Starbucks announced it is moving to a "to go" model to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
According to their website, the "to go" model will be implemented in the United States and Canada for at least two weeks to help prevent prolonged social gathering in their cafés.
Here’s what you can expect:
- We are pausing the use of all seating, including all café and patio seating
- Café, Mobile Order & Pay, Drive Thru and Delivery will still be open
- We are modifying the condiment bar in all stores
- We are modifying the MOP handoff plane on a store-by-store basis
- We are integrating a change in our cash handling procedure, moving to a designated partner at POS and Drive Thru Window, and allowing (but not requiring) gloves for partners in these roles.
"These are the actions we know are effective based on our experience in China," Rossann Williams, Starbucks executive vice president, president U.S. company-operated business and Canada, said in a statement. "Working together, I am confident we can modify operations in all stores quickly and seamlessly, as we know the majority of our customers already get their order “to go” and most of our customers who typically use our café seating are also used to visiting us at MOP and Drive Thru."
Along with the "to go" model, Starbucks will "temporarily close company-operated stores in high-social gathering locations like stores that are located inside malls or on university campuses" and "in communities such as Seattle and New York with high clusters of COVID-19 cases, we will reduce operating hours or temporarily close select stores."
"Every community’s needs are incredibly different, and we are prepared to adjust as needed," Williams added.
To read the full statement, click here.