Starbucks BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.
Starbucks this week has been a swirl of headlines and fast moves. On October 16, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and several major investment groups issued a letter urging Starbucks to resume negotiations with unionized employees represented by Starbucks Workers United SBWU. The letter warns that failing to reach a contract is hurting Starbucks reputation and exposing the brand to long-term risks. Labor unrest remains palpable with more than 100 Unfair Labor Practice complaints filed so far in 2025 and worker protests over store closings fueling threats of strikes according to the NYC Comptroller. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports Starbucks is laying off another 900 corporate employees and closing about 200 stores across the US and Canada bringing the total number of cuts to 2000 jobs since February. The company will finish the year with around 18300 North American locations and says it plans to invest heavily in new stores and renovations next year. CEO Brian Niccol who joined from Chipotle a year ago is pushing an aggressive turnaround game removing nearly a third of menu items, eliminating upcharges for nondairy milks, and promising drinks within four minutes. Free refills and redesigned cafés with ceramic mugs are meant to entice customers to linger longer. Financially Starbucks continues to tread water with shrinking sales for six straight quarters as customers shift either to cheaper options or fancier shops leaving Starbucks in a bruised limbo.
On the rewards front Starbucks unveiled a new pilot program Coffee Loop which hearkens back to old-school loyalty punch cards. According to Modern Retail, select Rewards members received email invitations to test Coffee Loop a “buy nine coffees get one free” deal. Invitations are limited and run outside the regular Starbucks app for now, highlighting a back-to-basics approach that analysts say may encourage more frequent visits and boost digital engagement without sacrificing margins. Starbuck’s Halloween presence is more subdued this year, focusing instead on seasonal drink launches. According to The Independent, the Apple Crisp beverage has returned days ahead of schedule, thanks to customer buzz on TikTok and X. So if you love apple brown sugar syrup you better hurry — it’s just for a limited time. Holiday classics like Peppermint Mocha and Sugar Cookie Latte will roll out November 6. Social media is mostly fixated on drink news, new store closures, and labor drama. TikTok is awash with praise for the Apple Crisp comeback but also speculation about which stores are closing next.
Investors and analysts remain mixed on whether the brand can claw back its cachet. There’s a sense that Starbucks is making big moves to identify what resonates, whether it’s streamlined menus, bolder perks, or better labor relations. Several store construction projects have been put on hold, including new locations in Florida, as reported locally. Current speculation centers on how store closings will affect local economies and whether upcoming renovations signal a deeper strategy shift. If Starbucks lands a union deal or its new rewards program scales up, those could be the biggest long-term biographical shifts for the brand all year.
Get the best deals
https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
