Starbucks announced plans to close about 250 stores in North America as part of an effort to improve its business operations. Company leaders said the affected locations were not meeting financial goals or providing the customer experience the company wants to deliver. The closures represent about 1 percent of Starbucks locations in the region, and most are expected to take place before the end of the current fiscal year. Despite the closures, Starbucks says it still expects overall growth and plans to continue opening new stores in other markets. The company is also upgrading many existing locations and working to improve service and the in-store experience. Employees at stores that are closing may be transferred to other locations, when possible, while others could receive severance support.