Consumer
Don’t Worry, Rover, That Starbucks Pup Cup Isn’t Going Anywhere
- Free treats and water are part of doing business, CEO says
- Coffee retailer wants to be a third place for canines, too
A poodle eats ice-cream provided by a pet-friendly Starbucks in Tianjin, China.
Photographer: Zhang Peng/LightRocket/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Those Starbucks Corp. pup cups and free waters aren’t going anywhere, top executives assured investors at the coffee retailer’s annual meeting.
An unidentified participant in the March 13 event asked executives for the annual cost of providing pup cups (a dollop of whipped cream also known as a puppuccino) for customers’ canines, as well as water for customers in general — a service that baristas usually offer for free. Chief Executive Officer Laxman Narasimhan and Chief Financial Officer Rachel Ruggeri jumped to defend the practice. They did not, however, bark out a cost estimate.