Starbucks launches new products to compete with leading fast-food chains

Starbucks has come up with new menu options that it can use to compete with fast-food chains such as Wendy’s or Popeyes. The world-renowned coffee announced this week that it has added a new chicken sandwich and drinks.

Starbucks introduced its Chicken Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich and two drinks - the Pineapple Passionfruit and Paradise Drink Starbucks Refresher. And these are not all as the coffee house is also offering a new Cookies & Cream Cake Pop dessert.

The company announced that all of these new beverages and food items are now available in Starbucks store outlets. The good news is that they will be on the menu - permanently.

The addition of the new chicken sandwich to the coffee chain’s menu list just signaled its jump into the chicken sandwich war that is still raging between the leading fast-food chains including McDonald’s, Popeyes, Wendy’s, and KFC. The Chicken Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich is a breakfast menu and it is Starbucks’ very first chicken sandwich offering.

“The Paradise Drink Starbucks Refreshers beverage is like sunshine in a cup – the bright tropical flavors are radiant, happy, and joyful,” Starbucks R&D’s senior product developer, Raegan Powell, said in a press release. “It is the perfect summer sip for a little moment of escape wherever you are.”

The executive was said to have led the team in the creation of the new drinks. The new Pineapple Passionfruit drink offers the typical tropical flavors of pineapple and passionfruit which are blended by the Starbucks baristas through the metal shaker. It has bits of real pineapple and ice to create a refreshing drink for the summer.

Starbucks said that the delicious tropical blend is only 100 calories for a Grande. The brand said that customers could also request for an extra lemonade to be added to the mix if they want an extra burst of flavor.

For customers who want something creamy, they can go for the Paradise Drink, that is made with pineapple and coconut milk. It has higher calories in the same Grande size - 140 calories.

Finally, as posted on Food & Wine, the Chicken Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich has breaded chicken, scrambled eggs, and a maple butter spread. These are sandwiched in a toasted oat biscuit roll to complete the new savory Starbucks sandwich. Customers can buy the new food items at store outlets across the United States.