With partner (employee) and customer safety top of mind, Starbucks Canada is set to open its cafe doors and welcome customers for walk-in take-out orders. By this weekend, two-thirds of stores across Canada will offer grab-and-go service, which means customers can go inside a cafe to place their order to go, but all in-cafe and patio seating will remain closed. The addition of grab-and-go provides more ways to enjoy Starbucks, expanding service from drive-thru, Starbucks® Delivers powered by Uber Eats Eats (limited delivery area and menu options. See Uber Eats app for details), and pickup at entryway or drive-thru after mobile ordering.
Since the onset of COVID-19, Starbucks Canada tested and refined new ways of working to protect the health and well-being of its partners and customers, consistent with the guidance provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, provincial governments and safety experts.
The grab-and-go model continues to prioritize safety:
- When a customer walks into a cafe to order at the counter, they will notice floor markers and signage directing them where to stand to remain physically distant.
- There will also be a plexi-shield at the POS as an added barrier to protect partners and customers.
- All partners will wear facial coverings and adhere to Starbucks safety measures.
Grab-and-go payment:
- With grab-and-go service, customers now have the option to walk into a cafe, order at the counter and pay with any method, though Starbucks encourages downloading and using the Starbucks App for contactless pay.
- Customers can also order ahead and pay with their Starbucks App to save time. Mobile orders can be picked up at the designated handoff area inside the cafe or at the drive-thru.
Following grab-and-go, Starbucks is poised to move quickly to allow customers to dine in its cafes and patios in a limited capacity. Opening in-cafe and patio seating will be determined on a community-by-community basis, and Starbucks will work closely with local leadership, health authorities and provincial governments as the environment and regulations change. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.