The majority of the stores that will close are fairly new, 70 percent have opened since the start of the 2006 fiscal year.

The "underperforming" stores were identified through a company review and the company now expects to open fewer than 200 stores in 2009.

Starbucks is hoping the move will boost its earnings by $100 million next year.

It also said it will try to move workers from closing stores to other shops.

---