Starbucks plans to cut around 900 jobs and close about 1% of its locations in the U.S. and North America as it continues to shore up the company’s operations with its Back to Starbucks transformation strategy.

The specialty coffee chain will close specific locations "where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance," CEO Brian Niccol said in a memo sent to employees and posted on the Starbucks blog on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Employees at those locations will be notifed this week and will be eligible for transfer to nearby locations, he said. The job cuts targeting 900 positions will focus on non-retail partner roles, which will allow Starbucks to add more "green apron partner" employees in its

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