P&G to Divest Folgers Coffee Business

"P&G today announced plans to divest Folgers (which includes the Dunkin' Donuts and Millstone brands) some time in the second half of 2008, preferably in "split off" in which shareholders could opt to exchange their P&G stock for shares of the new stand-alone company. "

Advertising Age

Starbucks puts the brakes on new stores

"The company said it's slowing the pace of store growth worldwide by 350 to 2,150 stores for fiscal 2008, down from a reduced target of 2,500 earlier in the month. That includes closing about 100 underperforming stores in the U.S. and opening about 75 new stores abroad."

CNNMoney.com

Dunkin' Donuts Creates YouTube Channel

"Our loyal customers regularly tell us stories, both heart-warming and funny, about how they keep this country running," says Dunkin' Donuts Brand Marketing Officer Frances Allen. "We're pleased to launch our new YouTube channel to give people a chance to tell their unique stories in their own creative way."

youtube.com
qsrmagazine.com

Why Starbucks' $1 Coffee means much more than cheap caffeine

"But for a chain known for its $5 cappuccinos, a $1 price promotion cuts to the quick. It smacks of McDonald's and Wendy's neon-bright dollar menus. It's probably the most off-brand move so far."

Business Week Brand New Day

Dunkin' 'on the Offensive' in Coffee War

"Mr. Kussell: You've got to educate the consumer on what your brand stands for, because in making the case, some people have a dated perception that we're more oriented toward doughnuts. The big challenge is making them understand that we are a beverage leader. "

Ad Age

Newman's Own Organics coffee bags restructured

"Reshaped bags from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters boast new graphics in a 'greener' structure. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., Waterbury, VT, has revamped the shape and structure of stand-up bags for Newman's Own Organics coffees, including a new ingredient in the multilayer construction: polylactic acid (PLA), which is derived from corn. According to GMCR, the PLA "helps reduce the environmental impact of the packaging while maintaining the necessary barriers to moisture and light to keep the coffee at its freshest." The film is provided to GMCR as rollstock and run on two G-14 Fres-Co baggers that produce Corner Seal® bags; according to Fres-Co, such bags eliminate the seal down the back panel and stand up straighter for a better presentation."

Packworld

Starbucks tests $1 cup of coffee

"Free refills are also on tap as the Seattle coffee giant responds to increased competition and braces for an economic slowdown that could blunt consumer spending."

MSN Money

Why is P&G on selling spree?

"If you're A.G. Lafley and you have a dollar to spend, the wrong place to spend it is on Folgers. You've got other priorities," he said. "In the hands of shareholders, if they have a dollar to spend, guess where they would spend it? On Folgers."

Cincinnati Enquirer

P&G hires Morgan Stanley to spin off Folgers

"The company decided to spin off Folgers to its shareholders - rather than sell it - because of the big tax bill on the divestiture of such a large business, according to the two bankers."

FT.com

Allegro Makes you Happy? Or At Least Less Guilty.

New to me. But a big presence at Whole Foods (formerly Wild Oats in Hyde Park)

allegrocoffee.com

Whither Starbucks

"Starbucks has been so busy building stores that it failed to build perception about why its coffee is better and worth the money."

Forbes

Coffee: The most powerful global commodity

"Coffee is an extremely powerful commodity, reigning as the world's most heavily traded product, behind petroleum, and the largest food import of the United States. The global commodity chain for coffee involves a string of producers, middlemen, exporters, importers, roasters, and retailers before reaching the consumer. "

Commodity Online

Dunkin' Donuts Goes to Mars in 2008

"Dunkin' Donuts, the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, is launching the new year on a chocolate note with the introduction of three new chocolate menu items to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth: a Milky Way(R) Hot Chocolate, an M&M's(R) Donut, and Dunkin's own Triple Chocolate Muffin."

PR Newswire

Dunkin Donuts: An International Brand for Average Joes

Dunkin’ Donuts executives have no concerns that messaging so focused on Americana can fly around the world. “There is very high awareness of the Dunkin' Donuts brand overseas. Not only because of the more than 1900 stores we have in 30 countries, but because so many people have had experiences with the brand in the US as students or while visiting,” says Tony Pavese, Vice President of International Branding at Dunkin’ Donuts. “The US advertising hits a chord with people all over. With busy lifestyles and people wanting a good value, our Asian customers can identify with the US advertising and 'America Runs On Dunkin.'"

brandchannel.com

Can Howard Schultz save Starbucks?

"I think people would be hard-pressed to find quantitative evidence that competition has been an issue," Zackfia said. "At the end of the day, Starbucks has always had lower-priced competition. What they need to reemphasize in the stores is why customers should pay them the premium price."

Business Week

Ailing Starbucks Brings Back Its Architect

"With Dunkin' Donuts serving lattes and McDonald's winning coffee taste tests, Starbucks had to give its java a jolt. Yesterday, it brought back its chairman, Howard Schultz, to his former job of chief executive and put him in charge of a major effort to beat back the competition."

Washington Post

McDonald's Takes on a Weakened Starbucks

"McDonald's is setting out to poach Starbucks customers with the biggest addition to its menu in 30 years. Starting this year, the company's nearly 14,000 U.S. locations will install coffee bars with "baristas" serving cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and the Frappe, similar to Starbucks' ice-blended Frappuccino.

"Internal documents from 2007 say the program, which also will add smoothies and bottled beverages, will add $1 billion to McDonald's annual sales of $21.6 billion."



Wall Street Journal

Restaurant Marketer Of The Year: Dunkin' Donuts

"No standing in line wondering what a nonfat decaf latte coco mocho is. You walk into a Dunkin' Donuts and you come out with a cup of coffee. No venti. No ho-hum, either: The brand delivers on its promise with good coffee."

Marketing Daily

Folgers punches into the office

"Folgers Gourmet Selections allows office coffee suppliers to bring in the taste the employees want without the price tag of gourmet coffee," Mark Benedict, assistant brand manager for P&G Professional, said in a press release. "We understand that companies want to offer gourmet coffee for their employees, but budget constraints sometimes make that difficult."

Cincinnati Business Courier

The ten women who inspired us in '07

"The do-gooding journalist has globe-trotted as a correspondent for the National Geographic Channel's "Explorer" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show," covering everything from slave girls in India to the Virginia Tech massacre."

Chicago Sun Times