Starbucks and Suntory to Introduce Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Drinks in Japan
Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) and Suntory, Ltd. today announced plans to launch Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Doppio and Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Con Panna in convenience stores across central Japan on October 21, 2008. Starbucks Doubleshot® is the second family of ready-to-drink (RTD) premium coffee beverages Starbucks has introduced in the Japanese market.
Following the successful launch of Starbucks Discoveries® chilled cup coffee in 2005, Starbucks and Suntory began a more than two-year development process for the new RTD coffee beverage line. Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Doppio and Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Con Panna were created specifically for the taste preferences and lifestyles of Japanese consumers, delivering an authentic Starbucks® espresso beverage in a convenient format.
“Extending the Starbucks Experience to customers beyond our retail stores reinforces our reputation for innovation, coffee quality and expertise,” said Rich DePencier, vice president, Starbucks Global Consumer Products, International. “We are very proud of the new Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks and believe they will create a new premium category in the ambient ready-to-drink coffee market in Japan.”
Both Starbucks Doubleshot® espresso drinks are made with Starbucks® Espresso Roast, the same high-quality arabica coffee used in the handcrafted espresso beverages available at Starbucks retail stores around the world. Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Doppio has a bold, full coffee flavor from espresso and a hint of milk. Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso Con Panna also has a bold coffee flavor from espresso but is blended with milk and a hint of sweetness.
In March 2005, Starbucks and Suntory signed an agreement to enter the more than US$8.4 billion Japanese RTD coffee market. With their introduction of Starbucks Discoveries® chilled cup coffee, a fresh blend of high-quality Starbucks® coffee and milk, the companies helped build a new premium category in the nation’s chilled cup coffee market.
Starbucks helped build the RTD coffee market in the U.S. through the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP), a joint venture established with PepsiCo in 1994. Since that time, Starbucks has become a successful player in the more than US$1.3 billion RTD coffee market in the U.S. and expanded its RTD presence around the world. The company has launched Starbucks® bottled Frappuccino® coffee drink in the U.S., Canada, Korea, China and Mexico; Starbucks Doubleshot® espresso drink in the U.S., Canada and Korea; Starbucks Discoveries® chilled cup coffee in Japan, Taiwan and Korea; Starbucks® Iced Coffee in the U.S. and Canada; and Starbucks Doubleshot® Energy+Coffee in the U.S.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.
