Starbucks - Orange Valencia Cake

[jkmunchkin]

I read on another forum that Starbucks is getting rid of the Orange Valencia Cake. Not because it's not selling well, but because apparently they feel it's to much of a "treat" and not nutritious. They plan to replace it with Kind Bars.

I'm sorry, but for starters I can (and do) get Kind Bars anywhere. I can get them at Duane Reade, the supermarket, the local deli, etc. And so the rest of the gluten eating population gets to eat their incredibly nutritious muffins, rice crispy treats, coffee cakes, doughnuts, etc... but we can't have 1 treat to grab!

I did call Starbucks and confirm for myself that this is infact true. The representative I spoke with suggested I comment at: Open Original Shared Link

She said that this is where they generally take most of their feedback from and if they get enough feedback they would likely bring it back.

Let's save our on the go treat!!!!!

[jerseyangel]

I was afraid that this was what was happening This past weekend, and again yesterday, the Starbucks here (2 different locations) were "out of them". I thought that was odd, since from all that I read, and heard at Starbucks, they went over very well.

Now that you mention it, Jillian, I did see a display of Kind bars at the register area. Darn it

I will add my voice to try and bring them back!

[Judyin Philly]

Jillian,

thanks for bringing this to the c.com forum.

I'd read it this am.

Now Patti can't find them either and I bought they were sold out

this is the letter i just wrote to them

Rats.........makes me so mad!!!!

Judy

What I just wrote---

I agree 100% with the statement above!!!!

When I would need a desert to go , I'd stop at starbucks to pick up a desert for ME on the way.

While traveling, I could stop there for something safe to eat.

We are going across country and now I don't have starbucks.

I can't tell you how sad I am!!!!

I don't know what is in the Kind Bar.

I can't eat tapicao, or any kind of flour other than rice as I has so many food allergies.

I pray you will increase your gluten free line and not do this

Most times when I'd stop to get the cake, they'd be sold out so you can't tell me this wasn't selling or the market wasn't there.

We loved you guys for careing about us.

The 27,000 + members of celiac.com will be letting you know what we think of your decision.

Any place sells coffee but we thought you cared about our gluten-free market.

Guess not.

[PattyBoots]

Dammit! And before I got a chance to even try one!

We had a Starbucks about 10 miles down the road and it was one of the ones they closed up - it was only open about a month and then they closed it up. They seem to be a very rash, hair-trigger company. I can't imagine how much R&D had to go into developing the cake as well as the distribution scheme and now they're going to discontinue it?

My bet is that they're having problems sourcing raw materials - they had one supplier and now they need to find a new one and it's prohibitively expensive. Let's face it folks - money talks and bullsh*t walks, and there are very, very, very few altruistic companies out there.

[lizard00]

Yeah, it's probably a cost thing.

Because who are they trying to fool, like any of their other snacks were nutritious!!! Hello... how many calories do you think that black and white 'muffin' has in it, or the cakes they sell? That is so annoying. I went in the other day, and the cakes were frozen. I bought a kind bar instead.

And Judy- that letter was great. I'll try to get one to them, too!

[Ahorsesoul]

Love all the comments on their site right now. Be sure to vote with the thumbs up on each comment listed.

[munchkinette]

If you CAN find them, they are covered by Starbucks Free Pastry Day on July 21.

Open Original Shared Link

[Judyin Philly]

Just got this from another site this am.

I agree with another poster.......are the other bakery 'goodies' in the case at Starbucks HEALTHY?

I swear.....I'm getting so tired of companies putting their own spin on NOT coming through.

We proved to them we liked their product

Just had to vent.

Thanks for listening.

Judy

Starbucks Discontinuing Gluten-Free Cake

Well that didn

[hez]

I called the 800 number and complained. At least they did not use the "healthy" excuse. The rep told me it was a qualty issue. Still very sad

Hez

[Gemini]

I called the 800 number and complained. At least they did not use the "healthy" excuse. The rep told me it was a qualty issue. Still very sad

Hez

A quality issue? What does that mean? Maybe the gluten stuff didn't taste good to non-Celiacs after eating the gluten-free cake?

I think it may all boil down to a liability issue. Even when a company does a great thing and offers a gluten-free snack, there will be those Celiacs who find some kind of imaginary problem and threaten to sue. There are many things in life that don't happen anymore because of the fear of lawsuits. I hope that isn't it and they bring it back. I didn't buy them often but they were very good!

[GFinDC]

I added my complaint also and voted thumbs up on the complaint posts.

[Salax]

Well, maybe I will consider not buying their coffee anymore then. It's not a healthy treat, now is it. Maybe if we all did this and spread the word....they might actually listen?

Just a thought.

[Judyin Philly]

A quality issue? What does that mean? Maybe the gluten stuff didn't taste good to non-Celiacs after eating the gluten-free cake?

I think it may all boil down to a liability issue. . There are many things in life that don't happen anymore because of the fear of lawsuits.

I wondered about the non gluten-free people too

I sure hope the liability wasn't the issue.

I'm afraid that there are always those out there who can 'spoil' it for us.

[Judyin Philly]

Do you think we should make a new topic so more people will see and sign up to sign the petition?

Feel free anyone to do this if you want to start the new thread

Judy<A href="Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link_____________________________________________________________

Open Original Shared Link

Posted: 17 Jul 2009 01:35 PM PDT

Much to the delight of the Celiac community, back in April the popular Starbucks franchise Open Original Shared Link, built a dedicated gluten free kitchen, and announced the release of their Open Original Shared Link, the Valencia Orange Cake. Since then, not all reviews of this new product have been glowing, but the goodwill Starbucks built up has been overwhelming, making this product launch a strong success for this company in my mind.

Now only three months later, after several speculative reports online, it looks like Starbucks may be planning to discontinue this new product and replace it with the more nutritious Open Original Shared Link. When asked on their official Twitter page, here was Starbucks response:

We heard that it was too much of a treat, and not a nutritious snack. The Open Original Shared Link bar is replacing it.

At this point, I guess this is mostly speculation/concern, but we will post additional information once something is confirmed either way. To those of you that have tried the Valencia Orange Cake, what did you think?

Update: The Celiac community is very proactive, and it looks like Triumph Dining has started a petition. You can learn more and sign the petition Open Original Shared Link.

[hannahp57]

I want them to at least replace it with something that can be called nutritious! Although anyone could point out that a gluten-free snack is much healthier for us celiacs than regular glutenful menu items. so they just arent looking at the health aspect from the right point of veiw as far as i'm concerned. but good luck to them i guess. if they can create a healthy gluten free snack i may reconsider frequenting our location. until then i'll get my hot chocolate somewhere else

[debmidge]

Starbucks never sold the Orange Valencia cake at the store I went to. In fact (as you will recall I do not have celiac disease but my husband does and I wanted to buy an Orange Valencia for him to have), I have tried their other gluten treats (scones, etc.) and they are awful (you're not mssing anything). As a gluten consumer, I do not feel that going "healthier" will make Starbucks "wealthier." When I want a snack, I want something naughty to eat, not a health food bar.

[Ahorsesoul]

I suppose if Starbucks really is interested in only selling "healthy" products they will soon give up selling coffee and tea. Oh wait, didn't I read they wanted to sell booze? Oh yea, they will become a saloon, that's healthier. lol

[Judyin Philly]

As a gluten consumer, I do not feel that going "healthier" will make Starbucks "wealthier." When I want a snack, I want something naughty to eat, not a health food bar.

I hear you 'sister'

something we don't have to cook ourselves is really nice too .

I suppose if Starbucks really is interested in only selling "healthy" products they will soon give up selling coffee and tea. Oh wait, didn't I read they wanted to sell booze? Oh yea, they will become a saloon, that's healthier. lol

Gotta love this one.

[Hummingbird4]

I don't go to Starbucks very often, but I've had the valencia orange cake about half a dozen times. In fact, I bought one on Sunday, at the Starbucks near my work. It was the last one on the plate, but I didn't think anything of it. I'm glad I got it, because I discovered the next day that they have been discontinued.

Tuesday was free pastry day, and a couple of friends and I had already decided we'd walk to the Starbucks near our house. I tried calling them to ask if they still had the cake, but their phone was screwed up. So I went there, hoping for the best but expecting they might be out. And they were. The girl at the counter very snottily told me that they hadn't been selling, and they were throwing them out all the time. (I realize that due to the ingredients, they wouldn't have a long shelf life, but why couldn't they freeze them??)

So lucky me, I got to sit and watch my friends eat their coffee cake, while I drank my last Starbucks coffee.