Starbucks is making another significant round of corporate workforce changes as the coffee giant continues a broader restructuring under CEO Brian Niccol. The latest cuts affect hundreds of employees connected to the company’s Seattle headquarters and come as Starbucks expands its corporate presence in Nashville.
224 Seattle positions affected
Starbucks filed a WARN notice with Washington state detailing plans to eliminate 224 positions. The cuts include 104 employees working on teams responsible for store design and construction, along with 120 employees who were offered the opportunity to relocate from Seattle to Nashville but declined.
The affected employees are expected to begin leaving Starbucks on October 19, with the separations completed by November 1, according to the filing.
Starbucks expands its Nashville presence
The layoffs come as Starbucks continues building out a new corporate office in Nashville. The company announced plans to invest $100 million in the Nashville operation and expects the office to eventually house about 2,000 support employees over the next five years.
Starbucks has said its Seattle headquarters will remain a major corporate hub despite the expansion in Tennessee.
Cuts come amid broader restructuring
The latest layoffs are part of Starbucks’ broader restructuring under Niccol, who became CEO in 2024. The company has been working to reduce costs and refocus its operations through its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy.
Starbucks has previously announced corporate layoffs, closed regional offices, and shut underperforming coffeehouses as part of those efforts.
The company also eliminated 61 technology positions at its Seattle headquarters earlier this year, adding to the workforce reductions affecting its corporate operations.
What the layoffs mean for Starbucks
The layoffs nevertheless represent another major change for Starbucks’ Seattle workforce, even as the company continues investing heavily in its growing Nashville operation.
This latest move illustrates the balancing act facing Starbucks as it attempts to streamline its corporate structure while investing in new markets and rebuilding growth.
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