Starbucks has dabbled in the food game for years, selling pastries, cake pops, and pre-packaged salads and sandwiches. They've even ventured into trendy items like sushi-ritos. Nothing has been made fresh in stores, though, until now.
Starbucks' former CEO and current Executive Chairman Howard Schultz told the The Washington Post his company is officially "getting into the food business" with the announcement of the first U.S. Princi location at the Seattle Reserve Roastery, Starbucks' coffee theme park.
Princi, a boutique bakery with six locations in Milan and London, will serve more than 100 menu items at the Seattle Reserve Roastery, created by Italian baker Rocco Princi and the Starbucks team. The bread-heavy items will use a mix of Italian-imported ingredients and locally-sourced products, and mark the first time in the company's history that menu items are baked fresh on-site.
While some of the items look familiar, like the cornettis (that's Italian for croissants) and sandwiches, they're all a major step up from anything you'd find in a Starbucks display case today, starting with the fact that they're made fresh daily.
Princi will serve artisan breads and fresh pastries all day, plus select breakfast items, lunch options, and cocktails and small plates after 4 p.m. (wine, beer, and spirits included). Some of the highlights include baked eggs in a porcini sauce, Mozzarella di Bufala pizza, a prosciutto foccacia sandwich, and a plate of Cerignola olives and 24- month Parmigiano. Desserts include fresh-made cookies, tarts, and tiramisu. Long story short, they're the real Italian deal.
"[Rocco Princi's] passion for authentic food and respect for Milanese culture come through in everything he does, and I think our customers are going to fall in love with Princi," Schultz said in a statement.
This is Starbucks we're talking about, so of course there's a coffee element to the new bakery too. Starbucks blenders worked with Rocco Princi to develop the Starbucks Reserve Princi Blend, which they describe as a "full-bodied, creamy, sweet cup."
Princi will be the exclusive food supplier for all Starbucks' Roasteries, including the Shanghai location opening in December 2017 and the Milan, New York, Chicago, and Tokyo locations to follow. For those who don't live near a Roastery, Starbucks also plans to open stand-alone Princi stores starting in 2018.
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