Seattle’s Best Coffee opened Monday a new drive-thru test location in a Chicago commuter suburb with a car-friendly menu designed for neighborhoods that lack premium coffee outlets.
The secondary brand owned by Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. has been building its distribution presence in recent months with an expanded packaged line in grocery stores and as the coffee served by quick-service chains such as Taco Bell, Burger King and Subway.
Earlier this month, Seattle’s Best said it would move into convenience stores and serve its coffee in about 550 Chevron ExtraMile locations later this year.
Last year, however, Seattle’s Best lost nearly 475 retail outlets in Borders Bookstores after that chain was liquidated. Roughly 100 Seattle’s Best coffeehouse locations remain in the United States and Canada.
The new test unit in Northlake, Ill., located in a Walmart parking lot, will serve as a learning lab for future retail growth, as well as offering possible menu additions at existing units, the company said.
On the menu at the new drive-thru are original or dark coffee options, hot or iced, along with signature beverages, such as Caramel Candy and Birthday Cake-flavored lattes, and Caramel Pretzel and S’mores mocha drinks.
Food items include muffins, cookies and multi-grain bars, as well as breakfast sandwiches on a biscuit or English muffin, and warm pretzel bread stuffed with turkey or ham.
Snacks include sour cream coffee cake, individual caramel apple pies or cheese pretzel danishes.
“In this location, we’re debuting our revamped coffee and food menu based on what customers have told us is important,” Jim McDermet, senior vice president and general manager of Seattle’s Best Coffee, said in a statement.
“Our customers are constantly on the go, and they tell us that finding great coffee options that fit their busy lifestyles is tough,” he added. “They’re sacrificing great tasting coffee and food for speed and convenience, and we can put an end to that.”
Starbucks officials have long boasted of the billion-dollar potential of Seattle’s Best, positioning the secondary brand as a more accessible coffee option that could go where the more premium Starbucks brand might not fit.
In recent months, Seattle’s Best has been moving into nontraditional locations, such as college campuses, medical centers and airports.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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