Starbucks reportedly exploring shocking takeover of beloved burrito chain

NewsStarbucks has kicked around the idea of acquiring Chipotle. Courtesy StarbucksBy Brandon Champion | bchampio@mlive.comStarbucks has reportedly assembled a team at advisors to explore the possible takeover of Chipotle. According to a surprising report from the Financial Times on Friday, the Seattle-based coffee giant has kicked around the idea via “early-stage plans,” but nothing is imminent. The Times added that the deal “might never get off the ground.” “As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on rumors and speculation,” Starbucks said in a statement. “Our team is laser-focused on executing our ‘Back to Starbucks’ strategy. We have strong momentum and confidence in our long-term growth potential. We look forward to sharing our Q4 results, including FY27 guidance, later this month.”If the enormous merger did happen, it would be the biggest restaurant deal ever, topping Burger King’s $11.4 billion purchase of Tim Hortons in 2014. Together, the two companies operate thousands of restaurants across the globe and had almost $50 billion in sales last year. Additionally, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol ran Chipotle for about six years before joining the coffee chain in 2024, but industry experts have expressed skepticism that a deal between the two massive companies would work. “Doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense to me at all, at all. Like zero sense. Like zero, zero sense. This is not going to happen,” said Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi. “Coffee. Chipotle chicken. There’s no synergy. Companies have to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. These businesses aren’t complimentary. Not even close.” Logan Reich, analyst with RBC, told Nation’s Restaurant News that the “strategic rationale for [Starbucks] acquiring [Chipotle] isn’t apparent to us given limited overlap between the businesses.”Starbuck’s, which once seemed an invincible force due to America’s coffee obsession, has faced a significant multi-year slump marked by declining sales, falling profits, and leadership turnover. A focused turnaround effort is underway including efforts to retrofit its North American coffeehouses to make them cozier and more inviting, but the chain closed 250 stores across North America in September. Brandon Champion is a National Trending Reporter for Advance Local based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Focused on restaurants, food and retail as well as the outdoors including hunting, fishing and national parks....