ADWEEK

Can Brian Niccol make @Starbucks feel like Starbucks again ADWEEK’s October issue explores how CEO Brian Niccol’s Back to Starbucks plan aims to restore the coffeehouse experience through refurbished stores, a simpler menu, a revamped loyalty program, and more staff during rushes. The turnaround has improved comps and renewed the brand’s focus, but controversies persist. His $96 million pay package and company-jet commute drew criticism. Starbucks has closed hundreds of stores, cut thousands of jobs, and remains locked in a dispute with unionized workers. Rising coffee and tariff costs, along with staffing expenses, add pressure. Starbucks is betting that service and operations can fuel growth without eroding trust among customers, employees, and investors. Read the full cover story 👉 adweek.it/4rMELDg

At @bravotv Fan Fest, #RHONY star @CaroleRadziwill clarified the @nypost's piece about her unpaid parking tickets while also giving us a hack to deal with our own tickets. 😭

This year's @BravoTV Fan Fest was packed with brand presence and major Bravolebrity star power. The event featured five sponsors including @Colgate, @PlanetFitness, @StateFarm, @Wayfair, and @Wendys who focused on the shows fans love. adweek.it/3UZQLp0

.@DoorDash has agreed to buy @Instacart for about $17 billion. The companies could offer brands a scaled alternative for reaching customers online, and the combined business would likely rival @Uber's ad business. adweek.it/4BBsohY

Here's this week's Marketing Moves. 👇 adweek.it/4jLcQBO

We asked the fans, and they answered ‼️ At @BravoTV Fan Fest, ADWEEK asked fans which questions they’d want answered. Here’s what this Housewives fan had to say. @DoloresCatania @melissagorga @angelaoakley34 @heathergay29

.@Zocdoc has opened its platform to AI agents that can integrate with the company's infrastructure to carry out various duties, including finding providers for patients, verifying insurance plans, and booking and adding appointments to patients’ calendars. adweek.it/3V1y3xj

On Saturday, @BarackObama said the @WhiteHouse looked like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," which took the internet & media by storm. And the @Cheesecake Factory? It said nothing. Zappi's Nataly Kelly explains why that was the right move 👉 adweek.it/3WeEduk

.@amazon CEO Andy Jassy said third-party AI shopping agents such as @OpenAI's ChatGPT, @Google Gemini, and @Meta's Muse pose a potential threat to its advertising business but shoppers still prefer buying directly from retailers. adweek.it/47Neags

Few celebrity campaigns can generate controversy and buzz as quickly or reliably as one starring @sydney_sweeney, but data suggests the long-term payoff is harder for brands to pin down. Dive into the findings 👇 adweek.it/47OTp3O

Vibe, the self-service platform that lets brands buy ads on connected TV, will let advertisers target over 3,300 of @Walmart’s audience segments, which are built on the retailer’s first-party data on web and in-store shopping, beginning this week. adweek.it/4zgbxjj

In this AI, Tech & Money, Q3 tech earnings roll in, cash is emerging as the key test for investors. Big tech's AI capex guidance has reached eye-popping levels, and Wall Street is asking whether that spending can be paid for out of cash flow. adweek.it/4znZfpa

But still she rises! @BravoTV's #RHOP star @msstaceyrusch has given viewers a number of iconic quotes. Here's what she said at Bravo Fan Fest about coming up with memorable moments.

.@WPP’s turnaround plan is progressing, with revenue declines easing in Q3, but the holdco still has a long way to go before it returns to growth. See the numbers 👇 adweek.it/4iuvxYf