Starbucks to remove non-dairy substitute surcharge

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Starbucks has announced it will end its extra charge for non-dairy alternatives.

Starting Thursday, Nov. 7, customers no longer will be charged for using non-dairy substitutes such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk and oat milk.

Starbucks says almost half of its U.S. customers will benefit from the change. It says substituting non-dairy milk "is the second most requested customization" from customers, behind adding a shot of espresso.

Customers in the United States and Canada who use non-dairy drink customizations should see a price reduction of more than 10%, the company said.

Nationally, the coffee chain had 15,270 stores as of Sept. 23.

Starbucks currently operates 21 stores in the Lehigh Valley, following the closure of the stand-alone kiosk in the Lehigh Valley Mall.

'All the ways customers enjoy Starbucks'

Ordering through the Starbucks app at the company's local shops, oat milk, soy milk, almond milk and coconut milk now costs an additional 70 cents.

"Core to the Starbucks Experience is the ability to customize your beverage to make it yours," Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol said in a release.

"By removing the extra charge for non-dairy milks we’re embracing all the ways our customers enjoy their Starbucks."

Niccol, in a release that came out a day after one that announced the company's full fiscal year report, referred to the price cut move as "one of many changes" made to Starbucks to ensure visits are "worth it every time."

The report shows that sales declined, with a 2% decrease in North America and U.S. comparable stores. International comparable store sales declined 4%.

“It is clear we need to fundamentally change our strategy to win back customers," Niccol said in a release about the report.
"‘Back to Starbucks’ is that fundamental change.”