Delivering great customer service starts with our green apron partners (employees). That’s always been Starbucks strength – and during our turnaround, we’ve doubled down on it.

Yesterday, we announced our FY26 Q2 results. It is clear: when coffeehouse partners are set up to do their best work, performance follows. As Brian shared, we delivered growth on both the top and bottom line for the first time in more than two years.

Investing in partners to strengthen the coffeehouse

Since launching Back to Starbucks, we have invested more than $500 million in our partners so they can bring the best out of our coffeehouses. Those investments improved staffing and scheduling, leadership stability and service standards to create a better partner experience and more consistent service.

We’re seeing the impact: 

• More partners are working during our busiest shifts.
• More partners are getting more of the hours they want. Average barista hours are up, and nearly 95% of partners are getting their preferred schedules.
• Coffeehouses are operating more consistently, with 98% of available shifts filled.

We’ve also continued to invest in industry-leading benefits and competitive pay, delivering record high partner retention. Turnover is now nearly half the industry average.

Expanded benefits – including paid parental leave now up to 18 weeks – alongside competitive pay are driving partner stability and career growth. For hourly partners working an average of 20 or more hours per week, total pay and benefits are valued at more than $30 per hour, including healthcare, stock awards, a paid college degree and flexible leave.

A culture of performance

Investments in our partners are paying off: improving the partner experience, strengthening leader and partner stability and driving more consistent service for customers. Here’s what we’re seeing:

• Today, 80% of Starbucks highest‑performing coffeehouses have a leader who has been in role for more than one year, highlighting that stability is tied to results.
• The share of U.S. company-operated coffeehouses meeting our highest-performing standards increased by more than 30 percent.
• Approximately 80% of U.S. company-operated coffeehouses delivered cafe orders in four minutes or less.

This is what a culture of performance looks like: consistent leadership, clear standards and partners who are set up to succeed.

More customers visiting Starbucks

Led by our coffeehouse partners, improved execution contributed to a stronger Q2. North America comparable store sales grew, transactions increased and revenue rose.

That performance is creating more room for growth and opportunity. This month, Starbucks launched a shared-success model that includes a new quarterly reward program for baristas and shift supervisors tied to store performance, along with expanded digital tipping and weekly pay.*

Delivering the best job in retail is good for partners – and fuels opportunity for Starbucks.

*This program, at the approximately 5% of U.S. locations where partners have a union, will be subject to collective bargaining as required by federal law.