Starbucks is scaling back discounts and promotions [Video]

NEW YORK — Expect to see fewer promotions at Starbucks.

The coffee chain is scaling back promotional offers through its mobile app to get customers to pay full price for its coffees and teas, the Wall Street Journal first reported Monday and confirmed by CNN. The move is part of new CEO Brian Niccol’s strategy to reposition Starbucks as a premium brand while also reducing the strain on employees, who get flooded with work when promotions are high.

The company in September offered extra loyalty points on Tuesdays and deals on several drink purchases on Saturdays. This was a shift from deeper discounts that spanned many months earlier this year, like “buy one, get one free” and 50% off.

Starbucks also isn’t planning to run broad offers during the holiday season, and instead aims to promote seasonal drinks through advertising, the Journal noted.

In the past, Starbucks had mostly avoided coffee promotions but ramped them up earlier this year to …