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Starbucks pilots sparkling drinks in three test markets
Original headline: “Starbucks tests sparkling drinks in three markets”
Why this matters
Starbucks is testing carbonated beverages in Austin, San Antonio, and St. Louis, likely targeting the energy drink and sparkling water daypart that has pulled younger customers away from traditional coffee. When Starbucks moves into a new beverage category, it typically signals where fast-casual and QSR beverage trends are heading next. Independent coffee shops and cafes in those markets will feel the traffic competition first, but the menu signal is national: sparkling and functional drinks are no longer optional for operators chasing afternoon revenue.
What to do
Check your afternoon daypart sales from the last 90 days and compare against any sparkling or energy drink options you carry or have dropped.
Reveal Newsroom · Auto-published from nrn →
Published Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:08:16 GMT
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