Introduction to the Pumpkin Spice Latte
Want a little autumn in your August? You’re in luck. The seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte has returned to Starbucks menus in the U.S. and Canada. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Starbucks’ most popular seasonal beverage, with hundreds of millions sold since the espresso drink’s 2003 launch. It’s also produced a host of imitations. Dunkin’ introduced pumpkin-flavored drinks in 2007; it beat Starbucks to market this year when its fall menu debuted last week. McDonald’s introduced a pumpkin spice latte in 2013.
The History of the Pumpkin Spice Latte
With more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is a famous roaster and retailer of specialty coffee. The Pumpkin Spice Latte was first introduced in 2003, and since then, it has become a staple of the fall season.
Key Statistics
Initial Launch
The number of Starbucks stores that sold the Pumpkin Spice Latte during a test run in Vancouver and Washington in 2003 was 100. The following year it launched nationally.
Global Expansion
In 2024, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was sold in 79 markets. At the time, the company had stores in 85 markets around the world. It now operates in 88 markets.
Revenue
Starbucks’ net revenue in its 2024 fiscal year, which ended last September, was $36.2 billion. Starbucks’ net revenue was $4.1 billion in 2003, when the Pumpkin Spice Latte first went on sale.
Menu Mentions
There was a 33.8% increase in mentions of pumpkin spice on U.S. menus between the fall of 2014 and the fall of 2024, according to Technomic.
Spice Blend
The number of spices in McCormick’s Pumpkin Pie Spice is 4. They are cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Dictionary Addition
The year Merriam-Webster added “pumpkin spice” to the dictionary was 2022. Less common, it said, is the term “pumpkin pie spice.”
Seasonal Beverage Introduction
The Pumpkin Spice Latte was the third seasonal beverage introduced by Starbucks, after the Eggnog Latte and the Peppermint Mocha.
Release Date
The date the Pumpkin Spice Latte went on sale in 2015 was Sept. 8. The on-sale date has edged earlier since then.
Foot Traffic Increase
The amount foot traffic rose at U.S. Starbucks last year on Aug. 22, the day the Pumpkin Spice Latte went on sale, was 24%, according to Placer.ai. The company compared traffic that Thursday to the previous eight Thursdays.
State-by-State Foot Traffic
The amount foot traffic rose at Starbucks stores in North Dakota on Aug. 22, 2024, was 45.5%, the most of any state, according to Placer.ai. Foot traffic in Mississippi rose the least, at 4.8%.
Leaf Rakers Society
The number of members of the Leaf Rakers Society, a private Facebook group Starbucks created in 2018 to celebrate fall all year long, is 42,000.
Conclusion
The Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a cultural phenomenon, with a massive following and a significant impact on Starbucks’ revenue. Its introduction has also led to the creation of similar drinks by other companies, making it a staple of the fall season.
FAQs
Q: When was the Pumpkin Spice Latte first introduced?
A: The Pumpkin Spice Latte was first introduced in 2003.
Q: How many markets did the Pumpkin Spice Latte sell in in 2024?
A: The Pumpkin Spice Latte was sold in 79 markets in 2024.
Q: What is the spice blend used in the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
A: The spice blend used in the Pumpkin Spice Latte is cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Q: How many members are in the Leaf Rakers Society?
A: There are 42,000 members in the Leaf Rakers Society.
Q: What was the increase in foot traffic at U.S. Starbucks on the day the Pumpkin Spice Latte went on sale?
A: The foot traffic increased by 24% at U.S. Starbucks on the day the Pumpkin Spice Latte went on sale.
