Starbucks and its union representing over 10,000 baristas have agreed to withdraw lawsuits filed against each other, the company said, a day after the two sides agreed to bring in a mediator to help resume stalled negotiations.

In case you missed the news, Starbucks now offers free refills. Is the coffee giant refilling every drink for free? Not exactly. If you order a specialty beverage such as a latte or frappuccino, you won’t get another one on the house.

Starbucks and its union representing more than 10,000 baristas have agreed to bring in an outside mediator to help resume halted bargaining talks, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Welcome to Restaurant Business’ Week in Review for the week of January 27, 2025.

Under its new CEO, Starbucks is spending heavily to make itself a more welcoming coffeehouse with faster service.

Starbucks is cutting nearly a third of its menu. During the coffee chain’s earnings call on Tuesday, Jan. 28, CEO Brian Niccol announced a “roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food." However, the chain has yet to announce which items are getting cut.

They’ve been negotiating a template for collective bargaining agreements covering more than 500 cafes in the U.S.

Starbucks is cutting 30% of its food and beverage menu to simplify operations, reduce wait times, and improve the customer experience.

Starbucks fans can now get free refills for some drinks — but not all. The coffee chain is also bringing back its self-serve milk and sweeteners bar.

CEO Brian Niccol said that there will be a “roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food,” without saying specifically what would go away. He also didn’t say exactly when the items would go away, only that he wanted the reduction in place by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, or by June 30, USA Today reported.

Regional roasters will likely take the place of shuttered Starbucks along several of San Francisco’s most popular commercial corridors, according to the city’s retail agents. Starbucks has closed or intends to close at least six locations in different neighborhoods across San Francisco since November, a company representative confirmed.