Well, Starborg has just assimilated another civilization. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Orange County-based Diedrich Coffee Inc. said Thursday that it would sell its company-owned stores to Starbucks Corp. in order to focus on wholesaling coffee to restaurant chains, specialty stores and offices. Starbucks plans to convert the coffeehouses to its own brand. Diedrich will continue to franchise and supply coffeehouses under its Gloria Jean’s and Diedrich Coffee brands. Diedrich’s restaurant customers include Marie Callender’s, Ruby’s and Islands locations in California.
Diedrich began operations in California in 1972 as an importer of roasted coffee grown on a family-owned plantation in Guatemala. The first Diedrich store was opened in Newport Beach almost 25 years ago. In 1999 the company hired a former Taco Bell executive who snapped up such chains as Coffee Plantation, Coffee People and Gloria Jean’s Coffees. This boosted the retail outlets to nearly 400, the majority of which were franchised. However, the company was unable to manage such a large network, and currently has 153 Diedrich and Gloria Jean‘s franchises.
As long as Starborg doesn’t go after the purveyors of decent teas (i.e., Peets, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, or our local Barclay’s), I’ll be happy.
In good news, there is now a Daily Grind in Granda Hills/Northridge, in the northern shopping center at Zelzah and Chatsworth (right near the corner of Lindley and Chatsworth). [Whoops, I thought it was an “It’s a Grind”, but saw it was something else as I drove the van home.]