Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee seller, is preparing to open standalone upscale artisan bakeries Princi in the United States next year. Openings are planned by 2018 in Seattle, New York and Chicago, a spokesperson for the group told ItalianFood.Net. The plan is part of the investment announced last July by the coffee roaster and retailer into the Milanese boutique bakery and coffee retailer, which will also become the exclusive food purveyor at all of Starbucks’ upcoming upscale Starbucks Roasteries. The plan is to fully integrate Princi into our new Starbucks Reserve store concepts, which do not yet exist. These offerings will be freshly-baked on site by Princi bakers, and paired with our unique, small lot Reserve coffees that customers can enjoy at an immersive coffee experience bar, the spokesperson said. The move comes as food service players are going premium, improving quality and experience for customers as restaurants sales suffer. The maker of coffeehouse favorites like frappuccino and lattes, which has always been reluctant to enter the country of espresso, has also announced its debut in Italy. The opening of the first store in Milan, according to Italian media, will likely take place in the second half of 2018.
