Starbucks Canada announced Wednesday it will undergo a store transformation over the next two years and there is the potential for of up to 200 stores closing.
“The store transformation in Canada over the next two years, means the potential of up to 200 stores being closed, with some of those stores being repositioned to store formats such as drive-thru, curbside delivery and pick up,” said the company in a statement.
“On May 21, we outlined how we are intensifying efforts to address consumers’ increasing demand for convenience, including mobile ordering for pick-up, drive-thru and curbside delivery. We have a clear vision for our “Bridge to the Future,” and we are accelerating our plans to transform our store portfolio, elevate the customer experience for this new era, and drive long-term growth.
“This strategy aligns closely with rapidly evolving customer preferences, including higher levels of mobile ordering, more contactless pick-up experiences and reduced in-store congestion, all of which naturally allow for greater physical distancing.”
The company said it has reopened the vast majority of its stores around the world and modified its operations to meet new public health guidelines and evolving customer behaviours and expectations.
“With each passing week, we are seeing clear evidence of business recovery, with sequential improvements in comparable store sales performance. The Starbucks brand is resilient, customer affinity is strong, and we believe the most difficult period is now behind us,” it said.
