Starbucks closes across the US

[kfrost06]

Starbucks coffee chain is to shut all of its US branches for three-and-a-half hours for staff training, in a blow to millions of Americans' daily routines.

The move has triggered a flurry of competition from rival coffee firms and comes after Starbucks' share value fell by half in the past year.

Starbucks serves 50m Americans a week and is part of the urban landscape.

All 7,000 branches across the US will close at 1730 local time to train the chain's 135,000 staff.

Those seeking their usual grande skinny cinnamon dolce latte on the way home from work will be disappointed.

'Renewed focus'

The chairman and founder of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, has promised "a renewed focus on espresso standards".

They also need to tackle the fact that people are not buying as much at Starbucks these days.

It recently announced 600 job losses and plans to scale back the number of new stores.

Rival coffee shops across the US immediately launched plans to lure Starbucks customers during the unprecedented closure period; offering reduced rate and even free coffee.

Alternatively, it is still possible just to go home and make a cup of instant.

[kfrost06]

I don't know if this counts as rec drug talk but I am addicted to starbucks! I hate to admit it because yes I am another sheep but I love coffee, black no sugar and starbucks has awesome coffee. If they were to shut down for a whole day I don't know what I would do.

[Pooks]

Business outlook must be pretty bleak, if it makes more sense to shut the stores 3 hours early.. than pay the employees 3 hours of Overtime and train them after.
Whatever this 'training' consists of, weird that it has to be co-ordinated or whatever.

[Dizz28]

they must be having one big videophone conference....135,000 people...

[Lexed]

who wants to pay 5 bucks for a shot of coffee lol

[facile]

who wants to pay 5 bucks for a shot of coffee lol

How come some folks blow $5 or even $10+ a day on coffee but think a $30-$40 gym membership is to expensive????? Sorry off topic.

[tailspin69]

Business outlook must be pretty bleak, if it makes more sense to shut the stores 3 hours early.. than pay the employees 3 hours of Overtime and train them after.
Whatever this 'training' consists of, weird that it has to be co-ordinated or whatever.

I used to work for Starbucks way back when for about 2 years, and I never heard of anything like this. When we had training before, it was always scheduled so people would do the training at work while other people worked the floor. It must be some sort of tele-conference for the baristas and store managers.

[wantmoremass]

i heard that they had really lost a focus on product quality due to so many new hires and not enough proper training. the starbucks i go to now has some in-store signage on their commitment to espresso, 'at the heart of all their drinks'. i personally prefer better coffee, like illy or torre e fazione. starbucks, however, is everywhere and fast.