May 23, 2013

Starbucks

Small Portions a Big Idea
April 2013

Small portions are very big these days.

Many 2013 trend predictions determined that small plates and snacking are expected to be popular among chefs and restaurant operators this year. While diners are still eating during the traditional meal times—breakfast, lunch, and dinner...

Report Finds Starbucks is Top Quick Serve for Q1 2013

Starbucks is the top quick service restaurant brand with $166 million of Impact Media Value according to General Sentiment’s Q1 2013 QSR MediaMatch. Taco Bell ($89 million), Chipotle ($51 million) and Kentucky Fried Chicken ($36 million) remained in the top four. Burger King ($33 million)...

Starbucks Recruits Sharon Rothstein as Global CMO

Starbucks Coffee Company announced it has appointed Sharon Rothstein as global chief marketing officer.

Rothstein was previously senior vice president of marketing at innovative specialty beauty retailer Sephora.

Starbucks, ACC American Café Take Off at RDU Airport

Global restaurateur HMSHost will welcome travelers with three new restaurants at Raleigh-Durham International Airport as part of the airport’s Terminal 1 Modernization Project.

The project is slated to be completed in early 2014. Travelers at Raleigh-Durham will experience the first...

HMSHost Brings in New Starbucks at PDX

Travelers making their way through Portland International Airport will be surprised to find their favorite coffee in a new location that takes them right back into Portland’s historic industrial river-shipping and air-travel eras. Global restaurateur HMSHost celebrated the grand opening of...

Pass the Rewards
January 2013

Within weeks of Apple’s iOS 6 mobile system launch, Qdoba was offering Chicago customers access to its rewards card through Apple’s new Passbook program.

Passbook—a mobile wallet of sorts—holds everything from movie passes and plane tickets to gift cards and reward...

Starbucks to Build Off the Success of Its Blonde Roast

Starbucks Coffee Company aims to grow share of the 40 percent of U.S. coffee drinkers who say they prefer a lighter roast by using an innovative cross-channel campaign to win them over to Starbucks Blonde Roast. Starbucks has already seen significant success since introducing its lighter roast...

Starbucks Set to Open in Vietnam for First Time

Starbucks Coffee Company announced the expansion of its long-term relationship with Hong Kong Maxim’s Group to now operate Starbucks stores in Vietnam. Scheduled to open the first Starbucks store in Ho Chi Minh City in early February 2013, Starbucks reiterated that Asia continues to be a...

Starbucks Gets Hearty with New Oatmeal Option

Just in time for New Year’s resolutions, Starbucks will launch a nutrition-packed start to the day with the new Starbucks Hearty Blueberry Oatmeal. The new Hearty Blueberry Oatmeal will feature a blend of steel-cut and rolled oats for a hearty blend texture, and new toppings including...

10 Trends for 2013
January 2013

What would the start of another year be without predictions? Whether analyzing politics, the silver screen, or stock markets, experts try to offer a peek at the trends we can expect in the coming year.

The restaurant industry is no different. Throughout 2012’s fourth quarter,...

Java Jive
December 2012

We love our coffee in the U.S.

Whether the java is hot or cold, plain or flavored, we’re guzzling, sipping, gulping, and otherwise downing north of 400 million cups of Joe every day. In fact, a survey from the National Coffee Association (NCA) indicates that coffee has moved ahead...

HMSHost Unveils Starbucks Evenings at Dulles Airport

Global restaurateur HMSHost celebrated the grand opening of the very first airport location for Starbucks’ latest concept, Starbucks Evenings, at Washington Dulles International Airport.

HMSHost and Starbucks opened the first airport Starbucks more than 20 years ago and have worked...

Cardfree Launches Integrated Mobile Merchant Platform

Cardfree announced the launch of its company and introduced the first fully integrated mobile merchant platform, enabling companies to drive incremental visits, larger ticket size, tender preference, and more meaningful consumer engagement under its branded experience.

Last month, the...

Starbucks Unveils Accelerated Global Growth Plans

Starbucks reaffirms its leadership position and growth agenda across its global retail, emerging brands, and CPG channels at its biennial Investor Conference.

Year of the Brand
December 2012

In this last Brand New Perspectives of 2012, I’m breaking from my usual Q&A format to recap some of the most important brand developments in fast food this past year.

Despite the sluggish economy and uncertainty that typically accompanies election years, companies in our...

How to Stay Crafty
November 2012

Wine connoisseurs for years looked down their noses at beer, considering the latter, better-selling beverage as a drink of the “common man.”

That view is slowly evolving, however, as an increasing number of Americans become fans of the many craft beers being brewed all across...

HMSHost Unveils New Local Cuisine and More at SLC Airport

HMSHost and Salt Lake City International Airport celebrates the grand opening of 13 new restaurants highlighting local and national favorites. The new restaurants bring a decidedly local twist, as seven of the 13 are Salt Lake City-area eateries. With a mix of Mexican, Greek, and Italian food,...

Starbucks Announces Agreement to Acquire Teavana

Furthering its commitment to innovate and transform the tea industry and enhance the consumer tea experience in the U.S. and internationally, Starbucks Coffee Company has agreed to acquire Teavana Holdings Inc. in an all-cash acquisition.

Time to Jump on the Bandwagon?
November 2012

Q: Could you give me some insight on the outlook of the barbecue industry? Is the industry stable? Is this a good time to invest in barbecue?

Starbucks Breaks Coffee Ground in India

Tata Starbucks Limited, the 50/50 joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages Limited, opened the doors to the first Starbucks store in India.

This flagship store is located at the historic Elphinstone Building, Horniman Circle, Mumbai, and marks the beginning...