More than 1,000 corporate jobs are being cut at Starbucks, along with a hiring freeze for several hundred open positions, as CEO Brian Niccol pushes to streamline operations. The layoffs will not affect cafe employees but are intended to reduce complexity and improve efficiency after four straight quarters of declining same-store sales. As customers turn to cheaper alternatives in major markets like the U.S. and China, Niccol has prioritized faster service and a leaner corporate structure. The job cuts mainly impact corporate support roles, while roasting, manufacturing, and distribution positions remain unchanged.
See "Starbucks to lay off 1,100 corporate workers as sales sag", Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, February 26, 2025