Did Starbucks deny buying Chipotle?

Yes. A Starbucks spokesperson said the company is not buying Chipotle.

When does Starbucks report earnings?

Starbucks said it will share Q4 results and FY27 guidance later in October 2026.

Is Starbucks Buying Chipotle? Company Says No

By VSH Editorial Desk · Published October 13, 2026, 9:05 AM EDT · Last updated October 13, 2026, 9:05 AM EDT

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In brief

Starbucks said it is not buying Chipotle Mexican Grill, ending speculation that followed a Financial Times report last week. A spokesperson said the coffee chain is focused on its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan and will share fourth-quarter results and fiscal 2027 guidance later this month, CBS News reports.

Is Starbucks buying Chipotle? No. In a statement reported by CBS News and Reuters, Starbucks said its team is focused on executing the Back to Starbucks strategy and is confident in its long-term growth.

Why did people think Starbucks would buy Chipotle?

The Financial Times reported last week that Starbucks had explored a deal. Chipotle shares rose as much as 8% after the report, according to CBS News. Starbucks chief executive Brian Niccol previously ran Chipotle before leaving in August 2024.

What did analysts say?

TD Cowen analysts called a merger a low-probability outcome and expected Niccol to prioritise the Starbucks turnaround, CBS News reported. Chipotle’s market value was about $47 billion.

What is next for Starbucks?

Investors will look to the company’s fourth-quarter earnings later in October for updates on sales and its 2027 outlook.

This is not investment advice.

Coverage based on the linked reports; figures can be updated by publishers. ViralScopeHub is an independent site and is not responsible for decisions made from this summary — verify with the sources listed below.

Why it matters

The denial removes a big takeover story from two of the most-watched US restaurant stocks.

Sources

Every ViralScopeHub news item is an original summary written in our own words. We link to the original reporting so you can read the full story from the publisher.