• MSNBC, Friday, February 23, 2007 11:45 AM

Starbucks is increasing its efforts to sell Starbucks pre-made coffee drinks, coffee beans for home brewing and other branded caffeinated products. The efforts include wider distribution, a new ad campaign and plans for vending machines that dispense hot coffee drinks.

In the next few weeks, Starbucks and Kraft Food plan to expand their reach to include coffee bean sales in the United Kingdom. Bob Levi, senior vice president of global brands and partnership for Kraft, expects more international expansion of its beans sales in the future.

Starbucks is working with Pepsi on the vending machines, which will be located in universities, train stations and other areas where putting a full-fledged store isn't feasible.

With more high-end coffees are now edging their way onto grocery store shelves, Starbucks recently launched an ad campaign focused on the coffee beans retailers sell for home use. Starbucks believes the increased competition is at least partly a result of its own ubiquity at retailers.

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