US coffee chain extends now offers delivery across 16 major US cities and plans to extend service nationwide in early 2020
Starbucks Delivers was launched with UberEats in late 2018 and is expected to roll-out across the US in early 2020
Starbucks has launched US delivery in Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, and Philadelphia while extending the reach of its existing New York service. Launched in partnership with digital delivery platform, UberEats, in late 2018, Starbucks Delivers is now available across 16 major US cities, with the scheme expected to roll-out nationally in early 2020.
“The expansion of Starbucks Delivers is part of our continuous effort to enhance the retail experience and provide customers with another convenient option to enjoy Starbucks, wherever they are,” said Starbucks Group President and Chief Operating Officer, Roz Brewer.
Third party, app-based delivery services are growing popularity in the US, where digital platforms such as DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub are increasingly utilised by established coffee brands to facilitate delivery services. Dunkin’ launched US delivery in 2015 via logistics firms DoorDash and Postmates but has ramped up its digitally-integrated offer in 2019. In June Dunkin’ partnered with digital food delivery platform Grubhub to trial an app-based delivery service in New York, with plans to scale the service across Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.
The UberEats partnership is not the first time Starbucks has joined forces with a third-party delivery service. In 2015 the US coffee chain trialled delivery with courier service, Postmates, but the collaboration was never launched beyond Seattle.
World Coffee Portal research shows Starbucks has been the primary driver of US branded coffee chain growth in the US, retaining a 40% share of the total coffee shop market with 14,875 outlets and adding 585 net new stores over the last 12 months.