Starbucks CEO Aims to Double Global Stores

Starbucks is charting an aggressive expansion course, with CEO Brian Niccol revealing ambitious plans to significantly increase its global footprint. The company, which currently operates over 40,000 stores worldwide, intends to potentially double its international store count.

Key to this growth is China, where Starbucks aims to expand from 8,000 stores to 20,000 "in short order." Additionally, Niccol indicated a strategy to open approximately 10,000 new stores within the U.S., focusing on previously underpenetrated central regions to balance its current coastal bias.

This expansion initiative is underpinned by a successful turnaround strategy initiated in 2024 by CEO Brian Niccol. Changes included significant corporate workforce reductions and the closure of underperforming locations, alongside investments to improve order timeliness and quality. These efforts appear to be yielding positive financial results.

In the second quarter of 2026, Starbucks reported a 9% year-over-year revenue increase to $9.5 billion and a 14.5% rise in earnings per share to $0.50. Both metrics surpassed Wall Street expectations, contributing to a 20% stock price increase year-to-date. This marks the second consecutive quarter of traffic growth.