Starbucks & Amazon Team Up

Starbucks is considered one of the best large-scale employers around. They pay well above their competitors and provide extra benefits that other employers do not, like free college education. So, it's ironic that they are now considering automated checkout technology designed by Amazon. The first concept store will open this week in New York.

Within these Starbucks stores, there will be Amazon fresh foods, like salads and sandwiches for sale. As you know, Amazon also owns Whole Foods, so they are good at that. There will also be the usual Starbucks food items, and everything will be run through the Amazon Go app. Both companies are playing to their strengths: Starbucks has the best locations, coffee and snacks, and Amazon has the checkout technology and food offering.

The store will cater to people in a rush but also has a sit-down section. You can sit there all day and just help yourself to whatever is in the fridge, like you were at home.

This sounds like a very good match. Many of our recommended stocks compete against each other but sometimes they also collaborate, which always makes us happy.