Starbucks said business continued to slide at cafes and its profit fell in the most recent quarter, though executives said they saw progress in their efforts to make cafes more welcoming and less hectic.

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

Niccol, credited with reviving burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, has looked to return Starbucks to its coffee house roots in the U.S. by rolling out a simpler menu, ceramic cups, refills and condiment bars. He also addressed a key concern of diners by reducing wait times at the cafes to under four minutes.