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Starbucks

Leadership

Starbucks' new CEO vows to work monthly inside the chain's coffee shops

Laxman Narasimhan, who took over for Howard Schultz this week, promised to work a half-day shift as a barista inside one of its coffee shops each month "to keep us close to the culture and our customers."

Beverage

Yum or yuck? Rating Starbucks new olive oil-infused coffee

Two RB editors sampled the coffee chain's Oleato line of beverages to see whether the combination works. Here’s what they think.

Working Lunch: The big ask is for a guarantee of 37 scheduled hours per week, set months in advance.

The Seattle-based coffee giant is debuting its Oleato line in select Starbucks Reserve Roasteries on Thursday and then additional locations in Seattle and Los Angeles on Monday. Consumers remain skeptical.

The coffee chain said that its CEO-in-waiting took over the permanent position on Monday for Howard Schultz, who takes a spot on the company’s board.

Facing a possible subpoena, the CEO accepted a pointed invitation to appear before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is chaired by Bernie Sanders.

Working Lunch: Sanders may indeed be able to compel a Senate appearance by the outgoing chain CEO, but that's just one of the issues that Starbucks faced in the last week or so.

The pro-labor senator says he's tired of being ignored by the Starbucks interim CEO and wants an accounting of the chain's response to a unionization drive.

Working Lunch: The CEO is quick to shift responsibility to societal trends. So why is the brand making so many operational changes?

The Bottom Line: Starbucks’ new line of coffee is infused with olive oil, after Interim CEO Howard Schultz tried the combination in Italy. Now the company has to convince its customers that the combination works.

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