Starbucks (SBUX)

[kennynah]

i wish you well in your visit to New Orleans... take good care

[millionairemind]

Anyone tried the new brand, Via (Starbucks' instant coffee)?

Not sure if we can get it in Singapore [retails].

i hope i'll get a chance to taste it during the New Orleans trip in mid-March ...

If you can make it for Feb 10-11, go for Madi Gras. Its lots of fun and don't forget the beads and do go to Bourbon street.

Don't forget to try creole and canjun cuisine and of course gumbo

[LenaHuat]

Starbucks has spiked up its "passports" from S$29/90 to S$30/00 This ticker has recovered in a V style eversince its founder returned to steer the ship.

[kennynah]

my only concern is that Starbucks return to healthier profits stamped from their reduced outlets and thus costs... but all retail businesses can only grow successfully with more storefronts...and until SBUX shows that it is able to expand again and maintain a healthy margin, i will be worried about wanting to buy and hold onto this counter for a long term...

during my recent visit to KL, i saw many coffee chains just within Jalan Bukit Bintang area...these are real competition to SBUX...but of cos, one KL city is not representative of the competition landscape...like in Singapore, the only credible competition to SBUX is probably Tea Leaves and to a lesser extend ToastBox...

[LenaHuat]

Hi K
In many Asian cities like KL, Jakarta and Bangkok, to be 'seen' at Starbucks is associated with being members of the elite or rich. My Indonesian and Thai friends told me this.

[kennynah]

Hi L :
and how sadly this is the case...our vanity rules over our common sense sometimes..

[millionairemind]

Hi K
In many Asian cities like KL, Jakarta and Bangkok, to be 'seen' at Starbucks is associated with being members of the elite or rich. My Indonesian and Thai friends told me this.

I think McCafe is a serious competitor to Starbucks.

[kennynah]

i agree... i see more youngsters visiting sbux to be seen and to see... and their spending power is limited to that one cup to laze away the entire afternoon...

[helios]

it is confirmed that Via is not available in Singapore and Asia Pacific yet.

Apparantly, some Amercians said that they do not like the instant coffee - perhaps the culture of instant mix cannot constitute the acquired taste ... anyhow, i usually have sbux twice per week as takeaways.

[kennynah]

let me share with you where you can have a great cuppa for free... whenever you have to visit HP Singapore Office at Alexandra Road... perhaps for a meeting, do proceed towards behind the reception area on the ground level... there's a DIY coffee machine that dispenses one of the best coffee you can find in Singapore...courtesy of HP Singapore...