McDonald's Expands Coffee Business

Reuters reported today that McDonald's is looking to expand its coffee sales by offering cappuccinos, lattes and other drinks, hoping to cash in an additional $1 billion to its sales.

The fast-food chain is already offering espresso-based drinks in 800 of its stores across the USA. McDonald's has 14,000 locations in the USA, compared to 10,700 Starbucks locations in the USA, and 5,300 Dunkin' Donuts locations in the USA.

Dunkin' Donuts lays claim to the most coffee sales in the USA.

So certainly, McDonald's is in a position to lay some hurt on Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.

However, Starbucks is pretty safe the way I see it. People go there for the in-store experience, their coffee is secondary.

Dunkin' Donuts, on the other hand, is a different story. People typically just drive up, get a coffee and a maple bar, and they're on their way. No one goes to a Dunkin' Donuts for the in-store experience.

The same holds true for McDonalds.

McDonalds is seeing its core-competency reduced to its Big Mac. It tried to reposition itself as a health-food chain with its Premium Salads line, but instead just farted. On top of that, their McGriddles lineup failed to generate any staying power in the fast-food breakfast phenomenon.

Even though the company is still making a lot of money from these products, they've lost branding power. Today, McDonald's is not known for much more than its Big Mac and Egg McMuffin. And if that's all the company has, it's going to get pushed out of the market.

The coffee market is a very cheap and easy way to create some new customers. If they're just going to sell the "garden variety" coffees, capuccinos, and lattes, they'll do really well. But they'll never compete against the Starbucks of the world. Even if they sell gourmet-quality stuff, people will still regard them as McDonald's and treat them as such.

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Java Rush Coffee Tablets

Java Rush is a thin tablet with a coffee taste, infused with caffeine, that melts in your mouth.

So instead of drinking a cup of coffee, you just let it dissolve on your tongue, and get to working.

Java Rush also contains a couple of other energy boosters, taurine and inositol.

They're also sugar free, and come in two varieties, "Coffee & Cream", and "Vanilla Bean".

They're available now, at 7-Eleven stores, Flying J truck stops, Amazon.com, and a few other places.

Learn more about Java Rush online...
http://www.javarushmelts.com/

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Sconza Dark Chocolate Toffee Almonds

Sconza has long been known for its wonderful panned confections like jawbreakers, Jordan almonds and chocolate covered nuts.

They've gone upscale with their new varieties of premium nut and fruit confections, debuting 70% Cacao International Blend Dark Chocolate Toffee Almonds.

They've combined a toffee coated almond with deep dark chocolate. They're sold in a 5 ounce bag for a retail price of $4.99.

In addition, they other new product in the line is called 70% Cacao International Blend Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans combines freshly roasted coffee beans and especially dark chocolate.

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Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino

Peppermint Mocha is a seasonal offering from Starbucks and is available in a variety of the company's beverages.

I tried it as a Frappuccino just a couple of hours ago.

It tastes pretty much like their standard Mocha Frappuccino but with just a hint of peppermint taste. The mint taste is slight enough that the mocha flavoring is still dominant, and doesn't leave your mouth with a minty coolness.

I find it quite good, but not something I'd want to have all the time. It's perhaps perfect as a limited time offering for the holidays, otherwise I'd rather have the Caramel Frappuccino instead.

The Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino is supposed to be topped with "Ruby Red Sprinkles" but they forgot to put it on mine.

Starbucks says the largest size comes with 15g of fat, 9g of saturated fat, and 93g of carbohydrates, and that's with the whipped cream topping. I suppose the barista did me a favor by leaving the sprinkles off.

Get one now before the holidays are over.

More Starbucks we wrote about...

• Starbucks Cream Liqueur - Oct 19, 2005


• Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino - Dec 30, 2005


• Starbucks Leprechaun Latte - Feb 15, 2006


• Starbucks Mud Pie Ice Cream Bars - May 26, 2006

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New Coffee Smoothies at Planet Smoothie

Planet Smoothie today announced it partnered with NESCAFE to develop some new coffee concoctions for the planet's smoothie-loving population.

Beginning this month, every Planet Smoothie location will offer these four unique coffee flavored smoothies:

• Java the Nut (mocha and peanut butter)


• Choctane (mocha)


• Love Ya Latte (blended latte)


• Liquid Alarm Clock (the coffee-est of the four)

Planet Smoothie collaborated with Deep Advertising, a Nestle Food Services agency, to create a media blitz, even offering t-shirts with the new caffeine-laden smoothies. The company is trying to market the positive health benefits of drinking coffee...

"We recognize that recent medical studies have linked coffee with a number of significant health benefits," explains Chris Morocco, president of Planet Smoothie. "As a health-aware brand, it is important to us that Planet Smoothie continues to offer innovative, healthier options to consumers - good-for-you snacks, nutrient-rich smoothies...and now, coffee smoothies. All of our offerings are meant to provide nourishing fuel for people
on the go."

Since when did coffee become such a health food?

Just as with their other smoothies, Planet Smoothie provides consumers the option to add stuff to it, like nutritional supplements, fat burners, and all that other bohemian "holistic healing" stuff.

Suggested retail pricing for new blends are $4.95 for the 22oz; $5.99 for the 32oz; and $6.99 for the 44oz.

Visit the company's store locator here.

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Cafe Select Chocolate Coffee Trios

The New England Confectionery Co. (NECCO) recently released their new "Chocolate Coffee Trios" under their Cafe Select brand.

Described as being made with real coffee, these are similar to malted milk balls, but with a candy coffee center.

Available in Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte varieties.

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Starbucks Mud Pie Ice Cream Bars

Starbucks' popular Mud Pie ice cream flavor is now available in the form of a ice cream bar.

They're described as creamy Starbucks Classic Coffee ice cream topped on a delicious chocolate cookie and dipped in rich milk chocolate.

Each box contains four individually wrapped pies.

I don't yet see this featured on Starbucks' ice cream site, but I'm sure you can find it whereever their ice creams are sold. Visit their store locator.

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