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☆ John Deere rolls back DEI policies having come under fire from conservatives, saying it won't take part in events like Pride or have a pronoun policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

John Deere has backed down from a number of DEI initiatives, seemingly in response to online criticism. The company said it won't partake in external "cultural awareness" parades and reaffirmed its lack of a pronoun policy. In a viral video, conservative activist Robby Starbuck said John Deere had "gone woke." AdvertisementTractor maker John Deere has backed down from its DEI initiatives after facing substantial criticism from conservatives online. John Deere "will no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events," it said in a post on X on Tuesday.

Persons: John Deere, Robby Starbuck, — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ It looks like the party's over for luxury goods in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewHugo Boss, Burberry, Richemont, and Swatch have all called out slumping sales in China this week as consumers cut back on luxury spending. Swiss watch group Swatch said it expects the Chinese market "to remain challenging for the entire luxury goods industry until the end of the year." But much of this spending has been overseas, and sales in China have fallen for some of the world's biggest luxury brands. AdvertisementBefore the pandemic, about two-thirds of Chinese luxury spending occurred outside mainland China, plummeting to less than 10% in 2021 and 2022 because of travel restrictions, according to data from Bain. The consultancy said that this started to rebound in 2023 with the return of overseas tourism, with an estimated 30% of luxury spending taking place outside mainland China.

Persons: —, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Gerry Murphy, they've, Bain, Luca Solca, Vacheron Constantin, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Richemont Organizations: Service, Swatch, Business, Bain & Company, Richemont, Cartier, Burberry, Financial Times, Bain, Prada, The Financial Times, Luxury Summit Locations: China, Swiss, Americas, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korean, East

☆ I'm a remote worker who moved to Chicago. Social media helped me make friends, but it's hard to meet people during the city's freezing winters.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Aley Clark is a writer who relocated from South Carolina to Chicago in March 2023. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThis as-told-to article is based on a conversation with Aley Clark, a lifestyle and wellness writer and content creator who relocated from South Carolina to Chicago in March 2023. I moved from Moncks Corner in South Carolina to Chicago in March 2023.

Persons: Aley Clark, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: South Carolina, Chicago, Windy City

☆ Costco is a master at building customer loyalty
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCostco announced this week that it's raising its membership fees — and Reddit users seem indifferent. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Another Redditor wrote that membership prices had only gone up by $10 since they first joined 13 years ago. AdvertisementSuperfan Susan Schwartz previously told Business Insider that the retailer was "inherently modest." AdvertisementCostco also says it will refund membership fees if customers are "dissatisfied."

Persons: —, I've, aren't, Susan Schwartz Organizations: Service, Costco, Business, Gold Star

☆ AT&T says hackers stole the call and text records of almost all of its wireless customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AT&T says hackers stole call and text records from "nearly all" of its wireless customers. The data includes the phone numbers that customers interacted with. It doesn't include the contents of the calls and texts, or Social Security numbers, AT&T said. AdvertisementAT&T says that call and text records from almost all of its wireless customers were stolen in a hack earlier this year. The compromised data includes files containing AT&T records of calls and texts of "nearly all of AT&T's cellular customers, customers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) using AT&T's wireless network, as well as AT&T's landline customers who interacted with those cellular numbers between May 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022."

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Silicon Valley financial software giant Intuit to pay back $555,000 to 2,600 workers over missed overtime payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Intuit is paying more than $555,000 in back wages to workers who missed overtime payments. The Labor Department said it hadn't kept accurate pay records and didn't pay workers for required training. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIntuit, a Silicon Valley company that provides financial software for employers, is paying back more than half a million dollars to thousands of its own workers after failing to pay them for some required training. The announcement came just a week before the company announced it was laying off 10% of its workforce.

Persons: hadn't, —, Intuit hadn't Organizations: Intuit, Labor Department, Service, US Department of Labor, Business Locations: Silicon

☆ Texans used cult fast food chain Whataburger's app to track power outages during Hurricane Beryl
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some Texas residents used Whataburger's app to track power outages in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. They used its restaurant map to see which areas appeared to have regained power. 2.26 million customers lost access to power, said CenterPoint Energy, Houston's main energy provider. AdvertisementPeople in Texas have been using Whataburger's app to follow power outages in the wake of Hurricane Beryl because of a lack of information from Houston's main energy provider. CenterPoint Energy said that 2.26 million customers had lost their power access during the storm.

Persons: Hurricane Beryl, —, Beryl Organizations: Energy, Service, CenterPoint Energy, The New York Times, Business Locations: Texas, Hurricane

☆ I ate at the world's biggest Starbucks. The meal was tasty, and the setting was super cool, but it wasn't worth the $43 I spent.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I went to the world's biggest Starbucks — the Reserve Roastery on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. It sells food and drinks not available at normal Starbucks stores, which diners can take to its rooftop terrace. AdvertisementWhile I was in Chicago for a conference in May, I decided to check out the world's biggest Starbucks — the Chicago Reserve Roastery. It opened in late 2019, making it the sixth and most recent Reserve Roastery to open. The upscale coffee houses roast their own coffee beans, sell food, drinks, and merchandise not available at normal Starbucks stores, and host tours and classes as well.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Chicago Reserve Locations: Chicago, York, Seattle

☆ Hotels and offices are using an AI tool that scans what they throw in the trash to reduce their food waste and cut costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hotels are reducing how much food they waste at their breakfast buffets by installing AI-powered cameras above their kitchen trash cans. Of this, nearly 30% was wasted in the food service sector. Food loss in the supply chain and food waste generate almost five times the total greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector, per the UNEP. Reducing food waste can boost a company's eco credentials — and cut costs. Winnow's clients include hotels, cruise lines, universities, and food service companies that provide professional catering services.

Persons: they're, Marc Zornes, Winnow, Zornes, Hilton, Sebastian Nohse, Hilton EMEA's, didn't, Nohse, Paul Fairhead Organizations: Service, Business, Chefs, United Nations Environmental, UNEP, Guckenheimer, United Arab Emirates Locations: East

☆ Popeyes considered calling its boneless wings 'bites' so that people wouldn't get confused about what they are
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Popeyes has expanded its chicken lineup by adding boneless wings — which are actually made from breast meat. There's "a lot of online chatter around 'what the heck is a boneless wing?,'" Popeyes' US boss said. Customers who order boneless wings skew slightly younger and are more likely to be female, he said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementPopeyes tried out a number of different names for its boneless wings — including "bites" — over worries that people may struggle to understand what they were.

Persons: Popeyes, —, Jeff Klein Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Canada

☆ California put up its fast-food wage to $20. Its governor is adamant it's not causing employment to fall.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But BLS data shows that employment in California's limited-service restaurant industry dips in the winter. Related storiesThe BLS data includes employment at all limited-service restaurants, including those exempt from the new minimum wage. The year-over-year growth in limited-service restaurant employment is a continuation of a trend seen before the pandemic, too, with total employment in the industry growing every year. AdvertisementThe $20 minimum wage was introduced to support workers in a state with a notoriously high cost of living. Have you been affected by California's new $20 minimum wage?

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Newsom's, Tom Manzo, It's Organizations: Service, Business, California, Industrial Alliance, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Wall Street, California Employment Development Department, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Locations: California, USA

☆ I tried the McPlant, McDonald's meat-free burger, and I don't understand why American diners snubbed it
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

But the meat-free burger is on menus elsewhere, including Germany, Portugal, and the UK. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDon't expect to see the McPlant returning to McDonald's menus in the US anytime soon. "I don't think the US consumer is coming to McDonald's or looking for the McPlant or other plant-based proteins from McDonald's," he said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Joe Erlinger Organizations: Service, Food, Business Locations: Germany, Portugal

☆ Some NYC Marriott hotels are offering free airport transfers by helicopter for top-paying guests
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Six Marriott hotels in New York City are providing free airport transfers by helicopter. They're offering the Blade rides to guests in select suites at some of its most luxurious hotels. Blade's shared transfers between JFK or Newark and Manhattan cost from $195 per seat each way. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSix of Marriott's most luxurious hotels in New York City are offering free helicopter airport transfers to some of their top-paying guests.

Persons: Blade's, —, Marriott, John F Organizations: Marriott, Service, Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Business Locations: New York City, JFK, Newark, Manhattan

☆ Costco has changed the packaging of its $4.99 rotisserie chicken — and some shoppers are voicing their annoyance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Costco has gradually been switching the packaging for its rotisserie chicken from trays with lids to plastic bags. "There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," a Reddit user wrote. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementCostco has been rolling out new the packaging for its coveted $4.99 rotisserie chicken, and some loyal customers aren't impressed with the change. The warehouse chain previously sold the Kirkland Signature chicken on black plastic trays with transparent plastic lids.

Persons: —, aren't Organizations: Costco, Service, Kirkland, Costco Connection, Business Locations: Australia

☆ Take a look inside the world's biggest Starbucks — which is spread over 4 floors, has a roof terrace, and sells pizza, luxury coffees, and hot-honey cocktails
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

If you want to learn more about coffee making and tasting, or you'd like to recreate the Reserve Roastery's coffees and cocktails at home, you can sign up for one of its four sessions, which range from $45 to $95 per person. The Princi café and bakery on a Wednesday lunchtime. Grace Dean/Business Insider

Persons: Grace Dean Organizations: Business

☆ A Hawaii judge ordered the demolition of a house after a California woman bought a vacant plot, only to discover the building on her land
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Grace Dean | Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Related storiesReynolds had also asked for the court to order Keaau Development and PJ's Construction to restore the plot of land to its original state. To build the house, PJ's Construction had bulldozed the lot, which "removed all of the previously standing native vegetation," Kim wrote. AdvertisementAs well as building the house, PJ's Construction also installed a septic tank and a catchment water system. The companies had "seriously disturbed the peaceable use, enjoyment, and possession of real property," Kim wrote. AdvertisementBusiness Insider was not immediately able to contact lawyers for PJ's Construction, and did not immediately receive a response from Keaau's attorney.

Persons: —, Anne, Reynolds, Patrick John Lawrence , Jr, Robert D, Kim, Anne Reynolds, James D, DiPasquale Organizations: Service, Business, Keaau, BI, PJ's Locations: Hawaii, California, Paradise

☆ A pharmacy in Denver hired staff with hemophilia then fired them if they refused to pay for its pricey medications to treat it, a federal agency lawsuit says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A pharmacy in Denver discriminated against workers who didn't buy its expensive medication, the EEOC said. The pharmacy deliberately hired workers with hemophilia and "pressured" them to get their medication from it, the EEOC claimed. The EEOC accused Factor One Source Pharmacy of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act in a lawsuit. AdvertisementA pharmacy in Denver deliberately hired workers with hemophilia and pushed them to buy its expensive medications — or it fired them, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a lawsuit. Their employment was "contingent upon them filling their costly hemophilia medications through Factor One," the EEOC said in the lawsuit.

Persons: hemophilia Organizations: Commission, Employees, Business Locations: Denver

☆ McDonald's trialed the McPlant in California and Texas. It failed because people don't want a meat-free burger from the Golden Arches.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

You won't see the McPlant on McDonald's US menus anytime soon. Trials in Dallas and San Francisco failed because there wasn't enough demand, the president of McDonald's US said. The non-meaty burger was tested at hundreds of restaurants in California and Texas in 2022. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe McPlant is unlikely to return to McDonald's menus in the US anytime soon.

Persons: —, Joe Erlinger, Erlinger Organizations: Service, Food Forum, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Dallas, San Francisco, California, Texas

☆ Singapore and Hong Kong are the most expensive cities for the ultra-rich to spend their millions
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore is the most expensive city for high-net-worth individuals, according to a new report. The Asian city-state is followed by Hong Kong and London in Julius Baer's Lifestyle Index. AdvertisementIf you've got millions in the bank and you want to spend them slowly, don't move to Singapore. The Asian city-state is the most expensive major global city for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to live in, according to a new report. It's followed by Hong Kong and London.

Persons: —, you've Organizations: Julius, Service, Business Locations: Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Swiss, It's

☆ Billionaire LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault is the richest man outside America. Here are 23 of his luxury conglomerate's iconic brands.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

LVMH is the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. It's owned by Bernard Arnault, the world's third-richest person. LVMH's portfolio includes 75 different brands, spanning fashion, Champagne, cosmetics, and more. AdvertisementBernard Arnault, the world's third-richest person and the wealthiest outside the US, heads the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. LVMH owns iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Moët-Chandon.

Persons: LVMH, Bernard Arnault, Louis Vuitton, Sephora, — Organizations: Dior, Service, Business

☆ French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault, the richest man outside America, is buying one of Paris' most iconic restaurants
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

LVMH has bought a majority stake in the tiny 100-year-old Paris bistro Chez L'Ami Louis. LVMH is owned by Bernard Arnault, who regularly jostles with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the title of world's richest person. Chez L'Ami Louis is famed for its roast chicken, finely-cut fries, and celebrity patrons. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementLVMH boss Bernard Arnault has bought one of Paris's most iconic restaurants.

Persons: LVMH, Louis, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Chez L'Ami Louis, —, Christian Dior, L'Ami Louis Organizations: Chez, Service, Louis Vuitton, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Paris

☆ Hot honey is the sweet and spicy flavor on everyone's lips, from pizza to cocktails. Here's why it's America's newest food obsession.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But it's popular to pair with chicken, too: Sweetgreen has a hot honey chicken protein bowl, Cava sells harissa honey chicken, and KFC serves Sriracha honey nuggets. At Starbucks' upmarket Reserve locations, you can get hot honey in an affogato or espresso martini. So Kurtz started experimenting with chili-infused honey in his college apartment, where he created Mike's Hot Honey in 2004. Zalat PizzaUK canned and bottled cocktail company Tom Savano Cocktails has been experimenting with hot honey in the drinks department. Cooking magazines and TikTokers alike have been scrambling to find new ways to incorporate hot honey into dishes.

Persons: —, Lizzy Freier, Sweetgreen, Cava, Grace Dean, Roberta's, Mike Kurtz, Kurtz, Paul Giannone, Paulie Gee's, Matt Wessel, Wessel, Maison Pickle, Emilia Aghamirzai, Maison, Jacob Hadjigeorgis, there's, Khanh Nguyen, Nguyen, Savano, Scotch Bonnet, James Kerslake, Kerslake Organizations: Service, Business, KFC, Starbucks, Bee, The New York Times, Brooklyn, Foods, Milwaukee Pretzel Company Locations: Manhattan, New Orleans, Chicago, Brazil, Brooklyn, Dallas

☆ Disney sued by 2 workers after it asked them to relocate from California to Florida to work at a $1 billion campus, which it later canceled
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTwo Disney workers have sued the company after it asked them to relocate from California and be based at a new Florida campus — which it later canceled. Last May, Disney scrapped plans to build the nearly $1 billion campus in Lake Nona, Orlando. AdvertisementIn June 2022, Disney told workers that the deadline to relocate to Florida had been pushed back to 2026 because the project's completion had been delayed, the lawsuit said. But then, in May 2023, Disney told employees that the Lake Nona project was canceled. It claims that Disney made untrue statements about the Lake Nona campus to workers to induce workers to relocate.

Persons: —, Bob Iger, Florida Sen, Ron DeSantis, Josh D'Amaro, Maria De La, George Fong, Disney, De La Cruz, Fong, Nona Organizations: Service, Disney, Florida, Business, Los Angeles Superior Court, Lake Nona, Disney's Locations: California, Florida, Lake Nona, Orlando, Glendale , Southern California, Maria De La Cruz, Lake, De, Disney's Kissimmee, Disney's California, Los Angeles

☆ Olive Garden's parent company says it's luring diners in by not raising prices as much as rivals — even if it's not offering hefty discounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewOlive Garden's parent company says the Italian chain is bucking industry traffic trends and luring in diners by not raising prices as much as its competitors. Despite this, Olive Garden's same-restaurant sales in the quarter fell by 1.5% year-over-year, Vennam said. Olive Garden's average prices went up by about 1% in the quarter, he said. Olive Garden is planning to increase prices by between 2.5% and 3% over the next year, Vennam said. AdvertisementBut Olive Garden's approach of focusing on low prices generally rather than offering hefty discounts was more sustainable in the long run, he said.

Persons: —, Olive, Olive Garden's, Raj Vennam, Vennam, Rick Cardenas, Chris Steak, Cardenas, Olive Garden Organizations: Service, Darden, Business, LongHorn Locations: Olive

☆ The 91-year-old owner of the iconic Hollywood Arby's has closed the restaurant after 55 years due to the pandemic and California's $20 minimum wage
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in," 91-year-old owner Marilyn Leviton told KTLA-5. California's $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers and a need for new equipment also led to the restaurant's closure, she said. AdvertisementBeef sandwich chain Arby's has closed its restaurant on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard after 55 years of operating under one owner. California raised its minimum wage for workers at quick-service restaurant chains to $20 an hour in April — 25% more than the state's general minimum wage. Speaking about the closure of her restaurant, Leviton said: "I'm awfully sorry that it came to this."

Persons: Marilyn Leviton, —, Leviton, Rich Fury, Arby's Organizations: KTLA, Service, Local, Business Locations: California, —

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