Starbucks, Seattle, expanded distribution of its Via Ready
Brew to 13,000 additional distribution points through international grocery
channels in Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom.
“Customers have enthusiastically made
Starbucks Via part of their daily lives,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks’
chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “The increased
distribution of Starbucks Via Ready Brew through global consumer product goods
channels contributes to the ongoing momentum Starbucks Via has seen in its
first year of availability.”
Via now will be available in more than 55,000 locations
worldwide. By the end of September,Via will be available in Japan through more than 11,000
grocery and convenience stores in addition to more than 800 Starbucks retail
locations. Since April when Via was introduced, Japanese customers have
purchased more than 10 million sticks in Starbucks stores alone, the company
said.
Via will be distributed in Canada through Wal-Mart, Loblaws,
Safeway and Metro with the addition of more than 2,300 grocery locations.
Starbucks already distributes Via in 1,000 Starbucks retail stores in Canada.
In the United Kingdom,
Via will be available in 2,300 grocery retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury
and Waitrose.