Starbucks Sales Growth Heats Up with Cold Beer

Americans who drank high-end coffees and Starbucks' neon-colored drinks over the summer helped the world's largest coffee chain recover in the United States, generating record-breaking sales in the United States. $ 6.3 billion per group.

Starbucks shares jumped more than 8% in after-hours trading after Thursday's acceleration of sales in its home market, resulting in an 11% increase in worldwide sales compared to the previous year. 39, last year.

The Seattle-based company had previously pissed off investors with slowing growth in its domestic market, following an aggressive expansion that brought its number of coffee shops to nearly 30,000.

"We recognize that 2018 has been a year of change and challenge, focusing more on large-scale growth," said Kevin Johnson, who replaced Howard Schultz at the helm.

However, Johnson said the results for the three months before the end of September – the last quarter of his fiscal year – provided "encouraging evidence of the smooth operation of our plan. year on a recovery. "

Same-store sales in the last three months to the end of September rose 3% over the previous year and 4% in the Americas, the largest increase in five quarters. In the previous quarter, growth in the Americas was only 1%.

Roz Brewer, Chief Operating Officer, highlighted innovation in the Starbucks product lines. She cited Instagram-compatible refreshing beverages and coolers, whose colorful flavors include the mango dragon fruit and Acai lemonade.

Starbucks also introduces healthier offers, modifies its loyalty program and introduces new concepts such as an upscale "Reserve" store in order to revive growth in the United States.

The company plans to add 2,100 new net coffees worldwide next fiscal year, down slightly from the 2,300 that the year just ended. China and the entire Asia-Pacific region are expected to account for about half. 600 more will be opened on the American continent and 400 in Europe.

The latest results come four months after Schultz's resignation as executive chairman, ending a 36-year term at the helm. Bill Shark's activist hedge fund, Pershing Square, revealed last month that it had built a 1.1% stake, making it one of the 20 largest investors in the company.

Starbucks shares rose 8.6% in New York, to $ 63.64 after trading hours. Stocks missed the stock rally since the beginning of 2016, having changed little over the period, while the S & P 500 gained 34%.

Earnings per share in the fourth quarter was $ 0.56, up 4% from the same period last year.