Howard Schultz
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
I mean, it was, Coffee Connection had it, then we had it in Boston, people wanted it, and I just went along. And you ended up like reformulating it, right? It wasn't exactly what the- A store manager in Santa Monica reformatted it, and she was on it. I think Howard Behar loved it. People in California loved it. There's a fantastic story about Frappuccino because of what we did with it.
I mean, it was, Coffee Connection had it, then we had it in Boston, people wanted it, and I just went along. And you ended up like reformulating it, right? It wasn't exactly what the- A store manager in Santa Monica reformatted it, and she was on it. I think Howard Behar loved it. People in California loved it. There's a fantastic story about Frappuccino because of what we did with it.
Not in its existing form in retail, but what we ended up doing with it in terms of leveraging the brand and distribution. That's another great story.
Not in its existing form in retail, but what we ended up doing with it in terms of leveraging the brand and distribution. That's another great story.
Yeah. So I went to Atlanta and Pepsi in the same day. It wound up being Coke. I went to Coke. I went to Pepsi the same day. The Coke meeting was a meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes. I can't remember who I met with. They dismissed me. Didn't view Starbucks. Didn't understand what I was trying to do and didn't give me much time to even explain it. And then I went to Pepsi. And this is 95-ish?
Yeah. So I went to Atlanta and Pepsi in the same day. It wound up being Coke. I went to Coke. I went to Pepsi the same day. The Coke meeting was a meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes. I can't remember who I met with. They dismissed me. Didn't view Starbucks. Didn't understand what I was trying to do and didn't give me much time to even explain it. And then I went to Pepsi. And this is 95-ish?
See, 500 stores, your public company.
See, 500 stores, your public company.
But no one... But in East Coast, Starbucks wasn't really well known. So I went to Pepsi and purchased New York, met Roger Enrico, the iconic CEO, and Craig Weatherup, the president of Pepsi. They loved the idea. And we started talking about this.
But no one... But in East Coast, Starbucks wasn't really well known. So I went to Pepsi and purchased New York, met Roger Enrico, the iconic CEO, and Craig Weatherup, the president of Pepsi. They loved the idea. And we started talking about this.
Subsequently, Craig Weatherup and I, on a napkin, I swear, shook hands and created a multi-billion dollar business for Pepsi and Starbucks and a 50-50 JV and bottle of Frappuccino. And Craig Weatherup deserves all the credit for that. And then Craig became a board member of Starbucks.
Subsequently, Craig Weatherup and I, on a napkin, I swear, shook hands and created a multi-billion dollar business for Pepsi and Starbucks and a 50-50 JV and bottle of Frappuccino. And Craig Weatherup deserves all the credit for that. And then Craig became a board member of Starbucks.
And Roger and I were friends until his death. and served on the DreamWorks board together.
And Roger and I were friends until his death. and served on the DreamWorks board together.
And was there an internal revolt? Because I could imagine people saying, this is a bridge too far.
And was there an internal revolt? Because I could imagine people saying, this is a bridge too far.