NEW YORK — Starbucks plans to let customers across the U.S. order ahead on their smartphones over the next year, a move that should help shrink lines as it pushes more snacks, sandwiches and even wine.
In select areas, the chain also plans to offer delivery by late 2015.
“Delivery is one of our most requested ideas,” Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks, said at the company’s investor day in Seattle.
The new ordering options and a dramatic increase in U.S. food sales were part of the plans Starbucks executives laid out to drive up profit over the next five years. To convince more people to get something to eat with their drinks, Starbucks has revamped its baked goods and introduced new sandwiches, snacks and salad boxes.
The push has been paying off. In its most recent quarter, the company said breakfast sandwich sales rose 30 percent.
Starbucks says its food push will be helped by making beer and wine available in up to 25 percent of its 12,000 U.S. stores over the next five years. That program, which includes small plates such as chicken skewers after 4 p.m., is already in select stores.
