SEATTLE Starbucks today launched its Vivanno line of smoothie-like drinks in stores nationwide. The coffeehouse giant also reportedly has debuted an Italian-style cold drink, called the Sorbetto, in Los Angeles-area units. The new drinks come a day after Starbucks identified the first 50 of the 600 U.S. company stores it plans to shut as part of a retrenchment intended to rejuvenate the brand.
The 16-ounce Vivanno is available in two versions: Orange Mango Banana and Chocolate Banana. Both versions are made with a whole banana, a whey protein and fiber powder, milk and ice. Cocoa is added to make the chocolate version, and Naked juice is added to produce the orange-mango drink.
Starbucks touted the nutritional benefits of the Vivanno, saying in a release that the drinks each have 270 calories or fewer, 16 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. Signage in the stores calls the drinks "nourishing blends," rather than smoothies.
Areport Monday by USA Today indicated that Starbucks would roll out its Sorbetto drink to 315 stores in the Los Angeles market. The report quoted Starbucks beverage vice president Rob Grady describing the new beverage as a "drinkable sorbet."
The list of Starbucks' first round of store closings, viewable here, consists of 50 units in 19 states. The company said the staffs of those stores have been notified that their units will close by the end of the month.