Starbucks Corp. is making plans to re-open stores as it readies for a phase it called “monitor and adapt.” Beginning May 4, Starbucks said it will re-open as many stores as it can with modified operations and best-in-class safety measures. Similar to its experience in China, where more than 95% of its stores have now re-opened, Starbucks said it will gradually expand and shift its in-store customer experiences.
Some locations will continue as drive-thru only, while others may feature mobile ordering for contactless pickup and delivery. Still others may reopen for “to-go” ordering. (More than 60% of Starbucks’ US stores include a drive-thru, and approximately 80% of all customer orders were placed “on-the-go” prior to COVID-19.)
“As we have experienced in China, we are now transitioning to a new phase that can best be described as “monitor and adapt, ” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson in a letter to employees. “This means every community will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and people and businesses in that community will begin to adapt.”
Johnson said Starbucks field leaders will use the local status of the health crisis, guidance from officials, community sentiment and operational readiness of the individual location to inform their decisions.
Starbucks said it tested a variety of service options in more than 300 stores across the US. during the last few weeks, including contactless service, entryway pickup, curbside delivery and at-home delivery… Chain Store Age
