about anything it is that TOP POT has WAY better coffee! I make a pilgrimage each Sunday to get my coffee beans.

[Kerrie]

I mean if Starbucks wants to go out on a limb with this donut thing, shouldn't they go with Krispy Kreme?!?! There are the absolute best.

Those who have never tried a hot original glazed are really missing something special.

yummmm

[Brian]

Check out top pots website their donuts are transfat free. Starbucks is a dumbass for carrying them but their frappucino has the same amoutn of calories and you don't hear anyone else bitching

[jodie]

Top pot made it to Starbucks Hawaii on April 8th...woohoo..

[Steve]

Top Pot now in Canada

[Joan]

Top Pots are in NE Ohio; I believe they introduced them a couple of weeks ago with Pike Place Roast.
Consumers aren't really that stupid--they know that when they purchase a donut or flavored coffee, they are getting potentially unhealthy foods--and they choose to do so. Some of my favorite treats already taste like crap because they've been made "healthier." If I want to buy and consume a ball of grease, I will do so, enjoy it, and assume any risk. Is someone supposed to bring a lawsuit a la the attorney from California who sued Nabisco because Oreos had "bad" ingredients?

[B-rista]

Our customers are finiky; they always go crazy for something new, then a few weeks later, they're groaning "Oh, you STILL have those things? When are you gonna get something different in here?"

BUT

As soon as we stop selling the "new" fad, they're all crying how much they miss it! :)

[Jason]

Becky -

Krispy Kreme's are only good fresh off the grease river. You let them cool and they go from highly palatable to probably some of the worst tasting donuts around. Hence, they'd make a bad product to leave on the shelf.

Plus only the original glazed is ever any good. The other varieties aren't even good fresh. So it's not like there would be a product line/offering.

-J

[Angela]

I tried a Top Pot glazed old fashioned today for the first time at a Starbucks in Gig Harbor WA and hey, it does taste greasy, but THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT! It tastes like someone actually fried a donut in grease, takes me back to my ski-lodge donut days when I was a kid skiing at Mt. Bachelor........

Like other pp are saying, if you're concerned with your health, why the HECK are you eating a DONUT!!!!!