A Starbucks Gossip reader summarizes: "On the portal today I read about Summer Phase 2 -- Frozen Bananas. It runs July 15-Sept. 2 and introduces a new line of beverages called Vivanno. This is not a Frappuccino even though it is blended. There are two flavors: banana chocolate and orange mango banana. It consists of frozen (or fresh, if available) bananas, whole (or soy, skim, whatever) milk, a scoop of protein/fiber powder, ice, and chocolate or the orange mango naked juice, which will be shipped to us in half-gallon sizes. They are really promoting the healthiness of this drink, at around 250 calories and less than 5 grams of fat, as well as the nutritional content from the fresh fruit and the protein/fiber powder. ...Our new pastry is a star shaped cookie with whole grains, omega 3's, and strawberries and I think blueberries. It said in the fall we would be getting more healthy pastries like this." Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related in the open thread.
The person who contributed this was mostly right, except that they will be made with 2% milk by default, of course.
Other fun facts:
The Vivanno blended beverages will only come in the Grande (16oz.) size. I am unsure of why this is, but I read it on the portal this afternoon.
Also, they will have a special cold cup just for Vivanno drinks.
Each drink comes with one scoop of Protein/Fiber powder, which contains 5g of protein.
Customizable options will be adding matcha powder in the Orange Mango Banana drink, or adding a shot of espresso in the Banana Chocolate drink.
In all, I am excited about this new beverage platform! My store is right next to a yoga center, so I know my regulars from there will be delighted to hear about healthier options and will probably love these (with soy milk of course :) ). These sound very refreshing to me as well, as it's proven to be a hot summer already!
Best,
seventysix [76]
Posted by: seventysix [76] | June 13, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Does anyone know if this drink contains any artificial sweeteners (e.g., splenda)?
Posted by: smoothie | June 13, 2008 at 05:10 PM
sounds awesome! However Im curious if it'll occur in canadian stores as well? I think it will be a huge hit if it does... still waiting for the blended lemonade beverage lol
Posted by: Meag | June 13, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Blended lemonade starts June 24. and there is no splenda or other sweeteners in the drinks.
Posted by: jenna | June 13, 2008 at 05:14 PM
We tested these at my store a few months back. They are alright, although the protein fiber powder leaves a funny aftertaste.
For the banana chocolate - add a shot.
For the orange mango banana - add matcha
Posted by: An Awesome Homosexual Partner in Washington | June 13, 2008 at 05:26 PM
So, this is getting back to coffee? Sounds like they are still throwing money in places that doesn't need it.
Posted by: David | June 13, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I think this is a great idea, I stand behind our health and wellness platform, but I have to say....
You wonder why taco bell, jack and the box, and others are able to steal our ideas before we release items? I don't blame Jim for posting this info, as it must have been a PARTNER who shared this information...
Can we PLEASE get corporate to require all partners to sign confidentiality agreements? And can they please sue partners who are caught not abiding? Even if just to make them an example, it infuriates me that we can't trust each other in this way....
How can we ever complain that we don't hear about things until the last minute, when people can't keep their traps shut about our new promotions, until they roll?
If there were ever a reason to reduce company size, this would be it.
Posted by: P.R.I.D.E. | June 13, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I wish my store was next to a yoga center. I am excited to try these drinks! I know that most powders you add to smoothies leave a funny aftertaste so I hope this doesn't do that. I do not like the white naked juice, it tastes like chalk. I am also wondering what the price of this new drink will be. I think they tested these out in the test markets based on the (add banana) button and some other buttons I saw on the Test menu of the portal. Has anyone in a test market tried these drinks?
Posted by: jenna | June 13, 2008 at 05:43 PM
oh I missed it, I guess it does have an aftertaste. Thanks you awesome homosexual partner in washington you
Posted by: jenna | June 13, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Shorter PRIDE post: Someone talked too much, so go line up 20 random people against a wall and shoot them.
A new, separate cup (and lid?) is just what the stores want. Even more inventory to hassle with.
Posted by: truth | June 13, 2008 at 05:58 PM
How on earth are we supposed to keep frozen bananas when most stores don't have freezers. Only stores that are in the boonies where delivery of pastries is only 1-2 times a week have freezers.
Really interested to hear about the supply chain aspect of all this.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Looks like we are going to have an issue with partners having naked juice out of the half gallon container as their partner markout.
Same type of issue as those stores that allow partners to have apple juice
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:02 PM
"How on earth are we supposed to keep frozen bananas when most stores don't have freezers. Only stores that are in the boonies where delivery of pastries is only 1-2 times a week have freezers."
Why would a store freeze pastries?
Posted by: why freeze | June 13, 2008 at 06:08 PM
With all these new wack-o drinks that keep coming out it's becoming clear that the "get back the roots of coffee" thing last season was strictly a cry for publicity and just another "Phase"
I'm still shocked there hasn't been a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frappuccino yet... or how bout a Peanut Butter Chocolate Frappuccino?
Posted by: Sheik | June 13, 2008 at 06:09 PM
For stores that don't have freezers: you'll probably get some type of ultra-thick styrofoam container to be kept in your walk-in that will keep frozen bananas frozen for only 24hrs. That means frozen banana delivery every night!
Posted by: Sheik | June 13, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Our store freezes pastries because we only get an order once a week from the dairy people. I think they come from St. Louis but I'm not positive. It makes everything taste freezer burnt, especially when I find pastries in there that were delivered in March.
Posted by: jenna | June 13, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Why Freeze:
The way pastry deliveries work in traditional markets is that they are delivered from our regional distribution hub every day. Because of the size of Starbucks, the bakeries that work to supply our pastry orders must bake far in advance. The pastries are shipped frozen to the distribution centers (DCs), thawed when it is time for their shipment to their store.
However, in a market where there isn't easy access to for trucks from a distribution center (IE stores in mountain areas), they only deliver the pastries once a week usually and keep the pastries frozen until they are ready to be thawed for use.
I remember one morning our delivery truck got into an accident. The company ended up having to send us pastries directly from the freezer since they hadn't thawed any for the next shipment yet. We had to use our warming ovens as a method of defrosting them.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Everybody here has freezers...I thought they were standard. Ours is a walk-in freezer so it is wonderful to stock up on everything! The market is not remote, we have 50 stores.
Posted by: TiredASM | June 13, 2008 at 06:32 PM
TiredASM:
Thats interesting. I really hope thats not the route of where this company is going. I'm sure it helps you control markouts a helluva a lot better than traditional pastry stores.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:36 PM
I don't think the bananas are frozen ... ?? I make periodic trips up to the area of test stores, though I missed the banana smoothie thing. However, recently I was up there and saw that the bananas were still available for purchase in those Starbucks and so I tried one blended into a mocha frap.
A barista told me that some people were buying the bananas for strawberries and cream frappuccinos.
hey, an awesome homosexual partner, are you at a 24 hour store? LOL
Posted by: Melody | June 13, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Melody, sounds like what Jamba Juice is doing then. They introduced fresh sliced bananas on top of their new breakfast granola smoothies and have some bananas available at the register for purchase.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Question about the Blended Lemonade Base. I know this was on the portal a month back or so but I couldn't find it today (when we actually need it surprise?). We received the base today but no real lemonade despite ordering the real lemonade. Are we not going to receive the regular lemonade while the blended promo is occurring? And should we be using it straight in the shaken tea lemonades or just regular lemonades? Today we just cut it in half with water but it still taste really gross.
Thanks for any help!
Posted by: Millstone | June 13, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Supply chain in this company really bothers me. From hearing about Millstones issue with having to add water to BLB for their tea lemonades to having many stores running out of splash sticks a week after its launch because the DCs were out.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Most of our district is completely out of Frap as well. :D
The thing is we don't know if we're suppose to be adding the h2o or just using the straight up concentrate?
Posted by: Millstone | June 13, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Millstone, when you say you are out of Frap, I'm assuming the Frappuccino powder base?
If so, you are supposed to brew a full batch of Italian Roast at half batch, and prepare it the way you would for Iced Coffee in the pitchers. It's been so long since I've had to do that so maybe someone else can chime in on it for us?
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 06:56 PM
I wish they could find out who was sharing all this info with you and then he/she could get fired.
Posted by: oh starbucks...(sigh) | June 13, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I don't think it really matters. It's just free press. As for being afraid of competition stealing our ideas before they launch, trust me, it takes a lot longer than 1 month to R&D an idea, prepare the supply chain for it, and train the frontline employees about it.
Starbucks knows what its doing. They want partners to be excited about it and talk it up with the customers.
They love having their promo info "leaked" onto this site. Its free press.
Posted by: Trent | June 13, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Starbucks is rediculous. Let's rename ourselves the "simple cup of coffee" wanna-be's driving our current simple minded employees nuts with these order. OH wait, speaking of would you like some toffee nut syrup with that coffee? Sure. Oh wait, okay skim milk too... fine.. oh and whip cream and caramel on top......... okay, oh and what? you want this healthy blend drink too with that cup of coffee? NO PROBLEM! screw all thisss...
Posted by: Employee | June 13, 2008 at 08:30 PM
seems to working well for jamba juice...........
Posted by: njstarbucker | June 13, 2008 at 08:45 PM
MILLSTONE!!
The Lemonade Blended Bev base is NOT for Shaken Tea Lemonades!
If you're out of Lemonade and teh DC didnt send any, then they're probably out in the warehouse, but dont use teh blended base, thats just gross. It's all thick....
Where's all the Store Managers in the company?? It pretty CLEARLY says not to use the base in tea lemonades...
Posted by: wholahay | June 13, 2008 at 08:52 PM
So anyone know why the Starbucks Hershey Chocolates are not available in store?
Posted by: choco lover | June 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Seriously.... how does an entire DC run out of items?
That seems crazy. If a supply chain can't handle the existing product line, how is it gonna handle all the new items in the works?
I don't get it. sbux talks about going back to its roots. I don't get it. Neither does Wall St.
Posted by: truth | June 13, 2008 at 09:45 PM
I didn't realize that this site today has turned into ihatestarbucks.com. You know, that is an actual site....
you might as well just go there...
Posted by: P.R.I.D.E. | June 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM
One more thing, if I were a strong director/VP in the SSC, and regularly reviewed this site, I might come to the conclusion that my hard work, sacrifice, and commitment to this transformation (with many 16 hour days) just may not be worth some snobby brats dilluting this brand...maybe that's why they're leaving...
then again, that's TRUTH's whole point, though most of you are buying right into his game....
sheesh....
Posted by: P.R.I.D.E. | June 13, 2008 at 10:02 PM
get back to coffee lasted for a season, ha ha.
i won't be lured by those synthetic faux-healthy protein-additive drinks when i know i can buy a pound of bananas for 49cents and blend it up just fine with soymilk (as if there isn't enough protein in that already?), add my own sugar free matcha powder and have a drink for about $1
Posted by: jen | June 13, 2008 at 10:56 PM
"My store is right next to a yoga center, so I know my regulars from there will be delighted to hear about healthier options and will probably love these (with soy milk of course :) )."
I am a regular milk drinking (skim, actually), steak eating, leather boot wearing girl that practices yoga. I know the above shouldn't rub me the wrong way, but it did. Maybe I secretly feel judged because I *don't* drink soy milk or cry about the enviorment all the time. Oh well. We can't all be stereotypes I guess.
Posted by: Yogie | June 13, 2008 at 11:01 PM
From the customer point of view, I love it-I will enjoy getting a protein shake for a partner beverage. From a management point of view, I cringe a bit. It's just one more thing on an enormous pile of other little things. Canadian partners have alot on their plates as it is (all the transformation agendas + we're keeping warming). I'm fortunate enough to have a great team, who I know will execute this well, but it still makes me nervous.
I'm one of the biggest cheerleaders Starbucks has, but as with warming, this just feels like I didn't sign up for this and I'm exhausted.
Posted by: doodle | June 13, 2008 at 11:24 PM
How much more stuff are they going to throw at us this year? Cmon already. This is sooo far from simplification and goes totally against the lean push going on in pnw.
Customers are barely intellegent enough to get through the current menu. You add shiny double shot menu board corner ads, bananas, new drink names, skinny this, these morons are going to pop a vessel and make us partners want to quit.
Posted by: pdxguy | June 13, 2008 at 11:37 PM
why is this company headed in this direction? i thought howard's feb/ mar resolutions for this company were explicitly directed at bringing the company clearly back to its roots.
i was unaware that banana smoothies were in the original store at pike place market...
i guess it was a bunch of b.s., much like the closing of stores for "re-training"...
as for those saying that bringing up this very valid point shows that someone hates sbux, i'd recommend that you not blindly follow the company. there's very little room to argue that banana smoothies are not involved anywhere in the roots of this company.
Posted by: sbux_watcher | June 13, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Hey P.R.I.D.E.--Seriously? There's nothing wrong with questioning things that are concerning about OUR company. I worry about those who don't. The reason we're running out at the DC's is because we're trying to save money on back-stock. I don't hate Starbucks...I sincerely worry about the decisions that are being made, and there's nothing wrong with that. If you would like to keep living in La-La, “I trust every decision land”, feel free. But don't criticize others for being concerned. This is a troubling time for this company. I’m tremendously concerned when we can’t get enough chips to make a new Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino…or whatever else others are running out of.
Please continue with your blind faith. As an SM I too have had my 14-16 hour days and think it’s my right, and my duty, to question this company and the decisions that are made.
Posted by: Concerned SM | June 13, 2008 at 11:48 PM
what are you talking about? Were you actually on the investor call when Howard laid out his transformation? He specifically described a transition to a health and wellness platform, as this is what our customer research has been showing...he often talks about complimentary options to our core products, vs. sugar laden offerings that may have been popular in the past, but off brand.
Again, would you rather have captain crunch frappacinos? I'm sure a few 4 year olds would love them...
Think about it. We are trying to (re)build a premium brand- I'm satisfied with this strategy, let's see how our partners decide to execute, as that will make all the difference.
Posted by: P.R.I.D.E. | June 13, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Why does this mean they are straying away from what the original intent. Nowhere in the mission statement does it say we'll have exclusively coffee. We can still focus on great quality coffee, and have smoothies, and frappuccinos, and pastry, because the general public can appreciate good quality coffee, but at the end of the day it comes down to fraps, and ultra sweet coffee like drinks like white mocha! This week, my store did 33% fraps, and we expect to get up near 50 this summer.... that is nearly $7,500 in sales right there.
Posted by: Jj | June 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM
That western Washington store which tested these, was that the one across the freeway from the Tulalip Outlets in Marysville?
I tried a sample of these a few months ago and didn't quite know what to think. I forget what the exact price was, but I remember it being expensive for what it was. If Starbucks wants to get back to its roots, then they should stop experimenting with all this fru-fru crap! Yet another unnecessarily complex menu item to remember. The more our drink menu it diluted, the more we go from making our core beverages really well, to everything just mediocre.
Posted by: Westcoast Barista | June 14, 2008 at 12:06 AM
PRIDE--We all know what happens when we launch "healthy offerings"...no one buys them! Remember the Pommegranite and Tangerine Juice Blends. No WC = No customer interest.
And perhaps you missed my point...you are saying people "hate starbucks" and should visit that site when they don't toe the company line! That's not fair. I have given a whole lot to this company and you'll have to excuse me if I think running out of product in a DC is unacceptable.
This new banana "Vivanno" line sounds like a boat-load of hassles. No matter how great your partners are...there's only so much buy-in you can get from them.
It seems half the company still can't figure out how to swipe a SBUX card for benefits...this is scary.
But is it the partners or SM fault? Shouldn't this be able to be done automatically when the card is tendered?
There's an easier way to do things and somebody better start coming up with how to implement them. Otherwise it's not just customers we'll be losing...
Posted by: Concerned SM | June 14, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I don't see how my comments could be construed as "hate".
It serves me no personal gain if sbux suffers. I hope for sbux to be successful.
But these new programs are representative of the shotgun approach going on at SSC right now.
Howard says one thing at the annual meeting, then the new initiatives completely represent something different altogether. (Cmon, does ANYONE really believe all the spin about PPR now that the dust has settled?)
There are so many disjointed, un-lean, scattershot programs/transformations/initiatives going on right now that most people (other than the kool-aid drinkers) can't make any sense of it.
And this includes important people at SSC. And that's why they are leaving.
There's a whole lot of change for change's sake going on, and practically zero unifying strategy. (And don't try to tell me otherwise, because I'm in a much better position to know than 99.9% of you.)
Posted by: truth | June 14, 2008 at 12:37 AM
"The more our drink menu it diluted, the more we go from making our core beverages really well, to everything just mediocre."
Couldn't have said it better myself. I completely agree!!!
Posted by: Cali ASM | June 14, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Hey Pride, for all your moaning and whining about a person talking about an upcoming promotion, did you even once stop to consider that this might do Starbucks more good than harm?
No competitor can come up with recipes, distribution, logistics, and training in a month. For you to suggest otherwise is absurd at the least and reflects poorly upon the intelligence of the Starbucks workforce.
I think this is a step away from what the company needs - I can foresee a lot of waste associated with this product "platform" and that's not what we need right now.
For those of you following blindly into every little thing, following Uncle Howie blindly like sheep off to slaughter, it frightens me. It's eerie - almost cult-like.
Posted by: P.R.I.D.E. needs to get a C.L.U.E. | June 14, 2008 at 01:17 AM
Yogie,
Didn't mean to offend you. I'm so sorry! The people I know who practice yoga all drink soy milk and I know it's a stereotype and I was just poking fun.
Posted by: seventysix [76] | June 14, 2008 at 01:34 AM
"With all these new wack-o drinks that keep coming out it's becoming clear that the "get back the roots of coffee" thing last season was strictly a cry for publicity and just another phase'"
My thoughts exactly!! Protein drinks are a very niche market, much like organic milk. The whole "power" thing many years ago was a big flop, and organic milk didn't fare much better. BAD decision on SBUX part to revisit something that failed miserably in the past. All that time and energy should be invested in reinvigorating the store experience.
Posted by: xsbuxdm | June 14, 2008 at 04:27 AM
You know what I find extremely funny? People get mad if they are called "haters", yet they throw around the "KOOL AID" drinkers phrase. Seems kind of hypocritical to me. You don't like to be called a name, yet you call others names.
Posted by: Darleen | June 14, 2008 at 06:41 AM