Starbucks to Open their First Juice Bar

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jp

The globally popular coffee chain Starbucks will not be selling coffee alone, they are also going to sell fresh juices.

Starbucks is going to open the 1st store in their new “Evolution Fresh” juice bar chain on Monday, its greatest shift outside coffee industry and something it dreams will increase the company’s place in the $50 billion health food market.

The juice bar industry is strongly aggressive and a few analysts state the Evolution Fresh stores might have lower profit margins than Starbucks’ coffee shops.

With the coffee giant yet to announce the number of juice stores it intends to open, the recognition of its first shop in Bellevue, Washington, a rich city, is going to be monitored.
It’s going to sell bottled and fresh vegetable and fruit juices, shakes and meals, like salads and soups. The menu includes vegetarian choices.

Starbucks acquired Evolution Fresh for $30 million in cash last November and also at the time, Howard Schultz – Starbucks Chief Executive – said profitable independent juice stores have yearly income of more than $1 million per unit.

Analysts have asserted that it’s a bit lower than an average U.S. Starbucks cafe yet higher than a store for competitor Jamba, a juice and smoothie chain that’s struggled in the past years after McDonald’s and Starbucks released competitive foods.

Fresh vegetable and fruit and juices have gained in reputation in the US with some health-conscious people making use of them as meal substitutes, while some consume them as part of “cleansing” diets.

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Citigroup Concludes the Crisis Era

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Jp

Richard D. ParsonsThe chairman of Citigroup Inc., Richard D. Parsons, will step down after 16 years, concluding a chapter that incorporated their near-death encounter while in the economic crisis.

Richard Parsons, now 63 years old, informed other company directors on Friday that he does not intend to stand for re-election in the yearly investors conference set for April 17 in Dallas, the company stated.

The board is anticipated to choose Michael E. O’Neill, the previous Bank of Hawaii Corp. chief executive, to follow Mr. Richard Parsons as chairman.

With Vikram Pandit staying as the CEO, several analysts anticipate the altering of the guard in the chairman’s office to usher a tactical change at Citigroup Inc. On the other hand, the leaving of Mr. Parsons – also the ex- CEO of Time Warner Inc. – gives Citigroup the opportunity for any clean break from the turmoil era. In addition, it works as a vote of confidence in Vikram Pandit’s stewardship.

Mr. Michael O’Neill is very well known in banking groups and is more likely to offer Mr. Pandit with suggestions and knowledge on Citigroup’s retail banking operations and commercial.

Citigroup has observed its shares strike in the last year, together with the ones from its competitors, in the middle of questions regarding the banks’ income prospects at a time of more restrictive policies, soft financial progress and low interest rates. The business’s stock has dropped 94% of the value off since 2006, which is the all-time high.

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Chrysler Sales Increase, Ford Remains Solid, while GM Falls Back

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Jp

ChryslerChrysler Group documented yet another flourishing product sales month, its February income leaped amazingly 40% from the year earlier.

“Chrysler’s sales performance continues to be nothing short of phenomenal,” according to Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst.

Perhaps remarkably at this time when fuel costs are going up, Chrysler group revealed significant product sales increases for it’s bigger heavy drinker models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, up 47%, as well as big cars. The Chrysler 300 sedan was up 480% as well as the Dodge Charger was up 124%.

GENERAL MOTORS documented that its February product sales ended up only 1.1% more than a year earlier, but down by 2.2% in the first two months in 2012, some car manufacturers are revealing great product sales gains.

The company’s Chevrolet brand was up by 5.8%. GMC hardly increased, up by 0.1%. Buick and Cadillac dropped.

Yet still GM product sales overcome analysts’ expectations – these people were anticipating a fall based upon the company’s cutback in sales rewards to enhance profit margins.

  • Chevy Cruze compact car was up by.1%.
  • Chevy Volt, was 264.1%, a little number of sales a year earlier.
  • Chevy Suburban SUV was up by 36.6%.
  • Chevrolet Colorado, which was discontinued, was up 35.5%.
  • Chevy Equinox was 15.7%.

“GM sales of the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Sonic and Chevrolet Cruze are soaring, carrying the brand and the company.” according to Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst.

FORD Motor’s profits increased 14% as product sales of the Focus have been doubled last February at 23,350. The small SUV Escape was up by 4%.

The company’s F-series trucks had a good month too with 26%, sales increased with additional bonuses.

U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay stated that greater gas costs increased demand for much more fuel-efficient options over the last month. Ford’s top U.S. sales analyst, Erich Merkle, states small cars composed about 19% of market sales in December, 21% in the month of January and possibly 24% in the month of February.

The increase of sales did not help the company’s subcompact Ford Fiesta, which dropped and remains slow.

Too much competition, including Ford’s own Focus, says , .

According to Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds.com, there is too much competition including the company’s very own Focus. Fiesta is too small and people prefers a bigger one so they tend to choose the Focus.

Income of the Fusion and Taurus also dropped.

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