Howard Schultz's venture capital firm has sunk $27.5 million into Pinkberry, which has 32 stores in New York and Los Angeles, and plans to expand. Schultz calls the two Pinkberry founders "visionary entrepreneurs" and labels their brand "a cultural phenomenon." (Fortune magazine)
« Enough about free wi-fi and Starbucks cups that can cause kids to choke .... it's time for the weekend OPEN THREAD | Main | Good for Starbucks for telling this "panhandler" to get lost »
October 16, 2007
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
July 2009
Recent Comments
- Pat Nerr on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- mini french press on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- Former Union Shift Sup. on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- Shift Supervisor on OPEN THREAD: Let's get the gossip, comments, and questions going!
- pills on Starbucks' Pike Place is the "unanimous favorite" in a coffee taste-test
- Shift Supervisor on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- Will on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- Nolan on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
- Will on Teen arrested in May bombing of NYC Starbucks
- JT on Starbucks employees move to unionize after being told to work at least 24 hours a week
Very interesting sign of possible things to come? If this gets rolling, bye bye Golden Spoon.
Next up: Pinkberry in Starbucks retail stores?
Posted by: Andrew | October 16, 2007 at 11:38 AM
This looks so cool! Schultz obviously has a nack for picking out companies and this too looks like a winner. Brilliant. I wish I could try it but I live in Nebraska.
So cool if we had PinkBerry in stores--though more work for us baristas. ick.
Posted by: BaristaB | October 16, 2007 at 11:46 AM
as a sbux supervisor for three years,in a london store,can someone tell why a store that operates on 1500 daily transactions operates with 15 people staff only??
Posted by: Carlos | October 16, 2007 at 12:19 PM
PinkBerry is the BEST FRO YO EVER!!!!!!!!!
Love the original with fruity pebbles.....
Or blackberries and raspberries
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Posted by: Sheik | October 16, 2007 at 01:10 PM
I don't get the attraction to Pinkberry. Is it really that good?
Posted by: Cole Hunter | October 16, 2007 at 02:11 PM
I have never had Pinkberry but I think the attraction is more of their business model and their focus on customer service: all similar to Starbucks, and less of the product it's self.
Posted by: BaristaB | October 16, 2007 at 02:45 PM
you guys all get that like the Sonics, this is from Howie's own personal stash of cash and in no way part of Starbucks...?
Until Howie says otherwise...
Posted by: Pat Nerr | October 16, 2007 at 03:55 PM
"This looks so cool! Schultz obviously has a nack for picking out companies and this too looks like a winner."
...Or running them into the ground. Top Pot Donuts was a Seattle company with high quality product and high standards. Now with them subcontracting out to local bakeries across the country to stock your local Starbucks with donuts, their quality has gone down dramatically and their reputation along with it.
Posted by: R | October 16, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Now that Starbucks owns it, the quality of the yogurt will be similar to that of their pastries.
Posted by: Dawn | October 16, 2007 at 04:25 PM
I can at least say that the interior of their stores are much better than Starbucks at least. No hard wooden chairs.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Howard has nothing to do with the Sonics anymore Pat Ner.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 06:49 PM
ohdeargod, some people need to learn when to quit. (ahem, that would be you howie.) i am now rather afriad i will have to start scooping yogurt and making FroYoPaccinnos. the moment that happens, i will throw that green apron and hat on the floor and walk out.
Posted by: chi-town's best/angriest barista | October 16, 2007 at 06:55 PM
a) NONE of the *$ where I live (and work) have the donuts--so I wouldnt know
b) dont worrring about making FroYoPaccinos because all his support means is that he is giving capital to the company. Just like he gave capital to eBay. He is just INVESTING, not partnering.
Posted by: BaristaB | October 16, 2007 at 07:03 PM
this is something he is doing, not starbucks. There is a difference, for now.
Posted by: Zipy | October 16, 2007 at 07:12 PM
eww. Pinkberry is like frozen sour milk.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 08:00 PM
duh... I live in Seattle, I think the point is that Starbucks and this new venture have nothing to do with each other... LIKE the Sonics, the money came from Howie, not Starbucks
If you look at the history of the company, 2 of the founders got involved with Peet's coffee which eventually took their attention away from Starbucks... Is Howie looking for new stuff to do?
just sayin'
Posted by: Pat Nerr | October 17, 2007 at 06:02 AM
@anon: It's not *like* frozen sour milk, it *is* frozen sour milk...like all frozen yogurt. What about it? If you don't like it, don't eat it.
Posted by: Hirayuki | October 17, 2007 at 07:42 AM
*spoiled milk then.
Posted by: | October 17, 2007 at 01:57 PM
thus just goes hand in hand with Howard's other investments a la Jamba Juice.
Posted by: jacob | October 17, 2007 at 04:24 PM
Just an FYI - Pinkberry is not real yogurt. Their "yogurt" doesn't contain the bacterial content necessary to call it yogurt. Its actually just a powder and water mixed together, served out of a soft serve machine and they put all that stuff on it...frozen yogurt has been around forever, why is it so popular now?
And another interesting note, there is a company called Red Mango that started that whole idea pinkberry is using...its just that pinkberry was introduced to the states before red mango, which is based out of korea with 150 stores.
Posted by: newbie | October 17, 2007 at 05:28 PM
OMG, Lets see how long it will take to open billions of stores (in poor neighboorhoods too), run the brand into the ground, produce a bad product and give bad service. It's deja vu!
Posted by: | October 17, 2007 at 09:24 PM
Non, of the yogurt bacteria. Just more sugar. The White Satan!
Posted by: Bladerunner | October 17, 2007 at 10:50 PM
You are a shift of three years...tell US why you run with too few partners...show some leadership courage and challenge your SM, or their boss.
Posted by: Big Jim | October 20, 2007 at 07:31 AM
well rumor is Shultz just bought an NYC apartment..
Posted by: | October 21, 2007 at 09:10 PM
I bet I know why... I think it's more about cupcakes than frozen yogurt
Posted by: Barista Suicide | October 21, 2007 at 09:22 PM