Starbucks said Thursday it would shutter underperforming stores in North America and cut 900 jobs in a $1 billion restructuring effort, as CEO Brian Niccol presses ahead with his plan to revive the company’s fortunes .

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

The company has posted six straight quarters of sales decline in the US as demand for its pricey lattes took a hit from consumers turning picky and competition ramping up. 3

“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 locat

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