By The Canadian Press
Pedestrians walk past a downtown Toronto Starbucks Coffee location on May 31, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy)
TORONTO — Starbucks is pulling back on its presence in Canada with plans to close up to 200 coffee shops.
The Seattle-based chain says it intends to restructure its company-operated business in Canada under a two-year plan.
The details were included in a letter to shareholders filed on Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company outlined a number of broad changes it was introducing as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving consumer habits.
Starbucks says some of the Canadian stores up for closure will be “repositioned,” which suggests they could either move to a new area or change format.
The company has been experimenting with locations that are pick-up only coffee shops. The first Canadian location using the new format launched in January in Toronto.
