It's Vivanno launch day. Share your stories here.

Customers, what do you think of the new "healthier" drink? Baristas, what kind of reaction are you getting? (Press release: "Starbucks Launches Vivanno Nourishing Blends")

Comments

[Westcoast Barista]

Chiquita, couldn't have said it better myself!!

More than ever before, the company has clearly lost any sense of direction, and they are trying practically anything to fend off quickly nose-diving sales, potential store closures, and especially the anemic stock.

Very fortunately, even though I put in casual and sporadic hours with Starbucks, I am not beholden to dishing out extra helpings of kool-aid infused pre-rehearsed pabulum to my customers. Even still with me being my store's contrarian, I still generally consider myself providing a much more honest and genuine "Starbucks experience" than many of the other partners at my store.

[smalrus]

I've got to say... I'm having the Chocolate Banana one right now and it's kind of boring tasting. There's no real banana flavor (Jamba Juice, this is not), the bittersweet chocolate is barely tasteful, and even though it's less expensive than a Frap, the price point is still going to be a killer.

Paying to have a healthy treat is one thing, but under these economic conditions, $3.95 (here in Manhattan) is a lot to pay for a grande banana with powder. Even with consideration of price fluctuations in local markets, I bet the downturn is too steep for Vivanno to be a profitable line.

Unless they tweak the drink, they'd be better off bringing back Chantico.

The idea is worth while

[smalrus]

Whoops, I meant to say "The idea is worthwhile, but unless they tweak the drink, they'd be better off bringing back Chantico."

[P.R.I.D.E.]

One of my favorite quotes:
"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better- King Whitney Jr.

I think we need to build "change training" into our barista 100 level classes. Progress requires us to innovate, make some mistakes, and constantly try new things. That is who we are. It is who we've been. Heck, Howard changed the company from selling whole bean to adding espresso bars in the 1980s, and since then we've had constant change. It's innate within the Starbucks culture, and to me, it keeps things refreshing.

[Coffee Soldier]

There was an action item a week ago stating the banana sharpies would not be coming.....I think it's fiscally responsible of the company. We don't need banana sharpies...imagine how much they cost...at 5 per a store. I'm sure it was a a couple thousand dollars saved. I also doubt Sharpie makes a banana sharpie and they were going to be specially produced for us. Good job saving some of our money for once Starbucks! My store just missed our controllable contribution by 78$ for Q3...so glad my smallwares charge was almost 400$ for all the banana crap for a frozen market.

[Cali ASM]

Just found out that a store in Atwater, CA is closing. The Bellevue and Winton Way store to be exact. This is not 100% confirmed, but one of the partners told me they might close in 45 days.

I was also told this may be the only store in the Central Valley of CA that is closing. Not sure if this is true or not and also not sure if this just for right now or for the entire 600 stores.

[truth]

Market up 1/2%. Starbucks down nearly 2%

The market doesn't love Vivianno.

[AG]

@P.R.I.D.E

I think you're right about the "change" stuff. I worked at SBUX for a year and absolutely hated any time my day-to-day routines had to change.

"You mean I have to use the shot glasses? I've gotten used to pushing out 35 orders a half hour doing it MY way..."

But now I work for an internet company. We change monthly, if not weekly or daily. It's part of the business here.

It's easier with a company that has two offices, of course, than one that has thousands of stores, but I think you're on to something.

[BN Cafe]

CALI ASM:

I'm working at a Barnes & Noble Cafe in Central Valley, CA... San Joaquin County Specifically.. I am a farily new employee and I'm wondering if you can give me any information on the Recipe Cards for the Drinks. I have asked my managers repeatedly to no avail.. And am nearly at the Point of Writing the Recipes down as I learn them, except I am still unsure as to whether or not I am learning them correctly. A little insight would be a great help!!

[Tall Drip]

The stock market loves only one thing right now, and it's oil. A low stock price doesn't necessarily correlate to an unprofitable company.

[truth]

@ tall- oil is down $5 today. Your point is?

sbux is down 2.7% And MCD is up 1.5%.

Stocks of companies who just launched their next brand-saving product don't act this way.

No one believes vivvano is an answer, let alone THE answer.

[StarbucksCustomer-1]

I am a Starbucks customer.

I went in today and the employees were wearing the Vivano shirts. It was about 11:30AM and the store was empty. I tried a sample of the chocolate banana. One of my family members also tried it. The flavor was good but it didn't taste sweet enough. and it didn't have enough flavor. It was also too thick. The combination of ingredients needs modified.

So my family member ordered the orange mango banana. She did not like it but I had a sip and I loved it.

The one problem is that it took a long time for the barrista to make the Vivano and there were no customers in the store. I can only imagine it with a crowded store. This Starbucks gets really crowded and packed on Thursdays because this location is at a lifestyle center and right outside the Starbucks is a stage and every Thursday there is a band that plays and the public comes out to listen and there is a a huge crowd.

[StarbucksCustomer - 1]

Me again.

In my opinion, Starbucks should get rid or modify the chocolate banana vivano. Too thick, not much flavor.
Keep the orange mango banana Vivano. It is really good.

[sbuxnewbie]

finally got to make the Vivannos today - the bananas just arrived yesterday, on my day off.

The orange mango banana isn't bad - could use less banana.

I'm not in love with the banana chocolate,, however. The chocolate flavour is fine, but the 'nana is too strong, and the protein powder seems more out front than in the orange mango.

On the other hand, half of the folks who sampled it bought one. (either flavor). One regular customer sampled a banana chocolate, and was about to order it when i mentioned the orange mango. He asked for that with two espresso shots in the mix - and liked it.

What I noticed was, he paid with a registered Starbucks card, and the two shots were no charge on the receipt. he was prepared to pay the full price, and was pleasantly surprised (as I was!) when he saved bucks, and the total was $4.05, tax included.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

The link to the press release is now working. FYI.

[seventysix [76]]

Truth,

It has been less than 24 hours since Vivanno launched. You can't realistically say that a 2% drop today was because no one likes it. Please be quiet.

In general though I don't like your attitude or negativity. Some partners within this company still have passion and love what they do. So what if we're in a gigantic recession? I go into work everyday and make a healthy handful of people happy. That's all I care about. I just like making somebody's day a little bit brighter.

We're in a period of trying new things. We're trying a lot of differently shaped puzzle pieces until one fits. Maybe I'm just madly in love with this company and what it stands for. I fell in love with this job a year ago and I still am.

So hold the negativity. What good is it doing?

Thanks,
seventysix [76]
Partner

[Just about done]

Is anyone in Cali scared to DEATH about cleaning the Taylor machine tonight???

My store didnt get the sheets for the Equipment maintenance book on it-all we have is the DVD to refer to ( when we cant remember the 4000 parts and how they go back together). We get 1 person and 1 hour to do the whole thing on the first night...OT looking likely...YIKES!!!!!

[detail]

Meh. Other than banana, the chocolate's taste/texture was like a SlimFast Chocolate Royale. Maybe I'll sample the mango.

[coffee_master]

banana costume? really? wow....good thing we dont have that in my store....we just have to wear the vivanno apron IF were ACTIVE SAMPLING the drink.

when we were sampling it yday customers like it..so im having a good vibe about the drink. the only thing is i didnt like all the "commercial" we put on our door to promote it.....too much stickers. i think the menu board looks good though.

[truth]

"We're trying a lot of differently shaped puzzle pieces until one fits."

Translation: Expect more banana costumes.

[Tall Drip]

"@ tall- oil is down $5 today. Your point is?"

hehe - yeah, but what have all the oil stocks done prior to today? It will go back up, the market makers are just trying to flush the peons out, then jump back on the profit train.

I was trying to say, don't judge a company by its stock price. I think the market has bigger things to worry about lately....I don't think Vivanno is the cause of today's drop.

[jacquelyn]

In response to one of the questions posted above, the Starbucks home page is calling this a smoothie.

I'm excited to try it. But then again I make my own kind of smoothie evry day for breakfast: an Alba double fudge packet, whole banana, ice, and skim milk. The only thing I am missing is the protein powder, which I plan to purchase. I'll be curious to see if the Starbucks version is better or worse than mine.

[Green Bean Barista]

I was on the opening shift this morning for the Vivanno launch at my store. It is a deployment challenge when you are running a busy drive thru and cafe store with four partners during a morning rush. Oh and did I mention that I am in a test market for the new frappucinnos. Cold bar now takes forever but tastes great.

Many of my customers tried and liked the new Vivannos, and we sold out of Berry Stellas by noon. Overall, I hope we get some serious labor to go with Vivanno. I felt like our store underperformed due to not enough people on the floor. I hope I earn a dedicated cold bar station position soon cause I needed one.

Oh and Tracy- I was excited to see Gazebo too!

[AJ]

I tried the Chocolate Banana. I would not order it again. Does not have much flavor.

[Starbucks Shareholder]

I tried the Orange Mango today and thought it was pretty good. It actually served as my lunch replacement (didn't get around to actually grabbing lunch anywhere).

I just wanted to note that today's performance of SBUX isn't necessarily an indication of anything. How you can correlate fluctuations in Starbuck's stock price with whether or not "the market" "likes" Vivanno is quite beyond me. I am "the market" and I quite like it. I hope it'll be a hit, but I really don't know. And I suspect that's what most shareholders think. It's way too early for any shareholder to decide to "like" Vivanno or not (from a stock value perspective, that is).

[piratebarista]

@bncafe

I can't remember the BCB recipe, but I think this is the OBMB or whatever the marking is:

(Only use Grande measurement on blending pitchers)
Naked juice concentrate to first line
Milk choice to second line
Full banana
Scoop from special Vivanno ice scoop
3 leveled off scoops of protein/fiber powder

[Westcoast Barista]

So I take it no complaints from fuming customers who are rightly pissed off that they can't get their decaf Caramel Frappuccino in the evening anymore? We still have many customers requesting light cream based Frappuccinos, let alone requesting decaf coffee Frappuccino base.

And as for the stock price dip, Truth is completely correct with pointing to the direct correlation between stock movement and corporate announcements (ex. store closings, new products, etc.). You're a fool to believe otherwise, and more so of one to be convinced to stick any of your wages into bean stock before it hits rock bottom.

[LMD]

Since us Target stores won't be doing the Vivanno just yet (I won't complain too much about it -- we have all the smallwares and the powder, it's just the juice and bananas Target is having problems with), I'm planning on trying it later tonight. I'm really looking forward to the OMBB with matcha.

New drinks, new syrups, revivals of old syrups, even a new mug arriving in the order is like Christmas morning to me. I don't know why some people don't embrace it! It's so much fun for me to be able to talk to guests about a new product -- it's like a challenge, to be able to talk them into buying it. I love it! :-) But then again, maybe I'm just weird.

[Trent]

My stomach seems to be pretty sensitive to these drinks. I had that "I have to take a dump now or my ass is going to explode" feeling for the rest of my shift after I had an orange mango one for my breakfast.

[Starbucks Shareholder]

"And as for the stock price dip, Truth is completely correct with pointing to the direct correlation between stock movement and corporate announcements (ex. store closings, new products, etc.)."

Yes, and if you do a little research you can find out how much Apple's stocked dropped on the day the first iPod was announced. What a failure that iPod thing turned out to be, right? Market fluctuations on a product launch day should be used as a template for investment decisions.

[Starbucks Shareholder]

I meant to say: "Market fluctuations on a product launch day should NOT be used as a template for investment decisions."

[marion]

Ick - did you know that in French it meand Red Snapper :)

[truth]

@tall- Yeah, we are on the same page. Thanks.

@ starbucks shareholder-- There's this little wall street saw called 'buy the rumor, sell the news'. Well, the rumor of viviano was here for the last month. And the market sold right through it.

And today's launch? The market yawned and kept right on selling.

This product launch is costing a gajillion dollars and the market shrugs. That's not good.

A shorter response:

Vivanno is the next Ipod? Please. Wasn't that what PPR was supposed to be?

[P.R.I.D.E.]

Westcoast barista- what have you done when a customer requests a lovely cup of chantico? Or a Pomogranate juice blend? We've had a revolving menu over the years so you'll definitely want to get on the bus and learn how to appease customers by offering alternatives while empathizing. That's kinda our job.

[Gabe]

I give the new Vivanno Orange Mango Banana drink 86 out of 100. As in, 86 it off the menu. It needs something like, rum or added sugar.

[zokuga]

Sorry to go back to dreary news...but if a place serves Vivanno, can we assume that the store ISN'T slated for closing, either at the end of this month or later this year? Why go to the trouble of bringing all that stuff in and training people if you are going to lay them off soon?

[Portland Barista]

Try the orange mango banana blend with soy instead of 2% and 3 scoops matcha added in! Yum!

[PhillyBarista]

My store must have given out 300+ samples of both types today and had ONE person purchase one before I had left. We had someone out in the cafe activly sampling it, but no one was biting. The most comment reaction was "its kind of bland..."

I really hope this goes the way of Chantico. I dont blame them for trying, but seriously, stop grasping at straws. I'd have rather seen all the money going to educating a lot of these baristas about the coffees we sell. When I got into another store and quiz the baristas (pretending to be a customer) better than 75% of them can't answer simple questions (single origin vs blend). Seriously, focus on the coffee or drop the "coffee" from Starbucks Coffee and just become "Starbucks".

[Starbucks Shareholder]

> And today's launch? The market yawned and kept right on selling.

Which is pretty much irrelevant. Wall Street's assessment on product launch day quite frankly doesn't interest me as an investor. They're not "selling" based on the product's financials, since those are not available. There's nothing more to it than hysteria, which really an appropriate basis on which to judge a product launch.

> This product launch is costing a gajillion dollars and the market shrugs. That's not good.

"Gajillion" dollars? What the hell does that even mean? Can we stick to rational discourse?

> Vivanno is the next Ipod? Please. Wasn't that what PPR was supposed to be?

Of course it isn't. The point still stands.

[Cali ASM]

CALI ASM:

I'm working at a Barnes & Noble Cafe in Central Valley, CA... San Joaquin County Specifically.. I am a farily new employee and I'm wondering if you can give me any information on the Recipe Cards for the Drinks. I have asked my managers repeatedly to no avail.. And am nearly at the Point of Writing the Recipes down as I learn them, except I am still unsure as to whether or not I am learning them correctly. A little insight would be a great help!!

Posted by: BN Cafe | Jul 15, 2008 12:30:32 PM

Is there anything in particular or all drink recipes? I would be happy to help.

[Westcoast Barista]

PRIDE, I was a customer long before I became a barista. Therefore, I know full well how Joe Average feels when they're told their favorite drink is no longer served. Generally, pretty much all customers understand special season offerings like eggnog and pumpkin spice, but many have a hard time grappling with stuff like certain fruit flavored syrups and decaf coffee Frappuccino mysteriously disappearing off the menu board.

My biggest concern is like the handling of the store closings, corporate communications doesn't have a clue in hell of what they're doing. On one hand, tell partners to steer clear of calling the Vivanno a "smoothie", but on the official release completely contradict yourself by directly calling it a "smoothie."

Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing!!

[SORBANNO]

So I've heard some of you have had to wear banana suits to sample out the new Vivanno? We actually got a bright yellow apron which isn't too bad. so far, our customers have been neutral about the drink, since most of them are iced coffee fiends. we sampled a few out, but we've only sold a few so far. I tried the new Sorbetto drink (I live in Southern California, the test market for Sorbetto), and I was incredibly impressed. Reminded me of Pinkberry (and Howard owns a bit of that company too) so it was only a matter of time until he introduced something yogurt-ish into Starbucks. If we manage to sell a bunch of these in So. Cal, you can bet its going to spread like wildfires towards other markets in the country.

[Darleen]

Truth,

It has been less than 24 hours since Vivanno launched. You can't realistically say that a 2% drop today was because no one likes it. Please be quiet.

In general though I don't like your attitude or negativity. Some partners within this company still have passion and love what they do. So what if we're in a gigantic recession? I go into work everyday and make a healthy handful of people happy. That's all I care about. I just like making somebody's day a little bit brighter.

Well said 76, well said!

[Pee]

Herman:
"Pee:
What? How did you come to that comparison? You do know that Starbucks started out as a coffee shop, I guess. But you really think Wal-Mart started out as a store that sold walls? You are really unaware that the company is named after its founder, the late Sam Walton? Get it? Wal, Walton?

I feel sad right now that you thought you had a good one there. What's next? K-Mart should only sell the letter K?"

Nice one :). I was making a satire of ignorance based on others ignorance to show how STUPID it is. Please, tell me how not making Frapps or Vivanno's improve tea or coffee quality? I think Starbucks offering other choices for NON coffee drinkers is a good thing. The coffee and tea is unaffected by it. It is NOT a legitimate complaint.

[thanksalatte]

I think its a great product for partners and our customers! I am excited that we are jumping on the healthy platform and look forward to more flavors!

[Mark]

The yellow apron for active sampling the Vivanno was the company's initiative. The banana suits, hats, etc. were not. Any SM or DM who tells you otherwise is full of it. The least we can do is allow our partners to maintain some dignity. It's bad enough we're walking billboards every time a new product rolls out with these shirts.

[Westcoast Barista]

"Please be quiet." - Darleen

"In general though I don't like your attitude or negativity." - 76

Quite shocking how so many within the company are so opposed to any sort of constructive criticism whatsoever!!

Perhaps, just perhaps, hiding behind the euphoric safety of the rose colored glasses is what has hurt this company from the start??

The problem is that with so many partners, Howard is in fact God, and the company can do absolutely no wrong. Please tell me how this is healthy for any type of organization - in your family, at your work, in politics and government, or otherwise?

[SuperBarista]

I opened this morning. And when I got off. My store manager informed that we nearly at our sales goal! That was exciting. I like the partner prizes for active sampling. I personally dont like the banana chocolate... but i love the orange mango banana! Most who we sampled to, loved them. I think it will be a hit only for the summer. But summer only.

[starbucks partner]

our store had green bananas delivered. required some creativity. people liked the vivannos, though.

[Decaf Drinker]

I visited our brand new local store today, it's been open about a month. No one even offered to sample the new drinks - didn't suggest them at the register - nothing! I was a little surprised given they were wearing new shirts, the signs for the launch were around the store, and people in line were talking about them.

Got my usual iced vanilla latte, but no super service - which kinda bothered me about a brand new store.