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Starbucks just released its best results in two years: here’s what’s working (and what’s not)

The world’s largest coffee chain has started 2026 on a high, but it is not out of the woods yet

Photo credit: Starbucks

The coffee giant has started 2026 on a high, but it is not out of the woods yet

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol will have breathed a sigh of relief after the world’s largest coffee chain posted better-than-expected first-quarter earnings.

Three-month results have become a litmus test for whether Niccol’s Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy is working. Following the latest update, the former Chipotle and Taco Bell CEO was quick to highlight that his approach is the right one.

“Our first quarter results demonstrate our Back to Starbucks strategy is working, and we believe we’re ahead of schedule. It’s great to see the sales momentum driven by more customers choosing Starbucks more often, and this is just the beginning,” he said.

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