Starbucks shares slide after coffee chain says sales fell again, suspends outlook

Starbucks cups are pictured on a counter in Manhattan, New York, on Feb. 16, 2022.Carlo Allegri | ReutersStarbucks on Tuesday posted preliminary quarterly results that showed its sales fell again as the coffee chain tries to execute a turnaround.”Our fourth quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth and that’s exactly what we are doing with our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan,” CEO Brian Niccol said in a statement.Niccol said he plans to share more details on the steps Starbucks is taking to turn around the business on the company’s earnings call, scheduled for Oct. 30. The coffee chain’s new CEO aims to reverse slowing demand for Starbucks’ drinks, starting with its largest market: the U.S.Already, the CEO said the company is “fundamentally changing” its marketing by refocusing on all of its customers, not just members of its loyalty program. He added that Starbucks plans to simplify its “overly complex menu,” fix its…