Starbucks shares rose about five per cent before the bell on Wednesday as the coffee chain’s strong quarterly sales signaled CEO Brian Niccol’s turnaround plan was bearing fruit. A simplified menu and investments in store and labor operations were some of the highlights of Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” initiative.

Starbucks reported a sixth straight quarterly drop in US same-store sales on Tuesday as the company continues to grapple with an uncertain consumer environment and its CEO's turna