Starbucks has reported better-than-expected sales in its fiscal first quarter as some of its turnaround efforts start to take hold

Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in September, said customer-focused changes - such as a decision to stop charging extra for non-dairy milk and a streamlining of the menu - were helping to improve service and drive store traffic.

Key Takeaways Starbucks reported fiscal first-quarter results that topped analysts’ expectations, despite sales and profit declines year-over-year.The better-than-expected results came as new CEO Brian Niccol said the company made progress toward its "Back to Starbucks" strategy.