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Starbucks Says No to Breakfast and Cannibalization

Thu, 01/31/2008 - 7:46am by SavvySugar
1,553 Views - 51 comments

Starbucks has been taking baby steps towards improving its business model and image, as proven with their recent $1 short brew testing and their latest announcement that they're getting rid of hot breakfast sandwiches. Truthfully, I never noticed they even offered breakfast sandwiches, but CEO Howard D. Schultz explained that they interfere with the smell of coffee. Well, at least I don't know what I'm missing. Anyone out there going to be enduring breakfast sandwich withdrawals? In other Starbucks news, they're reducing the number of US store openings this year from 1,600 to 1,175 stores. Mr. Schultz defended the decision when he said, “by reducing the number of openings, we expect to optimize our resources and potentially reduce cannibalization of our existing stores."

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51 Comments Add a Comment

  • SugarKat's picture
    SugarKat
    1

    I will no longer go to Starbucks. Today I got a breakfast sandwich and that was my only reason to stop in. I got a hot tea also, but I could've made my own hot tea...

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • SweetnLow's picture
    SweetnLow
    2

    Thank God they are cutting back on the number of stores. I know of one area that has 5 within less than a square mile. 3 of them are literally across the street from each other. That is useless suburban sprawl.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • remedios's picture
    remedios
    3

    I try not to buy food other than bagels there. So no impact on me. I want that $1 cup of coffee with free refills though! It was weird though with the bagels - they wouldn't toast it, or even cut it for you. They'd give me a plastic knife to cut it myself. They said it had to do with some license, but that was just the barristas talking, and often when the front line person doesn't know the answer, they make one up. I think they toast them now, when they started the hot sandwiches.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • ALSW's picture
    ALSW
    7

    I didn't know that they did hot breakfast sandwiches either. I've just seen the incredibly stale ones sitting there, destroying my appetite.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • SkinnyMarie's picture
    SkinnyMarie
    8

    Never knew they had them. Honestly I just go get my coffee there and my bagel from the shop across the street. They should stick to what they are known for, coffee. Their bagels are disgusting and nasty anyway, so if they can't even do that right, I can't imagine what a breakfast sandwich would taste like.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • bfly1133's picture
    bfly1133
    9

    It's about time they stopped having stores pop up everywhere. I never had their breakfast sandwiches since I only go in now and then for a hot chocolate. However, I do love their pumpkin bread. It's really moist and tasty. Smiling

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • SugarKat's picture
    SugarKat
    11

    I heard today that they were only going to close about 100 stores nationwide.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • freegracefrom's picture
    freegracefrom
    12

    They've never even had breakfast sandwiches at the Starbucks I've been to. Just muffins and coffee cakes and things like that. I wish they DID have breakfast sandwiches! That's often the reason why I choose Dunkin Donuts over Starbucks.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • ImJessica's picture
    ImJessica
    13

    I didn't even know they had breakfast sandwiches. I've tried one or two of their pastries though, and if that was any indication then I'm sure I won't miss the sandwiches.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • LesleyP825's picture
    LesleyP825
    14

    This is interesting because when they started selling breakfast sandwiches at the Starbucks I go into, the first thing I noticed was the smell of eggs and cheese. It really does overpower the smell of the coffee.

    I could care less about Starbucks except for their Pumpkin lattes. I'm a Dunkins girl at heart!

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Ashenturtle's picture
    Ashenturtle
    15

    I'll miss the sandwiches, it was nice to get coffee and breakfast all at once.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • ccsugar's picture
    ccsugar
    16

    I've never noticed breakfast samiches at any of the starbucks I've been to, just cold lunch sandwiches.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • piraterie's picture
    piraterie
    17

    I've only been in one Starbucks that had the sandwiches; none of the ones I regularly go to ever got them. The one that had them was a really big store, so the smell wasn't really noticable, but I imagine it would have been overpowering in a smaller store.

    The only food things I've really liked there were orange loaf and orange cupcakes, both of which vanished long ago.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • bluesarahlou's picture
    bluesarahlou
    19

    The sandwiches were really good. I agree about the smell though, it is kinda overpowering. Was nice to be able to get both coffee and breakfast sometimes (its really hard to make breakfast at 5am!)

    I am glad they're cutting back on their stores, even though they already put our local chain out of business. The local place used to sell bumper stickers that said..."Friends don't let friends go to Starbucks!"

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • chancleta's picture
    chancleta
    20

    1. never knew they had them and I won't miss them
    2. interesting the concept that it affects the smell
    3. sounds like a good strategy about opening less and focusing on what they have instead

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • kiddylnd's picture
    kiddylnd
    21

    I only rarely ate the sandwiches. I really liked the Florentine one though. Havarti and Spinach with egg on an english muffin. YUM! They only Carry them in certain stores and it's generally dependant on space and volume. They need a certain amount of space to keep the toasting oven on so as not to cause a fire hazard. I think it would be great if they kept them but packaged so you could pop them in the microwave when you got to work.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • eruntale's picture
    eruntale
    23

    Here in Peru not many people buy Starbucks' sandwiches. They are way too expensive (even thought I used to have them as lunch whenever I had money to splurge on). If they are removed it will be OK. However, many people, including me, just adore their muffins and other desserts. Home they are not removed as well!

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • eeeyore138's picture
    eeeyore138
    24

    Their sandwiches were really good... the first time i had one i was nervous they were just going to heat up one in the case but they made it fresh (well i guess you could call it fresh). Really yummy english muffins, so much better than dunkin's bagels!

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Jude C's picture
    Jude C
    25

    Those sandwiches were delicious! Boo, Starbucks, boo!

    It's not like their coffee smells that great anyway. I think the sandwiches smelled tastier.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • raieven's picture
    raieven
    26

    Do Dunkin Donuts do lattes? Like, with soy? I thought they just did drip coffee, with flavours. *shudders*

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • BuzzSugar's picture
    BuzzSugar
    27

    baaaaah! Noooo! This is terrible news - I have recently grown addicted to my hot sandwich fix in the morning. Now I'll have to build in extra time in the morning to find another place to get breakfast. I suppose there is always cooking at home =)

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • annebreal's picture
    annebreal
    28

    I'm glad they're chilling out on building new stores. I've seen three new ones go up on my morning drive to school, and it's only a ten minute drive. And they're always either dead or only slightly busy.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • vinnie's picture
    vinnie
    30

    Starbucks food taste like it calls comes off the same truck. Nothing beats fresh baked on-site food.

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • vinnie's picture
    vinnie
    31

    wow....i hope you all got what I meant up there, because my fingers were moving faster than my brain!

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • juju's picture
    juju
    33

    Nooo! I love the low-fat turkey bacon sandwich! They are so filling and not completely awful for you...it was such a better alternative to their muffins. Sad Boo!

    48 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • chatnoir's picture
    chatnoir
    35

    I love Starbucks. Never knew they had sammies but as long as they make me a Grande soy latte I am good to go.

    In my mind.. there isn't a starbucks close enough unless it's in my living room.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • brookrene's picture
    brookrene
    36

    breakfast sandwiches? seriously? if i would've known i would've bought them! dang, i missed out!

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • jennjennnbubba's picture
    jennjennnbubba
    37

    I never noticed hot breakfast sandwiches before... or anything hot besides the drinks.
    I just always see the stale muffins, over priced cookies and not so to-die-for sweet things... but as long as I can get a Caramel Macchiato or Cinn. Dolce Latte, Im good.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • SeptemberLights's picture
    SeptemberLights
    38

    I will miss the Spinach Florentine breakfast sandwich!

    I will miss their Black Forest ham and cheddar sandwich!

    I will miss their Roasted Tomato,spinach and Feta egg wrap!

    HOW CAN THEY DO THIS DO ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?

    I refuse to go to McDonalds! I refuse! Where will I get my gourmet breakfast fix now????

    I am having a panic attack.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • rhin's picture
    rhin
    40

    Meh no more havarti, spinach and egg-on-a-muffin sandwiches? *cries* Who cares about the smell of their dang coffee...give me my breakfast sandwich!

    (The sandwich smell was not overpowering - perhaps it depends on where they have the microwave)

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • taraevans94's picture
    taraevans94
    41

    In Buffalo they had breakfast sandwiches under glass and you would pick the one you wanted and they would toast it up for you. They used good quality ingredients and they tasted great. I haven't noticed them here in Cleveland, though. I'm not foo-foo drink buyer, I like my nice and strong Grande coffee with cream and that's it. Verona brew is my favorite! Strong, but smooth.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • pklotus's picture
    pklotus
    42

    The breakfast sandwiches are genious. Back move for starbucks, I will still go in to get my solo over ice though. There's nothing like Starbucks coffee.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • kythera's picture
    kythera
    43

    Uhhh what? They just got done building one in my area....right outside of my complex. I will never go to Starbucks after I went for the first time back in the mid 90s. Coffee should NOT be this hoity toity. I am a coffee nut, and THAT place is very low on my scale. I hate corporate coffeehouses with a passion. I'd rather just go to the local coffeehouse further down.

    /rant over

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Bananie83's picture
    Bananie83
    44

    So. Starbucks has breakfast sandwiches at SOME of their stores, as you have to warm them up, and some stores don't have "ovens" or whatver they warm them in. My favorite is the sandwich made with a wheat english muffin, low fat cheese, eggbeaters and turkey bacon. Too bad Starbucks is going to discontinue them.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • AlyCat82's picture
    AlyCat82
    45

    Oh Well. They didn't have the sandwiches where I live. What a loss.

    Did he have to use the word "cannibalizaiton", though? Geez...that just sounds a little too gross and harsh for Starbucks.

    48 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • caligirl101's picture
    caligirl101
    46

    I tried one of their breakfast sandwichs once and thought that it wasn't that good.