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☆ IHOP overhauls its menu: Cinn-A-Stack pancakes are back, savory crepes are in
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

IHOP on Wednesday unveiled a revamped menu that includes more than a dozen new items and the return of its popular Cinn-A-Stack pancakes. The new menu, which will be available nationwide on April 3, spans breakfast, lunch and dinner and revives several items that disappeared during the pandemic, like the Cinn-A-Stack pancakes and Eggs Benedict. IHOP was fielding almost a dozen requests every week from customers asking for Cinna-A-Stack pancakes back on the menu, according to Donahue. Donahue said bringing back old favorites, like the Eggs Benedict, meant reminding workers how to poach eggs, for example. IHOP rival Denny's recently revealed its own updated menu, made possible by recent kitchen renovations.

☆ I work at Trader Joe's. Here are 7 things I refuse to buy there—and what to get instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Christian Beltran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Christian Beltran (left) has been working at Trader Joe's since 2021. I started working at Trader Joe's in 2021. Instant Cold Brew CoffeeWhat to buy instead: Organic Cold Brew Coffee, $5.49Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023Trader Joe's Instant Cold Brew Coffee is a fine, dark powder made of 100% Arabica coffee beans. Shredded HashbrownsWhat to buy instead: Hashbrowns, $2.49Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023I prefer Trader Joe's hashbrown patties over its shredded version, which tends to clump up in the bag and is more difficult to prepare. Poppy Pinot NoirWhat to buy instead: Loudenotte Cuvée Réservée Pinot Noir, $6.99Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023

☆ Hundreds of flexitarians are flocking to this vegan burger upstart. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Plant-based burger chain Next Level Burger is backed by Whole Foods. He'd given up red meat in 2010, after his mother died of cancer at 56. Both became early backers of de Gruyter's brand, Next Level Burger, which has grown to nine restaurants in six states. Following a $20 million raise last fall, Next Level Burger opened its 10th location and second restaurant in Seattle in late January. Next Level Burger patties are made of quinoa and mushrooms.

☆ Taco Bell powers Yum Brands quarterly results beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A woman eats Taco Bell inside the first digital-only U.S. cantina location at Times Square in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonFeb 8 (Reuters) - Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N) beat Street estimates for quarterly sales and profit on Wednesday, as more cash-strapped consumers flocked to its Taco Bell restaurant chain for pocket-friendly meals and snacks amid still high inflation. Total same-store sales at Yum rose 6% in the fourth quarter, while analysts were expecting a 4.57% increase, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Excluding one-time items, Yum Brands earned $1.31 per share for the three months ended Dec. 31, beating estimates of $1.26. McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) last week also topped quarterly profit and sales estimates, boosted by higher menu prices and increased customer visits at the burger giant's outlets.

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales and profit expectations on Tuesday, as customers pulled back on expensive delivery orders and traffic stalled in December. Comparable sales at California-based Chipotle rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Delivery transactions also tumbled 15% as in-store orders surged, and Chipotle restaurants "didn't see that pop" that they normally get in December around the holidays, Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said on the call. We think inflation will be reasonably tame," Hartung said, adding that the company had not yet decided whether to raise menu prices further in 2023.

☆ Chipotle misses quarterly sales estimates as traffic stalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales expectations on Tuesday, in a sign that price hikes are taking a toll on demand for the restaurant's burritos and rice bowls. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Comparable sales at the California-based chain rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Revenue rose to $2.18 billion from $1.96 billion in the quarter, missing estimates of $2.23 billion. Some investors are worried about the cadence of falling traffic in 2022, analysts at Cowen said in a research note.

☆ I tried 25 of Trader Joe's award-winning foods, and would buy at least 21 of them again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

I hit up my local Trader Joe's and bought as many award-winning foods as I could to see which ones deserved their hype. In other words, I agree with the many customers who have dubbed this their favorite Trader Joe's snack. As long as I live within reasonable driving distance of a Trader Joe's, I will continue to buy this loaf. Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice is a satisfyingly spicy comfort meal for oneTrader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice had a delicious sauce. Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions offers a memorable balance of savory, salty, and sweetThe cheddar smelled like caramelized onions.

Persons: —, Monterey Jack, burrito, Savanna, Wilson, didn't, I've, It's, Joe's, I'm, they're, chorizo, I'd, Butter, they'd, Joe's cashiers, who's, fryer, Swain Wilson Organizations: Service, of Fame, Business, I'd, Wilson, panini Locations: Monterey, Monterey Jack, skillet, Savanna, Peru, treacly, San Francisco

☆ This oil and gas VC upended his career to start a plant-based burger chain. Now, he's raised $20 million to open new restaurants with plans to steal market share from McDonald's.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Next Level Burger, which makes plant-based burgers, was cofounded in 2014 by Matt de Gruyter. Next Level Burger plans to triple in size and steal share from McDonald's, de Gruyter said. In his quest to align his career with this diet, he quit his job and launched a restaurant serving plant-based burgers in 2014. Both became early backers of de Gruyter's brand, Next Level Burger, which has grown to nine restaurants in six states. The restaurant chain announced a $20 million raise on Tuesday, led by Payne and his wife, Nicole Brodeur.

☆ NFL player J.J. Watt blasts Chipotle on Twitter: 'We want big burritos back'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Arizona Cardinals player J.J. Watt called out Chipotle for shrinking burrito sizes on Twitter. Some customers have been complaining about Chipotle's portion sizes for years. Pro-bowler and Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt tweeted Sunday "Burritos have been getting smaller…," writing that he wanted to "open dialogue" with Chipotle. "We want big burritos back," he wrote, adding hashtags including "Burrito justice," "Still hungry," and "This is supposedly double meat." If its portion sizes are getting smaller, Chipotle wouldn't be the only retailer to do so.

Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLC Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCMore than 70 variations have been reported across the Southwest states and the majority are owned by people who originate from the same region in Mexico that the Robledos are from. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLC"At first, that’s all they sold," said Reynaldo Robledo, 57, the 12th of the Robledo children. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCThe restaurant initially had six combination plates and four burrito types. Outside a Roberto's Taco Shop in Nevada in 2014, when the family was in town for the gala celebration of Roberto’s 50th anniversary. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCThe senior Robledo died in 1999 and Dolores died in 2020.

☆ Fast-food chains like Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Chipotle keep introducing more expensive menu items — customers are eating it up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Executives at Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Chipotle each noted success from pricier menu items recently. The more expensive meal promotion successfully brought customers in, and "drove the highest weekly digital transactions ever in the US business," Kempczinski said in the October earnings call. Taco Bell is seeing similar success with pricier menu items like the grilled cheese burrito, YUM Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a November earnings call. In New York City, a Mexican Pizza costs $6.49, and a double steak grilled cheese burrito goes for $6.79, about double the cost of lower-priced burritos on the menu. Analysts have praised both the grilled cheese burrito and adult Happy Meal as smart strategies driving sales.

[1/3] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. A strong dollar has hurt the overseas profits of large firms, while soaring inflation has prompted interest rate hikes and companies to raise product prices, even as consumers have been forced to cut spending. Google's results bode ill for Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), which is especially reliant on advertising and reports results on Wednesday. Last week, its smaller rival Snap Inc (SNAP.N) forecast no revenue growth for the holiday quarter, setting off warning bells in the social media industry. Shares in Spotify (SPOT.N), which also warned on slow advertising growth, slid 4%.

[1/3] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. Google's results bode ill for Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), which is especially reliant on advertising and reports results on Wednesday. Microsoft fell 2% and chipmaker Texas Instruments , which forecast quarterly revenue and profit below estimates, was down 5%. Shares in Spotify (SPOT.N), which also warned on slow advertising growth, slid 4%. "During the quarter we experienced expected weakness in personal electronics and expanding weakness across industrial," said TI boss Rich Templeton.

☆ Chipotle beats quarterly sales estimates on steady demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The logo of Chipotle is seen on one of their restaurants in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., February 7, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellyOct 25 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) on Tuesday reported quarterly higher sales that topped Wall Street expectations, as higher menu prices did not dissuade the restaurant's affluent customers from digging into its burritos and rice bowls. Comparable sales at the California-based chain jumped 7.6% in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, while analysts on average had expected a 7.3% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Shares of the company rose 1% in extended trading. Shares of the company rose about 4% in extended trading, as its restaurant level margin also rose to 25.3% from 23.5% a year earlier.

☆ Chipotle’s Increase in Burrito Prices Contributes to Store-Sales Boost
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Heather Haddon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chipotle says it has raised prices several times in the past 12 months. Chipotle Mexican Grill said consumer demand remained strong for its burritos and bowls even after it raised prices again in recent months, though the chain’s chief executive said inflation is wearing on some consumers. The burrito chain said Tuesday its same-store sales grew 7.6% in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with the same period last year. Higher prices helped drive some of the increase, with its average menu prices 13% higher compared with the same period last year, the company said.

☆ Chipotle says price hikes lift revenue as customers show ‘minimal resistance’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Customers order from a Chipotle restaurant at the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings that topped analysts' expectations as another round of price hikes hit its menus. CEO Brian Niccol said that the company saw "minimal resistance" to higher menu prices during the quarter, although transactions declined 1%. The company reported paying more for dairy, tortillas, avocados, packaging and labor. For the fourth quarter, Chipotle is predicting same-store sales growth in the mid- to high-single digits.

☆ 'Food at home' prices are up 13% from last year: Here are 4 ways to save on groceries
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Still, there are a number of strategies you can use to reduce your food costs, experts say. Prices of "food at home," aka groceries, soared 13% from the same time in 2021. Meanwhile, shopping with a grocery list probably won't prevent all your impulse buys, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use one. Take a look at your grocery list before you decide where to do your buying, said Erin Clarke, author of The Well Plated Cookbook. Then, try to find the store that offers the best value on the particular items you're looking for.

☆ All the best products we’ve tested in 2021 (so far)
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-03 | by ( Cnn Underscored Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +62 min

Best coffee subscription: Blue Bottle (starting at $11 per shipment; bluebottle.com)Blue BottleBlue Bottle’s coffee subscription hit all of our marks during the testing process. This mask, though, formed the best seal around the edges, blocking out more light than any other mask we tested. Not only does it keep your drinks hot or cold for many hours, it’s solidly durable and has the best lid we’ve ever tested. Best smart display: Amazon Echo Show 8 ($99.99, originally $129.99; amazon.com)AmazonThe Echo Show 8 is the best smart display we tested, with a versatile 8-inch screen in a build that really fits anywhere. Best smart thermostat: Nest Learning Thermostat ($223, originally $229; amazon.com)GoogleThe Nest Learning Thermostat studies your habits and controls the temperature in your home automatically.

☆ How college athletes are getting paid from brand sponsorships as NIL marketing takes off
▼ + stars: | 2021-10-16 | by ( Dan Whateley | Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

In addition to brand deals, student-athletes have run branded training clinics and have been paid for appearances and autograph signings. Read about how much an FCS national champion who thought he would 'strike gold' with NIL deals actually earnedLike Sproles, Amherst College wide receiver Jack Betts thought he would profit significantly from the NIL deals, but quickly realized that it wouldn't be easy for a Division III athlete. However, by pitching himself to brands, Betts has been able to secure 35 NIL deals in 2022 alone. Some colleges and universities have developed policies to stop student-athletes from making brand deals that would interfere with their own lucrative sponsorship contracts. Here's Insider's list of 13 top companies helping student-athletes make money and shaping the future of NIL marketing

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