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☆ Amazon, Starbucks show how jittery US customers are about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said the coffee chain's customers were growing more cautious. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementUS consumers are becoming more prudent with their spending, executives at Amazon and Starbucks said on Tuesday. "A challenging macro environment including rising interest rates and elevated costs continues to create volatile consumer confidence levels and put pressure on consumer spending," Borden said then. Representatives for Amazon and Starbucks didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Brian Olsavsky, Laxman Narasimhan, —, Olsavsky, Narasimhan, Ian Borden, Borden Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Amazon, Bank of America, BI

☆ Chain restaurants like Chili's are coming for fast-food giants in the latest bout of the value wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

As fast-food prices increase, customers are finding more value in chain restaurants. Chains like Chili's are rolling out deals and portion sizes that could best fast-food chains. Chili's new Big Smasher burger is the latest offensive move in the value wars. The Big Smasher burger, Chili's newest menu item, was served in the company's test kitchen before its official launch on April 29. And if the sheer size and taste of the Chili's burger are anything to go by, it has a shot at beating fast-food chains in the value wars.

Persons: —, margarita, It's, Applebee's, John Peyton, Cate Gillon, Ian Borden, Scott Rodrick, Chris Kempczinski, Borden, McDonald's, Erin McDowell, We've, we've, Brian Paquette, Paquette, Big, Chili's, Richard Levine, Corbis, Felix Organizations: Service, Dallas, Mac, Business, Dine, Restaurant, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, CNN, CBS News, Getty, Bloomberg Locations: New York, New York City, California, , New York

☆ Red Lobster, home of the endless shrimp, mulls bankruptcy after spoiling its customers with all-you-can-eat lobster: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It may be the end of the line for the seafood chain Red Lobster, per Bloomberg. AdvertisementSeafood chain Red Lobster is considering filing for bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. According to the outlet, Red Lobster is being advised by the law firm King & Spalding. Red Lobster and King & Spalding did not respond to Bloomberg's requests for comment. Representatives for Red Lobster and King & Spalding did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: —, Spalding, Red Lobster's, Ludovic Garnier, servings, Ian Borden, Borden Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, King, Spalding, Thai Union Group —, Golden Corral, Business Insider Locations: Maine

☆ Krispy Kreme doughnuts are coming to McDonald’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Three types of Krispy Kreme donuts — original glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles and chocolate iced “kreme” filled — will go on sale at McDonald’s restaurants starting later this year, the companies told CNN on Monday. Krispy Kreme is giving away a free glazed doughnut to guests who visit a Krispy Kreme location between 5 and 9 pm on Tuesday to celebrate the partnership. The addition of a Krispy Kreme donut to the McDonald’s customer’s breakfast order began as a test at 160 restaurants in Kentucky. But customers can buy Krispy Kreme doughnuts in other places, such as Walmart and other grocery stores. “By making Kreme Krispy accessible to fans nationwide through this partnership, we expect to more than double our points of access by the end of 2026,” said Krispy Kreme President and CEO Josh Charlesworth in a statement.

Persons: It’s, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Ian Borden, Chris Kempczinski, ”, Krispy, Josh Charlesworth Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Walmart Locations: New York, Cinnabon, Kentucky

☆ McDonald's says customers don't want premium burgers — they want bigger ones instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

McDonald's customers want bigger burgers instead of luxury ones, CFO Ian Borden said. McDonald's spent years trialing premium burgers. AdvertisementMcDonald's says its customers want bigger burgers, not premium ones. For years, McDonald's tried to target customers with offers of premium burgers, CFO Ian Borden told analysts at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Wednesday. Instead, there's a "significant" opportunity for "a large, more satiating-type burger" across McDonald's large markets, Borden said.

Persons: Ian Borden, McDonald's, —, Borden Organizations: Service, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, Business

☆ McDonald's says cash-strapped diners are choosing to eat at home more often
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Because of this, McDonald's said it will focus on value bundles and app offers. AdvertisementMore low-income consumers are choosing to eat at home instead of dining out after years of fast-food price hikes, McDonald's CFO says. Ian Borden told analysts at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Wednesday that lower-income consumers "are just choosing to eat at home more often." Like other fast-food chains, McDonald's increased menu prices significantly during the pandemic amid soaring wage and commodity inflation. McDonald's will focus on value bundles and app offersMcDonald's fries.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Ian Borden, it's, Borden, Erin McDowell Organizations: Service, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Germany

☆ McDonald’s prices are up, so lower-income consumers are eating at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“It’s a challenging consumer environment,” said Ian Borden, McDonald’s CFO, noting that many consumers are trying to manage inflation, higher interest rates and dwindling savings. That includes their spending on food at restaurants such as McDonald’s, fast-food restaurants that historically prize value and affordability as core business values. According to February inflation data in the Consumer Price Index, food at home prices grew 1% year over year, while restaurant prices rose 4.5% over the last year. But the current surge in restaurant prices has flipped the script from a year ago, when it was cheaper to dine out. At that time, restaurant prices were up 8.4% and grocery prices were up 10.2% year over year.

Persons: “, ”, Ian Borden, ” Borden, Borden, McDonald’s, Dollar Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumers, Company, Dollar General, Walmart Locations: New York, United States

☆ Microsoft CVP discusses AI and partnership with FWD group
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAI offers 'powerful tools' for banking, financial services and insurance industry: Microsoft CVPBill Borden, corporate vice president of worldwide financial services at Microsoft, explains its partnership with Hong Kong insurance company FWD Group and how artificial intelligence can be used in the industry.

Persons: Bill Borden Organizations: Microsoft, Group Locations: Hong Kong

☆ Diners are getting annoyed at how expensive fast food has become — and the likes of McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Shake Shack seem to be listening
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementChains like McDonald's, Shake Shack, and Taco Bell say they're only planning small price increases in 2024 as inflation cools. But in the year to January 2024, prices at limited-service restaurants rose just 5.8%, per BLS data. Martin Jennings, a 51-year-old truck driver from Florida, told Business Insider that his family was being deterred by higher prices at fast-food chains. Customers are looking for app deals and choosing value menusCustomers are looking for ways to get cheaper meals at fast-food chains. Chipotle said it's eyeing a price increase in the mid-single digits, depending on consumer sentiment and actions taken by other fast-food chains.

Persons: —, Taco Bell, Martin Jennings, Ben Heyworth, Burger King, McDonald's, Ian Borden, Jennings, David Gibbs, Kempczinski, Gunther Plosch, Chipotle, it's, Katie Fogertey Organizations: Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Shack, Taco, Brands Locations: Florida, Orlando, Burger, Taco Bell, California, America

☆ McDonald's says its price hikes are putting off some customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementMcDonald's keeps putting up menu prices — and it's putting off some diners. McDonald's had said at its earnings call in October that its price increases largely hadn't put customers off. But as inflation cools, customers should expect less dramatic price hikes this year, Borden said, adding that franchisees set their own prices. "Where you see the pressure with the US consumer is that low-income consumer," Kempczinski said. Advertisement"The battleground is certainly with that low-income consumer," Kempczinski said.

Persons: McDonald's, Execs, —, Ian Borden, Chris Kempczinski, Borden, Kempczinski Organizations: Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics

☆ McDonald's says its chicken options are now just as popular as beef
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McDonald's makes as much money from chicken products as from beef burgers, its CEO said Monday. McDonald's told investors in December that it planned to offer the McCrispy in almost all its markets globally by the end of 2025. We've also added smoked chicken wings, and that was a direct response to Gen Z." Taco Bell's former CEO Mark King told Bloomberg that its Gen Z customers were increasingly opting for chicken over beef. Wendy's told BI that its Spicy Chicken Nuggets were especially popular among Gen Zers.

Persons: McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, —, Ian Borden, Kempczinski, McSpicy, Chick, Laura Dickey, we've, hasn't, We've, Gen, Taco, Mark King, Wendy's, Zers Organizations: Service, KFC, Gen, Bloomberg, Morning Locations: Singapore

☆ The world is turning on American fast food, from McDonald's to Starbucks, amid Middle East unrest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. "The most pronounced impact that we're seeing is in the Middle East and in Muslim countries like Indonesia and Malaysia," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on McDonald's earnings call on Monday. Sales in countries with significant Muslim minority populations, such as France, were also affected by the boycotts, Kempczinski said. McDonald's said it gave the Israel Defense Forces "tens of thousands" of free meals in the days after the conflict began. Advertisement"We do not expect to see meaningful improvement until there is a resolution in the Middle East," McDonald's CFO Ian Borden said during the call.

Persons: —, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, McDonald's, Israel —, Domino's, Ian Borden Organizations: Service, McDonald's, Reuters, Business, Israel, Starbucks, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Israel

☆ We called our son by his middle name so that he wouldn't be teased. But he came to love his unusual first name.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Elise Seyfried | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

We gave my son an unusual first name and a common second name. After that experience, I swore I would never saddle my own kids with unusual names. He was called Alex by everyone for many years. When he returned home, he announced that he would rather not be called Alex anymore. He has fully embraced his first name for more than 20 years now, and we tend to forget he was ever called Alex.

Persons: Alex, Sheridan, —, Elise McBride, Elise, Elsie . Alas, Borden, Elsie, Sheridan —, we'd, Alexander, Sheridan Seyfried, Alex didn't, Alex Sheridan Organizations: Service, Irish Locations: Europe

☆ Domino's pizza is the latest American product facing backlash in Asia amid the Middle East turmoil, exec says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewDomino's Pizza is the latest American brand to face blowback as some consumers change their buying habits in light of Israel's invasion of Gaza. Domino's Pizza Enterprises, a franchisee of the US company that operates Domino's restaurants in Australia, Europe, and Asia, said same-store sales in Asia fell an estimated 8.9% in the second half of 2023. Domino's Pizza Enterprises also operates in countries including Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. Spokespeople for Domino's Pizza Enterprises and Procter & Gamble did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for additional comment. In an investor presentation last month, Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher said that some of its brands in Indonesia have been affected by "the wars in the Middle East."

Persons: —, America —, Donald Meij, Domino's, Gamble, McDonald's hasn't, Ian Borden, Borden, Hein Schumacher Organizations: Service, Business, Pizza Enterprises, Enterprises, Palestine, CNN, Israel, Procter & Gamble, Bloomberg, Starbucks, Domino's Pizza Enterprises, Procter, Reuters, Unilever Locations: Gaza, Australia, Europe, Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, pushback, Egypt, Jordan, London

☆ The Longer This Cake Soaks, the Better It Is
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ligaya Mishan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Sometimes those neighbors find an unexpected connection, like a love of condensed milk: milk boiled down until it’s thick enough to cling to the spoon, with sugar added to make it last longer. Yoo first tasted the cake in elementary school in Queens, on a day students were asked to bring in a dish from their heritage. He tried different brands of Thai tea and decided that a minimalist version, with just tea, vanilla and food coloring, would be best. Yoo goes so far as to leave the cake in the refrigerator for two nights, flipping it in between. The cake is finished with whipped cream, coconut flakes toasted near gold and lime zest with its bright sting.

Persons: Yoo, ”, they’re, Gail Borden, Rachel Laudan, Nestlé, It’s Organizations: Shaker Locations: New Yorker, America, American, New York, Queens, Mexico, Nicaragua, England

☆ Fast food isn't cheap anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

McDonald's menu prices are up about 10% this year. AdvertisementInflation may be slowing, but when it comes to skyrocketing fast-food prices, the damage is done — and there's no turning back. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that fast-food prices in October jumped 6.2% over the past 12 months. Nancy Luna/Business InsiderMore price hikes are on the horizonChipotle recently raised menu prices by 3% in October. Some are fuming over skyrocketing fast-food prices and expressing their concern on social-media platforms such as TikTok and Reddit .

Persons: That's, Chipotle, —, Tim Powell, Mark Kalinowski, Nancy Luna, McDonald's, Kalinowski, Chris Kempczinski, @xconmedia, Ian Borden, Borden Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Labor Statistics Locations: QSRs, California, Orange , California, Connecticut

☆ 5 tips to improve overall fitness, according to celebrity trainers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Dana Santas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

To dispel the myths and provide practical advice anyone can use, I tapped five of my celebrity trainer friends to help share tips we wish everyone knew to improve their overall fitness. That means less consistent schedules with more vacations, parties and dinners out — more of everything that can sabotage fitness without daily discipline. Courtesy Dana SantasAn easy way to add nonnegotiable daily wellness habits consistently to your lifestyle is by stacking fitness habits with other essential daily chores or hygiene. Recovery is just as important as trainingToo many exercise devotees experience overtraining syndrome, wondering why they aren’t improving their fitness. Using these tips, everyone can approach fitness like a celebrity, which is to say — like a human being navigating the demands of a full life.

Persons: Dana Santas, that’s, it’s, Don Saladino, Ryan Reynolds, Anne Hathaway, Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan, ”, Jen Widerstrom, Scott Hubbard, Widerstrom, Brian Nguyen, Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson, “, Nguyen, Ashley Borden, Khloe Kardashian, ” Borden, Rudy Reyes, Reyes Organizations: Pain, CNN, physiques, Hollywood, ”, Arena Football, Los Angeles, Forces, US Marine Corps, CNN’s Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Taco Bell is gaining ground as people look to save on food
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Taco Bell hasn't been hurt by customers trading down. Bing Guan/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesAt Taco Bell, customers can buy a combo meal, including a fountain drink, burrito, taco and cinnamon twists for dessert, for about $5. Taco Bell’s website shows a cheesy bean and rice burrito; spicy potato soft taco; and cheesy roll-up available for $1 each. And in the third quarter, customers didn’t only go for the cheapest items, helping keep the Taco Bell’s margins high. Taco Bell is also benefiting from people searching for less expensive food options, Gibbs said.

Persons: it’s, Taco Bell, ”, David Gibbs, Bing Guan, Gibbs, Michael Skipworth, Ian Borden, “ We’ve, Chris Kempczinski, ” Kempczinski, Denny’s, Robert Verostek Organizations: New, New York CNN, Taco Bell, Yum Brands, KFC, Taco Bell’s, Bloomberg, Getty, Bell, Bell’s, Taco Locations: New York, Bell’s, McDonald’s

☆ McDonald's isn't as cheap as it once was, and it's losing low-income customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McDonald's said it's gaining middle- and higher-income customers, who are trading down to its menu. McDonald's expects to raise menu prices by about 10% this year — on top of a 10% increase last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementMcDonald's said Monday that customers continue to count on the chain for affordable meals, even as it raises menu prices. "Providing affordable options for our customers has always been core to McDonald's' success," Borden said. But the definition of "cheap" is changing in the face of persistent inflation — and McDonald's is far from the only restaurant chain raising prices.

Persons: McDonald's, it's, —, Chris J, Kempczinski, Ian Borden, That's, Borden, Mark Kalinowski, We've Organizations: Service, Mac, XM, Black Box Intelligence Locations: Orange , California

☆ McDonald's to raise royalty fees for new franchised restaurants for first time in nearly 30 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

McDonald's franchisees who add new restaurants will soon have to pay higher royalty fees. It's the first time in nearly three decades that McDonald's is hiking its royalty fees. However, the higher rate will affect new franchisees, buyers of company-owned restaurants, relocated restaurants and other scenarios that involve the franchisor. McDonald's will also stop calling the payments "service fees," and instead use the term "royalty fees," which most franchisors favor. They pay rent, monthly royalty fees and other charges, such as annual fees toward the company's mobile app, in order to operate as part of McDonald's system.

Persons: Joe Erlinger, McDonald's, Erlinger, Ian Borden Organizations: CNBC, Kalinowski Equity Research Locations: McDonald's, California, U.S

☆ McDonald's raises royalty rates for some franchise operators
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —For the first time in about 30 years, McDonald’s is increasing its royalty fee for new franchise operators in the US and Canada. Franchises are a key part of McDonald’s business, with roughly 95% of all McDonald’s locations operated by franchise operators. Operators pay a royalty rate to use McDonald’s brand and for access to its expertise. In 2018, McDonald’s franchise operators formed their first-ever advocacy group, the National Owners Association. And while other chains struggle to bring more customers into restaurant locations, McDonald’s is reporting growth in US traffic.

Persons: ”, Justin Sullivan, Joe Erlinger, We’re, Chris Kempczinski, Ian Borden Organizations: New, New York CNN, Getty Images Company, CNN, National Owners Association Locations: New York, Canada

☆ I’m an American who moved to Sweden and was shocked the first time I saw a baby alone in a stroller
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Alyshia Hull | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The sun will sometimes set at 3 p.m.She was also surprised by the work-life balance in Sweden compared to the US. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bridget Borden, an American who moved to Sweden. Swedes can be really quietWhen I first moved to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, I was shocked by how quiet people are. It gets dark early in DecemberOne big thing that really surprised me in Sweden was how dark it gets in December. And if you have to remove your shoes, they will have a rack for you to put your shoes on.

Persons: Bridget Borden, I've, it's, Alyshia Organizations: Service, Alyshia Hull, ahull@insider.com Locations: New Jersey, Sweden, American, Wall, Silicon, Connecticut, Madrid, Spain, Stockholm

The Chicago-based fast food chain plans to eliminate self-service soda machines at its U.S. restaurants by 2032, McDonald's confirmed this week. For years, McDonald's customers have used the machines to fill and refill their beverages without additional trips to a cashier. Behind-the-counter soda machines already exist at some other fast food chains — and a handful of McDonald's locations across the country have also begun the transition. McDonald's digital sales — made up of app, delivery and kiosk purchases — accounted for almost 40% of systemwide sales for the second quarter of 2023. The price increases that have helped fuel McDonald’s sales in recent quarters will moderate as inflation comes down, Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said during July's Q2 earnings call.

Persons: McDonald's, Uber, Ian Borden Organizations: Associated Press, McDonald's, The State, Revenue Locations: Coke, Chicago, U.S, McDonald's USA, Illinois

☆ Theater to See Near N.Y.C. in September: ‘Ulysses,’ ‘The Pianist’ and More
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Laura Collins-Hughes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Here is a chance to see it live, in a McCarter Theater Center-Berkeley Repertory Theater co-production. The play was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2007, when Vogel was on the jury. James Warwick directs the world-premiere production. Directed by John Collins, the company’s artistic director, this world-premiere production instead samples chunks from each of the novel’s 18 episodes, letting them erupt in all their verbosity, vulgarity, vivacity and — it is Joyce, after all — opacity. Cross that with the trans-Atlantic success of “Six,” and you arrive at this production: a Lizzie Borden rock musical with an all-female cast.

Persons: Paula Vogel, underproduced, Davis, Vogel, Donald Margulies, ”, Karen Allen, Reed Birney, James Warwick, Ulysses ’, “, James Joyce’s, Leopold Bloom’s, John Collins, Joyce, Scott Shepherd, Wladyslaw Szpilman, Polanski, Emily Mann, Iris Hond, georgestreetplayhouse.org, Lizzie ’, Lizzie Borden, Steven Cheslik, Tim Maner, Alan Stevens Hewitt, Lainie Sakakura, twhartford.org Organizations: McCarter Theater Center, Berkeley Repertory Theater, McCarter Theater Center , Princeton, Shakespeare & Company, Service, Fisher, New Brunswick Performing Arts Center Locations: California, N.J, Lenox, Dublin, Bard, Annandale, Hudson, N.Y, Polish, Warsaw, New Brunswick Performing Arts Center , New Brunswick, TheaterWorks Hartford, Hartford, Conn

☆ McDonald's customers are ordering less and switching to value menu items to save money
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McDonald's customers are "trading down" to its value items and buying less, execs told investors. Some diners also appear to be switching to McDonald's from full-service restaurants, CEO Chris Kempczinski said. Customers are "trading down" from premium and higher-priced items to core and value items instead, CFO Ian Borden told investors on Thursday, without giving specific examples. Kempczinski told investors in April that fewer customers were ordering fries with their burgers as they cut back on spending. Some households on incomes under $100,000 also appear to be switching to McDonald's from full-service restaurants, Kempczinski said Thursday.

Persons: execs, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, Ian Borden, Borden, Neil Saunders, McDonald's, Grimace Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, McDonald's

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