News

Starbucks leading fast casual industry?

The coffee giant is becoming a major player in the fast casual industry with the addition of new, healthy menu items.

August 13, 2015

In an effort to become an even bigger player in the fast casual space, Starbucks has added several healthy menu items for a limited time this month, according to a recent article published by businessinsider.com.

Offers include the “superfoods bistro box,” which includes kale cakes and blueberries, a sourdough BBQ beef brisket sandwich and various cheese pinwheels. These offers, according to the article, set Starbucks apart from other concepts and allow it to become a tangible competitor in the fast casual industry.

"Starbucks is virtually the only large incumbent that can offer millennial parents the convenience of a (fast food chain) and food they would not feel guilty/embarrassed to feed to their kids,” a Goldman Sachs analyst wrote in the article. "With the continued expansion of the lunch platform and investments in both drive-thru and in-store throughput (Starbucks') advantages in these areas appear set to expand."

Starbucks has added other improvements, including offering more salads and sandwiches, opening drive-thrus and allowing parents to choose from kid-friendly snacks and meals.