Starbucks is partnering with Ariana Grande on its latest coffee offering. The coffee chain and singer both posted twin cloud emoji tweets on Monday. Grande tagged @Starbucks, leading fans online to piece together that she was teasing the new "Cloud Macchiato," which Starbucks ($SBUX) officially launched this week. She followed those up with a pair of new tweets Tuesday morning showing the singer decked out in a Starbucks apron sipping on one of the new bevvies.
Internal documents showed that Grande was helping the company launch the new beverage, according to Business Insider.
Grande might already be considered an unofficial brand ambassador given how many times she's been snapped holding a Starbucks drink. Starbucks has not confirmed that it has a partnership with the "Thank U, Next" singer, though BI reported that as part of the promotion some stores will also feature Grande-approved playlists and songs.
The Cloud Macchiato is a twist on an Italian coffee staple. The "macchiato," literally translated to "stained" is a shot of espresso with a bit (stain) of frothed milk. Starbucks gained success bastardizing that and other Italian cafe classics with iced versions, caramel drizzles, and mocha. The Cloud version will come in cinnamon or caramel versions with a dollop of whipped cold milk foam, according to the press release.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit is marking the 58th anniversary of its first print issue with the announcement of a new advertising mandate called Pay With Change. The magazine's annual print will now only feature brands who are helping drive gender equality forward, creating a sweeping call to action for the publishing industry. MJ Day, editor-in-chief of SI Swimsuit, joined Cheddar to discuss the goals of the new initiative.
Sonia Thompson, inclusive marketing strategist and consultant, breaks down the need to retool the hiring process and how organizations can make for a better workplace environment.
Netflix is set to report its Q4 earnings after the bell on Thursday. Wall Street is bullish on the streaming giant, estimating it will report its highest total of new subscribers for any quarter in 2021. But the company also faced major hurdles last year, from slowing revenue growth to rising streaming competition to increasing production costs. Chris Legg, senior managing director at Progress Partners, gives a preview.
PepsiCo and Beyond Meat are partnering together to launch a plant-based jerky. This is the first in a series of plant-based foods the pair will roll out together.
M&M's is rebranding its iconic chocolate candy characters with new looks and storylines highlighting the "progressive world" we live in today. Jane Hwang, global vice president of M&M's, joined Cheddar to talk about the company's rebrand. "M&M's is on a mission to create a world where everyone feels they belong," she said. The multi-colored, anthropomorphized candies will be getting an updated look and tone, according to Hwang, such as Green receiving a makeover that reflects more female empowerment and confidence.
From delays in delivery during the pandemic to a not-so-positive cameo to "And Just Like That" on HBO Max, Peloton may be spinning its way out of the spotlight. The at-home fitness company stock plummeted following insiders selling $500 million worth of its stock leading up to the sharp decline. Andrew Boone, director and equity research analyst at JMP Securities, talked to Cheddar about why he isn't feeling too concerned about the sell-off, calling Peloton a "best in class product."
After announcing a subscription price increase, Netflix will be releasing its Q4 earnings later on Thursday. Tuna Amobi, director and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, spoke with Cheddar's Baker Machado to discuss what investors can look forward to from the streaming giant. “It’s really a very, very watershed, I might add, report for Netflix, ”Amobi said about the much-anticipated announcement.
