DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Nestlé is releasing a lineup of frozen food for people on Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Nestlé, the maker of frozen food brands like Stouffer’s and DiGiorno, is slimming down with a new line of meals for people taking GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, for weight loss. However, a recent study on Wagovy significantly reduced heart risk in addition to helping with weight loss. An example of Vital Pursuit food. It also made a $100 million-plus deal to buy Sequence, a telehealth business that offers virtual prescriptions to patients for these weight loss drugs where appropriate. Food companies, like Nestlé, are also bracing for GLP-1 consumers to buy fewer sugary snacks and drinks.

Persons: New York CNN — Nestlé, It’s, Morgan, Steve Presley, Neil Saunders, Nestlé, it’s “, Saunders, ”, “ Nestlé, Sesame, WeightWatchers, ” Saunders, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, North, GlobalData, Lean, CNN, Companies, Costco, Equinox Locations: New York

☆ Target is dialing back on Pride merchandise after right-wing backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Target is limiting the number of stores that will sell LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month in June following a boycott from right-wing activists last year that took a toll on the brand’s bottom line. About half of its 2,000 stores will sell the Pride collection, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. The changes are a “sensible approach,” Neil Saunders, managing director of retail for GlobalData, told CNN. Pride problemsLast year, Target pulled Pride merchandise from some stores after the company and its employees became the focus of a “volatile” anti-LGBTQ campaign, which included threats against its store workers. A Target executive said on the earnings call that there was a “strong reaction” to Pride merchandise and the reaction was a “signal for us to pause, adapt and learn.”–CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn contributed to this report.

Persons: Target, it’s “, ” Neil Saunders, “, ”, ” –, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Pride Month, Bloomberg, CNN, Pride, Target, GlobalData, Wall Street Journal, Republican Locations: New York, Minneapolis

☆ Amazon’s cashier-less technology was supposed to revolutionize grocery shopping. It’s been a flop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But now, Amazon is walking back its “Just Walk Out” technology at its grocery stores, reining in grand promises of an automated, friction-less checkout. Customers just haven’t bought into cashier-less technology, especially in grocery stores where they purchase larger quantities and face extra tasks such as weighing produce. Customers entered Fresh stores using Amazon One palm recognition, the app or a credit or debit card. Amazon Fresh strugglesThe tech giant opened its first Amazon Fresh store in 2020, and has more than 40 locations across the US. But Amazon Fresh has faced setbacks since it debuted, including challenges getting shoppers to buy groceries in its Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and it laid off workers.

Persons: Amazon, haven’t, ”, they’ve, Andy Jassy, “ We’ve, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Moira Ritter Organizations: New, New York CNN, Amazon, Fresh, CNN, Dollar, Walmart, Costco, Foods Locations: New York, India, Washington, Chicago, Southern California

☆ Multiple Taco Bell locations in Oakland have closed dining rooms because of crime concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Multiple Taco Bell locations in Oakland have closed their dining rooms because of safety concerns in the California city, which has been struggling with rising crime affecting businesses both big and small. Diversified Restaurant Group owns about 300 Taco Bell and Arby’s locations, predominately in the western US. At least four Taco Bell locations in Oakland have closed their dining rooms, however the drive-thru remains operational. CNN affiliate KPIX-TV visited a Taco Bell location that has been robbed four times in the past four months, finding signs notifying customers of the closure. One Oakland location still has their dining room open but has gone cashless to discourage robberies, KPIX-TV reported.

Persons: Taco Bell, Taco, Gavin Newsom, – CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bell, Group, Restaurant Group, Taco Bell, Taco Bell’s, CNN, Oakland, San, Criminal, Patrol Locations: New York, Oakland, California, Cane’s, San Francisco Chronicle

☆ Family Dollar to pay nearly $42 million in connection with rodent-infested warehouse
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Family Dollar Stores was hit with a record fine for violating product safety standards after selling items that were stocked in a rat-infested warehouse filled with live, dead and decaying rodents. The retailer, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree was fined $41.6 million, “the largest-ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case,” the Justice Department said in a statement Monday. Family Dollar and Dollar Tree will also be under robust corporate compliance and reporting requirements for the next three years, according to the DOJ. The agency said at the time that Family Dollar has been aware of the rodent problem since at least January 2020. The DOJ said Family Dollar, which has more than 8,000 stores nationwide, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of causing FDA-regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions.

Persons: ” Benjamin Mizer, exterminators, Rick Dreiling, “, Dreiling, – CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Rebekah Riess Organizations: New, New York CNN, Justice Department, DOJ, The, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Dollar Tree’s Locations: New York, Arkansas

☆ Macy’s rejects a $5.8 billion unsolicited takeover offer
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Macy’s has rejected a $5.8 billion offer to take the 165-year-old retailer private, announcing late Sunday that the “unsolicited proposal lacks compelling value.”Last month, Arkhouse Management, a real estate-focused investing firm, and Brigade Capital Management, a global asset manager, offered to buy the remaining Macy’s shares it doesn’t own at a 32% premium. The company first opened in 1858 and now operates about 500 Macy’s branded stores, as well as 55 of the more upscale Bloomingdale’s chain. Macy’s has attempted numerous strategies in recent years to revitalize its business, such as new brands and smaller stores, but the moves have not altered its long-term trajectory. Its stock price has dropped 75% from a peak of $73 a share in 2015. Since then, it has closed nearly 300 stores — almost one-third — leaving about 700 across its brands.

Persons: New York CNN — Macy’s, “, ”, Jeff Gennette, ” Arkhouse, Arkhouse, ” Macy’s, Macy’s, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Arkhouse Management, Brigade Capital Management, Brigade Locations: New York

☆ Applebee’s is offering a subscription pass for your date nights
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Applebee’s will offer a subscription date night pass for $200, beginning on Monday. The pass will cover roughly a year of weekly date nights, according to the company. Starting February 1 — about two weeks before Valentine’s Day — and ending on January 31, 2025, the pass is valid 52 times. That can cover two servings of all-you-can-eat boneless wings, riblets and shrimp – but the cost of margaritas will have to come out of your own pocket. The pass can be used for online orders, but cannot be used through third-party delivery orders — such as Doordash and Postmates.

Persons: New York CNN —, Applebee’s, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Valentine’s Locations: New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas

☆ Wayfair lays off 13% of its workforce weeks after telling employees to work harder
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Wayfair is laying off 1,650 employees, amounting to 13% of its global workforce, as the online home goods retailer struggled to rebound following its success amid pandemic lockdowns. “I believe we need to stay focused as a company on what committed small teams can accomplish,” Shah wrote Friday. All workers will receive an email Friday about their future with the company and severance will be offered to those affected. Late last year, Wayfair’s Shah garnered attention for his blunt year-end letter to his employees telling them to blend work and life together. Shah also encouraged Wayfair employees to think of the company money they spend as their own and negotiate prices.

Persons: New York CNN —, Niraj Shah, Wayfair “, Shah, “, ” Shah, Wayfair, Wayfair’s Shah, ”, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN Locations: New York, Boston

☆ Walmart raises store managers’ pay for first time in a decade, average hits $128,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Now, Walmart is saying it’s going to pay the managers of those stores, charged with that huge responsibility, accordingly, with a new average salary of $128,000 a year. Walmart said Thursday it is boosting the average pay of its store managers from $117,000, or by just over 9%, the retailer announced Thursday. The company told CNN that it hasn’t made any changes to store managers’ pay structures in more than a decade, before a pandemic and all that followed subsequently, including a period of high inflation. Previously, the pay range for store managers was between $65,000 and $170,000, it said. The retailer noted that as many as 75% of its managers began their Walmart careers as hourly workers.

Persons: New York CNN —, hasn’t, ” Cedric Clark, ” Clark, “, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, CNN, Walmart U.S, Target Locations: New York, The Minneapolis, Bentonville , Arkansas, U.S, Washington

☆ Can we turn all those empty office buildings into housing?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Experts in housing, building, and urban planning say it may be difficult to convert office space to livable, likeable residential housing, but there’s an urgent reason they’re trying. More office space is sitting empty in the United States than at any point since 1979, Moody’s Analytics reported earlier this week. By some estimates, only 3% of New York City office buildings and 2% in downtown Denver are suited for residential conversions. Office space and homes are two fundamentally different types of buildings, according to builders and architects. Do you have another building where you can move them?”As result, according to Theodos, office conversions are not a solution to either the empty office glut or the housing supply shortage.

Persons: Biden, ”, Harold Bordwin, Keen, Brett Theodos, ” Bordwin, “, ” Maren Reepmeyer, ” Theodos, –, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Donald Judd Organizations: DC CNN, Moody’s, National Association of Realtors, Summit Capital Partners, Metropolitan Housing, Policy Center, Urban Institute, “, CBRE, Wacker, Chicago Business Locations: Washington, New York, Boston, Cleveland, United States, Manhattan, “, New York City, Denver, Chicago, Theodos

☆ While Black Friday and Cyber Monday did good, Giving Tuesday lagged
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sergio Padilla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Americans seemed more willing to spend money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but less willing to donate money on Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday’s decline in participation is not an isolated incident, but rather, as its organization acknowledges, part of larger trends philanthropic organizations are experiencing. According to a report by Giving USA from this past June, Americans are giving the lowest percentage of their disposable income since 1995. Americans gave just 1.7% of their disposable income in 2022, with charitable giving declining from 2021 by 3.4% to $499.3 billion, which represents an even larger decline of 10.5% when adjusted for inflation. “I think the numbers are very interesting in terms of Black Friday and Cyber Monday but they don’t tell you the whole picture,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail.

Persons: “, ”, Asha Curran, Ebenezer Scrooge, Neil Saunders, ” Saunders, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Elisabeth Buchwald Organizations: New, New York CNN, Black, CNN, GivingTuesday, United Nations Foundation, National Retail Federation, Adobe, Federal, GlobalData, Adobe Analytics, Charities Aid Locations: New York, New York City

☆ The tug-of-war is on between deal-hungry shoppers and retailers wary of giving them throw-away prices on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

So are the start-of-the-season deals enticing enough for shoppers or are they holding out in a cat-and-mouse game with retailers? Michael Brown, retail industry leader and partner with management consulting firm Kearney, said the much earlier-than-usual jumpstart to holiday sales this year could be to blame. Shoppers will be holding out for better deals,” he said. Kena Betancur/Getty ImagesTotal holiday sales this year are expected to come in softer compared to last year. He said there were plenty of 25% off Black Friday deals mall-wide and some deeper 40% off promotions for early-bird shoppers.

Persons: New York CNN —, Michael Brown, Kearney, ”, Brown, Emily Elconin, Marshal Cohen, ” Cohen, Barbie, Willing, they’ve, Kena Betancur, Brian Schroeder, Kendra Scott, “, Aeropostale, Aritzia, Shannon Stapleton, Marc Rosen, Rosen, ” Rosen, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Shoppers, Black, National Retail Federation, Adobe Analytics, Disney Little, Marvel, Macy's, Brookfield Properties, Brookfield Asset Management, Nike, Apple, Simon Property Group, JCPenney Locations: New York, Oaks, Michigan, New York , New York, La Cantera, San Antonio , Texas, Brookfield, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, Penney

☆ Rite Aid files for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“It was always a matter of when, not if, Rite Aid would file for bankruptcy,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, in a note to investors. As part of the bankruptcy plan, Rite Aid appointed a new CEO, Jeff Stein, who will also serve as the head of restructuring and a board member. The government accused Rite Aid of missing “obvious red flags” when it filled the prescriptions for addictive pain killers. Rite Aid is a distant third-largest nationwide standalone pharmacy chain in the United States — and the seventh largest pharmacy overall, when taking into account big box chains. Ultimately, in 2017, the companies agreed to a smaller, $4.4 billion deal, in which Walgreens bought just under 2,000 Rite Aid locations, leaving Rite Aid diminished in stature and unable to compete at the scale of its bigger rivals.

Persons: —, ”, Neil Saunders, GlobalData, Jeff Stein, Stein, “, Aid’s, General Merrick Garland, — CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Juliana Liu Organizations: New, New York CNN — Rite, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Costco, US Securities and Exchange Commission, ”, Aid, Rite Aid, Solutions, “, Justice, US Justice Department, US Centers for Disease Control, ., United States — Locations: New York, United States

☆ Analysis: The affirmative action battle shifts to a new front
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The lawsuits against the US Navy and West Point suggest that opponents of affirmative action are serious about eliminating any policy of diversity based on race. It’s not surprising that the US Armed Forces have drawn criticism from affirmative action foes. As the country heads into the presidential election year, more lawsuits invoking the Voting Rights Act are expected to follow. Many Black workers historically used auto jobs to build careers, but advancement opportunities have diminished since the early aughts. “But the decline in US auto jobs and the erosion of unions have hit Black workers hardest,” he wrote.

Persons: CNN —, “, ” SFFA, It’s, Henry C, Harris , Jr, Rogers H, Beardon, Frank Frederick Doughton, Elmer B, Edward Blum, Blum, Alabama’s, —, Blum —, Holder, Shelby, you’ve, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters Meyersohn, ”, John Blake Organizations: CNN, US Naval Academy, Harvard, University of North, Fair, US Military Academy, West, US Navy, US Armed Forces, Defense Department, Black US Army, Military, Fort, US Supreme, Republican, Alabama’s GOP, UAW, United Auto Workers, Detroit’s Big, Reuters Locations: University of North Carolina, America, Fort Benning, Georgia, Alabama, Florida , Louisiana, County, Detroit, Belleville , Michigan

☆ Best Buy expects tech demand to hit a low this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Best Buy expects declining tech sales to hit a low this year before stabilizing, in another sign of consumer caution around discretionary spending and retail purchases. Best Buy expects tech spending to hit a low this year before stabilizing. Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesFor fiscal year 2024, the company now expects revenue of $43.8 billion to $44.5 billion, instead of $43.8 billion to $45.2 billion as it said in previous guidance. It expects sales at stores, websites and call centers open at least 14 months, known as comparable sales, to decline 4.5% to 6% for the year. In the quarter, comparable sales fell 6.3% domestically, year-over-year.

Persons: ” Corie Barry, ”, Bruce Bennett, Barry, “, — CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Anna Bahney Organizations: New, New York CNN, Revenue Locations: New York

☆ People are spending more on groceries. But they’re buying less
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —The past few months of robust grocery store sales would suggest that shoppers aren’t stretched for cash. Fresh eggs shot up 48.2%, milk rose 5%, bread rose 12.7% and fresh root vegetables went up 14.7. The following month, grocery prices continued to fall. But food inflation is still outpacing inflation overall, and grocery prices are still quite a bit higher than they were last year. We are still seeing prices, month over month, they’re still going up — although much less than they were.”— CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn contributed to this report.

Persons: that’s, ”, Alastair Steel, Spencer Platt, they’ve, Steel, “ we’ve, Richard Galanti, Jeff Gennette, “, Brandon Bell, Jeff Owen, Ramon Laguarta, it’s, they’re, —, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Kellogg, PepsiCo, Getty, Steel, Costco, Aldi, ”, Dollar, Assistance, SNAP, Consumers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Locations: New York

☆ Premarket stocks: What happens if the debt ceiling and banking crisis collide?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —President Joe Biden said over the weekend that debt ceiling negotiations were moving along and that talks between the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would resume on Tuesday. It may become more difficult to access credit, further exacerbating the challenges individuals and companies are already facing because of the banking crisis. Before the Bell: What do the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations mean to small and medium businesses? Do you think bank executives and members of the business community can put pressure on Congress and the White House to come to a deal? The White House has estimated more than 8 million jobs would get wiped out if there is a protracted default.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond gets $120 million lifeline to help it stock near barren shelves
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Cash-starved Bed, Bath & Beyond, which is scrambling to avoid bankruptcy, announced a $120 million lifeline to help it stock near-empty shelves. One reason that the chain’s sales have fallen and losses have mounted is that the company doesn’t have the funds needed to buy inventory in order to stock shelves. The money comes from ReStore Capital, which will purchase up to $120 million of merchandise from Bed, Bath & Beyond’s suppliers in order to supplement stock at Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY. “This … solution can allow us to strengthen merchandise availability and better fulfill demand.”Shelves are seen empty inside of a closed Bed Bath and Beyond store on February 08, 2023 in Larkspur, California. Last week, the company disclosed in a filing plans to sell $300 million worth of its stock to raise much-needed cash.

☆ Premarket stocks: The FDIC could ask big banks to clean up $23 billion mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

While regional and mid-sized banks are behind the recent turmoil, it appears that large banks may be footing the bill. Ultimately, that means higher fees for bank customers and lower rates on their savings accounts. The law also gives the FDIC the authority to decide which banks shoulder the brunt of that assessment fee. Passing it on: Regardless of who’s charged, the fees will eventually get passed on to bank customers in the end, said Isaac. In 2021, Wall Street was estimated to be responsible for 16% of all economic activity in the city.

☆ Stitch Fix lays off 20% of workforce and its CEO steps down
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Stitch Fix, facing economic turbulence, announced a double whammy on Thursday: CEO Elizabeth Spaulding is stepping down and the company planned to lay off 20% of its salaried staff. “We will be losing many talented team members from across the company and I am truly sorry,” Stitch Fix (SFIX)founder and former CEO Katrina Lake wrote in a blog post. Shares of Stitch Fix rose 6% on the news. Elizabeth Spaulding, CEO of Stitch Fix, announced she was stepping down on Thursday. But Stitch Fix has struggled as more shoppers return to in-person buying at stores and pull back on their online spending.

☆ This is Gen Z’s favorite restaurant, survey says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —It’s been a good year for Chick-fil-A – a recent survey ranked it as Gen Z’s top restaurant, with 15% of respondents listing it as their favorite choice. The annual Piper Sandler study surveyed 14,500 teens in 47 states, whose average age was just under 16 years old (15.8 years old, to be exact.) Starbucks came in second at 12% of teens, followed by Chipotle (7%), McDonald’s (6%) and Olive Garden (3%). But that was primarily because it’s so popular that it has a lot of cars lined up for its meals. The chain’s support for anti-LGBTQ organizations and its opposition to same-sex marriage has been at the center of political debates and calls for boycotts.

Search resuls for: "CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn"

21 mentions found