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Expensive Big Mac meals and fears of surge pricing at grocery stores have put food chains and consumer product companies in politicians' crosshairs. Walmart , McDonald's and Kroger are just a few of the companies that have found themselves in the debate over high inflation in the 2024 election. Democrats — particularly those like Casey who are trying to win races in competitive swing states — are trying to capitalize on frustration against companies over inflation. (The source of the data is unclear, and McDonald's has denied that its average prices have risen that much.) The criticism could also add to the pressure companies face to show they can lower prices or offer value.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, Kroger, Rodney McMullen, —, Casey, Joe Biden, McDonald's, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, Trump, Biden, Cait Lamberton, That's Organizations: Walmart, McDonald's, Kroger, Albertsons, House Republican, Taco Bell, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Locations: Sens, McDonald's

☆ Yum Brands reports mixed results as Pizza Hut and KFC same-store sales fall
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A sign is posted in front of a Taco Bell restaurant on May 01, 2024 in Richmond, California. Yum Brands on Tuesday reported a mixed quarter as both Pizza Hut and KFC reported declining same-store sales. Yum's same-store sales fell 1% in the quarter as both Pizza Hut and KFC reported same-store sales declines of 3%. And although the chicken chain's system sales picked up this quarter in China, its largest market, KFC's overall international same-store sales fell 3%. Pizza Hut's U.S. same-store sales decreased 1%, while its international same-store sales declined 4%.

Persons: Yum, Taco Bell Organizations: Taco Bell, Yum Brands, KFC, LSEG Locations: Richmond , California, U.S, China

☆ Kellanova stock climbs on reports of potential sale to M&M's owner Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this articleSignage for Kellanova outside the New York Stock Exchange on Sept. 5, 2023. M&M's owner Mars is in talks to acquire the snacking company, CNBC's David Faber reported, adding rival candy company Hershey is also potentially interested in buying the company. Ten months ago, Kellogg spun off its cereal business, naming the new company WK Kellogg in honor of its founder. The remaining business unit, renamed Kellanova, contained Pringles and Cheez-It and its North American frozen food unit, which includes Morningstar Farms. Including Monday's stock move, Kellanova has a market value of nearly $25 billion.

Persons: Kellanova, Mars, CNBC's David Faber, Hershey, Kris Bahner, Kellogg, WK Kellogg Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, Reuters, Morningstar

☆ Taco Bell to roll out AI drive-thru ordering in hundreds of locations by end of year
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Yum Brands hopes to use artificial intelligence to take down drive-thru orders at hundreds of Taco Bell restaurants by the end of this year. In May, executives said Taco Bell would expand its pilot of voice AI from five locations to 30 restaurants in California. Currently, more than 100 Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. use voice AI. Taco Bell had nearly 7,700 U.S. locations at the end of 2023, according to company filings. Five KFC restaurants in Australia are also testing voice AI tech in drive-thrus, Yum Brands said.

Persons: McDonald's, Taco, Taco Bell, Lawrence Kim Organizations: Yum Brands, Taco Bell, IBM, Brands, Yum, KFC Locations: U.S, White, Chicago, California, Australia

☆ Procter & Gamble earnings beat estimates, but quarterly sales disappoint
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Procter & Gamble on Tuesday reported mixed quarterly results, but the company's volume increased for the first time in more than two years. Volume excludes pricing, making the metric a more accurate reflection of demand than sales. Over the last several years, P&G's price hikes across its portfolio, from diapers to detergent, fueled its sales growth, but volume flattened or even declined as consumers bought less of its products. All three of those segments reported 2% volume growth for the quarter. For fiscal 2025, P&G anticipates core net earnings per share in a range of $6.91 to $7.05.

Persons: Gamble Organizations: Procter, LSEG, pricey SK, & $

☆ Starbucks revenue misses estimates as same-store sales decline for second straight quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The company's same-store sales fell 3% in the quarter, fueled by a 5% decline in transactions. Domestic same-store sales fell 2%, boosted by an increase in average ticket. Outside of North America, same-store sales slid 7%. In China, Starbucks' second-largest market, same-store sales tumbled 14% as both average ticket and transactions shrank. Last quarter, Starbucks slashed its forecast, projecting revenue growth of a low single-digit percentage and earnings per share growth in a range of flat to a low single-digit percentage.

Organizations: Starbucks, LSEG Locations: North America, China

☆ McDonald's executives admit diners think prices are too high, say they're working to create value
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

McDonald's executives acknowledged Monday that diners consider the company's prices too high as lower-income consumers balk after years of high inflation. During the company's second-quarter earnings call Monday, executives said they are taking a "forensic approach" to evaluating prices and trying to create value. We are working to fix that with pace," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the company's earnings call. The offer also began to increase guest count growth, but it has not yet translated into sales increases, company executives said on the call. The $5 value meal was rolled out only days before the second quarter ended.

Persons: Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, Joe Erlinger, Erlinger, we've, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas, Kate Rogers Locations: U.S, Placer.ai

☆ Fast-food chains battle for low-income diners with summer value meals
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But these days, other fast-food chains have revived the $5 price point, hoping to win over customers who have cut back their spending. Sensing diners' fast-food backlash, players such as Brinker International's Chili's have used their marketing to highlight their own value relative to the cost of a fast-food meal. Shares of McDonald's, Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International and Wendy's have all slid by double digits this year. Taco Bell owner Yum Brands is down more than 1% in 2024. Restaurant Brands and Yum Brands are expected to report their quarterly earnings the following week.

Persons: Taco, Burger, Wendy's, McDonald's, Brinker, Rick Cardenas, Robert Byrne, Eric Gonzalez Organizations: Taco Bell, Darden, Burger King, Restaurant Brands, Yum Brands, CNBC, Restaurant

☆ Keurig Dr Pepper earnings meet estimates as higher prices fuel U.S. soda sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this photo illustration, cans of Dr Pepper soda are displayed on June 03, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. Keurig Dr Pepper reported quarterly earnings and revenue that met analysts' expectations on Thursday as higher prices fueled its U.S. soda sales. Excluding items, Keurig Dr Pepper earned 45 cents per share. Keurig Dr Pepper's U.S. refreshment beverages division, which includes Snapple, Canada Dry and Sunkist, reported sales growth of 3.3%. Dr Pepper also recently overtook Pepsi as the second-most consumed soda in the U.S., trailing only Coca-Cola , according to Beverage Digest.

Persons: Pepper, Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper's, Keurig Dr Pepper's Organizations: LSEG, Pepsi, Beverage Digest Locations: San Anselmo , California, Snapple, Canada, U.S

☆ Chipotle earnings and revenue top estimates, restaurant traffic rises again
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chipotle Mexican Grill on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts' expectations as it saw higher traffic at its restaurants, bucking an industry slowdown. Shares of the company rose about 13% in extended trading before losing most of those gains and settling around 3% higher. The company's same-store sales rose 11.1% in the quarter, topping StreetAccount estimates of 9.2%. Chipotle opened 52 new company-owned locations and one new international licensed restaurant during the quarter. The company reiterated its full-year outlook that same-store sales will grow by a mid- to high-single-digit percentage.

Persons: Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Niccol Organizations: LSEG, Executives, PepsiCo, McDonald's Locations: Texas

☆ Coca-Cola hikes full-year outlook as global demand rises
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Coca-Cola beverages are offered for sale in Chicago on April 30, 2024. Coca-Cola on Tuesday raised its full-year outlook as global demand for its drinks rose in the second quarter. Shares of the company rose more than 1% in premarket trading. Excluding items, the beverage giant earned 84 cents per share. Net sales rose 3% to $12.36 billion.

Persons: Coke Organizations: LSEG Locations: Chicago

Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in coffee chain Starbucks and is engaging with management to find ways to improve the company's share price, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The firm did not hold a Starbucks stake as of March 31, its most recent disclosure. In April, the company reported disappointing quarterly results, with U.S. same-store sales falling 3% and traffic dropping 7%. Starbucks reported rates of incomplete mobile app orders in the mid-teens and said occasional customers came in less often. Narasimhan was hand-picked by returnee Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to lead the company after his prior successor, Kevin Johnson, stepped down.

Persons: Elliott, Johnson, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Howard Schultz, Kevin Johnson, Schultz, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: Elliott Management, Wall Street, Starbucks, Southwest, Johnson Controls, Texas Instruments, Strategic, Center, U.S Locations: SoftBank

☆ PepsiCo earnings beat estimates, but U.S. demand weakens
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PepsiCo reported mixed quarterly results Thursday, hurt by declining demand in North America for its drinks and snacks. Pepsi now expects organic revenue growth of approximately 4%, a more cautious outlook than its previous forecast of at least 4%. The company reiterated its guidance for core constant currency earnings growth of at least 8%. Frito-Lay North America's volume declined 4%, while Pepsi's North American beverage unit saw volume shrink 3%. Executives said volume for Pepsi's North American drinks has improved sequentially, signaling that its attempts to lure back shoppers have begun working.

Organizations: Pepsi, PepsiCo, LSEG, Pepsi's, Frito, Quaker Foods Locations: Las Vegas, United States, North America, Quaker Foods North America

And at some Chipotle locations, customers filmed workers to try to make sure they didn't skimp on their burrito bowls. The three joined a growing list of consumer brands contending with customers' deep frustration over high prices — and wariness that prices will only rise more. Walmart, on the other hand, said the new price tags will cut a tedious task from store workers' to-do lists. They eliminate the need for store workers to swap out traditional paper tags. Shoppers at a Walmart store in Secaucus, New Jersey, US, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Persons: Wendy's, Jean, Pierre Dubé, David Chavern, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, hasn't, Dianna Campbell, she's, Campbell isn't, Biden, skimping, Sen, Bob Casey, Andrea Foote, Tricia Moriarty, it's, Jim Cramer, CNBC's, Brian Niccol, Chipotle, We've, Wells, Zachary Fadem, Brandon Bell, It's, Kirk Tanner, Yuki Iwamura, Cristina Rodrigues, Gabby Jones Organizations: Walmart, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Consumers, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Brands Association, Procter, Gamble, Pew Research, Pew, Reuters Shrinkflation, Federal Reserve, Customers, Gatorade, PepsiCo, CNBC, Chipotle, New York, Mexican Grill, Getty, American Farm Bureau Federation, Bloomberg, University of Chicago Locations: U.S, Goffstown , New Hampshire, Manhattan, New York City, Mexican, Austin , Texas, Queens, New York, Europe, Secaucus , New Jersey, US

☆ AI drive-thru ordering is on the rise — but it may take years to iron out its flaws
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The drive-thru menu at a McDonald's restaurant showing various meal options and promotions, in Buttonwillow in Kern County, California, on 23, 2024. This year, 16% of restaurant operators plan to invest in artificial intelligence, including voice recognition, according to a survey from the National Restaurant Association. Then Covid came, which not only accelerated labor costs but also led to a shift away from dining rooms and toward drive-thru lanes. Then there's Presto Automation , the AI drive-thru technology company which disclosed last year in Securities and Exchange Commission filings that it uses "human agents" in places like the Philippines and India to complete orders. This time, McDonald's likely won't be the first mover.

Persons: Covid, McDonald's, Gee Lefevre, T.D, Cowen, Andrew Charles, That's, Uber, Charles Organizations: National Restaurant Association, IBM, Securities, Exchange Commission, Presto Locations: Buttonwillow, Kern County , California, Philippines, India

☆ These could be the next big food and beverage trends
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

More than 2,400 companies exhibited their foods and drinks for attendees, which include restaurant operators, specialty food retailers and trendspotters. Past show trends that are making their way to mainstream consumers' palettes include yuzu, mushrooms and sophisticated alcohol substitutes. Tinned fishKrill Arctic Foods' tinned krill meat Amelia Lucas | CNBCIn years past, tinned fish was relegated primarily to booths in the Spanish and Portuguese pavilions. TikTok helped fuel the tinned fish trend last year, boosting sales of canned sardines. Companies at the Summer Fancy Food Show showed off some new options to level up the charcuterie — especially the salami.

Persons: Jacob K, Jerry's, Amelia Lucas, Honey, Bee, Fish, Salumi Organizations: Specialty Food Association, Javits Convention, Products, CNBC, Acme, International, Companies Locations: New York, caffe, Spanish, Alaska

☆ Skip Nvidia? Value investor David Katz is betting on 4 'lower risk' stocks instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"There are better places to make money with a lot lower risk," he added, naming several stocks he likes right now. "Right now, technology stocks are selling at 30 and 40 times earnings. The markets are at 22 times earnings. Trading at 22 times forward earnings, he said the stock offers "a great business at a very good price." The market is 21 times earnings.

Persons: David Katz, CNBC's, Katz, We're, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: Nvidia, Cisco Systems Technology, Cisco Systems, Cisco, Starbucks, Bank of New York Mellon, PNC Financial Services Locations: U.S, Israel

☆ Fast-food customers are shifting to casual-dining chains, Darden Restaurants CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Casual-dining chains are gaining customers who have grown frustrated with higher fast-food prices, Darden Restaurants CEO Rick Cardenas said on Thursday. Chili's rolled out an ad campaign that calls out the Big Mac and other fast-food burgers for their prices. Dine Brands CEO John Peyton told CNBC in May that Applebee's has been leaning into deals to win over fast-food diners. The overall consumer price index rose 3.3% in that period. In particular, McDonald's has faced backlash from customers, social media users and even House Republicans for its higher prices.

Persons: Rick Cardenas, Darden, hasn't, Brinker, Chili's, John Peyton, Applebee's, Cardenas, McDonald's, Joe Erlinger Organizations: Darden, Brinker International, Dine Brands, CNBC, of Labor, Republicans Locations: U.S

☆ Darden beats on earnings, even as Olive Garden, fine-dining sales drag
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Darden Restaurants on Thursday reported mixed quarterly results as Olive Garden's same-store sales fell for the second consecutive quarter. For fiscal 2025, Darden is forecasting that its same-store sales will grow just 1% to 2%. Darden's overall same-store sales were flat for the quarter, dragged down by weaker-than-expected sales at Olive Garden and its fine-dining restaurants. Last quarter, Olive Garden's same-store sales fell 1.8%, driven by a pullback from low-income consumers. LongHorn Steakhouse, which is overtaking Olive Garden as the gem of Darden's portfolio, was the only segment to report same-store sales growth.

Persons: Olive Garden's, Darden, Chris Steak, Eddie V's, Chris, Ruth's Chris Organizations: Darden, LSEG, Olive, LongHorn Locations: Olive

☆ Cocoa prices are soaring. Candy makers will need to get creative
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Prices of cocoa have more than tripled over the last year, creating a big headache for candy makers and other food companies that use the ingredient to make chocolate. The price surge has since eased off slightly, but the crop is still commanding well above what food companies are used to paying. This season's cocoa crop is expected to experience the largest deficit in at least six decades, according to a Rabobank report from May. A YouGov survey conducted in October found that 72% of U.S. respondents had noticed shrinkflation in food products. J&J Snack Foods CEO Daniel Fachner has been keeping an eye on cocoa and chocolate prices.

Persons: Ferley Ospina, Hershey, Kinder, Ferrero, they'll, Steve Rosenstock, Mondelez, shrinkflation, Daniel Fachner, Fachner, Justin Sullivan, Nik Modi, Modi, shea, Rosenstock Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Cadbury, Clarkston Consulting, Rabobank, Reuters, Mondelez, Consumers, Snack, CNBC, RBC Capital, Jumbo Locations: Ragonvalia, Norte de Santader, Colombia, . West Africa, Ghana, U.S, Novato , California, West

☆ Tyson Foods suspends CFO after second arrest
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

John R. Tyson speaks on stage during The Fight for Food: Value Chains and Partnerships at The 2022 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on September 21, 2022. Tyson Foods said on Thursday it has suspended its chief financial officer, John R. Tyson, after he was charged with driving while intoxicated in Arkansas. Tyson Foods is headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas. In 2022, two months after being named CFO of the meat giant, Tyson was arrested after becoming intoxicated and falling asleep in the wrong house. Tyson is the son of the company's chairman, John H. Tyson, and the great-grandson of founder John W. Tyson.

Persons: John R, Tyson, Tyson Foods, Curt Calaway, John H, John W Organizations: Detention, Tyson Foods Locations: New York, Arkansas, Washington, Springdale , Arkansas

☆ McDonald's might never expand CosMc's. But the spinoff could still pay dividends
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly six months since McDonald's opened its first CosMc's location, the hours-long drive-thru lines have died down, but the chain is just getting started. Since opening the initial location in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, McDonald's has opened three more CosMc's restaurants, all in Texas. In another sign of the new brand's expansion, it will launch its own mobile app and loyalty program, called CosMc's Club, on Tuesday. And loyalty program members earn 10 points for every dollar they spend; once they rack up 400 points, they can redeem them for $2 rewards. CosMc's buzz dies downAt McDonald's December investor presentation, Kempczinski downplayed the short-term effect of CosMc's.

Persons: McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, Katie Belflower, CosMc's, Mark Kalinowski, Kempczinski, we're, Frappes, Weeks, Kalinowski, Amelia Lucas Organizations: Lone Star State, CosMc's, Kalinowski Equity Research, CNBC, Intouch Locations: Chicago, Bolingbrook, Texas, McDonald's, Illinois

☆ Nestle to launch Vital Pursuit frozen-food brand targeting GLP-1 users
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nestle is launching a new frozen-food brand, Vital Pursuit, aimed at the growing market of consumers who are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. In October, Walmart's U.S. CEO John Furner told Bloomberg that people who pick up GLP-1 drugs from its pharmacies are buying less food, typically with fewer calories. But Nestle sees an opportunity to cater to those consumers through Vital Pursuit. Vital Pursuit's packaging won't include mentions of GLP-1 medications, but Nestle said the company will more directly connect the brand to the drugs on social media. The food company expects that its global growth will slow this year as inflation-weary consumers buy less of its products.

Persons: Oprah Winfrey, Elon, Morgan Stanley, John Furner, Nestle, Steve Presley, Laffy, Ferrero, Presley Organizations: Nestle, Walmart's U.S, Bloomberg, Vital, North, CNBC, Toll, Lean, Swiss Locations: U.S, GLP

A sign is posted on the exterior of a Red Lobster restaurant on April 17, 2024 in Rohnert Park, California. Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, continuing the process to shrink its footprint and find a buyer, the company said in a statement. CNBC reported last month Red Lobster was seeking a buyer, weighed down by significant debt and long-term leases. At the time, it was tough to predict that Red Lobster would see sales drop as much as they have. "This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster," Tibus said in a statement late Sunday.

Persons: — Jonathan Tibus, Alvarez, Marsal, Tibus, Red, we've, General Mills, Darden, Kim Lopdrup, Paul Kenny's, Kenny Organizations: CNBC, Golden, Darden, Food, General, Thai Union Group, Thai Union, Red Lobster, Seafood Alliance, Thai Locations: Rohnert Park , California, U.S, Canada, Orlando , Florida, Olive, Thai

"Consumers continue to be even more discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they faced elevated prices in their day-to-day spending," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the company's conference call in late April. Paul Weaver | SOPA Images | Getty ImagesFor more than two years, consumers have dealt with sharply rising prices. But that doesn't mean the actual prices seen on grocery store shelves or restaurant menus will fall, and shoppers are feeling that pinch. While some CEOs have said that consumers are growing more cautious, others — like those in the airline industry — have celebrated strong and persistent spending. Corporate misfires can also lead to disappointing sales, even if their shoppers aren't necessarily pulling back on their spending.

Persons: Chris Kempczinski, Burger, Paul Weaver, Jerome Powell, Aurelia Concepcion, Concepcion, it's, Joe Raedle, Brett House, John David Rainey, Ramon Laguarta, Ed Bastian, We're, Daniel Slim, Brian Niccol, Calvin McDonald, Laxman Narasimhan, Sara Senatore, Spencer Platt Organizations: DAL, Washington Post, Home, Delta Air Lines, Consumers, of Labor, CPI, KFC, Starbucks, Columbia Business School, Walmart, Finance, CNBC, PepsiCo, Gatorade, Pepsi, United, Delta Airlines Boeing, Owen Roberts International, AFP, Getty, Delta, Target, Bank of America Locations: Manhattan, Bloomsburg , Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Ohio, Miami , Florida, U.S, Delta, Europe, Asia, Japan, George Town, Cayman Islands, New York City

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