Starbucks lays off 224, including workers refusing to move to Nashville

Key Points:

• Starbucks is laying off 224 corporate workers, including 120 who declined relocation to its new Nashville office and 104 from its shop design and construction team, with cuts effective from October 19 to November 1.
• These layoffs conclude a global restructuring that began in May, which has involved cutting 252 corporate jobs, as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s plan to achieve $2 billion in cost savings over two years.
• The 104 layoffs in the design and development team follow a leadership change aimed at revitalizing Starbucks’ coffeehouse experience through the “Back to Starbucks” transformation plan.
• The 120 layoffs related to relocation reflect Starbucks’ efforts to shift some corporate roles from Seattle to its new Nashville office, which is expected to house 2,000 employees and was incentivized by $30 million from Tennessee.
• Since Niccol’s tenure began in 2024, Starbucks has cut over 2,500 Washington-based jobs and closed more than 31 stores in the state, raising concerns about the company’s long-term presence in Seattle despite assurances its headquarters will remain there.