Latest news with #LaxmanNarasimhan
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
This popular coffee chain is offering a Rs 3 crore job, but it's not behind the counter
In a surprising career move that's catching headlines across the globe, Starbucks — the world's most recognized coffeehouse chain — has brewed up a job opportunity that soars well beyond its cafes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the Economic Times report, the company is hiring a Pilot-in-Command for its corporate aircraft, offering an eye-popping salary of $360,000 (approx. Rs 3.08 crore) per year. But this role isn't about mastering espresso shots or greeting customers with a smile; it's about navigating Starbucks' top brass across the skies, upholding the brand's values from 30,000 feet in the air. More than just aviation skills, this position demands elite professionalism, prestige, and an ambassadorial presence. Here's a deep dive into what this high-flying opportunity entails, why it's attracting global attention, and what Starbucks expects from the candidate. This coffee chain pays over Rs 3 crore, but there's a catch Starbucks' Pilot-in-Command position is far more than just a flying gig. According to the job listing on Starbucks' official website, the role is critical to executive mobility and brand representation. The chosen pilot will operate the company's private aircraft, transporting high-level executives — possibly including CEO Laxman Narasimhan — across the US and beyond for key business engagements. Key responsibilities include: Commanding the aircraft and managing all aspects of flight operations Preflight planning, safety risk management, and coordination with flight crew Interacting with executives, maintaining professionalism and discretion at all times Ensuring superior service, including passenger handling, logistics, and baggage coordination In essence, the pilot isn't just the person in the cockpit — they're expected to embody the spirit and image of Starbucks wherever they go. Starbucks job opportunity This job pays 10x a Barista's salary, but comes with serious duties At $360,000 per year, this job offers more than ten times the average annual earnings of a Starbucks barista. But the pay reflects the gravity and prestige of the position. From handling private travel for senior executives to representing the company's ethos in elite settings, the expectations are nothing short of corporate aviation excellence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Still, the job isn't all luxury. Tasks such as assisting with baggage highlight the importance Starbucks places on humility, responsibility, and servant leadership — core values often echoed in its customer-facing roles. Think you can fly for this coffee chain? You'll need 5,000+ flight hours Unsurprisingly, the bar is set sky-high for candidates. Starbucks has outlined a demanding list of prerequisites, filtering only the most seasoned professionals in aviation. Required qualifications include: Minimum of 5,000 hours total flight time 5+ years as a corporate captain FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate Current FAA first-class medical certificate Valid US Passport and FCC Restricted Radio Operator Permit Experience with business jet operations and executive travel Soft skills are equally essential. The listing highlights the need for 'tact and decorum,' 'professional judgment,' and the ability to operate in 'high-pressure environments.' Brand representation at altitude Starbucks defines the role as an opportunity to "represent the pride and professionalism" of the brand. The aircraft is not just a transport vessel — it becomes a flying extension of the company's culture, and the pilot is at the forefront. Whether it's preparing for executive meetings onboard or delivering a seamless cross-country journey, the pilot must ensure every interaction aligns with Starbucks' global image of trust, excellence, and customer-first service. Corporate aviation in 2025: A strategic asset This job also reflects a broader trend in corporate aviation. As multinational firms expand their global reach and streamline executive operations, having an in-house aviation team ensures agility, privacy, and efficiency. For Starbucks, this role enhances leadership mobility while upholding its brand prestige — all from the skies. With Starbucks' international expansion, top executives frequently travel for store openings, market visits, and partnership meetings. A corporate pilot becomes a critical enabler of such high-level business activities.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Starbucks is offering a new job with a salary over ₹3 crore, but there is a catch
In a move that's brewing more than just coffee, Starbucks has posted a job that pays a jaw-dropping $360,000 (₹3.08 crore) annually — but this isn't for managing your neighborhood outlet or perfecting latte art. The global coffee giant is hiring a Pilot-in-Command for its corporate aircraft, and the requirements are as sky-high as the compensation. Not Just Flying — Representing the Starbucks Brand in the Sky According to a listing on the official Starbucks website , the chosen pilot will not only fly the company's private plane but also serve as an ambassador of its brand. The role involves commanding the aircraft, managing the crew, overseeing preflight planning, and ensuring top-tier safety standards — all while interacting with the 'highest executive levels' at Starbucks. The job listing specifically emphasizes 'superior customer service skills and a high degree of professionalism,' noting that the pilot could be flying some of the company's top brass. Among them might be Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, who often travels long distances for work and would rely on the pilot for regular cross-country commutes. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Krasnoyarskiy Kray - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Job listing on Starbucks website. (Screenshoy: Starbucks) Yes, you read that right. While the role pays more than 10 times what the average Starbucks barista makes in a year, it comes with some very grounded responsibilities — like assisting with passenger baggage handling. As luxurious as the pay sounds, the job calls for humility, service-mindedness, and the ability to carry the Starbucks image at 30,000 feet. The Catch: Only the Sky's the Limit, If You Qualify The qualifications, understandably, are steep. Applicants must have at least 5,000 hours of total flight time, over five years as a corporate captain, and must possess an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate , a first-class medical certificate, a valid passport, and an FCC-restricted radio operator permit. MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT And don't forget the human elements — Starbucks wants someone with 'tact and decorum' and a personality that reflects the warmth and pride of the brand. A Symbol of Prestige The listing proudly states, 'As a Starbucks Captain – Pilot-in-Command, you represent the pride and professionalism of the Starbucks Coffee Company brand and employees worldwide.' It's not just about flying a plane — it's about representing an empire. So, while the salary may turn heads, the real story lies in the blend of prestige, pressure, and perfection Starbucks expects. It's a job made for the skies, but only for those who can meet the altitude of expectation.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks and the Pitfalls of Investing in Turnaround Stocks
Waning confidence in Starbucks' turnaround has led to a sharp sell-off in recent months. Starbucks' international exposure can be an advantage, but it also makes the company more difficult to turn around. Starbucks has taken on debt with little earnings growth to show for it. 10 stocks we like better than Starbucks › Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) finished February above $115 a share -- knocking on the door of a new all-time high. But at the time of this writing, the stock is around $81 a share. That's a brutal decline in a relatively short period, especially since the major indexes have recouped much of their losses from early April tariff turmoil. Here's what investors can learn from Starbucks' struggles, and the challenges of investing in turnaround stocks. Starbucks investors have been on a roller-coaster ride over the last few years. Sales plummeted during the pandemic's height as the once-reliable traffic from work commutes and travel ground to a halt. Starbucks recovered partly due to its durable rewards program and growth in mobile order and pay, and the stock hit an all-time high in summer 2021. But behind the euphoric gains was a company struggling with its identity. Founder and longtime CEO Howard Schultz came back as interim CEO in April 2022 and encouraged the company to get back to its roots as a "third place" away from home and work. Laxman Narasimhan was tapped as CEO in April 2023, but only lasted until August 2024, when Starbucks poached Brian Niccol from Chipotle Mexican Grill. Niccol was instrumental in turning Chipotle around. There was so much optimism that he could do the same at Starbucks that the stock soared 24% in a single day in reaction to the management news. Investing in turnaround stocks implies that problems are solvable. It can work wonders when there's a great underlying business with a strong brand that has struggled due to managerial missteps or operational inefficiencies, rather than something being fundamentally wrong. Many of today's greatest companies underwent periods of slowing growth when pivotal decisions had to be made to redirect the business. Apple did it with product innovation when Steve Jobs returned in the late 1990s. Netflix pivoted away from mail-order DVDs and transitioned to a pure-play streaming company. Amazon's decision to bet big on cloud computing through Amazon Web Services was a huge win, as AWS is arguably more valuable than the rest of Amazon combined. Meta Platforms, then Facebook, bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion. Today, Instagram may be worth more than Facebook. Alphabet, then Google, bought YouTube in 2006. Starbucks is no stranger to reinventing itself. Rapid expansion in the 1990s and 2000s led Starbucks to become fairly saturated in the U.S. Starbucks decided to expand internationally, the crucial decision coming in 1999 when it opened its first store in China. China was meant to be Starbucks' eureka moment -- like the iPhone was for Apple and streaming for Netflix. On paper, it's been a game-changer. Starbucks closed fiscal 2024 (ended Sept. 29, 2024) with 21,775 international stores (including 7,594 in China), compared to 18,424 in North America. But Starbucks makes 82% of its net revenue from company-operated stores. Starbucks finished fiscal 2024 with 21,018 company-operated stores -- so roughly half of total stores are company-operated. But 89% of company-operated stores are in North America (11,161) and China (7,594). All of Starbucks' China stores are company-owned and operated, which isn't the case in North America. This makes China extremely important to Starbucks' bottom line. In fiscal 2024, Starbucks opened 790 net new stores in China compared to 533 in North America, making China its fastest-growing region. Expanding internationally can be highly effective for a company with a clear identity. But Starbucks doesn't have that right now. Under Niccol's leadership, Starbucks is working to reduce food and beverage selections and "reintroduce Starbucks to the world" with expensive marketing efforts. The problem is that Starbucks is so big that it's beyond the experimental phase. Starbucks isn't an easy company to turn around. Customer expectations vary based on geography, so a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work. Some customer bases may not respond as well to the brand characteristics Starbucks is leaning into, such as the traditional coffee house vibe and "third place." Starbucks must be careful that its new ideas position the company to thrive in North America and key markets like China and Japan. In other words, the strategy needs to be a new positive for the company, not just restore its brand in one region. Financial results are the best way to measure the turnaround's success over time. But on the last earnings call, management encouraged investors to focus less on earnings per share (EPS) and margin declines and more on the intangibles like the brand and customer satisfaction. Starbucks' turnaround will take time and come at a high cost, which tests investor patience. As you can see in the following chart, Starbucks' operating margins are at a 10-year low, excluding the brief pandemic-induced plunge. EPS has also fallen back close to pre-pandemic levels. So even though revenue is up, lower operational efficiency is straining EPS growth. As much as Starbucks wants investors to focus on the big picture, earnings do matter. Starbucks has been increasing its dividend every year since it first implemented it in 2010. Its dividend per share of $2.44is 88% of trailing 12-month EPS. A healthy payout ratio is typically when the dividend is around 50% to 75% of earnings. What's more, Starbucks' net long-term debt has skyrocketed in recent years -- roughly doubling from pre-pandemic levels. Granted, Starbucks had very low debt pre-pandemic, so its debt is still not out of control for a company of its size. Still, taking on debt without growing earnings is a recipe for financial strain, and having debt makes it even harder to execute an already complex turnaround. Starbucks' turnaround struggles illustrate the importance of having strong leadership and a strategy that can be implemented across a global and complex network of stores and supply chains. It could realistically take years for Starbucks to return to meaningful growth, reduce its payout ratio, and cut down its debt level. But the turnaround is showing signs of progress. Given how beaten down Starbucks is, investors who are confident in the brand and are looking for passive income may want to consider buying the stock. Starbucks yields a hefty 2.9%, a sizable opportunity for income investors confident in the company's eventual return to growth. However, investors who are more skeptical about the turnaround may prefer to keep Starbucks on a watchlist. The stock will likely remain highly volatile until measurable results show that the turnaround is working. Before you buy stock in Starbucks, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Starbucks wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $614,911!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $714,958!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 907% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 163% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Meta Platforms, Netflix, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Starbucks and the Pitfalls of Investing in Turnaround Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks Q2 Comps Miss Sparks Analyst Pushback
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) slid in early trading after Q2 comparable sales fell short of expectations, even as management touted progress in its Back to Starbucks turnaroundhighlighting smoother store operations, deeper customer engagement and a long-term setup in China. Global comps dropped 1%, with North American sales down 1% and U.S. units off 2%, offset slightly by higher average tickets. CEO Laxman Narasimhan and his team stressed on the earnings call that new barista training, digital-order enhancements and expanded loyalty perks are taking hold, and they pointed to China's flat comps as evidence the recovery plan can work in tougher markets. Wall Street's verdict was swift. Goldman Sachs cut its rating to Neutral from Buy, warning of too many near-term headwinds and fading share-gain momentum. TD Cowen's Andrew Charles kept a Buy but trimmed his price target to $90 from $102, now modeling a more balanced recovery in 202627 instead of an earlier rebound. Morgan Stanley's Brian Harbour remains Overweight with a $95 target but quipped that patience will be required, noting bears calling for a longer turnaround timeline had it right this time. Jefferies' Andy Barish dropped to Hold, citing persistent brand challenges and a cautious consumer backdrop, while BTIG's Andrew Strelzik slashed near-term forecasts and cut his target to $100, saying EPS pressure is likely greater and more prolonged than once expected. Investors should care because Starbucks' valuation espeically if comps keep lagging and analysts further shave forecasts, the stock could sink back toward its five-year average. Moreover, with Q3 comparable-store sales and updated guidance due in late July, markets will be watching whether the Back to Starbucks plan can regain momentum or if SBUX needs to adjust its playbook once more. As a recap, Starbucks missed Q2 earnings expectations with non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 and revenue of $8.76 billion, both below estimates. Global same-store sales fell 1%, driven by a drop in transactions, while North America comps slipped 1% and U.S. sales declined 2%. International markets grew modestly, with China flat. The company added 213 stores, reaching 40,789 globally. Despite traffic challenges, Starbucks declared a $0.61 dividend for May, signaling continued shareholder focus amid slower post-pandemic recovery in footfall and top-line growth. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks Q2 Comps Miss Sparks Analyst Pushback
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) slid in early trading after Q2 comparable sales fell short of expectations, even as management touted progress in its Back to Starbucks turnaroundhighlighting smoother store operations, deeper customer engagement and a long-term setup in China. Global comps dropped 1%, with North American sales down 1% and U.S. units off 2%, offset slightly by higher average tickets. CEO Laxman Narasimhan and his team stressed on the earnings call that new barista training, digital-order enhancements and expanded loyalty perks are taking hold, and they pointed to China's flat comps as evidence the recovery plan can work in tougher markets. Wall Street's verdict was swift. Goldman Sachs cut its rating to Neutral from Buy, warning of too many near-term headwinds and fading share-gain momentum. TD Cowen's Andrew Charles kept a Buy but trimmed his price target to $90 from $102, now modeling a more balanced recovery in 202627 instead of an earlier rebound. Morgan Stanley's Brian Harbour remains Overweight with a $95 target but quipped that patience will be required, noting bears calling for a longer turnaround timeline had it right this time. Jefferies' Andy Barish dropped to Hold, citing persistent brand challenges and a cautious consumer backdrop, while BTIG's Andrew Strelzik slashed near-term forecasts and cut his target to $100, saying EPS pressure is likely greater and more prolonged than once expected. Investors should care because Starbucks' valuation espeically if comps keep lagging and analysts further shave forecasts, the stock could sink back toward its five-year average. Moreover, with Q3 comparable-store sales and updated guidance due in late July, markets will be watching whether the Back to Starbucks plan can regain momentum or if SBUX needs to adjust its playbook once more. As a recap, Starbucks missed Q2 earnings expectations with non-GAAP EPS of $0.41 and revenue of $8.76 billion, both below estimates. Global same-store sales fell 1%, driven by a drop in transactions, while North America comps slipped 1% and U.S. sales declined 2%. International markets grew modestly, with China flat. The company added 213 stores, reaching 40,789 globally. Despite traffic challenges, Starbucks declared a $0.61 dividend for May, signaling continued shareholder focus amid slower post-pandemic recovery in footfall and top-line growth. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
