Although consumers have had to contend with high food prices throughout 2024, families across the country will at least pay less for Thanksgiving dinner next week than they did last year. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost of Thanksgiving for 10 people will amount to $58.08, or about $5.80 per person. That marks a 5 percent drop from 2023. The decreased cost is good news for families who have faced high food prices over the last Continue reading
Hormel makes 71 different kinds of pepperoni. In addition to the widely popular original pepperoni slices, grocery shoppers can also choose diced, thick-sliced, mini-sliced, low-sodium, low-fat, turkey pepperoni, and more. The spin-offs may not sell as well as the original, but they do help to attract customer attention for the overall brand. More products mean more shelf space at stores, which gives customers more opportunities to find and buy Hormel products. The company also hoped this strategy would make shoppers Continue reading
When workers at Boeing went on strike in September, it was just one of many serious problems the company faced in 2024. Starting in January, a door plug tore off of one of its planes at 16,000 feet, leaving a massive hole and causing an emergency landing. As a result, Boeing pled guilty to criminal fraud charges and must allow federal monitors to oversee future plane construction. At the same time, airlines around the world are impatiently waiting for Continue reading
Nearly ten years ago, soda seemed to be losing its appeal with consumers as public health campaigns warned against sugary soft drinks and schools took soda out of vending machines and off of lunch menus. After per-capita consumption of soda among Americans fell to a new low in 2015, Coca-Cola and Pepsi started expanding their product lines to include diet sodas, flavored water, and energy drinks. With so many healthy choices available, industry insiders began to assume that consumers who Continue reading
Redbox launched its video rental kiosk business back in the early 2000s when the industry was still dominated by chains like Blockbuster. While brick-and-mortar stores charged $2 to $5 per night, customers could rent movies at Redbox for just $1 since the kiosks were much cheaper to maintain than physical locations. Customers also liked that Redbox operated 24/7, functioning more like a vending machine than a retailer. By 2007, the company had more U.S. locations than Blockbuster. Redbox peaked in Continue reading
With sunny weather, beautiful views, and lots of open space, California is one of the country’s most popular settings for music festivals. Thousands of people travel to the Golden State every summer to attend dozens of festivals — including Coachella, the most-attended annual music festival in North America. However, it’s getting more expensive to run a music festival in California as the cost of living keeps going up. Prices for transportation, accommodations, labor, and refreshments have skyrocketed above the typical Continue reading
For millions of Americans, Halloween is all about eating candy. And there’s no variety of candy more beloved than chocolate. According to national surveys, the average American’s favorite Halloween candy is a chocolate treat like M&Ms, Snickers, or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. But this year, you may notice less chocolate in your family’s trick-or-treat stash. That’s because cocoa prices are at record highs after three years of poor crops. The price of cocoa has doubled since the start of 2024 Continue reading
Over the last few months, companies around the globe kept a close eye on American ports as a key union agreement neared its expiration date. The International Longshoremen’s Association, a union representing 50,000 members, demanded wage increases that met resistance from management. Unable to reach an agreement, the union went on strike at the beginning of last week.
But not for long. Just three days after longshoremen at East and Gulf Coast ports walked out on their jobs, employers represented Continue reading