sbux-20250604
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 4, 2025
Starbucks Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
sbuxlogo9292019.jpg
Washington000-2032291-1325671
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98134
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(206) 447-1575
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
TitleTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per shareSBUX Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company    

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Selection 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    o





Item 5.02    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On June 4, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Starbucks Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Mike Grams, currently evp, North America chief coffeehouse officer, to the position of chief operating officer (“coo”), a reinstated position in the Company’s executive leadership team, effective immediately. In addition to leading the Company’s North American coffeehouses, Mr. Grams will now oversee global coffeehouse development and global supply chain.

Mr. Grams, age 55, joined the Company in February 2025, after nearly thirty years at Taco Bell Corp. where he held various leadership positions within the company, including President and Chief Operating Officer from 2020 to 2024, Global Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, North America from 2017 to 2020 and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer from 2015 to 2019.

In connection with his appointment, Mr. Grams’ base salary will be increased from $700,000 per year to $900,000 per year, and his annual incentive bonus target will be increased from 100% of base salary to 125% of base salary, which will, in each case, be prorated for fiscal year 2025.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Grams and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as coo. Mr. Grams does not have any family relationship with any director or other executive officer of the Company, or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer, and there are no transactions in which Mr. Grams has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K currently contemplated or since the beginning of the last fiscal year.

On June 4, 2025, the Company also announced that Brad Lerman would no longer serve as the Company’s evp, chief legal officer, as of a date to be determined. The Company anticipates that Mr. Lerman will continue to serve as chief legal officer until his successor has been identified and is in role. Mr. Lerman’s separation from the Company meets the conditions of the “without cause” provisions of the Company’s Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan for purposes of all plan benefits thereunder.


Item 7.01    Regulation FD Disclosure.

A copy of the letter from Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer, relating to the announcement described in Item 5.02, dated June 4, 2025, is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.


Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Description
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL)




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
    
 STARBUCKS CORPORATION
   
Dated: June 4, 2025    
 By:  /s/ Joshua C. Gaul
  Joshua C. Gaul
  vice president, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary


Exhibit 99.1
To: All Partners, from Brian  

Subject: Organizational Changes to Accelerate Back to Starbucks 


Partners,

As I shared during our last Quarterly Connect and, on the earnings call, our performance isn’t yet where we want it to be. We’re making the changes necessary to get back to Starbucks, and I’m encouraged by our progress. I feel the momentum in our coffeehouses, hear it from our partners and customers, and see it in the results of our pilots.  

We’re on the right path, but we need to move faster. We’re making additional organizational changes to help bring teams closer together, strengthen leadership accountability, and allow teams to move with even greater clarity and urgency. 

Here are the changes: 

Mike Grams will step into the role of chief operating officer. In addition to leading our North American coffeehouses, he will now oversee global coffeehouse development and global supply chain. Meredith Sandland, evp and chief development officer, and Sanjay Shah, evp and chief supply chain officer, will now report to Mike. I’m excited to bring these functions together and to see the impact of Meredith, Sanjay, and Mike working more closely to elevate the design, build, and operations of our coffeehouses and to deliver a world-class supply chain that empowers our green apron partners and delights our customers.  
 
We’re bringing the Global Coffee and Sustainability team and the Global Brand team together. Coffee is at the heart of Starbucks, and this change will further cement coffee at the core of our menu, product innovation, and marketing. It will also help us further embed sustainability in our products, packaging, and operations. Michelle Burns, evp, Global Coffee and Sustainability will report to Tressie Lieberman, evp, global chief brand officer.  
 
Deb Hall Lefevre, evp, chief technology officer, will now report to Cathy Smith, evp, chief financial officer. Delivering world class technology that enables our partners to craft high-quality beverages and spend more meaningful time with customers is a priority. It’s an important area of investment and I know that working together Deb and Cathy will help us accelerate this work.  

Deb, Meredith, Michelle and Sanjay will continue to serve on our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), alongside my direct reports: Brady Brewer (ceo, International), Dominic Carr (evp, chief communications and corporate affairs officer), Mike Grams (chief operating officer), Sara Kelly (evp, chief partner officer), Brad Lerman (evp, chief legal officer), Tressie Lieberman (evp, global chief brand officer), Molly Liu (ceo, China), Cathy Smith (evp, chief financial officer). 

Separately, Brad Lerman, evp, chief legal officer, and I have been talking about what makes sense for him and for our legal team and Brad will be leaving Starbucks in the coming months. We’re beginning a search for a new chief legal officer, and Brad will both assist with the search and continue to lead our legal team until a successor is in place. We’ll recognize Brad’s contributions to Starbucks before he leaves but for now, I’ll just say how much I appreciate everything he’s done, and the wise counsel he offers me, the board, and leaders across the company.   




Across our U.S. coffeehouses, the SSC, and around the world, we’ve driven significant change in the last few months. We’re getting back to Starbucks. I deeply appreciate all the work everyone is doing. We’re refocusing on the customer, supporting our green apron partners, and acting like owners. We’re testing, learning, and moving quickly. I’m confident these organizational changes will help us go even faster. 

On we go, 

Brian