Starbucks

In June 2020, I happily invested in one of my favorite consumer brands: Coffee giant Starbucks (SBUX -0.36%). But after it’s underperformed the returns from the S&P 500 by a wide margin over these five years, it’s high time I reconsidered its role in my portfolio.

I believed that Starbucks stock would provide my portfolio with a blend of growth and income. For growth, I was quite optimistic that the company’s business in China would quickly rebound from the pandemic and unlock much higher earnings. That hasn’t happened. With it now looking for strategic options for its China business, it’s time for me to wave the white flag here.

Regarding income, Starbucks didn’t disappoint. It’s increased its dividend payment every year that I’ve held it, and is currently on a 14-year streak of doing that. And as of this writing, the dividend yield is approaching 3%, which is close to the highest it’s ever been.

Therefore, I can’t really complain when it comes to dividend income from Starbucks stock. But growth has been lacking. Going back to just before the pandemic started, Starbucks has averaged a single-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for revenue. This often isn’t good enough to propel market-beating stock performance. So the question is: Can I find a comparable dividend-paying stock that offers better growth? Indeed, there are some options.

1. Academy Sports & Outdoors

With only 300 locations, sporting goods retailer Academy Sports (ASO 1.77%) is easy to overlook. But if management has its way, the company could put up better top-line growth than Starbucks from here.

Perhaps the biggest way that Academy Sports is driving revenue growth is by opening new stores. This year, it hopes to open up to 25 locations. It had already opened eight of these by the end of the second quarter of 2025. Past guidance suggests that the company intends to open around 150 additional locations by the end of 2028.

These new store openings could allow Academy Sports to deliver a double-digit growth rate in coming years. Management is also known for methodically returning cash to shareholders. It buys back stock, and its quarterly dividend has grown at a nice pace in recent years.

ASO Shares Outstanding data by YCharts.

With a dividend yield of only 1%, Academy Sports won’t necessarily attract income investors today. But those with a long-term view hope to ride the company’s growth plans to much higher earnings in time, which could result in much better dividend income down the road.

2. Arcos Dorados

Restaurant chain Arcos Dorados (ARCO -0.15%) owns the rights to the McDonald’s brand in 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, allowing it to own and operate franchised locations and sub-franchise to other operators. With over 2,400 locations, it’s the largest independent McDonald’s franchisee.

Differences in currency exchange rates are masking double-digit revenue growth for Arcos Dorados. For the second quarter of 2025, the company reported just 3% year-over-year growth. But adjusting for currency fluctuations, it grew by 15%. This includes both same-store sales growth and the contribution of new restaurant locations.

With a 3.5% dividend yield, Arcos Dorados stock is more attractive than Starbucks stock as an income investment. The company also pays out just a small portion of its earnings as a dividend, leaving plenty of room for future growth.

About one-third of Arcos Dorados’ locations are sub-franchised. And like McDonald’s itself, Arcos Dorados generates some revenue from its franchisees via rental income — it owns the land and buildings at nearly 500 locations. This real estate layer to the business can make it a stronger investment compared to other restaurant companies.

3. Stick with Starbucks?

Over my investing career, I’ve learned to only sell a stock after taking plenty of time to think it over. So while I’m thinking about selling Starbucks stock and buying a replacement that’s growing faster and still offers income, it’s not a done deal. In fact, I see some reason to continue holding Starbucks stock.

It’s been just over one year since Starbucks hired new CEO Brian Niccol, and he’s still trying to reinvigorate the brand. That starts with bringing back the more inviting coffeehouse atmosphere. The company just announced that it will close hundreds of locations that don’t fit its vision.

Niccol’s plan comes with an expensive price tag of around $1 billion. But investors’ expectations are now low, and Starbucks can start bouncing back as difficult decisions pay off.

For now, I believe the downside risk for Starbucks stock is low because it’s still a top consumer brand and Niccol has a good reputation as an operator. Academy Sports and Arcos Dorados are on my radar as potentially filling the role in my portfolio currently filled by Starbucks. But I see no reason to rush this decision today, so I’ll keep holding Starbucks stock for now.

COFFEE lovers are racing to grab a popular autumn-inspired beverage, and it’s costing them nothing but time.

TopCashback is offering a delicious deal for new members, to get £5 cashback for just a £2 spend on a hot drink of their choice.

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The deal means seasonal coffee trend followers can get certain sized pumpkin spiced lattes for free.

All shoppers need to do to secure the sweet deal is spend at least £2 on a hot drink.

Then, to claim the offer, shoppers must sign up to TopCashback via this special link.

After signing up, shoppers should snap a picture of their receipt and receive £5 cash back into their TopCashback account.

Starbucks has priced the warm version of the seasonal favourite Tall Pumpkin Spice Latte for £4.90.

Savings on TopCashback can be made on other cosy-weather purchases, even saving shoppers money in the lead up to Christmas.

 Topcashback will pay you when you sign up and make a purchase through its links.

You could then put this extra money into your savings.

Cashback deals are often advertised as a percentage.

For example, you would get up to 5% back when you spend £30 or more.

But you should always be cautious when spending and not let offers tempt you to hand over money you didn’t intend to spend.

Only use cashback to make a purchase if you were going to buy the item anyway.

Topcashback said its members earn more than £300 a year, which works out at around £25 a month.

So if you used TopCashback for every purchase until Christmas, then you would have £75 by December 25.

M&S weren’t to be outdone, adding new autumn drinks to their menu just in time for the seasonal shift.

The supermarket retailer revealed over 20 brand new items as part of the autumn menu shake-up.

As Autumn isn’t complete without the smell of cinnamon and cosy drinks, M&S has launched limited-edition cinnamon latte and matcha.

Alongside toasties and new drinks, M&S has also brought out a new line of breakfast rolls.

The halloumi and avocado ciabatta is stuffed with grilled halloumi, smashed avocado and zingy tomato and chilli chutney.

M&S cafe is also the first UK high street retailer to sell a gluten-free bacon roll loaded with smoked British bacon.

Plus, a load of old favourites and new showstoppers have been added to the bake and cake section.

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Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas

IF youre’ looking to save cash, you’ve come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that’ll save you £2k before Christmas.

• Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
• Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
• Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
• Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
• Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
• DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
• Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.

Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!

Starbucks says it will close underperforming stores across North America as CEO Brian Niccol pushes ahead on a company restructuring effort, which is expected to cost $1bn in a bid to revive the company’s flagging sales.

The coffee chain announced the decision on Thursday.

Overall, store count in the United States and Canada is expected to drop by 1 percent, or several hundred stores, by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, including its iconic Seattle roastery.

Niccol is trying to restore the chain’s “coffeehouse” feel to bring customers back to its outlets after six consecutive quarters of declining US sales.

The cuts are expected to affect 900 workers and follow 1,100 corporate cuts earlier this year. But the cuts are underscored by Niccol’s compensation package valued at $95.8m last year, 6,666 times more than the average barista. It is the largest CEO-to-worker pay gap of any company in the S&P 500, according to the Institute for Policy Studies’s 2025 executive excess report.

Unionised stores hit

Among the closed stores was Starbucks’s flagship unionised location in Seattle, a large cafe with an in-house roastery, the company confirmed.

Talks between Starbucks and the Workers United union, which represents more than 12,000 baristas, began last April, but have hit a wall since.

In December, some members of the union walked off their jobs in multiple US cities in a strike that spanned several days during the peak holiday season.

Workers at the Seattle store, which is located near its headquarters, voted to unionise in 2022, and the union picketed the store on Monday over contract negotiation disputes.

A unionised store in Chicago, on Ridge Avenue, was also closed, the union confirmed. Baristas at the store were picketing on Thursday morning, in a plan made before the store’s closure was known, the union said.

Baristas on the picket line came from stores across the Chicago area. “We’re here to remind the company that it’s the workers who actually bring the people into the stores,” said Diego Franco, who came from a store in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the union status of stores was “not a factor in the decision-making process.”

In a statement, Starbucks Workers United criticised the closures. “It has never been more clear why baristas at Starbucks need the backing of a union,” the union said, adding that it planned to bargain for affected workers so they could be transferred to other stores.

Analysts at TD Cowen estimate that about 500 North American company-owned stores were affected by the restructuring.

A revamp attempt

In his first year on the job, Niccol has zeroed in on investing in Starbucks’s stores to reduce service times and restore a coffee-house environment, while also trimming management layers.

The company has posted a string of quarterly sales declines in the US as demand for its pricey lattes took a hit from consumers turning picky and competition ramping up.

“During the review, we identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance, and these locations will be closed,” Niccol said in a letter to employees.

The CEO said the company would end the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 total Starbucks locations – company-operated and licensed – across the US and Canada. This compares to the 18,734 locations disclosed in a July regulatory filing.

Niccol has enjoyed the confidence of investors since taking over after his leadership at Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he is credited with leading a turnaround at the burrito chain.

“Starbucks is taking more aggressive actions within turnaround efforts. The store closures are more than we anticipated, while we believe the layoffs fit within management’s previously announced zero-based budgeting framework,” TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles said.

Starbucks said on Thursday the job cuts would be in its support teams and added the company would also close many open positions.

The company employed about 10,000 people in non-coffee-house roles in the US, as of September 29, 2024.

“This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers,” Niccol said.

At the same time, Starbucks is investing in improving staffing and incorporating technology to more efficiently sequence orders at its coffee shops and enhance customer experience.

The company said earlier this year it would eliminate 1,100 corporate roles. In August, it also announced a modest 2 percent hike to all salaried employees in North America this year.

Starbucks will cut about 900 of its US jobs and close its worst performing stores there, as well as close some stores in the UK as part of a cost-saving restructure, the coffee chain said.

Most of the stores earmarked for closure are in North America and its chief executive said the revamp would reduce wait times and help revive sales.

It comes after Starbucks announced in February that it was axing 1,100 jobs and simplifying its US menu to help flagging sales in its home market.

“This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers,” chief executive Brian Niccol said in a statement, though the firm said it is still “on track” to open 80 new stores in the UK.

“While the EMEA [Europe, Middle East and Africa] business is on track to meet its commitment to open 80 new stores in the UK and 150 across EMEA this financial year, some stores in the UK, Switzerland and Austria will close as a result of this portfolio review”, Starbucks added on Thursday.

Mr Niccol said in a letter to employees that the stores marked for closure were “unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance”.

Starbucks said the US jobs that are poised to be cut will be support staff roles.

In July, the coffee chain reported its sixth consecutive quarterly drop in sales at stores open at least a year in the US – its biggest and most important market. The company’s shares have fallen more than 8% so far this year.

Mr Niccol joined Starbucks as its chief executive last year, on the heels of a six-year stint at at the helm of Chipotle Mexican Grill. During his tenure there, the fast-casual burrito chain nearly doubled its sales.

The latest store closures and layoffs at Starbucks are part of Mr Niccol’s wide-ranging turnaround strategy in his first year at the company, as the chain tries to lure back dissatisfied customers.

The company is also facing a unionisation campaign among baristas its US stores.

Workers United – which is part of the Service Employees International Union and said it represents workers at more than 600 of Starbucks’ company-owned US stores – is fighting for a contract agreement with the company.

The union has voiced concerns about understaffing at stores and overwhelmed baristas, among other issues.

In response to the company’s restructuring announcement on Thursday, Workers United said it comes as a sign that “things are only going backwards at Starbucks under Brian Niccol’s leadership”.

“Yet again, we’re experiencing new policies and major decisions being made with zero barista input,” the union said in a statement, adding that it is sending a formal request for information to Starbucks about the planned closures.

Starbucks (SBUX 1.46%) is a household name. But the business hasn’t worked out well for investors. The share price is down 4% in the past five years (as of Sept. 18). This is due to ongoing struggles that are hitting the company’s financials, which management is trying to fix.

This restaurant stock trades 34% below its record high. But if things start improving, perhaps Starbucks can win over investors in the long run.

If you buy shares with $10,000 in 2025, will you become a millionaire in 10 years?

Image source: Starbucks.

Trying to turn things around

Starbucks hired former CEO of Chipotle Brian Niccol a year ago to fix things at the coffeehouse chain. Starbucks has been struggling, as its brand took a hit from customers’ perception about the company’s political stance. And customers weren’t happy with aspects of the store and ordering experience, like longer wait times, high prices, and a complex menu. It’s not surprising that disappointing financial results caused the stock to perform poorly.

Niccol’s notable success running the Tex-Mex fast-casual chain could help Starbucks. Key initiatives include investing more into employees to improve the customer experience. Starbucks will also simplify the menu.

The finances are still out of order, though. Same-store sales, one of the most important metrics for restaurants, declined 2% in the latest fiscal quarter (Q3 2025 ended June 29). This was the sixth straight quarter that a fall was recorded. Until this figure starts growing again, investors have every right to be concerned.

The overarching goal is to again make Starbucks a top destination for customers. A successful turnaround will take time. But there is optimism. “We’re building back a better Starbucks experience and a better business,” Niccol said during the company’s Q3 results.

Dominating the retail coffee market

Starbucks currently sports a market cap of $94 billion, a size deserving of respect. Early investors must be pleased. Since the company’s initial public offering in 1992, shares have put up a 32,850% total return (as of Sept. 18). During the same period of time, the S&P 500 has produced a total return of 3,010%.

This business dominates the industry. As of June 29, there were 41,097 Starbucks locations scattered across the globe. While the company has a presence seemingly everywhere, its two biggest markets, the U.S. and China, combined represent 61% of its store footprint.

There are still reasons to appreciate this business. It has one of the most recognizable brands on the face of the planet. And it’s consistently profitable. In the past five years, it has posted an average operating margin of 13.5%.

The business has been well ahead of other restaurants and retailers when it comes to integrating technology into its operations. The Starbucks Rewards program (similar to what is offered today) was created in 2009, and it now has 34 million 90-day active members in the U.S. This gives management a valuable channel to communicate directly with customers, while collecting data that informs product and marketing strategies.

Should you buy Starbucks?

The consensus view among Wall Street sell-side analysts is that Starbucks’ revenue will increase at a compound annual rate of 5.5% between fiscal 2024 and 2027, while earnings per share will grow at a yearly clip of 0.8%. This weaker outlook, coupled with an expensive price-to-earnings ratio of 35.8, doesn’t present a compelling opportunity.

Investors are better off avoiding buying Starbucks. There’s a lot of risk right now, as it could take time for the financial picture to improve. If the valuation becomes more attractive, then that perspective could shift.

Investors also should not expect the business to turn a $10,000 starting capital outlay into $1 million in a decade. This is an extremely low-probability outcome, as it’s an unbelievable gain in a short period of time. It’s best to focus your attention on building a diversified portfolio of high-quality stocks.

LA28 announced Starbucks as the official coffee partner for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics and Team USA on Tuesday, adding a fourth founding-level partner to the growing sponsorship list with less than three years to go before the Games.

Starbucks will enter the Olympic arena for the first time by providing specially designed coffeehouses in the Olympic and Paralympic village, competition venues and volunteer hubs for athletes, fans and spectators.

“Starbucks is proud to bring connection, culture, community and incredible coffee to the world stage,” said Tressie Lieberman, executive vice president and global chief brand officer of Starbucks Coffee Company.

The Seattle-based coffee giant represents LA28’s second major founding partner of the year, joining Honda, which announced its Olympic deal in April. Longtime partners Delta and Comcast are the cornerstones of the corporate sponsorship program that will be the backbone of what LA28 has promised will be a privately funded Games.

Domestic sponsorships are intended to cover $2.5 billion of the Games’ estimated $7.1 billion budget. As of August, the private organizing committee had contracts for more than 70% of its total sponsorship goal, LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman told The Times. Financial terms for the latest deal were not disclosed.

“This is our chance to co-create a Games that will resonate for generations to come, and welcoming Starbucks to the LA28 and Team USA family marks the coming together of a world-class brand and a globally embraced event, with a shared commitment to shaping culture and community,” Wasserman said in a statement.

LA28 has also announced two other partnerships in September, bringing in equipment rental company Sunbelt Rentals and T-Mobile for Business.

Costa Coffee supplied coffee for the Tokyo and the Paris Games after the British chain was acquired by Coca-Cola — one of the International Olympic Committee’s longest-standing and most prominent partners — in 2019. But Coca-Cola has been exploring a sale of Costa Coffee, according to Reuters. As a worldwide partner, the Atlanta-based soda company has exclusive Olympic and Paralympic rights to non-alcoholic beverages.

PA Media

PA Media

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‘Quite aggressive’

‘Not a complicated case’

Disney+ is offering a fantastic deal for streaming fans, with households able to get four months for £1.99 a month

Disney+ is presenting a cracking deal for streaming enthusiasts in the UK, offering four months of access for £1.99 a month instead. However, time is running out to grab it with the offer set to expire on June 30.

For less than the cost of a Starbucks brew or a meal deal, Disney+ streamers can indulge in Marvel Cinematic Universe shows, including WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel for much less than the usual price – and the rate will last until the end of October.

The platform also boasts a variety of Star Wars series, such as Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Clone Wars, ensuring there’s a wealth of content to keep viewers hooked for months. Classic Walt Disney animated films like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Lion King are also ready for your viewing enjoyment.

READ MORE: World-renowned dentists give teeth whitener ‘5-star seal of approval’ in tests

READ MORE: ‘I’m a TV Editor and these are the 5 Disney+ shows I’m bingeing’

There’s also new content including the new season 4 of FX’s The Bear (that premiered on June 26) and the riveting new sci-fi drama, Alien: Earth, which is set for release later this summer (August 13). These join the newly-released Snow White and Ironheart.

The Stolen Girl is another smash hit that has garnered critical praise. The Disney+ £1.99 offer lasts for four months, providing streamers plenty of time to explore the extensive library of content on offer.

Get Disney+ for £1.99 a month

£4.99

£1.99

Disney+

Get the deal here

Disney+ has brought back its popular deal that lets new and returning customers join its Standard with Ads plan for £1.99 per month for four months.

This means members can stream hit shows like Andor, The Bear and Alien: Earth, plus countless titles from Star Wars and Marvel, for a fraction of the usual price.

However, it’s crucial to remember that the £1.99 offer pertains only to the Standard with Ads version, so subscribers will have to tolerate commercials while watching their beloved shows, which may cause irritation.

Disney+ has been met with praise on Trustpilot, where one happy user commented: “Very good selection, friendly support and easy to cancel if you need to. Very easy to navigate their site, and the openness and transparency they show should be a model for others.”

Nevertheless, one disgruntled customer criticised the ad frequency, remarking: “Way too many adverts. Luckily I got it free for three months, but would not pay to extend it.”

For families seeking additional streaming services, numerous offers are available. Sky has its own streaming deals, such as the £15 per month Sky Stream package.

Furthermore, DAZN is giving sports enthusiasts an opportunity to sample its service through a limited-time trial offer. The Disney+ £1.99 deal can be snagged by households here.

A LUXURY superyacht owned by the US billionaire who transformed Starbucks into a global brand has been spotted squeezing through a murky Dutch canal.

Howard Schultz’s 254-foot vessel, named Pi, boasts a range of over 4,500 nautical miles and onboard spa facilities, including a glass-bottomed swimming pool.

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The huge yacht, believed to be worth $200m (£150m), can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and a crew of 18 people.

At a staggering 254 feet long and 37 feet wide, Pi ranks as the 183rd biggest yacht in the world, according to Wikipedia’s latest list of motor yachts by length.

The vessel is powered by MTU engines, which make it capable of speeds up to 18 knots.

It features its own helicopter landing pad as well as various onboard luxury spa facilities.

Built by Dutch boat builder Feadship, it was delivered to Schultz at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show, where it won Best Yacht in Its Class and Motor Yacht of the Year.

Schultz’s net worth surpasses $6b (£4.5b), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

He built the bulk of his fortune as the CEO of Starbucks, initially leading the company from 1986 to 2000.

Under Schultz, Starbucks grew from a small Seattle-based chain into a global coffee empire.

Schultz returned to the helm during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, after the company faced major store closures in a bid to cut costs.

He remained CEO until 2017, then returned briefly as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023.

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It comes as the superyacht was spotted in Cornwall’s Falmouth harbour in May 2022.

Meanwhile, the luxury Four Seasons hotel franchise recently announced its plans to launch a superyacht cruise ship, dubbed the Four Seasons.

The superyacht promises to be decked with “sea limousines”, luxury restaurants, a cigar room and even a four-story private penthouse suite.

Set to launch in January 2026, the ‘sea hotel’ will sail on over 30 voyages in its first year, cruising through the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mediterranean.

Seven nights along the rivieras of Cassis, France and Portofino, Italy, for example, will cost north of $25,000 (£18,500).

While reservations for the first voyages opened in January 2024, they are on an invitation-only basis for loyal Four Seasons guests.

The exclusivity is “driven by the need to manage extraordinary demand”, according to the luxury hotel franchise.

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A HUGE coffee chain with more than 1,300 UK branches has shuttered one of its high street shops.

Starbucks abruptly pulled the plug on its coffee house in Headington, Oxford.

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The location on the town’s London Road notified punters that the “shop is now closed” on a store window sign.

The coffee giant first waved in customers in October 2007.

It is unknown why Starbucks decided to close down the location.

Starbucks now has two remaining locations in Oxford, according to its website, which are located on Cornmarket Street and Westgate Shopping Centre.

The Sun Online has reached out to Starbucks for comment.

In April last year, Starbucks announced the closure of one of its Reading cafes, leaving some shoppers “shocked”.

And in March 2024, locals were saddened to hear their Dalton Park store, in Murton, Country Durham, would be closing down in hours.

RETAIL APOCALYPSE

Both independent and industry giants have been struggling with rising costs and reduced footfall over the past few years.

Dozens of shops are set to close across the country before the end of the month in the latest blow to UK high streets.

Just a few months into 2025 and it’s already proving to be another tough year for many major brands.

Rising living costs – which mean shoppers have less cash to burn – and an increase in online shopping has battered retail in recent years.

In some cases, landlords are either unwilling or unable to invest in keeping shops open, further speeding up the closures.

Smiggle isn’t the only stationary shop shutting its doors, more WHSmiths stores are set to close in the next few months.

The huge sports retailer, Sports Direct is axed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge on April 18.

Whilst, Red Menswear in Chatham in Medway, Kent, shut for the final time on Saturday, March 29, after selling men’s clothing since 1999.

A couple months ago, Essential Vintage told followers on social that it would be closing down after they had been “priced out” because of bigger players in the market such as Vinted.

Jewellery brand Beaverbrooks is also shutting three shops early this month.

New Look bosses made the decision to axe nearly 100 branches as they battle challenges linked to Autumn Budget tax changes.

Approximately a quarter of the retailer’s 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire.

This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on New Look’s 8,000-strong workforce.

It’s understood the latest drive to accelerate closures is driven by the upcoming increase in National Insurance contributions for employers.

The move, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in October, is hitting retailers hard – and the British Retail Consortium has predicted these changes will create a £2.3billion bill for the sector.

May 15 (UPI) — More than 1,200 Starbucks employees launched a strike this week as the company has enforced a new dress code.

The Starbucks Workers United union said that the new dress code, which went into effect on Monday, has exacerbated issues with understaffing at stores leading to walkouts at about 100 stores to express opposition to the policy.

Starbucks barista and union bargaining delegate Jasmine Leli has publicly stated that the company did not consult with the union over the dress code.

“The distraction is Starbucks rolling out all of these new changes when all the customer is concerned about is getting their drinks and going about their merry way. They don’t care what color shirt we have on,” Leli said. “Starbucks hasn’t bargained with us over this dress code change, and we just need them to get back to the table so that we can ratify this contract.”

Starbucks Workers United added that the walkouts are also meant to highlight other issues with the company.

“We’re not just walking out over a shirt color. Starbucks is a massive company that refuses to focus on what’s important. Customers and baristas alike want fully staffed stores, lower prices and wait times, and workers to be taken care of,” the union said in a post on Facebook.

“They refuse to staff our stores properly, give guaranteed hours to workers, pay us a living wage, or provide stipends to pay for this arbitrary dress code,” a separate post from the union to X Wednesday claimed.

The dress code as detailed in a press release last month, baristas may wear “any solid black short and long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms.

“We’re also making a new line of company branded t-shirts available to partners, who will receive two at no cost,” the company said.

As per the release, the reasoning behind this change is to “allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America.”

“Workers shouldn’t need to spend [money] out-of-pocket to replace perfectly good shirts, pants [and] shoes when we’re already struggling to get by,” the union wrote in a social media post Tuesday.

Starbucks claimed that less than 1% of employees are responsible for the action in regard to dissatisfaction with the code.

ALDI IS launching a new range of cake pops costing just 50p each, undercutting Starbucks by more than £2.80 per item.

The budget supermarket will be selling its Village Bakery Cake Pops in a pack of four for £1.99, starting Sunday, 12th May.

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The sweet treats come in two flavours, Birthday Cake and Cookies & Cream.

Starbucks currently sells similar items at £3.35 each, meaning Aldi’s version comes in at around 85 per cent cheaper.

The Birthday Cake flavour features a strawberry and vanilla mix, while the Cookies & Cream option includes cookie crumbs and vanilla flavouring.

Both are designed as bite-sized snacks aimed at those after an affordable sweet treat.

Aldi said the items will be available in all UK stores while stocks last.

Separately, Aldi is selling a Pistachio Spread as part of its Specially Selected range for £1.79, which is significantly cheaper than M&S’s Pistachio Crème, priced at £4.75 for 220g.

Aldi’s version works out at 89p per 100g, while M&S charges £2.16 per 100g. The retailer recommends using the spread on toast, pastries or desserts.

The item has gained attention online after being posted on Facebook.

One user wrote: “This would be so delicious on pancakes or waffles in the morning.”

Another added: “Can’t wait to try this! It looks so yummy!”

This follows several other comparisons where Aldi has undercut major brands.

Earlier this year, Aldi released a £4.99 dupe of the popular Stanley Cup flask, which typically sells for £44.99.

During Easter, it offered a £3 chocolate bunny that shoppers compared to Lindt’s £6.99 version.

In household products, Aldi’s own-brand laundry powder priced at £1.99 has been praised by customers online, with some saying it outperforms well-known brands like Bold.

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