SEATTLE — The Starbucks Coffee Co. is closing all 23 La Boulange retail bakeries and the two manufacturing plants that support the retail locations. The company said that based on its evaluation the La Boulange operations are not sustainable to the company’s long-term growth. La Boulange branded food products will continue to be sold in Starbucks retail locations.
Pascal Rigo, the founder of La Boulange, is also leaving Starbucks to work with a nonprofit venture that supplies food to schools for underprivileged children.
“Starbucks’ goals to grow its food business and deliver an incremental $2 billion in the next five years in the U.S. are unchanged,” the company said. “Starbucks will continue to deepen its commitment to customers’ food experience in stores, ensuring it surpasses their expectations, just as the company has done with coffee and beverages.”
Starbucks acquired the San Francisco-based Bay Bread L.L.C. and the La Boulange brand for $100 million in June 2012.
The company is currently selling La Boulange branded products in more than 11,000 of its stores in the United States.
