McDonald's oatmeal looks nutritious, until you read the label. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Amy Rainey/Mason-Dixon Magnolia)

McDonald’s has introduced its new oatmeal to appeal to consumers seeking a healthy breakfast, and the fast food giant markets it as a “bowl full of wholesome.” But as New York Times Magazine food columnist Mark Bittman suggests, all may not be as full of healthy, all-natural goodness as advertised.

McDonald’s oatmeal: Not so healthy, not so cheap

McDonald’s, which reportedly boasts sales of more than $16.5 billion per year – nearly the GDP of Afghanistan – knows how to market its products, oatmeal included. While McDonald’s oatmeal seems healthy on the surface – it has much less grease than a Sausage McMuffin – the door is wide open for the restaurant chain to play with the descriptive verbiage in the same way food marketers have for more than 40 years, writes Bittman.

Sweetening the competition

Quaker Strawberries and Cream Instant Oatmeal is a classic example. It contains no strawberries or cream but a boatload of sugar and artificial flavors. Unfortunately, McDonald’s oatmeal falls into the same boat when the ingredients are scrutinized; “cream” that includes nothing dairy and “natural flavor” are just the beginning. Sugar is a main ingredient because McDonald’s oatmeal must be sweet enough to compete with rival Starbuck’s “Perfect Oatmeal.”

It also doesn’t hurt McDonald’s bottom line that it charges roughly $2.30 for the 9.2-ounce oatmeal cup. That much oatmeal and a tiny sampling of dried fruit costs one-tenth as much when you make it yourself.

Mental trigger of convenience

A common justification for enjoying McDonald’s oatmeal is convenience, but even that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. To get McDonald’s oatmeal, you have to go there, wait in line, order, wait, pay and leave. In as much time, you could make instant oatmeal with fruit at home and have time for juice and the morning paper.

McDonald’s assertion that its FMO (“fruit and maple oatmeal”) can be made healthier simply by giving customers the choice to opt out of cream and brown sugar ignores the fact that the oatmeal contains a whopping 21 ingredients, many of them chemical and unnecessary. Leeway for minor customization doesn’t change that. As Bittman suggests, it’s all about getting McDonald’s customers to come back for more.

Sources

McDonald’s oatmeal ingredients

New York Times

Starbucks

Don’t oatmeal and drive

The new Starbucks logo will be officially rolled out to stores in March. Image: Starbucks

In the fourth redesign since the company’s 1971 opening, there is a new Starbucks logo. Starbucks is not going to officially start using the new logo until March of this year. This is just one of many  changes Starbucks will be making in honor of its 40th anniversary.

New Starbucks logo is wordless

The new Starbucks logo is a clean and simple redesign of the current logo. The first redesign was in 1987, when the company switched from “Starbucks Coffee Tea Spices” in brown and white to a green “Starbucks Coffee” logo. In 1992, when Starbucks became a publicly traded company, the company simplified the look. The 2011 new Starbucks logo is simply the Siren in green and white, no words and no text.

‘Evolutionary refinement’ in new Starbucks logo

Starbucks is coming out of a difficult time. Starbucks opened many of its stores with the idea of a unique, friendly location where customers could have a “third place” other than work and home. After opening thousands of stores in dozens of countries, though, Starbucks began to feel the economic pinch and brand dilution. After the return of the company’s previous CEO, Starbucks took extreme steps to bring the brand “back to the original feel.” The Starbucks CEO said the new logo is a symbol of Starbucks’ “evolutionary refinement” moving forward.

Reactions to the new Starbucks logo

Though removing the text from the Starbucks logo makes it more internationally friendly, not everyone is excited. On the official Starbucks announcement, commenters had a wide variety of reactions. Negative reactions ranged from the blah to the poisonous:

I realize that Starbucks has done a good job with “branding” their image, but without the Starbucks name on the logo, there seems to be a disconnect with seeing it. I have to go hmmm…coffee cup–>mermaid–>green–>Starbucks.

This is the kind of thing that overpaid executives do to fluff their resumes before moving on to the next company. Memories of the “New” Coke.

The positive reactions, however, were few and far between:

Wow… What a beautiful and compelling way to move the company into the new millennium. I always thought that the harsh black band around the siren represented the shackles of history past.

Starbucks may soon be pouring wine and beer along with cappuccino. Image: Flickr / TinyTall / CC-BY-ND

At the East Olive Way Starbucks in Seattle, there will soon be a new addition to the menu. Starbucks will be offering both beer and wine. This new addition could be a smart business move — and a huge opportunity for Northwest producers.

Beer and wine at Starbucks

The E. Olive Way Starbucks store in Seattle began selling beer and wine yesterday. As of right now, this is the only Starbucks store with an expanded menu, but industry watchers expect that if it goes well, this could well be expanded to many stores. For Starbucks, the move makes a lot of sense. About 70 percent of Starbucks’ business comes in before 2 p.m. While the “treat receipt” push — which gave customers with a drink receipt from that morning a $2 drink after 2 p.m. — had some effect, the stores simply need more afternoon business. By selling beer and wine, Starbucks could very well bring in that much-needed afternoon business that would increase same-store sales.

An opportunity for Northwest producers

Starbucks’ move toward selling beer and wine is going to be a big opportunity for Northwest wineries and breweries. The E. Olive Way store is featuring wines from Ste. Michelle, Hedges Family Estate and other Northwestern vineyards. The beers offered include well-known Northwest brews. Much the way Starbucks introduced varietal coffees to the world, it could well introduce varietal wine and beer to a wider audience.

The question of cost of Starbucks beer and wine

There is, of course, the question of whether Starbucks will turn beer and wine into an even more expensive treat. Starbucks officials have been quoted as saying that even the best cup of coffee would cost less than a mediocre glass of wine. However, Starbucks has had a large hand in getting Americans to order a triple-shot no-foam double-chocolate mocha rather than just “coffee.” With $4 coffee drinks being normal, are customers going to need a no fax payday loan to pay for wine?

Sources

Beyond The Bottle
Newsfeed.time.com

National Coffee Day is today. And it is good. (Photo Credit: CC BY/viZZZual.com/Flickr)

Wednesday, Sept. 29, is National Coffee Day, and across the U.S. various establishments are offering a free cup of Joe to get you going. That singular roasted aroma, rich flavor and welcome shot of morning electricity to tired brain cells is welcomed by all who can handle the rush. CBS News reminds us that we once we’ve had our coffee and can function like normal human beings, we should remember that there are health benefits to coffee as well as drawbacks to the main ingredient, old Uncle Caffeine.

National Coffee Day: A tale of caffeine

There is no better way to celebrate National Coffee Day – after first discovering where to get it for free – than to check out the caffeine totals in various beverages. The Mayo Clinic indicates that caffeine amounts vary wildly from one brand of coffee to another. From Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks, or from a standard cup to a latte, cappuccino or mocha, caffeine amounts are quite different. According to CBS News, here are the numbers:

Dunkin’ Donuts, brewed, 16 oz (480 mL) 143-206 milligrams of caffeine

Generic brewed, 16 oz , 190-400 mg

Generic brewed, decaffeinated, 16 oz, 4-24 mg

Generic instant, 16 oz, 54-346 mg

Generic instant, decaffeinated, 16 oz, 2-24 mg

Starbucks Espresso, 1 oz (30 mL) 58-75 mg

Starbucks Vanilla Latte, 16 oz (480 mL) 150 mg

The good, the bad and the caffeine

Anxiety, difficulty sleeping and gastro-intestinal ills don’t mix well with coffee. That’s because of the caffeine. The Mayo Clinic warns that six cups of coffee or more per day can cause irregular heartbeat (not heart attacks, as was previously believed), headaches, muscle twitches and general irritability. Various antibiotics and bronchial medications don’t mix well with caffeine as well. If you’re curious as to whether your coffee habit is endangering you, ask your doctor.

There are health benefits to consuming coffee in moderation, however. Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, asthma and gallstones are all conditions that are lessened to some degree by consuming coffee.

Celebrate National Coffee day

While businesses are still open, make your way there for a free cup. Be like the Ethiopian goats that first discovered the stimulating qualities of cocoa beans, writes IndyPosted. Worldwide, 1.4 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day. Contribute to the glorious statistical tally.

Sources:

CBS News

IndyPosted

The first one’s free

April 15, Tax Day, is more than just the day taxes are due. There are lots of tax day freebies too. Image from Flickr.

April 15 may be tax deadline day, but free Starbucks coffee and other tax day freebies are sure to take a bit of the sting out of the stress. As a part of its Make A Difference campaign, Starbucks will be offering free coffee April 15 to any customers who come in with their own re-usable mugs, travel cups or coffee cups. You may need the cheapest personal loans to pay off your tax bill, but you won’t need a single cent to get free Starbucks coffee.

Bring your own mug for free Starbucks coffee

If you go to any Starbucks coffee shop on April 15 with your own mug, you can get free brewed coffee. Usually, Starbucks offers a coffee discount on April 15. However, on tax day 2010, Starbucks is asking customers to make a pledge to use reusable cups rather than the paper cups that have become so popular.

Other Tax Day Freebies

Now that you are fueled up with your free Starbucks coffee, there are even more tax day freebies you can use to take the sting out of the instant cash loan you needed to pay your bill (or celebrate your return!). Cinnabon, Hydromassage, and Maggie Moo’s are all offering tax day freebies. Boston Market, IHOP, Mccormick & Schmick’s and P.F. Chang’s are all offering tax day discounts.

Tax Day Freebies | Cinnabon

Cinnabon is offering a “Tax Day Bites!” special to take the sting out of tax day. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cinnabon is offering a tax day freebie of two bite-sized cupcakes.

Tax Day Freebies | MaggieMoo’s

All MaggieMoo’s gourmet ice cream shops are offering a free slice of ice cream pizza on April 15. The ice cream pizza is a “slice” of ice cream with red frosting on white chocolate. It’s a cold treat for tax day.

Tax Day Freebies | Hydromassage

If your local mall has a Hydromassage store, it will offer Free Massages as a tax day freebie. Hydromassage suggests you call ahead to make an appointment for your tax day freebie massage.

Tax Day Discounts | Boston Market

At Boston Market, you can get the “Last Minute Tax Break” by showing this Boston Market coupon between April 15 and April 18. Buy one plate, get another plate free.

Tax Day Discounts | IHOP

During the whole month of April, IHOP is offering a free child’s dinner for every adult meal purchased between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tax Day Discounts | McCormick & Schmick’s

There are $10.40 dinner specials and a $10.40 free coupon at McCormick & Schmick’s on April 15. If you are a professional tax preparer, the tax day discount extends to you on Friday – plus a free dessert if you show your business card.

Tax Day Discounts | P.F. Chang’s

Unless it is happy hour, P.F. Chang’s is offering a tax day discount of 15 percent off your meal for dine-in or take-out.

Promoted Tweets is Twitter's first venture into advertising. It is the hope of the company that Promoted Tweets won't be a giant Fail Whale. Image from Flickr.

Quick, in 140 characters or less, what do promoted tweets mean for most Twitter users? Promoted tweets are the first of a planned group of Twitter advertisements that will appear as highlighted search results. The overwhelming Twitter chatter seems to be against the Promoted Tweets program, but Twitter cannot run forever on small cash loans from venture capitalists.

How Promoted Tweets will work

The Promoted Tweets advertising system is built to appear much like Google advertisements, only more “organic.” When someone uses search.twitter.com, contextually relevant results will appear at the top of the search results. For example, if you search Twitter for “mocha,” a “promoted tweet” by Starbucks that mentions a mocha will appear above the current Twitter chatter. Companies that have already signed onto Promoted Tweets include Best Buy, Bravo, Red Bull, Sony, Starbucks and Virgin America.

Promoted Tweets will rely on Twitter Users

The basis of Promoted Tweets is that the advertising will rely on tweets that would be posted by the companies anyway. The hope is that Twitter users will retweet, reply or bookmark the promoted Tweets. Twitter promises that any results that users don’t interact with will be removed from search results. The exact price of Promoted Tweets has not been revealed, but if the program is successful Twitter is sure to be able to begin debt settlement relief with its investors.

Plans for the growth of Promoted Tweets

The Promoted Tweets program does not stop just with the display of search results. Instead, Twitter has outlined that, if Promoted Tweets is successful, they will expand the program. First, the Promoted Tweets will be “injected” into the timelines of anybody who already follows the company. Second, these Promoted Tweets will also be displayed by Twitter clients such as Tweetie and Seesmic, as well as clients being developed by companies that have chosen to hire a dedicated programmer to create iPhone and Android apps.

The reality of Promoted Tweets

The Twitter microblogging site is using Promoted Tweets as the first step into “monetizing” the immensely popular site. Created in 2006, the site has stubbornly refused to create revenue in any major way until now. Biz Stone, the head of Twitter, says the company wanted to create value first and money second. By announcing Promoted Tweets, it appears Twitter will be looking for a way to give investors a return on their $57 million investment. Some users may leave the microblogging site, but if the reactions of users to other social networking launching advertising are any indication, most users are willing to put up with advertising to support their favorite web applications.

Sources:

PC Magazine
Wikipedia
PC World

Tuesday, March 23 is both Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's and Free Pastry Day at Starbucks. Free Treat Tuesday for the win! Image from Flickr.

March 23, 2010, will be a great day for just about anybody who has a sweet tooth – Ben and Jerry’s will be holding its annual Free Cone Day, and Starbucks Coffee will be holding its Free Pastry Day at the same time. Free Pastry Day has a few strings, and it runs only until 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Free Cone Day will run from noon to 8 p.m. Choose to use Free Pastry Day and Free Cone Day, or just one of the two — no matter what you choose, Free Treats Tuesday gives a little shot of sweet debt relief to just about anybody.

Free Pastry Day – Early morning to 10:30 am

If you’re the early-riser type, Tuesday will be a good morning to visit Starbucks. From opening (midnight at some 24-hour locations) until 10:30am, Starbucks across the nation will be participating in Free Pastry Day. You can get a free pasty at Starbucks if you purchase any drink – so you probably won’t need a loan, but you will have to spend money to get your Free Pastry Day pastry. You will have to show your baristas this coupon – either print it out or show it to them on the screen of any mobile device.

Free Cone Day – Noon to 8 pm

No matter if you get your Free Pastry Day pastry or not, you can go to Ben and Jerry’s to get your Free Cone Day ice cream treat. Free Cone Day started in 1979 as a way for Ben and Jerry’s to thank customers for their support, and it continues to this day. To get your Free Cone Day ice cream, you don’t have to buy anything, don’t have to show any coupons – you just show up and ask for your Free Cone Day cone. To find a participating Ben and Jerry’s, use the scoop shop locating tool here. The best part is, there is no limit at Free Cone Day – so if you want to try all three of their new flavors, you can!

(Photo: BrewedDaily.com)

Is a trip to Starbucks a part of your morning ritual? It is for so many people, even though the difficult economy has made a venti cappuccino habit less financially viable than it would have been in better days. However, Starbucks realizes two things:

1. If you’re going to get a good start in the morning, whether it be at work or at school, you need more than coffee to stay balanced.
2. People need freebies more than ever these days; there are enough reasons why we need quick cash from cheap loans. A balanced breakfast shouldn’t be one of them.

How do you get your free pastry?

Make sure you bring in the coupon at starbucks.com/retail/free_pastry.html!

Publications everywhere are publicizing this free Starbucks event. The Dayton Business Journal reports that the coffee megalith will provide every beverage-purchasing customer who wants one a free pastry. The giveaway will occur on Tuesday, July 21 only, from the time a store opens until 10:30 a.m. (or until the pastry supply is gone). Only dedicated Starbucks stores are participating, which means Barnes and Noble cafes will not be participating in this offer. Furthermore, Hawaii and airports are also not in on this deal.

If morning coffee is your mantra, add a pastry to your focus on Tuesday, July 21!

In case you missed it

What pastries are included in this offer by Starbucks? I’m glad you asked, freebie lover! You’ll have your choice of a muffin, scone, bagel, croissant, roll, bread, pound cake, morning bun, coffeecake, cheese Danish, apple fritter, tart, piece of pie or other pastry. That’s pretty inclusive, so if you’re planning a Starbucks run Tuesday morning, you’d be a fool to pass this up. Unless you’re gluten intolerant – then I’d say you’re being safe. However, Starbucks does offer some gluten-free pastries, so even you would have no excuse. Eat! Eat! Eat! It’s free! Free! Free! No quick cash for cheap loans required!

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