Eighty percent of the new stores Starbucks opens in the U.S. during fiscal 2018 will include drive-thru windows. The company plans to open 2,100 locations in fiscal 2018, bringing its total store count to more than 31,000. Same-store sales increased 4% in the quarter ended Sept. 30, which officials said stem from a strategy of simplification that's designed to allow employees more time interacting with customers, reported The Seattle Times.
We Will Never Understand The Attraction Of Starbucks! Don't Like Their Coffee... Call Us Old Fashioned! But Nice Place To Hang Out Though For Meetings! GI
A class action lawsuit alleges a Starbucks drink does not contain white chocolate as advertised. The suit alleges Starbucks Corp. is in violation of New York's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act and other counts as its Starbucks White Chocolate Doubleshot Energy Drink contains "inferior confectionary ingredients" instead of white chocolate, reported Legal Newsline.
At $5.00 + For That Damn Cup Of Coffee..It Better Be Real Chocolate! GI
McDonald's launched a $6 Classic Meal Deal program. The deal choices include a Quarter Pounder with cheese, Big Mac, 10-piece McNugget or Filet-O-Fish, a small order of French fries, a soft drink or sweet tea in any size and a pie for dessert, reported MarketWatch.
Tried To Give Money To A Homeless Man For A McDonald's Meal... He Refused It...Said To Me... "I Don't Eat That Crap!" GI
A man with a firearm may have stopped a burglary, or perhaps something worse, at an Alabama McDonald's. The man, who hasn't been named, was leaving the fast-food eatery in Birmingham with his two sons at around 10:45pm Saturday, report Fox News and AL.com. WBRC notes that a masked gunman burst into the restaurant as a worker opened the door for the family to exit, opening fire. The father whipped out his own pistol and returned fire and killed the gunman.
That Would Be A "McTake-Down" With A "McGun"! GI
A federal judge dismissed the central claim in lawsuits accusing five food producers and retailers of deceiving consumers by using "100% Grated Parmesan Cheese" labels to describe products that contained cellulose. The judge found a lack of proof that the labels would mislead reasonable consumers into thinking the products were 100% cheese, but allowed some state consumer protection claims against Albertsons Cos., Kraft Heinz Co. and Walmart Inc. over ingredient lists that said cellulose was used to prevent caking, when it was also used as filler. He dismissed all claims against Publix Super Markets Inc. and Target Corp., reported Reuters.
Labels Should Be Changed To: 98% Cheese & 2% Sawdust? GI
Ben & Jerry's is launching a new flavor, Pecan Resist, which the company made to promote activism in the U.S. The Limited Batch flavor - chocolate ice cream with white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts and fudge-covered almonds - is part of the company's campaign to "lick injustice and champion those fighting to create a more just and equitable nation for us all," it said
Another Reason Not To Buy Their Ice Cream, Plus It Cost Too Much Anyway! GI
FDA confirmed that irrigation canal water was the most likely way E. coli was spread to romaine lettuce in the Yuma, AZ, region, according to an environmental assessment issued by the agency. The agency remains unsure as to what caused the contamination, but posited direct application of irrigation canal water to the lettuce crop or the use of irrigation canal water to dilute crop-protection chemicals applied to the crops through both aerial and land-based spray applications could have caused the contamination.
"Unsure" Oh C'mon!!! Field Workers Are Taking A Dump In The Canal! GI
Target launched mobile checkout at all stores nationwide. Using handheld devices, Target workers can scan items in a guest's cart and accept payment by credit card on the spot from anywhere in the store. During peak events, workers will be located in the busiest areas of the store.
We See Non-Orderly Chaos In The Future At Target! GI
Walmart launched an augmented reality (AR) scanning tool in its iPhone app, which will help customers with product comparisons. Unlike a typical barcode scanner meant only to compare prices on one item at a time, Walmart's AR scanner can be panned across store shelves, offering details on pricing and customer ratings beneath the products it sees, reported TechCrunch.
Who Has Time For All This Research While Shopping? Get In, Get Out, & Get Out Of My Way! GI
The noon lunch hour was convenience stores' busiest hour of the day during third quarter 2018, claiming 8% of visits, according to GasBuddy. During the period, 44.9% of shoppers spent less than five minutes per gas station or convenience store trip, with the average dwell time at 7 minutes and 40 seconds.
As Mentioned Above...That's How It Should Be At Walmart Too! GI
Organic pork sales fell 2.4% by weight over the 52 weeks ending Oct. 6, despite overall organic sales rising 6.4%, due to lack of supply and demand, according to Nielsen. Producers claim raising organic hogs is more expensive than raising other organic protein and most pork buyers aren't willing to pay the premium. Niman Ranch notes offering organic pork would increase its price so much, it would have to charge consumers more than double its already high prices, reported Bloomberg.
This Organic Crap Has Gone Too Far! Organic Pigs??? GI
A high-fat diet enriched with cottonseed oil may improve cholesterol profiles in young adult men, according to research from the University of Georgia. Study participants showed significant reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides in a cottonseed oil trial compared to minimal changes on an olive oil-enriched diet. Participants showed an average decrease of 8% in total cholesterol, along with a 15% decrease in LDL cholesterol and a 30% decrease in triglycerides, reported ScienceDaily.
All These Years & We Were Told Cottonseed Was Bad For You! More Grant Money Please! GI
Delivery will be available at 2,000 KFC locations in the U.S. and 4,000 Taco Bells by the end of 2018, according to Yum Brands' CEO. Better value offers and digital orders in Russia, Thailand, the Middle East and India helped increase KFC's same-store sales 3% in its third quarter, as well as some of its new menu items, including pickle fried chicken. At Taco Bell, the relaunch of $1 nacho fries as well as the $1 Triple Melt Burrito helped boost same-store sales 5%, while Pizza Hut's same-store sales fell 1%, as the chain struggled to differentiate itself from competitors and attract new customers, reported CNBC.
Scotty-Beam Me Over A Bucket Of Chicken & A Dozen Tacos! Aye-Aye Captain! GI
GlobalData Retail claims Pizza Hut is failing to engage students and younger consumers, who instead are turning to Domino's and Papa John's. An analyst with the firm noted that although it is a smart move for Pizza Hut to focus on technology initiatives to engage the cohort, it will need to address its brand perception and price to better compete, reported MarketWatch.
Their Damn Pizzas Cost Too Much, That's Why! GI
Pizza Hut is partnering with Toyota to develop a robot-operated mobile pizza factory. A modified Toyota pickup truck will have a pizza-making robot in the back in an effort to cut delivery times. The prototype will reportedly cook pies on-the-go in six to seven minutes, reported The Chicago Tribune.
Can We Get That Accessory On Our Next Pickup Truck? Cruise Control and A Pizza Robot Please! GI
Tofurky and The Good Food Institute are seeking a preliminary injunction against a Missouri law that makes it a misdemeanor to promote products as meat that aren't made from livestock or poultry. In the federal lawsuit, the plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on constitutional free speech rights, reported Washington Post.
We Don't Think Our Forefathers Meant This When They Wrote The Constitution..Nor Did They Envision Tofurky! GI
A California groundskeeper will accept a judge's reduced verdict of $78 million against Monsanto after a jury found the company's weed killer caused his cancer. Monsanto is facing 8,000 similar lawsuits across the country with plans to appeal every adverse verdict, reported The State.
Smart Move By The Groundskeeper! We Will Continue To Follow This! GI
Albertsons Cos. partnered with Takeoff Technologies to pilot a micro-fulfillment center concept. The pilot project will deploy Takeoff's artificial intelligence capabilities, making Albertsons the first national grocer to implement an automated e-commerce fulfillment solution, according to the company, reported Chain Store Age.
See What Happens When You Demand $15/HR Minimum Wage! GI
Sales for Kellogg's U.S. morning foods unit declined 1.3% in its fiscal third quarter, partially due to its recall of Honey Smacks cereal. However, the company did receive a slight boost in the category from higher sales of Pop Tarts during the period. Sales for its snacks business fell 3.5%, as transportation costs due to a shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. took a toll, despite switching its snacks delivery model to reduce expenses, reported CNBC.
Can't Eat Salmonella Honey Smacks...So Plan B- Eat Pop Tarts! GI
About 29% of U.S. adults age 20 and older saw nutrition information about foods at fast food or pizza restaurants between 2007-2014, according to USDA. About 44% of those who saw the menu labels in fast food restaurants reported using the information to help decide which foods to buy during the visit.
Surprising That Anyone Thinks About Nutrition While Eating Fast Food & Pizza! GI
One in eight British people are now vegetarian or vegan, according to figures from a Waitrose food shopping report. Twenty-one percent claim to be flexitarian, occasionally eating meat, meaning a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced their meat intake or removed it entirely. About 60% of vegans and 40% of vegetarians surveyed said they adopted the lifestyle over the past five years, reported The Guardian.
We Know Some Carnivores That Are Flexitarian Too, And Occasionally Eat Veggies! GI
Chinese agriculture conglomerate Guangdong Evergreen Group is in discussions with Saudi Arabia to build a $300 million aquaculture farm. The farm would produce shrimp and tilapia, and be fully automated to reduce labor costs, reported UndercurrentNews.com.
Reported This Story Just Because We Thought The Name Guangdong Was Funny! GI
A study found consumption of walnuts does not have a negative impact on weight management for the elderly, according to Loma Linda University Health. The research was based on a six-month study, which tested the impact of daily walnut consumption on the body weight and body composition of 90 participants, reported NDTV.
This Would Be Classified As A Nutty Study Buddy! GI
Panera Bread is slated to pass $2 billion in annualized digital sales in 2018, according to the company's CEO. Currently, digital accounts for about 33% of the chain's sales, which it claims is the highest rate in the industry outside of the pizza segment. In comparison, Chipotle's digital orders are just over 11% of its sales, reported CNBC.
Takes Too Long To Type On Your Phone Those 42 Ingredients You Want Need On Your $15 Burrito! GI
Companies selling pizza bagels, chewing gum, and bottled water are pushing to label their products as "healthy." As FDA revamps its definition of healthy to reflect the changing understanding of nutrition science, the companies are seeking special rules. Chewing gum and bottled water companies say they should no longer be shut out from using the term just because their products don't provide nutrients, reported The Chicago Tribune.
Even Though They Have No Health Benefit...Can We Call Ours Healthy? Though The Water Guys Do Have A Point! Can't Live Without It! GI
Cargill developed a robotic cattle driver used to herd cattle from the pen to processing plant. The robot will reduce the stress levels that cattle experience when being corralled and protect the workers who are in proximity of the cattle, according to the company, reported Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Yeehaw Robot Cowboys! Does Anyone Remember The Movie "West World" ? GI
Yamaha Motor Co. will launch its first drone for agricultural use in March 2019. The drone can spray one hectare with agricultural chemicals during a 15-minute flight on a single charge, reported The Japan Times.
Cool Idea-Miniature Crop Dusters! GI
Exposing children to small amounts of wheat may help treat the allergy, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study followed 45 wheat-allergic children with an average age of about 9-years-old and gave them trace amounts of wheat, gradually increasing the amount. After a year of treatment, 52% of the children could eat the equivalent of one to two slices of bread without suffering an allergic reaction, reported HealthDay.
Interesting Information! Nothing To Sneeze About! GI
Sam's Club is opening a test store in Dallas where all purchases are made via smartphones. Shoppers will use their phones to build shopping lists and navigate the 32,000-sq. ft. store. The club will feature augmented reality displays, electronic shelf labels that can instantly update prices, and it will be used to test other ideas, reported Bloomberg.
Who Needs $15/HR Workers Anymore... GI
Blue Apron Holdings Inc. formed a partnership with Walmart's Jet.com business to sell an assortment of the company's meal kits on Jet's online and mobile platforms. The program, which features same-day and next-day delivery launched in New York City and Jersey City and Hoboken, NJ, reported MarketWatch.
Maybe The Second Time Around Will Be The Charm ,Through Walmart..But We Don't See The Attraction To All These Meal Kits! GI
We Will Never Understand The Attraction Of Starbucks! Don't Like Their Coffee... Call Us Old Fashioned! But Nice Place To Hang Out Though For Meetings! GI
A class action lawsuit alleges a Starbucks drink does not contain white chocolate as advertised. The suit alleges Starbucks Corp. is in violation of New York's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act and other counts as its Starbucks White Chocolate Doubleshot Energy Drink contains "inferior confectionary ingredients" instead of white chocolate, reported Legal Newsline.
At $5.00 + For That Damn Cup Of Coffee..It Better Be Real Chocolate! GI
McDonald's launched a $6 Classic Meal Deal program. The deal choices include a Quarter Pounder with cheese, Big Mac, 10-piece McNugget or Filet-O-Fish, a small order of French fries, a soft drink or sweet tea in any size and a pie for dessert, reported MarketWatch.
Tried To Give Money To A Homeless Man For A McDonald's Meal... He Refused It...Said To Me... "I Don't Eat That Crap!" GI
A man with a firearm may have stopped a burglary, or perhaps something worse, at an Alabama McDonald's. The man, who hasn't been named, was leaving the fast-food eatery in Birmingham with his two sons at around 10:45pm Saturday, report Fox News and AL.com. WBRC notes that a masked gunman burst into the restaurant as a worker opened the door for the family to exit, opening fire. The father whipped out his own pistol and returned fire and killed the gunman.
That Would Be A "McTake-Down" With A "McGun"! GI
A federal judge dismissed the central claim in lawsuits accusing five food producers and retailers of deceiving consumers by using "100% Grated Parmesan Cheese" labels to describe products that contained cellulose. The judge found a lack of proof that the labels would mislead reasonable consumers into thinking the products were 100% cheese, but allowed some state consumer protection claims against Albertsons Cos., Kraft Heinz Co. and Walmart Inc. over ingredient lists that said cellulose was used to prevent caking, when it was also used as filler. He dismissed all claims against Publix Super Markets Inc. and Target Corp., reported Reuters.
Labels Should Be Changed To: 98% Cheese & 2% Sawdust? GI
Ben & Jerry's is launching a new flavor, Pecan Resist, which the company made to promote activism in the U.S. The Limited Batch flavor - chocolate ice cream with white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts and fudge-covered almonds - is part of the company's campaign to "lick injustice and champion those fighting to create a more just and equitable nation for us all," it said
Another Reason Not To Buy Their Ice Cream, Plus It Cost Too Much Anyway! GI
FDA confirmed that irrigation canal water was the most likely way E. coli was spread to romaine lettuce in the Yuma, AZ, region, according to an environmental assessment issued by the agency. The agency remains unsure as to what caused the contamination, but posited direct application of irrigation canal water to the lettuce crop or the use of irrigation canal water to dilute crop-protection chemicals applied to the crops through both aerial and land-based spray applications could have caused the contamination.
"Unsure" Oh C'mon!!! Field Workers Are Taking A Dump In The Canal! GI
Target launched mobile checkout at all stores nationwide. Using handheld devices, Target workers can scan items in a guest's cart and accept payment by credit card on the spot from anywhere in the store. During peak events, workers will be located in the busiest areas of the store.
We See Non-Orderly Chaos In The Future At Target! GI
Walmart launched an augmented reality (AR) scanning tool in its iPhone app, which will help customers with product comparisons. Unlike a typical barcode scanner meant only to compare prices on one item at a time, Walmart's AR scanner can be panned across store shelves, offering details on pricing and customer ratings beneath the products it sees, reported TechCrunch.
Who Has Time For All This Research While Shopping? Get In, Get Out, & Get Out Of My Way! GI
The noon lunch hour was convenience stores' busiest hour of the day during third quarter 2018, claiming 8% of visits, according to GasBuddy. During the period, 44.9% of shoppers spent less than five minutes per gas station or convenience store trip, with the average dwell time at 7 minutes and 40 seconds.
As Mentioned Above...That's How It Should Be At Walmart Too! GI
Organic pork sales fell 2.4% by weight over the 52 weeks ending Oct. 6, despite overall organic sales rising 6.4%, due to lack of supply and demand, according to Nielsen. Producers claim raising organic hogs is more expensive than raising other organic protein and most pork buyers aren't willing to pay the premium. Niman Ranch notes offering organic pork would increase its price so much, it would have to charge consumers more than double its already high prices, reported Bloomberg.
This Organic Crap Has Gone Too Far! Organic Pigs??? GI
A high-fat diet enriched with cottonseed oil may improve cholesterol profiles in young adult men, according to research from the University of Georgia. Study participants showed significant reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides in a cottonseed oil trial compared to minimal changes on an olive oil-enriched diet. Participants showed an average decrease of 8% in total cholesterol, along with a 15% decrease in LDL cholesterol and a 30% decrease in triglycerides, reported ScienceDaily.
All These Years & We Were Told Cottonseed Was Bad For You! More Grant Money Please! GI
Delivery will be available at 2,000 KFC locations in the U.S. and 4,000 Taco Bells by the end of 2018, according to Yum Brands' CEO. Better value offers and digital orders in Russia, Thailand, the Middle East and India helped increase KFC's same-store sales 3% in its third quarter, as well as some of its new menu items, including pickle fried chicken. At Taco Bell, the relaunch of $1 nacho fries as well as the $1 Triple Melt Burrito helped boost same-store sales 5%, while Pizza Hut's same-store sales fell 1%, as the chain struggled to differentiate itself from competitors and attract new customers, reported CNBC.
Scotty-Beam Me Over A Bucket Of Chicken & A Dozen Tacos! Aye-Aye Captain! GI
GlobalData Retail claims Pizza Hut is failing to engage students and younger consumers, who instead are turning to Domino's and Papa John's. An analyst with the firm noted that although it is a smart move for Pizza Hut to focus on technology initiatives to engage the cohort, it will need to address its brand perception and price to better compete, reported MarketWatch.
Their Damn Pizzas Cost Too Much, That's Why! GI
Pizza Hut is partnering with Toyota to develop a robot-operated mobile pizza factory. A modified Toyota pickup truck will have a pizza-making robot in the back in an effort to cut delivery times. The prototype will reportedly cook pies on-the-go in six to seven minutes, reported The Chicago Tribune.
Can We Get That Accessory On Our Next Pickup Truck? Cruise Control and A Pizza Robot Please! GI
Tofurky and The Good Food Institute are seeking a preliminary injunction against a Missouri law that makes it a misdemeanor to promote products as meat that aren't made from livestock or poultry. In the federal lawsuit, the plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on constitutional free speech rights, reported Washington Post.
We Don't Think Our Forefathers Meant This When They Wrote The Constitution..Nor Did They Envision Tofurky! GI
A California groundskeeper will accept a judge's reduced verdict of $78 million against Monsanto after a jury found the company's weed killer caused his cancer. Monsanto is facing 8,000 similar lawsuits across the country with plans to appeal every adverse verdict, reported The State.
Smart Move By The Groundskeeper! We Will Continue To Follow This! GI
Albertsons Cos. partnered with Takeoff Technologies to pilot a micro-fulfillment center concept. The pilot project will deploy Takeoff's artificial intelligence capabilities, making Albertsons the first national grocer to implement an automated e-commerce fulfillment solution, according to the company, reported Chain Store Age.
See What Happens When You Demand $15/HR Minimum Wage! GI
Sales for Kellogg's U.S. morning foods unit declined 1.3% in its fiscal third quarter, partially due to its recall of Honey Smacks cereal. However, the company did receive a slight boost in the category from higher sales of Pop Tarts during the period. Sales for its snacks business fell 3.5%, as transportation costs due to a shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. took a toll, despite switching its snacks delivery model to reduce expenses, reported CNBC.
Can't Eat Salmonella Honey Smacks...So Plan B- Eat Pop Tarts! GI
About 29% of U.S. adults age 20 and older saw nutrition information about foods at fast food or pizza restaurants between 2007-2014, according to USDA. About 44% of those who saw the menu labels in fast food restaurants reported using the information to help decide which foods to buy during the visit.
Surprising That Anyone Thinks About Nutrition While Eating Fast Food & Pizza! GI
One in eight British people are now vegetarian or vegan, according to figures from a Waitrose food shopping report. Twenty-one percent claim to be flexitarian, occasionally eating meat, meaning a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced their meat intake or removed it entirely. About 60% of vegans and 40% of vegetarians surveyed said they adopted the lifestyle over the past five years, reported The Guardian.
We Know Some Carnivores That Are Flexitarian Too, And Occasionally Eat Veggies! GI
Chinese agriculture conglomerate Guangdong Evergreen Group is in discussions with Saudi Arabia to build a $300 million aquaculture farm. The farm would produce shrimp and tilapia, and be fully automated to reduce labor costs, reported UndercurrentNews.com.
Reported This Story Just Because We Thought The Name Guangdong Was Funny! GI
A study found consumption of walnuts does not have a negative impact on weight management for the elderly, according to Loma Linda University Health. The research was based on a six-month study, which tested the impact of daily walnut consumption on the body weight and body composition of 90 participants, reported NDTV.
This Would Be Classified As A Nutty Study Buddy! GI
Panera Bread is slated to pass $2 billion in annualized digital sales in 2018, according to the company's CEO. Currently, digital accounts for about 33% of the chain's sales, which it claims is the highest rate in the industry outside of the pizza segment. In comparison, Chipotle's digital orders are just over 11% of its sales, reported CNBC.
Takes Too Long To Type On Your Phone Those 42 Ingredients You Want Need On Your $15 Burrito! GI
Companies selling pizza bagels, chewing gum, and bottled water are pushing to label their products as "healthy." As FDA revamps its definition of healthy to reflect the changing understanding of nutrition science, the companies are seeking special rules. Chewing gum and bottled water companies say they should no longer be shut out from using the term just because their products don't provide nutrients, reported The Chicago Tribune.
Even Though They Have No Health Benefit...Can We Call Ours Healthy? Though The Water Guys Do Have A Point! Can't Live Without It! GI
Cargill developed a robotic cattle driver used to herd cattle from the pen to processing plant. The robot will reduce the stress levels that cattle experience when being corralled and protect the workers who are in proximity of the cattle, according to the company, reported Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Yeehaw Robot Cowboys! Does Anyone Remember The Movie "West World" ? GI
Yamaha Motor Co. will launch its first drone for agricultural use in March 2019. The drone can spray one hectare with agricultural chemicals during a 15-minute flight on a single charge, reported The Japan Times.
Cool Idea-Miniature Crop Dusters! GI
Exposing children to small amounts of wheat may help treat the allergy, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study followed 45 wheat-allergic children with an average age of about 9-years-old and gave them trace amounts of wheat, gradually increasing the amount. After a year of treatment, 52% of the children could eat the equivalent of one to two slices of bread without suffering an allergic reaction, reported HealthDay.
Interesting Information! Nothing To Sneeze About! GI
Sam's Club is opening a test store in Dallas where all purchases are made via smartphones. Shoppers will use their phones to build shopping lists and navigate the 32,000-sq. ft. store. The club will feature augmented reality displays, electronic shelf labels that can instantly update prices, and it will be used to test other ideas, reported Bloomberg.
Who Needs $15/HR Workers Anymore... GI
Blue Apron Holdings Inc. formed a partnership with Walmart's Jet.com business to sell an assortment of the company's meal kits on Jet's online and mobile platforms. The program, which features same-day and next-day delivery launched in New York City and Jersey City and Hoboken, NJ, reported MarketWatch.
Maybe The Second Time Around Will Be The Charm ,Through Walmart..But We Don't See The Attraction To All These Meal Kits! GI