Multiple travel agencies in the United Kingdom, including some that have been pillars of their communities for decades, have had to shut down shop over a snowballing effect of challenges in 2026. Rising labor and operational costs, the ease with which travelers can book their own trips online and lower consumer sentiment amid an uncertain
When I first experienced a made-to-order pizza, one where I fully customized my pie and watched it get built, then put into the oven, I thought the concept would upend the takeout pizza market. Very successful for a while, the concept later fell victim to what I think of as “self-serve frozen yogurt syndrome.” It’s
While airlines are currently struggling with the spike in jet fuel prices caused by the war in Iran, the situation is often even more dire for travel agencies and companies selling various package holidays and organized tours. The string of family-owned travel agency collapses has been particularly prominent in the United Kingdom in recent months.
Best Buy (BBY) has spent years trying to shake off a sales slump, and its next leader thinks part of the answer is smaller buildings. Jason Bonfig, who becomes Best Buy’s sixth chief executive on November 1, told CNBC that he wants to open compact stores in towns and neighborhoods that its full-size locations never
Pizza seems like the perfect food for challenging economic times. It’s cheap compared to most lunch and dinner options, and it both travels well and works great as leftovers. But the overall pizza business has struggled. “The headlines are not kind to pizza right now. Pizzerias have fallen from Americans’ favorite restaurant category to sixth
Just a few years ago, Chili’s was a brand in trouble. Now, it’s a verified turnaround success story. “Chili’s delivered another strong quarter with industry-leading growth of +9%, rolling the industry-leading growth from last year for a 2-year comp sales growth of +43%,” said Brinker International CEO Kevin Hochman said in the company’s second-quarter earnings
“I used to be with ‘it,’ but then they changed what ‘it’ was,” Grandpa Abe Simpson said in “The Simpsons” Season 7, Episode 24, titled “Homerpalooza.” “Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore, and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary to me. It’ll happen to you!” Or, to put it into retail terms: “If you’re
While the main divide in the world of airline choices will often come down to low-cost or mainstream, the hidden third category is the vacation or leisure airline. The term is generally used for airlines whose network is made up primarily of popular holiday, resort or beach destinations. A major example of the holiday airline
Coca-Cola’s glass bottle has become one of the most recognizable pieces of packaging in history. PepsiCo has spent decades trying to create a similar connection with consumers. “Every consumer goods company wants to find a unique way to present itself to the public, and this, for us, has been the Holy Grail,” Phil Mooney, Coca-Cola’s
The economy has changed Dollar General’ customer base. “We are seeing customer penetration growth across low, middle and high-income segments as customers across all income cohorts seek value at increasing rates,” said CEO Todd Vasos during the chain’s first-quarter earnings call. It’s a shift where wealthier customers have sought out the discount chain, which has