Starbucks Philippines to let customers choose drinks’ sweetness level in 2023

Starbucks Philippines on Tuesday said it plans to be "aggressive" in its expansion plans, with new stores and services such as providing customers the option to choose sweetness levels and offering plant-based food products.

Company president Noey Lopez said the company continues to target opening 40 to 45 new stores across the country, with a sizable share being under the drive-thru format which gained popularity during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We’re gonna be aggressive, we’re gonna continue to be aggressive, we’re gonna continue to be smart, we’re gonna continue to do it one at a time,” he told reporters in an interview in Makati City.

The company currently has 424 stores across the country after opening its first store at the 6750 Building in Makati City in December 1997.

It opened a number of stores this year—at The Vantage at Kapitolyo in Pasig City; Eton City Square in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; SM Retail Headquarters in Pasay; Paseo de Magallanes Commercial Center in Makati City; ONE/NEO in Bonifacio Global City; SM City North and E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue in Quezon City; and Sumulong Highway in Marikina City.

Lopez said the firm is also looking at boosting its health and wellness segment, including offering plant-based food and giving customers the option to customize the sweetness level of their drinks starting next year.

“Pretty soon in 2023, we’re going to be introducing a lighter frappuccino, so for people who are more health-conscious,” he said.

“Along with that, you’re going to be able to choose the level of your sweetness of your syrups. Not just for the frappuccino, but for all the beverages, so you can customize, you can choose your preference,” he added.

This comes as the company is set to record double-digit growth in its top line for the year, surpassing levels recorded pre-pandemic in 2019. Lopez declined to provide any figures.

“We’re above 2019 which is very, very strong. I think we’re very, very happy… I guess customers, people, wanna go out. They’ve been locked in for a very long time,” he said.

Starbucks Philippines in September announced a P5 increase in prices of all its beverages, which it said was in line with a regular review. It did not elaborate on the factors which contributed to the increase, but it came amid higher prices of sugar across the country. — BM, GMA Integrated News