Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Starbucks MENA franchisee lays off thousands over Gaza-linked boycott

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 6 Mar 2024 05:18
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Reuters cites sources as saying the layoffs constitute approximately 4% of Alshaya Group's overall workforce, which totals nearly 50,000 employees.

  • x
  • Starbucks MENA franchisee lay off thousands over Gaza-linked boycott
    Starbucks sign hangs outside a casino along Main Street, Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in Deadwood, S.D. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Gulf retail giant Alshaya Group, the entity holding the operational rights for Starbucks in the Middle East, is reportedly planning workforce reductions of over 2,000 staff due to the impact of consumer boycotts linked to the war on Gaza, Reuters reported citing sources familiar with the situation.

The layoffs, initiated on Sunday, constitute approximately 4% of Alshaya's overall workforce, which totals nearly 50,000 employees, the sources emphasized, noting that the majority of the job cuts are concentrated within its Starbucks franchise in the Middle East and North Africa.

According to the sources, the boycotts have created challenging trading conditions for the company.

Alshaya issued a statement announcing the layoffs, saying that "as a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months, we have taken the sad and very difficult decision to reduce the number of colleagues in our Starbucks MENA stores," but did not disclose the exact number.

Related News

Iran defends regional policies, warns of escalating aggression in Gaza

Gaza flattened for pay, not need: IOF reward operators for each ruin

Established in Kuwait in 1890, Alshaya stands as one of the largest retail franchise operators in the region, holding the rights to operate establishments for popular Western brands.

Since 1999, the group has owned the operational rights for Starbucks coffee shops in the Middle East, overseeing approximately 2,000 outlets across 13 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

Starbucks sales forecast reduced due to Gaza-linked boycott

Starbucks has lowered its annual sales forecasts and failed to meet market expectations due to boycotts in both the US and the Middle East. The company reported a "significant impact on traffic and sales" in the Middle East after calls to boycott the brand began soon after the launch of the ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip.

CEO Laxman Narasimhan mentioned during a post-quarterly earnings conference call that the boycott has affected the chain beyond the Middle East and in the United States as well.

Reports indicate that Starbucks has witnessed a decrease in customer traffic at its US stores starting in mid-November. Narasimhan stated that the company's performance during the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year did not meet the projections set by analysts.

At the end of 2023, it was reported that Starbucks had lost almost $11 billion in market value, due to intense boycotts and employee strikes in support of Palestine.

  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Starbucks
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS