Yup, we have a new "dealer" of premium coffee, and they want you to sample the goods. If you are lucky enough to live in the Northeast, then you are well aware of the freebie McDonald’s is offering coffee lovers. If you are not aware of this fabulous promotion, then wake up and smell the free coffee!
McDonald’s has struck up a deal with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. to create a special blend under the Newman's Own Organic Blend brand. This free deal is only available until November 11th and only available in 7 states in the Northeast.
Artwork by Ashley, The Painting Journalist
McDonald’s is trying to get an edge on the coffee competition such as Dunkin Donuts (which is HUGE in the Northeast) and Starbucks. I can completely attest to the celebrity status of Dunkin Donuts in New England as a native Rhode Islander. There is a Dunkin Donuts on practically every block in the state. So how can McDonald’s compete?
Mainly, McDonald’s put their ear to the (coffee) ground(s) and began listening to their customer’s demands for higher quality coffee. Are those in the Premium Coffee market taking notice? You bet.
Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have stepped their efforts in maintaining their loyal following, while Burger King has decided to put its foot in the door as a coffee competitor. Burger King now sells 100% Arabic coffee in in three strengths for the average working person; regular, decaf and turbo-strength.
Drinking coffee has become a lifestyle, and there are those who can differentiate tastes of different coffees much like that of a fine Wine Connoisseur. The Coffee Lifestyle is about relaxing to great music, reading a good book or intelligent magazine/newspaper, drinking high quality coffee and of course, buying high quality coffee products like those from Bodum. Bodum offers a variety of products, but their products for coffee making and drinking come with a sense of style and good design.
I am a coffee addict myself (growing up next to Dunkin Donuts, how could I not be?), as is Pierce Mattie’s President, Steve Hultgren. He recently purchased an Impressa Avantgarde for his apartment. I asked him how he shopped for his new coffee machine,
"I fell in love (more like became an addict) of espresso many years ago in Paris, about a year ago saw this espresso machine demo online and eventually ordered online at William Sonoma".Steve insists that he plans to bring coffee center into the office (yeah right)! While it's a bit much for me, the coffee culture is here to stay and co-branding opportunities are literally everywhere.
Coffee addicted? Here are some great coffee blogs: Vancouver Coffee and Coffee Tribune (whose wife just had their 4th child in September—congrats!)
What is your favorite brand of coffee? Do you think McDonald's will become a strong competitor in the premium coffee market?
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