Seattle’s Best Reveals New Coffee-Bar-Within-A-Walmart Concept

After the bankruptcy and subsequent closure of Borders bookstores across the nation, Seattle’s Best Coffee faced the loss hundreds of points of distribution. Where the Starbucks-owned brand lost a reported 225 locations in the Borders bankruptcy, they keep pushing forward, revealing a new store-within-a-store concept in four Canadian Walmart stores.

Despite the Border’s fallout Seattle’s Best announced that their coffee was now available at more than 50,000 locations earlier this month. This is a staggering number, and seems to be serving as a more approachable coffee experience than the stereotypical “yuppie” demographic captured by its Starbucks father.

Following similar strategies Starbucks employed for its own brand, Seattle’s Best has continuously focused on the addition of new distribution channels. Notably, the brand currently has strong distribution ties with the likes of Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, Subway, Burger King, and now Walmart.

While the scope of the partnership is a mere 4 locations deep, the partnership is rather interesting and poses a huge opportunity for the growing coffee brand. The Walmart version of their stores range in size from 400-square feet. to 1,000-square feet, with walk-up windows and seating at the bar.

What do y’all think? Does Seattle’s Best Coffee sound like a good fit for Walmart stores?