Starbucks' Via expected to reach $100 million in sales

Executives from Starbucks Corp. said the company's rollout of Via instant coffee has not resulted in lower sales of its premium brewed or bagged ground coffee, according to astory on Kamcity.com.

In comments made at a conference, chairman and CEO Howard Schultz said that the new beverage had in fact helped add "significant" incremental growth to overall sales. Schultz added that Starbucks expects Via to contribute $100 million in sales in its first year.

Schultz also said the coffee chain is working to launch Via at 30,000 distribution points, including wholesalers, grocery and drug stores, and will introduce an iced version later this month.