Gluten Free Items Being Considered at Star Bucks?
Should we all start thanking our lucky stars? Is there more to Starbucks than a good cup of joe for celiacs and the gluten free everywhere? How about the dairy, soy and nut avoiders too? Should Starbucks include other allergen free products in new item introductions as well?
According to a Starbucks blog post, they are considering offering some gluten free food options in their stores. Click here to read the article posting on Starbucks blog.
Knowing that there is more strength in numbers than a triple grande expresso, I thought it would be a great idea to pool all of our ideas & comments here on this post, and I would compile and submit them to the new product innovators over at Starbucks.
According to the information they posted they want to know:
• What specific gluten-free products would you like to see in our stores?
• Would you prefer to see it individually packaged or unpackaged?
• How would you like to learn we have gluten-free products? For example, would you like to see it on a sign or would you prefer the barista tell you?
• Where would you like to see gluten-free products in the store; in the pastry case or placed elsewhere?
• The ingredient costs of gluten-free products tend to be higher, so would you understand if we charged more for the gluten-free version?
Please help support our celaic and food allergic community and cause! Reply to this post today and I will submit all comments together as the strong demographic we are!
We are celiac and the food allergic … hear us roar!
Be Free!
Kathleen
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
Would love fresh, unpackaged, in the pastry case muffins or breads(Pumkin, cinnamon swirl-Whatever) marked Gluten free. Nutrional content still always good too! I hope it happens. Thanks!
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 am
We really need products that are gluten, casein and soy free. We’ve been avoiding Starbucks during the past year since we found out about our son’s food allergies simply because there are a lot of things that both he and his want there that my son just can’t have, and this creates a lot of discord for us. The food items that I would like to GFCFSF versions of at Starbucks are:
Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino
Cookies
Brownies
Cupcakes or Mini Bundt Cakes
As for the GFCF Pasteries, I think that it would be nice if the menu board on the drive up window indicates which beverage and food options are also available GF/CF/SF or any combination of the three (or more) antigens. Inside Starbucks, at the food case, I would like to see the same information regarding the beverages on it’s menu board behind the front counter. As for the food items, I would like to see them in the case, in nice individually wrapped packages and clearly marked or labeled as being free of particular antigens. The packaging and quality of the food products is particularly important since I really don’t want to buy a cookie from Starbucks that I can purchase at my local market. That doesn’t make it very special and special is what I am looking for when I can go to Starbucks, otherwise I can make coffee and open a box of cookies at home.
I think it would also be good if Starbucks also spread the word about it’s GF/CF/SF products by including this info in its nutritional brochure and distributing a flyer about it’s allergy-free food options. A coupon for the new products would be a nice induce me to come in and give it a try too.
As far as price goes, I don’t mind paying a little extra for the luxury of being able to get a GFCFSF and a regular vanilla bean frappuccino for my son and my daughter.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
GF scones and biscotti.
Would only purchase if individually packaged to prevent cross-contamination.
I would like to see advertised on a sign.
Stored elsewhere, I would not want in the case with gluten containing items.
I already pay higher prices for GF items and would be willing to pay higher prices just for the option at Starbucks.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
• What specific gluten-free products would you like to see in our stores?
I’d love to see baked goods – bagels, brownies, cookies. Basically anything that you already carry in the bakery case but a gf version. Also, maybe gf sandwiches for lunch.
• Would you prefer to see it individually packaged or unpackaged?
I can see arguments for both, as unpackaged items appear “fresher” than packaged items. However the most important thing is to avoid cross-contamination.
• How would you like to learn we have gluten-free products? For example, would you like to see it on a sign or would you prefer the barista tell you?
In almost all cases if I am somewhere and there isn’t a GF sign, I assume that they don’t carry gluten free items. I think they shouldadvertise gf/dairy free/allergen free items, especially since new baristas may not know what is gf and what is not. (This may be a point for having gf items individually packaged, as it can have a sticker/label drawing attention to the gf items)
• Where would you like to see gluten-free products in the store; in the pastry case or placed elsewhere?
Again, this doesn’t matter much to me, but they should do everything they can to avoid cross contamination
• The ingredient costs of gluten-free products tend to be higher, so would you understand if we charged more for the gluten-free version?
Although I would like to see less expensive gf items, I understand that ingredients and facilities for gf products cost more so I’m OK with paying more. (Not that I have a choice…) I would be surprised if anyone that has celiac disease has a problem with paying more money, as we are (or should be) used to spending more money for things we can eat!
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
YEAH!!! I was in Starbucks last week on a date with DH and was distressed because I couldn’t enjoy anything in the pastry case or cooler,only the fresh fruit.
1. I would love to see a case (or covered cake plate) dedicated to gluten free items. I think it would be too risky placing them in the same case with the other pastries.
2. I would love to see sweet breads (banana, pumpkin) and cookies(peanut butter,iced sugar,shortbread etc..) granola bar etc.
3.Packaged is safe, you know you are getting something uncontaminated. Then again unpackaged has better ambiance.
4. I want to see it advertised. Perhaps a distinctive “G” symbol of some sort to identify the items.
5. I understand the cost, but I won’t pay more than $4 for a cookie or $5 for a piece of sweet bread.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
Would only purchase if individually packaged to prevent cross-contamination.
I would like to see advertised on a sign and package clearly labled.
Stored elsewhere, I would not want in the case with gluten containing items.
I would be willing to pay a slightly higher price.
I would say you need to advertise through celiac newsletters and other ways. I asked Target in my area to carry some GF items. They stocked a few great items. No one I talked to knew they had them. They have clearance them out due to low sales and are not restocking at this time. Lack of sales. They should have spot lighted them in their weekly ads. Whole Food just down the road from the Target told they can not keep up with the GF items
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I would like to see GF/CF/SF items in prepackaged situation. Cross contamination is a huge issue with me.
I would also like to see the use of vanilla rice milk as I have an allergy to gluten, dairy and soy. I have had great success with rice milk in my lattes at home. I would like for you to advertise that you sell GF items on your sign so that even visitors will know that they can get GF items at your store. I am used to paying higher prices for GF items anyways so the higher cost is expected. Although, I would hope to not be taken advantage of with price gouging. It does sound nice to think about having a fresh GF baked good. I would be concerned about cross contamination factors. I know that Starbucks is a fast pace place and I don’t think that you could guarantee c/c if they were not a prepackaged item. Please consider the allergy free additions to your business. I think you will find that your business will improve because of it. Thank you.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I would like to see individually package GF cake/muffin/brownie. I already pay more for GF products and recognize that there is an additonal cost incurred by Starbucks so I would understand the increased price. I would recommend investigating the actual taste of the GF products you would offer. Many are not very appetizing. Promotion of any GF drinks/cakes w/proper labeling so customer can recognize quickly would be very appreciated. We wouldn’t want to hold up the line trying to figure out the menu, many customers need their coffee quickly. LOL
February 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I would love it if Starbucks offered gluten free items! I would love it if they carried any type of gf breakfast items (danishes, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, etc) because when eating out I am pretty much limited to eggs! If would be especially great when traveling because my 5 year-old son also has celiac disease and it is very hard to find him breakfast that he likes. It would be helpful if they had a sign of some sort listing their gf offerings. I am not too particular about how it is packaged or where in the store it is placed. I would just be happy that they are available! As for the price, I would be willing to pay more for a gf item because the ingredients are more expensive. I already pay more for my soy latte and have no problem with that—Starbucks is the only place where I don’t have to drink my coffee black! I hope that Starbucks considers providing gf products—-I will be looking out for them!
February 6th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I would feel so pampered to have fresh unwrapped glutenfree products in covered cake plates at Starbucks. Pastries, cookies, biscotti,and bagels would be ideal. If you did have unwrapped products, you would need to dedicate a separate work station/cutting board just for the GF products, if unable to provide that, wrapped products would be the next best thing. You would also have to consider that GF products do not tend to have a long shelf life, it would be horrible to have anything more than a day old. I would like sandwiches also, but good stable GF bread is hard to come by. I found only one that does not need freezing, it is Schar brand.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
How wonderful that Starbucks is considering offering gluten free foods to their customers. I would be willing to pay more for the food because I know it is more expensive to produce. My request would be that they have a listing of all ingredients in the gluten free foods for those of us who not only suffer from celiac disease but also have many food allergies such as to dairy, soy, corn, etc. that often afflict celiac patients. I will pass the word to the rest of my celiac family. Thank you!
February 8th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
It would be wonderful to go out for a coffe with a friend and have a g/f bagel or pastry. I usually don’t eat food that are high fat/calorie, so i would prefer something reasonably healthy. The pacakging part doesnt matter as long as its fresh.
hopefully the cost would be kept to a minimum, but I think we all know all too well, that we are paying triple for our food these days!
If they advertised it on their sign or inthe media the word will spread. We tend to make a big deal over these kind of things.
Bring it on!
September 7th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Great site…keep up the good work.