He recommended that in order to “once again make it the uplifting experience it was intended to be,” Starbucks “reinvent” the mobile ordering and payment features of the app.

His statement that Starbucks’ approach needs to be “elevated with coffee-forward innovation that inspires partners and creates differentiation in the marketplace, reinforcing the company’s premium position” may possibly have been a subtle jab at the company’s existing offerings, such as its new line of spicy drinks.

In September of last year, Schultz announced his resignation from the Starbucks board of directors. This was the first stage in a gradual departure that saw him step down as CEO for the third time in March 2023. He is still among Starbucks’ biggest stockholders.

Starbucks’ current CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, whom Schultz assisted in selecting, announced last week’s second-quarter earnings as “disappointing.” For the first time since 2020, same-store sales declined for the business, which resulted in a reduction in its sales projection for the entire year.