Starbucks to close some US and UK stores

Starbucks will cut about 900 of its US jobs and close its worst performing stores there, as well as close some stores in the UK as part of a cost-saving restructure, the coffee chain said.

Most of the stores earmarked for closure are in North America and its chief executive said the revamp would reduce wait times and help revive sales.

It comes after Starbucks announced in February that it was axing 1,100 jobs and simplifying its US menu to help flagging sales in its home market.

"This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers," chief executive Brian Niccol said in a statement, though the firm said it is still "on track" to open 80 new stores in the UK.

Mr Niccol said in a letter to employees that the stores marked for closure were "unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don't see a path to financial performance".

Starbucks said the US jobs that are poised to be cut will be support staff roles.

In July, the coffee chain reported its sixth consecutive quarterly drop in sales at stores open at least a year in the US - its biggest and most important market. The company's shares have fallen more than 8% so far this year.

Mr Niccol joined Starbucks as its chief executive last year, on the heels of a six-year stint at at the helm of Chipotle Mexican Grill. During his tenure there, the fast-casual burrito chain nearly doubled its sales.

The latest store closures and layoffs at Starbucks are part of Mr Niccol's wide-ranging turnaround strategy in his first year at the company, as the chain tries to lure back dissatisfied customers.

The company is also facing a unionisation campaign among baristas its US stores.

Workers United - which is part of the Service Employees International Union and said it represents workers at more than 600 of Starbucks' company-owned US stores - is fighting for a contract agreement with the company.

The union has voiced concerns about understaffing at stores and overwhelmed baristas, among other issues.

In response to the company's restructuring announcement on Thursday, Workers United said it comes as a sign that "things are only going backwards at Starbucks under Brian Niccol's leadership".

"Yet again, we're experiencing new policies and major decisions being made with zero barista input," the union said in a statement, adding that it is sending a formal request for information to Starbucks about the planned closures.