Starbucks ready-to-drink coffee beverage relaunches in Japan
March 28, 2006
SEATTLE & TOKYO — Starbucks Coffee Company and Suntory Ltd., one of the leading Japanese producers and distributors of food and beverages, announced the relaunch of Starbucks Discoveries Milano (espresso) coffee drink in convenience stores in four Japanese prefectures at the end of April. The Starbucks Discoveries Milano (espresso) flavor had been temporarily discontinued shortly after launching last September due to insufficient capacity to meet the high level of consumer demand, a news release said.
Starbucks Discoveries Milano (espresso), launched on Sept, 27, 2005, together with another flavor, Starbucks Discoveries Seattle (latte). According to a release, the coffee drinks were so popular with customers that sales far exceeded initial projections. According to the release, the decision was made to focus on the production of the Starbucks Discoveries Seattle (latte) coffee drink and temporarily discontinue Starbucks Discoveries Milano (espresso).