The price of the Pumpkin Spice Latte is slated to rise at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/starbucks?_gl=1*98sfg7*_ga*OTAwNTI1NTYwLjE2MTM5NzIxMzI.*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTY2MTc5MTQ5My4xMTg2LjEuMTY2MTc5MjE2NC4yNi4wLjA." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Starbucks</a> coffee shops across the nation.
Enthusiasts of the popular fall beverage will face costs between $5.45 and $5.95 for a grande-sized cup, according to a report from <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/business/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte-2022/index.html">CNN</a>, marking a 4% increase since last autumn. The move comes months after former Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson warned of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/business/starbucks-prices/index.html">plans to increase prices</a> due to labor costs and other <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflationary pressures</a>.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is returning for the nineteenth year, will be accompanied by a cold brew version, as well as an Apple Crisp Macchiato and Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato.
“The first sip of a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew cues the unofficial start of the fall season for many customers, and Starbucks is celebrating its return alongside a full menu of fall favorites,” the company said in a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte-returns-on-august-30/">press release</a>.
According to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, year-over-year inflation reached 8.5% in July 2022, with a slight moderation from the 9.1% reading in the previous month <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-starts-victory-lap-amid-slightly-less-dismal-inflation-reading">driven</a> by lower energy prices — even as costs for food, new vehicles, medical care, and shelter continue to rise. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, whose company is also dealing with wage inflation as Americans continue to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americans-continue-to-opt-out-of-the-workforce">remove themselves</a> from the workforce, recently explained that rising food prices are impacting consumer behavior.
“Right around the middle of the first quarter is when we saw food inflation reach a level where behavior started to change,” McMillon said during an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-ceo-inflation-will-be-with-us-basically-forever-at-some-level">interview</a> with CNBC. “It got to a level where people making less than $50,000 household income started behaving differently, and then to the $75,000 level and then to the $100,000 level.”
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jerome-powell-vows-to-restore-price-stability-even-though-federal-reserve-must-first-bring-some-pain">said at a conference</a> in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that the central bank still intends to reduce inflation to 2% — the rate maintained by policymakers for most of the past three decades.
“Price stability is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve and serves as the bedrock of our economy,” the policymaker asserted. “Without price stability, the economy does not work for anyone. In particular, without price stability, we will not achieve a sustained period of strong labor market conditions that benefit all. The burdens of high inflation fall heaviest on those who are least able to bear them.”
Beyond price pressures, Starbucks is contending with increased levels of crime and homelessness in urban restaurants. The company said last month that they would close locations in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., amid the safety issues.
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said of conversations with employees in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/america-has-become-unsafe-starbucks-ceo-rips-politicians-in-decaying-cities-after-closing-16-urban-stores">footage</a> obtained by The Post Millennial. “And then we heard the stories that go along with it about what happens in our bathrooms, the issue of mental illness, the issue of homelessness, and the issue of crime.”
Employees at hundreds of Starbucks restaurants are currently attempting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-is-trying-to-take-away-gender-affirming-care-unionizing-workers-complain">unionize</a>. In a complaint filed earlier this year with the National Labor Relations Board, labor union Starbucks Workers United <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-is-trying-to-take-away-gender-affirming-care-unionizing-workers-complain">said</a> that the company is “threatening employees with loss of benefits” for attempting to collectively bargain. At the Oklahoma location where one employee named Neha Cremin works, the threat allegedly includes “loss of gender-affirming health care for transgender employees.”

Starbucks-Pumpkin-Duo

Pumpkin Price Latte: Cost Of Starbucks’ Popular Fall Drink Rises Due To Inflation

Price Of Pumpkin Spice Latte Increasing Due To Inflation

Economy

Inflation

Starbucks

Starbucks is urging the National Labor Relations Board to end all mail-in union elections at its U.S. stores after allegations of improper coordination between board officials and the union.
The request was included in a letter Starbucks sent to the NLRB on Monday.
&#8220;The purpose of this misconduct was to tip-the-scale in order to deliver the outcome sought by the Union,&#8221; Starbucks <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/starbucks-asks-labor-board-suspend-all-mail-ballot-elections-after-misconduct-allegations-raised" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. &#8220;The result of the misconduct was to ignore—and bypass—the actual sentiments that Starbucks partners may have expressed in properly conducted elections.&#8221;
The allegations involved a vote at an Overland Park, Kansas, store where workers voted 6-1 in favor of unionizing. Seven additional ballots have been disputed, however, that could stop the effort.
Starbucks claimed similar concerns have arisen in additional locations.
“If the NLRB does not respond by investigating and remedying these types of actions, we do not see how the board can represent itself as a neutral agency,” the company <a href="https://fortune.com/2022/08/15/starbucks-nlrb-temporarily-suspend-union-elections-us-stores/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in the letter.
The allegations continue to increase in importance as more than 200 Starbucks locations have already unionized. A total of 314 U.S. locations have petitioned the NLRB for elections to unionize, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/starbucks-asks-labor-board-to-halt-union-votes-temporarily/2022/08/15/d8846ac8-1c9b-11ed-9ce6-68253bd31864_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Washington Post.
NLRB Press Secretary Kayla Blado said in response to the Post report on Monday that the agency doesn’t comment on open cases.
“The agency has well-established processes to raise challenges regarding the handling of both election matters and unfair labor practice cases. Those challenges should be raised in filings specific to the particular matters in question,” Blado said.
Starbucks Workers United claims that Starbucks wants to draw attention away from its anti-union activity to stop union elections.
“Ultimately, this is Starbucks’ latest attempt to manipulate the legal process for their own means and prevent workers from exercising their fundamental right to organize,” the campaign said in a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/15/starbucks-asks-labor-board-to-suspend-mail-in-ballot-union-elections-alleging-misconduct-in-voting-process.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to CNBC on Monday.
Starbucks is not the only large American retailer to address issues of voting problems with the NLRB. Amazon also <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-new-york-city-staten-island-e236a889bc46d1d0f0c3da6d00eb0a23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> the board of improper contact in the case of Brooklyn workers in April of last year. The case remains pending.
In addition to union concerns, the coffee retailer made headlines last month when CEO Howard Schultz blasted the leadership of Democrat-run cities for allowing unaddressed crime. The company announced it would shut down 16 locations. The closed stores were in major metropolitan areas, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” Schultz said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/1547308330929963008" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> regarding his conversations with employees. “And then we heard the stories that go along with it about what happens in our bathrooms, the issue of mental illness, the issue of homelessness, and the issue of crime.”

Starbucks Doesn’t Want Mail-In Voting For Its Union Elections

Business

Corporations

Labor Unions

Mail-In Voting

Voting

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/starbucks">Starbucks</a> CEO Howard Schultz blasted the leadership of Democrat-run cities for abdicating their duty to address <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/crime">crime</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/homelessness">homelessness</a> after the chain shut down several stores due to safety concerns.
The coffee chain <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-closes-multiple-coffee-shops-in-democrat-run-cities">said</a> in a Monday memo that it would shutter 16 stores in major metropolitan areas, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/seattle">Seattle</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles">Los Angeles</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/portland">Portland</a>, Oregon, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c">Washington</a>, D.C.
In videos of an alleged internal company meeting obtained by The Post Millennial editor Ari Hoffman, Schultz argued that “America has become unsafe” and noted that the stores facing closures are nevertheless “not unprofitable.”
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” Schultz said of conversations with employees. “And then we heard the stories that go along with it about what happens in our bathrooms, the issue of mental illness, the issue of homelessness, and the issue of crime.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EXCLUSIVE: Today at an internal meeting CEO Howard Schultz said: &#8220;Starbucks is a window into America&#8230; we are facing things in which the stores were not built for&#8230; we&#8217;re listening to our people and closing stores, &amp; this is just the beginning. There are gonna be many more. 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/E9ayQqSmB8">pic.twitter.com/E9ayQqSmB8</a>
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/1547308330929963008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The cities of Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., have witnessed surging crime over the past two years. As of last month, Los Angeles and Washington were on pace to surpass their homicide totals seen in 2021, according to crime data reviewed by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/major-cities-pace-pass-2021-homicide-halfway-2022">Fox News</a>.
Schultz, who also led the company from 1986 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2017, said that “there are going to be many more” closures. “Starbucks is a window into America,” he added. “We have stores in every community, and we are facing things … the stores were not built for. We are listening to our people and closing stores.”
The executive pinned the blame on political leaders who have failed to address issues contributing to urban decay.
“At the local, state, and federal level, these governments across the country, and leaders — mayors and governors, city councils — have abdicated their responsibility in fighting crime and addressing mental illness,” Schultz said, noting that his company is otherwise thriving. “Despite the challenges of COVID and post-COVID, and the changes in customer behavior… the demand for Starbucks coffee by our customers, domestically and around the world, has never been greater.”
Starbucks said on Monday that it would create new trainings for de-escalation and active shootings, adding that among the policies they may pursue are “modifying operations, closing a restroom, or even closing a store permanently” if safety is a persistent issue, then transferring employees to other nearby stores.
Many district attorneys have eliminated cash bail or neglected to prosecute shoplifters — actions which garner backlash for allowing criminals to continue dangerous behavior without consequences. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, for instance, faces a recall after more than 715,000 citizens signed a petition to begin the process, according to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-09/715-833-signatures-turned-in-to-recall-los-angeles-county-da-gascon-election-officials-say">Los Angeles Times</a>. The signatures still need to be verified by county officials before the recall can qualify for ballot placement.
Starbucks’ move to close urban stores comes as over 180 locations <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-is-trying-to-take-away-gender-affirming-care-unionizing-workers-complain">seek to unionize</a>. Starbucks Workers United — a unionization effort led by Starbucks employees — <a href="https://sbworkersunited.org/#Partners-Becoming-Partners">says</a> they are attempting to “form a collaborative, creative, forward-thinking, justice seeking, independent organization that will allow us to advocate for ourselves.”

Starbucks Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting

‘America Has Become Unsafe’: Starbucks CEO Rips Politicians In Decaying Cities After Closing 16 Urban Stores

Starbucks CEO Rips Politicians In Decaying Cities After Needing To Close 16 Profitable Urban Stores

Crime

Homelessness

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/starbucks">Starbucks</a> is closing 16 coffee shops in major cities due to <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/crime">safety</a> concerns, the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/business">company</a> said on Monday.
Six locations in both <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/seattle">Seattle</a>, Washington, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles">Los Angeles</a>, California, will close their doors permanently, as well as two locations in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/portland">Portland</a>, Oregon, and one location in both <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, Pennsylvania, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c">Washington</a>, D.C., according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/starbucks-closing-some-stores-citing-safety-concerns-in-certain-cafes-11657588871?st=67nhb02211djm78">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
“We want you to know that creating a safe, welcoming, and kind third place is our top priority,” a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/message-to-starbucks-partners-safety-in-our-stores/">message</a> from Starbucks Senior Vice Presidents of U.S. Operations Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson explained to employees. “Because simply put, we cannot serve as partners if we don’t first feel safe at work. The question on our minds is: How do we continue to show up for our communities while protecting our partners?”
The executives announced new trainings for de-escalation and active shootings, adding that among the policies they may pursue are “modifying operations, closing a restroom, or even closing a store permanently” if safety is a persistent issue, then transferring employees to other nearby stores.
The cities of Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., have indeed witnessed surging crime over the past two years. As of last month, Los Angeles and Washington were on pace to surpass their homicide totals seen in 2021, according to crime data reviewed by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/major-cities-pace-pass-2021-homicide-halfway-2022">Fox News</a>.
In recent months, more than a dozen convenience stores in Philadelphia have closed permanently as a result of rising retail crime. “Right now we have a lot of problems with the city of Philadelphia. We are closing left and right,” Manzoor Chughtai, the president of the Franchise Owners Association, said, according to <a href="https://6abc.com/11866899/">WPVI</a>. “Robbers are coming in, they’re just robbing the place left and right. We have now lost about 15-20 stores in the city of Philadelphia. Nobody wants to take over the store. Nobody wants to run the business in the city of Philadelphia. Very dangerous.”
On Monday, four separate 7-Eleven stores in southern California experienced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/four-separate-july-11-shootings-hit-7-eleven-stores-across-california-at-least-three-connected">shootings</a>, leaving at least two dead and three injured. “Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones,” 7-Eleven said in a statement. “We are gathering information on this terrible tragedy and working with local law enforcement.”
Many leftist district attorneys have pursued policies such as eliminating cash bail or moving priorities away from prosecuting shoplifters — actions which garner criticism for letting criminals continue dangerous behavior without consequences. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón therefore faces a recall as more than 715,000 citizens signed a petition to begin the process, according to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-09/715-833-signatures-turned-in-to-recall-los-angeles-county-da-gascon-election-officials-say">Los Angeles Times</a>. The signatures still need to be verified by county officials before the recall can qualify for ballot placement.
“Perhaps worse than any one specific policy, Gascón has sent a loud and clear message to criminals that he will always have their backs, whether that means lowering sentences or declining to prosecute certain crimes altogether,” a spokesperson for the Recall DA George Gascón campaign <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/radical-da-has-turned-the-streets-of-los-angeles-into-a-living-nightmare-campaign-to-recall-gascon-raises-more-than-6-million">told</a> The Daily Wire in May. “That mentality has turned the streets of Los Angeles into a living nightmare — criminals feel emboldened, residents feel unsafe, and victims feel completely betrayed.”
Starbucks’ move to close stores also occurs as over 180 locations <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-is-trying-to-take-away-gender-affirming-care-unionizing-workers-complain">seek to unionize</a>. Starbucks Workers United — a unionization effort led by Starbucks employees — <a href="https://sbworkersunited.org/#Partners-Becoming-Partners">says</a> they are attempting to “form a collaborative, creative, forward-thinking, justice seeking, independent organization that will allow us to advocate for ourselves.”

American multinational chain Starbucks Coffee store seen in

Starbucks Closes Multiple Coffee Shops In Democrat-Run Cities

Safety Concerns Lead Starbucks To Close Down Coffee Shops In High-Crime Cities

Coffee giant <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/starbucks">Starbucks</a> ended a short-lived attempt to jump into the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-ranked-americas-favorite-restaurant-for-8th-consecutive-year">chicken sandwich</a> game when it pulled its “satisfyingly savory” chicken sandwich from the menu after some customers said it gave them diarrhea. 
The company issued a voluntary “stop sell” on June 26 and has since dismissed any claims Friday that its chicken, maple butter, and egg sandwich put customers at risk of illness. Starbucks instead explained their decision to remove the sandwich by saying the product failed to meet quality standards, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/starbucks-withdraws-new-chicken-sandwich-quality-concerns-rcna37372">according</a> to NBC News. 
“The quality issue that was identified by Starbucks would not lead to food borne illness and any reports linking the stop sale to illness are inaccurate,” a Starbucks statement said. 
According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/08/starbucks-quietly-yanked-new-chicken-sandwich-after-it-gave-customers-diarrhea/">New York Post</a>, customers, and even some Starbucks employees, shared horror stories about their experience after eating the sandwich. 
“Suing for the worst diarrhea of my life. I have been living in my bathroom for 2 days now,” one person said on TikTok. 
Another TikTok user who appeared to be an employee said the sandwich “Took out two of my baristas at my store.” 
Some customers complained about biting into chicken bones while others claimed the chicken was “ice cold in the middle.” 
The Post also reported that, according to an internal Starbucks memo posted online, employees were instructed not to donate the discarded chicken sandwich. 
A Starbucks spokesperson told the Post that the chicken is fully cooked before it arrives at stores and is then warmed up before being served. The sandwich&#8217;s removal was not related &#8220;listeria and salmonella,&#8221; the spokesperson added.
Starbucks said removing products for quality issues is not unusual, assuring that the company is “using an abundance of caution” with its removal of the chicken sandwich. The Seattle-based company assured that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not issued any recall of the product. 
The 420-calorie sandwich, which is still viewable on the company’s <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2123672/single">online menu</a>, is described as “Breaded white-meat chicken, fluffy eggs and a maple butter spread on a toasted oat-biscuit roll&#8211;a satisfyingly savory sandwich with a hint of sweetness.”

Starbucks Pulls ‘Satisfyingly Savory Sandwich’ After Diarrhea Complaints

Starbucks Removes Chicken Sandwich From Menu After Customers Complain About Diarrhea

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/starbucks">Starbucks</a> employees across the United States are claiming that the restaurant chain is threatening to strip them of “gender-affirming health care” if they <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/unions">unionize</a>, according to a Tuesday report from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-14/starbucks-threatens-trans-benefits-in-anti-union-push-staff-say#xj4y7vzkg">Bloomberg</a>.
Last December, a coffee shop in Buffalo, New York, became the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-workers-in-buffalo-unionize-placing-executives-on-edge-amid-labor-shortage">first Starbucks store to form a union</a>. Today, over 100 other Starbucks locations have done the same — placing executives on edge.
In a Monday complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board, labor union Workers United said that Starbucks is “threatening employees with loss of benefits” for attempting to collectively bargain. At the Oklahoma location where one employee named Neha Cremin works, the threat allegedly includes “loss of gender-affirming health care for transgender employees.”
Starbucks has <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/starbucks-commitment-to-quality-healthcare-and-support-for-our-partners/">covered gender reassignment surgery</a> since 2013. Four years ago, Starbucks broadened the insurance to “a host of procedures that were previously considered cosmetic” — including breast reduction or augmentation surgery, facial feminization, and hair transplants.
A manager allegedly told Cremin that “you could gain, you could lose” when negotiating benefits, according to the complaint. The manager then told Cremin, “I know specifically, you have used the trans health-care benefits.” The filing alleges that similar incidents have occurred throughout the country.
“I think the company realizes that we as trans partners feel particularly vulnerable at this time,” Cremin argued. “I think that in some cases they are willing to take advantage of that.”
Starbucks, however, disagreed with the premise of the report. “We are not threatening our partners with the loss of benefits if they join a union,” spokesperson Reggie Borges said Tuesday, according to Bloomberg. “We take a great deal of pride in offering industry-leading benefits and have done so for more than 50 years.”
Beyond transgender surgery, Starbucks reacted to the Supreme Court’s leaked majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade by offering employees and their dependents <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/letter-to-starbucks-partners-ensuring-access-to-healthcare/">reimbursements</a> when traveling over 100 miles from the employee’s home for an abortion. The company also reaffirmed its offerings of paid leave for adoption, surrogacy, and fertility treatments, as well as free mental health and counseling sessions.
Indeed, Starbucks’ commitment to the LGBTQ movement precedes the most recent lawsuit. In 2019, Betsy Fresse — a Christian from Newark, New Jersey — filed a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-barista-files-suit-claims-she-was-fired-for-refusing-to-wear-lgbtq-t-shirt">wrongful termination lawsuit</a> and claimed she lost her job because she refused to wear a “Pride” shirt. Starbucks’ ethics and compliance helpline reached out to Fresse about her request not to wear the garment, and she replied that her “religious beliefs prevented her from doing so.” She was subsequently let go.
Despite some managers’ zeal for social activism, many investors would rather see companies focus on profits. An exclusive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/poll-by-two-to-one-margin-investors-reject-woke-companies-pushing-political-causes">Daily Wire poll conducted by Echelon Insights</a> indicated last month that although 29% of respondents agreed it is a “good thing” for companies to leverage their financial power for political or social end supported by executives, 58% — twice as many — said it is a “bad thing.”
When asked to describe the motives of companies that take stances on hot-button political or social issues, 56% of investors said the firms are merely “trying to appease their critics” and 34% said the firms genuinely “believe it’s the right thing.” When companies do take stances on issues, 36% of investors said the stances are “too liberal,” while 17% said they are “too conservative.”

Transgender Fist

Starbucks Is Trying To Take Away ‘Gender-Affirming’ Care, Unionizing Workers Complain

Starbucks Allegedly Threatens Workers With Taking Away 'Gender-Affirming' Care If They Unionize

LGBTQ

Transgender

Unions

Starbucks announced on Monday that it is ending its business operations in Russia due to the nation&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine.
The company&#8217;s 130 locations have been closed since March, but will now be permanently shut down after the decision.
&#8220;Starbucks has made the decision to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market,&#8221; a company <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/update-to-starbucks-partners-on-our-business-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> said.
&#8220;We will continue to support the nearly 2,000 green apron partners in Russia, including pay for six months and assistance for partners to transition to new opportunities outside of Starbucks,&#8221; the release added.
On March 8, Starbucks first announced its plans to shut down locations and suspend business in Russia.
&#8220;We continue to watch the tragic events unfold and, today, we have decided to suspend all business activity in Russia, including shipment of all Starbucks products,&#8221; the company <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/update-to-starbucks-partners-on-our-business-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> at the time.
The company also previously announced its support of the Ukrainian people through its Starbucks Foundation. The foundation has contributed $500,000 to World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross for humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine, according to the company&#8217;s March statement.
&#8220;In its latest quarterly results released in early May, the company did not disclose the financial impact of the suspension of business operations. Former CEO Kevin Johnson had pledged to donate royalties from the Russian business to humanitarian causes,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/starbucks-will-exit-russia-after-15-years-closing-130-licensed-cafes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> CNBC.
The move comes shortly after McDonald&#8217;s announced its end of doing business in Russia after 32 years of operation in the country.
The popular fast-food franchise said in a news release last week that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other unpredictabilities are among the reasons for its departure.
“We’re exceptionally proud of the 62,000 employees who work in our restaurants, along with the hundreds of Russian suppliers who support our business, and our local franchisees. Their dedication and loyalty to McDonald’s make today’s announcement extremely difficult,” Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s president and chief executive officer, said in the <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-to-exit-from-russia-301547731.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.
“However, we have a commitment to our global community and must remain steadfast in our values. And our commitment to our values means that we can no longer keep the Arches shining there,” he added.
French car manufacturer Renault also recently sold its assets to the Russian government, according to the company.
“The deal, which includes a six-year option for the carmaker to buy back its stake in Avtovaz, the maker of iconic Soviet brand Lada cars, effectively marks the first major nationalization of a Western company’s Russian assets since Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February,” Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2022/05/16/renaults-russian-assets-nationalized-after-carmaker-sells-to-moscow/?sh=21cf3c4b60e9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
According to the report, Renault’s CEO Luca de Meo noted that the decision was the “responsible choice” regarding its hub of 45,000 employees in Russia.
The decision to end business in Russia comes nearly three months after Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine which has led to thousands of deaths in the war-torn nation.
The U.S. and many other nations have led a growing level of sanctions against Russia and have provided billions of dollars in support of Ukraine&#8217;s defense and humanitarian needs.

Russia Starbucks

Starbucks Ending Business In Russia After 15 Years Over Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Oscar nominee James Cromwell superglued himself to a New York City Starbucks counter in protest of the fact that the company charges extra to use plant-based milk in drinks.
In a protest that was live-streamed to Facebook by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (<a href="https://dailywire.com/news/peta-furious-bidens-didnt-adopt-new-dog-when-they-got-rid-of-biter-major/">PETA</a>) activists, the &#8220;L.A. Confidential&#8221; actor superglued himself to the counter before delivering a statement about the company&#8217;s surcharge for vegan milk options and its impact on both the environment and on communities of color.
<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fofficial.peta%2Fvideos%2F314196994124454%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="591" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Cromwell, who can be seen wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words &#8220;free the animals,&#8221; <a href="https://www.abc27.com/news/entertainment/oscar-nominated-actor-james-cromwell-glues-himself-to-starbucks-counter-video-shows/?utm_campaign=socialflow&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=t.co">argued</a> that vegan milk options were better for the environment. He also claimed that charging more for them was discriminatory — particularly because minorities suffer from lactose intolerance at a higher rate than white Americans do — but also because he felt that those who chose vegan options as a matter of conscience were being penalized for making a moral choice.
&#8220;When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals and the environment suffer?&#8221; Cromwell asked, arguing that in order to provide the dairy products used at Starbucks, animals were subjected to &#8220;violence.&#8221; &#8220;When will you stop penalizing people for their ethnicities, their morals?
The protest concluded with a chant: &#8220;Save the planet, save the cows. Stop the vegan upcharge now!&#8221;
Cromwell and one other PETA activist — who had also glued himself to the counter — unattached themselves without incident about 30 minutes later. The report did not indicate whether any charges were filed, although a similar protest at the company&#8217;s Seattle headquarters had led to the arrest of two protesters.
Legendary musician Paul McCartney has <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/04/paul-mccartney-letter-starbucks-stop-charging-plant-based-milk-peta">also called on Starbucks</a> to end the surcharge for plant-based milks, although he opted to write a letter rather than glue himself to a cafe counter.
&#8220;It recently came to my attention that Starbucks in the USA has an extra charge for plant-based milks as opposed to cow’s milk,&#8221; McCartney wrote earlier this year. &#8220;I must say this surprised me as I understand that in other countries like U.K. and India, there is the same charge for both types of milk and I would like to politely request that you consider this policy also in Starbucks USA. My friends at PETA are campaigning for this to happen … I sincerely hope that for the future of the planet and animal welfare you are able to implement this policy.&#8221;

Celebrity Sightings in New York City – April 18, 2017

Oscar Nominee Superglued Himself To Starbucks Counter Because They Charged Him Extra For Plant-Based Milk

James Cromwell Superglued Himself To Starbucks Counter Over Plant-Based Milk Surcharge

Activists

Hollywood

Oscars

PETA

Starbucks is <a href="https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/598280-starbucks-eyes-2025-transition-to-reusable-cups">reportedly</a> hoping to phase out its disposable cups by 2025 and create scenarios that make reusable options more intriguing to customers. 
&#8220;Our cup is ubiquitous, and we love that,&#8221; said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/15/business-food/starbucks-cup-sustainability/index.html">CNN</a>. &#8220;But it is also this ubiquitous symbol of a throwaway society.”
The best fix is “[e]liminating the disposable cup,&#8221; Kobori said, calling that option &#8220;the holy grail.&#8221;
The company wants customers to be able to choose between using their own personal mug in a convenient way or borrowing a reusable cup from their cafe. 
“The goals don&#8217;t mean Starbucks will get rid of the paper and plastic cups. But they do want to make that option less attractive. That won&#8217;t be easy to do, as most Starbucks customers are used to that simple, single-use option. But the company has a plan,” CNN added. 
Starbucks is thinking about initiating a broad borrow-a-cup initiative. Customers would pay a deposit for a cup that they can take when they leave the store, and then give back after they use it. 
Amelia Landers, a vice president of product experience, said this option will be more attractive to customers than other strategies. 
&#8220;I think that will take the lead,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We are testing a number of different [borrow-a-cup] programs around the globe,&#8221; including &#8220;20 different iterations and in eight different markets.”
The company tried out a version of the initiative last year in Seattle. 
&#8220;We developed a new cup that had a very low environmental footprint, was lightweight polypropylene, ultimately recyclable and could replace 100 single-use disposable cups,&#8221; Landers explained.
In the test, consumers paid a deposit of $1 and had to give the cup back to a smart bin in the cafe to get their deposit returned to them. They also received rewards for using the reusable cup. 
The company is also rolling out similar first-step programs in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore. 
Another strategy the company is looking to implement is pushing people to bring their own reusable cups. 
&#8220;We&#8217;re testing an incentive on the personal cup to go up from where it is today — from 10 cents to 50 cents,&#8221; Landers said. &#8220;We are also going to be testing a disposable cup fee.&#8221; 
“She added that the chain is also experimenting with discounted prices for people who use a Starbucks-provided ceramic mug in stores,” per CNN. 
The drive-thru scenario, however, might pose complications with this specific option. The company has been trying out different scenarios at its innovation facility. 
&#8220;We&#8217;ve got mock stores set up,&#8221; said Landers. &#8220;We have different versions of the drive-thru layout.”
As CNN reported, a possible solution to the drive-thru dilemma might be for &#8220;customers to drop off their cups at an earlier point in the drive-thru lane so that the drink is ready in a personal cup once they swing around to the window,&#8221; Landers reportedly said. Baristas might also be able to make the drinks ahead of time when the orders are made, and transfer them to personal containers once the person picks up their drink. 
In order to successfully transition to incentivizing customers to use their own drink containers, the company will likely need to make the drive-thru and order ahead option incredibly convenient.
Starbucks CFO Rachel Ruggeri reportedly said that drive-thru and mobile orders combined make up about 70% of sales at American stores that the company operates.

31C2D193-FEAF-4543-A0A3-51DA49865FB7_1_201_a

Starbucks Looks To Phase Out Disposable Cups By 2025

Starbucks announced in a memo this week that it will no longer require that its employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus after the Supreme Court rejected Democrat President Joe Biden&#8217;s vaccine mandate for large private businesses.
Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver said, &#8220;We respect the court’s ruling and will comply.&#8221;
&#8220;In Tuesday’s memo, Culver said the company continues to strongly encourage vaccinations and booster shots,&#8221; the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-health-business-d5fa7213edbd7926fd19bc0a5f2c45ca">reported</a>. &#8220;The company also told workers on Tuesday that they shouldn’t wear cloth masks to work, and should instead use medical-grade surgical masks.&#8221;
The move comes after Starbucks <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-3c31647a2cacf2c7da9638dd9bb2d95a">said</a> during the first week of January that it was going to require all of its U.S. workers to get vaccinated.
General Electric announced last week that it was also suspending its coronavirus vaccine or test requirement following the Supreme Court ruling.
“The maker of jet engines, wind turbines and medical scanners confirmed the decision Friday via email,” Bloomberg News <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-14/general-electric-halts-vaccine-rule-after-supreme-court-ruling">reported</a>. “GE is the first major company to announce a halt after the court’s decision Thursday to block the centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s push to boost Covid-19 vaccinations.”
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-strikes-massive-blow-against-bidens-employer-mandate" rel="noopener">reported</a> last week that the ruling by the Supreme Court was a major victory for the mandate’s critics, including The Daily Wire which sued the Biden administration in November. The Daily Wire and others appealed to the Supreme Court to block the order after the Sixth Circuit lifted a stay put in place by the Fifth Circuit.
“OSHA’s COVID–19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard, 86 Fed. Reg. 61402, is stayed pending disposition of the applicants’ petitions for review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and disposition of the applicants’ petitions for writs of certiorari, if such writs are timely sought. Should the petitions for writs of certiorari be denied, this order shall terminate automatically. In the event the petitions for writs of certiorari are granted, the order shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court,” the court concluded in a 6-3 decision.
Biden released a statement yesterday following the ruling in which he urged private employers to implement their own vaccine requirements after the Supreme Court blocked his mandate on businesses with over 100 employees.
“I am disappointed that the Supreme Court has chosen to block common-sense life-saving requirements for employees at large businesses that were grounded squarely in both science and the law,” Biden said. “This emergency standard allowed employers to require vaccinations or to permit workers to refuse to be vaccinated, so long as they were tested once a week and wore a mask at work: a very modest burden.”
“As a result of the Court’s decision, it is now up to States and individual employers to determine whether to make their workplaces as safe as possible for employees, and whether their businesses will be safe for consumers during this pandemic by requiring employees to take the simple and effective step of getting vaccinated,” Biden continued. “The Court has ruled that my administration cannot use the authority granted to it by Congress to require this measure, but that does not stop me from using my voice as President to advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans’ health and economy. I call on business leaders to immediately join those who have already stepped up – including one third of Fortune 100 companies – and institute vaccination requirements to protect their workers, customers, and communities.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.

Companies, Countries And Vaccination Photo Illustrations

Starbucks Cancels Vaccine Mandate After Supreme Court Ruling

Supreme Court

Vaccine Mandate

Starbucks employees in Boston are pursuing unionization in the wake of successful efforts in Buffalo.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starbucks-workers-in-buffalo-unionize-placing-executives-on-edge-amid-labor-shortage">The Daily Wire</a> reported last week, the drive for unionization in Buffalo presented headaches for Starbucks executives, who rushed to the city in order to garnish the favor of employees. The trend toward collective bargaining appears to be spreading among Starbucks restaurants across the United States, however.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/14/business/starbucks-boston-union.html">The New York Times</a> explained:
<blockquote>Days after Starbucks employees in Buffalo formed the only union at a company-owned store in the United States, workers at two Boston-area Starbucks filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board. The filing, which was made on Monday, suggested that the victory in Buffalo could lead to a wider unionization push by employees, known as partners, at the nearly 9,000 stores owned by the company nationwide. …
The workers are seeking to join Workers United, an affiliate of the giant Service Employees International Union, which also represents the newly unionized employees in Buffalo &#8230;
Workers at the two Boston-area stores began circulating union cards shortly after the Buffalo results were announced, according to two of the workers. They are seeking to hold two elections — one at each store.</blockquote>
“We believe that there can be no true partnership without power-sharing and accountability,” the workers said in a letter to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, according to The New York Times. “We are organizing a union in Boston because we believe that this is the best way to contribute meaningfully to our partnership with the company.”
Many of the Buffalo workers who voted in favor of unionization cited understaffing and poor training — problems affecting virtually every labor-intensive business in the United States. As CNBC recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/major-restaurant-chains-hike-prices-due-to-worker-shortages">summarized</a>, worker shortages are tampering with restaurant chains’ profitability:
<blockquote>Restaurant executives have painted a bleak picture of staffing challenges to investors on their earnings calls in the last two weeks. CEOs like Domino’s Pizza’s Ritch Allison, Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Brian Niccol and McDonald’s Chris Kempczinski shared details on how eateries have shortened hours, restricted ordering methods and lost out on sales because they can’t find enough workers. Some chains have been hit harder by the labor crunch, like Restaurant Brands International’s Popeyes, which saw about 40% of its dining rooms closed due to understaffing.</blockquote>
CNBC added that many companies — including Starbucks — are now hiking wages to attract and retain workers:
<blockquote>Raising wages is one popular approach to staffing problems, although it isn’t a perfect solution. McDonald’s wages at its franchised restaurants have risen roughly 10% so far this year as part of an effort to attract workers. Higher labor costs have led to increased menu prices, which are up about 6% from a year ago, according to McDonald’s executives.
Starbucks plans to spend roughly $1 billion in fiscal 2021 and 2022 on improving benefits for its baristas, including two planned wage hikes. The decision reduced its earnings forecast for fiscal 2022, disappointing investors and shaving off $8 billion in market cap.</blockquote>
Nearly 20% of economists recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/survey-economists-foresee-high-inflation-supply-chain-crisis-labor-shortages-lasting-well-into-2022">surveyed</a> by The Wall Street Journal identified labor shortages as the primary threat to economic growth in the United States. Others mentioned pervasive supply chain bottlenecks limiting access to many consumer goods.

Starbucks.

Starbucks Stores In Boston Pursuing Unionization After Successful Effort In Buffalo

Unionization

Starbucks, Walmart and several other retailers announced over the weekend that they will no longer require face masks for vaccinated customers.
The coffee giant wrote that &#8220;facial coverings will be optional for vaccinated customers beginning Monday, May 17, unless local regulations require them by law&#8221; in updated <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/what-customers-need-to-know-about-starbucks-response-to-covid-19/">guidance</a> posted on the company&#8217;s website.
The change comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a major change to its <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html">guidance</a> on face masks for fully vaccinated adults, saying they do not have to wear masks indoors or outdoors or even social distance, even when in larger groups.
&#8220;You can do things you stopped doing because of the pandemic,&#8221; CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Thursday in announcing the new recommendations.
Starbucks said that some of its health precautions will remain in place. Restrooms at Starbucks locations will &#8220;generally remain temporarily closed to the public in stores where the café or café seating is unavailable,&#8221; the company said, indicating locations will continue to adhere to enhanced cleaning measures.
The coffee chain added that it is &#8220;strongly encouraging&#8221; employees to receive the COVID vaccine as soon as they are eligible and will provide two hours of paid time off for employees to receive each dose of the vaccine. Employees are also eligible for up to four hours of paid time off if workers experience vaccine-related side effects and miss a scheduled shift within 48 hours of receiving each shot.
Other major retailers including Walmart, Trader Joe&#8217;s, and Cosco announced similarly updated guidance over the weekend.
&#8220;Beginning today, vaccinated customers and members are welcome to shop without a mask, and we will continue to request that non-vaccinated customers and members wear face coverings in our stores and clubs,&#8221; Walmart said in a <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/05/14/new-guidance-to-walmart-u-s-field-associates-regarding-masks-and-vaccinations">letter</a> to employees. &#8220;We will update the signage in our facilities to reflect this.&#8221;
However, face masks will &#8220;continue to be required by some city and state ordinances, and we will follow those requirements,&#8221; Walmart said, and &#8220;there may also be local conditions, regulatory changes or laws that affect our guidance.&#8221;
Trader Joe&#8217;s announced Friday that vaccinated customers may shop without a mask, but employees are still required to wear masks.
&#8220;We encourage customers to follow the guidance of health officials, including, as appropriate, CDC guidelines that advise customers who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks while shopping,&#8221; the grocery store chain said.
Costco, one of the first stores to require shoppers to wear masks, announced that vaccinated shoppers may go mask-less in Costco locations where there is no state or local government mask mandate.
&#8220;We will not require proof of vaccination, but we ask for members’ responsible and respectful cooperation with this revised policy,&#8221; Costco wrote in a letter to members. &#8220;Face coverings will still be required in healthcare settings, including Pharmacy, Optical, Hearing Aid. Costco continues to recommend that all members and guests, especially those who are at higher risk, wear a mask or shield.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trader-joes-costco-walmart-to-end-mask-requirement-for-vaccinated-customers">Trader Joes, Costco, Walmart To End Mask Requirement For Vaccinated Customers</a>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-cdc-issues-new-mask-guidelines-for-fully-vaccinated">CDC Issues New Mask Guidelines For ‘Fully Vaccinated’</a>

Starbucks, Other Retailers Lift Mask Requirement For Vaccinated Customers

COVID-19 Vaccine