When Brian Niccol joined Starbucks on September 9, 2024, he had a tall order ahead of him.Niccol, a retail veteran who led successful turnarounds at Taco Bell and Chipotle, joined the Seattle-based coffee chain at a low point in its business. Customers complained about long wait times, a buggy app, and understaffed stores that struggled to consistently deliver quality products. In July, the company reported six straight quarters of declining sales from Q2 in 2024 through Q3 of 2025.Upon taking the helm, ...