Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #3, I love you.
By the end of fiscal year 2008, discontinue warmed breakfast sandwiches at our North American stores
…We made this decision because, in short, the scent of the warmed sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores.
If by "scent of the warmed sandwiches" you mean BURNING PAPER, then yes, it interferes. I was one of the complainers myself, thinking it would get the schmos at Waverly & 6th to fix their toaster. Turns out it wasn't just them. The sandwiches were blamed for stinky Q1 FY08 results and the mighty SBUX is dumping them in an attempt to return to their roots. The oven company, TurboChef Technologies, fell 15% after the news came out. :(
The only sandwich I dared to stomach was in a moment of desperation while stuck on Long Island. It was the unfortunately named "Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon, Cholesterol-Free Egg, Reduced-Fat White Cheddar Oven Roasted Breakfast Sandwich" and isn't that much fun to order. (Nevermind that despite the qualifications, it's still higher in fat and calories than the unsuspecting "Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Feta & Egg Wrap".)
But relief is coming soon. I look forward to the time when Christmas Blend is next ushered in and the sandwiches are kicked OUT!
I will guiltily admit a love for the aforementioned spinach, roasted tomato, feta, and egg wrap. But it's the only one. The rest are stinky. My problem is that sometimes I want food with my coffee that isn't 500 calories of straight-up sugar, and Starbucks has yet to deliver a satisfying product on that front. Except for the s/rt/f/e wrap. I will miss it. So sue me. :)
I hear you. I love me an Egg McMuffin under the right circumstances, so I looked forward to what Starbucks would present in that arena. And you're right. There's a limit to how much Pumpkin Loaf can satisfy in the mornings. Honestly, I just think they messed up the ovens and installed them on the cheap. Do the work and vent them outside already!