If convenience stores and rest stops evolved around travelers’ need to fuel up, why shouldn’t the same be true for electric vehicles? So it makes sense that Tesla is envisioning a possible future where their supercharger docks are surrounded by other amenities for drivers. [More]
Food & Personal Care
Amazon Wants To Deliver That Shake Shack Burger You Don’t Feel Like Getting For Yourself
By 9.22.17
Not content with its recent push into groceries with the purchase of Whole Foods, Amazon is now expanding its efforts in restaurant delivery with a new partnership that could allow customers to order from chains like Shake Shack, Chipotle, and Applebee’s online. [More]
Gatorade Gets In Trouble For Making “Inaccurate” Anti-Water Statements In Game
By 9.22.17
Sure, any aspiring track star would love to be just like eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. But years after Gatorade pushed a mobile gaming app starring the athlete’s character that urged players to “Keep your performance level high by avoiding water,” the company will have to pay $300,000 as part of a settlement resolving allegations that it violated California law by talking smack about H2O. [More]
Walmart Wants To Deliver Groceries Straight To Your Fridge While You Watch From Afar
By 9.22.17
Ever wish your refrigerator would just magically restock itself? Walmart hasn’t cracked sorcery yet, but it is testing a grocery delivery service that would bring food right into customers’ homes — while they watch remotely. [More]
5 Things We Learned About How Aldi Can Compete With Grocery Stores
By 9.21.17
The battle between Aldi and other grocery chains has been raging for a while now; from the price war with Walmart to earmarking $1.6 billion to upgrade stores to be more Whole Foods-esque. But just how can the relatively small supermarket chain compete with bigger chains and win over customers? [More]
General Mills Bringing Back “Vibrant” Trix, Including Artificial Flavors & Colors
By 9.21.17
Two years ago, General Mills joined other food companies by declaring it would cut artificial flavors and colors from all of its cereals. But some customers actually like those additives, at least in their Trix. To that end: The company is making the ultimate “throwback Thursday” offering by announcing it will once again offer Trix with artificial colors and flavors. [More]
UPDATE: Company Apologizes To Customer Who Found Employee ID Badge In Her Jerky
By 9.21.17
Earlier this week, we brought you the tale of a Consumerist reader who was stymied by the presence of what appeared to be an employee ID badge in a bag of beef jerky she’d purchased. After our story ran, the company reached out to our reader with apologies for her “very negative experience” and something of an explanation about what happened. [More]
Albertsons Buys Plated, Plans To Bring Meal Kits To Grocery Stores
By 9.21.17
Just when you thought the popularity surrounding meal kits was cooling down, grocery stores have jumped into the ring, creating their own version of the convenient pre-selected, pre-proportioned boxes of ingredients. But Albertsons Co. — operator of supermarkets like Safeway and Jewel-Osco — is taking a different road: It’s simply buying an existing meal kit service, Plated. [More]
Cases Of KIND Bars Recalled For Lack Of Walnut Declaration
By 9.20.17
Tree nuts like walnuts can trigger life-threatening allergies, and they’re one of the food items that must be declared on the outside of the food package. Cases of KIND chocolate and nut bars had that declaration on each bar, but the company is now notifying customers that the exterior cartons lacked the declaration.
Target Debuts Maps Of Stores So You Don’t Have To Talk To Employees
By 9.20.17
Big box stores are, well, big. So big, in fact, you might get lost looking for the toilet paper. But instead of sheepishly approaching an employee, you can now just follow the map on your phone — at Target, anyway. [More]
Lyft, Budweiser Partnering Up Again To Fight Drunk Driving With Free Rides
By 9.20.17
Just like last year, Lyft and Budweiser are teaming up to offer drinkers a safer option for getting home than climbing behind the wheel of their car: They’ll be handing out 150,000 round-trip rides in some states through the end of the year. [More]
Panera CEO Challenges Fast Food Execs To Eat From Their Kids’ Menus For A week
By 9.20.17
When it comes to verbal throwdowns, Panera CEO Ron Shaich isn’t shy about expressing how he really feels about the chain’s rivals. Now, he’s challenging fast food executives to eat exclusively from their kids’ menus to prove they really like their own offerings. [More]
Taco Bell Ditching The Drive-Thru At More Than 300 New Restaurants
By 9.20.17
Taco Bell plans to open more than 300 new locations around the country by 2022, but those restaurants will be missing something we’re all accustomed to: the drive-thru. [More]
How Did This ID Badge End Up In My Jerky?
By 9.20.17 — Updated: 9.21.17
UPDATE Sept. 21: After we published Kim’s story, Oberto reached out to her to apologize for the “negative experience,” and confirmed that the object in question is, in fact, an employee ID badge. Read the entire update here. [More]
Post Strays From Cereal Aisle, Picks Up Bob Evans Packaged Foods For $1.5B
By 9.19.17
When it comes to breakfast, Post wants to serve up more than cereal: The company says it’s paying $1.5 B for the Bob Evans packaged food business, partly so it can have a “presence in breakfast sausage.” [More]
Chipotle Ditching Chorizo To Focus On Queso
By 9.18.17
Less than a year after Chipotle added chorizo sausage to its menu, the fast-causal Mexican chain is ditching the protein option and turning its focus toward its new — not entirely loved — queso. [More]
Here’s Where To Get Your National Cheeseburger Day Deals
By 9.18.17
Grilling season might be winding down in some parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean our cravings of cheesy burgers is waning. If you’ve been hankering for a cheeseburger, today might just be the day to satisfy that craving, as it’s National Cheeseburger Day, which means there is a plethora of deals up for grabs. [More]
Chipotle Customers Wanted Queso Dip, But Some Hate What They Got
By 9.15.17
For years, Chipotle fans have looked at their tortilla chips and thought about how much better they could be with a side of hot, gooey queso dip. The fast food company thought it was making that dream a reality… that is, until many customers tried the Chipotle queso and found it wanting. [More]
