News

Seattle’s Best Coffee expands distribution range

May 11, 2011

Seattle’s Best Coffee's announced its distribution now includes 50,000 locations in the United States and Canada. The effort kick-started one year ago when the company unveiled a new brand strategy.

“Our dramatic expansion this past year confirms that we are delivering what consumers and our business partners truly want -- a great-tasting cup of premium coffee anywhere it’s needed,” said Michelle Gass, president, Seattle's Best Coffee. “Now with more than 50,000 places to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of our coffee, we are well on our way to becoming one of the most accessible premium coffee brands in the world.”

Since Gass joined Seattle’s Best as president in September 2009, the business has seen significant growth. Expanding the distribution points of Seattle’s Best Coffee was just one achievement of many for the brand. In the past year, Seattle’s Best took to the aisles of grocery stores with the launch of its Levels packaged coffee line, which uses numbers and colors to signal different blends, and the national introduction of Seattle’s Best Coffee Iced Canned Lattes.

In the past year, Seattle’s Best Coffee also has become available at Burger King and Subway restaurants, AMC Theatres and on board Delta Air Lines flights.

Seattle’s Best is testing a new store-within-a-store coffee bar concept designed to fit within the small footprint of various retail locations. The first four coffee bars are located within Walmart Supercenters in Canada as part of a pilot program, which includes four more locations planned throughout the next 12 months.

Additionally, Seattle’s Best Coffee launched its self-service premium coffee vending machine. Within just six months, the new machine has been placed in hundreds of locations nationwide including ferry boats, college libraries, hospital waiting rooms and office break rooms.

The company also has seen a double digit year-over-year increase in office coffee sales, despite a negative trend for the industry overall.