logo
Starbucks' new dress code will require baristas to wear certain colors with green apron

Starbucks' new dress code will require baristas to wear certain colors with green apron

USA Today15-04-2025

Starbucks' new dress code will require baristas to wear certain colors with green apron
Starbucks is updating its dress code to limit the amount of colors that staff can wear as part of effort to enhance its signature green apron look.
Starting on May 12, baristas will be required to wear a solid black top, whether it's a crewneck, collared or button-up shirt, the coffee chain announced Monday. Meanwhile their bottoms must be a shade of black, khaki or blue denim.
The chain said it will also provide employees with two free black T-shirts as the "more defined color palette" is launched.
"We're evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America," Starbucks said in a news release.
The company said the dress code change will maintain the green apron's status as the symbol for Starbucks since they were introduced in 1987.
Chain previously encouraged more diversified wardrobe
In 2016, Starbucks unveiled a dress code that allowed baristas to embrace some more diversified personal styles from pink hair to fedoras.
At the time the policy was meant to embrace looks that go beyond classic "black/white tops with khaki pants under a green apron," allowing color patterns like charcoal, gray, navy and brown.
Ahead of the May 12 change, current dress code allows staff to wear bottoms with the colors gray, brown or navy. Meanwhile, tops must feature subdued and muted color patterns or solid colors.
Starbucks CEO wants stores to 'have the right vibe'
The uniform update comes as the chain continues to emphasize a specific aesthetic at its locations.
At a shareholder meeting last month, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol discussed the company's "Back to Starbucks" strategy, which includes testing new store designs at "select locations across the U.S."
Niccol said these store designs include bringing back condiment bars, serving in-store coffee in ceramic mugs and having baristas write on cups with Sharpies.
"We're working hard to ensure our coffeehouses have the right vibe," Niccol said at the meeting. "We want to invite customers in, showcase our great coffee, provide a comfortable place to stay, and make them feel like their visit was time well spent."
Contributing: Rui Ellie Miao, USA TODAY

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Terry Savage: My top 10 lessons for entering the digital financial era
Terry Savage: My top 10 lessons for entering the digital financial era

Chicago Tribune

time6 hours ago

  • Chicago Tribune

Terry Savage: My top 10 lessons for entering the digital financial era

We live in a digital world, especially when it comes to money. And, like it or not, you'll soon be forced to get used to it — especially since the IRS will soon no longer accept or pay out with paper checks! On March 25, President Trump signed an executive order mandating that all federal departments and agencies end their use of paper checks and switch to electronic payments by September 30. Soon, you'll be required to make tax payments securely and directly from your bank to the IRS via their website! (See Don't get defensive here. I'm well aware that a certain generation has no intention of moving into this 'modern' digital era. My own (younger) brother will not let me get him a smartphone, and he truly believes that I check my email every hour to get his announcement that he arrived safely home! No texting for him! My plea: If you have already joined the digital revolution, please don't give up on your Luddite family members and neighbors. They're going to need your help as cash disappears, along with paper checks. Already more than 95% of tax returns are filed electronically, even if your accountant gives you a paper copy! You can't stave off the digital era of money, so you must learn to handle everything from Venmo and Paypal to credit and banking online, securely. If, by chance, you're a 20-something who happened to read this column in a newspaper (does that happen anymore?), it is your duty to drag your grandparents into the digital age. Do your duty. After all, an older person taught you how to drive a car! OK, here are my top 10 lessons for entering the digital financial era. 1. Practice safe digitalization. Do your important financial things only on your home computer. Make sure you access the internet securely. Have a computer expert (or your grandchild) install a secure Wi-Fi connection, complete with password so your neighbors can't snoop. 2. Practice secure connectivity. Every bank and financial institution requires two-factor authentication. That means if you sign on to its website, it will instantly text or email you a code to insert on the sign-in page. (Another good reason for texting!) And banks mean it when they say 'Do not share this code with anyone'! Too many seniors are defrauded when they share this code with a fraudster over the phone. 3. Don't use your phone in public places to access private financial information. No matter who asks you to just 'check your bank balance' or 'confirm that your account is secure' — don't go online in Starbucks or outside your bank to access your account! The 'air' is insecure! 4. Protect your passwords. Yes, it's difficult to remember all those passwords — but that's no excuse for using the same one everywhere! Instead, your younger tech expert will help you get a 'password vault' — such as Dashlane or NordPass to securely generate strong passwords and safely keep track of them, auto-filling them when you go to a website. Now you only have one password to remember — the overall password to your vault. Never give it out! 5. Secure your cellphone. I've written about this before. Scammers have developed new sophisticated strategies to 'clone' your SIM card — the inner workings of your phone — allowing them to divert those two-factor text authorization messages. Ask your phone company to provide a separate password for your SIM card. That means every time you turn on the phone you need to insert not only your phone password, but the sim card password. 6. Be careful where you use your card and PIN. Don't take cash from an ATM in the grocery store unless it is an ATM provided by your bank. Keep one card for use at gas stations, where you're more likely to be a victim of skimming through devices inserted in the card slot. Reserve one card for your online purchases. 7. Use the new technology on your card. Now, instead of using the keypad to insert your PIN where someone can watch over your shoulder, just tap your card on the reader when you make a purchase. Then put the card away quickly in your RFID-protected wallet. 8. Track your bank and credit card accounts online at least weekly, from your secure Wi-Fi connection at home. You're looking for balances and unexpected charges. Call your bank or card issuer immediately if you find something suspicious. And please remember to close the browser window that accesses your bank account when you've finished looking at it! 9. Track your credit score even if you're not planning to make a large purchase or buy insurance. Changes can mean someone else is accessing your credit to borrow money. Your bank or card issuer probably offers credit score checks for free. Or sign up at Check in only on your home computer. 10. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus, by going to Then remember the PIN you created to access your credit report! There is no cost to freeze, and you can temporarily unfreeze at any time if applying for a loan or insurance. Bottom line: You can't escape the digital financial era! Your best route is to understand it, use it safely, and to your advantage. That's The Savage Truth.

China's homegrown coffee giants are brewing up a U.S. expansion
China's homegrown coffee giants are brewing up a U.S. expansion

CNBC

time9 hours ago

  • CNBC

China's homegrown coffee giants are brewing up a U.S. expansion

Chinese beverage chains are redefining coffee culture in the country — and now they're trying to win over customers in the U.S. and beyond. Luckin Coffee, China's largest coffee chain, has expanded aggressively in China and overtaken Starbucks on the mainland, with more than twice as many outlets. Following an accounting fraud scandal that got the company delisted from the Nasdaq in 2020, Luckin has staged an unlikely comeback with quirky flavors and steep discounts — as low as $1.40 per cup during an earlier price war with rival Cotti Coffee. The Wall Street debacle hasn't dampened Luckin's ambitions in the U.S., where it still trades over the counter. After venturing into Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Luckin is set to take its biggest leap yet with plans to open a branch in lower Manhattan. The move mirrors Cotti's, which just opened outlets in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Founded in 2022 by former Luckin executives who were ousted over the scandal, Cotti has also grown rapidly in China and internationally, with stores in locations ranging from Southeast Asia to Dubai and California. "New York is probably culturally the best testing ground for an international brand to expand into, especially a Chinese one," said Bernstein Senior Analyst Danilo Gargiulo, citing the city's diversity and large base of young consumers. "But it's also the most saturated, one of the most competitive markets." Chinese chains combine budget pricing with unusual flavors that often blur the line between coffee and bubble tea — jarring to purists but extremely popular at home. Luckin said its alcohol-infused latte, developed with China's leading Moutai liquor maker, sold more than 5.4 million cups on its first day in 2023, generating over $13.7 million in sales. The company launched 119 different items in 2024 alone. Luckin has built its business around technology, allowing customers in China to order and get deliveries through the country's ubiquitous WeChat app, replacing the traditional cafe experience with hyper efficiency. The company also runs large coffee-bean roasting and processing operations in China to help drive down costs. The question is whether this will work in America. Luckin and Cotti did not respond to requests for comment from CNBC. On an earnings call in April, Luckin's co-founder Guo Jinyi said the company plans to "adopt flexible, locally tailored models" to steadily expand overseas. Slowing growth and intense competition in China has pushed companies to seek opportunities beyond its borders. From electric car makers to food delivery platforms, large-scale Chinese companies often follow a familiar strategy: burn cash, grab market share, worry about profit later. This helps them grow fast, but can infuriate global competitors. In the latest sign of increasing competition in China, Starbucks on Monday said it will lower the prices of dozens of drinks in the country by an average of $0.70 this summer. In New York, Cotti is selling drinks for 99 cents to first-time customers who download its app. Over time, analysts estimate that Luckin and Cotti will still be cheaper than Starbucks in the U.S., but the gap will be narrower than it is in China. Manhattan may share major Chinese cities' love for efficiency, but businesses there face New York wages and may need to accept additional payment options, adding to costs, said Allison Malmsten, China strategy director at Daxue Consulting. Tariffs on Chinese businesses may further erode their supply-chain advantages, she added. "There's a long list of things that could potentially drive the price up," Malmsten said. If Luckin's New York debut proves successful, the company could venture further afield. HeyTea — a Chinese chain known for topping its teas with foamy cream cheese — landed in New York in late 2023 and has since spread to Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles. Despite tensions between Washington and Beijing, Gen Z and younger Americans tend to perceive China differently to older generations, who may associate Chinese products with lower quality, according to Malmsten. Bargain coffee from Chinese chains could also appeal to New Yorkers facing rising costs on everything from groceries to coffee beans. Still, coffee shops that run on thinner margins need volume, analysts say. This means appealing to a wider range of customers. "If it's perceived as being only a touristy or exotic adventure, then it's not going to become part of your day-to-day consumption, it's not going to become part of your morning routine," Bernstein's Gargiulo said.

El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where.
El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where.

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where.

Foodies wanting to grab a Pollo Bowl, tacos, or other menu items from El Pollo Loco will soon have new restaurants in six states, including Colorado and Texas. The Mexican-style restaurant is based in California but plans to open at least 10 restaurants in 2025 in other states, an El Pollo Loco spokesperson confirmed on May 30. That includes the company's 500th restaurant, which is set for Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to the company, it's the largest system-wide expansion since 2022. According to the spokesperson, the new additions will be constructed based on the company's new store design, which was unveiled in October 2024 as El Pollo Loco neared its 50th anniversary. New restaurants will feature updated branding elements, upgraded furniture and lighting, energy-efficient hoods and HVAC. So far in 2025, El Pollo Loco has opened two new locations, both of them in California: one in Los Banos and another in Lompoc. However, the company spokesperson said most future locations opening in 2025 are set for markets outside of California, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. The spokesperson said the company plans to open new locations in 2026 as well, including some in nontraditional locations like airports and university campuses. Customers can expect to see locations open in 2026 or later in states like California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and more. El Pollo Loco serves chicken that's marinated using citrus and spices, then fire-grilled over a low flame for 60 minutes, as well as hand-smashed guacamole, salsa fresca and avocado salsa using real tomatoes, cilantro, and onion, according to its website. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: El Pollo Loco opening locations in six states this year. Here's where.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store