Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) cut 300 US corporate jobs and shuttered four regional offices on Friday — the company’s third round of layoffs since CEO Brian Niccol took over in September 2024. The affected roles are in marketing, human resources, and supply chain.
Offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Burbank, California, will close; Seattle, New York, Toronto, Coral Gables, and an upcoming Nashville location remain open. No store employees are affected. Starbucks expects $400 million in restructuring charges — $280 million in noncash asset impairments and $120 million in cash severance.
Q2 fiscal 2026 net revenues hit $9.5 billion, up 9% year-on-year, with global comparable store sales up 6.2% and US comparable store sales up 7.1%. The company raised its full-year guidance. Niccol called Q2 “the turn in our turnaround.” Starbucks stock rose 1.5% Friday, a day after TD Cowen upgraded the stock — investors reading the cuts as margin discipline, not distress.
“We are taking further action under the Back to Starbucks strategy, building on our strong business momentum and working to return the company to durable, profitable growth,” a company spokesperson told CNBC.
Flashback: Starbucks Union Blasts Store Closures as CEO Earns 6,666 Times More Than Workers
Niccol’s first restructuring came in February 2025, when Starbucks cut 1,100 corporate positions and froze hundreds of open roles. A second wave followed months later, eliminating 900 additional nonretail jobs. A WARN Act filing dated May 7 disclosed 61 additional technology cuts at Seattle HQ, with separations beginning June 20. Friday’s 300 bring the total to more than 2,000 corporate job cuts in under 18 months.
Starbucks has begun reviewing its international corporate headcount and signaled more cuts abroad are coming, without committing to a timeline or number. The company expects to wrap up most restructuring work by fiscal year-end.
Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
