Starbucks sales miss as virus spike keeps customers at home
Starbucks on Tuesday (Jan 26) reported a bigger-than-expected fall in quarterly comparable sales as the rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States kept customers at home, sending its shares 2 per cent lower in extended trading.
The world's largest coffee chain's global same-store sales fell 5 per cent in the first quarter, more than analysts' estimates of a 3.4 per cent decline, according to Refinitiv IBES data.
The second wave of COVID-19 infections and accompanying restrictions dented traffic at the coffee chain's stores, hampering its efforts to boost demand through product launches and new drive-thrus.
Comparable sales declined 6per cent for the Americas region, compared with a 5.2 per cent fall expected by analysts.
But in China, Starbucks' biggest growth market, comparable sales rose 5 per cent as the company benefited from the popularity of its rewards program and the return of pre-coronavirus consumer habits.
For the second quarter, Starbucks said it expects US comparable sales to rise between 5 per cent and 10 per cent, while in China they were forecast to grow
nearly two-fold a year after the pandemic hit the region.
Starbucks also said Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer would be leaving the company next month to take a chief executive officer role at another company.
Net revenue fell 5 per cent to US$6.7 billion, missing expectations of US$6.93 billion.