(Photo: StarbucksMelody.com/Metrofiets)
Evolution Fresh, a California juice company purchased by Starbucks back in November, opened its first cafe on Monday in Bellevue, Washington. Why is this on the front page of BikePortland? Well, it turns out that Evolution is seriously considering offering bike delivery for their stores and to test out the idea they’ve bought several cargo bikes made by Northeast-Portland based Metrofiets Cargo Bikes.
According to the StarbucksMelody.com blog, Evolution is “ambitiously thinking about a small local delivery option.”
Metrofiets co-owner Phillip Ross delivered the bikes to his new customers and said they are very enthusiastic about them. “It’s gratifying to be working with such high profile company that ‘gets it,'” Ross said. “Evolution knows that cargo bikes mean business and as such have made cargo bikes a key part of their retail strategy.”
Ross is mum about the nature of his sales and contract with the company, but he did share that Evolution has high hopes of opening more stores in the Pacific Northwest and that, “Of course, we look forward to working closely with them as they grow the business.”
— Read more about Evolution Fresh and the Starbucks connection in this recent Associated Press story.