Starbucks will eliminate the extra fee for non-dairy milk alternatives like oat, almond, soy, and coconut milk starting Thursday next week. This change will apply to company-owned stores across the U.S. and Canada, according to Local 10. The policy aims to please existing customers and potentially expand the coffeehouse chain's customer base.
Starbucks announced that customers can now substitute their beverages with oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk without extra fees. Nearly half of customers who pay for drink customizations will benefit from this price reduction. The change coincides with the launch of Starbucks' Holiday menu and cups, encouraging more consumers to enjoy festive milk-alternative lattes this winter without overspending.
Starbucks' chairman and CEO Brian Niccol highlighted the importance of personalization in the Starbucks experience. "Core to the Starbucks Experience is the ability to customize your beverage to make it yours. By removing the extra charge for non-dairy milks we're embracing all the ways our customers enjoy their Starbucks," Niccol said, according to NBC News. This indicates that the coffee chain is attentive to and willing to adapt quickly to the trends and dietary choices of its customers.
By eliminating extra charges for non-dairy options, Starbucks estimates that customers who modify their milk choices will see a price reduction of over 10% with the new policy. "This is just one of many changes we'll make to ensure a visit to Starbucks is worth it every time," Niccol noted in a NBC News report. At the same time, the company plans to discontinue its Oleato olive oil drinks in early November.
