Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Dee-Ann Durbin at The Associated Press is the basis of this artificial intelligence-assisted article.
Starbucks announced plans to open hundreds of new U.S. stores and add 25,000 seats to existing cafes as CEO Brian Niccol doubles down on making coffeehouses community gathering spaces despite the growing popularity of drive-thru-only competitors.
Some key facts:
• Starbucks plans to open up to 175 new U.S. stores this year and approximately 400 in 2028.
Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol …
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• The company sees potential for at least 5,000 new cafes across the U.S., primarily using a smaller store format that is 20% cheaper to build.
• Starbucks will add 25,000 seats to its U.S. cafes by the end of its fiscal year this fall.
• Store retrofitting improvements cost around $150,000 per location and will be completed at 1,000 stores by fall, with the full upgrade process finishing in 2028.
• A new three-tiered loyalty program launches March 10 in the U.S. and Canada with Green, Gold and Reserve membership levels.
• The company will introduce customizable energy drinks made with proprietary green coffee extract this spring, along with high-protein, high-fiber snacks.
• New espresso machines rolling out in 2027 will cut shot-pulling time from 70 seconds to 35 seconds and double capacity to eight shots at a time.
READ MORE: Starbucks sees room to expand with hundreds of new U.S. stores and increased seating
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