Latest news with #FairLife
Vancouver Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Protein coffee is gaining momentum, with Tim Hortons and Starbucks joining the fray
Ordering a 'proffee' at your local café may still elicit quizzical looks, but protein coffee is gaining momentum. In March, Tim Hortons launched a new range of high-protein dairy beverages, including a latte containing 20 grams of the nutrient in a medium-sized cup. Now, Starbucks is entering the fray. The coffee giant announced at a leadership conference in Las Vegas on June 10 that it's testing protein coffee at select locations in the United States. According to Food & Wine , Starbucks' proffee exploration includes a banana-flavoured cold foam carrying 15 grams of protein (roughly the same amount as two extra large eggs ). On June 12, NBC News reported Starbucks was rolling out a protein vanilla latte that week in select stores. The tests follow the release of a chilled protein coffee drink in the U.K. in July 2024. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. There's no confirmed official launch date for the protein coffee beverages, which the company presented as part of a broader innovation strategy. Alongside a layered, limited-edition Strato Frappuccino and croissants baked in-store, protein coffee is part of the company's effort 'to build a relevant, hype-worthy global menu that will resonate with customers' in the wake of a sales slump. 'It's time for us to lead again,' CEO Brian Niccol reportedly told Starbucks employees at the conference. 'We're going to lead in warm, welcoming coffeehouses. We're going to lead in innovation. Innovation to our menu.' In addition to protein coffee, NBC News reports that Starbucks may expand its offering of functional beverages by introducing mushroom-infused brews . The rise of protein coffee is part of a wider protein craze . Though experts highlight that most people in countries like Canada meet their protein needs without going to extra lengths like adding it to their morning coffee, the nutrient is vital for people taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic because it helps maintain muscle during weight loss. Axios reports that Starbucks considered various consumers for its protein cold foam, including 20-year-old men, 50-year-old women and people taking GLP-1 agonists. 'I was watching people coming to our stores. They would get three shots of espresso over ice. And in some cases, they pull their own protein powder out of their bag, or in other cases, they have a protein drink, like a Fair Life, and they'd pour that into their drink. I'm like, well, wait a second, we can make this experience better for them,' Niccol told Axios. 'The good news is now I think we're right on trend, and we can do it, I think, arguably better than anybody else.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here .
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Starbucks set to debut a new drink — packed with protein: ‘This thing is going to be a rocket'
Even Starbucks is hopping on the protein trend. If you've been on the internet in recent months, you've probably seen an increase in interest in protein-heavy food and drinks. Now, Starbucks is testing a new way to instantly add a whopping 15 grams of protein to nearly any beverage. The coffee giant is testing a protein cold foam at five locations in the US through its Starting Five program. It's part of CEO Brian Niccol's hopes to expand into the wellness category, the company announced during the Starbucks Leadership Experience in Las Vegas. 3 Starbucks is testing a protein cold foam at five locations in the US through its Starting Five program. Starbucks 'This thing is going to be a rocket,' Niccol said on stage in Las Vegas. 'It's on trend. It's delicious.' Niccol explained to Axios that the new innovation is geared toward a number of consumer groups, such as 20-year-old males, 50-year-old females and people taking GLP-1s. 'I was watching people coming to our stores, they would get three shots of espresso over ice,' Niccol explained. 'And in some cases, they pull their own protein powder out of their bag, or in other cases, they have a protein drink, like a Fair Life, and they'd pour that into their drink.' 'I'm like, well, wait a second, we can make this experience better for them,' he added. There's currently a huge push for protein with Gen Z, with different recipes and trends such as the '100 grams of protein daily' challenge going viral on TikTok. And with the continuous rise of GLP-1 drugs, research has shown that a high-protein diet is vital to maintaining muscle with the appetite-suppressing injectable treatments. 3 Starbucks shared that their protein powder should be able to be added to any of its cold foam flavors. Starbucks 'The good news is now I think we're right on trend, and we can do it, I think, arguably better than anybody else,' Niccol said. According to Fast Company, the protein cold foam will be identical to the cold foam Starbucks customers know and love — but it will be packed with somewhere between 15 and 18 grams of protein. The world's largest coffee chain reportedly initially imagined that the protein blend would simply mix into drinks, but it kept getting clumpy — something that protein powder consumers may know a thing or two about — and they wanted to solve that problem. 3 The protein cold foam will reportedly be packed with somewhere between 15 and 18 grams of protein. Dontree – The development team found that blending the powder into foam got rid of the clumps, which led to the protein cold foam innovation. Starbucks shared that their protein powder should be able to be added to any of its cold foam flavors, but the current testing version is a banana cold foam, FoodSided reported. They're starting the testing with Starbucks' Iced Caffe Latte. While it's being tested in just five locations at the moment, Niccol told Axios he thinks the nationwide release of the protein cold foam will be sooner rather than later. 'It's not one of those things that's years away. It's months away,' he said.
