Starbucks closing 600 stores in the US

[Aadje]

Just heard at the news that *$ will close 600 stores in the US, because their rather expensive coffees don't sell as good as they used to anymore, due to their prices and the growing competition. There will be still 6500 stores left though.

That will be a lot of people getting fired . . .

[Glenn]

The company says about 12,000 employees, or seven percent of its global workforce, will lose their jobs because of the closures.

It says it will open fewer than 200 stores in 2009.

[CakeBoy]

I wonder if this is a sign that the so-called 'global recession' is really biting expendible income and making the relatively expensive coffee at chains less attractive, or whether the consumer is becoming slightly better educated and decided that the quality to cost ratio is not ideal?

Let's hope that at least some of it is because of the indie guys serving decent coffee at two-thirds of the chain prices and showing the consumer what is possible

Okay, okay, I can dream ..........