# Starbucks Ruled Out Chipotle Buy

> Starbucks denies plans to acquire Chipotle, urging small businesses to rethink strategies.
- Title: Starbucks Ruled Out Chipotle Buy · Inc | Shortify
- Summary: Starbucks denies plans to acquire Chipotle, urging small businesses to rethink strategies. Starbucks has ruled out buying Chipotle, highlighting the need for…
- Keywords: starbucks, chipotle, small business owners, pricing strategy, turnaround, back to starbucks, Ruled, Buy, Inc
- Source: Inc — https://inc.com/david-finkel/starbucks-just-ruled-out-buying-chipotle-small-business-owners-should-take-notice/91422092
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: starbucks, chipotle, small business owners, pricing strategy, turnaround, back to starbucks
## Starbucks and Chipotle Deal
Starbucks explored a $39 billion takeover of Chipotle, which would have reunited CEO Brian Niccol with the chain he ran for six years.
## Starbucks Spokesperson Statement
Four days later, Starbucks told FOXBusiness it is not buying Chipotle and is focused on its Back to Starbucks strategy.
## Starbucks Turnaround
Under CEO Brian Niccol, Starbucks has posted four straight quarters of comparable sales growth and aims to improve customer experience.
## Small Business Challenge
Small business owners face the same temptation when sales stall: they reach for big changes like price cuts or acquisitions to avoid addressing customer value.
## Pricing Misconception
Owners who think they have a pricing problem often lose clients after raising prices, but customers may not understand the value they receive.
## Customer Value Focus
The key to turnaround is ensuring customers see the value they get when they walk into a store, without complex financial engineering.
## Small Business Takeaway
Small business owners should address customer value before making big changes like price cuts or acquisitions.
## Starbucks Strategy
Starbucks is focusing on improving customer experience through staffing, shorter waits, and the coffeehouse feel that helped build its brand.
## Key takeaway

Starbucks has ruled out buying Chipotle, highlighting the need for small business owners to address pricing and customer value issues when sales stall.