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☆ A California McDonald's franchisee says fast food would be 'unaffordable' if she raised prices enough to cover the new $20 minimum wage
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"You can't raise prices enough," the Los Angeles franchisee told KTLA 5 News. From April, California's minimum wage for fast-food workers will be 25% higher than the general one. AdvertisementA McDonald's franchisee in Los Angeles says that if she wanted to raise her prices to fully offset California's incoming $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, her burgers and fries would be unaffordable. AdvertisementThe minimum wage for fast-food workers in California is going up to $20 an hour starting April 1 — 25% more than the state's general minimum wage. Correction: March 21, 2024 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly described two places in Los Angeles County.

Persons: —, Kerri Harper, Howie, Harper, who'll Organizations: Los Angeles, KTLA, Service, Food, Harper Locations: Los Angeles, California, Inglewood , California, Los Angeles County, Inglewood, Compton

☆ Five Below is the latest chain to retreat from self-checkout
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some stores have switched to an associate-assisted checkout format, where staff scan the items. At stores with the most shrink, staff are also checking receipts and there's more security. NEW LOOK 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 . AdvertisementRetailers have been rethinking their self-checkout strategies over concerns that they're facilitating theft.

Persons: —, Joel Anderson, Anderson Organizations: Service

☆ Subway's about to become the latest chain that asks you: 'Is Pepsi OK?'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Under a 10-year agreement, Subway will start selling drinks including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Tropicana, and Lipton. Subway's US stores will start making the switch in January 2025. AdvertisementCoke fans, watch out — Subway is ditching the drinks supplier in favor of rival Pepsi in the US. Subway announced on Tuesday that it had signed a 10-year agreement to supply PepsiCo drinks at its US stores from the start of 2025. This means that as well as Pepsi, Subway customers will also be able to get other beverages such as Mountain Dew, Tropicana, Lipton, and Gatorade.

Persons: Lipton, —, Arby's, Culver's Organizations: Pepsi, Subway's, Service, . Subway, PepsiCo, Subway, Tropicana, Lipton, Gatorade, Cola, Restaurant Business, Coca, Business Locations: Canada, Germany, Netherlands

☆ Record numbers of wealthy Americans are looking for ways to live overseas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An investment-migration consultancy says record numbers of rich Americans are enquiring about citizenship abroad. Portugal's golden visa program is the most popular option among Americans, Henley & Partners said. AdvertisementAn investment-migration consultancy says that it is seeing record numbers of wealthy Americans looking for ways to get residence rights abroad or additional citizenships. Programs offered by Malta, Spain, Greece, and Italy are also high on American citizens' lists, Henley & Partners said. The programs allow wealthy Americans to live in the USA as their primary residence but relocate "at any point," it said in the report.

Persons: —, Mehdi Kadiri, Dominic Volek, Kadiri Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service, North America, EU Locations: North, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Greece, Italy, USA

☆ The US is undergoing a 'millionaire remix' — these are the cities with the fastest-growing populations of rich people
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The US is experiencing a "millionaire remix," as shown by a ranking of areas with the fastest-growing wealthy populations. The number of millionaires living in Austin more than doubled over the past decade, per a report by Henley & Partners. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. US migration patterns of the world's wealthiest people are changing as the country undergoes what investment-migration consultancy Henley & Partners dubs a "millionaire remix." This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, – Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service, Business Locations: Austin, York City, Los Angeles, Scottsdale, Palm

☆ Fast-food diners are using loyalty apps to get deals on cheap — or free — food as prices soar
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

More diners are using restaurant loyalty apps to get cheap or free food. AdvertisementDiners are turning to fast-food loyalty apps for cheaper meals as years of price hikes catch up with customers. Many restaurant apps give diners points based on how much they spend, which can be redeemed for free food. AdvertisementPeople on Reddit say they're using loyalty apps to save money and get free meals. Some restaurant apps give diners points based on how much they spend.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Wendy's, Taco Bell, I've, Chipotle Martin Jennings, Jennings, Warren Colehour, Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, Annie Smith, Chris Kempczinski, Joe Erlinger, Erlinger, Laxman Narasimhan, Brady Brewer Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Bell Locations: Florida, Kentucky, Canada

☆ A Boeing whistleblower says he got off a plane just before takeoff when he realized it was a 737 Max
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Boeing whistleblower told CNN he refused to fly on a plane he'd boarded after realizing it was a Boeing 737 Max. Ed Pierson said he'd deliberately made sure the plane wasn't a 737 Max prior to booking. AdvertisementA Boeing whistleblower says that he was meant to take a domestic flight last year but ended up leaving the plane before takeoff because he refused to travel on a Boeing 737 Max. He said that he made sure to select a flight that didn't use a Boeing 737 Max. Pierson previously told the Los Angeles Times that he would "absolutely not" fly on a 737 Max because of safety concerns.

Persons: Max, Ed Pierson, he'd, Pierson, — Organizations: Boeing, CNN, Service, Alaska Airlines, Max, Los Angeles Times, Alaska Airlines Max, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Renton , Washington, Seattle, New Jersey, Alaska

☆ McDonald's says customers don't want premium burgers — they want bigger ones instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

McDonald's customers want bigger burgers instead of luxury ones, CFO Ian Borden said. McDonald's spent years trialing premium burgers. AdvertisementMcDonald's says its customers want bigger burgers, not premium ones. For years, McDonald's tried to target customers with offers of premium burgers, CFO Ian Borden told analysts at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Wednesday. Instead, there's a "significant" opportunity for "a large, more satiating-type burger" across McDonald's large markets, Borden said.

Persons: Ian Borden, McDonald's, —, Borden Organizations: Service, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, Business

☆ McDonald's says cash-strapped diners are choosing to eat at home more often
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Because of this, McDonald's said it will focus on value bundles and app offers. AdvertisementMore low-income consumers are choosing to eat at home instead of dining out after years of fast-food price hikes, McDonald's CFO says. Ian Borden told analysts at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Wednesday that lower-income consumers "are just choosing to eat at home more often." Like other fast-food chains, McDonald's increased menu prices significantly during the pandemic amid soaring wage and commodity inflation. McDonald's will focus on value bundles and app offersMcDonald's fries.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Ian Borden, it's, Borden, Erin McDowell Organizations: Service, UBS Global Consumer, Retail Conference, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Germany

☆ A Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of at least 3 restaurants in Oakland over crime fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of some restaurants in Oakland over crime fears, CNN reported. On Taco Bell's website, three of the five Oakland restaurants are only open for drive-thru. AdvertisementA Taco Bell franchisee has shut the dining rooms of at least three restaurants in Oakland over fears about crime. The dining rooms of restaurants on Bancroft Avenue, 35th Avenue, and Telegraph Avenue are all listed as closed on Taco Bell's website, though the drive-thrus remain open. Taco Bell told CNN that the dining rooms were closed by the franchisee operating the restaurants, Diversified Restaurant Group.

Persons: —, Taco Bell Organizations: Taco Bell, CNN, Bell's, Service, Taco Bell's, Business Locations: Oakland

☆ A Jewish passenger is suing JetBlue claiming religious discrimination after he was thrown off a plane following his refusal to sit next to a woman
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Orthodox Jewish passenger claims he was thrown off a JetBlue plane for trying to change seats. The passenger had explained to staff that he couldn't sit next to a woman due to his religious beliefs, per the lawsuit. AdvertisementAn Orthodox Jewish passenger is suing JetBlue, accusing the airline of religious discrimination, claiming that he was thrown off a plane for trying to change seats after refusing to sit next to a woman. Lunger never forced other passengers to change seats with him or used a loud or stern voice, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit, which accused JetBlue of religious and racial discrimination, seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and costs.

Persons: —, Abraham Lunger, John F, Lunger, weren't Organizations: JetBlue, Service, Palm, John, Kennedy International Airport, Court Southern District of Locations: Palm Springs, Court Southern District of New York

☆ Shoppers are scrambling to get their hands on Trader Joe's $3 mini tote bags, leading to a lucrative online resale market
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTrader Joe's mini tote bags have only been on sale for a couple of weeks — and they've already sparked a lucrative online resale market. Hundreds of people have already bought the mini tote bags from the online marketplace. "The size is ideal for smaller shopping trips, to pick up those few items you forgot the first time around," Trader Joe's says in the product description. Probably not," one TikToker said in a video of her mini tote. Have you bought a mini tote bag from Trader Joe's?

Persons: —, they've, Stanley, Joe's, Quencher, Alphas Organizations: Service, Business, eBay

☆ Some Costco shoppers buying its new $625 packs of silver coins are annoyed that they're showing up scratched and with broken packaging
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Costco is now selling packs of 25-count packs of silver Royal Canadian Mint coins for $625. They wrote in reviews that the tubes weren't sealed when they arrived and the coins were loose and scratched. AdvertisementSome Costco shoppers buying its new $625 packs of silver coins say that they didn't arrive in sealed tubes as promised, leading to some of them showing up scratched. One reviewer said that when they opened their package, "the coins just spilled out of the UPS box." They said their coins arrived "tightly wrapped in plastic and still in the sealed tube."

Persons: —, King Charles III Organizations: Costco, Royal Canadian, Service, Royal Canadian Mint, UPS, Eagle, Business

☆ California is putting up minimum wages to $20 an hour for fast-food chains – and it's likely going to drive up wages in other industries, too
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewCalifornia is raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour – and a much wider group of employees could see bigger paychecks. If limited-service restaurants raise their wages, "everybody is going to have to adopt because it's a free market," Danilo Gargiulo, a Bernstein analyst, said. Fast-food and fast-casual chains have already said they plan to raise their menu prices in California to offset the higher wages. The Cheesecake Factory's CFO Matt Clark told investors in November that the minimum wage could have a "ripple effect" beyond just limited-service restaurants. He added that the legislation would cause the price gap between limited- and full-service restaurants to narrow.

Persons: —, Brian Vaccaro, Raymond James, It'll, Andy Barish, Danilo Gargiulo, Bernstein, Matt Clark, Clark, Vaccaro, Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, Greg Levin, we've, Levin, they're, Zackfia Organizations: Service, Business, Jefferies, US Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: California, pretzels . California

☆ Owners and managers at some Washington Subway stores kept $80,000 in staff tips and reduced workers' hours on their timecards, a federal agency says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Owners and managers at 10 Subway stores in Washington state illegally took money from staff tip pools, the Labor Department says. The stores also reduced staff's hours on their timecards to avoid paying overtime, the DOL said. The stores have now given $196,000 in tips, overtime wages, and liquidated damages to 100 affected workers. AdvertisementOwners and managers at 10 Subway stores in Washington state illegally kept $80,000 in staff tips, the Department of Labor says. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act , business owners and managers are not allowed to participate in staff tip pools.

Persons: DOL, —, timesheets Organizations: Labor Department, Service, Department of Labor, Fair Labor, Act, Business Locations: Washington

☆ Costco is now selling $625 packs of silver coins as well as $2,000 gold bars — and shoppers are snapping them up
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Costco is now selling packs of one-ounce silver coins, priced at $625 for 25 coins. Its CFO said that sales of the coins and Costco's 24-karat gold bars had led its e-commerce growth. AdvertisementIt's not just $2,000 gold bars you can buy from Costco — customers can now snap up $625 packs of silver coins, too, as the retailer expands its precious metals business. On Costco's website, you can snap up a 25-count pack of 2024 Canada Maple Leaf silver coins. Each coin weighs one troy ounce and is made of 99.99% pure silver, Costco says.

Persons: —, It's, Richard Galanti Organizations: Costco, Service, CNN, Business

☆ Live in DC? Get ready for 20% service charges when you eat out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCouncil members in DC voted to allow restaurants and bars to charge service fees of up to 20%, provided that it's made clear to diners before they order. Travelers United, a nonprofit that filed lawsuits against two restaurant groups that charged service fees in DC, argued that they were deceptive. The Washington Post reported that some restaurants had introduced service charges to cover the higher wages they now need to pay staff. The minimum wage that employers have to pay for tipped workers in DC is currently $8 an hour. AdvertisementFrom July 1, when the District minimum wage goes up to $17.50 an hour, restaurants will have to pay tipped workers a minimum of $10 an hour.

Persons: —, it's, they're, Muriel E, Bowser Organizations: Service, Business, Travelers United, DC, District's, Washington Post Locations: DC, Tuesday's

☆ This fast food chain is bigger than Subway and McDonald's in the UK, and it's famous for a food item many Americans have never heard of
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Greggs, a British bakery chain, has more locations than Subway and McDonald's. Greggs posted booming sales, which it credited to store openings, more evening trade, and its delivery business. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The bakery chain has close to 2,500 stores in the UK. The company just posted booming sales, with revenues up nearly 20% in 2023.

Persons: Greggs, It's, Piers Morgan, — Organizations: Service Locations: British, McDonald's, Newcastle, England

☆ A Jeff Bezos-backed startup and Oscar Mayer want to charge you a lot more for a meatless hot dog than a meaty one
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Grace Dean | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Hot-dog giant Oscar Mayer is entering the plant-based industry with vegan hot dogs and sausages. They're set to cost between 40% and 60% more than the brand's traditional hot dogs, Bloomberg said. Lowering on-the-shelf prices has been a persistent challenge for plant-based meat makers. The company is launching non-animal-meat hot dogs and sausages at retailers nationwide in the US later this year, and they're set to cost between 40% and 60% more than the brand's traditional hot dogs, Bloomberg reported. A bun-length four-pack of Oscar Mayer NotHotDogs has a suggested retail price of $5.99, a spokesperson for the Kraft Heinz Not Company told Business Insider.

Persons: Oscar Mayer, —, Oscar Mayer NotHotDogs, Kraft Heinz Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Kraft, Company, Business Locations: Washington ,

☆ A Royal Caribbean cleaner has been arrested over suspicions he hid cameras in ship bathrooms to film young female passengers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAn employee working on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been arrested on suspicion of placing secret cameras inside passengers' bathrooms and filming them without their knowledge. According to the affidavit, Mirasol admitted to hiding video cameras in passengers' bathrooms and told investigators that he would masturbate while watching the videos. The start of the footage "clearly" shows Mirasol placing the camera in the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Mirasol told agents that he had been placing cameras in passengers' bathrooms since he started working on the Symphony of the Seas in December, per the affidavit. Advertisement"We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told NBC News.

Persons: —, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, Mirasol Organizations: Service, Royal, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration, Customs, Business, Agents, Court, Southern, Southern District of, NBC Locations: Royal Caribbean, Port Everglades , Florida, voyeurism, Broward County, Florida, Southern District, Southern District of Florida

☆ Here's what might happen after California raises fast-food wages to $20, from higher burger and pizza prices to better wages for retail workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementBurgers, tacos, and pizzas will get more expensiveDiners should expect to pay more as fast-food restaurants put menu prices up to offset higher wages. But restaurants already paying workers higher wages will feel less of an impact from the new legislation. Jon Tower, an analyst at Citi, said the higher prices could be hard for some diners to accept. However, higher wages at McDonald's, Subway, and Burger King will likely prompt other employers to offer higher pay so they can compete for labor. AdvertisementPeople will have more money to dine outAs fast-food workers' wages increase, they'll actually have more disposable income to spend dining out.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, It's, Jack, Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, Andy Barish, Sara Senatore, Chris Kempczinski, they're, Jon Tower, Barish, Zackfia, Burger, Danilo Gargiulo, Bernstein, Matt Clark Organizations: Service, Golden State, Gov, Jefferies, Bank of America, Citi, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: California, McDonald's

☆ Boneless wings aren't wings at all, they're just 'oversized nuggets' — but restaurants love them because they're cheaper and easier to produce
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But International Wing Factory in New York City doesn't describe them as boneless wings, preferring to simply call them boneless chicken. "I always wrote 'boneless' on my menu because being a chef, I know there is nothing called boneless wings," owner Deepak Ballaney told Business Insider. Sweet-potato fries, boneless wings, and bone-in wings from Wingstop. So-called boneless wings can also be easier to process because you don't have to deconstruct the bird as much, Tower said. AdvertisementOne Wingstop restaurant in Rochester Hills, Michigan charges $12.49 for 10 classic wings and $10.29 for the same number of boneless wings.

Persons: —, Deepak Ballaney, Ballaney, Grace Dean, Jon Tower, you've, Nick White, White, it's Organizations: Service, Factory, Business, Citi, Orange, Orange Buffalo, Buffalo Wild Wings Locations: New York City, Wingstop, Rochester Hills , Michigan, Orange Buffalo, London

☆ Panera Bread is promising bigger portions and lower prices in its 'largest menu transformation ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

It includes new and improved menu items with bigger portions. Panera is cutting some items to streamline its menu, including its flatbreads. AdvertisementPanera Bread has unveiled its "largest menu transformation ever," including new and improved menu items, bigger portions, and some lower prices. It's adding nine new menu items, including a Ciabatta Cheesesteak, Bacon Mac and Cheese, and a Southwest Chicken Ranch Salad. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Panera, Bacon Mac Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A beauty manufacturing company fired a worker on her first day after finding out she was deaf, a federal agency says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A company in Illinois fired a worker after it learned that she was deaf, the EEOC alleged. The worker lost her job on her very first day, the EEOC said in a disability-discrimination lawsuit. The company has agreed to pay the worker $75,000 in back pay and compensatory damages. AdvertisementA beauty manufacturing company in Illinois fired a worker on her first day on the job after finding out that she was deaf, according to a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On the worker's first day, "Voyant learned that she was deaf and informed her that because she is deaf, Voyant was ending her employment there," the EEOC's lawsuit alleges.

Persons: —, Voyant, EEOC, Jeremy Daniel, Gregory Gochanour Organizations: Service, Commission, Countryside, Court, Northern, Northern District of Illinois, US, EEOC's, Office Locations: Illinois, Countryside , Illinois, Northern District, EEOC's Chicago

☆ Beyond Meat plans to hike prices as part of a huge turnaround plan to fight slumping sales of plant-based meat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewBeyond Meat has unveiled details of a massive turnaround plan, including raising the prices of its plant-based meat, as it struggles with slumping sales. Advertisement"This change in strategy does not reflect an abandonment of our long-sought price parity goal," Brown said, referring to the company's goal of making plant-based meat the same price as animal meat. Some products, including those in grocery stores, would barely change in price, Brown said. Misinformation about plant-based meat is 'scaring customers away'Beyond Meat posted net revenues for 2023 were $343.4 million, a decrease of 18% compared to 2022. It attributed declining US sales to weak demand for plant-based products, as well as Beyond Meat offering more discounts.

Persons: —, Ethan Brown, Brown, Lubi Kutua Organizations: Service, Business, Bosh

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