Restaurant chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill, McDonald’s and Starbucks are making efforts to go greener by sourcing natural ingredients and promoting recyclability. Such moves will increasingly have a greater impact going forward as regulations mandating sustainability are getting tougher. Moreover, these restaurants are likely to get future tax benefits as well.

While environmentally friendly by these restaurants are unlikely to save on costs in the near term, they could pay off longer term as the input costs have soared for many restaurants. More importantly, an improved image in the eyes of the customers could be the ultimate pay off.

Continue reading . . .

Restaurant News Bites: 2012 Menu Trends, Breakfast, Restaurant Domain Names

The National Restaurant Association has released its report on the trends that will shape menus the most in 2012. The top trends include seafood and meat from local sources, healthier meal options for children, allergy conscious foods and sustainability as a main theme. As consumers are becoming more concerned about the ingredients in each dish, chefs are changing to accommodate them.

New information from Technomic shows that dining out for breakfast is on the rise. Breakfast sales generate about $42 billion in sales each year and this number is growing. Any restaurant that can provide a fast and convenient way to fuel up in the morning can join in on this growing trend and improve their profits.

A plan by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to roll out a new domain name system is being strongly opposed by the National Restaurant Association. If approved, the new plan could cost restaurants huge amounts of money as they would be forced to apply for and register new domain names in order to protect their trademarks and brands.

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Cosi, Inc. has appointed Carin Stutz as their newest Chief Executive Officer. Stutz resigned her position as President of Global Business Development for Brinker International to take the position with Cosi. While at Brinker, she oversaw operations and franchise development for 240 Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurants worldwide.  She has also held executive positions with Applebee’s International, Wendy’s International, Sodexo and NutriSystem.

P.F. Chang’s is testing a new prototype in Irving, California. The restaurant in the Irving Spectrum Center was recently renovated to give it a unique look. The menu now focuses primarily on small plates and specialty Asian dishes and has a wider selection of wines, drinks and loose leafed brewed tea.  The new store will serve as testing ground for new beverages and dishes which may see national rollouts.

Starbucks released a mobile payment program about a year ago which allows customers to pay for purchases with their smart phone. Since that release, over 26 million transactions have taken place in the 9,000 U.S. locations. Nearly $2.5 billion dollars were loaded onto the payment app for use during 2011.

Domino’s Pizza processed over 1 million orders in the week following Thanksgiving this year through its mobile and web ordering apps. The company has been accepting mobile and web orders for four years and generates about 30% of all orders.

Burger King is bringing the new Coca-Cola Freestyle machine to its restaurants around the country. The Freestyle offers over 100 unique drink combinations.  Burger King will be the largest franchise system in America to offer the fountains in all company owned restaurants.

Starbucks Enters Five New Cities Across Mainland China

Shanghai  (RestaurantNews.com)  Riding on the momentum from the opening of its 500^th store in Mainland China in October, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) entered another five new Chinese cities: Langfang (Hebei Province), Zhengzhou (provincial capital of Henan Province), Harbin (provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province), Xiangtan (Hunan Province) and Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province). In the past year, Starbucks has successfully entered 13 new cities in Mainland China and the stores in these communities have been popular and well-accepted by locals.

“Entering five new Chinese cities this month demonstrates our strong commitment to China, our second home market outside of the United States,” said John Culver, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific. “Starbucks has never been better positioned for sustained profitable growth than we are today and we aim to accelerate this momentum in 2012. We look forward to opening more stores and entering more new cities to reach Chinese consumers.”

As previously announced, approximately half of the 300 Starbucks China and Asia Pacific new store openings, in fiscal 2012, will be in China.

“At Starbucks China, we want to grow in a way that is unique to the brand – not only ensuring positive store sales, but also deepening our coffee authority, elevating the customer experience and contributing to the thriving communities in which we operate,” added Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China. “We know each Starbucks store is unique to our partners (employees), customers and the community. As such, we are not just aiming to open another 1,000 stores over the next four years; we are going to open one store 1,000 times because each store is important.”

On December 1, Starbucks served its first cup of Starbucks® coffee in Harbin in Northeast China, which marks the global coffee company’s northernmost store in Asia. Despite the cold temperature, long queues formed outside the new store with local customers eager to be amongst the first in their city to engage in the authentic Starbucks Experience. Starbucks first store in Harbin is located in the city’s most popular cultural and heritage district. On December 2, Starbucks opened its first store in the city of Xiangtan. The store is prominently located at the city’s largest Bubugao Shopping Mall.

Since its entry into China in 1999, Starbucks has not only been a symbol of China’s rapid urban development, but also for its customer: the authentic coffee culture, genuine moments of connection between its partners and customers, and unique Starbucks Experience have come to embody a new modern lifestyle pursuit and aspiration. Starbucks today operates more than 500 stores, across 44 Chinese cities.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

Contacts

Starbucks Coffee Company
Christina McPherson
+1-206-318-7100
press@starbucks.com
or
Starbucks (China) Company Limited
Caren Li
+86 21 2412 5802
caren.li@starbucks.cn

Starbucks Mobile Transactions Exceed 26 Million Within First Year

Seattle, WA  (RestaurantNews.com)  Nearly a year ago, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) rolled out the nation’s largest mobile payment program with the goal of offering a truly innovative mobile experience for customers worldwide. U.S. customers were introduced to a smartphone application with a Starbucks Card stored within the app, providing the most convenient and fastest way to pay for Starbucks purchases. That momentum has continued as the company heads into its first mobile holiday season.

During 2011, Starbucks expanded its mobile payment program to give customers access to the fastest way to pay at more than 9,000 U.S. locations, introduced the Starbucks for Android™ app, rolled out the Starbucks Card eGift feature, started international expansion and developed the Starbucks Cup Magic app to share augmented reality experiences in its stores and beyond.

“2011 was a year of great mobile exploration and expansion for Starbucks and an opportunity to give our customers a new way to connect with Starbucks through a variety of mobile experiences,” said Adam Brotman, svp and gm Starbucks Digital Ventures. “The customer response to our mobile apps has been phenomenal. Not only are they using their phone as a wallet, but as a connection point to Starbucks as they manage their Starbucks Card accounts, send eGifts and get into the holiday spirit with the Starbucks Cup Magic app.”

Mobile Pay

Since the launch of mobile payment in January, there have been 26 million mobile transactions to date. In the first 9 weeks of the program, there were 3 million transactions and in comparison for the 9 week period starting in October, there were 6 million transactions, demonstrating a significant jump in customer adoption and use.

Globally, the Starbucks Card program had $2.4 billion loaded onto cards during FY11, and Starbucks Cards are currently used for 1 in 4 transactions in the U.S. Since the card launched just over 10 years ago, more than $10 billion has been loaded on Starbucks Cards. On the mobile front, since Jan. 2011, there has been $110.5 million reloaded onto Starbucks Cards directly through the mobile app.

Starbucks took its mobile payment program beyond its nearly 7,000 U.S. company-operated stores and more than 1,000 Target stores to include nearly 1,000 Safeway stores in June, giving customers more opportunities to experience mobile payment. Currently the top five US cities for Starbucks mobile app adoption are New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and San Jose.

Within the mobile apps, customers have access to a host of features that allow them to manage their Starbucks Card account: reload their Starbucks Card balance directly from a smartphone device, find nearby Starbucks stores with the store locator feature, check their Starbucks Card balance and My Starbucks Rewards™ status. There are currently 2 million Gold-level My Starbucks Rewards™ members in the U.S. and 3.6 million My Starbucks Rewards™ members overall – with 2 million My Starbucks Rewards™ members added in FY11 alone. Other features available in the Starbucks® app line-up include a drinker builder, Starbucks® food and beverage information and Starbucks coffee information. Starbucks Card mobile payment is the most popular app feature overall.

eGifting & Starbucks Card

In addition, Starbucks Card eGift was added as a feature in June and since October, sales have doubled to account for 10 percent of Starbucks Card eGift sales. The eGift experience gives Starbucks a platform to offer customers completely customizable cards with themes and occasions that may not be featured on Starbucks Cards in stores such as Humor, Work-place specific, Seasonal (Halloween), Kwanza, Latino and Hanukkah. As the digital extension of the Starbucks Card, it is part of the world’s most popular gift card program. Starbucks Cards are currently available in 20 countries.

Mobile Internationally

Internationally, mobile is on the move as Starbucks introduced Starbucks Canada app on Nov. 8 to offer mobile payment in 1,000 stores in Canada. Additionally, Starbucks will be first on the high street to offer UK customers the option to pay with select smartphone devices at more than 700 Starbucks stores. It will debut in the UK on Jan. 5.

Mobile Magic

Building on Starbucks mobile app portfolio is the Starbucks Cup Magic app for customers in the U.S. and Canada which incorporates the latest in augmented reality technology to offer an animated visual experience. Customers can download and use the app to discover Starbucks holiday characters as they leap to life in merry holiday scenes by scanning Starbucks® iconic red cups, holiday coffee bags and store signage. The app has proved popular with an engagement rate of 91 percent and more than 450,000 visits to the AR experience. The Starbucks Cup Magic app is equipped with an eGift feature, allowing users to send Starbucks Card eGifts to friends and loved ones from their smartphone device in the U.S. and it’s perfect for last minute holiday gifts.

How to Get Starbucks Apps

More information about Starbucks official applications is available at www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/mobile-apps.

Starbucks Cup Magic app

Starbucks Cup Magic app is available for download on select mobile devices in the U.S. and Canada starting Nov. 15. Customers can learn more and download the app at www.Starbucks.com/cupmagic.

About Starbucks Corporation

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

Restaurants Offer Special Holiday Treats and Menus for the Season

The holiday season brings joy and reunions with family members, but it can also be stressful. Trying to find time to cook dinner after a long day of gift shopping or eating well while picking up a Christmas tree or decorating the house becomes a big challenge for most people. Enjoy some limited time dishes by visiting one of the many national restaurant chains offering a special menu, beverage or treat to celebrate the holidays. Some restaurants are offering take-out options that are perfect for making your big party or dinner plans easier to carry out.

Chili’s Grill & Bar is getting in the spirit by offering their special HoliDaily promotion. The campaign includes discounts on many menu items and a daily free item including children’s meals, appetizers or desserts. To redeem these free offers, guests will need to visit the Chili’s website to download and print a coupon or become a fan of the company’s Facebook page. The convenient Email Club will deliver each week’s best deals directly to your email account if you sign up for it.

• Send us your restaurant’s holiday offerings!

The French-inspired Mimi’s Cafe is celebrating with Mimi’s For the Holidays, a program with carry-out options, giveaways and gift card deals. Each purchase of a $25 gift card at the chain will award the  buyer with a $5 gift card of their own. A complete Holiday Feast To Go is also available and comes with a whole turkey, cornbread stuffing, whipped sweet potatoes and other classic side dishes. The meal feeds six to eight people and costs only $79.99. Guests who prefer to cook their own bird can pick up individual side dishes to save time. Diners can also enter in the contest to win a trip to Paris or one of many valuable gift cards by entering in store or on the chain’s website.

Denny’s is serving up a whole new menu of holiday themed items for diners in a hurry. The classic Holiday Turkey Dinner plate comes with roasted turkey breast covered in giblet gravy, and surrounded with green beans, cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes. The Holiday Turkey Melt combines these flavors in a grilled sandwich with toasted bread and a side of french fries. For diners with a sweet tooth, choose from the Christmas Cookie pancakes, Red Velvet pancake puppies and Milk and Cookies milkshake.

Boston Market has been making the holidays easier on busy families for over two decades, and this year will be no exception. With rising food costs, it is expected that a full holiday dinner made from scratch will cost over $12 per person. The complete meals offered by Boston Market come pre-cooked and ready to eat and cost under $6 per person. Items included in these meals include spiral cut ham, roasted turkey, pumpkin and apple pies, cornbread stuffing and beef brisket.

For shoppers who just need a warm drink to keep them going through a gift buying spree, there are a number of chains offering special holiday themed beverage options. The Tim Hortons coffee shop company is introducing a new Candy Cane White Hot Chocolate that combines the mint flavors of a candy cane with the sweet and creamy taste of white chocolate. Each cup is topped with whipped cream and special crushed candy cane sprinkles. McDonald’s is also expanding their hot drink selection as part of the McCafe brand. The Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Hot Chocolate drinks will be available through the beginning of the new year. The Mocha includes a light peppermint flavor with dark chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Consumers in cities like Atlanta, Denver and San Francisco had a chance to sample the beverages for free throughout November.

Starbucks is making their red holiday cups interactive with a new mobile app that displays animations based on the characters found on the cup. They’re also bringing back all of their classic holiday drinks, including the Eggnog Latte, the Gingerbread Latte and the Peppermint Mocha. Some of the beverages that Dunkin’ Donuts is adding to the menu this year will become permanent additions. The Mint Hot Chocolate will be available year round now that it has debuted for the season, but the rest of the line up is available for a limited time only. These drinks include the Cinnamon Swirl Latte and Gingerbread iced coffee.

There are over a dozen other chains that won’t be releasing a whole menu of seasonally themed dishes, but will feature at least one special treat. The peppermint Pinkberry frozen yogurt comes topped with crushed peppermint bark, while TCBY is offering eggnog flavored frozen yogurt treats and Red Mango has the Cinnamon Apple Orchard flavor. Yogurt Mountain has four new frozen yogurt flavors that include Gingerbread Cookie and Candy Cane. Friendly’s has both Gingerbread ice cream and the classic Jubilee Roll. Joining the rest of the cheesecake flavors at the Cheesecake Factory is the Peppermint Bark Cheesecake, and Chick-fil-A brought out the pink Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake as well.

The Krispy Kreme holiday donuts are topped with festive sprinkles over rich red velvet or chocolate cake. Hotcakes at IHOP have all the familiar peppermint and eggnog flavors of this time of the year, and Tim Hortons has brought out new donut flavors to match their drinks. Steak ‘n Shake has White Chocolate and Eggnog hand-blended milkshakes on their limited time menu, or visit the California Pizza Kitchen for Pumpkin Cheescake and try the Candy Cane Chill Blizzard Cake from Dairy Queen.

• Send us your restaurant’s holiday offerings!

For many workers at Starbucks in New York City, the worst part of their jobs may not be the hordes of demanding tourists. Or the irritation of making ever-more-complex skim Frappuccinos and green tea lattes. Or the unflattering elf hats that some baristas have been asked to wear even before Thanksgiving.

It is having to serve as janitors for the city’s de facto public toilets.

Now, it seems, some of these baristas have had enough.

Tired of customers — and noncustomers — leaving bathrooms messy or worse, they started to lock them at some Starbucks, including one on 45th Street near Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. Up went signs marked “Employees Only.”

The revolt seemed to reflect a discontent that lurks among the preternaturally cheerful barista corps.

Continue reading . . .

Starbucks Opens 500th Store in Latin America

Starbucks has opened its 500^th store in the Latin America region. The company’s newest store in this region is located in Santiago, Chile.

“Since we opened our first store in Puerto Rico nine years ago, we have seen tremendous growth opportunities in Latin America – even some of our biggest markets are just getting started,” said Cliff Burrows, president, Americas, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Today’s milestone demonstrates our continued commitment and enthusiasm for the region and the optimism for the opportunities ahead.”

The region’s 500^th store, located on Huerfanos, the busiest pedestrian street in downtown Santiago, showcases Starbucks new store design concept, which aims to create an authentic, yet locally-relevant Starbucks Experience. It features the seamless fusion of local and global design elements, integrating Starbucks coffee heritage and expertise with that of Latin America’s distinctive cultural heritage. This balance of Starbucks heritage and local relevance is paramount to Starbucks mission to further elevate Starbucks third place experience for its customers in the 10 Latin American markets the company currently serves.

“As we continue to accelerate our growth momentum in 2012, we also recognize that the best success is shared success. Our more than 8,000 partners (employees) across the region are at the heart and soul of the Starbucks Experience we deliver to our customers every day,” said Pablo Arizmendi, vice president and general manager, Latin America, Starbucks Coffee Company.

Starbucks international business is a key future growth engine for the company. The Latin America region continues to present great opportunities for Starbucks to accelerate thoughtful growth while continuing to deliver an unparalleled customer experience.

“We see strong growth potential in Brazil, where we have plans to open several hundred stores in the next five years,” added Arizmendi.

Additionally, in October, Starbucks strengthened its relationship with Alsea, its joint venture partner in Argentina, Chile and Mexico. The companies plan to open more than 300 new stores in Argentina and Mexico within the next five years. Today Starbucks employs about 8,050 partners in Latin America and will continue to add new jobs in the next five years as it grows.

Starbucks operates stores in Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico.

In addition to Latin America, Starbucks continues to grow its business around the world. On October 25^th, Starbucks opened its 500^th store in Mainland China and plans to open its first store in India in 2012.

Starbucks Holiday Red Cups Come to Life, Signaling the Return of the Merriest Season

Seattle, WA  (RestaurantNews.com)  Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) celebrates the launch of the holiday season with an innovative new mobile app. This year, Starbucks will make the season come alive with Starbucks Cup Magic, an augmented reality app customers can download for free and use to discover Starbucks holiday characters found on iconic red cups, coffee bags and signage. Customers can watch beloved holiday characters leap to life in various merry holiday scenes. From carolers singing holiday tunes, to an ice skater practicing her spins, to a boy and his dog having a wonderful time sledding down a hill, the Starbucks Cup Magic app allows customers to interact with Starbucks characters in a festive and fun way, Starbucks-style, for the very first time.

Not only will customers be able to bring Starbucks holiday characters to life, they will also be able to use the new app to pass merry sentiment this holiday season. The Starbucks Cup Magic app allows users to share a snapshot of the merry scene via email or Facebook or simply click a button to send a Starbucks Card eGift to friends, family or anyone else on their holiday list. The Starbucks Cup Magic app is available now for download for iPhone devices in the U.S. and Canada, iPod touch devices in the U.S., and coming soon to customers with Android™-powered devices. To learn more, visit www.Starbucks.com/merry.

“As part of Starbucks efforts to find innovative ways to engage customers and bring the Starbucks Experience to life, we are excited to introduce this fun new Starbucks Cup Magic app for customers to use to interact with holiday characters,” said Annie Young-Scrivner, global chief marketing officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “We are also happy to provide a warm and comfortable gathering place for our customers to connect over their favorite holiday beverage or serve as a one-stop-shop for a special gift for anyone on your list.”

In addition, to kick off the season, Nov. 17-20 customers are invited to bring a friend to one of Starbucks participating stores throughout the U.S. and Canada between 2-5 p.m. to enjoy a free handcrafted holiday beverage with the purchase of any holiday beverage of greater or equal value. Customers can experience the first taste of the season through the return of Starbucks® popular holiday beverages, including Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, and Caramel Brulée Latte, as well as the much anticipated new Skinny Peppermint Mocha, one of the most requested beverages on MyStarbucksIdea.com.

Starbucks® Holiday Beverage Portfolio

Customers can enjoy Starbucks® seasonal beverages rooted in more than four decades of holiday spirit including:

• NEW! Skinny Peppermint Mocha – Fans of Starbucks® classic seasonal beverage can enjoy a lighter interpretation of their favorite holiday treat. Prepared with sugar-free peppermint syrup and skinny mocha sauce, the new Skinny Peppermint Mocha is just 110 calories for a Tall (12 fl oz.) beverage.
• Peppermint Mocha – A seasonal favorite featuring a combination of espresso with bittersweet chocolate, peppermint flavored syrup and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
• Gingerbread Latte – This ever popular beverage blends the flavor of freshly baked gingerbread, with espresso and steamed milk, topped by whipped cream and ground nutmeg.
• Caramel Brulée Latte – A holiday delight, this beverage features a combination of rich caramel sauces, espresso and steamed milk and is topped with whipped cream and shimmery caramel pieces.
• Eggnog Latte – Starbucks wildly popular interpretation of holiday eggnog features rich espresso with subtle holiday spices, making it a perfect choice for a crisp fall or winter day.

Savor a Sweet Holiday Indulgence – Starbucks Petites™

Building on the popularity of Starbucks Petites™, a line of perfectly-sized, surprisingly indulgent treats launched earlier this year, customers can enjoy two new seasonal Petites this holiday:

• NEW! Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop – Delicious peppermint chocolate cake is mixed with butter cream icing and candy cane pieces, and is then dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with candy cane bits.
• NEW! Chocolate Crème Whoopie Pie – Light and fluffy vanilla butter cream frosting is sandwiched between two small cocoa chocolate cakes, elegantly topped off with a white drizzle.

At Home or On-The-Go with Starbucks® Seasonal Holiday Coffees

In 1985, Starbucks introduced what has become one of the most admired and anticipated coffees in our entire coffee portfolio – Starbucks^® Christmas Blend. New this year, customers can purchase Starbucks® Christmas Blend Ground – perfect for customers who seek convenience, as well as a 30 oz. bag – an ideal size for parties or brewing at home throughout the season. This sweet and spicy coffee is also available in Starbucks VIA^® Christmas Blend instant coffee – ideal for customers on-the-go this holiday season. Additionally, Starbucks^® Christmas Blend Espresso Roast is returning for second year. This coffee boasts an intense flavor profile with an unforgettable spicy finish.

The Gifting Destination for Anyone on Your List

Starbucks continues to be the perfect place for the perfect gift for your entire gift list. For home entertaining, thoughtful last-minute or hostess gifts, or just a special treat, Starbucks offers an array of relevant gift-able merchandise including a new Pour Over Gift Set and holiday Cake Pop Kit. Also, beginning Dec. 13 while supplies last, customers can load five Starbucks Cards for any amount in one easy transaction with the Starbucks Card Multipack. From exquisite gift sets to a beautiful assortment of seasonal mugs and tumblers to the ever popular Starbucks Card, you are sure to find just the right gift.

Customers using iPhone and iPod touch devices can download the Starbucks Cup Magic app at the App Store at www.itunes.com/appstore.

About Starbucks Corporation

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

Starbucks Opens 500th Store in China

Starbucks Coffee Company has opened its 500^th store in China. Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China, joined Starbucks partners (employees) and customers in Beijing, for the occasion. The Starbucks China 500^th store is located at the international departure hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3. It is also Starbucks 7^th store in China’s largest and busiest airport. As part of the celebration, Starbucks customers in Beijing were treated to a ‘coffee break’ in appreciation for their loyalty to the Starbucks brand and the company’s continued commitment to growth in China.

“The opening of our 500^th store in China is a significant milestone in our ambitious growth plans to serve our customers through 1,500 stores by 2015,” said Wong. “We firmly believe that each Starbucks store is unique to our partners, customers and the community. Delivering the Starbucks Experience in ways that exceed customers’ expectations in every one of our locations is critical to our continued success.”

Over the past year, Starbucks has successfully entered more than 10 new markets in China, serving millions of new customers monthly. The stores in these new markets have been well-accepted by the local customers and community.

“As we continue to accelerate our growth momentum in 2012, we also recognize that the best success is shared success. Our partners are at the heart and soul of the Starbucks Experience we deliver to our customers every day,” added Wong.

“The Starbucks brand continues to resonate with the Chinese consumer,” stated John Culver, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific. “As we open more stores and reach more customers throughout China we will stay true to the foundation that has built our success, including providing the highest quality arabica coffee, handcrafted beverages, and an exceptional experience, one customer at a time.”

The Starbucks 500^th store celebration was held at the Starbucks Full Link store in Beijing’s central business district with Starbucks customers and partners. This newly renovated store showcases Starbucks new store design concept in China, which aims to create an authentic, yet locally-relevant, Starbucks Experience. The store features the seamless fusion of Chinese and western design elements, integrating Starbucks coffee heritage and expertise with that of China’s distinctive cultural heritage. This balance of Starbucks heritage and local relevance is paramount to Starbucks mission to further elevate Starbucks third place experience for its customers in China.

For the past 12 years, Starbucks has not only been a symbol of China’s rapid urban development, but also for its customer: the authentic coffee culture, genuine moments of connection between its partners and customers, and unique Starbucks Experience have come to embody a new modern lifestyle pursuit and aspiration.

Starbucks today operates more than 800 stores across Greater China, with 500 stores on the mainland, across 42 cities.

Real Mex Restaurants is currently filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as part of the restructuring of their capital system. This filing and process won’t have any effect on the restaurants owned by the company or their operation. The chain has already secured $49 million in financing to help them restart after the bankruptcy.

Hooters of America is pursuing a lawsuit against La Cima, a franchisee company of the Twin Peaks brand. Hooters claims that a former executive with the company, Joe Hummel, delivered trade secrets to La Cima when he joined them. The CEO of Twin Peaks has formally denied these claims in a letter to journalists.

Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen is getting ready to celebrate October as National Pizza Month with a free food giveaway. On October 18^th, guests to any Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen location will receive a free slice of pizza. A coupon will be posted on the brand’s Facebook page that must be redeemed to get your free slice.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House will be offering a special dinner at 38 locations to celebrate the 26^th generation of great winemaking from the Antinori family. A 5 course dinner pairing favorite entrees like Wild Mushroom Risotto and Lobster Tail with Antinori wines. Pricing ranges from $95 to $120 depending on location.

The new Happiest Hour now being held daily at all Mimi’s Cafe locations. Pair $5 Wine Flights, three top wines in 2 oz pours, with the $5 Bistro Bites. Appetizers include Crab Fritters, BBQ Pork Sliders and the Signature Cheese Plate. Extra wine flight pours are also just $1 during these Happy Hour celebrations.

True Food Kitchen, a California-based restaurant offering local produce, introduced their fall menu on October 4^th. Seasonal vegetables like arugula, kale, squash and apples form the backbone of 13 new additions. Dishes include the vegan Squash Pie, Harvest Chopped Salad, and Roasted Beets with Mozzarella Agrodolce.

Straw Hat Pizza has updated their corporate mission to include a greater focus on promoting and using environmentally friendly energy and resources. Part of this comes from their practice of purchasing ingredients from local and humane farmers. Other changes include environmentally friendly upgrades to stores.

Red Mango is partnering with the Mizzou Sports Properties program at University of Missouri. This will bring a Red Mango location to the dining hall on the main campus. The new frozen yogurt location will give a wider range of healthy dining options to both athletes and other students attending the University of Missouri.

Starbucks is honoring their commitment to help local communities with a new partnership. Community model stores in Harlem, Crenshaw and other communities will share their profits with organizations around them. At least $100,000 of profits will be shared with community-building charities and other groups.

As part of the company’s commitment to the communities where it does business, Starbucks Coffee Company will introduce a new community model in the neighborhoods of Harlem, New York and Crenshaw, Los Angeles– where community organizations will share in the profits of a store in each community. Starbucks will donate a minimum of $100,000 to each organization for the first year of the partnership as it assesses the success of the program and gathers learning in hopes of creating a new type of corporate engagement in communities, potentially providing a model for other companies to consider emulating.

Starbucks is partnering with the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) in Harlem and the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) in the Crenshaw neighborhood to create a new kind of private sector engagement with these changemaker organizations that have a proven record in creating progress for disadvantaged communities.

“Starbucks is partnering with two organizations doing heroic work to address the economic, social and education challenges in their communities,” said Howard Schultz, president, chairman and ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company. “These two partnerships are intended to help us learn how our company can successfully join with change-making community organizations in a localized, coordinated and replicable way.”

The stores in Harlem and Crenshaw, which were redesigned to reflect and embrace the individual culture, character and needs of each of these neighborhoods, represent a new business model, bringing together the scale of Starbucks, its partners and customers to collectively create positive change in these communities. In addition to creating a model for financial contribution, Starbucks hopes to work with both ADC and LAUL to increase local awareness and engage local residents, share our business expertise with them to help the organizations meet their mission and their targeted community impact metrics, provide strategic technical and management assistance, join together on community service imperatives and work with the organizations to plan unique ways Starbucks can support their jobs training and placement work.

Both the ADC and LAUL have a rich history of solving the unique challenges that affect their neighborhoods through holistic programs that have measurable impact.

Opened in 1999 and located in the heart of Harlem on the corner of 125^th street and Lenox Avenue, this store will support Abyssinian Development Corporation’s efforts to comprehensively serve the children and families of Harlem through affordable housing, economic development, social services, quality educational opportunities and civic engagement. ADC made a commitment to educational excellence in neighborhood public schools, and created a continuum of quality and award-winning educational programs. Each of ADC’s sponsored schools has been recognized for its outstanding achievements, setting and meeting exemplary educational standards. Most recently, ADC was selected by the NYCDOE to be an Educational Partner Organization (EPO), a new initiative designed to connect struggling schools with successful education organizations and implement a strong school turnaround process.

“We are honored to work with Starbucks as a beneficiary of one of the first community stores in the nation,” said Sheena Wright, President & CEO of Abyssinian Development Corporation. “We applaud Starbucks for its development of this community store concept, which has the potential to do much good not just in Harlem, but in other similar communities nationwide. This partnership will enable us to expand and improve upon the education and social services we have provided to the Harlem community and beyond for nearly 25 years.”

Our store at Crenshaw and Coliseum in Los Angeles opened in 2006 and will now help to bolster LAUL’s efforts to revitalize a defined 70-block area in the Crenshaw neighborhood through Neighborhoods@Work. This holistic, neighborhood change model focuses on education, safety, housing, health and employment. This strategic initiative has brought targeted resources and interventions to the community of Park Mesa Heights as well as parents, students and teachers at Crenshaw High School which lies at the center of the model. So far, this has resulted in a 51% increase in overall graduation rate at Crenshaw High School and a 34% decrease in violent crimes in Park Mesa Heights from the 2007 baseline.

“Starbucks is taking the lead in very tough economic times. They fully recognize and appreciate the need for collaboration between forward-thinking organizations from the for profit and nonprofit sectors,” said Blair H. Taylor, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League. “This 21^st Century partnership makes tremendous sense, since the Los Angeles Urban League is fundamentally committed to transforming communities through our holistic model, Neighborhoods@Work. Howard Schultz has fully embraced the notion of Starbucks playing a vital role in rebuilding communities. Our hope is that this powerful relationship – which allows communities to receive contributions from Starbucks through nonprofit agencies – will be replicated by other companies across the nation.”

These stores will also serve as the hub of Starbucks community service and additional training programs in the area, which will provide leadership job and life skill development, positive learning environments, and overall health and wellness.

Here’s why your Starbucks (SBUX) barista is all smiles these days: The popular hub of latte lovers and Frappuccino sippers is rolling. Despite the tumultuous market that has battered many consumer-facing companies, shares of Starbucks hit an all-time high last week. Over the past three years, an investment in the premium coffeehouse has come through with a return that is seven times the S&P 500′s modest gain.

The stores are buzzing again. Analysts see revenue climbing by nearly 9% to $11.6 billion for the fiscal year that ends later this week. Earnings have been growing even faster.

However, in order to appreciate the mug of pessimism that I’m about to pour out, it’s probably best to go over where Starbucks has been — and where it’s going.

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In the food world, “artisan” used to mean a meticulously handcrafted product, made in small batches.

No more.

This week, Domino’s Pizza introduced its Artisan Pizza line at its nearly 5,000 outlets across the country. It joined the trend of major companies in describing products as artisan.

Wendy’s has its Artisan Egg Sandwich, Ralphs markets offers Private Selection Artisan Breads and Starbucks sells Artisan Breakfast Sandwiches.

The term, from the Italian artigiano, was coined as far back as the 16th century to refer to a skilled craftsman who carved or otherwise hand-tooled an item.

More recently, foodies have used it to describe a bread, cheese, chocolate or other cozy item made in an old-fashioned, hands-on manner.

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Some restaurant chains are turning to the bottle during the rough economy, but the liquoring up has produced mostly headaches, not happiness.

Outlets that specialize in quick and cheap daytime meals — including Starbucks, Sonic and Guy & Gallard, the New York chain — have been experimenting with adding alcohol to their menus. Pret a Manger, the British sandwich maker, is considering adding wine in its new Paris stores, and Burger King last year began selling beer at its more expensive Whopper Bars in the United States.

With alcohol one of the highest-margin items on a menu, selling beer and wine can lead to increased revenue.

“Alcoholic beverages are highly, highly profitable,” said Bonnie Riggs, a restaurant industry analyst at the market research firm the NPD Group. “It’s been such a challenging time for the restaurant industry, I think they’re trying to pull out all the stops and try different ways of getting consumers to the restaurant.”

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OpenTable has pulled information from over 10 million reviews from diners to compile their newest Diner’s Choice Awards for the Top 50 foodie restaurants. 14 of the top 50 positions were claimed by restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area. New York City only had 5, showing that the country’s most exciting cuisine is found in metro areas in all regions.

Krispy Kreme is gearing up to celebrate National Coffee Day by giving away free coffee. Guests can receive a free 12 oz cup of the House Blend with no purchase necessary on September 29^th. The giveaway will also introduce the chain’s new Krispy Kreme Signature Coffee Blends that were recently released.

Free food giveaways please both newcomers and loyal customers, but understanding the benefits to the restaurant takes some investigation. Most chains, like Chik-fil-A, are banking on introducing new people to their brand through the giveaway. Giving away free food also helps introduce new menu items that are drastically different from the usual fare at a chain.

In a recent interview Howard Schlutz, CEO of Starbucks, talked about his frustration with the actions of politicians who can’t work together to solve the budget deficit. He revealed that Starbucks plans to create 70,000 new jobs in the next year. He also discussed the chains’ plans for expansion which will involve a larger presence in Germany.

Zagat’s newest release is the 2011 Annual Survey results for the Los Angeles and Southern California area. The 25^th edition of the yearly survey included the votes of over 11,000 diners on 2,000 different restaurants in the area. Positive feedback grew towards the restaurant scene, with 35% higher positive ratings in Los Angeles alone.

The Seasons 52 location in Indiana will now be under the management of Barbara Rafalowski. She’s worked as a managing partner at a variety of large restaurants including Stonewood Grill and Tavern in Orlando, Florida. She has the experience needed to handle the seasonal menu changes at Seasons 52 after completing 6 menu changes in 3 years with a previous employer.

GrubHub is an online service that works to link hungry diners with the right restaurants. To meet this goal, the company has acquired both Allmenus and Campusfood through the purchase of Dotmenu. Funding for further growth comes from a new $50 million credit agreement recently closed by Lightspeed Ventures and partners.

On September 29^th the Ker’s WingHouse Bar and Grill will celebrate the opening of their 20^th chain location. The new restaurant will also be located in Florida with the rest of the company’s existing locations. The chain is owned and was founded by Crawford Ker, a former player for the Dallas Cowboys.

In a month another Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location will open, raising the company’s total restaurants again. The new restaurant will be owned by a father and son team who are building their business in Kyle, Texas. The location opens just before the chain’s 70^th birthday celebration later this year.

Chicago’s historic neighborhood of Lincoln Park is home to the newest Johnny Rocket’s restaurant. Owned by Bill Gomez, who owns five other Johnny Rocket’s in the state, it is the first restaurant for the chain to be a part of the Windy City. The grand opening was celebrated with free food and door prizes.

Tavistock Restaurants has appointed Jim Mizes to be the President of their FREEBIRDS World Burritos brand. After time spent leading brands like Jamba Juice and Noah’s Bagels Mizes comes well prepared to grow FREEBIRD beyond its limited niche. He’ll be responsible for developing a rapid expansion program for the company.

U-Swirl International is working on a partnership with natural health company Ageless Care Alternatives. The partnership will bring a U-Swirl location to Philadelphia. Ageless Care Alternatives chose to partner with U-Swirl after a careful examination of different frozen yogurt chains.

In a SPIEGEL interview, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz discusses his anger towards American politicians, the role of speculators in the coffee business, his expansion plans for Germany and the Seattle-based company’s plan to transform itself into a player in the grocery business.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Schultz, you recently published a highly unusual open letter in the United States. In it, you vented your frustration with political leaders and voiced strong dismay at the economic and fiscal direction the US is taking, saying: “Our country is better than this.” You even asked fellow business leaders to stop contributing to political campaigns. What are you so angry about?

Schultz: This is a crisis of leadership and, in my own way, I’m trying to capture the voice of people who perhaps don’t have the platform I have or, for whatever reason, don’t have the courage to speak out. Elected officials from both parties have chosen to put partisan and ideological purity over the well-being of the people. They have undermined the full faith and credit of the United States.

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Howard Schultz, the founder and CEO of the Starbucks corporation, has started a boycott on campaign contributions. His lead has been followed by Whole Foods and J.C. Penny. The boycott aims to encourage politicians from both parties to work together to solve the growing deficit problem. He is also encouraging companies to spend the money on hiring instead of campaign funding.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has funded the production of a new short-film called “Back to the Start”. The stop-action animation illustrates one farmer’s path to sustainable agriculture, a pursuit the chain aims to support. Willie Nelson contributed a cover of Coldplay’s song “The Scientist” to the 2 minute film that will air in theaters around the country.

To support the charitable actions of the Habitat for Humanity foundation, Darden Restaurants donated over $1 million of furnishings from their stores. The fixtures were removed as part of on-going renovations to Olive Garden, Long Horn Steakhouse and other restaurants owned by the company. The ReStore locations sold out of the re-used furnishings quickly.

KFC restaurants in Southern California are bringing the excitement of the 2012 London Olympics to the area now. The KFC Olympics will involve five competitions pitting the best chicken cooks against each other. The winner of each regional contest will compete in the Finals at the beginning of October.

The National Aquarium has a new dining experience to offer visitors. The former main cafe was renovated to allow the new Harbor Market Kitchen room to grow. The restaurant uses local fresh ingredients in a variety of innovative dishes. The old cafe had nearly 1.5 million visitors before the renovations.

Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q has added another NASA store location in the Houston area. The restaurant and store opened on September 1^st. The first 100 guests in line when the store opened walked away with a $20 gift card for the chain. Other giveaways were also held throughout the grand opening celebration.

BJ’s Restaurants is proud to celebrate the opening of their newest location. The Jacksonville restaurant opened on August 29^th and seats nearly 300 guests. The location features the chain’s full menu of pizzas, salads, and a variety of beer options. The signature 103” plasma screen television is also in place.

Syosset, New York is home to the latest Hurricane Grill & Wings location. The chain is known for offering over 32 flavors of hot wings. The grand opening in Syosset brings the brand’s total number to 41 restaurants. The beach-style atmosphere brings a relaxed and family-friendly option to the dining scene.

Pizza fans in Arlington, Texas has another chain to choose from. Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers opened their new location on September 5^th. The menu features all of Mellow Mushroom’s classic pizza, salad and appetizer options. Gluten-free crusts and hoagies will also be available.

Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Corporation has announced the addition of 12 new locations, which have opened since April 2011. In recent weeks, the final two locations planned for this fiscal year opened, completing a portfolio of locations in a variety of venues, such as city centers, college campuses, airports and office complexes. The two newest cafes are among nearly 100 Seattle’s Best Coffee retail locations in the United States and Canada.

The expansion reflects a Seattle’s Best Coffee strategy outlined earlier in the year to bring great coffee everywhere. The new retail locations build upon the brand’s already broad distribution network of franchised locations, company-operated stores, relationships with restaurant chains, and foodservice locations. Today, the brand has more than 50,000 places where its coffee is served.

“Our retail locations are important to our business and franchising will be the engine for our continued retail growth,” said Jim McDermet, senior vice president and general manager of Seattle’s Best Coffee. “Franchisees find us to be an attractive business opportunity, combining the growth of the premium coffee segment with the strength of an established brand like Seattle’s Best Coffee.”

In the Houston market, Amin Gheewalla, president, Hi Rise Amenities, Inc., opened his third franchised Seattle’s Best Coffee location in late August. The new location is in the El Paso Energy Building in the downtown Tunnel System, an interconnected series of walkways, restaurants and shops servicing all those who wish to navigate the city in air-conditioned comfort. The strategy behind Hi Rise Amenities’ expansion has been putting Seattle’s Best Coffee along pathways for downtown commuters.

“I’m excited to grow with Seattle’s Best Coffee,” said Gheewalla. “I am putting great coffee into the hands of hundreds of commuters in Houston each day, and I’m also creating jobs in my hometown.”

Hi Rise Amenities’ existing locations are at Williams Tower and Two Shell Plaza in Houston. Gheewalla plans to continue to expand with Seattle’s Best Coffee and open new locations.

According to The National Coffee Association 2011 National Coffee Drinking Trends Study, 40 percent of 18-24 year olds drink coffee daily, up from 31 percent in 2010. Most recently, Seattle’s Best Coffee opened the doors of a new franchise location in the student union at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The new cafe is the latest in a series of Seattle’s Best Coffee locations that serve college students at Duke University Medical Center, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, University of Southern California, the State University of New York at New Paltz and Portland State University.

Seattle’s Best Coffee LLC has been roasting premium coffee since 1970 and today roasts more than 20 million pounds of coffee every year and millions of cups of our coffee are served every day. A freshly-brewed cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee is currently available in more than 50,000 locations including cafes, college campuses, restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, grocery stores and movie theatres. Seattle’s Best Coffee is a featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) and is ranked among the 10 best franchise opportunities by QSR Magazine (January 2010).

Starbucks founder Howard Schultz has called for a boycott of campaign contributions to President Barack Obama and all members of Congress until a proper deal on the federal debt is negotiated.

CEOs of major retail companies, including Plano-based J.C. Penney Co. and Austin-based Whole Foods Market , have pledged their support in a partial list that was made public Thursday on Facebook.

In his open letter titled “Our country is better than this,” Schultz invited others to support his boycott and to hire workers without waiting for government incentives. By Monday afternoon, the Facebook page Upward Spiral 2011 said 1,750 had taken the pledge to withhold campaign funds, and 248 pledged to hire.

Schultz said the boycott would be lifted when “a fair, bipartisan deal is reached that sets our nation on stronger long-term fiscal footing.”

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Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Howard Schultz is winning support for his call to withhold political contributions from U.S. lawmakers until they strike a “fair, bipartisan” deal on the country’s debt, revenue and spending.

Schultz recently led the world’s biggest coffee chain through a painful but successful restructuring that returned it to growth. In his letter Monday, he also challenged fellow U.S. business leaders to do their part by hiring workers to give the national economy a much-needed jolt.

NYSE Euronext Chief Executive Duncan Niederauer and Nasdaq OMX Group Chief Executive Robert Greifeld have pledged their support.

“I think that Howard’s idea is a great one, and I have told him that he can count on me,” Greifeld wrote in an email to Nasdaq company leaders.

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Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) released the following statement in response to the product recall issued today by Georgia–based supplier, Flying Food Group:

As previously communicated, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, we learned that Flying Food Group, LLC, in Lawrenceville, Ga., one of our suppliers, recalled ready-to-eat chicken wraps and plates delivered to Starbucks retail stores only in Alabama and Georgia due to potential health concerns. The products subject to this USDA requested recall were the Starbucks Chipotle Chicken Wraps Bistro Box and the Starbucks Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box sold in Alabama and Georgia stores only on July 14 and 15, 2011.

Today, July 26, 2011, we were informed by Flying Food Group that, at the request of the USDA, they are expanding the recall. This expanded recall includes the two previously mentioned products and extends to two additional Starbucks products; the Starbucks Salumi and Cheese Bistro Box and the Starbucks Chicken Lettuce Wraps Bistro Box. All four products were sold only in Alabama and Georgia and produced between July 13 and July 24. This recall does not affect any Starbucks stores outside of Alabama and Georgia.

There have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

On Monday, July 25, we asked our stores in these two states to remove these products from our stores and discard them. As a proactive measure to ensure we were protecting the best interest of our customers, this voluntary action went beyond the recalled items and included other items produced by the impacted Flying Food Group facility in Lawrenceville.

As a result, all products produced in the impacted facility are no longer available in our stores. New products will be provided soon from other locations.

The safety of our customers and partners is of the utmost importance and we take our obligation to provide safe products seriously. We responded immediately, and in cooperation with our supplier and the USDA we will continue to work to ensure that all products meet Starbucks high quality assurance standards. We will continue to respond quickly and with great care to ensure that all of our suppliers meet our high standards.

 Starbucks Coffee Company is growing exponentially around the world and to facilitate new growth the company has restructured its executive branches. The Starbucks Coffee International department that manages all international locations will be split into the Asia and Europe departments. New Presidents will be hired or promoted to manage the new divisions.

CKE Restaurants, parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., is celebrating 70 years since founder Carl Karcher opened his first restaurant. July will be full of promotions, contests and giveaways for both chains. Karcher and his wife began with a  simple hot dog cart on July 17^th 1941 and the company now earns over $1.3 billion in profits each year.

Applebee’s is expanding menu options for diners who need a new dose of excitement in their next meal. The new Stacked, Stuffed & Topped entree options combine favorites like steak, grilled chicken and fresh veggies in new ways. The Parmesan Chicken Stack, Provolone Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine and Florentine Topped House Sirloin are all now on the national menu.

While large restaurant chains are forecasted to improve, restaurants in New York City are continuing to struggle. Recent research shows that revenues declined 1 percent for the city’s eateries and a total of 7 percent over the last three years. Restaurants owned independently saw the worst drops in profits. Independent operators don’t receive the same advertising support as franchises.

Due to customer demand classic burger chain Whataburger is bringing back the famous Patty Melt sandwich. The two beef patties served on Texas toast with melted cheese are now available, but will be gone again August 15^th. The sandwich was only introduced in 2008 but quickly became one of the most popular limited time menu items.

Fazoli’s, one of America’s favorite fast casual chains, is celebrating the return of another summer break by offering .99 cents meals for children this week. Each adult entree allows for the purchase of two child meals at the discounted price. Fazoli’s is a family friendly chain and was voted one of the top 10 menus for kids by Parents Magazine.

Modern Greek restaurant Opa is introducing a new lunch menu and is offering a free meal to guests who would like to try it out. On July 18^th guests can receive a traditional pressed Greek sandwich known as a Toast filled with ham and cheese. The meal will also include freshly cut oregano fries.

The newest Red Robin Gourmet Burgers restaurant will soon be open in the Lakewood Center Mall. This will bring yet another Red Robin location to Los Angeles, California. The new location opens its doors on July 25 and will give away free child identification kits as part of a partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Starbucks has introduced two new coffees: Starbucks VIA Caramel Flavored Iced Coffee and Starbucks Iced Coffee Blend whole bean coffee, to its already extensive selection of summertime refreshment offerings. These coffees build on Starbucks popular cold, refreshing iced coffee and iced tea beverages as well as position the Company to expand its presence in the cold and frozen coffee beverage category, which represents 1.3 billion cups in the U.S.¹

“Summer is a time when customers are seeking iced-cold refreshment— the kind of thirst-quenching beverages found in our customizable, handcrafted iced coffees and Tazo iced teas,” said Annie Young-Scrivner, global chief marketing officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Standing by our commitment of delivering beverages and food that meet customer needs, Starbucks is the destination for helping customers stay refreshed and refueled with new drink, snack and lunch options.”

Recharge While On-the-Go

In time for summer, Starbucks takes the guesswork out of making iced coffee and offers customers a convenient and easy option for a refreshing cup of iced coffee on-the-go. Starbucks announces the limited time availability of Starbucks VIA Caramel Flavored Iced Coffee, a special blend of medium roasted coffee, with a buttery, velvety caramel flavor and pure cane sugar for the perfect balance of refreshment and sweetness. Available in 5-packs ($5.95 U.S./ $6.95 CAN)², Starbucks VIA Caramel Flavored Iced Coffee is designed for a standard (16 fl. oz.) water bottle. From July 14-17, 2011, receive a free Tall (12 fl. oz.) beverage with the purchase of any Starbucks VIA Ready Brew pack at participating U.S. stores.

Wholesome Food, Conveniently Delivered

For the perfect beverage complement, Starbucks Bistro Boxes are a full selection of eight delicious and wholesome snack and entrée size portions in a convenient grab-and-go packaging. The clear compartmentalized packaging makes it easy to see the freshly prepared ingredients, while the re?sealable cover helps to maintain freshness. The Bistro Boxes are available in snack size ($4.95 U.S./ $5.45-$5.95 CAN) and entrée size ($6.95 U.S./ $6.75 CAN). Customers can now enjoy a delicious Bistro Box each under 500 calories.

“We continue to hear from customers that they want more variety for nutritious grab-and-go food,” said Young-Scrivner. “Having products that contain lean protein, wholesome whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables are important to our customers and focus on increasing store traffic during lunch. In fact, food sales have continued to grow over the past year and is additive to our coffee business.”

In addition to customer favorites, Chicken & Hummus, Protein and Cheese & Fruit, Starbucks is expanding the line with new Starbucks Bistro Box options:

• Chipotle Chicken Wraps: Grilled chipotle-spiced chicken, fiery pepper jack cheese, and soft whole wheat tortillas are served with lime?cilantro slaw and avocado and tomato salsa.

• Sesame Noodles: Sesame noodle salad tossed with broccoli florets, carrots, red pepper, snap peas and creamy peanut dressing is served with a cucumber carrot salad, crunchy sesame peanuts and baked tofu with lightly spiced lime glaze.

• Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Build your wrap with crisp red lettuce leaves and Cantonese-inspired chicken filling. Served with chopped peanuts, a mix of fresh vegetables – cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, cilantro and peanut sauce.

• Salumi & Cheese: Slow-cured prosciutto and traditional and peppered salami are paired with Asiago cheese, rustic crackers and marinated Greek olives.

Refresh with an Ice-Cold Handcrafted Beverage

Starbucks Iced Coffee Blend is expertly blended and roasted 100% arabica coffee beans to accentuate its full-flavor taste profile when chilled. Customers can now bring home the same handcrafted iced coffee in Starbucks stores to brew iced coffee at home. Starbucks Iced Coffee Blend whole bean coffee is available in 1 lb ($12.95 U.S. / $17.95 CAN) and 8 oz ($7.95 U.S./ $9.45 CAN) packaging.

For an iced cold thirst-quenching tea beverage, Tazo Shaken Teas are artfully blended from some of the world’s most delicious teas and botanicals, handcrafted, shaken and poured over ice. Customize any Tazo Iced Tea beverage by selecting a tea (Black, Zen or Passion), adding lemonade, determining a level of sweetness and selecting flavors to find the perfect cup of refreshment.

¹Source: The NPD Group/CREST, year ending April 2011

²plus tax where applicable

Profit at U.S. restaurant companies is widely expected to grow in the second quarter, with companies’ individual strengths expected to overshadow continuing pressure from commodity costs. Yum Brands Inc. (YUM) and McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) recently have fueled profitability with breathless expansion in China, where market growth has outpaced the U.S. Yum leads the pack, and it hopes to keep spreading not only with its traditional chains but also with home-grown Chinese brands. McDonald’s, its biggest competitor there, has significantly fewer locations but is aiming to add more there as part of a worldwide store-count expansion.

Eager investors have pushed Starbucks Corp.’s (SBUX) stock price to its highest level ever, anticipating the benefits of the coffee chain’s filtration into the single-serving-cup sector and its push to control more of its products sold outside its cafes. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) has watched its share value continue to reach new heights despite a widening investigation into workers’ immigration status, but the company lately has been a sound bet; its results consistently have outpaced average estimates in the past two years.

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Building on its global momentum, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced a new corporate structure to accelerate its growth strategy, which will take effect by the end of September.

“Our company performance over the past two years has positioned Starbucks for the significant international opportunities ahead and the acceleration of our global growth strategy,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Today we are successfully executing our multi-brand, multi-channel strategy and we believe the leadership and organizational moves announced today will optimize our speed and focus going forward.”

New Regional Structure

Starbucks retail business is currently structured as Starbucks U.S. and Starbucks Coffee International (SCI), which encompasses 54 markets outside the United States. Starbucks will move to a new three-region organizational structure:

• China and Asia Pacific: All Asia Pacific markets and China
• Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America
• EMEA: Europe, U.K., Middle East, Russia and Africa

A president for each region will oversee the company-operated retail business, working closely with both the licensed and joint-venture business partners in each market. They will also work closely with Starbucks Global Consumer Products and Foodservice team to continue building out Starbucks brands and channels in each region.

China and Asia Pacific Region: John Culver has been named president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific. Culver’s focus and accountability will center on Starbucks retail business in Asia Pacific, including China, Japan and Starbucks newest market entry – India. China, Japan and India are important areas of growth for the company and Culver brings the extensive global experience navigating complex operating environments to drive even greater business results in this region. As president of SCI over the past two years, Culver and his team have delivered strong international growth and set the foundation for the company’s international business and growth opportunities ahead.

Americas Region: Cliff Burrows will expand his current role as president, Starbucks U.S. to president, Americas, with responsibility for the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Under Burrows’ leadership, the U.S. business continues to set records across almost every measure of sales and customer experience – achieving performance levels that are especially noteworthy for a business in its 40^th year. The Americas Region, particularly the United States, Canada and Brazil, will continue to be a cornerstone of Starbucks growth.

EMEA Region: Michelle Gass has been named president, Starbucks EMEA. In this role, Gass will provide overall leadership to Starbucks company-operated markets in this region: the U.K., France, and Germany. She will also be responsible for growing and developing Starbucks joint venture and licensed operations in Europe, Russia and the Middle East. During her nearly 15 years with Starbucks, Gass has served in a variety of leadership roles, including global strategy, marketing and category management. Currently, she serves as president, Seattle’s Best Coffee, a Starbucks subsidiary, where she has led significant growth – from 3,000 to 50,000 points of distribution – through new and innovative business and brand strategies.

Accelerating the Multi-Brand Growth Opportunity

Starbucks is creating a multi-brand, multi-channel future by building a portfolio of branded business units beyond the Starbucks retail brand.

Seattle’s Best Coffee (SBC) will continue to be an important growth opportunity, with a goal of becoming a $1 billion business over time through expanded and innovative distribution channels, partnerships, licensing, franchising, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) initiatives. SBC will continue to operate as an independent business unit under the leadership of Jeff Hansberry, who will serve as SBC’s president in addition to his current role as president, Global Consumer Products and Foodservice. This structure will leverage the synergies between the CPG businesses within the Starbucks and SBC brands.

The tea category is another significant opportunity for Starbucks. In 1999, Starbucks acquired Tazo Tea and has built a profitable business generating approximately $1.3 billion in annual revenue. As the second most consumed beverage in the world after water, tea represents an $87 billion global market opportunity and the company intends to build Tazo into a globally-recognized multi-billion dollar brand. Annie Young-Scrivner has been appointed president, Tazo, in addition to her current responsibilities as Starbucks global chief marketing officer. Young-Scrivner’s experience includes extensive product management – with a track record of successfully bringing to market and building numerous brands – making her ideally suited to lead the efforts to grow the Tazo brand.

All three new regional presidents – Burrows, Culver and Gass – along with Hansberry and Young-Scrivner will report to Schultz.

The trip to the fast-food joint that was once all about burgers and fries is increasingly about something that could require you to flash your ID: beer and wine.

In a bid to boost business, two Sonic restaurants in South Florida soon will sell beer and wine. The move follows Burger King “Whopper Bars” recently opened in Miami, Las Vegas and Kansas City that sell beer. Starbucks recently began to serve local beer and wine in a handful of Seattle stores.

In a tough economy, the move towards alcohol is a way to compete with casual dining — and can help boost typically slow evening business, says Ron Paul, president at Technomic, a restaurant consulting firm. “For consumers, it’s basically about having it your way — even if it’s having a beer with your burger.”

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Scammers are targeting Ottawa, Canada eateries with a familiar scam. They are posing as fake health inspectors and threatening the restaurant owners into calling a phone number and entering a code. This code creates a Craigslist account, which the scammers then use to sell stolen or non-existent merchandise. Restaurants should check with a local health department if this happens to them.

The world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks, may have never appeared to be struggling. The book recently written by Howard Schultz, the CEO of the company, reveals how he came back in 2008 to save the chain as it slowly began to sink. Due to his careful actions and constant diligence the chain never dropped below 16,000 locations and is now growing again.

Roark Capital Group now owns bustling and popular chains like Corner Bakery and Arby’s after a number of buyouts last week. However, the large company is not yet satisfied and is looking again for new purchases. The company only employs 38 staffers, but the group owns over 25 companies of the 38 total that it has purchased.

The National Restaurant Association is taking on the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service again for restaurant owners everywhere. The association submitted their suggestions this week on how the new health care regulations should be defined. Requiring small franchisee and single restaurant owners to buy health insurance plans for part-time employees could ruin the industry.

Chipotle Mexican Grill isn’t taking any chances in the current on-going criminal investigation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The chain has hired a team of top corporate lawyers from Washington, D.C. to defend the company if any charges are pressed. Early findings have shown the hiring of undocumented workers at Chipotle locations in Virginia and Minnesota.

The unique and signature colors, inviting atmosphere and exciting panini menu of Panera Bread were all developed in the Utica, New York area by resident Scott Davis. Davis is the chief concept officer for the chain and is responsible for creating the complete brand image of Panera Bread. He makes decisions about the exact colors used in counter tops and how sandwiches are named.

Boundless Enterprises, the corporation behind the popular Scooter’s Coffeehouse chain, is currently developing a new self-serve frozen yogurt concept. The chain will be called “Yoji Frozen Yogurt” and will be the company’s second brand. The new concept will be added to existing Scooter’s Coffeehouse locations for testing first.

Labor disagreements in the professional football industry have led to the stalling of the current season. Buffalo Wild Wings is the home of football fans, so the restaurant chain has sent a letter on behalf of the “Save Our Season” movement. If the season kicks off again by July 20^th, anyone who has signed their petition will receive a free six piece wing deal.

Abilene will soon be home to another Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location as the country’s largest barbecue chain continues to grow its numbers. As one of many locations in development or opening this year, the Abilene store will celebrate its grand opening with door prizes and a $1 barbeque sandwich. This location is being opened by Dwain Carpenter.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will also be coming to airports around the country soon if the chain has its way. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is home to one popular location, and the chain is discussing new agreements with other international airports. The one airport location is full sized and offers the same menu as every other location.

Earlier this year, Howard Schultz released a book about how he turned Starbucks around.

Some people never knew it was in trouble.

Although the world’s largest coffee-shop chain closed hundreds of stores over the past few years, its cafe count never dipped below 16,000.

Starbucks’ sales were hurt but stayed above $9 billion a year.

Still, Schultz was concerned enough to resume the title of CEO in early 2008 and make major changes.

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