Pumpkin Spice season: Starbucks brings its fall menu to stores earlier than ever

Fall is here at Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) stores across the U.S. The Seattle-based company introduced its fall menu lineup earlier than ever as it looks to take advantage of strong consumer interest.

A new addition to the fall menu this year is an Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai drink. According to Starbucks, the drink “features warming spice flavors of chai combined with creamy oat milk and topped with nondairy apple crisp cold foam, for a seasonal sip that is reminiscent of homemade apple pie often enjoyed at fall gatherings.”

The list of fall menu beverage items also includes Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte, and Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White. The fall food items include Raccoon Cake Pop, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, Baked Apple Croissant, and Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf.

Two exclusive fall beverages are available only through the Starbucks app. According to the company, the Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte “is made with rich espresso combined with milk and notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, served over ice and topped with smooth salted caramel cream cold foam.” The other app-exclusive drink is the Iced Honey Apple Almond Milk Flat White, which is made with the Blonde espresso almond milk, honey, and a nondairy apple crisp cold foam.

Of course, the beverage that started the pumpkin spice phenomenon more than 20 years ago is back at Starbucks (SBUX). Since its debut in 2003, the Pumpkin Spice Latte continues to be Starbucks most popular seasonal beverage. The Pumpkin Spice Latte (known commonly as PSL for short) was developed by Starbucks in early 2003, following the success of seasonal drinks like the Peppermint Mocha. The Starbucks (SBUX) team experimented in the company’s Liquid Lab, sampling pumpkin pie with espresso to identify complementary flavors. After refining the recipe, the PSL was tested in 100 stores in Washington, D.C., and Vancouver in the fall of 2003, quickly proving popular. By 2004, it was rolled out nationwide, becoming Starbucks’ most beloved seasonal beverage, with sales exceeding 200 million by 2015. The PSL has since become a cultural phenomenon.

Looking ahead, Starbucks (SBUX) is only a few weeks away from Brian Niccol stepping into the CEO role. Starbucks (SBUX) CFO Rachel Ruggeri is currently serving as interim CEO until Niccol takes over on September 9.

Shares of Starbucks (SBUX) have held on to their +20% post-Niccol gains, but are still down 3.4% on a year-to-date basis.