News Briefs

Starbucks Coffee Company is personalizing mobile promotions to customers as they approach stores.

The coffee giant is leveraging location-based marketing technology from Radar to send promotions of specific drink discounts or other deals via push-based text notifications to customers when they are near one of its stores. Typically, the discount is personalized to match the customer’s favorite drink based on their purchase history. 

[READ MORE: Starbucks individualizes loyalty offers]

Location-based marketing is core to the Starbucks mobile marketing strategy, and has helped the company maintain one of the most engaged customer bases in the quick-service restaurant vertical and second place in the 2025 Brand Finance annual report of the world’s 25 most valuable restaurant brands.

The Starbucks app is the industry leader in active usage, with 48% of US restaurant app users surveyed by The Manifest saying the Starbucks’ app is the one they most regularly use. In addition, 34.3 million of the retailer’s U.S. reward members made up nearly 60% of their U.S. sales as of the first quarter of 2024.

Other app features include the ability to place orders for DoorDash delivery from local Starbucks stores within the Starbucks app in the U.S. and most of Canada. 

Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company operates nearly 39,000 stores worldwide.

The same private equity firm that purchased Subway last year has acquired an emerging fast-casual powerhouse.

Roark Capital has acquired Dave’s Hot Chicken for approximately $1 billion, which the company says will allow the chain to enter its “next phase of growth and innovation.” 

Founded in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken has become one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains, with more than 400 restaurants expected to be open worldwide by the end of the year. The company says it has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations in the United States, Canada and the Middle East, and will open more than 155 locations this year. 

Started by three childhood friends in Los Angeles, Dave’s Hot Chicken is known for Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sandwiches. The chain’s leadership team will remain in place post-acquisition. 

[READ MORE: Placer.ai: Raising Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken top QSR, fast-casual sectors in Q1]

“This is one of the great entrepreneurial journeys of our time, and now we begin the next chapter in the story,” said Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, who took the reins of the company in 2019. “Our entire organization is excited about the fit between Dave’s Hot Chicken and Roark, and we’re looking forward to continuing to blow our guests’ minds and unlocking growth and value for our franchise partners.”

Atlanta-based Roark has roughly $40 billion in assets under management. Last year, the firm acquired Subway for an estimated $9.6 billion, making it one of the biggest deals in the restaurant industry since Roark’s Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ Brands for $11.3 billion in 2020.

Other restaurant chains in Roark’s portfolio include Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, Jimmy John's and Sonic.

Little Caesars is set to open its first stores in the world’s most-populated country.

The Detroit-based pizza giant is officially expanding into India, which will mark its 30th country of operation. The first store is set to open in the Delhi National Capital Region later this month, with plans for additional locations to follow.

Little Caesars’ expansion into India is led by Harnessing Harvest – a franchisee powered by nearly nine decades of legacy in the Indian food and hospitality industry. Recent international debuts include launches in markets such as Cambodia and Kuwait.

The chain says it has created an entirely new and unique menu exclusively for guests in India, blending its “signature quality and value with bold, local flavors.”

"Launching in India marks an exciting milestone for Little Caesars as we expand into our 30th country,” said Paula Vissing, president of global retail at Little Caesars. “With our delicious pizzas and unbeatable value, we're eagerly anticipating introducing a unique menu that we believe will captivate India. Our mission has always been to offer delicious, high-quality food at exceptional prices, and we can't wait to introduce Little Caesars to families, students, and busy professionals throughout India."

[READ MORE: These pizza retailers have the highest customer satisfaction ratings]

Founded in 1959, Little Caesars is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, operating more than 4,300 locations globally.

Residents of Hell’s Kitchen, the famed neighborhood west of the Theater District in New York City, were welcomed with free coffee, breakfast bites, and limited-edition tote bags at the opening of Whole Foods Market Daily Shop.

The 8,500-sq.-ft. market at 301 West 50th Street is just the third location for the chain’s new small format, the other two also being in Manhattan in Lenox Hill on the East Side and at StuyTown on the Lower East Side. The markets feature more than 400 local items from the Northeast.

“The Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood is very dynamic. We’re steps away from great entertainment and some of the best restaurants in the city,” said Joel Jimenez, the store team leader of Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. 

“If you need a quick lunch, some ingredients on your way home from work, or if you’re stopping in for dinner to-go ahead of a show, we’re ready to serve you,” Jimenez said.

As part of its commitment to supporting local communities, Whole Foods Market contributed in-kind product to support the work of New York Common Pantry and plans to make a donation to the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project.

Future Whole Foods Market Daily Shop locations are also planned for Hoboken, N.J., and Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. Additionally, the first location in the D.C. area is planned for the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Va.

eBay Inc. is launching “eBay Live on Tour,” a live event series bringing livestream shopping and collector experiences to cities across the country.

Beginning Saturday, June 14, 2025, the tour will showcase top eBay sellers, curated inventory, special guests, and real-time broadcasts from hobby shops, conventions and trade nights. 

"eBay Live is about more than just buying — it’s about bringing people together over shared passions," said Caroline Pougnier, U.S. GM, eBay Live. "This tour is our way of showing up for the community — meeting collectors where they are and celebrating The Hobby together."

The first stop is in Cooper City, Fla., at local hobby shop and eBay seller AA Mint Cards from 3–7 p.m. ET. The event will include livestreamed coverage, an appearance from collegiate basketball star Boogie Fland and hands-on experiences for local collectors. 

The events will also be broadcast via the eBay Live interactive livestream shopping platform. Tour stops include (with more to be announced):

• June 14 – Cooper City, Fla: Hobby Block Party at AA Mint
• June 27–29 – Tampa: Card Party East
• July 19 – Los Angeles: Trade Night at Bullpen HQ
• July 24–27 – San Diego: San Diego Comic-Con
• Aug. 9 – Los Angeles: Hobby Block Party at Lucky Vault
• Aug. 19–23 – Oklahoma City: ANA World’s Fair of Money
• Sep. 27 – Hamilton Square, N.J.: Trade Night at TNT North Jersey
• Oct. 9–12 – New York: New York Comic Con
• Nov. 15 – Las Vegas: Hobby Block Party at Legacy Sports Shop

[READ MORE: ‘Pokemon Day’ returns to eBay – for three days]

As of May 2, 2025, Dollar General Corp. operated 20,582 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and pOpshelf stores across the U.S. and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico.