Which bakery brand did Starbucks acquire in 2012?
Answer
La Boulange
Starbucks acquired the bakery brand La Boulange in 2012.
La Boulange was founded by baker Pascal Rigo and became known for French-style pastries and baked goods in the San Francisco Bay Area. Starbucks acquired the business to improve the food served in its cafés and to bring more bakery expertise into its menu development.
The deal was part of Starbucks’ effort to make food a stronger companion to coffee. La Boulange recipes and products influenced Starbucks bakery offerings in the United States, even though the standalone La Boulange bakery cafés were later closed.
La Boulange is not the same as Starbucks’ earlier acquisition of The Coffee Connection, which brought the Frappuccino name. The two deals involved different companies and different parts of Starbucks’ menu strategy.