Starbucks cuts some corporate office jobs in London and Hong Kong as part of a broader restructuring, according to multiple reports. The layoffs affect workers in roles tied to overseeing portions of the company’s international business. The changes come as Starbucks reduces its direct operating footprint outside North America and increases the level of control exercised over stores through licensing arrangements.
The company is shifting responsibilities to third-party licensees, allowing them greater latitude to run stores in markets outside North America. By moving more day-to-day execution to licensed operators, Starbucks aims to streamline its organizational structure and adjust how it manages international locations.
While the reports focus on London and Hong Kong, the restructuring reflects a global approach rather than a single-market decision. Specific details on headcount and which job functions are most affected are not provided in the excerpts, but all accounts describe the moves as linked to corporate restructuring and the expansion of licensee control for international stores.
