Reuters asks: In 10 years, will will "Vivanno" be as iconic a word as "Frappuccino?"

The new drink officially launches July 15, but some stores are already giving out samples. I noticed that baristas are wearing "7-15-2008 Vivanno" shirts in an attempt to get customers to ask about the new drink. Is it working? (Read the Reuters story || A second Vivanno story)

Comments

[139XXXX]

I think she says it best:
http://147xxxx.tumblr.com/post/42059060/new-starbucks-beverage-vivanno-or-as-i-like-to

[John]

The Naked Orange/Mango base is wayyyyyy too sweet, and the orange juice just overpowers the mango and banana flavors. Before coming to work, I had made a fresh banana/mango smoothie and the Vivanno just doesn't compare at all.

You can make a Vivanno at home by taking a glass of orange juice, add 8 cups of sugar, and stir vigorously until smooth.

[Mark]

We tried the banana mango in our store yesterday, and it was very good. But I don't think it's the next frappuccino. Even in our health-conscious society, the fact of the matter is indulgence sells. I don't think we'd ever see a healthy choice like Vivanno take over the frappuccino. Everyone talks about eating/drinking healthier and having healthier options, but how many actually follow through? Starbucks was meant to be a luxury, an indulgence, not a GNC. And I think that will prove true in the end. Vivanno will have it's supporters, but the rest will continue to whine that we don't have enough options, or the products we offer don't taste good enough. Vivanno will fade into the background eventually, just like the rest of Starbucks' efforts over the past two years to appease the customer, only to have them stick their noses up and find something else to complain about. Starbucks is trying too hard to make everyone happy, when the reality is we all learn when we're young that you're never going to make all the people happy all the time. We should just be who we're supposed to be, who we were meant to be, and let the customers choose for themselves. We're a speciality coffee shop, and the fact we're in the same discussions with Dunkin and McD's is a disgrace. That's why Jim Donald failed and why we're closing so many stores. We don't have the market to be on every corner in America, but I don't see why that can't be ok.

[LouLou]

A couple of questions. Background - I was a seven year Starbucks partner and I left the company right before the recipes rolled out for these new Vivannos. My husband, however is a partner and so I've been able to try both flavors.

Does anyone else notice that the beverages have a slight bitter aftertaste? I think that after you drink it for a minute or so the bitterness kind of disappears but I noticed it with both flavors.

Secondly, I read above that someone mentioned the fiber comes from chicory root.(I haven't verified this info.) However, I do know that FiberOne's delicious granola bars are made with chicory root, and they cause very uncomfortable bloating, belching, and GAS. I am talking about HUGE QUANTITIES OF UNCOMFORTABLE GAS. (google it if you don't believe me.) I know this firsthand - as a matter of fact we call them "fart bars" at our house. I surely hope that the Vivanno drinks do not cause this safe effect. Anyone notice side effects?

[quaquaqua]

Starbucks should bring back Tazoberry.

Or at least Pomegranate Fruit Juice Blend.

Now THAT was good.

[Wyfind]

I just made the Vivanno for myself being one of the last partners to do so at my store after urging from my ASM. He encouraged me to try it because he thought I would like it. I followed the directions completely although I did use a grande scoop of ice instead of the special one for the Vivanno (or at least that's what another partner told me). It wasn't chalky nor did it have any aftertastes or funky side effects. I thought that the drink was pretty good; it felt healthy and wasn't an overpowering sweet flavor, which is good. I'm satisfied and I'll definitely try to sell a lot on Tuesday and onwards encouraging people to get these drinks, as a lot of people actually ask me what I like to drink and order accordingly.

[JC]

Remember Tiazzi? And then Tazoberry? I'm sure Vivanno will follow in line shortly.

The thing about Starbucks is that it used to be a fun job that paid WAY more and they treated you WAY better than any comparable job. AND the product that you were selling was actually cool. Partners were happy to go to work and were excited about COFFEE. The whole third place thing just kinda happened.

Now you can make just as much at the golden arches or any mall job, middle management is the devil and you're forced to hock fingerpuppets and Jamba Juice.

And they wonder where the magic went.

[melissa]

We sell tons of energy packets at my store, the vivanno is delicious and our customers have liked it. all of my partners are really excited, i think that they are more excited about the 15th because this southeast regional free tall coffee promotion is ending. regardless of the reason its nice to see them excited about something.

[melissa]

ps. if you want to try something delicious blend the mango and strawberries out of the fruit cup with a super food and some ice...amazing.

[TripleGrande]

When it comes to Vivanno, I don't hate it. I don't like it, but I don't hate it. I think it tastes ok but I don't think it's going to be as iconic as the Frappucino. I do honestly think we should have more than one size because the customers are going to ask for it and want it.

I think Starbucks should have though about this more. They are limting revenue and customer service with this launch. It's just sad that rather than put out an excellent product, we're just relying on hype.

[Reni]

Vivanno is interesting, but the whey protein is just gross. Hopefully vegetarians know not to consume it, as it contains the lining of a cows stomach.

[kilroy]

Whey protein comes from milk!

[100% Kona made in a Clover]

I miss Affogatto style frappuccinos!! I still make my Vanilla Bean Frap with two shots poured on top with caramel sauce though. I even teach new partners how to make affagatto style frappuccinos, just in case we get a custy who was hooked on them like I was. Vivannos are good, although I did not like the mango one. My new opening shift breakfast?.!

[realcoffeehouse]

I thought you Starbucks folks were getting back to your roots? But as you will all soon see, there is only one thing that drives the decisions of a huge public company, the investors.

And P.R.I.D.E., how much of the magic koolaid have you had?

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

If Koolaid equates to the best job I've had in my career of 15 years, where I've worked with people I actually enjoy being around, where I can be myself in an authentic way, and where I can wake up truly looking forward to spending my day at work, then I'll drink gallons and gallons and gallons and won't feel ashamed.

I push back, I say what needs to be said, I just don't feel the need to do it on this gossipsite. I take action with the people who can actually create action, vs. whining and complaining and pointing the finger on a gossip site.

P.R.I.D.E.
Personal
Responsibility
In
Delivering
Excellence

[Wyfind]

PRIDE, that means a lot. Where are you anyway?

[Barista Joe]

You guys want a real treat? Ditch the protein powder, throw in the banana, soy milk, mocha, and chocolate chips. Use a bigger size ice scoop, and viola: banana chocolate chip Vivanno. Tastes so good, it should be illegal.

[JJ]

Whey protein comes from milk products with rennet protein, which is indeed from the inner lining of a cow stomach. It's found in a lot of cheeses.

[Pee]

Vivanno is SOOOOOOOOOo good! Whoever doesn't like it doesn't like fiber and fruit. It's seriously amazing. No one, customer or barista, hated it. We loved it.

[Gord]

Whey protein is a dairy protein and comes from cow's milk. It does NOT come from animal flesh. In the United States whey protein is a co-product of the cheese making process and in most cases a microbial type of rennet is used in the manufacturing process. Whey protein is acceptable for any vegetarian diet that allows dairy products including lacto-ovo, lacto, and ovo types of vegetarian diets.

Microbial rennet

Some molds such as Rhizomucor miehei are able to produce proteolytic enzymes. These molds are produced in a fermenter and then specially concentrated and purified to avoid contamination with unpleasant side products of the mold growth. At the present state of scientific research, governmental food safety organizations such as the EFSA deny QPS (Qualified Presumption of Safety) status to enzymes produced especially by these molds.

Granted, I have no clue if this is the actual method that is used to create the Whey Protein used in the Vivanno drinks, but thought I would at least mention that vegetarians may very well be able to have Vivanno.

[original JJ]

yeah, the protein is made with rennet, which is why I wouldn't eat it,

The Vivanno w/o the powder, and made with soy is delicious. The chocolate one, is extra tasty with a few scoops of chocolate chips. The Mango-banana one is also really good with 2 scoops of matcha.

I like it. I don't think it'll be iconic, or make the brand, but it will help. Especially if they start making talls, and venti.

Also, on a side note, why can't they do a banana puree, with no sugar added, so we don't need to keep bananas in the store?

[allie]

what happened to going back to the basics? this vivanno crap is ridiculous, seriously. since when do COFFEE shops sell protein drinks? not to mention, these drinks are def going to slow down lines when there are rushes. so now as a barista i have to run from espresso bar to frap bar to vivanno bar? thanks a lot starbs.

[barista]

Oh, please, we all know it's just a cold beverage station. You're using the same blenders and ice and everything so stop whining.

[JJ]

The protein in the powder DOES contain rennet, as does the asiago cheese bagel and the Naked Protein juice so these three items are NOT safe for vegetarians.

[original JJ]

Why can't starbucks have great coffee, and still have a smoothie drink for customers who maybe are looking for something like that? It'll sell, and it'll sell big, more profit then pike place is now. None of this should compromise the coffee. Until they discontinue espresso and brewed coffee from the stores, then it is still about the coffee. Just not exclusively about the coffee.

[Pee]

I love how my "Vivanno's are awesome" post got deleted. One sided maybe?

[what?]

Is everyone hearing $3.75 before tax on the Vivannos? My manager thinks it might be different in other areas?...is that similar in price to that Sorbetto since they are pretty much the same thing....i think?

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

PEE -- Perhaps your "awesome" post wasn't posted because the filter had problems with the urine-like name.

[Vegetarian]

Whoever told you about the rennet is out to lunch. My DM and I have both been talking to partners at the SSC and it's from NON-ANIMAL DERIVED SOURCES. They worked damn hard to make sure that vegetarians could have Vivanno.

[asmbitch]

Following many others points on how we are drifting more and more away from our coffee roots, id like to share a personal story. Our SM at my location, was talking to me and my co-asm about the new schematic and set up for the CBS fridge for the new Vivano Launch. My SM stated, that although Decaf Frappucino was a BIG seller in our store, especially because we are open much later than other stores. However, my SM said that it was MUCH more important to boost Vivano UPH's as opposed to building on our Frappcino Initiatives for in light of its launch. So as a result, due to space constraints, decaf base will no longer be prepared and stored in the fridge. I was a little shocked by this decision, sure, Vivano is the new "ra ra" with upper management, but are they really that stupid? Why would they ever try and sacrifice a product which sells well, in order to risk it completely on another product. What more silly to me, is that it is being done as an "all or nothing" sort of deal, rather than perhaps cutting down the amounts of Decaf base that we hold, or by coming to some sort of healthy mid way point, they just decide to cut the whole thing. Sure, many stores do not carry decaf base simply due to demand, however,if its doing well,where the rationale?

[EX]

I worked at sbux back when I was in high school ('97-'99 and it was AWESOME, hooray coffee and great people/mgmt! I would have stayed longer if I didn't move out of state after HS) and then again in a different state in 2005 (uhh, hello Chantico & co., poor mgmt, automatic machines, and fighting to preserve coffee knowledge and customer connections that baristas didn't care about anymore! I thought it was just a local problem but now am not so sure!).

I just want to say that I also miss Tiazzi (the ONLY sbux blended bev I have ever truly enjoyed) and Vivanno sounds disgusting (and filled with SUGAR from the fruit concentrates and syrup, how "healthy" is that?? Not saying that Tiazzi was healthy, but it certainly wasn't marketed as such :) ).

Anyway, I would much rather have a smoothie from a smoothie shop or make a truly healthy blended bev at home than drink Vivanno! I will be interested to see how Vivanno does. Something tells me the staying power of this beverage won't live up to the artificially-inflated hype.

And as another summer goes by, I'm soooo glad I'm in the IT world now and far away from those blenders . . . ahhhhhhh :D I'm passionate about lots of things, coffee included, but NOT about those sugary ice-cream-esque concoctions ;) Just my opinion!

[Horace]

"Vivanno sounds disgusting (and filled with SUGAR from the fruit concentrates and syrup, how "healthy" is that??"

There is no fruit concentrate or syrup in Vivanno.

[justacustomer]

If I can walk down a supermarket's drink aisle and find a 4-pack of Vivanno then it'll be 'as iconic as frappuccino' is.

[luna]

Starbucks making America and the world fatter and fatter...........

[Luna's Arch Nemesis]

Oh please. If people would actually learn a little thing called portion control then they wouldn't be fat.

I probably only have a frappuccino once or twice a month, and its always a tall. Generally with light or no whipped cream.

I'm not fat.

Moderation, people.

[Billy]

I think the Vivanno is terrible. I've tasted both the chocolate and the mango ones and they taste like cough syrup. I think they're disgusting, the bananas are BOUND to leave fruit flies in the store, and I hope this one goes away just like everything else does in 2-3 months. Whatever happened to your re-focus on coffee, Howard???

Disgruntled 10+ year partner,
Billy

[Billy]

To "someperspective" who wrote about job security and our 'personal opinions.' If that's a threat, then you are exactly what Starbucks doesn't need right now. Someone else trying to belittle or threaten employees (retail employees) who are the bread and butter of this company. Go stick your head in a blender full of bananas, buddy! (I'm sure it'd taste better!)

Billy

[Wyfind]

I started being more active about hyping it up and I've made them as my partner drink and sampled away the left-over drink in the blender and everyone responds very positively to the mango orange banana so perhaps you guys are just making it incorrectly.

[LouLou]

To Luna above: Starbucks isn't making the world fatter and fatter, the world is making itself fatter and fatter and blaming their poor personal choices on companies like Starbucks. I worked for Starbucks for 7 years, during the Atkins craze and the more recent "skinny" platform. I think it is a great thing that we make lower fat, lower calorie beverages for the health conscious who want to indulge! We also offer fattening and decadent treats which are ok to have every once in a while. The problem is that the US is full of people who repeatedly overindulge under the premise of "caffeine boosts," "comfort" and "energy," and then blame the restaurants, manufacturers, and fast food joints when they become overweight and unhealthy. Starbucks does offer caffeinated beverages with less than 100 calories, but people opt for 600 calorie artery cloggers.

Another thing that bothers me about Starbucks clientèle, is that some people expect be able to buy every beverage in a fat-free, sugar free, diabetic friendly , low carb, vegan, organic, hormone free version. Most reasonable people with health or personal restrictions on foods realize that their situation significantly limits their choices. Why should Starbucks be any different?? No Ma'am I cannot make you a sugar free, carbohydrate free, diabetic, decaf organic frappuccino!! (at least, not yet!)

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

To "someperspective" who wrote about job security and our 'personal opinions.' If that's a threat, then you are exactly what Starbucks doesn't need right now. Someone else trying to belittle or threaten employees (retail employees) who are the bread and butter of this company. Go stick your head in a blender full of bananas, buddy! (I'm sure it'd taste better!)

Billy

Are you kidding me- you are supposedly a 10+ year partner and this is how you respond to someperspective's post? I don't know how you found that post threatening, it simply pointed out that we have a choice to make: 1)Run this ship into the ground by only serving what we personally find appealing or 2)allow our customers determine what succeeds and what fails, by serving the new promotions and hearing what our customers have to say.

I have a really hard time believing that you've made it through here for 10+ years when you tell people to blend their heads with bananas, but this is a gossip site so we'll never know...we don't even call each others employees so that was a bit suspicious from a 10 year partner...

[LouLou]

Billy-

I agree with PRIDE. Your post speaks of "what our company doesn't need right now," and yet you call yourself a "disgruntled 10+ year partner," bash your company's newest promotion, and mock Starbucks' refocus on coffee. Regardless of whether Starbucks' business decisions are profitable or "make sense" to you, if you plan on pointing fingers regarding someone else's bad attitude you should probably keep yours in check publicly. (If you want to avoid criticism.)

[tallgrandeventi]

I made both orginal varieties today and liked them both, though the Mocha one was too chocolaty for me personally, so I will reduce the pumps next time. None of the partners in our store felt the beverages were at all chalky as someone had posted here, rather we all commented how smooth they went down and how they were less icey than the "iconic" frappe, so no "brain freeze". :)

I also tried my own variation today, 2% milk to just below the bottom line and then strawberry sauce to just above it, then adding the banana, ice and protein powder, delicious. It was much smoother and much less sweet than the strawberries and cream frappe.

[jzojzo]

Vivanno

The new smoothie!!

[lisa]

VIVANNO...... The new piece of crap.... has zero flavor.

[Name:]

Someone help me out. When/What letter or communication did Howard say we had to get back to coffee? I thought he only stated we were going to try and get "back to our core" with our core being beverages. Anyone know the specific letter or communication? I'd like to re-read it.

[Melody]

Lisa:
One thing I see happening is more and more often customers are going to be asking for creative customer blender creations. It's already starting to happen, as one person pointed out that you can blend the green naked juice with your mango-strawberry fruit and come up with something yummy!

With having Vivanno ingredients in the store, I think this is just going to become the norm, and *might* help sales.

One person will want the Vivanno with fruit from the RTD, another person will want a banana in a mocha frap, another will want espresso with their chocolate banana Vivanno.

I think that the Vivanno might last at least a little while as people start customizing it to what they want. That's an interesting possibility to me: I'm already looking forward to trying to twist the recipe - add syrup?

[Chris]

.....How come NO ONE has stated the fact that....Vivanno was supposed to be a secret new drink that would bring Starbucks back.... I cant wait for some of the stupid people who leaked it to get fired! retards....

[Cetta]

They were SO CLOSE! I was really excited to hear about this drink. Whey protein instead of soy, check. No added sugar, check. Option to have chocolate banana with no sugary juice and with or without espresso shot, check! YEAH!

And then I read the nutritional info. The "whey protein blend" must be sweetened with straight sugar. As a diabetic, 28 to 42 grams of sugar in a 16 oz size is crazy. I was hoping for at least ONE of the Vivanno drinks with the option of Splenda or something to make it a more healthy occasional treat and less of a sugary dessert shake for the many, many people who can't slam down a tiny drink with a ton of sugar.

Oh well.

[JS]

I've tried them and they're not bad. Not as sickly sweet as the Fraps and you taste some fruit.

However they are still quite sweet and top out at 270 calories (not small...). I think the Vivanno line is going to need some simpler, healthier and more fruit based options if we seriously want to appeal to the health-conscious.

[formershift]

Well, this is all speculation of course, since the rollout is tomorrow, but I doubt that Vivanno will be as iconic as the Frappuccino 10 years hence. Why? Look at all the other blended drinks that didn't make it: Tiazzis, Pomegranite/Orange(?) juice blends, Strawberry blended lemonades, blended cremes (haven't been discontinued, but let's face it, nobody would confuse THAT with a Frappuccino). Could definitely be popular, but iconic? Meh. Odds just isn't in the Vivanno's favor.