Starbucks just announced a $1 billion restructuring plan that will shut down nearly 200 stores across North America and cut 900 jobs. The company blames inflation and weak sales, but refuses to admit the obvious: global boycotts over its support for Israel are taking a toll. After six straight quarters of sales decline, it is clear that Starbucks is losing ground as people worldwide turn to ethical alternatives.
Is there better data to point to this being a direct cause of BDS? The numbers they point to seem to be a general economic slump in line with the rest of the US. SBWU actions are also picking up steam and planning to go on strike, which doesn’t have much to do with BDS.
In the blogpost they explicitly state that Starbucks is framing this as inflation, competition, and “store environment issues.” The blogpost says the numbers we are seeing are more inline with past boycotts that were happening in 2023.
Starbucks’ financial struggles line up directly with the Palestine solidarity boycott that erupted in late 2023. When Starbucks sued its own union for a pro-Palestine post, millions of people worldwide chose to stop buying its lattes
I don’t think you’re going to find a source where a Starbucks executive is going to openly admit that the boycotts and the unionization efforts are affecting their performance. But if you find one, let me know!
They list their sources as ABC News, NPR, Starbucks SEC filings, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, Boycat monitoring data. But they don’t provide links, I wish they would.
Is there better data to point to this being a direct cause of BDS? The numbers they point to seem to be a general economic slump in line with the rest of the US. SBWU actions are also picking up steam and planning to go on strike, which doesn’t have much to do with BDS.
In the blogpost they explicitly state that Starbucks is framing this as inflation, competition, and “store environment issues.” The blogpost says the numbers we are seeing are more inline with past boycotts that were happening in 2023.
I don’t think you’re going to find a source where a Starbucks executive is going to openly admit that the boycotts and the unionization efforts are affecting their performance. But if you find one, let me know!
They list their sources as ABC News, NPR, Starbucks SEC filings, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, Boycat monitoring data. But they don’t provide links, I wish they would.