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☆ M&M’s new packaging sparks ‘culture war’ outrage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —M&M’S is making a statement with its latest candy pack, which features an all-female set of characters — including Purple, its newest addition. Purple, the “spokescandy” announced last year (and the first new M&M’S character in a decade), is a purple peanut M&M. An all-female M&M pack is now on sale. The all-female pack quickly sparked “culture wars” outrage on right-wing media, notably at Fox News. “Now we know for certain that M&M’S is a cultural icon.”M&M’S has no plans to restore Green’s look.

☆ Maker of Vicks, OXO and Osprey is laying off 10% of its staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Helen of Troy, which owns Vicks, OXO and Osprey among other consumer goods and beauty brands, is laying off 10% of its staff, in the face of sluggish demand and economic uncertainty. They are part of an effort to streamline the organization and reach $75 to $85 million in annualized savings in the coming years. Salesforce is planning to cut about 10% of staff and reduce its real estate footprint. Helen of Troy, which owns Vicks and other brands, is reducing its workforce by 10%. In the beauty segment, it owns Drybar and Hot Tools, which sells curling irons and other hair tools.

Holiday meals were also more expensive, and food prices outpaced inflation throughout the year. But while some items saw massive double-digit increases in 2022, others were a deal. In the year through November, several major electronics got cheaper: Smartphone prices plunged 23.4%, TV prices dropped 17% and computers got 4.4% less expensive. Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty ImagesIn the year through November, food got 10.6% more expensive, outpacing overall inflation. Food away from home became 8.5% more expensive in 2022, with many restaurants hiking up menu prices in order to mitigate their own higher input costs.

☆ Starbucks will charge rewards members more stars for free items next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Starbucks is making changes to its rewards program, requiring members to spend more to earn some popular freebies. Program members earn stars when they make purchases. In the three months ending on October 2, the number of active Starbucks rewards members jumped to 28.7 million, up 16% year-over-year. In October, the coffee chain started partnering with Delta (DAL) to let rewards members earn airline miles. While rewards members may be enthusiastic about benefits, they’re also quick to criticize companies for making changes.

☆ The soda market is flat, but not for Dr Pepper
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

And recently, Dr Pepper has been gaining ground on its competitors, even as the overall soda market goes flat. “One of the bright spots … has been Dr Pepper.”Founded in 1885 in Waco, Texas, Dr Pepper was the first in a wave of 19th-century upstart soda companies. Courtesy Keurig Dr PepperToday, Dr Pepper advertises itself as a treat, using a pint-sized mascot called Lil’ Sweet in its commercials. After Dr Pepper established itself as an alternative to mainstream colas, it launched on a path that ultimately made it part of the country’s third-largest soft drink maker, Keurig Dr Pepper. Dr Pepper hits the sceneDuring the wave of mega-mergers in the 1980s, Coca-Cola tried to scoop up Dr Pepper.

☆ Why egg prices are still going up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But nothing comes close to the rise in egg prices. In the year through November, not adjusted for seasonal swings, egg prices jumped 49%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wholesale prices hit a recordAvian flu has been a problem in the US for several months now, but in recent weeks wholesale prices have been hitting records. The supply squeeze isn’t the only thing contributing to higher egg prices, said Metz. Friday’s wholesale prices were the same as Thursday’s, the first time pricing held steady since October, she said.

☆ From the McRib to the Choco Taco, here are 6 foods we lost in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Chili’s Original Chicken TendersChili's replaced its Original Chicken Crispers with something crispier, as pictured here. Honest TeaRIP Honest Tea. Weeks after Coke’s announcement, the founders of Honest Tea launched another bottled iced tea drink called Eat the Change. Wendy’s Vanilla FrostyWendy's vanilla Frosty will come back eventually. Let’s be clear: the Vanilla Frosty isn’t gone for good.

New York CNN —Flight delays continued Saturday, interrupting travel during the busy holiday season as parts of the country were battered by a deadly winter storm. As of Saturday morning, there were upwards of 2,000 cancellations of flights into, leaving and within the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. On Friday, there were nearly 6,000 canceled flights in the US, and close to 12,000 delays, according to FlightAware. Greyhound bus service warned Thursday evening that trips in the Midwest or upper Northeast could be canceled or disrupted. On Saturday, over 1.6 million homes and businesses nationwide were without power due to an Arctic blast and winter storm that tore down power lines.

☆ The best food marketing stunts of the year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“The Big Cheez-It Tostada and Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap are in such Big demand that our limited offer is no longer available,” the chain said. Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Fancy FeastOver the summer, Fancy Feast invited people to answer the question: What does cat food taste like? The restaurant dishes drew inspiration from Fancy Feast Medleys, cat food that is itself inspired by human food like salmon primavera and turkey florentine. The restaurant’s menu was created by Amanda Hassner, in-house chef for Fancy Feast, as well as restaurateur Cesare Casella, a Michelin star winner, according to a Fancy Feast press release. Papa JohnsAs a permanent addition to the Papa Johns menu, the no-crust, toppings-only Papa Bowls are technically not a stunt.

☆ A lettuce production problem cost Olive Garden owner millions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —High lettuce costs are coming for Olive Garden’s never-ending salad. Olive Garden's parent company said high lettuce costs had a $4-$5 million impact in the quarter ending November 27. But the lettuce prices were “a big surprise.”California crop diseaseCrop disease in California, where much of the country’s lettuce is grown, has hit lettuce supply and forced prices to rise. The crop virus in addition to the geographical shift “was the perfect recipe for really historically high prices,” he said. High lettuce prices are hitting consumers in the grocery store, as well.

☆ Starbucks union organizers wanted credit-card tipping. Now they’re being left out
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

They also wanted a better tipping option. “One of the first public demands that we made last fall, when our campaign launched, was for credit card tipping,” the Starbucks Workers United said in a statement to CNN. The coffee chain has for years allowed customers to tip when they pay using their Starbucks card in the Starbucks app, or to leave a cash tip. But Starbucks (SBUX) only started rolling out the credit and debit card tipping system, which is now available nationally, in September. “Even though union-representated workers do not have credit card tipping at the moment, it still feels like a union victory,” she said.

☆ Taco Bell may add fries to its menu permanently to compete with McDonald’s
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

To compete with rivals such as McDonald’s during lunchtime, the chain is considering permanently adding fries to its menu, Taco Bell CEO Mark King said during an investor event Tuesday. Taco Bell has put nacho fries, its take on French fries, on the menu periodically as a limited-time offering since the item launched in 2018. Taco Bell is considering adding fries to the menu permanently. Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Taco BellBut by keeping fries on the menu year-round, Taco Bell could potentially steal some of its rivals’ customers. In the past, Taco Bell has tested nacho fries topped with steak and ranch sauce, and is currently offering seven-layer nacho fries loaded with beef, black beans, guacamole and more.

☆ Inflation may be easing, but grocery prices are still way up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Flour prices jumped 24.9%, bread went up 15.7%, milk was 14.7% more expensive and coffee prices rose 14.6%. Uncooked beef roasts fell 8.1%, and uncooked beef steaks dropped 7.4%. In restaurants, where traffic has been slowing as consumers tighten their belts, menu prices went up, but not by much. At limited-service restaurants, menu prices rose 0.6%, while prices at full-service restaurants ticked up 0.4%. Uncooked beef roasts fell 1.3% and uncooked ground beef dropped 0.9%.

☆ What’s gone wrong at Beyond Meat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And fierce competition is squeezing sales, including in frozen, plant-based chicken, a category that is growing while refrigerated plant-based meat sales falter. “We believe that healthy competition within plant-based meat is a good thing as it brings investment in marketing to the category,” said Brown during the November analyst call. It’s true that the plant-based meat pie is smaller these days. Ground plant-based meat fell about 19%, and patties were down 30% in that period. It launched a retooled version, Beyond Chicken Tenders, in stores in 2021, and has built its plant-based chicken portfolio since then.

☆ Coca-Cola is getting into Christmas movies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The venture is a continuation of Coca-Cola’s Real Magic platform, which takes an experimental approach to marketing the company’s core product. The Christmas Anthology is part of a new platform called Real Magic Presents. Coca-Cola has a history of associating itself with Christmas, so much so that the company has an FAQ page for “Did Coca-Cola create Santa Claus?” (The answer: Sort of. “It allows us to work on content that fits into our Real Magic platform,” said Careaga. It’s more centered on our traditions.”The Coca-Cola anthology is designed to appeal to a global audience.

☆ McDonald’s franchisee violated child labor laws, investigation finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —A McDonald’s franchise operator has violated child labor laws, according to an investigation by the Department of Labor. Overall, 101 minors at 13 locations run by the franchisee were working in violation of child labor laws, the Labor Department said Monday. About 93% of McDonald’s locations are run by franchise operators. “Permitting young workers to work excessive hours can jeopardize their safety, well-being and education,” said John Dumont, wage and hour district director in Pittsburgh, in a statement on the investigation. “Employers who hire young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face costly consequences.”

☆ Philadelphia is launching a plant-based cream cheese
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN Business —Philadelphia Cream Cheese is launching a non-dairy version of its signature spread. The plant-based cream cheese is now available at grocery stories in Atlanta, Houston, Miami and other locations in the Southeast, with a wider rollout planned for summer 2023. Philadelphia's plant-based cream cheese is available in the Southeast. According to data from IRI, only about 41% of households who buy plant-based cream cheese make a second purchase within the year. “It’s just easier to forgo cream cheese and cheese … than it is to forgo meat,” he said.

☆ Pepsi wants you to drink soda mixed with milk this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Pepsi launched a campaign Thursday encouraging customers to try the combination and use the hashtag #PilkandCookies (as in Pepsi plus milk) to showcase their Santa-friendly concoctions. “Combining Pepsi and milk has long been a secret hack among Pepsi fans,” said Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s chief marketing officer, in a statement about the campaign. Pepsi is now publicizing the mix as its spin on “dirty soda,” a popular TikTok trend that combines soda with syrup and cream. Pepsi is recommending a number of recipes to those who want to go beyond just Pepsi and milk, perhaps hoping to launch its own viral combination. Swig, which calls itself “home of the original dirty soda,” has been around since 2010 and serves a wide array of the carbonated mash-ups.

☆ This is what McDonald’s drive-thru of the future could look like
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Drive-thru times have gotten 45 seconds slower on average in 2022 compared to 2019 at industry-leading chains, according to this year’s Drive-Thru Report by QSR and Intouch Insight. A customer picks up a McDonald's order from a conveyor. McDonald'sDriving down drive-thru timesAlthough drive-thru times are slower than they were in 2019, they’ve improved from last year, when a shortage of workers and an increase in demand for drive-thru, delivery and to-go orders sent restaurant operations into disarray. McDonald'sTaco Bell in June unveiled a concept restaurant with four drive-thru lanes, and orders delivered via “vertical lift” from the kitchen. McDonald’s first announced plans to improve its drive-thru in 2020.

☆ Chicken prices are finally starting to fall
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Over the past year, as some meat prices have fallen, chicken prices have remained stubbornly high. In the year through October, not adjusting for seasonal swings, chicken prices had jumped 14.5%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chicken prices are finally falling. Why chicken prices were highBut the roosters don’t bear all the blame. Still, a decline in wholesale prices eventually leads to a decline in retail prices, which is starting to happen.

☆ Why are cranberry sauce labels upside-down? Science
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of Thanksgiving is the cranberry sauce — and we’re not even talking about why people eat it: What’s the deal with the upside-down labels on Ocean Spray cans of the stuff? Observant consumers have noticed that the Ocean Spray labels on jellied cranberry sauce cans are flipped, meaning the rounded edge that’s typically on the bottom of most canned goods is on top of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce cans. According to Ocean Spray, that’s intentional: It creates a seamless serving experience. That includes cranberry sauce, whose price is up about 18% compared to last year because cranberry crops are smaller this year, sparking a supply squeeze. The company, which is a farmer co-operative, told CNN Business that it has also has had to hike prices of its canned cranberry sauce, but declined to give a specific percentage.

☆ Starbucks closes location that was the first to unionize in Seattle
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Starbucks is closing the store in Seattle where employees were the first to vote to form a union in the chain’s home city. It’s not the first time Starbucks has pointed to safety concerns to explain a closure. “This is the most clear-cut case of retaliation this company has shown closing a union store yet,” Starbucks Workers United said in a statement on the closure. They lack respect not only for the rights of their workers, but for the law of this country.”Starbucks is closing the first Seattle location to vote to unionize. Last week, Starbucks workers across the country went on a one-day strike to protest what they see as retaliation for unionizing efforts.

☆ Coffee prices are crashing. What it means for your cup of joe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —Coffee futures are crashing. “When the dollar goes up, everything measured in dollars, like international coffee prices, tend to go down,” Mera said. In the year through October, not adjusted for seasonal swings, coffee prices jumped 14.8% in the grocery store, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the improved conditions won’t necessarily mean a big decline in coffee prices for consumers, Mera noted. That’s because while coffee prices are falling, other costs, like labor and distribution, are still high for producers.

☆ Restaurant sales are going up. But dining out is on the decline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Restaurant traffic is dipping as consumers make food at home. In that month, traffic at fast food restaurants fell 1.2%, dipped 1.7% for fast casual and dropped 4.7% in full service eateries. Fast food traffic bounced back slightly in September and October, but fast casual and full service traffic remained negative. Restaurant prices increased by 8.6%. But groceries are generally cheaper than restaurant meals.

☆ Kraft Heinz turns to gimmicks and nostalgia to revive its ‘dusty’ brands
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Because they’re incredible.”More than half of Kraft Heinz’s business comes from just eight brands — the aforementioned three, plus Kraft Mac and Cheese, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Heinz, Lunchables and Ore-Ida. For Kraft Heinz, which is relying on Patricio to execute a comeback, there’s a lot on the line. So we have more loyalty.”For that reason, Kraft Heinz has leaned in to promoting its legacy brands — and with sometimes outrageous marketing. Kraft HeinzOther Kraft Heinz brands have also used attention-grabbing marketing campaigns. Kraft Heinz’s brands now have a presence on gaming platforms like Roblox, in addition to social media channels and other platforms.

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