JULY 26, 2015 News.com.au STARBUCKS said its quarterly profit jumped 22 per cent as pricier drinks like flat whites and food helped lift sales at its U.S. cafes. The Seattle-based coffee chain said sales rose 8 per cent in its flagship Americas unit. In the U.S., which makes up the majority of the unit, the company has been pushing up sales with price hikes and offerings like S’more frappuccinos and flat white espresso drinks that cost a little more. Flat whites are an Australian invention that were introduced to American Starbucks menus at the beginning of the year. Starbucks chief financial officer Scott Maw said in a phone interview that people are even “trading up” to newer, pricier breakfast sandwiches, such as one served on a croissant bun. Maw noted that more people are getting food with their orders as well. Customer visits are increasing too, boosted by the company’s…

JULY 14, 2015 News.com.au OVER the past 18 months, Queensland mining employer Jack Trenamen has developed a formula that helps him predict the performance of his new apprentices. The country kids who have worked on mum and dad’s farm from a young age will work hard and appreciate every dollar they get. “You can’t fault ‘em on work ethic,” he says, adding that it shows in their performance. But the ones who come from more affluent areas, whether that be from the big cities where their parents are a bit more well off and happy to give them pocket money, or mining regions where jobs are available and salaries are competitive, are more difficult to engage. They’re also less likely to agree to get their hands dirty when it comes time to sweep the shed. The contracting boss has seen exceptions, of course, but he’s also noted strong trends, and…

Patrick Hatch July 13, 2015 The Age Australia’s big three supermarket chains are recording some of the worst injury rates among the country’s top 100 listed companies, new research shows. A Citi report released on Monday shows Metcash, which supplies IGA supermarkets, has the worst safety record of ASX100 companies based on how often they record injuries that result in lost time (known as LTIFR). The supplier to more than 2000 independent supermarkets reported a rate of 14.1 injuries that resulted in time away from the workplace for every million hours worked. Although this was the worst result amongst listed companies it was an improvement on the previous year’s rate of 16.3. Citi looked at ASX100 companies, of which 94 reported injury data, 84 using the LTIFR system. The report, Safety Spotlight: ASX100 Companies & More, also looked at 32 companies’ remuneration plans and found Metcash was one of only…

July 14, 2015 NACS Online Following passage of ban, retailer pens editorial criticizing law that will ‘move products out of the hands of responsible retailers.’ ​MINNEAPOLIS – Last Friday, the Minneapolis City Council voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products at convenience stores. Council members in favor of the ban describe it as “a major policy change” and expect it to have a significant effect on young people, as a means to curb youth smoking. According to news reports, flavored cigars can currently be sold at more than 300 locations, but when the law goes into effect in January that number drops to fewer than two dozen adult-only tobacco shops. The measure also set minimum prices for both flavored and unflavored cigars at $2.60. The vote followed several weeks of debate between anti-tobacco advocates who argued that flavored products were designed to attract young smokers and shop owners…