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☆ The Container Store could be the next big chain to go bankrupt
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-29 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Even the power of Marie Kondo may not be enough to save the Container Store. In 2019 and 2020, the Container Store got a big boost from “Tidying Up,” the hit Netflix show from the home de-cluttering evangelist. Credit rating agencies rank the Container Store as one of the most financially distressed companies in the retail industry. The Container Store had been set to receive a much-needed $40 million financial lifeline from Beyond, the owner of Bed Bath & Beyond and Overstock.com, that would have put Bed Bath & Beyond products on Container Store shelves. “The rise of platforms like Temu have given consumers some much cheaper options for the type of products Container Store sells,” Saunders said.

Persons: Marie Kondo, Kondo, Marie, Melissa Reiff, Joann Fabric, Justin Sullivan, Tim Hynes, ” Neil Saunders, Satish Malhotra, “, ” Saunders, Christina Boni, ”, “ It’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Netflix, Research, Bed, GlobalData, CNN, Target, Container, ModernRetail, Walmart, Moody’s Locations: New York, Amazon

☆ Despite Ozempic and RFK Jr., Uncrustables and Twinkies believe ‘very strongly that snacking continues’
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-28 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But the owner of Twinkies and Uncrustables is predicting that nothing will be able to stop America’s insatiable hunger for snacks. “As it relates to anything in the political domain, we believe very strongly that snacking continues,” J.M. Food companies aren’t betting on Kennedy and the Trump administration to influence their businesses and Americans’ eating habits. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesSmucker believes that its food brands’ appeal and Americans’ craving for snacks will outweigh any changes Kennedy may bring. The brand includes meals high in protein and fiber that are “intended to be a companion for GLP-1 weight loss medication users and consumers focused on weight management.”

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, snacking, ”, Mark Smucker, Kennedy’s, Kennedy, Donald Trump, Kennedy “, ” Alexia Howard, Bernstein, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, Trump, ” Marion Nestle, Daniel Acker, Smucker, Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Health, Human Services Department, Assistance, Pepsi, General, Trump, US Senate, New York University, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Research Locations: New York, Smucker, Tiskilwa , Illinois, U.S, Switzerland

☆ Lunchables were a smashing success. Now they’re in crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Lunchables’ slide is hurting its parent company, Kraft Heinz. The end result isn’t just that Lunchables sales are down — numerous competitors have popped up, including Lunchly by YouTube stars Logan Paul and MrBeast. Kraft Heinz also pitched Lunchables to budget-strapped school cafeterias as a way to save money on labor and other costs. Kraft Heinz criticized the findings and said the report contributed to Lunchables’ sales slide. Lunchables’ ‘transformation’Despite Lunchables’ recent woes, Kraft Heinz says it’s investing in the brand.

Persons: Kraft Heinz, Kraft, Lunchables, ”, Diana Frost, “, Logan Paul, MrBeast, It’s, Matt McClain, Carlos Abrams, Rivera, ” Frost, Oscar Mayer, Michael Moss ’, ” Moss, ” Lunchables, Moss, Justin Sullivan, Bob Drane, it’s, “ Lunchables, Frost, David Garfield Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, YouTube, Washington Post, ”, School, Center for Science, Consumer, US Department of Agriculture, Kraft, School Nutrition Association, Crain’s Magazine Locations: New York, Euromonitor, Turkey, bologna, Moss

☆ Walmart rolls back DEI programs after right-wing backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, will curb some diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It’s the latest company to backtrack on diversity initiatives in the face of right-wing pressure. The company said Monday it is ending racial equity training programs for staff and evaluating programs designed to increase supplier diversity. “We are willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America,” Walmart said in a statement. Walmart joins Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply Co., John Deere and other companies in revising or pulling back on their DEI programs, support for Pride marches and LGBTQ events, strategies to slow climate change and other social policies.

Persons: “ We’ve, Robby Starbuck, ” Starbuck, Starbuck, Davidson, John Deere Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, for Racial Equity, Harley, Tractor Supply, Pride Locations: New York, United States, America, Hollywood

☆ TJ Maxx says Trump’s tariff ‘chaos’ will help the chain
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But TJ Maxx believes that Trump’s tariff plans will benefit the discount chain. TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said Wednesday that the “chaos” Trump’s tariffs may bring to the retail industry plays right into its business model. Tariffs are taxes placed on imported goods designed to protect domestic manufacturers. Unlike most brands and retailers, TJX says it only imports a small, undisclosed percentage of its merchandise from factories overseas. “In other words, even if prices do generally rise because of tariffs, TJX will still be relatively cheaper.”

Persons: Donald Trump’s, TJ Maxx, it’s, ”, Ernie Herrman, ” “ That’s, TJX, Trump, Herrman, Lowe’s, Steve Madden, John David Rainey, ” Neil Saunders Organizations: New, New York CNN — Companies, Marshalls, Companies, National Retail Federation, “ Manufacturers, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Walmart, CNBC, GlobalData, CNN, “ Locations: New York, HomeGoods, East, China, TJX

☆ Target sounds the alarm bell on holiday shopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Target is expecting a surprisingly weak holiday shopping season, a warning sign for the retail industry. The holiday shopping season is pivotal for retailers. While Target can survive a weak holiday season, many smaller companies depend on strong sales during the holidays. But Target has also slumped because of its merchandise mix and higher prices compared to rivals like Walmart. Walmart raised its financial outlook, a signal it expects a strong holiday shopping season.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target, Walmart, Costco Locations: New York

☆ Walmart keeps growing with shoppers making more than $100,000 a year
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Tropicana redesigned its classic bottle. Customers revolted
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Tropicana customers are in revolt over an orange juice bottle redesign. In July, Tropicana’s sales dropped 8.3% from the year prior, according to sales data by market research firm Circana shared with CNN. Tropicana's customers have expressed frustration at the new bottles. It’s more of a generic structure.”Tropicana's old carafe bottle design. “I had been a loyal customer for decades but now you lost me.”“I do not like the new bottle design,” another posted on Reddit.

Persons: Circana, you’ve, ”, Steve Lamoureux, Peter Clarke, ” Clarke, “, Tiffany Hagler, Lamoureux, we’re, it’s, that’s, Joe Biden, ” Lamoureux Organizations: New, New York CNN, Tropicana, OJ, CNN, Coca, Brand, Product Ventures, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Tropicana Brands Group, Tropicana Brands, Tropicana OJ, Companies Locations: New York, Orange

☆ The real reason Starbucks is bringing back self-serve milk and sugar
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Starbucks baristas can put eight shots of espresso into one cup. Starbucks’ self-serve stations had milk, sugar, sweeteners, spices and stirrers, just like at other coffee shops. This influx of mobile orders has sometimes strained Starbucks workers during rush hours. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesNiccol said bringing back self-serve stations will help Starbucks serve drinks in four minutes or less. “We’ll need to have proper staffing so that people are able to restock the condiment bar and make sure it’s clean and presentable.”

Persons: Amanda Poore’s, creamer, ”, Poore, David Garfield, “, Brian Niccol’s, Gabby Jones, Niccol, We’re, it’s, Amanda Rivera, Rivera Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Bloomberg, Getty, Starbucks Workers Locations: New York, Seattle, Atlanta

☆ Red Lobster and TGI Fridays are closing. Here’s what’s moving in
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In Watertown, New, York, a former Red Lobster is being converted to a Northern Credit Union bank. And Chick-fil-A is taking over a shuttered Red Lobster in Naples, Florida. Chains like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy this year and closed more than 175 restaurants combined. Red Lobster was driven into bankruptcy by mismanagement under a previous owner, global shrimp supplier Thai Union, while TGI Fridays fell under private equity owner TriArtisan Capital Advisors. Empty booths fill the interior of a Red Lobster restaurant on May 20, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Persons: Denny’s, Kelli Valade, ”, Jeff Kreshek, hasn’t, Chick, Elijah Nouvelage, Matt Larson, Chris Tomasso, Tomasso, Brandon Bell, Larson Organizations: New, New York CNN, LongHorn, Northern Credit Union, Vacant, Thai Union, TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Federal Realty, Watch, First, Getty, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Green Locations: New York, Woodbridge , Virginia, Watertown , New, York, Naples , Florida, Maryland, California, McDonough , Georgia, Chao, Bel Air , California, Franconia, Virgina, United States, Austin , Texas

☆ Stores don’t sell your favorite product anymore. That’s on purpose
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s just one example of companies eliminating an endless assortment of products to boost profit. Hormel is cutting some pepperoni products. Cutting products boosted companies’ profit margins by 0.9% compared to 2019, L.E.K. The strategy is going to make customers’ choices “a little simpler” and reduce re-stocking work for store employees, he said. Companies can upset customers who are loyal to a specific version of a product, pushing them to switch to another brand or stores’ private-label versions.

Persons: New York CNN — Pepperoni, Applegate, Jennie, Hormel, ”, That’s, Gene J, Rob Wilson, Levi’s, Todd Vasos, Scott Olson, Gina Goetter, Bob Eddy, Taco Bell, David Garfield, “ We’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Companies, L.E.K, Consulting, Starbucks, Hasbro, Dollar, BJ’s Wholesale, Walmart Locations: New York, Turkey, mayo, Asia

☆ Dollar Tree CEO Rick Dreiling abruptly steps down
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Embattled discount chain Dollar Tree announced its CEO and chairman, Rick Dreiling, had stepped down on Sunday. Shares of Dollar Tree, which also owns Family Dollar, have plunged more than 50% this year. Dollar Tree, which also owns Family Dollar, appointed COO Michael C. Creedon as interim CEO and Edward J. Kelly as chairman. Dollar Tree also said it is still committed to a review of “strategic alternatives” for Family Dollar. Dollar Tree bought its rival in 2015 for $8.5 billion, believing the acquisition of Family Dollar would help it compete against larger companies.

Persons: Rick Dreiling, Dreiling, ” Dreiling, Michael C, Creedon, Edward J, Kelly, It’s, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart Locations: New York

☆ Soda is making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Cans of Dr Pepper soda are displayed on June 3, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. While consumers are drinking more Coke, Coke Zero, Dr Pepper and Canada Dry, Pepsi’s soda sales are struggling. ‘Diet Coke Break’“Dirty soda,” a popular TikTok trend that combines soda with syrup and cream, has also driven interest in soda brands among younger consumers interested in creating their own soda concoctions. TikTok has also recently become filled with “Dirty Diet Coke,” “Crispy Diet Coke” and “DietCokeBreak” recipe videos where people leave cans of Diet Coke in the fridge for weeks and then pour them into a glass, sometimes with citrus powder, to get the most fizziness. Singer Dua Lipa gave Coke its latest viral hit this month when she posted a video sharing her Diet Coke recipe, which combines Diet Coke, pickle juice and jalapeño sauce.

Persons: guzzling Coke, Dr Pepper, It’s, ”, Robert Ottenstein, “ There’s, Coke, Pepper, Justin Sullivan, ” Timothy Cofer, Duane Stanford, Noam Galai, Laura Schmidt, Pepper’s, Cofer, Angus Mordant, Singer Dua Lipa, Gordon Ramsay, ” Kristen Hollingshaus, “, Diet Coke, CNN’s Ramishah Maruf Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumers, Heineken, ISI, Centers for Disease Control, Evercore ISI, World Health Organization, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Companies, Pepsi, Beverage Digest, New York, Wine, Food Festival, Stanford, University of California, PepsiCo Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, PepsiCo, Gatorade, Netflix, Dirty, Singer Dua, Coke, CNN, Diet Locations: New York, San Anselmo , California, America, Canada, Latham , New York, United States, TikTok

☆ Starbucks is making a popular add-on free of charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Starting next week, Starbucks customers will no longer pay more for adding non-dairy milk to their orders. The company said the removal of the non-dairy milk surcharge means customers who request it will pay around 10% less than they did previously. Orders with milk substitutions have proliferated at Starbucks in recent years, alongside non-dairy alternatives in grocery stores. Non-dairy milk has become the second most common order modification at Starbucks, behind adding a shot of espresso. Starbucks is scaling back promotional offers through its mobile app to get customers to pay full price for its coffees and teas.

Persons: Brian Niccol, ” Niccol, it’s, Niccol Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, “ Locations: New York, Canada

☆ Visits to McDonald’s plunged after the E. coli outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Americans around the country avoided McDonald’s last week after an E. coli outbreak left dozens of people sick. On Wednesday, the day after the E. coli outbreak was announced, customer visits to McDonald’s dropped 6.4% across the country and 24% in Colorado, where the outbreak was most prevalent, according to Placer.ai, which tracks foot traffic to restaurants and retailers. “The issue appears to be contained to a particular ingredient and geography, and we remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and is out of all McDonald’s restaurants,” McDonald’s said Sunday. The E. coli outbreak has overshadowed McDonald’s business and came as the chain was struggling to win back customers put off by higher prices. The quarter ended on September 30 and did not include sales following the announcement of the E. coli outbreak.

Persons: McDonald’s, ” McDonald’s, RJ Hottovy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Colorado Department of Agriculture, McDonald’s Locations: New York, Colorado, McDonald’s, United States

☆ Store closings have hit their highest level in years. Competition and higher prices crushed them
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“It kept these players alive that couldn’t survive in normal situations.”Competition from juggernauts like Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and other big-box retailers has also squeezed smaller chains. In 2017 and 2018, retailers closed a combined 13,400 stores, according to Coresight. Retailers closed a record 9,800 stores in 2019. Around 9,700 stores closed in 2020, according to Coresight. Drug store chains are also shrinking.

Persons: —, ”, Michael Brown, Kearney, ” Brown, Barbara Kahn, Charlotte Russe, Shopko, Ted Decker, Joann Fabric, Denny’s, Kelli Valade, Justin Sullivan, Amazon’s, It’s, ” Kahn, TJ Maxx, TJX Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walgreens, Research, Companies, Consumers, “, Walmart, Costco, Home, ” Retailers, United, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Coresight, Retailers, Sears, P Global Market Intelligence, CVS, Aid, Marshalls, Aldi Locations: New York, “, Amazon, United States, Gymboree, JCPenney, Tijuana, HomeGoods

☆ Abercrombie’s worst nightmare is back. But its customers have moved on
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“We are a positive, inclusive brand, with a nice sensibility, very different from what they encountered in the past,” Fran Horowitz, now Abercrombie’s CEO, said in 2016. Today, Abercrombie’s stores are lighter than they once were and its clothes are looser. Abercrombie’s sales have grown and its stock has increased more than 400% since Jeffries stepped down as CEO. But retail analysts say that Abercrombie’s brand won’t be hurt by the indictment because of how much separation Abercrombie has been able to create from its former CEO. Older Abercrombie customers who remember the brand’s sexualized marketing have accepted Abercrombie’s rebrand, while a new generation of customers are too young to remember the old era.

Persons: Fitch, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, Abercrombie, “, ” Fran Horowitz, Jeffries ’, ”, ” Jeffries, Fran, Marni Shapiro, Neil Saunders, Shapiro, Papa John’s, Shaq, John Schnatter, Chip Wilson, Wilson, Lululemon, CNN’s Brynn Gingras, Kara Scannell, John Towfighi Organizations: New, New York CNN, Abercrombie, Attorney, Eastern, of, XXL, Netflix, Fitch, Penske Media, GlobalData, CNN Locations: New York, Peace, U.S, of New York

☆ The hottest trend in executive leadership: Bringing back the White Guy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Listen up, corporate boards: If you’re looking for the biggest trend in leadership this fall, look no further. Corporate America’s hottest CEO pick is a classic model — the Middle Aged White Guy. Just 52 businesses in the 2024 Fortune 500 ranking were run by women, holding flat from the year before. Obviously, White Guy CEO never went out of fashion — women have rarely represented more than 10% of Fortune 500 companies. But a rash of recent leadership shakeups illustrates the enduring power of the White Guy as a kind of capsule wardrobe for corporate leadership.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Guy, White Guy, Karen Lynch, David Joyner, Lynch, Laxman Narasimhan, Brian Niccol, Mellody Hobson, UnderArmour, Stephanie Linnartz, Kevin Plank, Disney’s Bob Iger, Disney, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, that’s Iger, Gorman, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Corporate, Fortune, CVS, America, Indian, McKinsey Locations: New York, Niccol

☆ Your favorite food brands may be done playing mind games with you — for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —These past few years, it seems like food companies have been playing some serious mind games with us. As food companies have seen their costs rise substantially over the past few years, many have used two sneaky strategies, dubbed shrinkflation and skimpflation, to avoid having to raise the prices of their goods. Yet when companies simply pass along price increases to consumers, there’s also no shortage of backlash — just ask McDonald’s. So the days of shrinkflation, at least when it comes to food, could be numbered. “I would expect (food companies) to shift their strategy and find a different mind game to play that maybe people are not quite looking out for yet,” Hydock said.

Persons: CNN Business ’, you’ve, there’s, we’re, Burger King, skimpflation, That’s, Berry, Nathaniel Meyersohn, ”, Chris Hydock, PepsiCo could’ve, Hydock, Robert Moskow, Cowen, Meyersohn, ” Hydock Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Foods, PepsiCo, Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, CNN Locations: New York

☆ Tostitos and Ruffles shrank their bags of chips. It backfired
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The owner of Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos and Ruffles chips will put more chips in some bags to claw back customers tired of higher prices with skimpier bags. A PepsiCo spokesperson told CNN that Tostitos and Ruffles “bonus” bags will contain 20% more chips for the same price as standard bags in select locations. PepsiCo is also adding two additional small chip bags to its variety-pack option with 18 bags, the spokesperson said. It’s a reversal of years of shrinking bags of Tostitos, Ruffles and other chip brands. Snack prices have gone up more rapidly than other store items.

Persons: “, Ramon Laguarta, Edgar Dworsky, Dworsky, ” Dworsky, PepsiCo’s, Chip, Robert Moskow, Cowen, Moskow, Joe Biden, General Mills, shrinkflation, Domino’s, Sandeep Reddy Organizations: New, New York CNN, PepsiCo, CNN, Walmart, Costco, Bank of America, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumers, General, ” Locations: New York, United States, outpacing, Mondelez

☆ Why your drug store is closing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

What is going on with America’s drug stores? Meanwhile, increased competition and failed growth strategies, like acquiring primary care providers, continue to have reverberating impacts on drug stores. Shifting trendsDrug store chains are struggling because of lower reimbursement rates for prescription drugs, according to analysts who cover the industry. A customer walks to a Walgreens store in Wheeling, Ill., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Dollar General’s growth has also hurt drug store chains in rural areas.

Persons: Tim Wentworth, “, ” Wentworth, Elizabeth Anderson, PBMs, ” Anderson, Nam, VIllageMD, Brendan Smialowski Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Walgreens, Wall Street, IRI, CNN, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, American Medical Association Locations: New York, Wheeling , Ill, VillageMD, Washington ,, AFP

☆ The federal government just made it much easier to cancel your gym membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The FTC unveiled its final “click-to-cancel” rule, which requires businesses provide a way for consumers to cancel their subscriptions that is just as easy as it is to sign up. That includes everything from gym memberships to digital streaming and e-commerce to cable TV service. “Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” said Commission Chair Lina Khan in statement by the FTC. Other times they might’ve been able to sign up online, but in order to cancel they had to call and talk to a representative. Other kinds of memberships required them to actually show up in person to cancel their subscription,” Brett said.

Persons: ”, Lina Khan, Laura Brett, Brett, you’ve, ” Brett, Natnan, ABCmouse, Brian Fung, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal, National Advertising Division, BBB

☆ Two pioneering Black CEOs have a warning for companies abandoning diversity
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But opponents ignore both the history of so-called meritocracy, and the fact that DEI programs benefit business, Frazier and Chenault argue. But they said opponents have weaponized select examples of diversity programs that are not practiced widely to oppose DEI entirely. Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesMeanwhile, conservative legal groups are now filing lawsuits targeting companies’ diversity initiatives, and Republican leaders like Florida Gov. Frazier and Chenault said there was a split between companies that rushed to create diversity programs in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020 and companies that have embedded these programs into their business. “For those companies that had integrated DEI into the way they do business, fundamentally, it’s marbled into the meat, so to speak.

Persons: Ken Frazier, Ken Chenault, Ken Chenault’s, John Deere, Davidson, Bud Light’s, Frazier, ” Frazier, America’s “, Elon, Chenault, Roy Vagelos —, — Frazier, Vagelos, weren’t, Merck, —, ” Chenault, don’t, George Floyd, Brandon Bell, Ron DeSantis, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton, Bud Light, Robby Starbuck, Starbuck, George Floyd’s, They’re, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, America, Merck, Black, American Express, Fortune, CNN, Corporate America, Tractor Supply, Boston Consulting Group, DEI, Revelio Labs, White, ” Companies, McKinsey, Republican, Florida Gov, Disney, Nike, Harley Locations: New York, Philadelphia, America, Arkansas

☆ Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol to scale back the coffee chain’s deals and promos
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Expect to see fewer promotions at Starbucks. The company in September offered extra loyalty points on Tuesdays and deals on several drink purchases on Saturdays. In the past, Starbucks had mostly avoided coffee promotion but ramped them up earlier this year to lure back customers. Niccol wants to make Starbucks (SBUX) a coffee shop again, not just an online-driven business. “We’re committed to elevating the in-store experience — ensuring our spaces reflect the sights, smells and sounds that define Starbucks.”

Persons: Brian Niccol’s, Niccol, “, ”, “ We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bank of America Locations: New York

☆ McDonald’s is struggling. So is its big french fry supplier
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That’s hurting french fry suppliers like Lamb Weston. This shift has taken a toll on Lamb Weston because people are less likely to cook french fries at home. Around 80% of french fries consumed in the United States come from fast-food chains, according to Lamb Weston. McDonald’s has launched a $5 meal, which includes a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, 4-piece chicken nuggets and small soft drink. “Many of these promotional meal deals have consumers trading down from a medium fry to a small fry,” Lamb Weston CEO Thomas Werner said last week on an earnings call.

Persons: Lamb Weston, McDonald’s, ” Lamb Weston, Thomas Werner, Lamb, R.J, Placer.ai Organizations: New, New York CNN Locations: New York, North America, Washington, United States

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