Starbucks to unveil 'Frappucino Light'
Coffee retailer wants to cater to calorie-conscious consumers with new line of blended beverages.
June 29, 2004: 8:11 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp. said Tuesday it will roll out a line of blended coffee drinks intended to tap into the growing popularity of reduced-calorie and reduced-fat menu choices for Americans.

The Seattle-based company, which operates the world's largest coffee chain, said that its new line of "Frappucino Light" beverages would go on sale at all of its 6,010 stores the United States and Canada on Wednesday.

Starbucks has been working to develop a light version of its popular blended beverages for the past two years and had test marketed the new offering in Sacramento, Calif., earlier this year, a spokeswoman said.

The diet-friendly product rollout comes as other major U.S. restaurant chains and food companies come to grips with the continuing popularity of low-carb and other diets in response to the recognition of a growing obesity problem in America.

Starbucks cited consumer research saying that 42 percent of Americans say they are reducing fat in their diet.

The new light Starbucks beverages, which substitute Splenda, a non-calorie sweetener, for some of the sugar in the original versions, feature about 30 to 40 percent fewer calories, the company said.

For instance, a 12-ounce Mocha Frappucino Light would have 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, compared with 220 calories and three grams of fat in the original, Starbucks spokeswoman Jenny Walsh said. That comparison excludes whipped cream.

In addition to a promotion campaign that will feature billboard and other kinds of advertising, Starbucks will be offering North American customers at all of its stores on Wednesday a chance to sample the new Frappucino beverages, it said.

Analysts have credited Starbucks' introduction of new products, including new twists on its Frappucinos, with driving increasing traffic to its stores and reaching out to a wider range of customers.

Starbucks is not alone among major U.S. companies trying to reach calorie-counting customers on the go. McDonald's Corp. (MCD: Research, Estimates) has credited the introduction its "Go Active! Happy Meal," featuring a bottle of water and a pedometer, in part for better recent sales.

Coca-Cola Co. (KO: Research, Estimates) this month has also rolled out a soft drink with half the calories and carbohydrates of the original Coke and an ad campaign targeting followers of trendy Atkins-style diets.

And in a sign of the risks to companies seen out of step with the times, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD: Research, Estimates) last month blamed the low-carb diet craze as it posted its first net loss since going public four years ago.

Shares in Starbucks (SBUX: Research, Estimates) closed up 7 cents to $43.27 on Monday and have gained about 30 percent since the start of the year.


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Well, I went to Starbucks this morning and they had 6 low fat muffins and none of the low carb muffins. Now they are adding a low fat drink (although they are using Splenda, we will have to wait for the carb count).

Sigh. I am so tired of low fat muffins with their huge carb count. The last thing we need is more low fat products.

brobin

Does anyone have the carb count on these yet?

Hi!

Someone linked me to this thread and since I work for Starbucks, I just wanted to add a couple of things - first, we have a true low carb brownie now, mostly butter, chocolate, and almond flour and made with malitol (so avoid them in high numbers) If your Starbucks doesn't have them yet, ask very strongly and insist that such a thing exists. (Some districts don't have them and won't get them unless customers ask)

Second, we have a multi-grain low carb bagel available, too. It's 9 net carbs but I usually split one and opt for cream cheese, which brings it to about 5 - again, sometimes you really have to ask for stuff. The Atlanta district got the brownies because we all begged for them.

Last I guess that I just wanted to say that I know how hard it is. I willingly work at a place where a zillion strawberries and cream, java chip, and double carmel frappuccinos go by me on a daily basis. But I also know that unlike most coffee purveyors and even the wave of bookstore cafe's like Barnes and Noble and Borders, we do offer choices. We can make any of our regular drinks with half and half or even heavy cream, and we have two sugar free syrups on hand always. (Vanilla and Hazlenut) So, how about trying a heavy cream, hazlenut latte on ice, with a low carb brownie on your next visit? You'll be well within carb range and feel like you aren't missing out a bit-

Allez Y'All

sen
(someone so impressed by Starbucks I begged to work there)

Are the Sugar free syrups sweetened with splenda or Aspartame?

Last time I looked they were sweetened with aspartame and they didnt even carry splenda packets, so I didnt go back.

Even the "light" frappacino has 36g of carbs.

See the chart in the article at

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/180118_drinks30.html

Vanilla = Aparteme, Hazelnut = Splenda.

As far as Frapp Light - it is sweetened 1/2 with Splenda, and the other 1/2 good ol' HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. I checked the box today when we made up our samples at work.

Carb counts are 20-60 carbs, depending on size and such, and the Light does not come with whipped cream (which ALL lc'ers should avoid, since we jack it up with sugar).

You know what's scary ? I've started to notice this more and more. People are embracing low-carb. They have been convinced that carbs are bad for you, or at the very least, bad for your waistline. Yet, after being brainwashed for so many years, (and still being brainwashed) they have not let go of their fear of fat. So now, people are trying to do low-carb AND low-fat diets.

I notice this a lot too. I was talking to a friend of mine last week who is low carbing too and I happened to mention my craving for duck, and his immediate response was 'but its so fatty' He knows all about me and fat lol but still it was funny. He eats fat, he isnt afraid of it really, but just the mention of the word duck and that fat phobia kicked right in.

low fat and low carb! What does the body burn for energy-protein, which is not good since dieters want to keep the muscles and loose the fat.

I agree. I may be doing a low-cal version of low-carbing, but I am definitely not eating low-fat. I'm getting between 120 and 150 grams of fat a day. That's not low by anyone's standards that I know of.