Please Starbucks - Start Offering Some Vegan Desserts!

Dear Starbucks, get your act together and start offering vegan options in your dessert case! I have grown quite tired of staring at those shiny, golden iced lemon pound cakes and banana chocolate chip cakes coated with luscious chocolate chips through the plexiglass. I am thoroughly sick of ogling and longing for those brightly-colored spring flower cookies and whimsical, happy little frosted cake pops.




 Can you PLEASE throw us vegans a faux bone and put out something we can enjoy?

Is it really so much to ask for some milk-free and egg-free options? Years ago, you took the amazing initiative to offer organic soymilk in every store, which is way more than other coffee chains like Dunkin Donuts have ever bothered to do.  It really can't be that difficult to introduce a vegan pastry or two in every store as well. And considering the amazing wealth of vegan baking resources and businesses these days, it's easier than ever to find a good  supplier. 

A little while ago, I wrote a letter to Starbucks airing my dissatisfaction. This was my letter followed by their emailed reply. 

March 10, 2014

Hello, as a loyal Starbucks customer who is also vegan, I am thoroughly disappointed at the lack of vegan baked goods currently sold at your stores, especially since Starbucks offers non-dairy options for their beverages. Many people do not consume dairy or eggs for health, diet, or religious reasons and should have the option to purchase pastry goods that do not contain these ingredients. I believe that all patrons deserve the chance to enjoy a delicious muffin, cookie or piece of cake with their Starbucks beverage. 

I urge you to consider adding appealing vegan pastries to your existing menu - I especially advocate adding vegan versions of popular items like the Chocolate Chip Banana Cake, Iced Lemon Pound Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Blueberry Muffins. Delicious vegan alternatives to these treats are simple to make and could be enjoyed by all, vegan or not! By adding one or two vegan desserts to your current selection, you will positively contribute to the sustainability of our environment and animal welfare by offering alternatives to eggs and dairy. 

And I am sure countless patrons will thank you for your forward-thinking attitude toward different diets.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely,
Janay Laing 

And their friendly but basically useless response:

March 11, 2014

Thank you for contacting Starbucks.

I think that your request for more Vegan pastry options is a great idea.

We always want to hear what you think would improve your experience with Starbucks.  
I appreciate you letting me know how much customers would enjoy this.

I would also like to invite you to visit www.MyStarbucksIdea.com. This website is a forum where you 
can share your ideas, tell us what you think of other people's ideas and join the discussion that will 
help shape Starbucks future.  Many of the ideas shared have already been turned into action.

If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Sincerely,

Demetra A.
customer service

Well, I indeed went over to My Starbucks Idea to check out the site, and surprise! There are countless - perhaps thousands- of other requests for more vegan food options at Starbucks, with a list of comments that stretches back several years. Why has Starbucks not responded to this clear and vocal demand for a more vegan-friendly menu? In so many respects, it is such a modern, forward-thinking company with a strong awareness of environmental and animal welfare concerns. So it is truly strange that their food options are so thoroughly unfriendly to vegans, and that they seem to have no intention of changing it. 

Well, hear is my plea again again, Starbucks - please bring out some vegan desserts! So many of your most loyal patrons are eagerly awaiting this next step in Starbucks' evolution as a company that stays with the times, and the times are clear - plant-based food and ingredients are in, and people want more of them. 

Please take your customers' dietary allergies, preferences, and variations into account and provide more diverse food options. It really is not that hard.