Starbucks plans to close around 250 cafes in North America in the coming days, a new step in the restructuring plan undertaken under the leadership of Brian Niccol.
The group wants to concentrate its investments on outlets deemed sufficiently profitable and capable of delivering the level of service sought.
Cafés judged to be underperforming
In a message addressed to employees, Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams explained that the establishments concerned are those that do not reach financially satisfactory results or that do not allow for the experience desired by customers and employees.
This new wave comes after the closure of 627 stores in North America and Europe during the previous restructuring.
300 million dollars in charges
Starbucks estimates that this operation will result in around 300 million dollars in restructuring charges, including nearly 200 million related notably to lease exits and severance payments, and around 100 million in non-cash charges linked to the assets of the cafes involved.
For the affected employees, the company plans transfers to other locations when possible. Otherwise, severance packages will be offered.
Closures without abandoning expansion
Despite these closures, Starbucks says it intends to continue expanding its network. The group had 18,371 locations in North America as of the end of June.
It now targets around 440 net openings worldwide in fiscal 2026, versus a previous forecast of between 600 and 650. The restructuring also affects administrative functions: about 900 positions had been cut in the previous wave, then 300 more in May 2026.
This strategy is part of the “Back to Starbucks” plan, aimed at improving cafe profitability, reducing wait times and refocusing the brand on the in-store experience.
