Starbucks announces plan to lay off 300 employees across United States
by Joe Fisher · UPIMay 15 (UPI) -- Starbucks is planning to lay off 300 employees across the country as it tries to lower costs and reorganize, the company announced Friday.
The layoffs focus on Starbucks' retail workers, following a layoff of 61 corporate employees less than a week ago.
"Leaders have taken a hard look at their respective functions to further sharpen focus, prioritize work, reduce complexity, and lower costs," a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement.
The cuts are part of Starbucks' "Back to Starbucks" strategy to "return the company to durable, profitable growth," the spokesperson said.
At the corporate level, Starbucks conducted two rounds of layoffs last year. It has also closed stores and sold properties over the past year. The company said it is also reviewing its international corporate workforce.
The first layoffs in 2025 saw more than 1,000 employees cut, including 612 from the company's headquarters in Seattle. In October, another 975 employees were cut.
Friday's announcement marks the third round of layoffs under CEO Brian Niccol since he took the helm in 2024.
Starbucks employs about 19,000 nonretail workers in the United States and 5,000 support positions internationally, as of September.
In Starbucks' most recent quarterly report it said U.S. sales have increased by 7.1% and it had done 4.3% more transactions.
"This quarter marked a milestone for Starbucks -- and the turn in our turnaround," Niccol said in a video accompanying Starbucks' quarterly report in April.