Starbucks Bets On Cold Drinks As Gen Z Shifts Away From Hot Coffee

According to the BBC, Starbucks says three out of every four drinks it now sells are cold, as younger U.S. consumers increasingly choose customizable iced beverages, protein shakes and so-called dirty sodas over traditional coffee. Analysts and marketing professors said the trend is being driven by personalization, visual appeal and social media, while Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino lifted foot traffic at the chain by 44% during its three-day run in August, according to Placer.ai. The company has also used cold drinks to help revive weaker sales, with the category accounting for more than 70% of its U.S. beverage sales and becoming central to its turnaround strategy.