Oct. 31--Want to avoid the morning rush at the local Starbucks?
No problem, Chief Executive Howard Schultz said. Starbucks will deliver.
Schultz announced that, starting in the second half of 2015, Starbucks will bring its food and drinks directly to customers in select markets.
"Imagine the ability to create a standing order at Starbucks, delivered hot or iced to your desk daily," Schultz said in a conference call with analysts Thursday. "That's our version of e-commerce on steroids."
The delivery service will be available through Starbucks Corp.'s mobile app, which currently lets customers pay at the store through their phone, Schultz said.
The delivery announcement, which Schultz did not explain further, came as the Seattle-based company reported fourth-quarter revenue that fell short of Wall Street's expectations.
Starbucks shares fell on Thursday's earnings news. They were down $1.63, or 1.6%, at $75.69.
