With the heat on a rampage this summer, it’s interesting to see Starbucks making frozen drinks by the truckload. They’ve introduced a slew of new ones out here, but apparently it’s eating into profits. Just an interesting article from the AP that caught my eye today since they are all the rage out here.

Feverish summer demand for frozen drinks in the morning gummed up lines at Starbucks Corp. last month, slowing sales and presenting a rare operational snag for the world’s largest specialty coffee retailer.

The company said Wednesday its comparable-store sales, those at stores open at least a year, rose 4 percent in July, down from 7 percent a year earlier.

Executives blamed the slide on unexpectedly high demand for Frappuccinos and other frozen blended beverages in the peak morning hours, when baristas generally crank out more hot espresso drinks.

JG