With National Coffee Day tomorrow – Thursday, September 29th – you would think that coffee giants Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts would be celebrating customer loyalty by offering up a free cup of java.
No such luck as they have all but forgotten the celebration of years past.
While Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are not giving away free coffee, two companies have made major headlines and plan on participating in the “holiday” that concludes National Coupon Month.
7-Eleven stores in the United States will mark National Coffee Day with National CofFREE Day, its own caffeinated version of the celebration. Between 7 and 11 a.m. anyone can make a morning stop at 7-Eleven to receive a free medium-size cup of hot coffee, cappuccino, or latte, while supplies last.
Krispy Kreme is celebrating National Coffee Day by giving each customer a free 12 ounce cup of House Blend coffee, with no purchase necessary. The giveaway will also introduce the chain’s new Krispy Kreme Signature Coffee Blends that were recently released.
Starbucks, a name synonymous with coffee, sees no need to celebrate National Coffee Day, an unidentified representative wrote in response to an online inquiry. According to the anonymous response, the international coffeehouse has no promotion planned in celebration of National Coffee Day.
“We celebrate coffee day every day,” stated a barista at a local Fort Lauderdale Starbucks. “Why would we give away free coffee?”
Dunkin Donuts did not respond to requests for comment.
In a tough economy customer loyalty means everything. A free cup of coffee to loyal customers would not impact the bottom line at Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. It’s not too late to jump on board and participate in National Coffee Day 2011.
William E. Lewis Jr. - Bill Lewis - Vero Beach, Florida 