US coffee giant Starbucks has announced a sharp jump in quarterly profits, roughly in line with analysts' expectations. Net income for the three months to 3 April was $261.6m (£157.3m), up 20% on the $217.3m the company made a year earlier. Revenues rose 10% to $2.8bn. But Starbucks said rising commodity costs would have a bigger impact this year than previously forecast. Its shares fell slightly in after-hours trading as a result. These higher costs meant that the chain's latest full-year forecast failed to hit market expectations. Source:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13217624 Some may be wondering why I posted this in the Rant and Rave section. Others may be wondering why I posted it at all. Because I "hate" Starbucks. I dislike their products and I cannot understand why people are willing to part with such large amounts of hard earned wonga for the miserable offerings. I noticed yesterday that a brand spanking new Starbucks outlet (A Starbucks Drive thru no less) has now opened up in Northampton. The place was packed both inside, outside and in the drive-thru area. WHY? Now the above article tells us that although profits are still good, the costs are increasing and the share price is going down. Maybe I'll contemplate that.
I cannot understand why people drink that rubbish.... Their stuff, for me, is virtually undrinkable as I find it over-roasted, sour, bitter, so acid that no amount of sugar will change it. Apart from being overpriced. The service sucks, as nobody wants to listen to what you really want, because the training and the machines do not allow for special requests. The counters are invariably dirty and full of stale looking stuff to the point wereas I am put off altogether. And the staff uniforms aren't that much better. Costa Coffee, is just as bad, if not worse on some of the same points I just made. On the whole, the best coffee shops on the high street are from the Ritazza chain. The prices unfortunately don't vary that much, as it is a general stitch up, but there I can get a decent cup of double espresso that doesn't give me heartburn for the whole day.
Dom, I think you were spoilt as a child drinking out of coffee shops in Rome, we poor English folk had to contend with Nescafe and Tesco's own blend for years.. So a Starbucks is a huge step up for us!!
I like going into these places and asking for a cup of tea!!! We have a Costa lot opened in my home town and its rammed on a sunday morning first, WWHHHHYYYYYYYY??????. Do something better with your weekends!! I flat refuse to go into these over priced places who are basically running off the back of (IMHO) the "Friends" seris. Plus I hate coffee.
I love starbucks! their coffee helped me to stay awake while working on graveyard shifts at IBM :badpc: i loooove coffee! cant live without 'em :wave:
I do treat myself to the odd mocha from starbucks, with cream, and all the extras I can throw into the cup, but must admit it is only about 5 or so cups a year...
I must be living in another world, I never even heard of Starbucks until I went to Turkey 3 years ago!
No not really mate, they've been around for decades but I never knew about them either until about 8 or 9 years ago, it's a global marketing campaign.
Went into a Starbucks in Bangkok a few years ago, went for one of their Frappuccino's with Strawberry's and cream and to mimic local tastes, they added salt to the thing... Strawberry's and cream do not go with salt!!!
