Starbucks Sets New Barista Dress Code in Latest Change to Stores
Industries
Consumer
A narrower color palette seeks to improve consistency
CEO Brian Niccol is seeking to revive sales after a slump
Starbucks Corp. is updating its dress code for baristas to make it more consistent across North American stores, part of a broader plan to revive sales by revamping the look and feel of cafes.
Starting May 12, baristas will wear solid black tops, a change from prior practice allowing any color. Baristas can wear their own attire, and Starbucks will provide two shirts from a new company-branded line at no cost.
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Chicago Tribune
3 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.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Whole Foods' distributor hit with cyberattack; stores could see supply issues
Whole Foods' distributor hit with cyberattack; stores could see supply issues A major food distributor that supplies items to Whole Foods and other grocers was hit with a cyberattack that could impact supply at some stores. North American wholesale distributor United Natural Foods said Monday, June 9 that unauthorized activity in its systems forced it to take some of them offline. Forensics experts and law enforcement are both investigating, the company said in a statement. "We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely bring them back online. As we work through this issue, our customers, suppliers, and associates are our highest priority. We are working closely with them to minimize disruption as much as possible," the statement reads. The company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the incident "has temporarily impacted the company's ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders" since it was discovered by the company on Thursday, June 5. A Whole Foods spokesperson said the supermarket chain is working to restock its shelves as quickly as possible and said it apologies for any inconveniences to customers. One X user visiting a Whole Foods store said the shelves were empty, along with signs apologizing, adding "It reminds me of when the pandemic first hit." In a Reddit post, one user shared a picture of primarily empty refrigeration shelf with a paper sign attached. "We are experiencing a temporary out of stock issue for some products," the sign reads. "We apologize for the inconvenience and should have your favorite products back in stock soon." Cyberattacks threatening grocery, retail businesses nationwide Grocery and retail businesses across the U.S. and the U.K. have been subject to rising ransomware attacks, according to Keith Wojcieszek, the global head of threat intelligence for risk and financial firm Kroll. Data exfiltration and ransomware attacks have targeted the retail sector in an effort for bad actors to receive large monetary payouts, according to Kroll. Last month the firm tracked at least 16 ransomware posts targeting retail organizations through extortion efforts. "The biggest question right now is who's behind the chaos and disruption of these cyberattacks. Unfortunately, it's not an easy one to answer as hackers have become increasingly interchangeable and decentralized, without a clear organizational structure," Wojcieszek said in a statement to USA TODAY. Wojcieszek added that the retail sector is highly exposed to these attacks because of its reliance on digital systems. Other U.S. retailers have been targeted recently including Victoria's Secret temporarily shutting down its website due to a security threat and Adidas reportedly falling victim to a third party data breach.
CNBC
6 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.
