Starbucks said Friday it plans an unspecified number of layoffs as it restructures its corporate staff. In a letter to employees, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the Seattle coffee giant needs to ensure all work has a clear and accountable owner who can make decisions. The company also needs to reduce complexity and silos.

The memo notes the planned layoffs are for corporate workers and won't affect in-store employees "or the investments we are making in-store hours." Starbucks has over 3,000 stores

CEO Brian Niccol framed forthcoming job cuts as a way to increase efficiency and accountability and reduce organizational complexity.

Niccol noted steps taken in the US and Canada since he took over in September, including the return of the condiment stations, and eliminating the up-charge for alternative milk. It also set a goal to get customers their handcrafted beverage in four minutes or less, and add shifts in over 3,000 stores.

Starbucks saidit plans an unspecified number of layoffs as it restructures its corporate staff. In a letter to employees, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the Seattle coffee giant needs to ensure all work has a clear and accountable owner who can make decisions. The company also needs to reduce complexity and silos.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said Friday he expects a round of corporate layoffs will come as soon as this spring, as the company streamlines operations in an effort to turn around performance.

Shares of Starbucks ($SBUX) were in the spotlight, rising nearly 0.7% on Friday, as the coffee chain said it would undertake layoffs of an undisclosed number of employees as part of a restructuring of corporate staff,