Starbucks has appointed Andrew Corner as its new senior vice president of supply chain operations, bringing in an experienced supply chain executive from Nike and Burberry as the coffee giant continues efforts to modernize its operations.
Corner officially took on the role on Aug. 24, Starbucks confirmed to Supply Chain Dive.
In his new position, Corner will be responsible for helping transform Starbucks’ supply chain, with a particular focus on improving overall network efficiency and strengthening the experience of the company’s coffeehouse partners, according to a Starbucks spokesperson.
Corner joins Starbucks after more than nine years at Nike, where he held a series of supply chain leadership positions, according to his LinkedIn profile. Most recently, he served as vice president of global supply chain and planning operations.
His previous positions at Nike included vice president of global supply chain innovation, senior director of digital supply chain for North America, and senior director of transportation and customs and procurement for the EMEA region.
Before moving to Nike, Corner spent five years at Burberry. His responsibilities there included serving as vice president of supply chain for the Americas and senior manager of global contracts and logistics.
Starbucks pushes to modernize its supply chain
Corner arrives as Starbucks continues to explore new ways of improving its supply chain, particularly through technology and more efficient inventory management.
The company has been testing new approaches to inventory optimization as part of a broader effort to improve product availability and operational performance. During Starbucks’ third-quarter earnings call, CEO Brian Niccol said technology, including inventory ordering systems, would play a critical role in the company’s strategy going forward.
Starbucks is currently testing a 24-hour operating model designed to improve speed, availability and reliability throughout its supply chain operations. The ultimate objective, Niccol told analysts, is to make sure the company is “never out of stock.”
The company’s recent efforts, however, have also highlighted the challenges involved in modernizing inventory operations.
Last year, Starbucks introduced an artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to help employees monitor in-store inventory more effectively. The computer-vision inventory system was ultimately discontinued nine months after its rollout after employees described the technology as “unreliable.”
Starbucks is now seeking to establish a single process for all inventory counts, with the aim of improving consistency and accuracy.
Against this backdrop, Corner’s experience across global supply chain operations, digital transformation, transportation, procurement and planning at Nike and Burberry comes as Starbucks continues to reshape the way its supply network operates.
