Latest news with #MeredithSandland
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Starbucks unveils its latest plans to lure back customers – a more comfy return to form
Starbucks has unveiled its latest plans to lure customers back inside its stores, choosing to lean into comfort after focusing on convenience. In recent years, the coffee chain has geared its stores toward the type of customer who wants to grab a drink and be on their way quickly. They've built more drive-thrus and introduced mobile ordering. But as more people seek to get back to their pre-pandemic modes of work and leisure — a space that's neither work nor home, where they can also socialize — Starbucks is focusing on making its stores warm and inviting again. In the next year, Starbucks will renovate 1,000 stores with comfy chairs, couches and power outlets, CNN reported, in an attempt to get back to its roots. Some might recall in the early 2000s when Starbucks had stuffed purple armchairs. They were taken out of stores in 2008. 'You will see something similar to it returning to our stores,' Meredith Sandland, Starbucks' chief store development officer, told CNN. 'Will it be purple? I don't know. I'll tease that one out.' CNN got a sneak peek of the first store to be remodeled. It's located in Bridgehampton, New York. The store features tables with long couches on one side and chairs on the other. There are also low, cushioned chairs off to the side, perfect for a coffee date. 'It's creating comfortable seating where people want to come in. It's not just the quick grab and go concept,' Mike Grams, Starbucks' chief operating officer, told CNN. Grams admitted: 'Maybe over past years, we lost our way a little bit on that.' Starbucks has already renovated four stores in the Hamptons, with plans to renovate more stores in New York City in the next few months, CNN reported. If you've been paying close attention, you might have noticed other changes around your local Starbucks, like baristas writing on your coffee cup with Sharpie markers. Starbucks has also brought back self-serve milk and sugar stations and is offering free refills for customers who take their coffee to stay rather than to go.
Business Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Starbucks reshuffles leadership to accelerate turnaround bid
[CHICAGO] Starbucks is reorganising part of its senior ranks, looking to speed up plans to reverse a sales slump. Mike Grams, hired last year as head of North America stores, will become chief operating officer, according to an announcement on Wednesday (Jun 4). His responsibilities will expand to include the department in charge of building and renovating stores, led by Meredith Sandland, and the supply-chain division helmed by Sanjay Shah. The company is also fusing its global brand and global coffee teams to further emphasise coffee as the core of the company's menu, product innovation and marketing. As a result, Michelle Burns, executive vice-president of global coffee and sustainability, will report to Tressie Lieberman, the company's chief brand officer. Starbucks shares were little changed in extended trading on Wednesday. The stock has declined 3.4 per cent so far this year, compared to a 1.5 per cent increase in the S&P 500 Index. Starbucks is enacting the changes to accelerate its turnaround after disappointing results last quarter. Chief executive officer Brian Niccol has said the performance 'is not yet where we want it to be'. 'We are on the right path, but we need to move faster,' Niccol said in the announcement. 'We are making additional organisational changes to help bring teams closer together, strengthen leadership accountability and allow teams to move with even greater clarity and urgency.' In other changes, chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre will report to Cathy Smith, the company's new chief financial officer. The move should help the company speed up the deployment of technology that could make service faster, including an algorithm that helps prioritise drink orders. Additionally, chief legal officer Brad Lerman will leave Starbucks and assist with the search for his successor. The company earlier this year cut 1,100 corporate jobs in a bid to remove duplication and speed up decision making. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks Reshuffles Leadership to Accelerate Turnaround Bid
(Bloomberg) — Starbucks Corp. is reorganizing part of its senior ranks, looking to speed up plans to reverse a sales slump. ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract The Global Struggle to Build Safer Cars At London's New Design Museum, Visitors Get Hands-On Access NYC Residents Want Safer Streets, Cheaper Housing, Survey Says The Buffalo Architect Fighting for Women in Design Mike Grams, hired last year as head of North America stores, will become chief operating officer, according to an announcement Wednesday. His responsibilities will expand to include the department in charge of building and renovating stores, led by Meredith Sandland, and the supply-chain division helmed by Sanjay Shah. The company is also fusing its global brand and global coffee teams to further emphasize coffee as the core of the company's menu, product innovation and marketing. As a result, Michelle Burns, executive vice president of global coffee and sustainability, will report to Tressie Lieberman, the company's chief brand officer. Starbucks shares were little changed in extended trading on Wednesday. The stock has declined 3.4% so far this year, compared to a 1.5% increase in the S&P 500 Index. Starbucks is enacting the changes to accelerate its turnaround after disappointing results last quarter. Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol has said performance 'isn't yet where we want it to be.' 'We're on the right path, but we need to move faster,' Niccol said in the announcement. 'We're making additional organizational changes to help bring teams closer together, strengthen leadership accountability and allow teams to move with even greater clarity and urgency.' In other changes, Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre will report to Cathy Smith, the company's new chief financial officer. The move should help the company speed up the deployment of technology that could make service faster, including an algorithm that helps prioritize drink orders. Additionally, Chief Legal Officer Brad Lerman will leave Starbucks and assist with the search for his successor. The company earlier this year cut 1,100 corporate jobs in a bid to remove duplication and speed up decision making. (Adds shares and details in sixth paragraph and eighth paragraphs.) Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
