Is Technology the platform for Global Growth at Starbucks

Success does leave clues and when you are a global brand your need to look at your strengths and leverages them around the world and let’s face it Starbucks in the leading chain for mobile or and pay according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Starbucks began to roll out the company’s Mobile Order & Pay (Starbucks Now) at 300 select stores in Beijing and Shanghai and plans to introduce this feature across China over the next year. The status quo for coffee growth is no more in China according to Johnson.

Starbucks Now, is a big push to help Starbucks fight-off fast growing Luckin Coffee according to Johnson and almost anyone that follows food start-ups around the world. allows customers to place order in advance of their visit and pick up their beverage and food at a Starbucks store.

Luckin Coffee small format technology driven concept should drive trepidation in the heart and minds of every chain restaurant CEO according to Johnson.  This Luckin Coffee’s business model template will surely be duplicated and not just for coffee products according to Johnson.

Virtual restaurants have become a stealth growth niche according to Johnson.  However this new templated business model fits well into the grocerant niche and consumer food buying customer adoption formats that are increasing becoming popular according to Johnson.

Innovating at the accelerated pace of modern urban life in China, Starbucks Now allows customers to choose a store location based on the GPS functionality of their mobile device to browse, customize a beverage, select a food offering, view order time, and pay— wherever they may be. Following confirmation of the order, baristas handcraft each beverage and have the order ready to hand to the customer when they arrive at the store. The simple convenience of mobile ordering means customers by pass the line.

Here is our question of the day.  Does your company look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Are you innovating at the same pace as consumers or are you lagging behind?  Success does leave clues Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or twitter.com/grocerant