‘What do you think is going on with the stock price?’: Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says baristas’ market savvy makes him proud

When Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol walks into a Starbucks store, he’s there for more than just coffee, egg bites, or a chocolate croissant. He chats up the company’s employees to take a measured business temperature.

According to Niccol, the baristas he speaks with have a vested interest in the company’s success. In a conversation with investors at the Starbucks 2026 investors day meeting, Niccol said many employees he encounters tend to ask him about the company’s stock. “When I walk into stores...