Latest news with #HäagenDazs
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Helping Others Can Reveal Your Next Career Move
Business people discussion advisor concept When you're not feeling completely satisfied in your current role, you'll inevitably begin exploring which professional path might be better. Now, if you're a rather left-brained or logical individual, you might be more inclined to research your way to the answer. To clarify the best option, you might analyze various paths, speak to lots of people, and try to align your next move with the criteria you've set for your professional career. However, analysis paralysis can quickly set in, leaving you even more confused about what exactly you should do to improve your career situation. One way you can break the cycle is to shift your focus away from yourself and instead find ways to help others, ideally tapping into your unique strengths and interests. My Moment Of Indecision Chinese business man working on a laptop looks out the window thinking in a conference room Long before I became a career consultant running my own business, I was working as a global brand manager for Häagen-Dazs. Working for a well-known brand at an established, reputable company may have seemed like a good place to be. But deep down, I knew I didn't want to spend more of my days trying to get more people to buy more things, especially not ice cream, which isn't exactly good for you. At the same time, I felt stuck in that confusing stage where you know your current career situation isn't right, but you don't know which role may fit you better. I've always found this to be one of the toughest parts of changing careers: knowing where you don't want to be but having no idea where to go instead. During confusing moments like this, I've poured plenty of time into online research, informational interviews, and self-assessment tools to figure out how to align my strengths or personality with my ideal profession. However, I eventually realized you can take a different approach that could be more illuminating. Find Clarity By Serving Others Advisor going through documentation with client If you're feeling unsure about where to take your career, consider ways you could serve others with your skills and interests. Sometimes, shifting the focus away from yourself and the decision you're trying to make can be clarifying. In my case, I knew I enjoyed informally mentoring junior colleagues, especially those who weren't on my immediate team, which freed me from the typical managerial obligations of doing performance evaluations. So I eventually spoke with my manager about formalizing one of those mentoring relationships. Coincidentally, she had already picked up on this natural interest of mine, and she was completely on board. I found the mentoring so energizing and eventually started seeking out more coaching opportunities. This is what planted the seed in me to eventually pursuing professional career consulting. Looking back, that clarity came from me finding some sort of an outlet to serve others stemming from my own natural interests. Take Small Actions During Uncertain Moments Coworkers discussing over clipboard Sometimes, when you focus less on analyzing and more on doing, you'll slowly uncover new answers. If you're unsure where to start, consider ways to tap into your natural strengths. Maybe there's been a persistent interest you've held for quite some time that you could just explore. Or maybe you have a particular skill that you feel has been underutilized over the years that you would like to share with others. Here are some concrete examples of small projects or activities that may allow you to leverage your natural strengths, technical skills, or functional skills, without being excessively time-consuming or overwhelming. Engage In Small Explorations Two Creative Colleagues Using Laptop to Discuss Work The journey out of any sort of career, limbo, or state of uncertainty is often messy and full of trial and error. But often, the answers were searching for don't come from more thinking or analyzing. They come from rolling up your sleeves, focusing on ways to serve others, and offering value that leverages your unique strengths, skills, and motivations. You don't have to make a huge commitment to any sort of side hustle. That kind of pressure may not be helpful when the whole idea is just to explore and engage in activities more enjoyable to you. Ask yourself what small contribution you could make today that offers a bit of value to someone else. You might just uncover a clue that helps you piece together the next natural step in your career.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's the best vanilla ice cream? We taste-tested 12 to find out
Eat enough vanilla ice cream, and you'll realize that this flavor is far from, well, vanilla. Tons of nuances exist between the different brands (to say nothing of homemade ice cream): Some taste like rich cream, others taste sharply sweet and yet others taste more mellow, like whipped cream. The best vanilla ice cream falls pleasantly between all three descriptions, with a deeply vanilla flavor that's hard to resist. And it comes from a popular grocery store chain! How do I know? To celebrate National Ice Cream Month, I planned one very cool taste test at Yahoo's New York City office, starring 12 of the most popular store-bought vanilla ice creams from the likes of Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's and Breyer's. I rounded up 16 ice cream lovers from our staff, including a professional baker-turned-writer, a former producer at Food Network and a pregnant woman, who, and I quote, considers "ice cream a main food group right now." In the end, one winner creamed the competition, but we found a few runners-up for satisfying every vanilla ice cream craving, whether you like yours icy and fluffy or eggy and rich — or all you care about is seeing those flecks of vanilla bean. Table of contents Best vanilla ice creams of 2025 How we tested vanilla ice cream Other vanilla ice creams we tested Vanilla ice cream FAQs Editor-approved scoops, bowls and more Best vanilla ice creams of 2025 How we tested vanilla ice cream I gathered a group of 16 Yahoo staffers who are self-professed ice cream snobs, including a former pro baker and someone who worked as a producer for the Food Network. Yahoo's kitchen writer (a culinary school grad) and I (a former food-magazine editor) ran the taste test. Using our go-to ice cream scoops, we dished out servings in bowls labeled only with a letter to prevent brand loyalty from coming into play. Then came the fun part! The testers sampled each bowl in random order and filled out a rubric rating the flavor, texture/mouthfeel, appearance and their overall enjoyment from one to five. We also asked the testers to jot down any thoughts they had about the samples. Ice cream preferences varied among our panelists. What some testers found too sweet, others found bland. But there were some obvious favorites, and when we averaged the scores, it was easy to see which vanilla ice creams were best. We also checked shopper comments and ratings, and availability of our picks to make sure they had fans all over the country. Other vanilla ice creams we tested Breyer's Natural Vanilla: Breyer's nabbed fourth, thanks mostly to its appearance. "I like the vanilla bean specks. Felt authentic," noted one tester. Ben & Jerry's Vanilla: This pick has earned high marks in other stories about the best vanilla ice creams, so I was surprised that it didn't do better in our taste test. Though some loved the very vanilla flavor, others thought it had a strange aftertaste. Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean: Considering how well the brand's plain vanilla ice cream did, this version was an unexpected dud. It scored lowest in flavor, likely because the majority of our testers thought it was too sweet. A few said it reminded them of other foods entirely, including bubblegum, a root beer float and ... flavored oatmeal! Tillamook Old-Fashioned Vanilla: This ice cream, from a century-old Oregon dairy company, landed in the middle of our testing pool. Several testers described it as "icy," whereas others appreciated the subtle vanilla flavoring. 365 Whole Foods Vanilla: Whole Foods' house brand ice cream was almost orange in color, which threw off a lot of our testers and led to some pretty odd comparisons. "Not appealing! Looks like a Creamsicle," noted one. Another said the color was reminiscent of a hard-boiled egg yolk. Favorite Day Vanilla Bean: Another middle-of-the-pack ice cream, this one, from Target's house brand, scored high for flavor but did just so-so in all other categories. Almost every tester called it "fluffy" or "icy," which proved polarizing. Edy's Vanilla: The flavor scores for this pick were all over the place. "Subtle but sweet," enthused a fan who awarded it four points; "Has a weird, chalky aftertaste," wrote a far less happy tester, who gave it zero. FYI, if you live in the western U.S., you'll know this brand as Dreyer's. Turkey Hill French Vanilla: Most testers thought this vanilla ice cream was too sweet and artificial tasting. It also struck out on appearance: "Good scoop but weird khaki yellow color," as one panelist put it. Vanilla ice cream FAQs What brand is the best vanilla ice cream? If you believe our taste-test — and you should! — the best vanilla ice cream comes from Trader Joe's. But if you don't live near one of these cult-favorite grocery stores, the best vanilla ice creams from the supermarket are Häagen-Dazs Vanilla and Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean. What type of vanilla ice cream has the most vanilla flavor? Look for ice cream that includes natural vanilla flavor and/or real vanilla extract in its ingredients list. For vanilla ice cream that's rich and custardy, make sure it also includes egg yolks, which is a hallmark of French vanilla. Editor-approved scoops, bowls and more
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Häagen-Dazs, Starbucks Mull Overhauls in China to Fend Off Powerful Local Rivals
(Bloomberg) -- The consumer landscape in China was very different in the 1990s, when Häagen-Dazs and Starbucks ventured in with premium products that were alien to most people. They made huge inroads nonetheless, opening outlets at breakneck pace and raking in revenue. But times are changing, and they, like many other Western brands, are reassessing their approach to the world's second-biggest economy, including possibly selling their businesses. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' As Part of a $45 Billion Push, ICE Prepares for a Vast Expansion of Detention Space As American Architects Gather in Boston, Retrofits Are All the Rage How E-Scooters Conquered (Most of) Europe General Mills, which owns Häagen-Dazs, is working on a potential sale of its more than 250 stores in China. Starbucks Corp. is sounding out interest in its business in the country, where it has over 7,750 outlets. Sporting goods retailer Decathlon SA has started a process to sell about 30% of its China business. Reasons for this shift include the fierce competition from Chinese companies, which have evolved into nimble and sophisticated rivals with a deep connection to local consumers. Iconic brands including Apple Inc. and Nike Inc. face intensifying rivalries with local names such as Huawei Technologies Co., Xiaomi Corp., Anta Sports Products Ltd. and Li Ning Co. The economic malaise in the wake of Covid has also affected spending habits. 'Multinationals face competition from local rivals and shifting demands, especially younger generations prioritizing value for money and emotional resonance,' said Chen Jie, global head of mergers and acquisitions at China International Capital Corp. 'To survive and succeed, they must develop localized strategies.' Häagen-Dazs and Starbucks have both introduced products catering more directly to the local market, such as specialty Lunar New Year mooncake ice creams and braised pork flavored latte. Starbucks, feeling the heat from rapidly rising homegrown chains like Luckin Coffee Inc., also recently announced price cuts in China on tea-based and Frappuccino beverages, a strategy that contrasts with its US operations, where it is streamlining its menu to emphasize coffee. McDonald's Corp.'s China menu includes offerings such as congee and luncheon meat burgers, while Yum China Holdings Inc., which operates KFC and Pizza Hut, has egg tarts, Peking duck-style wraps and durian pizzas in addition to its more traditional fare. Even with decades of experience in China under their belts, international firms are considering fresh partnerships to help weather today's challenges. 'In many cases, these brands have long operating histories in the country, and identifying Chinese partners who can bring skills, technology and capital is another form of localization,' said Richard Wong, head of Asia Pacific M&A at Morgan Stanley. 'MNCs continue to view China as a highly important market.' China's sluggish economy has been difficult for most retailers and uncertainty is likely to keep swirling as tariff threats and armed conflicts overseas persist. 'With this backdrop, some are evaluating strategic options for their assets, including bringing in a minority partner or selling out entirely,' said Weiwen Han, a senior partner at Bain & Co. in Hong Kong. 'This trend is particularly clear in sectors such as consumer and retail.' Beijing is prioritizing domestic consumption in its pursuit of 5% economic growth this year, and May retail sales were encouraging, accelerating at the fastest pace since December 2023. But economists are unconvinced that momentum will persist, and companies need to be positioned to capture what growth they can. 'The Chinese market is getting more mature, so there is no more low hanging fruit with fast growth and development,' said Jean-Christophe Vallat, managing director and head of industrials and consumer at BNP Paribas SA. 'Chinese consumers still have cash to treat themselves when it comes to small personal expenses, and they are more educated and mature, so they have developed fancy local tastes that only local players can identify and adapt to, given the fast-changing tastes and low loyalty,' he said. In another case, after buying the remaining equity interests in Burger King China in February, Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc. said it planned to engage advisers to help find a new local partner. There's a rising number of 'China operation carve-out deals, which involve introducing local strategic partners through equity restructuring,' CICC's Chen said. 'Such moves could potentially help multinational corporations thrive in China's market and capture new growth opportunities.' --With assistance from Dong Lyu. Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros American Mid: Hampton Inn's Good-Enough Formula for World Domination How a Tiny Middleman Could Access Two-Factor Login Codes From Tech Giants The Spying Scandal Rocking the World of HR Software US Allies and Adversaries Are Dodging Trump's Tariff Threats ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Häagen-Dazs, Starbucks Mull Overhauls in China to Fend Off Powerful Local Rivals
The consumer landscape in China was very different in the 1990s, when Häagen-Dazs and Starbucks ventured in with premium products that were alien to most people. They made huge inroads nonetheless, opening outlets at breakneck pace and raking in revenue. But times are changing, and they, like many other Western brands, are reassessing their approach to the world's second-biggest economy, including possibly selling their businesses. General Mills, which owns Häagen-Dazs, is working on a potential sale of its more than 250 stores in China. Starbucks Corp. is sounding out interest in its business in the country, where it has over 7,750 outlets. Sporting goods retailer Decathlon SA has started a process to sell about 30% of its China business.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
General Mills, Inc. (GIS): It 'Has To Do Something,' Says Jim Cramer
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) is one of the largest packaged food companies in America. The packaged food industry has been a regular feature of Cramer's morning show this year. He believes that not only has inflation dented the demand for the industry's products, but also that weight loss drugs threaten the industry's long-term prospects. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS)'s shares are down by 13.9% year-to-date as they suffered an 8% dip in March. The dip was followed by a poor earnings report which saw the firm predict that its sales could fall by as much as 2% during 2025. Cramer's latest remarks about General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) revolved around reports that the firm was considering divesting its China business: '[On reports GIS is considering selling China Häagen-Dazs business] General Mills has to do something. I saw a rare Sell issued on General Mills' A worker in a production facility packaging arbitrary food products, reflecting the company's commitment to comprehensive production standards. Cramer discussed General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) in detail in May regarding long-term trends for the firm's business: 'General Mills, which makes top drawer pet food, let's go over that one. Incredibly popular cereals, you know them, Trix, Lucky Charms, Fruity Cheerios. When you were a kid, was there anything more fun than eating these for breakfast? I mean, they're practically addictive for children, even for adults. I had some last week, and that's the problem. Bobby Kennedy Jr. wants to demagnetize these cereals as well as make many other products that have artificial coloring that kids can't resist. While we acknowledge the potential of GIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
