Starbucks said Tuesday that it has unveiled its Green Apron Delivery Service, an urban pilot program that could serve as the launching pad for the chain’s long-awaited foray into full-scale delivery.
The delivery service will supply professionals who work in New York City’s Empire State Building with Starbucks’ menu items on demand, the coffee giant said. Tourists and others visiting the skyscraper are unable to use the service, but are directed get their Starbucks fix at the chain’s two additional locations in the building, including one of its newer express units.
Starbucks, which announced earlier this year that it would test delivery in New York City as well as through a Postmates partnership in Seattle, has seen a significant sales boost from tech investments to drive customer engagement, such as the nationwide rollout of its Mobile Order & Pay functionality last month.
Delivery orders, which are placed online, are prepared for customers in a designated Green Apron Delivery Service kitchen, Starbucks said. Baristas then deliver orders to companies’ specified drop-off locations.
Customers pay a flat $2 fee per order, the Associated Press reports.
“New York City has always inspired us to consider new ways to innovate for our growing store portfolio and I cannot think of a better location to launch one of the most frequently requested services,” said Cliff Burrows, Starbucks’ group president of U.S. and Americas. “With Starbucks Green Apron Delivery, we’ve simply moved that moment of connection between our customer and the barista from our place to theirs.”
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