Starbucks

Fall is a special time. Lots of great things occur. My kids go back to school. Football season starts again. I can finally stop wearing shorts and can (hopefully!) get back into my favorite jeans. But, even more important to an entire legion of my friends is the return of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I have friends who wait all year long to be able to order this drink. It’s immensely popular and stores have a tough time keeping the syrup on the shelves. Have you ever wondered if this drink was worth it? Let’s take a look.

This week Starbucks launched a whole line of new foods and beverages all inspired by customer ideas submitted at My Starbucks Idea. Customers have been clamoring for healthier food choices on the website and Starbucks has delivered with a new line of healthy smoothies (a personal star from me because I have not been able to find a commercial smoothie comparable to something I could make at home), new 300-calorie salads, and healthier breakfast baked goods. They also reformulated their products to adhere to guidelines customers suggested. In my opinion, Starbucks has taken their healthy approach to food to a whole new level. Most of their foods and beverages are under 500 calories. They have made company-wide improvements in the quality of their foods by listening to their customers ideas. That’s setting a standard for the industry.

Here’s the skinny on the changes: