By Heather Haddon
Starbucks intends to build a lot more coffeehouses in the U.S., and it aims to make more money from them.
The world's largest coffee chain Thursday said it has mapped out where it could build 5,000 more coffeehouses in the U.S. over time, many of them in the South, the middle of the country and parts of the Northeast where the Seattle-based chain has fewer locations. The chain, which has roughly 17,000 domestic cafes, didn't give a timeline for reaching that goal.
Many newer cafes will be cheaper to build, and offer seating for customers. The for-here service option is designed to stand out from rivals focused on to-go orders, executives said.
"If it's a soulless place, you don't feel great about what you just ordered," CEO Brian Niccol said to analysts during his first investor meeting since taking the top job in 2024. "Our cafes are our point of differentiation."
The company said Thursday that the growing store footprint, cost savings and improved sales will help boost its adjusted earnings per share to between $3.35 and $4 in its 2028 fiscal year, up from the $2.15 to $2.40 projected for its current fiscal year. Starbucks is also targeting U.S. and global same-store sales growth of at least 3% by its 2028 fiscal year, with increasing revenue helping to boost margins.
Future price increases are a possibility to help offset inflation, the company said Thursday.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 29, 2026 12:35 ET (17:35 GMT)
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