Starbucks eyes juice-bar business

Starbucks(SBUX) as a juice bar? According to news reports, the coffee giant may soon add smoothies, wheatgrass and acai to its menu.

The New York Post reports that Starbucks has just hired Yohana Bencosme, the former manager of the trendy Manhattan juice bar Liquiteria. Bencosme's new job is to train staffers in Starbucks' Seattle headquarters.

One source tells the Post that Starbucks' chief executive, Howard Schultz, made many visits to Liquiteria and other juice bars in the area. "He spent a lot of time checking out the juices," the source says. "Then he went in for the kill and hired Yohana."

The owner of Liquiteria confirmed the news, saying Bencosme was like his daughter. "He befriended us, asked about our concept, then took her. It is a huge slap in the face."

What's next for Starbucks' stock? Analysts give their opinions in the following video.

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The same source says Schultz wants to add pressed-juice "grab and go" bars to his cafes. Starbucks investors seemed to shrug at the news. Shares were down less than 1% Thursday to $41.26.

Starbucks is massively expanding its supermarket business, with ambitious plans to add a number of billion-dollar brands to grocery store shelves. But we haven't heard much about moves to change its cafes.

Would juice bars make sense at Starbucks? The very idea triggered a 3.5% drop in the stock price of Jamba Juice owner Jamba (JMBA) on Thursday.

Starbucks is desperate to bring in more afternoon traffic and even offers an afternoon discount to morning customers in many areas. Smoothies and other juice items would help draw the lunch and afternoon crowds. They would also appeal to children.

Starbucks has experimented with other beverages and has opened some cafes more focused on beer and wine. So it makes sense that the company would give serious thought to smoothies and juices.