Boycotts Work: Starbucks to close Stores & Cut 900 Jobs

On September 25, 2025, Starbucks announced a massive $1 billion restructuring plan that will cut 900 corporate jobs and close about 1% of its North American stores (roughly 200 locations). CEO Brian Niccol framed this as a “reset” to make the company stronger. But here’s the truth: Starbucks is in a crisis, and while it refuses to say it out loud, the Palestine boycott is working.

📉 Six Quarters of Decline

Starbucks has now reported six straight quarters of falling same-store sales. That means fewer customers are walking into its coffeehouses month after month. Even after cutting 1,100 jobs in February, sales continued to drop. This second wave of layoffs and closures is proof that Starbucks’ problems are structural, not seasonal.

The company blames inflation, competition, and “store environment issues.” But the numbers show more:

• U.S. sales recently fell 4%,
• customer traffic dropped 8%,
• and operating profits plunged 22%.

🚫 Why the Boycott Matters

Starbucks’ financial struggles line up directly with the Palestine solidarity boycott that erupted in late 2023. When Starbucks sued its own union for a pro-Palestine post, millions of people worldwide chose to stop buying its lattes.

• In Malaysia, Starbucks’ operator reported a 36% revenue collapse and a $69 million loss, directly blaming the boycott.
• 88 stores in Malaysia have already shut down.
• In Saudi Arabia, the government’s wealth fund dumped 42% of its Starbucks stock in response to public outrage.

Starbucks will not admit it, but the boycott is a major driver of this decline.

📢 Starbucks’ Silence

In its September memo, Starbucks claimed store closures are due to “physical environment” and “financial performance.” No mention of the boycott. No acknowledgment that its reputation is tarnished.

But staying silent does not change reality. The brand is bleeding customers, closing stores, and laying off workers because millions of people are refusing to fund a company that sided against Palestine solidarity.

✊ What You Can Do

This news proves one thing: boycotts work. Every latte skipped, every café avoided, adds up. Here’s how to keep the pressure on:

1. Boycott Starbucks. Choose local cafés or ethical alternatives.
2. Use the Boycat app. Scan to avoid brands complicit in war and apartheid.
3. Redirect your dollars. Support ethical marketplaces like Buycat, where your money helps build alternatives.
4. Protect your privacy. Many corporations tied to Israel also fuel surveillance tech. Stay safe with BuycatVPN, our zero-logs, ethical VPN.

🗣️ Final Word

Starbucks wants you to believe its crisis is about coffee menus and store designs. The reality is much simpler: people have power, and they are using it. The layoffs and closures announced in September 2025 are the direct result of consumers standing with Palestine and choosing justice over convenience.

Starbucks is closing stores. Workers are being laid off. The boycott is working.

Sources: ABC News, NPR, Starbucks SEC filings, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, Boycat monitoring data.