MSNBC reports on an earth-shattering scandal sure to make heads roll at Starbucks (NYSE: SBUX). Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been ordering Grande nonfat lattes from their favorite New York City West Village Starbucks. However, a barista there has reportedly been serving the lattes with whole milk.
According to a source quoted by MSNBC, "the barista thought the Olsens were too thin, so whenever they ordered their usual drink, he would replace the skim milk with full-fat." The Olsen's representative commented: "This is ridiculous." But a so-called close friend blamed the Olsens for for their ignorance, noting: "It's also my worst nightmare -- that and getting a huge diet fountain soda that is mistakenly regular Coke -- but I can def(initely) taste the difference, so it's their own fault if they fell victim."
Did Howard Schultz, recently re-appointed Starbucks CEO make this latte swap? The Wall Street Journal [subscription required] reported that Schultz has been aggressively micro-managing Starbucks since he took over. The Journal notes that before Starbucks launched its new Pike Place Roast in April, Schultz selected which redesigned version of the old logo to use. As the promotional campaign neared completion, he decided it needed more warmth and called for revisions. He rewrote the press-release headline.
Neither MSNBC nor The Journal fingered Schultz as the barista who put the whole milk in the Olsen's lattes. So we await the nameless barista's fate.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-21-2008 @ 1:29PM
dracass said...
Ridiculous! He wouldn't have done that because Starbuck's is no longer serving Whole Milk in their drinks unless you request it. They have to steam it up for you. I know I order whole milk drinks everyday at Starbucks.
If you order a Latte then you get 2% Milk, if you order a non-fat Latte then you get non-fat milk.
BTW--Whole milk is not bad for you. If you want to cut the fat and a little sugar in their drinks, then KO the whip cream and cut back the amount of mocha!
My favorite drink ~ Iced Grande, 2 pump Mocha, No Whip with Whole Milk. Excellent!
PS--Starbuck's doesn't use hydronated oils or high frutose corp syrup in their drinks. If you want a story to report on look at how many food companies do! Geez, they even put that HFCS in Ketchup! You want to look old then keep eating HFCS (read the research from the FDA scientists on the web).
5-22-2008 @ 9:48AM
JERRY said...
Too bad. They look like little shrunken pixies.
But not the good kind. Get some meat on those
bones girls.