Every year when Starbucks brings back the Creme Brulee Latte, I buy at least one, and for decades, the same was true of the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Both triggered nostalgia in me, albeit from different time periods. The Shamrock Shake dates back to childhood, and Starbucks’ holiday drinks are a more recent phenomenon. Still, in
Panera Bread has spent much of the past year changing what customers see when they walk into its restaurants. To keep freshness alive and as part of its broader Panera RISE transformation strategy, the fast-casual restaurant is working overtime to cater to its customers. The latest change is in how it tries to keep customers
Americans have no shortage of choices when they want to buy a soda, and Pepsi is fighting for consumers in one of the industry’s most competitive markets. Coca-Cola remains the most widely consumed soft drink in the U.S. About 60% of Americans surveyed by Statista reported consuming it in the past year. Pepsi followed at
When people are worried about their income, their job security, and the cost of everything from rent to food rising, they tend to become careful about spending. “Consumer sentiment confirmed its early month reading, falling about 6% from last month and landing about 11% below a year ago amid continued worries that inflation will remain
With the last 30 years of technological advances completely upheaving how people all over the world shop for everything from kitchen appliances to clothes, even discount and outlet stores can have trouble staying in business. More than 100 years after it was established out of Seattle in 1920, outdoor clothing and recreation gear Eddie Bauer
When a restaurant chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcy or suddenly closes dozens of locations, that tends to be a major news story. Red Lobster and Hooters’ struggles, for example, have been incredibly well documented across the news media, and the internet. Some chains, however, suffer a slow demise and those situations tend to be off
The breakfast dining sector has faced financial challenges in 2026, leading dining chains to close locations or, in some cases, file for bankruptcy protection. Franchisees of iconic chain Denny’s, such as DBJ US Corp. in Miami Beach, Fla., have been among the restaurant operators who have filed for bankruptcy. And smaller chains, such as Sarabeth’s
Corporate takeovers that collapse usually leave the acquirer with nothing to show for the effort. GameStop Corp. (GME) just found the exception. The retailer’s rejected $56 billion bid for eBay Inc. (EBAY) left it holding a stake that is now carrying its entire earnings story, even as its core video game business keeps shrinking. GameStop
When I drive from my southern Florida home to Orlando, Port Canaveral, or even Tampa, I’ll happily stop at a 7-Eleven for gas, something to drink, and maybe even a bathroom break, but never a meal. I’ll buy packaged snacks from the chain, but I’ll opt for Wawa or even make a secondary stop at
Retailers are not just quietly abandoning indoor malls, they are also escaping the suburban strip malls, as consumers continue to cut back on discretionary spending. For shoppers in smaller communities, these closures could mean fewer places to buy affordable women’s clothing without driving to a larger city or shopping at a big-box retailer. Over the