• by Tanya Gazdik , February 25, 2025

More big changes are afoot at Starbucks, including menu changes and layoffs.

“Last month, Starbucks said it would begin to ‘optimize’ menu offerings, resulting in a 30% reduction in both beverage and food items by the end of the fiscal year,” according to USA Today. “Starting March 4, a selection of "less popular" beverages, including several Frappuccino blended beverages, will be removed from the menu.”

The 13 drinks cut, including nine Frappuccino varieties, were either not popular, too complex to make or were similar to other beverages on the menu.  

“Starbucks says these cuts will reduce wait times, improve consistency and ‘make way for innovation,’” according to The Associated Press. "The chain says it will continue to introduce a handful of other new items and seasonal specials, such as its Cortado beverage introduced last month and a new ‘Iced Cherry Chai’ set to debut in the spring.”

Starbucks unveiled that for spring it will "bring back the beloved Lavender beverages."

In addition to menu and policy changes, Starbucks CEO Brian Nichol messaged employees on Monday that the company has made the "hard decision” to eliminate 1,100 current support partner roles and several hundred additional open and unfilled positions.

The layoffs do not affect baristas or in-store teams and comes as part of a restructuring the CEO previously announced in January, according to ABC News. 

"We are simplifying our structure, removing layers and duplication and creating smaller, more nimble teams," Niccol wrote, according to Axios. "Our intent is to operate more efficiently, increase accountability, reduce complexity and drive better integration.”

More foods and beverages are expected to be removed from the Starbucks menu in the coming months, according to The Hill. 

Nine Frappuccino items are on the chopping block, along with Iced Matcha Lemonade, White Hot Chocolate, Royal English Breakfast Latte and Honey Almondmilk Flat White.