SEATTLE — The La Boulange bakery-café retail concept is getting the axe, three years after Starbucks acquired the chain for $100 million. Starbucks announced Tuesday it will be closing all 23 retail locations in California.
Starbucks, which rolled out the La Boulange line of pastry products in its stores in U.S. and Canada in the past year, will continue to sell the products in its stores. “The La Boulange brand will continue to play a significant role in the future of Starbucks food in stores, and the company looks forward to serving delicious La Boulange food at its Starbucks retail locations in San Francisco and across the U.S. and Canada,” reads the company’s press release.
Meanwhile, the company reported a 16-per-cent year-over-year increase in food sales from its Starbucks stores, with breakfast sandwiches earning a 35-per-cent year-over-year increase in the breakfast platform.
