Starbucks has hired Gist to drastically overhaul its supply chain operations.

Rather than visit each of Starbuck's 720 coffee shops, suppliers will deliver into one of six Gist facilities from 8 August. This will allow the number of deliveries to each store to be slashed from an average of 16 per week to one a day.

Gist would also try to deliver to store storage areas overnight instead of in busy trading periods, said CEO Martin Gwynn.

The deal was expected to reduce Starbucks' distribution costs by 20% to 25%, he added.