Starbucks in hiring spree fueled by continuing store expansion
Starbucks Corp. is ramping up its job hiring, here and abroad. It’s also doubling down on its commitment to the nation’s veterans.
Hosting its 25th annual shareholders meeting in Seattle, the coffee giant announced plans to create more than 240,000 jobs around the world, including 68,000 jobs in the United States, by 2021.
Fueling the company’s ambitious hiring plans is its continuing aggressive store growth. Starbucks will open 3,400 U.S. stores and 12,000 global stores by 2021.
Starbucks said it had reached its initial goal, announced in 2013, to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses ahead of the original 2018 deadline. The retailer is increasing the goal to 25,000 total hires by 2025.
By 2020, the chain also plans to hire 100,000 younger employees who are either not in school or unemployed, building on its earlier commitment it made to hire 10,000 by 2018. Starbucks exceeded that goal also.
In addition, Starbucks plans to open 100 additional military family stores throughout the U.S. during the next five years. These stores are designed to support military communities and are staffed by veterans, advocates and military spouses. To date, the company has opened 32 locations.
Starbucks created an uproar on social media when it announced in January that it planned to hire 10,000 refugees in its stores worldwide in in response to President Donald Trump's executive order to bar U.S. entry of refugees from several predominantly Muslim countries. Many critics seemed unaware the chain had a strong program in place to hire veterans and their spouses.
The annual meeting comes as the company faces an important milestone: On April 3, CEO Howard Schultz will be succeeded by company president and COO Kevin Johnson.
“As we approach our 25th year as a publicly traded company, the Starbucks brand is as relevant today as it has ever been, driven by the 330,000 people who proudly wear the green apron,” Schultz said at the meeting. “As I move into my new role as executive chairman, there is only one person who can lead us into the future. For his skill, his leadership, and above all, his love for the company, I am proud to call Kevin Johnson the next CEO of Starbucks. He is perfectly positioned to lead our brand into the future together with the strongest leadership team and board in the history of Starbucks.”
Hosting its 25th annual shareholders meeting in Seattle, the coffee giant announced plans to create more than 240,000 jobs around the world, including 68,000 jobs in the United States, by 2021.
Fueling the company’s ambitious hiring plans is its continuing aggressive store growth. Starbucks will open 3,400 U.S. stores and 12,000 global stores by 2021.
Starbucks said it had reached its initial goal, announced in 2013, to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses ahead of the original 2018 deadline. The retailer is increasing the goal to 25,000 total hires by 2025.
By 2020, the chain also plans to hire 100,000 younger employees who are either not in school or unemployed, building on its earlier commitment it made to hire 10,000 by 2018. Starbucks exceeded that goal also.
In addition, Starbucks plans to open 100 additional military family stores throughout the U.S. during the next five years. These stores are designed to support military communities and are staffed by veterans, advocates and military spouses. To date, the company has opened 32 locations.
Starbucks created an uproar on social media when it announced in January that it planned to hire 10,000 refugees in its stores worldwide in in response to President Donald Trump's executive order to bar U.S. entry of refugees from several predominantly Muslim countries. Many critics seemed unaware the chain had a strong program in place to hire veterans and their spouses.
The annual meeting comes as the company faces an important milestone: On April 3, CEO Howard Schultz will be succeeded by company president and COO Kevin Johnson.
“As we approach our 25th year as a publicly traded company, the Starbucks brand is as relevant today as it has ever been, driven by the 330,000 people who proudly wear the green apron,” Schultz said at the meeting. “As I move into my new role as executive chairman, there is only one person who can lead us into the future. For his skill, his leadership, and above all, his love for the company, I am proud to call Kevin Johnson the next CEO of Starbucks. He is perfectly positioned to lead our brand into the future together with the strongest leadership team and board in the history of Starbucks.”