<p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5fa3064969331a0011bc7521-2223/Starbucks%20Holiday%20Drive%20Thru%202.JPG" border="0" alt="Starbucks Holiday Drive Thru 2.JPG" data-mce-source="Starbucks"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Starbucks is giving away free air fresheners in a surprise deal just for drive-thru customers.</p><p>On Thursday, December 10, Starbucks baristas will begin surprising drive-thru customers who order a holiday drink with an air freshener inspired by the chain's Peppermint Mocha.</p><p>According to Starbucks, the air freshener will be available as supplies lastand only at stores with a drive-thru. Air fresheners will come with a QR code to<a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/'url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarbucksholiday.withspotify.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CAlli.Colzani%40edelman.com%7C737db9d5c0ce492acc0c08d882678905%7Cb824bfb3918e43c2bb1cdcc1ba40a82b%7C0%7C0%7C637402728483132172%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=CqEwbx8zyzfYN%2BSGhQuGk0JLvJe5ug%2FRv3nnkkGkbyI%3D&reserved=0"> a custom Starbucks holiday playlist.</a></p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-burger-king-fast-food-drive-thru-shift-2020-11">The pandemic is permanently changing fast food as Wendy's, Burger King, and Chipotle double down on high-tech drive-thrus</a></em></p><p>"This holiday season, many customers are ordering and enjoying their holiday favorites in the drive-thru and we wanted to create a moment of merry just for them, inspired by the scents and sounds of the season at Starbucks," Starbucks said in a statement to Business Insider.</p><p>The free air freshener deal caught some Starbucks customers' attention on social media earlier this week. "They smell so f---ing good," <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@officialreneenicole">one person said in a TikTok video. </a></p><div><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@officialreneenicole/video/6902286997839252742" data-video-id="6902286997839252742" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section><a target="_blank" title="@officialreneenicole" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@officialreneenicole">@officialreneenicole</a> <p>Free air fresheners @ Starbucks rn e <a title="starbucks" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/starbucks">##starbucks</a> <a title="easydiy" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/easydiy">##EasyDIY</a></p> <a target="_blank" title=" pov - Ariana Grande" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/pov-6889276181086996481"> pov - Ariana Grande</a> </section></blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><div><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@yasminex0x/video/6904400670502161669" data-video-id="6904400670502161669" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section><a target="_blank" title="@yasminex0x" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yasminex0x">@yasminex0x</a> <p><a title="greenscreen" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/greenscreen">#greenscreen</a> Starbucks always hooking it up!!!</p> <a target="_blank" title=" original sound - Yas" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6904400572695317254"> original sound - Yas</a> </section></blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><h2>Starbucks is making major investments in its drive-thru business</h2><p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5ea997375bd7a5782f2ca30a-1777/sbuxdrive-thru.jpg" border="0" alt="Starbucks drive thru" data-mce-source="Starbucks"></p><p>The surprise deal comes a day after Starbucks highlighted its plans to invest even more in its drive-thru business at its investor day on Wednesday.</p><p>Starbucks said it plans to reach roughly 55,000 locations around the world by 2030, opening 22,000 new stores. Executives said that drive-thru stores will make up roughly 40% of its US locations over the next three years, with 80% of new stores featuring a drive-thru.</p><p>Analysts celebrated the news, noting that drive-thru stores are more profitable than the average locations without them.</p><p>"The drive-thru model is already one of the most productive units in the company's range of options," Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull wrote in a note on Thursday.</p><p>O'Cull continued that Starbucks' plans to add new drive-thru initiativessuch as double drive-thru lanes, updated equipment, and revamped preparation processeswill make Starbucks' drive-thrus even fast. That would cut down on customers who drive away after seeing a long drive-thru line at Starbucks' stores.</p><p>Drive-thru sales have been crucial at Starbucks and other chains during the pandemic. Burger King, Chipotle, and Wendy's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-burger-king-fast-food-drive-thru-shift-2020-11">are among the chains to announce major investments in their drive-thru business</a> in recent months, as companies add more lanes and install new technology.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-burger-king-fast-food-drive-thru-shift-2020-11" >The pandemic is permanently changing fast food as Wendy's, Burger King, and Chipotle double down on high-tech drive-thrus</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-debuts-drive-thru-free-air-freshener-giveaway-new-strategy-2020-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-most-expensive-liquid-thoroughbred-horse-semen-2020-3">Why thoroughbred horse semen is the world's most expensive liquid</a></p>
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