Starbucks Canada is aiming to woo the lunch crowd with expanded lunch offerings.
The new menu features six permanent items including chicken artichoke on ancient grain flatbread and turkey pesto panini, as well as a limited-time PB&J in a bistro box with string cheese, veggies and dip, apples and chocolate-covered raisins.
The coffee chain also rolled out new seasonal bakery items, including a pecan tart and apple pound cake.
“What we’re always trying to do is bring a mix of flavours that are familiar, but with a unique twist that’s certainly up-level, unexpected but delicious, and something that maybe you can’t get everywhere in the marketplace,” said Kevin Reid, director of beverage and food at Starbucks Canada.
The rollout is part of the Seattle-based company’s strategy to boost its food business. At an investors meeting in December, the company announced plans to double U.S. food sales to more than $4 billion by 2019.
This past March, Starbucks began selling La Boulange bakery items in Canada. Starbucks bought the San-Francisco-based upscale bakery chain in 2012, but has since closed all 23 La Boulange retail locations. On its website, the company said the La Boulange brand would continue to play a significant role in the future of Starbucks food in stores.
“Food sales have grown nearly 20% since we launched La Boulange,” said Reid. “We started to hear a desire for an even more expanded selection and range. Customers were asking for more savoury [items] and more options during the middle of the day.”
Starbucks is promoting the new menu items with in-store signage, through social media and public relations, and through its loyalty program My Starbucks Rewards.
Media Profile handles media relations for Starbucks Canada.
