DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ We need to talk about whatever's happening with Starbucks' drinks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Whatever is happening on the Starbucks menu right now is making me feel like I'm a senior citizen. AdvertisementThe rise of complicated, multi-ingredient sweet drinks has coincided with the rise in popularity of the Starbucks app, accelerated by the start of the pandemic in 2020 when many locations couldn't take walk-in orders. I tried the newer Starbucks drinks myselfMy Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut drink, which was 360 calories and tasted like coffee ice cream. Katie Notopoulos / Business InsiderI acknowledge I'm a bit of a crank when I say: The Starbucks menu is out of control. (I should note here that my grande iced drink was 360 calories, which does seem like a dessert treat rather than a morning coffee.

Persons: —, anyone's, It's, lattes, chino, Lindsey Wasson, Katie Notopoulos, slurped Organizations: Service, Business, AP Locations: TikTok, chino

☆ Fast-food chains like Burger King, Shake Shack, and KFC are doubling down on digital order kiosks — but watch out, you'll probably end up spending more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Fast-food giants are rapidly deploying more order kiosks in the US. AdvertisementMajor US fast-food chains plan to aggressively add more digital order kiosks to their restaurants – and bring in bigger checks in the process. They make up "well over" half of its in-restaurant orders at these locations, CFO Katie Fogertey told investors in November. As well as labor savings, kiosk orders "tend to skew to dine-in" and thus use less packaging than other digital orders, she said. In the US, digital orders currently make up just 15% of Burger King's sales.

Persons: Patrick Doyle, —, Burger, Josh Kobza, Shack, Katie Fogertey, Chris Turner, Turner, Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, Fogertey, Grace Dean, Randy Garutti, cashiers, Fogerty, Andy Barish, Jon Tower, Kobza, Zackfia, Barish, Popeyes, Tim Hortons Organizations: Service, Restaurant Brands, Brands, Taco Bell, KFC, Business, Jefferies, Citi, Burger, Firehouse, North Star Locations: Taco, China, London, millennials

☆ 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

☆ Google's new AI-powered wingman highlights the challenges of using a tool that could eventually replace you
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. In today’s big story, we’re looking at Google’s new internal AI model aimed at improving worker efficiency. The big storyAI assistanceCBS Photo Archive/Getty ImagesGoogle employees are getting an AI-powered wingman in the company’s bid to improve efficiency. Goose can answer questions about Google's tech and write and edit code, according to an internal summary of the model. Tech companies have tested inventions on their own employees for years in a process known as "dogfooding," writes BI's Alistair Barr.

Persons: —, Denny's, customizations, Hugh Langley, Tom Cruise’s copilot, Alistair Barr, Tyler Lee, “, Bryan R, Smith, Wall, Gary Gensler, We’re, Société, Elad Gil, Gil, ChatGPT, it’s, Uber, Nomura, Young homebuyers, Meredith Whitney, Donald Trump, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, CBS, Getty, Microsoft, OpenAI, Tech, Google, Big Tech, Fed, UBS, SEC, Silicon Valley’s, BI, Xbox, Dragon, Workers, Wall Locations: China, New York, London

☆ Denny's cut some customizations from its menu — and says it's helped rake in more profits
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Diner chain Denny's has simplified its menu to cut back on customizations and build-you-own options. CEO Kelli Valade said that Denny's was instead highlighting more profitable items. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDenny's has simplified its menu to cut back on how much diners can customize their meals, and says it's helped make its restaurants more profitable. "Along with new product innovation, we simplified the menu layout while minimizing customizations and the build-your-own categories on the menu," CEO Kelli Valade told investors on Tuesday.

Persons: Kelli Valade, Denny's, —, it's Organizations: Service, Business

☆ The super-rich are buying more ultra-customized Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Lamborghini sold more than 10,000 vehicles last year for the first time ever and Ferrari had a more than 17% increase in revenue. But customers purchasing Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys have an even wider array of infinitely customizable paint colors and interior materials, to start with, than carmakers offer for less expensive brands. If the customer has a favorite shirt, for example, the car paint could be matched to the fabric color. At Dixon’s Rolls-Royce dealership three quarters of the roughly 90 cars sold each year include some degree of custom options, she said. While she and Rolls-Royce’s design team can provide guidance, in the end, the choices have to be the customer’s.

Persons: Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, ”, Stephan Winkelmann, Lewis Hamilton, Altrata, Royce Cullinan, Javier Gonzalez Lastra, “, ” Gonzalez Lastra, Pietro Frigerio, Kellyn Dixon, Dixon, Bugatti Chiron, Bugatti, Chiron, Lamborghini’s Winkelmann Organizations: California CNN, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Royce, CNN, Ferrari’s, Tema, Volkswagen, Ford, Art Basel Miami Beach, Rolls Royce, Bugatti, Bugatti Bugatti Locations: Irvine, California, Newport Beach , California, Irvine , California, Goodwood

☆ For the 1st time in 7 years, Subway opened more stores than it closed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In 2023, for the first time since 2016, Subway opened more stores than it closed. Subway has closed thousands of stores, resulting in years of decline in net restaurant count. AdvertisementFor the first time since 2016, after years of store closures, Subway finally opened more sites than it shuttered. AdvertisementBut Subway has also been closing thousands of stores, resulting in years of net restaurant-count decline. Restaurant Business previously reported that Subway had closed more than 6,500 restaurants between 2015 and 2022.

Persons: —, Gerardo Mora, It's, Roark Capital, Jimmy John's, Dunkin, Roark, Anne's Organizations: Subway, Service, Business, . Subway, Getty, Subway Subway, North, American, Roark Locations: Mainland China, North America

☆ Starbucks customers are placing bigger orders than they ever have before
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Starbucks customers at US stores are spending more per order than ever before, execs said Tuesday. Ruggeri attributed the record ticket sizes to the specific products customers picked, rising menu prices, and the number of customizations they added to their beverages. Starbucks' cold foam, which generally costs $1.25, is its most popular add-on, company executives said last summer. A record number of Starbucks orders — around 30% — are now placed via its app, and its US delivery business has grown nearly 80% year-over-year, Narasimhan said on Tuesday. Store efficiency also increased, Ruggeri said, with a record number of items made per labor hour.

Persons: execs, —, Rachel Ruggeri, Ruggeri, didn't, Laxman Narasimhan, Food, Narasimhan, there'd, bakes Organizations: Service, Business, Starbucks Locations: China, Gaza

☆ Starbucks olive oil-infused Oleato drinks to launch across the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Starbucks is launching its beverages called Oleato in all U.S. stores. Starbucks is launching its olive oil-infused drinks in all U.S. stores beginning Tuesday, the company said. The beverages, named Oleato, debuted in Italy in February 2023 after former CEO Howard Schultz visited the country and noticed locals drinking olive oil daily. The line of olive oil-infused coffee drinks launched the next month in select U.S. Starbucks stores and met negative early reviews, with The New Yorker saying the drink "tasted like a large spoonful of olive oil in coffee." It also features the Oleato Golden Foam, which the company said is a vanilla sweet cream infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil that can be added to any Starbucks drink.

Persons: Howard Schultz, customizations Organizations: Starbucks, Yorker, North America, CNBC PRO Locations: Italy, North

☆ Marlon Brando's one-of-a-kind Rolex has been sold for more than $5 million — or has it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-Master was recently sold at Christie's for more than $5 million. Brando's Rolex, which features unique customizations, was sold at Christie's auction house in November for more than $5 million. On November 6, 113 watches from his collection, including the Rolex GMT-Master, were auctioned off for more than $42 million. You can do anything you want to it and it will keep on going," Brando Fischer recalled her father telling her, according to the report. Brando Fischer later gifted the watch to her husband as a wedding present, which would be hidden in their home for years until it was auctioned.

Persons: Marlon Brando's, Brando, —, Marlon Brando, Francis Ford, Mohammed Zaman, Zaman, Denis Balibouse, Petra Brando Fischer, Brando Fischer, I'm, Walter E, Kurtz, Petra Organizations: Rolex, Service, Bloomberg, Oscar, Best, New York Times, Phillips, Brown University, Times Locations: Omani, Geneva, Vietnam

That means these Secretlab Cyber Monday deals are your chance to save big on popular high-quality products we've tested and reviewed. Several of our editors have tested it and named it a top pick in our guides to the best gaming chair and best office chair. Overall, the best Secretlab Cyber Monday deals include:To get the latest on all of the best sales, check out our guide to the best Cyber Monday deals. Keep reading below for more in-depth information on what we consider the best Secretlab Cyber Monday deals. Secretlab Titan Evo gaming chair dealSecretlab Titan Evo $519.00 $589.00 Save 12% Available in three frame sizes, the Secretlab Titan Evo is a gaming chair designed to fit people up to 6’9”.

Persons: that's, We've, it's, I've, Secretlab Magnus, Magnus Pro, Secretlab's Magnus Pro, Magnus, Sarah Saril Organizations: Evo, Titan Evo, Secretlab Magnus Pro, Secretlab's, Magnus Pro, Tech

☆ Companies Hesitate on Specialized Industry Clouds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Isabelle Bousquette | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Daniel Seay, CIO of Fifth Third Bank’s commercial bank division, says he hasn’t seen a ’catalyst’ for using a banking-specific cloud. Photo: Stephen Zenner/Zuma PressCloud platforms specialized for given industries are off to a slow start, with some companies saying they simply don’t need them, thanks to existing software and their own customizations. “There hasn’t been a catalyst to say, ‘I’m gonna go with an industry-specific cloud’,” said Daniel Seay , chief information officer of Fifth Third Bank’s commercial bank division. “I can use my private cloud or I can use one of the hyperscalers along with another software firm and meet my needs in a more cost-effective, proven way at this point.” (Hyperscalers refers to the largest cloud companies, among them, AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.)

Persons: Daniel Seay, Stephen Zenner, hasn’t, I’m, ” Organizations: Zuma, Microsoft, Google

The discounts include:The discount on the Titan Evo is by far the standout of this sale. Several of our editors have tested it and named it a top pick in our guides to the best gaming chair and best office chair. The Secretlab Titan Evo has become the industry standard for an ergonomic and customizable gaming chairSecretlab Titan Evo $519.00 $589.00 Save 12% Available in three frame sizes, the Secretlab Titan Evo is a gaming chair designed to fit people up to 6’9”. Read our full Secretlab Titan Evo review for all the details of what we love about this chair. Like the Titan Evo chair, the Magnus Pro desk offers tons of customization options, including a track for multiple monitor arms, app-controlled lighting, and full height adjustment up to 49.2 inches.

Persons: that's, I've, Secretlab's, Secretlab Magnus, Magnus Pro, Secretlab's Magnus Pro, Magnus, Sarah Saril Organizations: Business, Titan Evo, Secretlab's Magnus Pro, Secretlab's, Magnus Pro Locations: Secretlab

☆ TikTokers are hacking Starbucks' app to get cheap drinks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTokers are hacking Starbucks' mobile app to get drinks at a deep discount. One TikToker said she knocked off about 50% on a venti iced coffee with her mobile app hack. In the video, the University of Virginia student demonstrates how she creates a large iced latte at Starbucks for half the price, or under $4, by hacking the chain's app. AdvertisementAdvertisementShe describes how to get more bang for your buck by ordering an iced drink with no ice. "This is the money-saving hack Starbucks does not want you to know about," she said.

Persons: —, TikToker, creamer, @jadeleasy, Jade, It's, Chipotle Organizations: Service, University of Virginia, Starbucks Locations: Orange , California, Americano

☆ Teens love Starbucks for these 4 reasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

American teens have an enduring love for Starbucks. The coffee chain has consistently ranked high in a semiannual survey of teens' favorite brands. It offers four things that teens love: a place to hang, cold coffee, customization, and mobile ordering. "Starbucks gaining slightly among upper income and all teens points to its grasp on teen consumer trends." Starbucks is notably more popular among wealthy teens, of which 16% ranked it as their favorite, but 12% of average-income teens also told Piper Sandler it was their preferred restaurant chain.

Persons: —, Piper Sandler, Brian Mullan, it's, Brady Brewer, Brewer Organizations: Starbucks, Service

☆ Mercedes-Benz's $100,000 electric SUV is an awesome Tesla rival — but its blob-like looks aren't for everyone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I drove Mercedes-Benz's new electric SUV: the EQE SUV. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV.

Persons: Mercedes, Tim Levin, I'm, anyone's, Elon Musk's, Tesla, iX, fanny, that's Organizations: Mercedes, Service, Benz, Subaru, BMW, Tesla's, EV Locations: Wall, Silicon, Stuttgart, Elon

☆ You can't get bananas at Starbucks anymore, and no one seemed to notice for over a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks removed both fresh and frozen bananas from its US menus in May 2022. Other chains have been streamlining their menus by removing complicated items. Starbucks has stopped selling bananas, removing both fresh and frozen bananas from its US menus in May 2022, a spokesperson for the coffee giant told Insider. Some Reddit users who say they worked at Starbucks stores said the bananas would sell poorly, go "gross," and attract fruit flies. A few said that their stores made the move to discontinue bananas before Starbucks management decided to stop sales nationally.

Persons: McDonald's, Chipotle, al, marinade Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Subway Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's made by frothing nonfat cold milk and is added to iced drinks like cold brews. While some drinks come with cold foam on top as standard, such as some of its flavored cold brews, customers can opt to add it to other cold drinks for $1.25. Currently there are six flavors of cold foam available – chocolate cream, cinnamon sweet cream, matcha cream, salted caramel cream, vanilla sweet cream, and white chocolate macadamia cream. Tim Hortons in the US, for example, sells set chilled drinks with cold foam and also has the option for customers to add it to some of its other cold drinks. Dunkin' started selling sweet cold foam in February 2021, and has since launched it in a number of time-limited flavors including brown sugar and salted caramel.

Persons: It's, Tim Hortons, Dunkin, Olivia Vaughn, Heinz Kraft Organizations: Service, New York Times, Starbucks, Maxwell, Aldi Locations: Wall, Silicon, Seattle

☆ It's the hottest cold drink at Starbucks – and it barely contains any coffee
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cold beverages, especially Refreshers, are driving sales at Starbucks. Starbucks Refreshers, a popular line of fruity drinks infused with green coffee extract, usually sell more in the afternoon. "This includes this summer's launch of our Starbucks Refreshers frozen beverages," Narasimhan said. Cold foam, the fastest-growing add-on at Starbucks, can be added to Refreshers, and Starbucks is rolling out "faster and easier to use" cold foam blenders "to meet the summer demand for Starbucks Refreshers frozen beverages," Narasimhan said. "The new blenders support the additional growth of cold foam, the fastest-growing customization at Starbucks," the CEO said.

Persons: they've, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Rachel Ruggeri, Refreshers Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Refreshers

☆ Etsy seller whose side hustle brings in $169,000 a year: My No. 1 tip for making money during inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tim Riegel brought in $169,000 selling 275-pound fire pits in the last 12 months. Six months ago, Tim Riegel bent over his computer, reviewed his monthly earnings statement and saw that his highly lucrative side hustle was making less money. Within six months, freight trucks were delivering his products to Etsy buyers across the U.S. and Canada. I'm constantly looking at my competitors — not just on Etsy, but throughout the U.S. — to see who's making similar types of pits, and their pricing. I'm sure people can replicate it, if they have similar skills — like welding, creativity and the know-how to source the steel.

Persons: Tim Riegel, they've, —, Riegel, Mozark, he'd, I'm, I've Organizations: CNBC Locations: Lamar , Missouri, Kansas City, Canada, U.S

☆ Freshly sliced meat and new store designs: How Subway is trying to save itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Subway scrambled to make fixes: Adding freshly sliced meat earlier this month was the most recent one. Revamped menuSubway added freshly sliced meat this week. In addition to a more neatly organized menu board, Subway added numbers and new names to speed up service. And this week, it rolled out freshly sliced meat — a major shift from Subway’s previous method of having the meat sliced at its factories before being delivered to its stores. Adding freshly sliced meat “felt like the natural step that we needed to get back to and address,” Trevor Haynes, president for Subway’s North America operations, previously told CNN.

Persons: that’s, –, Dunkin, Jimmy John’s, Anthony Behar, ” Trevor Haynes Organizations: New, New York CNN, Firehouse, Wall Street, Inspire Brands, Subway, North, QSR Magazine, Jersey, Apple, customizations, Subway’s North, CNN Locations: New York, Jersey, North America, Subway’s North America

☆ Hasbro is bringing back the Furby again. But this time they'll have an off switch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hasbro is releasing a new Furby for the 25th anniversary of the toy's original release. Furbys were popular in the late '90s, selling 40 million toys in the first three years. Addressing the fears of those that remember, the Amazon listing confirms: Furby will have an off switch. Hasbro recently announced the 25-year anniversary redesign and return of the Furby, everyone's favorite (or least favorite) nonsense-spouting, fuzzy, chatterbox hamster-owl-creature-thing. Furbys were immensely popular when released in 1998, selling 40 million units in the first three years.

Persons: Furby, —, Furbys, Chucky, Damian Dovarganes, Adam Sandler's, hashtag, it's Organizations: Hasbro, Service, NSA, Tiger Electronics, Wall Street, Wall Street Journal Locations: TikTok

☆ Starbucks' iconic coffee cup has a climate problem as mobile, drive-thru orders boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

The experience of on-the-go coffee may be reshaped if Starbucks achieves its reusable cup goal. Reusable coffee cup initiatives around the worldStarbucks has been experimenting with reusable cup concepts in markets around the world. Customers can then return their reusable cup at a participating store or by using the Starbucks app at a cup return kiosk. Even though a reusable cup option has been in place at Starbucks for over 30 years, many consumers, and Starbucks employees, remain oblivious to its existence. The future of the Starbucks' cup has broad implications.

Persons: —, Amelia Landers, Matt Prindiville, hasn't, Conrad MacKerron, MacKerron, Prindiville, IGD, Prindville, Kelly McBee, McBee, They're, Landers, Grace Lee Organizations: Starbucks, Business, CNBC, Arizona State University, Consulting, Clean Locations: Colorado, Hawaii, Taiwan, South Korea, Tokyo, Singapore, London, Geneva, Paris, Europe, Middle East, Africa, U.S, Seattle

☆ Starbucks to Charge Customers $1 for 'No Water' Refresher Requests
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks told Insider it will charge customers $1 for Refresher drinks requested with no water. Starting May 9, Starbucks will charge $1 to customers who request no water in Refreshers, a company spokesperson told Insider. A Starbucks spokesperson said the customization requires more Refresher base, and the price increase accounts for the additional product. Three Starbucks employees told Insider they were nervous about facing backlash from customers over the new charge. In the past, when Starbucks discontinued syrups or changed how customers earned Starbucks Star rewards, some employees have said they faced angry customers.

☆ Explainer: With Bluesky, Jack Dorsey has another go at Twitter-like service
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Jack Dorsey is taking another whack at a Twitter-like service with a new social media platform called Bluesky. The service is gaining traction among Twitter power users, attracting prominent personalities including U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It's a text-focused social media service launched for select users in February. Bluesky offers a similar experience to Twitter - people create profiles and post short messages with text and images. On the timeline, Bluesky has "What's hot" and "Following" feed, similar to the curated "For You" and the chronological "Following" feeds on Twitter.

Search resuls for: "customizations"

25 mentions found