*By Alisha Haridasani*
Nestlé's $7.1 billion partnership with Starbucks announced on Monday aims to give the Swiss company an opportunity to regain lost ground in the United States.
Under the deal, the maker of Nespresso and Nescafé will market and distribute Starbucks' packaged products, including branded coffee capsules and tea bags. In return, Starbucks will have access to Nestlé’s vast global network to gain a stronger presence in overseas markets.
In a [statement](https://www.nestle.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/nestle-press-release-may-2018) Monday, Nestlé said that its alliance with the Seattle-based coffee brand will serve as “a strong platform for continued growth in North America.”
Nestlé hasn't been able to keep up with shifting consumer demands in the U.S., its [biggest market](https://www.nestle.com/investors/annual-report), where coffee-drinkers are looking for freshly brewed products rather than instant coffee, like Nescafé.
It's one reason that Nestlé invested in the high-end coffee brand Blue Bottle last year.
Nestlé's shrinking share of the coffee market is also, in part, driven by competition from JAB. The European holding company has been expanding its coffee portfolio, which now includes Keurig, Peet’s, Stumptown, and Intelligentsia, giving it a foothold in the fresh-brewed and packaged coffee markets.
Shares of both Starbucks and Nestlé rallied on Monday.
Chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly report that could provide a better sense of whether the stock market has been riding an overhyped artificial intelligence bubble or is being propelled by a technological boom that’s still gathering momentum.
Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence.
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