DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ I worked as a Starbucks barista for over a year. Here are 9 signs you're about to get a bad drink.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Dylan Clair | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

As someone who worked as a Starbucks barista for over a year, here are some of the biggest red flags to look out for. It's not always wise to mobile-order a drink with cold foam or shaken espressoCold foam won't last that long on top of a drink. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderCold-foam cold brews have boomed in popularity over the past few years — pumpkin cold foam, Irish-cream cold foam, almond milk-honey cold foam, the list goes on. A little mixing can taste nice, but you lose the texture of the cold foam, which is a delight in itself. The same principle applies to any shaken espresso drink.

Persons: Baristas, —, aren't, Mary Meisenzahl, barista, I'm, It's, Ramin Talaie, Getty, it's, that's, Sarah Jackson, I've Organizations: Starbucks, Service

☆ 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

☆ I worked at Starbucks for a year. Here are 10 of the best things to order from the coffee chain.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Inga Parkel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I prefer things to be sweet and cold, but you can use these recommendations as a baseline and adjust your order to your own preferences. Read on for my favorite things to order at Starbucks. ShutterstockAn iced caramel macchiato is currently my favorite order when I'm looking for a fancier drink — as long as the barista doesn't skimp out on the caramel drizzle (the most important part). A classic soy-milk latte is the perfect pick-me-upI'll order a soy latte hot or iced. The glazed doughnuts are the perfect companion to a cup of coffeePastries are one of my favorite things to pair with coffee.

Persons: —, I've, Abigail Abesamis, James Andrews1, I'm, Mary Meisenzahl Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Business, creamer Locations: Chicago, scone, Gouda

☆ Inside the career rise of Sundar Pichai, the Google CEO being paid hundreds of millions to pave the way towards an 'AI-first' company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Sundar Pichai, Alphabet's CEO, is one of the world's highest-paid executives, earning $226 million in 2022. Pichai has been at Google since 2004 and rose through the ranks, becoming its CEO in 2015 and taking the helm of Alphabet in 2019. As CEO, Pichai has reorganized Google's workforce, issued mass layoffs, and emphasized AI. AdvertisementAdvertisementSundar Pichai has had a meteoric rise since joining Google as a 31-year-old product manager in 2004. In the 11 years that followed his first steps on the Googleplex, Pichai was promoted four times, eventually becoming the CEO of Google in 2015.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Pichai, —, Larry Page, Jillian D'Onfro, Avery Hartmans, Mary Meisenzahl Organizations: Google, Service

You can sign out of Facebook on each device one by one, or on all devices at once through your account's settings. But, if you forgot to log out and no longer have access to the device, you can still log out of all devices at once from your Facebook's account settings. Here's how to log out of Facebook on any device one by one, or on all devices at once. Click "Select all", then "Log Out" to log out of devices. Click "Log Out."

Persons: Grace Eliza Goodwin, You'll Organizations: Facebook

☆ This $6 million Las Vegas bunker is still looking for a buyer. It's 26 feet underground, decorated like the 1970s, and owned by a foundation that wants to freeze humans for science.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Dan Latu | Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Las Vegas house with a 15,000-square-foot underground bunker is for sale for $5.9 million. Built in 1978, the bunker is outfitted in furniture and decor to match the original time period. A Las Vegas property that fits the bill, initially listed in 2019 for $18 million, is still looking for a buyer — now for just $5.9 million. To build a comparative property, LaForge estimates it could take up to eight times the current asking price. The property is currently owned by the Stasis Foundation, which bought the site in 2015 for $1.15 million as part of a bank auction.

☆ Pizza brands like Domino's and Papa John's are struggling as Americans shy away from delivery — and attempts to lure customers back are falling short
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Domino's began offering coupons, or what they referred to as "tips," for customers who picked up their own pizzas using curbside delivery. The promotion, which debuted in February 2022, came after the company announced its first same-store sale decline in a decade. Domino's is offering carside delivery. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderSource: Insider, Insider

☆ Organized retail thieves' most-wanted list: Survey reveals which items are most likely to be stolen from stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Organized retail crime has contributed to a $94.5 billion inventory-shrink problem for the retail industry. Retail criminals steal across many different product categories, per the National Retail Federation. Here are the most popular items targeted for organized retail crime as identified by the National Retail Federation, in no particular order. Shoshy Ciment/Business InsiderDesigner handbagsFashion and fine jewelryBeltsWatchesDesigner sunglassesBranded eyewearFootwearShoe retailers need to be wary of organized retail criminals. REUTERS/Jessica DinapoliInfant formulaInfant and toddler itemsChildren's toysOtherGift cards also aren't safe from organized retail crime.

☆ Starbucks cup lids are falling off — it's not your imagination. Workers say it's a problem.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insider spoke to five Starbucks workers around the US who reported faulty lids. The workers said lids don't fit cups and regularly spill on customers. Starbucks didn't comment on the lids, but the company has dealt with supply chain problems in the past. The situation was so dire in December that he estimates he was throwing about 50% of lids away as they were unusable, he told Insider. "Cup and lid issues were way less common before the pandemic" a worker in Pennsylvania who has been at Starbucks since 2018 told Insider.

☆ Need to return an Amazon purchase? The ecommerce giant has doubled its return options.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Dennis Green | Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Return to a UPS storeKen Wolter/ShutterstockYou can return an item to the UPS store without any packing or printing labels. Addresses in the US are eligible for free return shipping, Amazon says. Amazon generally recommends its drop-off options, but you may be required to ship returns yourself if the item is large or heavy. Drop off at Kohl'sBusiness Insider/Jessica TylerReturns at Kohl's work the same as they do at the UPS store. Return to a physical Amazon storeAP/Ted S. WarrenAmazon buyers can bring an unboxed item to return at physical Amazon stores for free using a QR code.

☆ Texas Roadhouse is on track to become the biggest casual chain in the US — here's how it grew from small beginnings in the Midwest
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Taylor recruited staff for the growing Texas Roadhouse chain by eating at other restaurants and introducing himself to servers, hosts, and cooks he thought were doing a good job, he wrote in his book. Lars Ronbog/Getty Images

☆ Olive Garden, Wendy's, and Chick-fil-A are suddenly adding sesame to popular foods like bread sticks and buns, and people with allergies are furious
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Nancy Luna | Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Restaurant bakers are adding in sesame flour since it makes it easier to avoid cross-contamination. Allergy-friendly foods like breadsticks at Olive Garden are now off-limits to allergic consumers. The changes have affected buns at Wendy's and Chick-fil-A and breadsticks at Olive Garden. Olive Garden now lists sesame as an ingredient in its bread sticks. Families locked out of their "allergen safe havens" say they have no recourse but to stop patronizing these chains.

☆ Cardi B is right — eating at home doesn't save you as much money as it used to
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cardi B tweeted Tuesday about the high price of groceries compared to restaurants. Grocery prices are rising faster than restaurant prices at the highest rates since the 1970s. Grocery prices have risen faster relative to restaurant prices. Lettuce, which Cardi B mentioned, was up 8.9% between October and November 2022. In November, restaurants had their highest-ever percentage of market share compared to grocery stores at 55.2%, according to government data.

☆ Some Starbucks customers are furious about changes to its rewards program that makes most free drinks harder to redeem
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Customers who enroll in the chain's Starbucks Rewards program earn points — or "stars" — when purchasing food or drinks, which can then be redeemed for free menu items, like coffee. Insider spoke to four Starbucks customers who said they'll visit the chain less often thanks to the change. Though she's been a loyal customer since 2015, Graf-Juarez plans to stop visiting Starbucks, she told Insider. Amy Babby, another former Starbucks devotee, told Insider that she plans to discontinue the habit completely. Chipotle increased the number of points rewards members needed for a free burrito by 16%, and Dunkin' revamped its entire rewards system, more than doubling the amount of spending required for drinks like a free latte.

☆ I visited a Big Lots store and saw why why the chain is struggling as customers flock to other discount stores
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

It's definitely entertaining to walk around and kill some time, but it wouldn't be my first choice for anything I needed to shop for. Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

☆ Starbucks is changing its rewards program, a leaked memo shows — making it harder to redeem some free drinks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Starbucks is making changes to its beloved Starbucks Rewards program. Customers who enroll in the chain's Starbucks Rewards program earn points — or "stars" — when purchasing food or drinks, which can then be redeemed for free menu items, like coffee. Rewards members were responsible for over half of Starbucks' sales last quarter. Starbucks Rewards members tend to have strong feelings about the program and any potential changes. The rewards program has gained over 10 million members since then, so even more people could be affected this time around.

☆ These are the fast food trends to look out for in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fast food chains are cashing in on nostalgic foods and character to draw in old and new customers. In a recession, consumers are likely to tighten their belts further, CEO and president of Kalinowski Equity Associates Mark Kalinowski told Insider. Fast food chains likely will introduce menu items "to provide the value customers want," he told Insider. The chain is explicitly promoting the new sandwich as "reigniting the chicken sandwich wars," which started with the 2019 release of the Popeyes spicy chicken sandwich. NostalgiaMcDonald'sNostalgic brands and menu items will be big in 2023, according to Yelp's predictions from data scientists and trend experts.

☆ I compared Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's. Costco is the best, even though its membership is most expensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

I still think Costco is the best choice for most people, even at the slightly steeper price of $60 per year. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderDo you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

☆ This is how Waffle House stays open during storms — including using a natural disaster playbook, emergency teams, and limited menus
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Waffle House keeps its nearly 2,000 locations open 24/7, even through many natural disasters. Waffle House takes natural disaster preparation so seriously that it's become an unofficial metric to measure the severity of storms for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as the "Waffle House Index." "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? Every location is armed with a "Waffle House storm playbook" that has protocol for keeping the restaurant running in an emergency, including if electricity and running water are unavailable, Waffle House Director of External Affairs Pat Warner told NPR. The company shifts to a grill-only menu during natural disasters, Waffle House said.

☆ Publix grocery heiress was willing to give up to $3 million to the pro-Trump Jan. 6 rally, transcript reveals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Publix supermarket heiress Julie Fancelli was willing to contribute up to $3 million for the Jan. 6 pro-Trump rally, a transcript shows. The transcript released by the House select committee shows Fancelli gave money to Charlie Kirk, Alex Jones, and Roger Stone, the Washington Post reported. Documents indicate that Fancelli also paid for Trump advisor Roger Stone to fly into Washington DC for the rally, the Post reported. Trump used the rally to promote baseless claims of election fraud before a group of supporters stormed the Capitol with plans to stop President Joe Biden's election certification. When the House panel asked Fancelli if she intended for the rally to become violent, she said "no."

☆ Cult-favorite Crumbl Cookies franchisees slapped with nearly $60,000 in fines for violating child labor laws in 6 states
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Crumbl Cookies franchisees violated federal labor laws by scheduling minors outside of legal hours. Minor-aged workers at 11 Crumbl Cookie locations in six states employed minor workers who exceeded legal time limits and operated "potentially dangerous ovens and machinery," the federal agency said in a statement. Crumbl Cookies' corporate office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Fast food and quick service chains like Crumbl historically rely on teenagers to staff locations, especially amid a labor shortage. Child labor law violations spiked in 2022 with a 37% increase over the previous year, according to the Department of Labor.

☆ The Chick-fil-A franchisee who paid workers in chicken is now being fined by the Department of Labor
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A North Carolina Chick-fil-A owner owes back pay to people who worked for food vouchers. The Department of Labor is also fining the owner more than $6,000 for child labor law violations. Chick-fil-A's corporate office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the Labor Department ruling, but the company previously said that it did not endorse the program. Having the workers do so was a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Labor Department said. Separately, the Labor Department said the Hendersonville, North Carolina, restaurant owes $6,450 in civil penalties over child labor violations.

☆ Panera mobile order theft is so common that workers say they now have to keep bags behind the counter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Five Panera workers told Insider that thefts forced them to keep mobile orders behind the counter. Panera, like many other quick-service restaurants, leaves bagged mobile orders on shelves for customers to pick up. The chain introduced Rapid Pick-Up for customers who order food to-go in 2014 as part of its Panera 2.0 rebrand. "As long as I remember having RPU [Rapid Pick-Up] at Panera, there has always been theft," a cashier in the Midwest told Insider. A manager in the Southeast told Insider that all caffeinated Charged Lemonades in her market are behind the counter because of theft.

☆ The fast food technology we needed in 2020 is finally here
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mobile ordering and drive-thrus exploded in 2020, but many chains didn't have the capacity to meet demand. Two years later, fast food chains are testing technology designed to make those orders faster and easier. Panera is testing an AI-powered drive-thru system called Tori that takes customers' orders at the speaker. Chains with significant drive-thru and mobile ordering businesses pre-pandemic are finally stepping up their technology, too. Taco Bell launched its Go Mobile format in 2021, specifically created to cater to mobile orders with smaller footprints and a drive-thru lane for digital orders.

☆ Burger King and Wendy's both just debuted new Italian-style sandwiches as the chicken sandwiches wars heat back up. Here's how they compare.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Chains usually have a good idea of what items their competitors are testing, so that may have spurred one of them to speed up the rollout to put the items head to head, according to Kalinowski. Wendy's sign. Dan Tian/Xinhua/Getty Images

Search resuls for: "Mary Meisenzahl"

25 mentions found