DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Man Behind California Forever, Silicon Valley's City of the Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Hugh Langley | Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

He sees California Forever. And if he can't undo the damage, there may never be a California Forever. California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. But here's the thing: California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. Places like California Forever aren't being opposed by the people who are desperate for a place to live.

Persons: Jan Sramek's, Goldman Sachs, Sramek, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen —, They've, Christie Hemm, Peter Thiel, Jan Sramek, Jan, Thiel, Goldman, CheatSheet, Sramek's, hadn't, Jonas Rave, who's, —, Guy Saidenberg, Evernote, Marc Andreessen, Jane Jacobs, He's, he'd, Robert Moses, growth.y Christie Hemm, Flannery, Bronson Johnson, David George, Andreessen Horowitz, Marilyn Farley, Farley, Solano County's, Kathleen Threlfall, Bill Mortimore, California Forever's, Jessica Christian, he's, Lyle Lanley, Solano, Sam Houston, weren't, Gabriel Metcalf, You've, John Garamendi, Garamendi, isn't, they'll, latte, Christie, Travis, I've, aren't, They're Organizations: Silicon, California, BI Development, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, Party, Rising Star, Facebook, York, Sramek's, BI Sramek, Google, American, Planners, Sacramento -, Travis Air Force Base, Area, titans, Farmers, councilwoman, California Forever, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Air Force, Flannery Associates, Disney, San Francisco, Vallejo Naval, Historical Museum, Rep, BI, Solano, Sierra, Goldman Locations: San Francisco, It's, Sramek, California, Rio Vista, Solano County, Napa, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, America, London, Zurich, England, Czech Republic, Dřevohostice, York, British, Eastern Europe, Cambridge, Bay Area, Hayes Valley, America's cutest, Atlanta, Phoenix, Copenhagen, Barcelona, New York, Sacramento - San Joaquin, San Francisco Bay, Lake Tahoe, Toledo , Ohio, Silicon, Google's, Toronto, Big Tech, China, Calif, Springfield, Vallejo, He's, Atherton, Foreverville, Fairfield, Austin, Solano, Valley, Europe

☆ 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

☆ Billionaire Cloudflare CEO's lawsuit over his neighbors' dogs is getting wild
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Matthew Prince is suing his Park City neighbors over their Bernese Mountain dogs. They say it's retaliation for opposing Prince's plans to build his dream home. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMatthew Prince, the billionaire cofounder of cybersecurity company Cloudflare, is waging a legal battle with his neighbors over their Bernese Mountain dogs, Sasha and Mocha. But his neighbors, Eric Hermann and Susan Fredstom-Hermann, say the suit is actually retaliation for opposing Prince's plans to build his dream home in the ritzy ski town, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Persons: Matthew Prince, Prince, —, Eric Hermann, Susan Fredstom, Hermann Organizations: City, City Hall, Service, Street, Business Locations: Mocha

☆ Your latte could get even more expensive, thanks to a drought in Vietnam that's strangling coffee bean production
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Robusta coffee futures hit a 16-year high because of a prolonged drought in Vietnam. The robusta coffee variety is the basis for both espresso and instant coffee. A long, El Niño-induced drought in Vietnam pushed up the price of robusta futures on Wednesday to the highest in at least 16 years, Bloomberg reported. This year's drought in Vietnam could continue the low-supply cycle, hurting next year's production. Vietnam is increasingly importing cheaper robusta from Brazil to satisfy soaring local demand from coffee drinkers, Bloomberg reported in March.

Persons: —, El Niño, Tran, Lan Anh Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, US Department of Agriculture, Co, International Coffee Organization Locations: Vietnam, Brazil, Asia, Europe, mocha

☆ 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' ends with a perfect 'Seinfeld' send-up — here's what happened
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The long-running show referenced the polarizing "Seinfeld" series finale in its ending. How did the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' series finale end? This mirrors the structure of the "Seinfeld" series finale. Related storiesLarry tells Seinfeld that "this is how we should've ended the finale," referencing the widely hated "Seinfeld" finale. Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David in the series finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Persons: Larry David's, —, David, Larry, Earl Mack, Greg Kinnear, They're, Joe, Saverio Guerra, Irma, Tracey Ullman, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry, Jerry Seinfeld, George, Jason Alexander, Elaine, Julia Louis, Dreyfus, Kramer, Michael Richards, Seinfeld, Larry David, John Johnson, It's, Ken Tucker, who'd, Samuel Beckett, Tucker, Grantland Organizations: Service, HBO, New Yorker Locations: Atlanta, Massachusetts, —

☆ I tried 30 of Trader Joe's seasonal spring products, and there are only a few I wouldn't buy again
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +44 min

AdvertisementOther candy makers should take notes because Trader Joe's clearly knows what it's doing when it comes to chocolate. I fell in love with the lemon-and-ricotta ravioli's tasty fillingThis lemon-and-ricotta option is my new favorite Trader Joe's ravioli. These blueberry-and-lemon hand pies are the perfect pastry for the spring seasonThe blueberry-and-lemon hand pies from Trader Joe's look homemade. Trader Joe's Portuguese custard tarts totally lived up to the hypeTrader Joe's Portuguese custard tarts blew me away. If someone told me Trader Joe's lemon sheet cake came from a fancy bakery, I wouldn't question it for a second.

Persons: —, I've, Wilson, Joe's, they're, Savanna, I'm, seitan, pico, gallo, there's, Joe's didn't, Parmesan, Almond, Wilson I'm, graham, They'd, Meyer, munch, Wilson I've, Ina Garten, They're, madeleines, Florentine, Joe, Wilson It's, frosting, pasteis, nata, I'd, pretzels, Joe's dulce, dulce de Organizations: Service, Business, Wilson Locations: Savanna, Eastern Europe, Parmesan, Portugal

☆ Harvard-trained neuroscientist with 20+ years experience: 7 tricks I use to keep my memory sharp
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Lisa Genova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

See itWhen you create a mental image of what you're trying to remember, you add more neural connections to it. Make what you're trying to remember something you can easily see in your mind's eye2. Use your imaginationPeople with the best memories have the best imaginations. People with the best memories have the best imaginations. If you don't get enough sleep, you'll go through the next day experiencing a form of amnesia.

Persons: Dwayne, Johnson, Lisa Genova, Taylor, aren't, you'll, Lisa Organizations: Harvard, New York Times, Bates College, Harvard University, PBS, NBC, CNN, NPR, TED, CNBC Locations: biopsychology

☆ I'm a former Starbucks barista. These 5 drinks are so overrated — here's what to order instead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Inga Parkel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If you like the Pink Drink, you should try the even better Mango Dragonfruit Refresher. Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice is much better than its Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderThe most anticipated holiday drink is the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but the real MVP for autumn is the Caramel Apple Spice. Nitro cold brew is basically a smoother, less watery version of regular cold brew — it's pre-chilled, so ice is omitted from the drink. The Pink Drink is overrated – Mango Dragonfruit is the best Refresher If you like the Pink Drink, try some other Refreshers.

Persons: —, Mary Meisenzahl, Frappuccino, Paige DiFiore Organizations: Service, Starbucks Locations: mocha

☆ 6 ways to upgrade a box of brownie mix, from a former pastry cook
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Pippa Allen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

To upgrade boxed brownies, I'd switch my baking vessel or add some extracts to the batter. You can also throw in salty snacks, extra chocolate, peanut butter, or coffee. Even if your mix already has chocolate chips, add in the chopped chocolate anyways. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers that help them maintain their shape, but chopped chocolate will create beautiful melted pockets in the brownies. If you want a subtle boost to the chocolate flavor of your brownies, add a teaspoon or two of espresso powder to the batter.

Persons: Ali Majdfar, Elena Veselova, Kinga Krzeminska Locations: Charleston , South Carolina

☆ Starbucks is doubling down on its olive oil-infused coffee despite a barrage of bad reviews and online hate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Starbucks is massively expanding its rollout of Oleato, its olive oil-infused coffee range. AdvertisementStarbucks is rolling out Oleato, its olive oil-infused coffee range, to all stores in the US despite mixed reviews. They're also available at some Starbucks stores in Canada, London, Paris, Osaka, and Tokyo, as well as a more extensive range at US Starbucks Reserve stores. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz introduced the range after mixing olive oil with his Starbucks coffee in Sicily, where the oil is a key component of the Mediterranean diet. A nutritionist told CNN that combining a high-fat substance, like olive oil, with coffee can have a laxative effect.

Persons: —, They're, Howard Schultz, Schultz, TikToker, Phoebe Hunt, barista, they're Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Starbucks Reserve, Wall Street, CNN, Business Locations: Italy, Canada, London, Paris, Osaka, Tokyo, Sicily

☆ Loyal Aldi shoppers shared their grocery lists with us — here are the best things they're buying for breakfast
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Business Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Read Amanda Turner's full Aldi shopping list: I'm a military wife who drives 90 minutes with my toddler to shop at Aldi. Read Tori Hazelett's full Aldi shopping list: I'm a chef and mom of 2 who loves Aldi. Read Megan Schuett's full Aldi shopping list: I spend $100 a week at Aldi to feed my family of 4. Read Jailynn Taylor's full Aldi shopping list: I shop at Aldi for just myself and spend under $50 a week. Read Lisa Tanner's full Aldi shopping list: I'm a mom of 10 who loves shopping at Aldi.

Persons: —, Courtney Nuss, Read Courtney Nuss, Amanda Turner, Amanda Turner Turner, Read Amanda Turner's, Spencer Morin, Read Spencer, Tori Hazelett, Tori Hazelett Hazelett, Aunt Maple's, Read Tori Hazelett's, Megan Schuett, Megan Schuett Schuett, Megan Schuett Schuett's, Read Megan Schuett's, Jailynn Taylor, Taylor, Lisa Tanner, Lisa Tanner Tanner, Read Lisa Tanner's, Matthew Lesky, Lesky, Read Matthew Lesky's, I've, Meredith Ochs, Ochs, Read Meredith Ochs, Kaur, Rachel Garlinghouse, Rachel Garlinghouse Aldi, Read Rachel Garlinghouse's, Zamot, Dajha, Zamot Zamot Organizations: Aldi, Millville, Service, Aldi Turner, creamer Locations: Millville, Nuss, Aldi

☆ What’s Your Favorite Movie to Watch at the Holidays? We Want to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Barbara Chai | More About Barbara Chai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I had watched the movie so many times. When I was in college, I’d come home for Thanksgiving break and flip on Jodie Foster’s “Home for the Holidays” while sipping a peppermint mocha. Maybe he’ll take to the Charlie Brown holiday specials this year. Or maybe he’ll continue to worship “The Polar Express,” turning the pages of the hardcover book in his lap as he watches the snowy scenes unfold. Images like this burn into my memory more than any still, scene or set from a movie.

Persons: Ralphie, I’d, Jodie Foster’s “, Peter Jackson’s “, I’m, Charlie Brown

☆ Here’s what this year’s Starbucks holiday cups look like
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —For fervent fans of Starbucks, the holidays officially kick off this week with the arrival of its seasonal cups. Beginning Thursday, customers at its US locations will have their hot drinks served in one of four festive cups that are “clad in holiday red and Starbucks greens and a mood-boosting magenta,” according to a release. Holiday sales are important for the coffee chain: Last year, revenue grew 14% compared to a similar time period the year before, according to the company. Starbucks first rolled out seasonal cups in 1997. Starbucks reports earnings Thursday, perhaps providing a glimpse of what it expects this year’s holiday sales to be.

Persons: ”, Kristy Cameron Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks Locations: New York

☆ 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

☆ Gisele Bündchen felt 'suffocated' and had self-destructive thoughts from stress of modeling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Gisele Bündchen says that living the life of a top supermodel created so much stress, it was almost too much to bear. And then I started being in studios, and I felt, like, suffocated,” Bündchen shared. Bündchen and Brady jointly announced in October 2022 that they were divorcing after 13 years of marriage, both stressing that co-parenting their kids is a shared priority. It makes me so happy to see that, they’re flourishing into their own beings,” she said. Bündchen has also found solace in the wellness space, prioritizing her self-care by meditating, exercising and eating healthy as a means to find balance.

Persons: CNN — Gisele Bündchen, Bündchen, Lee Cowan, ” Bündchen, “, ”, ” Cowan, she’s, Tom Brady –, “ It’s, Brady, Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, they’ve Organizations: CNN, CBS, Sunday Locations: Miami

☆ Starbucks promises its new 'siren system' will cut the wait for your drink — but most stores are still waiting for the rollout
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks' wait times have increased with higher demand for complicated cold drinks. The company is rolling out its new "Siren System" to overhaul and streamline drink-making. Last year the company announced its new "Siren System," a set of procedures and equipment to overhaul and streamline the drink-making process. But the cold drinks on the menu also tend to be more complicated and take longer to make. Only 40% of stores are expected to have the Siren System in three years time, Bloomberg recently reported.

Persons: John Culver, baristas, Washington barista, you'll Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Siren, Bloomberg, —, Washington Locations: Wall, Silicon, Grande, California, Boston

MILAN (AP) — A hush fell over the Fendi runway as the front-row filled with supermodels signaling the show was about to begin: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Kate Moss had taken their seats. Kim Jones’ Spring-Summer 2024 collection for Fendi unveiled during the first day of Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday was a twist on knitwear, anchored by leather. The first look set the tone: A form-hugging color-block knit dresses in mocha, baby blue, salmon and ivory, with a double sash trailing at the waist lending drama and movement. Slinky, clinging monochrome knit dresses had peekaboo cutouts. A chunkier ribbed knit gave a chenille-soft appearance in a long jacket and skirt with a healthy front slit.

Persons: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Kim Jones, Fendi, Knitwear, trop, Jones —, Karl Lagerfeld, —, Demi Moore, Cristina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Naomi Watts Organizations: MILAN, Fendi Locations: Milan, mocha

☆ Starbucks is giving away free fall drinks every Thursday through Sept. 28: Here’s how to get yours
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pumpkin spice season is finally upon us, and Starbucks is wasting no time getting in on the action. Every Thursday from Sept. 7 until Sept. 28, the coffee giant will be running a buy-one-get-one offer on its fall drink lineup. To receive the free drinks, you'll need to download the Starbucks app and create an account. The offer can only be redeemed once per week, and cannot be used on drinks that cost more than $10. Starbucks' iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Persons: Apple Crisp, Peter Dukes, whittle, Dukes, Warren Buffett Organizations: Starbucks Locations: Washington ,, Vancouver

☆ Ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz admits he once shunned the Frappuccino
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was initially opposed to introducing the Frappuccino. But early on, it had a notable critic: then-CEO Howard Schultz. "I think Frappuccino is a great example of Howard Schultz being 100% incorrect, wrong and on the wrong side of the debate," Schultz said in the interview. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he initially opposed introducing the blended coffee drink. AdvertisementAdvertisement"It turned out that Frappuccino became a multibillion-dollar business for Starbucks," Schultz told Bensinger.

Persons: Howard Schultz, Schultz, wouldn't, Graham Bensinger, Abby Wallace, Dina Campion, Campion, George Howell, Schultz wasn't, Bensinger, Frappuccinos, Alex Tai, Frappuccino Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Southern California Starbucks, Beverage, Getty Images Locations: Wall, Silicon, Southern California, Canada, Shanghai

☆ UN chief spotlights worsening rights in Myanmar as journalist jailed for 20 years for cyclone coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sai Zaw Thaike was in western Rakhine state to report on the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Mocha, which killed over 140 people and caused widespread destruction. He was arrested by junta soldiers in the state capital Sittwe on May 23, Myanmar Now reported. Sai Zaw Thaike, a photojournalist for the independent news website Myanmar Now, works at his desk in Yangon, Myanmar in August 2020. “Myanmar authorities’ grotesque 20-year sentencing of Myanmar Now journalist Sai Zaw Thaike on blatantly bogus charges is an outrage and should be immediately reversed,” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative said in a statement. “Myanmar’s junta must stop imprisoning members of the press for merely doing their jobs as reporters.”CNN has not been able to immediately reach the Myanmar junta.

Persons: CNN — Myanmar’s, General António Guterres, “, Guterres, Sai Zaw Thaike, Sai Zaw, Swe Win, ”, Cyclone, ” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s, Suu Kyi, Farhan Haq, Suu, Min Aung, Kamala Harris Organizations: CNN, United Nations ’, UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, People’s Defense Forces, AP, Protect Journalists, Southeast, ” CNN, Myanmar, Reuters Locations: Myanmar, Rakhine, Indonesia’s, Jakarta, Sittwe, Sai, Yangon, AP Myanmar, Southeast Asia, ”, Philippines, United States

☆ Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is back, and it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —The Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming back, again. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte was introduced 20 years ago. StarbucksAnd Starbucks’ Reserve stores, more upscale locations, will also sell pumpkin spice beverages for the first time this year. Pumpkin spice is everywhere now, to the point where people roll their eyes when they see yet another pumpkin spice product, or mourn the arrival of pumpkin spice anything as marking the end of summer. Seasonal items like the Pumpkin Spice Latte are also an important marketing tool because they only come around once a year.

Persons: “ it’s, ”, Thomas Prather, ” Prather, you’ve, Peter Dukes, “, ” Dukes, likeliness, Dukes, Tapping, Paige Leyden, Kelly Haws Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, PSL, Olin Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University . Pumpkin Locations: New York, ., Washington ,, Vancouver, North America, Mintel

☆ Santa better get a T- shirt because summer has claimed Christmas
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Stores have been pushing up Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier in recent years. In 2021, Amazon and Walmart, afraid of tepid consumer demand because of the pandemic, initiated holiday sales as early as October. The same pattern was repeated last year, effectively elongating the year-end holiday shopping season. “I expect an ever-growing holiday season is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future,” said Zak Stambor, senior retail & ecommerce analyst with Insider Intelligence. Among the festive items were Christmas tree ornaments, festive ribbons, plush elves and tabletop ornaments.

Persons: can’t, Don’t, ”, Zak Stambor, Nikki Baird, Stambor, here’s, we’ve, ” Lowe's, Lowe’s, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, Labor, Insider Intelligence, ” Industry, Amazon, Depot, Lowe’s, CNN, Costco Locations: New York, Amazon, “, Santa

☆ Dunkin is releasing spiked versions of their iced coffees and teas
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

After setting the internet abuzz last week, Dunkin’ will officially announce Monday the debut of Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees and Iced Teas, which are both scheduled to roll out in the coming weeks. The two malt-based beverages, scheduled for an early September release, will feature eight flavors between them, all based on the chain’s iced coffee and tea flavors. Last year, Pabst Blue Ribbon axed their hard coffee flavor drink because of poor sales. The slightly sweet ice tea flavor is being sold in a six-pack of 12-ounce cans and a single 19.2-ounce cans. Dunkin' Spiked iced tea is coming out in late August.

Persons: New York CNN —, Dunkin ’, Dunkin, RTDs, ” Duane Stanford, ”, Samuel Adams, Dave Williams, Bump, ” Dunkin, Scott Murphy, ” Stanford, “, Bravo’s, Brian Gilbert Organizations: New, New York CNN, Beverage Digest, CNN, Boston Beer Company, Bump Williams Consulting, Pabst, Ribbon, Molson Coors, La, Dunkin Locations: New York, Kahlua, Florida , Massachusetts, Texas, England

☆ Coffee chains are betting big on cold drinks as Gen Z turns its back on old-school coffees
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cold drinks tend to cost more, but they can also cause headaches for staff. Cold drinks account for 75% of Starbucks' beverage sales. "The team is making good progress with its efforts to become a bigger player in the high-growth cold beverage category and saw cold beverage sales grow 16.6% year-over-year," Restaurant Brands International CEO Josh Kobza said. Tim Hortons' cold drinks menu looks remarkably like Starbucks' – especially in the US. Cold drinks can potentially reap higher profits for coffee chains because they tend to cost more and some customers opt for costly modifications.

Persons: Tim Hortons, Laxman Narasimhan, Josh Kobza, Kobza, Tim Hortons execs, Howard Schultz, Brady Brewer, Brewer, Baristas Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Brands Locations: Wall, Silicon, Canada, Maryland, Nebraska

☆ U.S. fast-food chains add automation to boost speed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Kailyn Rhone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With mass shortages of low-cost labor due to the pandemic, chains shifted to technology investments in their kitchens to fill the gap. The addition of automation tools in restaurant chains could cut down on wait times, driving higher consumer engagement and increasing sales for the rest of the year, restaurant executives say. Thirty-six percent of 1,000 U.S. people told HungerRush in a survey in May that they believed major restaurant chains don’t have enough staff to take orders, prepare food, and handle deliveries. Last year, Domino's Pizza Enterprises announced an automated pizza prep device in partnership with Picnic Works, a Seattle-based food-automation startup. "Anytime there's new automation, it creates new kinds of jobs," said Gaurav Kachhawa, chief product officer at Gupshup, a conversational messaging platform.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Rachel Ruggeri, HungerRush, Aaron Nilsson, Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Domino's, Gaurav Kachhawa, It's, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Siren, Starbucks, National Restaurant Association, Society, Pizza Enterprises, Picnic, Kailyn, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Michigan, Colorado, Houston, Seattle, Indiana, Indiana , Illinois, Wisconsin

Search resuls for: "mocha"

25 mentions found