Thursday 8 December 2011

Starbucks to offer wine and beer? Cool..

Starbucks in the Chicago, Illinois area may have as many as seven outlets selling beer and wine, by the end of 2012.

Finger food like cured meat, almond, and bread with olive oil will also be available.

The Starbucks branch in Illinois joins its branches in Seattle and Portland, which have been the coffee giant's test outlets for the past two years.

It has also been experimenting with live entertainment like music, theatre or poetry readings in some neighbourhoods.

It was also disclosed that by January, Amazon.com's new headquarters buildings in South Lake Union, Seattle will have a Starbucks store with the revamped menu.

Starbucks spokesperson Alan Holiwitz tells The Seattle Times that the test outlets have recorded a double digit percentage sales growth after 4pm.

"We're really trying to expand the evening day part," Holiwitz says.

"It's something our customers have really been responding to," he adds.

"They want to sit and relax, and maybe one person wants to have coffee and the other wants beer or wine. People also can go out after work without having to go to a bar, and people who are underage can go and have a cup of coffee instead."

However, the new concept will not be adopted by all stores and specific locations have not been finalised as the company irons out proper licensing and permits with local officials.

Source: Chicago Tribune and The Seattle Times

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