Starbucks Founder Schultz Says Company Needs To Refocus On Coffee As Sales Struggle

(Associated Press) – Former Starbucks CEO and founder Howard Schultz says the company’s leaders should spend more time in stores and focus on coffee drinks as they work to turn around flagging sales.

In a LinkedIn post published over the weekend, Schultz said many people had reached out to him after Starbucks reported weaker-than-expected quarterly sales and earnings last week.

Starbucks says it’s seeing slower traffic around the world as U.S. and Chinese customers pull back on spending.

It’s also facing boycotts in some markets for its perceived support of Israel.

Schultz left Starbucks’ board last fall but remains the company’s largest individual shareholder.