Business

S’bux to add jobs & stores

Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz said his company plans to add 1,000 stores in the US in the next five years.

The locations, which will employ about 20 workers each, could add a total of 20,000 jobs. Schultz, 59, also said he has no plans to retire and still has a lot to accomplish at the company he has been with for more than two decades.

Starbucks is working to attract customers concerned about the economy by selling juice, energy drinks and better food alongside its traditional coffee. The company cut its fourth-quarter profit forecast in July, citing slowing sales growth in the US and the recession in Europe.

The company has more than 17,400 locations worldwide including about 10,800 in the US and 740 in the UK, its largest market in Europe.