Starbucks plans to hire 240,000 people over the next five years

Starbucks has announced plans to create 240,000 new jobs, with 68,000 of those being in the U.S.

The company also plans to open 12,000 new stores, with 100 of those new stores being located in Military Family Stores. Increasing veteran employment, Military Family Stores are located near major military bases and have been given the special designation as a place of welcoming and support for military communities around the country.

The Starbucks stores function as a hub within the military community, providing jobs for veterans and military spouses. Employees in the stores help create a culture of understanding between military and non-military customers – an important step toward ensuring service men and women experience smooth transitions back into the civilian world. The stores also work with nonprofit organizations to provide services and jobs for veterans and their families.

Building shareholder value is an “absolute” commitment, but Starbucks’ commitment to its values will continue, Schultz said, touting increased military, “opportunity youth” and refugee hiring commitments.

Schultz continued, “There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business. And we will start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support.”

Schultz will step down as CEO on April 3, handing the keys over to Kevin R. Johnson, the company’s current COO and president.

Shultz will remain at Starbucks as executive chairman, focusing on building the company’s more premium businesses.

The Reserve line is a small-lot premium coffee beans, and the expansive Roasteries where the company roasts the Reserve beans and brews coffee using a variety of methods will serve Reserve coffees.

The company plans to open 20 to 30 Roasteries and 1,000 Reserve stores over time, and also put in Reserve bars that serve the premium coffees in a fifth of its traditional stores.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.