Starbucks

How to build buzz

It's the hottest, well, buzzword in marketing. Buzz. Everybody wants it. Not everybody has it. And to get it, best you forget the old lingo of media buys, bump rates and drive times and get hip to the "influencers," "viral marketers," "bloggers" and "blasters" who are driving things today.

Financing

Top 25 earners

The top 25 highest paid executives at publicly traded restaurant companies did well for themselves in 2010.

Quenching Americans’ thirst has become a hotbed of menu development. It’s no longer enough to offer plain iced tea, branded carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Customers expect flavor innovation, variety and often health benefits as they sip. The same holds true with alcoholic drinks, where freshness and seasonality are a priority.

With the help of local musicians, Starbucks is transforming stores into music venues for a series of summer concerts called “Noches Culturales” (cultural nights).

Forecasters come out in full force this time of year, making predictions about the trends that will catch fire in the coming months. Identifyng those with real staying power can keep you steps ahead of customer demand and the competition. We sifted through top industry reports to pinpoint the 10 trends worth watching in 2015.

Recent signs suggest a growing emphasis by restaurants on luxury.

The hike, coming as coffee prices are on the decline, is attributed by the chain to increasing costs across the board.

Brands that fail to integrate easy-to-understand visuals risk falling behind, says market-researcher Mintel.

The coffee giant banks on customers’ interest in fiery offerings.

Big Green says cold coffee will be its next big thing, providing a foundation for a “cold bar” in every store.

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