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☆ Starbucks trying to revive Gen Z consumer with Boba tea, says Casey Lewis
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | 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 EmailStarbucks trying to revive Gen Z consumer with Boba tea, says Casey LewisCasey Lewis, founder of trend newsletter 'After School,' joins CNBC's 'The Exchange' to discuss Gen Z spending behavior, how Pinterest has activated young consumers, and more.

Persons: Casey Lewis Casey Lewis

☆ Dutch Bros CEO details nationwide expansion strategy as company nears 900 locations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dutch Bros CEO Christine Barone discussed her company's expansion strategy in an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, saying the coffee chain focuses on training employees when they go to a new market. Barone said Dutch Bros is "on the path" to 4,000 stores and hit 876 locations this quarter. Dutch Bros beat analysts' expectations when it reported earnings Tuesday evening, and shares closed 11.79% higher Wednesday. The company's success follows a weaker-than-expected quarter from competitor Starbucks . Barone, who took over as CEO in January, attributed some of Dutch Bros' success to its emphasis on customer service.

Persons: Christine Barone, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Barone, they're, Laxman Narasimhan, We've Organizations: Dutch Bros, Bros, Starbucks Locations: Dutch, Oregon, West, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, East Coast

☆ The ‘Star Wars’ timeline is confusing. Here’s when ‘The Acolyte,’ ‘Ahsoka’ and more take place
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Worry not, padawans: CNN has laid out a comprehensive timeline of the “Star Wars” canon so you can follow all of the franchise’s time-jumps without getting lost in space. These details are pulled from the official “Star Wars” resources “Ultimate Star Wars” and “Star Wars Character Encyclopedia,” as well as a chart of the eras explored throughout the franchise. ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (animated series)Ahsoka is Anakin's padawan in "The Clone Wars," and he lovingly calls her "Snips." ‘Star Wars Rebels’Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios and Sabine Wren take on the Empire in "Star Wars Rebels." ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’Heroes attempt to find the plans to blow up the Death Star in "Rogue One."

Persons: we’ve, Rey Skywalker, Jin, Anakin Skywalker, Wan, Anakin, who’s, Anakin’s, Darth Maul, Palpatine, Darth Sidious, Obi, “, Padmé, ”, Count Dooku, Warner, Ahsoka Tano, Sidious, Darth Vader, Luke, Leia, Vader, ‘, Han, Chewie, Jonathan Olley, scoundrel Han, Thrillist, frenemy, Lando Calrissian, ‘ Obi, Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios, Sabine Wren, ‘ Andor, Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso, Jyn, ’ Luke, —, Yoda, batty, Lando, Yikes, Jabba, redeems, VI, VII, Grogu, Mando, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, flitted, Boba, Din, ” It’s, Ahsoka, Jabba the, Suzanne Tenner, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, Thrawn, Rey, Kylo Ren, ” Rey, stormtrooper Finn, Kylo, ’ Finn, Phasma, Ren, Snoke, MacGuffin, Poe, Emperor Palpatine, she’s, Jude, Kerry Condon, Lee Jung, jae, Amandla, Leslye Headland, James Mangold, Indiana Jones, Dave Filoni, Daisy Ridley Organizations: CNN, “, “ Star, Lucasfilm, Everett, Lucasfilm Ltd, USA, ‘, Warner Bros, Fox, Empire, Tech, Disney, Walt Disney Studios, ‘ Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Rebels, AV, Pictures, Rebel, Rebels, Galaxy, imperials, Rotten, “ Star Wars Rebels, Force, Rey, C3PO, Jude Law, Variety Locations: Yavin, “, Republic, Hunter, Luke’s, ”, USA, carbonite, New Republic, Endor

☆ Starbucks says it's launching boba-inspired drinks this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Starbucks is set to roll out its own version of boba in May, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said Tuesday. "We are launching our first texture innovation, Pearls," he said. Some Starbucks baristas have posted TikTok videos making drinks with "raspberry-popping pearls." AdvertisementStarbucks is set to roll out its own version of boba at its stores this summer, more than two years after it first confirmed that it was testing drinks with pearls. "For summer, we are launching our first texture innovation, Pearls," CEO Laxman Narasimhan told analysts at the company's earnings call Tuesday.

Persons: boba, Laxman Narasimhan, — Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Business

☆ A Chick-fil-A worker who got millions of views with TikToks of her staff meals says the company stopped her from posting. Now she's quit to become a content creator.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA former Chick-fil-A worker said that the fried-chicken chain asked her to stop posting videos of her staff meals on TikTok because she was breaking company policy. Food reviews are hot stuffRestaurant reviews and food rankings are popular topics for TikTok videos. Webb's last Chick-fil-A video before the company's PR team contacted her, which has 3.4 million views, shows her reviewing the four drinks in its limited-edition Cherry Berry range. AdvertisementWebb's TikTok account also features videos of her reviewing her staff meals at Aldi, where she also has a job. In her video announcing the end of her Chick-fil-A staff meal videos, Webb said that other brands wanting to collaborate with her should reach out.

Persons: —, Miriam Webb, Webb, Chick, I'm, Miriam Webb's, Cherry Berry, commenter Organizations: Service, Business, PR, Aldi Locations: Los Angeles County, TikTok

☆ In 50-50 Georgia, unhappiness with the choices but urgency about voting
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( John King | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to vote for Biden and didn’t vote that year. In the 2000 election, Democrat Al Gore received 70% in DeKalb; in 2020, Biden won 83%. Massachusetts native Kim Cavaliere, who moved to Georgia over 20 years ago, is pictured at her home in Dacula, Georgia. She’s still inclined to vote third-party again but is perhaps open to reconsidering if Georgia could settle a close race. It is rural, and reliably red – Trump won 71% of the county vote in 2020.

Persons: Christine Nguyen’s, Nguyen, ” Nguyen, ” Decatur, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, –, Trump, Biden, Christine Nguyen, she’s, “, Celia Gardner, Jan Gardner, ”, ” Jan Gardner, Celia, ” Celia Gardner, Democrat Al Gore, Gwinnett, George W, Bush, “ I’ve, Kim Cavaliere, Cavaliere, ” Cavaliere, Count Cavaliere, She’s, – Biden, …, ” Carey Fulks, John King, CNN Carey Fulks, Fulks, ” Fulks, ” Biden, – Trump, Matt Vrahiotes, ” Vrahiotes, it’s, Vrahiotes, Ron DeSantis, “ I’m, Trumper, who’s, “ Kennedy, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, ” Vrahioties, Atlanta’s Organizations: Georgia CNN, White, CNN, Trump, DOJ, Justice Department, CIA, Schools, Democrat, Biden, Gwinnett County, “ Democrat, Republican, Sweet, Florida Gov, GOP Locations: Decatur, Georgia, ”, DeKalb County, Atlanta, Decatur , Georgia, Israel, DeKalb, Dunwoody, Dunwoody , Georgia, Neat, White DeKalb, Gwinnett County, Massachusetts, Dacula , Georgia, Grove, Covid, Fulton County, Gwinnett, Acre, Alto, Hall County, Alto , Georgia, York

☆ Bubble tea: ChaPanda shares plunge in Hong Kong IPO
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The company, also known as Chabaidao or ChaPanda, had priced its shares at $17.50 Hong Kong dollars ($2.23) apiece, but they plunged as low as $10.80 Hong Kong dollars ($1.38) in the first two hours of trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Bubble tea (also called “black pearl tea” or “boba tea”) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, but has since found millions of devotees around the world. In January, two of China’s most popular bubble tea brands, Mixue Group and Guming Holdings, applied for IPOs on Hong Kong’s stock exchange. Another Chinese bubble tea maker, Nayuki, has lost 88% of its stock market value since going public in Hong Kong in 2021. “The overall turnover and valuation of the (Hong Kong) stock market, which depend on the market liquidity, i.e.

Persons: Baidao, Frost, Frost & Sullivan, Robert Lui, “, ”, Laura Organizations: London CNN —, Hong, Frost &, China, Franchise Association . Stock, Mixue, Guming Holdings, Deloitte Locations: Sichuan, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Taiwan, China, Hong, Dealogic, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Google search boss warns employees of 'new operating reality,' urges them to move faster
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"If there's a clear and present market reality, we need to twitch faster, like the athletes twitch faster," he said. The spokesperson highlighted the addition of generative AI to search and improvements in search quality, adding, "There's lots more to come." In March, Google named company veteran Elizabeth Reid to the role of vice president, leading search and reporting to Raghavan. "We're in a new cost reality," Raghavan said. Demis Hassabis, Google's AI leader, said in February after the tool was taken down that it would be re-released in weeks.

Persons: Prabhakar Raghavan, Julia Nikhinson, Raghavan, Sundar Pichai, TikTok, dory, Elizabeth Reid, Ruth Porat, We've, Jonathan Raa, we've, they've, Demis, Bard, Pichai, That's Organizations: Google, US, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Mazda, Microsoft, Google Gemini, Nurphoto, Union's, European Commission, Gemini Locations: Washington , DC, Mountain View , California, Silicon Valley, India, Brazil, Brussels, Belgium

☆ A market mystery: Why do capers come in such tiny jars?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This is a story about one of modern life’s least consequential but most acutely annoying experiences: getting a sufficient number of capers out of those dollhouse-size jars they’re sold in. Capers are expensive, so producers sell them in smaller jars to make each unit more affordable. Why such narrow jars? Skinny jars just look nicer, Mezzetta says. As one Redditor said: “I’ve never been in a situation where I don’t decide to just use the entire tiny jar for what I’m making.”

Persons: they’re, God, capers, It’s, purveyors, Goya, Russell Zwanka, ” Zwanka, “, Rebecca Wright, Jeff Mezzetta, they’re tippy, ”, Mezzetta, Zwanka, chef’s, ” Duane Stanford, Bull, Brian Noone, Redditor, “ I’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Western Michigan University, CNN, Beverage, Redditors Locations: New York, New York City, California, Labrador, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Adelaide, South Australia, Malta

☆ California is putting up minimum wages to $20 an hour for fast-food chains – and it's likely going to drive up wages in other industries, too
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewCalifornia is raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour – and a much wider group of employees could see bigger paychecks. If limited-service restaurants raise their wages, "everybody is going to have to adopt because it's a free market," Danilo Gargiulo, a Bernstein analyst, said. Fast-food and fast-casual chains have already said they plan to raise their menu prices in California to offset the higher wages. The Cheesecake Factory's CFO Matt Clark told investors in November that the minimum wage could have a "ripple effect" beyond just limited-service restaurants. He added that the legislation would cause the price gap between limited- and full-service restaurants to narrow.

Persons: —, Brian Vaccaro, Raymond James, It'll, Andy Barish, Danilo Gargiulo, Bernstein, Matt Clark, Clark, Vaccaro, Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, Greg Levin, we've, Levin, they're, Zackfia Organizations: Service, Business, Jefferies, US Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: California, pretzels . California

☆ Spending in Shenzhen: Chinese used to escape to this former British colony. Now Hongkongers are heading in the opposite direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Veronica Lin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Hong Kong CNN —With Hong Kong’s sky-high cost of living, residents like Andy Tsui have been looking for alternative ways to have more fun and spend less. Rather than spending his cash in his hometown of Hong Kong, he’s been crossing the border into mainland China to splurge instead. Such trips are noteworthy because, for much of Hong Kong’s modern history, the traffic has been largely — conspicuously, even — in the other direction. Hong Kong used to be the place where Chinese would escape to, not from. In 2023, just 26 million mainlanders — about half of the 2018 crowd — visited Hong Kong.

Persons: Andy Tsui, he’s, boba, ” Tsui, Justin Robertson, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Hong Kong’s, Hong Kong —, misbehaving, —, ”, Steve Tsang, Hong, Shenzhen’s, Hongkongers, Gilles Sabrie, Hongkonger Eddy Lam, Lam, Cherrie Leung, Qilai Shen, Hugo Sin, “, Gary Ng, John Lee, Tsang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shoppers, Yuen, Britain, Newspapers, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration Department, China Institute, SOAS University, Huawei, Tencent, Bloomberg, Getty, Sam’s Club, Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Hong Kong, Shenzhen hasn’t, Xinhua, RTHK, SOAS University of London Locations: Hong Kong, China, splurge, Peking, Shenzhen, East, Hong, People’s Republic of China, British, Beijing, London, Bay Area, San Francisco , New York, Tokyo, Kowloon, Coco, Shanghai, “, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong’s, Britain, Canada, Australia, Bay, ”

Biden’s reelection campaign has repeatedly declined to commit to joining debates with Trump, his likely opponent in the November general election. Trump, meanwhile, has feuded with the Republican National Committee and refused to join its primary debates. In 2020, he objected to the rules of the nonpartisan commission that has hosted general election debates since 1976. Lowering his voice to a whisper, Coons said: “That was bad.”He then questioned whether a general election debate this year would be worth it. “But this is ultimately a judgment call for President Biden."

Persons: — Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Biden’s, There's, Sen, Chris Coons, Chris Wallace, Coons, ” Coons, Richard Nixon, John F, Kennedy, didn’t, Frank Fahrenkopf, it's, “, ”, it’s, There’s, Ro Khanna, ” Khanna, Haley, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Dan Bongino, Biden “, ” Biden, He’s, Quentin Fulks, ” Fulks, Fulks, ” Sen, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, ” Romney, President Trump, Trump's, Katie Hobbs, Kari Lake, ” Hobbs, that's, Patrick Stewart, ” Stewart, Jacob Thompson, ” ____ Gomez Licon, Jonathan J, Cooper, Darlene Superville, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Biden, Trump, RNC, League of Women Voters, Commission, ”, Republican, “ Trump, Florida Gov, CNN, Arizona Gov, University of Arkansas, “, Associated Press Locations: Chris Coons of Delaware, United States, Alabama, Iowa, Utah, United States of America, Arizona, Knoxville , Tennessee, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, New York

☆ Biden’s allies can’t agree on how to combat questions about his age and memory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

How damaging are all the renewed questions about age and mental acuity going to be? One Democratic member of the House responded to being told of the questions about age and memory raised in the report with a morbid laugh and sullen shake of the head. Inside the White House and among Biden’s reelection campaign staff, the tension is constant. Biden aides also feel themselves that this hasn’t been enough. Most importantly, they reflect what Biden aides have learned from experience: Nothing combats questions about the president’s competence as much as people seeing him in action.

Persons: Joe Biden, notecards, Biden, –, Donald Trump, couldn’t, he’s, Trump, ”, West, they’ve, Annie Kuster, “, ” Kuster, don’t, Kevin McCarthy –, Emanuel, Gabe Amo, Emmanuel Macron, François Mitterrand, Abdel Fattah el, ‘ Mitterrand, Dina Titus, “ Joe Biden, Jamie Raskin, Trump’s, Jean Caroll, Raskin, ” Biden, Biden’s, Kate Berner, Andrew Bates, “ Biden, ” Bates, Bates jabbed, Beau Biden, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Virginia CNN, Democrats, CNN, Democratic, Trump, Washington, West Wing, New, Nevada Democrat, Senate, ” Maryland, “, White, Security, Republicans, Border Patrol Union, Biden, House Democrats Locations: Leesburg, Virginia, New Hampshire, Valley Forge, Charleston, Las Vegas, Rhode Island, Israel, Mexico, Egypt, Nevada, Wilmington , Delaware

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is going small to try to win big in November. Biden’s campaign taped the visit, which was closed to reporters, and later released curated snippets online. “You have to go to the places where people are,” said Biden deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty. Biden aides say their goal is for the president — or those he's meeting with — to amplify the president's message too. “I would rather have 100 outside voices saying Joe Biden is great than one piece of content from us saying Joe Biden is great,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, takeout, Eric Fitts, Fitts, Christian, ”, Rob Flaherty, Donald Trump, ” Flaherty, he’ll, Trump, Biden's, marveled, It's, —, Kate Berner, Biden’s, Teddy Goff, Obama, you’re, “ You’re, “, ” Biden, Flaherty, Colleen Long, Seung Min Kim, Darlene Superville Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Biden, Trump, Lounge, Secret, Air Force, ESPN, Associated Press Locations: Raleigh , North Carolina, Cook, Valley Forge , Pennsylvania, Charleston , South Carolina, Emmaus , Pennsylvania, Emmaus, Eastern Pennsylvania, Superior , Wisconsin, Columbia , South Carolina, arm’s, Michigan, American, Las Vegas

☆ Trump wants to debate Biden 'immediately' — but president shrugs him off
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22, 2020. Donald Trump on Monday said he wants to debate President Joe Biden "immediately" — but the Democratic incumbent quickly brushed off that idea. "I'd like to debate him now because we should debate," said the former president, who is the front-runner for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. Trump has skipped every Republican primary debate. Biden has likewise not participated in any debates with the handful of long-shot Democratic contenders challenging him for the party's nomination.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Dan Bongino, Biden, I'd, He's, Nikki Haley Organizations: Belmont University, Democratic, Republican, United Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, Las Vegas, United Nations

Robots of all kinds caused a stir on the show floor this week at the annual CES technology trade show in Las Vegas. The types of casino union jobs at risk could look drastically different five years from now, for example, when the Culinary Union's contract ends. We are filling the need in the market and we are bringing specialty coffee to more places.”But Werner said AI poses a real threat to casino union jobs that don’t require face-to-face interaction with customers — housekeeping, food preparation and cooks, for example. That's especially true for a people-pleasing tourist destination like the Las Vegas Strip, where customers expect top-notch service and experiences, including the latest trends in technology. That makes Las Vegas “a good place to test these things and see how customers react to it," he said.

Persons: Roman Alejo, ”, Ted Pappageorge, Pappageorge, “, Bill Werner, ” Pappageorge, Meng Wang, Wang, Werner, Alejo, ” Alejo, James Brooks Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las, “, Culinary Workers, . Hospitality, Associated Press, University of Nevada, CES, Vegas, Culinary Union Locations: Las Vegas

☆ How Disney made Star Wars the top film franchise of 2023 without a theatrical release
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-30 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Sunset Boulevard | Corbis Historical | Getty ImagesThe Force remains strong with the Star Wars franchise. Despite not releasing a theatrical film since 2019, Star Wars has been named the top film franchise of 2023 by Fandom, the world's largest platform for entertainment fans. In between each film in the sequel trilogy, Disney released a film that harkened back to an important plot point from past Star Wars films. "At the time, Disney's strategy was to essentially release one new Star Wars film theatrically each year," said Peter Csathy, founder and chair of advisory firm Creative Media. Rebuilding an empireDisney isn't set to release another Star Wars film in cinemas until 2026.

Persons: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Georges Lucas, Paul Dergarabedian, Star Wars Disney Harry Potter, James Bond, Disney, Harry Potter, Kylo Ren, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, —, Princess Leia, Han, Peter Csathy, Csathy, Boba Fett, Rosario Dawson, Tano, Ahsoka, Count Dooku, Stephanie Fried, Diego Luna, Cassian Andor, Alan Tudyk Organizations: Star Wars, Star, Disney, Comscore, Star Wars Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros, DC Studios, Lucasfilm, Wars, Creative Media, Lucasfilm Disney Locations: Florida

☆ Snake pizza on the menu in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —American company Pizza Hut has teamed up with a century-old Hong Kong restaurant to put a modern spin on a traditional dish, or more simply, snake on a pizza. Some diners in Hong Kong and around southern China have long enjoyed snake stew, especially during the colder months. Hong Kong resident Mabel Sieh, a self-described foodie who loves to try different pizzas, said, “I think it’s scary. And Hong Kong’s Pizza Hut locations have other plans for new menu items. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut in Japan created a pizza topped with Tonkotsu ramen (pork bone soup ramen).

Persons: they’ve, Ser Wong, –, Mabel Sieh, foodie, “, Rachel Wong, Karen Chan, ”, Dominos, boba Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Hong, CNN, Pizza Locations: Hong Kong, China, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Thailand, Central Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan

☆ I moved to Seattle for a high-paying tech job. It turned out to be the loneliest time of my life.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Aria Yang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alexander Nguyen, a software engineer who moved from New York City to Seattle for a job at Amazon. It was his first job out of college, and he says it was the loneliest time of his life. Finally, after a three-month job search, things started looking up: I received a software-development-engineering job offer from Amazon in 2020. Back when I got the job at Amazon, all I was thinking about was my tech career and the $150,000 salary. Looking back now, I realize perhaps I should have looked a little bit harder for opportunities in New York before taking the first tech job that came my way.

Persons: Alexander Nguyen, Boba Guys, —, Alexander Nguyen Nobody, it'd, I've, It's, I'm, it's, you've, Aria Yang Organizations: New York University, White Oaks, Amazon, Facebook, University District, NYU, CS, Netflix, Microsoft, Google Locations: New York City, Seattle, Greenwich Village, University, San Francisco, New York, ayang@insider.com

☆ How Luckin Coffee overtook Starbucks as the largest coffee chain in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

SHENZHEN, CHINA - 2020/10/05: Chinese coffee shop chain Luckin Coffee logo seen at a store. Founded in 2017, Luckin Coffee burst onto the Chinese coffee scene to challenge Starbucks through affordable coffee options and mobile ordering. China is Starbucks' second-largest market after the U.S. Luckin Coffee grew to 10,829 stores in China at the end of June, surpassing Starbucks as the largest coffee chain brand in the country following what one analyst calls an "aggressive" expansion. Meanwhile, Starbucks' stores worldwide are company-owned and the American coffee chain does not franchise operations, according to its website. The Chinese coffee chain said that it sold 5.42 million Moutai alcohol-infused lattes on the first day of its launch.

Persons: Alex Tai, Li, Rahul Maheshwari, Luckin, Vivian Leung, Zhang Peng, Price, it's, Jianggan Li, Leung, Kweichow Moutai, Moutai, Shawn Yang, Yang, latte Organizations: Getty, Starbucks, U.S, Luckin, Momentum, Coffee, CNBC, Lightrocket, Brand Finance, Blue Lotus Research Institute Locations: SHENZHEN, CHINA, China, Singapore, Guangzhou, TIANJIN, Asia, Beijing

☆ In ‘Ahsoka,’ a ‘Star Wars’ Fan Favorite Returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Calum Marsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But over the years, the universe of “Star Wars” has expanded far beyond the realm originally imagined by George Lucas. The title of the latest “Star Wars” series, “Ahsoka,” premiering Aug. 23 on Disney+, may be unfamiliar even for viewers who consider themselves relatively knowledgeable about the franchise. The title character, played by Rosario Dawson in the series, has never appeared in a live-action “Star Wars” movie. (She was heard briefly in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” voiced by Ashley Eckstein.) A certain familiarity with the rest of the stuff that has happened in “Star Wars” outside of the three main film trilogies is, if not quite required, then certainly very helpful.

Persons: Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han, Leia, George Lucas, “, ”, Rosario Dawson, Ashley Eckstein, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni —, Boba Fett, “ Obi, Wan Organizations: “, Disney, “ Star

☆ Bubble tea will test limits of China’s consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Thomas Shum | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bubble tea may be the new bellwether for the Chinese consumer. At least half a dozen boba-drink makers, including China’s largest chain by store count, Mixue Bingcheng, are planning initial public offerings in Hong Kong or the United States, Bloomberg reports. Shares in Hong Kong-listed Nayuki (2150.HK), the country’s only publicly traded bubble tea chain, have dropped 70% since their debut in 2021. Follow @t__shum on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSAt least six bubble tea companies are looking to go public in either Hong Kong or the United States, Bloomberg reported on July 24 citing people familiar with the matter. In 2022, China’s biggest bubble tea chain by store count, Mixue Bingcheng, filed for a $918 million initial public offering in Shenzhen.

Persons: Mixue, Gen, Mixue Bingcheng, Robyn Mak, Katrina Hamlin, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Bloomberg, HK, KFC, Haidilao, Refinitiv, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, China, Shenzhen

☆ Timothy Olyphant Is Back for a New Chapter of ‘Justified’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Jeremy Egner | More About Jeremy Egner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That combination proved perfect for the darkly comic, morally murky world of “Justified.” Olyphant’s performance in the series shifted his previously hit-and-miss career into a higher gear, which in turn has made his future prospects less dependent on the success of the “Justified” revival. Premiering Thursday on Max, the gripping six-episode serial revolves around a botched kidnapping with international repercussions. “Full Circle” was directed by Steven Soderbergh, the latest on a list of talented people with whom Olyphant long wanted to work and now has. Kenneth Lonergan made him the center of his acclaimed play “Hold On to Me Darling” (2016). “You can throw Larry David on the list,” Olyphant said, referring to his appearance as a smarmy groom in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2020.

Persons: Olyphant, Dennis Quaid, Claire Danes, Jharrel Jerome, Max, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, James Stacy, David O, Russell, Kenneth Lonergan, Larry David, ” Olyphant, “, Boba Fett, Santa Clarita Diet ”, Daisy Jones, ” Soderbergh, ” Organizations: Hollywood, Wars, Santa, Santa Clarita Diet Locations: New York, “, “ Amsterdam, Mormon, “ Fargo, ”, Santa Clarita

☆ Why Do American Diners Have Such a Limited Palate for Textures?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Ligaya Mishan | Esther Choi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

What of the worlds that lie between slime and velvet, collapse and refusal, succulence and desiccation? Not only does English lack a robust vocabulary for food textures but, whether as corollary or coincidence, English speakers also tend to value a narrower range of textures. In a survey by the American sensory scientist Jeannine F. Delwiche conducted at Ohio State University in 2002, respondents considered texture significantly less important than taste and scent in its impact on flavor. It is often defined as a confluence of taste, scent and memory, yet other senses intrude. Studies have shown that diners have difficulty identifying flavors when foods are dyed different colors, for example.

☆ The Star Wars timeline: All movies and shows in chronological order
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

These details are pulled from the official “Star Wars” resources “Ultimate Star Wars” and “Star Wars Character Encyclopedia,” as well as experts from outlets like USA Today and the AV Club. ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (animated series)Ahsoka is Anakin's padawan in "The Clone Wars," and he lovingly calls her "Snips." ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’"Solo" shows how Han and Chewie became best friends. ‘Star Wars Rebels’Kanan Jarrus, Zeb Orrelios and Sabine Wren take on the Empire in "Star Wars Rebels." ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’Heroes attempt to find the plans to blow up the Death Star in "Rogue One."

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