STARBUCKS has committed to aligning its menu with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the deal with the coffee giant’s CEO Brian Niccol on Wednesday.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr (L) and Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol (R) met on Tuesday[/caption]
Niccol has agreed to align Starbucks’ menu with MAHA goals[/caption]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a post on X: “Yesterday (Tuesday), I met with @Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who shared the company’s plans to further MAHA its menu.
“I was pleased to learn that Starbucks’ food and beverages already avoid artificial dyes, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other additives.”
The nephew of President John F. Kennedy has been examining the nation’s food system to address the root causes of childhood chronic disease.
Starbucks said the meeting with Kennedy was productive.
The company told FOX Business: “Our diverse menu of high-quality foods and beverages empower customers to make informed nutritional decisions, with transparency on ingredients, calories, and more.
“Plus, we keep it real – no high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, flavors, or artificial trans-fats.”
Earlier this year, Starbucks announced it would be axing 30 percent of its menu in a bid to improve the company’s dwindling sales and financial results.
Niccol told investors in January: “Over coming months we will begin to optimize our menu offerings, resulting in roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food skews by end of fiscal year.
“This means we can sell more of our core beverages by demonstrating our premium value, a key part of the premium value we provide and consistently delivering a high quality, hand crafted beverage.”
Niccol also confirmed the chain would double its store footprint in the US by the end of the year.
It was revealed last week that Starbucks is testing healthier drink options – including a new protein cold foam.
The banana-flavored foam, said to have 15 grams of protein, has been rolled out at five US locations.
It is being paired with a sugar-free vanilla latte.
Niccol said: “It’s on trend. It’s delicious.”
The company also said it has started to test baking certain pastries in stores – rather than shipping them, with the result they need to be warmed up.
The first test is a new buttery croissant and a double chocolate cookie.
It comes as a new coffee, dubbed the Starbucks 1971 Roast, is coming to Starbucks spots in the US and Canada this winter.
The drink offers a dark roast blend of beans from Sumatra, Colombia and Brazil.
Starbucks is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of its iconic Frappuccino with the Strato Frappuccino.
Strato, which means “layer” in Italian, adds a cloud of cold foam on top of any Frappuccino flavor.
Under Niccol’s leadership, Starbucks has seen a 24.5 percent increase in stock value.
Starbucks changes
Starbucks announced a series of updates in January 2025:
- 30% of food and beverage items will be axed from the menu
- Self-serve condiment bars will be brought back
- Free refills of hot or iced brewed coffees
- Dine-in customers will be able to get drinks in ceramic mug
- Open-door policy will be reversed
- Return of handwritten labels on to-go cups
Niccol said he is ‘confident’ the changes will improve customer experience[/caption]
