Starbucks ditches pickup-only stores as they 'lack warmth'

Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, has announced that it will stop operating its pickup-only stores in the United States. These are special Starbucks locations where customers can only pick up their drinks and cannot sit down to enjoy them. The company says these stores 'lack warmth' and do not offer the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that Starbucks is known for. There are about 90 of these pickup-only stores in the US, and while some other coffee companies have found success with this model, Starbucks believes it does not fit their brand.

Brian Niccol, the CEO of Starbucks, explained that the pickup-only format feels too much like a business transaction and not enough like a place where people can connect. He said that Starbucks wants to be more than just a place to grab a coffee quickly. The company wants to be a place where people can relax, meet friends, or even work for a while. Even though almost a third of Starbucks’ sales come from people ordering on their phones, the company will keep offering mobile ordering. However, they want to make sure that customers can also sit down and enjoy their drinks if they choose.

Starbucks is making other big changes as well. The company is planning to update at least 1,000 of its cafes in the US by the end of next year. They will add more seats and make the stores look more inviting. Some of the current pickup-only stores will be changed so that customers can sit down. Starbucks is also updating its menu and changing the dress code for its employees. These changes are part of a larger plan called 'Back to Starbucks,' which aims to improve the customer experience and help the company do better financially. Even though Starbucks recently reported a drop in sales and profits, their stock price went up after they announced these new plans. With more than 41,000 stores worldwide, Starbucks hopes these changes will help them stay popular and keep customers coming back.