Starbucks reported Q1 sales and earnings on Tuesday of this week with both global and US same store sales slightly weaker than expectations at minus 5%. Like other QSR operators, the US same store sales trend worsened somewhat through December, but the company sees January coming in at minus 2. While the company reported US transactions were minus 21% for the quarter, the average ticket was up at plus 19%. CEO Kevin Johnson also advised that the company realized an all-time high food attachment rate, and has lost drip coffee sales mix in city stores and has higher group orders which also contributed to the higher average ticket. Management was hopeful the higher average ticket trend would continue even after customer routines “normalized”. Starbucks continued both opening and closing stores in the US, ultimately posting a very modest net store opening number of plus 50 in the US. Operationally, they are working on more curbside, closing more central business district stores, while working in new ovens and hand-held devices. Johnson also spoke to the company losing both its Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officers in January, reporting that the positions are being filled internally.