Starbucks Relocates Supply Chain Operations

The relocation includes direct and indirect sourcing teams, with expectations of further job transfers to expand their presence in the central U.S.. Starbucks aims to establish a stronger foothold in the Southeast region, positioning the Nashville office to work closely with its Seattle global headquarters. Washington state has recently enacted significant tax increases affecting businesses, including increased Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, sales tax, and new surcharges. A new surcharge of 0.5% applies to businesses with over $250 million in Washington taxable income, starting January 1, 2026. These tax changes have led some companies to reassess their operational locations. Starbucks is searching for a Nashville office space that could be one of the region's largest office deals in years, requiring approximately 250,000 square feet. The new office could potentially house over 2,000 employees. Nashville is attractive due to its growing workforce, strong logistics access, and business-friendly environment. This move aligns with Starbucks' "Back to Starbucks" strategy, aiming to improve store execution through a more flexible North American supply chain. By situating supply-chain and sourcing teams closer to growth markets in the Southeast, Starbucks intends to support faster store rollouts, ensure reliable product availability, and potentially tighten control of store-level operation costs.