Starbucks has just handed over the reins to none other than Brian Niccol, the former CEO of Chipotle, after Laxman Narasimhan’s sudden departure. Social media, of course, wasted no time in turning this into a meme fest, with users already speculating about the wildest changes to their beloved coffee giant’s menu.
Starbucks’ announcement hit the internet like a double shot of espresso, and soon after, the hashtag #StarbucksChipotle started trending on X. Users couldn’t resist imagining what Niccol’s influence might bring to their morning brew, with some suggesting that guacamole and tortilla chips could soon be standard offerings alongside the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Brian Niccol, who’s been credited with taking Chipotle to new heights since 2018, will officially start brewing at Starbucks on September 9. While Wall Street seems to be frothing at the mouth with excitement-Starbucks shares soared 25%–Chipotle’s stock took a nosedive, dropping by 8%. But that didn’t stop the internet from dishing out their spicy takes on the situation.
One X user, clearly still salty about Niccol’s tenure at Chipotle, joked, “Can’t wait to pay extra for milk at Starbucks now.” Others riffed on the potential for burrito-inspired Frappuccinos or avocado toast with a side of salsa. The memes came in hot, with one particularly popular post showing a Starbucks cup only half-filled with coffee, captioned, “Welcome to the Niccol era.“
From burritos to coffee: Brian Niccol takes the helm at Starbucks
The shake-up comes on the heels of Starbucks’ struggles under Narasimhan, whose short-lived CEO stint saw the company’s stock drop by 20%. With activist investors like Elliott Investment Management applying pressure, Starbucks clearly needed a new recipe for success, and Niccol’s track record of doubling Chipotle’s sales to $10 billion in 2023 made him the flavor of the month.
But while Wall Street might be brewing a fresh pot of optimism, regular coffee drinkers are still processing the news with a healthy dose of skepticism. One user summed up the collective anxiety with a post that read, “Please don’t make us order our lattes from a Chipotlane.”
As Niccol prepares to take over, Starbucks enthusiasts are left to wonder: Will their beloved coffee house start serving up burritos? Or is this just another case of corporate musical chairs? Whatever the outcome, one thing’s for sure-social media will be watching, with a cup of something strong in hand.
For now, the only thing brewing faster than Starbucks’ coffee is the speculation about what’s next for the global coffee empire. And if the memes are any indication, customers are already bracing themselves for a menu overhaul that might just be spicier than expected.