PepsiCo vs Starbucks

PepsiCo launches Gen Z snack brand Chester's in Germany

PepsiCo is launching its snack brand Chester's in Germany, targeting Gen Z consumers. The initial products include Chester's Original Käse and Chester's Zigzag Paprika. The introduction is supported by a social-first campaign developed by Berlin agency Departd, focusing on the brand mascot 'Chesters Cheetah' for recognition. Marketing efforts include social media (especially TikTok), creator collaborations, in-store activations, out-of-home advertising, and a launch event in Cologne. The brand aims to appeal to younger audiences seeking variety and personality in snacks. Distribution will be across food retail, discounters, wholesale, e-commerce, and kiosks. This launch expands PepsiCo's existing portfolio in Germany, which includes Pepsi, Lay's, Doritos, Lipton, Gatorade, 7Up, Rockstar Energy, and Sodastream.

• PepsiCo launches Chester's snack brand in Germany targeting Gen Z.
• Initial products: Chester's Original Käse and Chester's Zigzag Paprika.
• Campaign created by Berlin agency Departd, focused on social media and influencer marketing.

PepsiCo fakes name change for corporate brand campaign

PepsiCo has launched its first-ever corporate brand campaign, titled "House of Brands," using a social media fake-out to generate attention. The company spent several days hinting at a new corporate name, only to reveal it would remain PepsiCo. The campaign aims to unify its portfolio of brands under the corporate identity. The article is paywalled, and the full content details are limited, but this core event is confirmed.

• PepsiCo launched its first corporate brand campaign.
• The campaign is titled 'House of Brands'.
• PepsiCo faked a corporate name change to promote the campaign.

WPP Wins Coca-Cola Global Media, Publicis Shifts to PepsiCo

WPP is set to win Coca-Cola's global media, data, and tech business, a significant win for CEO Cindy Rose as she works to turn the holding company around. Publicis, the only other contender, dropped out early to focus on PepsiCo's global media account, leaving WPP unopposed. Despite topping JP Morgan's new business rankings, WPP's like-for-like net sales declined 4.7% in the first half, and questions remain about its AI platform WPP Open's effectiveness. The article analyzes WPP's strategic choices, including skipping Coke's North American business, and compares its position to Publicis, which can afford to walk away from pitches due to past successes. Legal challenges, including a whistleblower suit and securities class action, also loom. Overall, the win provides a chance for WPP to prove its turnaround, though it still faces structural and cultural hurdles.

• WPP is set to win Coca-Cola's global media, data, and tech business.
• Publicis walked away from the Coca-Cola pitch to win PepsiCo's global media business.
• WPP's like-for-like net sales declined 4.7% in the first half of the year.

Freshly brewed coffee on demand: How the innovative Clover Vertica is changing Starbucks coffeehouses

It’s quietly transforming the brewing experience at company-owned Starbucks coffeehouses across the U.S., giving customers French press-quality coffee on-demand, with six coffees to choose from and a freshly made cup in 30 seconds or less.

10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Starbucks (2026-07-29)

Die Starbucks Corporation hat ihre Finanzergebnisse für das dritte Quartal des Geschäftsjahres 2026 (Stichtag: 28. Juni 2026) vorgelegt. Der konsolidierte Nettoumsatz ging im Jahresvergleich um 1,4 % auf 9,32 Mrd. USD zurück, was im Wesentlichen auf die Dekonsolidierung und Umwandlung von 7.991 firmeneigenen Filialen in China in ein lizenziertes Joint Venture mit Boyu Capital zum 30. März 2026 zurückzuführen ist. Dieser Umsatzrückgang wurde teilweise durch ein starkes globales flächenbereinigtes Umsatzwachstum (Comp Sales) von 7,9 % ausgeglichen (darunter +8,1 % in Nordamerika). Das operative Ergebnis stieg auf 980,4 Mio. USD bei einer operativen Marge von 10,5 %, begünstigt durch Umsatzeffekte und Zollrückerstattungen. Der auf Starbucks entfallende Nettogewinn stieg um 87,2 % auf 1,05 Mrd. USD (0,91 USD verwässerter Gewinn je Aktie), maßgeblich getrieben durch einen Vorsteuergewinn von 536,3 Mio. USD aus der Veräußerung des China-Geschäfts. Die Erlöse aus der Transaktion wurden u. a. für den Rückkauf von vorrangigen Anleihen im Nennwert von ca. 1,3 Mrd. USD genutzt.

• Starbucks schloss am 30. März 2026 das China-Joint-Venture mit Boyu Capital ab (Verkauf von 60 % für 3,1 Mrd. USD Gesamtgegenwert bei Beibehaltung von 40 %), was einen Vorsteuergewinn von 536,3 Mio. USD einbrachte und 7.991 Filialen in lizenzierte Standorte umwandelte.
• Die weltweiten flächenbereinigten Umsätze (Comparable Store Sales) wuchsen im 3. Quartal des Geschäftsjahres 2026 um 7,9 %, gestützt auf ein Transaktionsplus von 4,2 % und einen Anstieg des durchschnittlichen Bons um 3,6 % in den USA.
• Der auf Starbucks entfallende Nettogewinn stieg im 3. Quartal 2026 auf 1.045,3 Mio. USD (0,91 USD verwässerter EPS) gegenüber 558,3 Mio. USD (0,49 USD verwässerter EPS) im Vorjahresquartal.

Thursday's Market Movers: Earnings, Data, Treasury Yields

CNBC's Stocks @ Night newsletter previews key events likely to move the market in the next trading session. The Dow fell over 400 points on Wednesday. On Thursday, investors will watch interviews with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, Freeport-McMoRan CEO Kathleen Quirk, and the release of weekly jobless claims and producer price index data. U.S. Treasury yields hit multi-year highs, with the 2-year at its highest since July 2024 and the 10-year since November 2023. Macy's and Oracle are scheduled to report earnings, while HP hit a 52-week high. Energy stocks are surging as Brent crude topped $100 a barrel, with ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum, Chevron, Phillips 66, and Valero hitting highs.

• Dow Industrials slid just over 400 points.
• Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol will appear on 'Squawk Box'; stock up 30% since he took over.
• Weekly jobless claims and PPI data due Thursday; consensus for claims at 205,000 and PPI 0.4% month-over-month.