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Starbucks’ traffic finally starts to turn around — an increase of 3% globallyStarbucks’ traffic finally starts to turn around — an increase of 3% globally

Improvements in U.S. and China markets bolster the coffee brand’s performance

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

July 25, 2019

1 Min Read
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Starbucks growth remains strong as the coffee brand posted positive traffic growth in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. After several quarters of struggling to improve transactions, Starbucks posted 3% global growth in traffic, with a 2% increase in traffic in China and 3% improvement in traffic for the U.S. segment.

Related: Starbucks traffic continues to flounder in China

Same-store sales for Starbucks increased 6%, while U.S. same-store sales saw growth of 7% and China same-store sales also went up 6%. Global same-store sales growth was equally driven by an increase in average ticket and average transactions.

“Our two targeted long-term growth markets, the U.S. and China, performed extremely well across a number of measures as a result of our focus on enhancing the customer experience, driving new beverage innovation and accelerating the expansion of our digital customer relationships,” Starbucks CEO and president Kevin Johnson said in a statement. “Given the strong momentum across our business, we are raising our full-year financial outlook.”

Related: Starbucks opens first express store format in China

Johnson contributed the significant growth during the quarter to the brand’s accelerated growth in China and the U.S. and expanding the brand’s reach through the Global Coffee Alliance with Nestlé in a $7 billion deal first announced in August 2018.

Revenue for the third quarter increased 8.1% to $6.82 billion, up from $6.31 billion a year earlier. Net income increased 61% to $1.37 billion or $1.12 per share, up from $852.5 million or 61 cents per share a year earlier.

Starbucks opened a net 442 units in the third quarter and as of June 30, had 30,626 stores globally.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @joannafantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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