Starbucks to close more than 8,000 stores for racial-bias training
The announcement is in response to a growing backlash after two black men were arrested in one of the coffee chain’s Philadelphia locations. The move was met with praise.
Starbucks is plowing ahead with its crisis response—and being applauded for its efforts.
On Tuesday, the coffee chain announced that on the afternoon of May 29, it’s shutting down more than 8,000 stores in the United States for racial-bias training.
The move follows both a written and video apology given by the company’s chief executive, Kevin Johnson, after two black men were arrested in one of Starbucks’ Philadelphia locations. The video of the arrests went viral last week, and the company has been in crisis mode since then.
The closures affect company-owned locations, which account for more than half of all Starbucks stores nationwide. Nearly 175,000 employees will go through the training.
That could set back the company, which booked $22.4 billion in revenue last year, a mere $16.7 million in lost sales, according to Bloomberg calculations.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
