SBUX's Digital Menu Rollout Nears 90%: Can It Lift Afternoon Sales?

Starbucks is rolling out digital menu boards to 80-90% of stores by September to boost afternoon daypart sales through improved merchandising and product innovation. The strategy includes promoting Refreshers (showing double-digit growth) and food items, with Q3 results showing 7.9% comparable sales growth and record food attachment. However, competitors McDonald's and Dutch Bros are also aggressively targeting afternoon occasions with beverage innovation.