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☆ California briefly used batteries as its biggest source of power twice in the last week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

California hit a record last week as battery storage became the biggest power provider in the state. AdvertisementBatteries briefly became the biggest source of power in California twice in the past week. In that instance, which broke Tuesday's record, batteries reached a peak output of 6,458 megawatts. By connecting huge, rechargeable batteries to power grids, power utilities can store energy generated during the day by solar panels and wind turbines. California isn't the only state where battery storage is growing quickly.

Persons: — Organizations: Batteries, Service, Business Locations: California, Golden, GridStatus.io, Texas

☆ From McDonald's to Chipotle, here are the restaurants that have decided to raise menu prices in California
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some restaurant chains and franchisees have increased prices in California to cover a new pay law there. Restaurants from Starbucks to Chipotle have marked up menu prices since the law took effect on April 1. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But restaurant owners, eager to protect profits, have raised the menu prices that consumers pay to help offset the cost. Often, fast-food joints are operated by franchisees — business owners who run a small group of stores and pay a company like McDonald's for the right to do so.

Persons: — Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: California

☆ Gig workers are fed up with being treated as second-class citizens by store workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Employees at supermarkets and Walmart stores often ignore gig workers — or berate them. Several gig workers that BI spoke with said that cooperating — or fighting — with store workers is a regular part of their job as independent contractors. AdvertisementFor Spark workers who go into a Walmart store, things can be even worse — ironic, some say, given Spark is owned and operated by Walmart. Conflict between gig workers and store employees isn't new. AdvertisementAnd store employees aren't the only ones giving gig workers a hard time.

Persons: —, who've, I'm, it's, they've, Instacart Organizations: Walmart, Service, Spark, Business, Shoppers Locations: California, It's, Portland , Oregon, Montana, Illinois

☆ Amazon had a secret operation to gather intel on rivals like Walmart and FedEx, reportedly called Big River
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Big River sold items like t-shirts, shoes, and beach chairs on competitors' platforms. Its goal was to get information from rivals that Amazon could then use to inform its own business decisions, according to the Journal. Executives viewed printed copies of the Big River team's reports and weren't allowed to keep them, though they were allowed to take notes, the Journal reported. "Benchmarking is a common practice in business," an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider, using an industry term for comparing itself to rivals. Big River also developed its own brands to sell through rivals' marketplace websites.

Persons: —, Amazon's, weren't, Shopify Organizations: Service, Walmart, eBay, River Services, Wall Street, Business, Amazon, FedEx, Big Locations: India

☆ Americans are obsessed with Amazon Prime, and it shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon Prime had 180 million members in March, according to new data. AdvertisementNow more than ever, you're more likely than not to be an Amazon Prime member. It also brings the share of US consumers who have Prime to 75%, per the report. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Amazon, Bloomberg Businessweek, Service, Bloomberg, Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Business

☆ Shoplifting's biggest enablers might be the retailers themselves
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But Walmart, Target, and other chains's own policies and practices could be worsening the problem. From conflicting policies to understaffing, retailers can make it hard for workers to prevent theft. That's because major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and others, have policies that sometimes prevent their own staff from addressing shoplifting at their stores, current and former employees told Business Insider. Among the report's recommendations for retailers: Hire enough employees at stores, and make sure they aren't constantly overworked. Do you work at Walmart, Target, or another major retailer and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Rhea Gordon, Gordon, Lululemon, Calvin McDonald, Santino Burrola, Thea Sebastian, Hanna Love, Sebastian, Love, everything's Organizations: Walmart, Target, Service, Business, BI, CNBC, company's, Futures Institute, Brookings Locations: North Carolina, Colorado, California, Montana

☆ Instacart, DoorDash, and other apps appear to be trying to roll back Seattle's new laws for gig workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Instacart, DoorDash, and other apps seem to be trying to roll back Seattle's new gig worker pay law. They say Seattle gig workers are making less and delivering fewer orders after many raised prices. But in the preamble to the survey, Instacart indicated it already had thoughts about how things were going. One poster, who included screenshots of the message, encouraged other Instacart shoppers to turn the pre-written letter to the city council around. Uber Eats and Grubhub have also put out statements saying that things have gotten worse for their gig workers since Seattle's law took effect.

Persons: —, Instacart, they've, That's, PayUp, DoorDash, Dashers, Anna Powell, GeekWire, Powell Organizations: Service, Seattle City Council, Business, Instacart, BI, Walmart Locations: Seattle, Seattle's, DoorDash

☆ Some Walmart Spark drivers are getting hundreds of dollars in tips they never received due to the retailer's buggy system
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSome drivers for Walmart's Spark delivery service are now getting hundreds of dollars in tips that they were owed after the retailer fixed a glitch. Some Spark drivers got an email informing them of the payment on Tuesday, according to emails seen by Business Insider. Related storiesOne driver posted a screenshot of a $179.77 adjustment payment on Tuesday to Spark Driver Community, a Facebook group for Spark drivers with just over 30,000 members. AdvertisementTips have long been a contentious topic for Walmart's Spark drivers. Do you work for Walmart Spark, DoorDash, Instacart, or another gig delivery service and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, wouldn't, Adrian Youngblood Organizations: Service, Business, Walmart, Driver, BI Locations: Ohio

☆ People are getting taxed for gig work they've never done
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It claimed that his wife, Kelly, hadn't paid about $10,000 in taxes on income from her work on DoorDash. None of them referenced Gardner's actual Social Security number, though all included the last four digits of other people's Social Security numbers. The hack gave the attackers access to Social Security numbers and other personal information about the drivers, the retailer said. Gardner, who had previously used DoorDash as a customer, said she ultimately ignored the 1099s she received. Do you work for DoorDash, Instacart, Walmart Spark, or another gig delivery service and have a story idea?

Persons: —, Brandon Emerson, Kelly, hadn't, DoorDash, Brandon, She's, @Uber I've, Michael M Organizations: Service, Business, Social, Uber Locations: Rochester , New York

☆ 10 popular McDonald's menu items that cost up to 168% more now than a decade ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Collectively, the cost of a group of the most popular McDonald's items has doubled in that time. FinanceBuzzAmong the biggest McDonald's price hikes was for the McDouble sandwich, which went from an average price of $1.19 in 2014 to $3.19 in 2024 — a 168% increase. McDonald's has increased prices multiple times over the past decade. Executives acknowledged in February that McDonald's price increases had put off customers who made $45,000 a year or below. The fried-chicken chain Popeyes increased prices by 86%, while Taco Bell hiked them by 81%, the study found.

Persons: McDonald's, Price, —, FinanceBuzz, Burger, Taco Bell, Daniel Roccato Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Mac, Burger King, Business, Taco, University of San, Knauss School of Business Locations: McDonald's

☆ Dollar stores are supposed to do well regardless of the economy. Turns out, that's not true.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But recent earnings for Dollar General and Dollar Tree show both companies have hit rough patches. But four years later, Dollar General — and Dollar Tree, its main rival — are seeing a slowdown. AdvertisementAnd rival Dollar Tree is closing 1,000 Family Dollar stores after spending nearly a decade trying to integrate the chain into its business. Messy stores and understaffing have caught up to Dollar General and Dollar Tree. Do you work at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Todd Vasos, Vasos, Robert Ohmes, It's, Michael Lasser Organizations: Dollar, Service, Shoppers, Bank of America, Business, UBS Locations: Minnesota

☆ You can now get Ozempic at Costco — but don't expect big savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Costco is now selling the weight loss drug Ozempic through a partnership with health startup Sesame. Still, that doesn't cover the cost of the GLP-1 drug, which has gained popularity but can be costly. Now, you can get a prescription for the weight loss drug Ozempic through the retailer, too. For $179, members can get a prescription for the GLP-1 weight loss drug plus a meeting with a doctor or specialist. Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity among people trying to lose weight over the last few years.

Persons: —, Michael DiLorenzo, DiLorenzo, Sesame, weren't, Michael Botta Organizations: Costco, Service, CNN, Business, Sesame, Novo Nordisk Locations: Denmark

☆ The great myth about dollar stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Persons: —, Todd Vasos, Vasos, Robert Ohmes, It's, Michael Lasser Organizations: Dollar, Service, Shoppers, Bank of America, Business, UBS Locations: Minnesota

☆ Amazon's Just Walk Out technology relies on hundreds of workers in India watching you shop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAmazon's Just Walk Out technology had a secret ingredient: Roughly 1,000 workers in India who review what you pick up, set down, and walk out of its stores with. But Just Walk Out was still very reliant on humans, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed person who has worked on Just Walk Out technology. The revelation comes as Amazon is planning to replace Just Walk Out at Amazon Fresh stores with its Dash Carts, The Information reported. Twenty-seven of the 44 Amazon Fresh stores currently have the tech. Do you work for Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods and have a story idea to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon's, Amazon, Fresh, Foods, Aldi, Dollar Locations: India

☆ GOP politicians like Ron DeSantis are trying to ban lab-grown meat, comparing it to bugs and claiming threats to ranches
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The bills say that lab-grown meat threatens existing industries, such as cattle ranching. Ron DeSantis has expressed opposition to lab-grown meat. Some of the legislation says that lab-grown meat — also known as cultured meat — threatens states' current agricultural economies. If passed, the legislation would create a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for selling or producing lab-grown meat in Arizona. AdvertisementFor years, lab-grown meat startups have been promising meat without the need to slaughter animals.

Persons: —, Ron DeSantis, it's, DeSantis, Bud Hulsey, Bill Gates, Gates, Jeff Bezos — Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Times, Business, Times ., Foods Locations: Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, San Francisco

☆ I got deactivated from the Walmart Spark app after I got in a car accident. I wasn't even working when it happened.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Business Insider has verified Youngblood's identity and former work for Spark. That's when I got a "pre-adverse action" email from Spark, which had found out after running a background check. If you're going to deactivate somebody, you need to say what the grounds are. If I was delivering for Spark and I caused an accident, I would not fight it at all. Walmart doesn't insure me or my car or anything, so they can't claim that I'm going to cost them more going forward.

Persons: —, Adrian Youngblood, Walmart's, I've, that's Organizations: Service, Business, Walmart Locations: an Ohio

☆ Big changes could be coming to the way we pay for things
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're examining how a change in credit cards' behind-the-scenes fees impacts you… and your points . Under the settlement, merchants could charge customers more for using different cards despite being part of the same Visa or Mastercard network. AdvertisementTim Boyle/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BIThe agreement could ultimately reshape how consumers pay for things. AdvertisementPerhaps that's why one analyst told Business Insider's Alex Bitter he doesn't expect major retailers to pass swipe fees along to customers. But maybe, not unlike the fees the agreement targets, what seems small could eventually add up to something big.

Persons: —, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Insider's Grace Eliza Goodwin, Tim Boyle, David Morris, Alex Bitter, LUDOVIC MARIN, BlackRock's Larry Fink, Jeremy Grantham, Ian Shepherdson, That'll, We've, Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook execs, Francis Key Scott, Hunter Biden, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, George Glover Organizations: Service, Nickelodeon, Business, Mastercard, Visa, Getty, Fed, Amazon, BI Locations: Europe, LUDOVIC, Baltimore, Port, New York, London

☆ Credit-card points might be entering a new era
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Visa and Mastercard settled a dispute with US retailers over credit-card swipe fees. AdvertisementOne of the great American pastimes — using your credit card to accumulate points — could be about to change. On Tuesday, Visa and Mastercard settled with US retailers over a longstanding dispute tied to credit-card swipe fees. But the points game can be one of fine margins, and a change to interchange fees could have ripple effects for rewards programs. Don't be surprised if it starts taking a lot longer to rack up the points required for your next getaway.

Persons: Banks, —, they'd, David Morris, Morris, David Silverman Organizations: Visa, Mastercard, Service, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Bloomberg, Chase, National Retail Federation, Retail Industry, Association, Credit, Fitch Locations: bodega, It's, eMarketer

☆ Why we don't actually know whether retail theft is a big problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But a new report suggests we don't know whether organized retail crime is a big problem or not. "Organized retail crime," "retail theft," and similar terms don't correspond with categories that local police departments use to categorize crimes, Hanna Love, a fellow at Brookings, told Business Insider. It's unclear what makes organized retail crime "different than, say, other instances of shoplifting" from a data perspective, Love said. The NRF has said that it took back the estimate due to an error by an outside analyst who contributed to its report on organized retail crime. About fourteen states passed new laws on retail theft in 2022 and 2023, Stateline reported in December.

Persons: —, Hanna Love, Love, James Kehoe, William Blair, Target's, it's, Sebastian, Stateline Organizations: Walmart, Walgreens, Service, Target, National Retail Federation, Brookings Institution, Brookings, Retail, The New York Times Locations: States, Brookings, San Francisco, Indiana, Fairfax , Virginia

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Now, he's trying to turn the company around by stepping up for a second stint at its helm. The sportswear brand said March 13 that Plank will take over its CEO role again more than four years after he left the position. The company has also struggled to define itself against competitors — most notably Nike.

Persons: Armour, —, Kevin Plank, Plank, Stephanie Linnartz, Armour wasn't Organizations: Service, Nike, Armour

☆ Frankenstein restaurants like a Taco Bell-Pizza Hut combo are popping up everywhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementIn 2008, Hip Hop trio Das Racist caught the attention of the internet with their song "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." Its most recent dual-branded restaurant opening was in Leon, Mexico, and the company is contemplating opening more in the US, CEO John Peyton said. The 2002 annual report for Yum Brands, the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, among other restaurant chains, lays out why the much-memed combination Taco Bell-Pizza Hut existed in the first place. In the past, some restaurant brands have put together brands that don't complement each other, said Rob Seely, associate vice president of operations, strategy, and design at WD Partners, which advises restaurant brands. Do you work at a major restaurant like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, or Taco Bell and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Bell, It's, John Peyton, Dine, Payton, Peyton, Das, Taco Bell, David Novak, Novak, Yum, Frankenrestaurants, hasn't, Long John Silver, John Silver, Long John Silver's, Rob Seely, Seely, Taco Organizations: Service, Dine Brands, Yum Brands, KFC, Bell, Brands, Darden, Business, WD Partners, Taco Bell Locations: Leon , Mexico, Applebee's, IHOP, Pizza, Taco, Kentucky

☆ A viral TikTok is igniting a debate over data centers taking over Virginia's countryside
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But a viral TikTok shows that some people aren't happy about what the giant structures are replacing in Northern Virginia. Related storiesOthers pointed out the irony of posting about the issue on a social media platform powered by data centers. Data centers are popping up thanks to billions of dollars of investment and the AI boom. In Loudon County, roughly a 45-minute drive from DC, some residents say they can hear a constant hum from all the data centers in the area. AdvertisementDo you live or work in Northern Virginia or another part of the US where data centers have altered life?

Persons: —, @claireecowles, suara, commenter, they're Organizations: Service, Business, Northern, Northern Virginia Technology Locations: Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, Washington, Virginia, NoVa, Loudon County

☆ Frankenstein restaurants are popping up everywhere, but they aren't actually that successful
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementIn 2008, Hip Hop trio Das Racist caught the attention of the internet with their song "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." Its most recent dual-branded restaurant opening was in Leon, Mexico, and the company is contemplating opening more in the US, CEO John Peyton said. Related storiesSo Yum turned to Frankenrestaurants — like the combination Pizza Hut-Taco Bell — to offer a wider variety of options under one roof. Major restaurant brands also frequently change ownership, making it hard to decouple multi-branded locations if a company decides to sell one. In the past, some restaurant brands have put together brands that don't complement each other, said Rob Seely, associate vice president of operations, strategy, and design at WD Partners, which advises restaurant brands.

☆ Ben & Jerry’s is set to be spun off from Unilever. Here’s how the company’s founding duo built an ice cream empire from an old gas station.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Joey Hadden | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Unilever said Tuesday that it will spin off its ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's. It's the latest change for Ben & Jerry's, which was founded by two childhood friends from Long Island. Here's the story of Ben & Jerry's, from a gas station in Vermont to global distribution. While many companies keep away from social issues, Ben & Jerry's has made weighing in part of its strategy. Now, Unilever is reportedly planning to spin off Ben & Jerry's, plus other ice cream brands, such as Magnum.

Persons: Jerry's, Ben, —, George Floyd, Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield Organizations: Unilever, Ben, Service Locations: Long, Vermont

☆ I Went to Aldi and Saw Why the Discount Grocer Is Booming in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

German grocer Aldi is planning to add hundreds of stores to the thousands it already has in the US. The chain focuses on keeping costs and prices low, making it popular as food remains pricey. I visited an Aldi store to see why the supermarket brand is expanding so fast. Now, Aldi is planning to open 800 more locations over the next four years, bringing its store count in America to 3,200. AdvertisementI decided to head to an Aldi store in Maryland, near Washington, DC, to see what it's like to shop at the fast-growing supermarket.

Persons: —, Aldi didn't Organizations: Aldi, Service Locations: America, Maryland, Washington

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