Travelers and workers at San Francisco International Airport have a new place to get coffee. Don’t expect any pleasant smiles from the staff, however, as the newest coffee stop is run completely by robotics.  Do you see robotics playing a more prominent role in coffee and other foodservice industries in the near future?

Starbucks may be fashionable in the U.S., but in Japan the coffee retailer is taking steps into the actual world of fashion with a line of apparel and accessories. Why would or wouldn’t having designer apparel and home goods collections available at the Roastery concept work in the U.S. market?

What is experiential retail? It’s when the retailer gives you a distraction in hopes you’ll find it compelling enough to want to hang out. Are many experiential retail efforts more likely to drive one-and-done rather than recurring visits?

It stands to reason that Annie Young-Scrivner, who became CEO of Godiva Chocolatier in 2017, will use the knowledge she gained at Starbucks as her current company embarks on a major expansion of its café concept. Do Godiva Cafés have the potential to disrupt the foodservice market in areas where they are located in the U.S.?

Robots that can prepare food have become a perennial part of the discussion of the future of the quick service customer experience — and the employment landscape, as well. Are baristas’ jobs on the line with the advent of gourmet coffee robots?

Burger King last week introduced a $5.00-a-month coffee subscription service. Does the BK Café Subscription program represent a competitive threat to McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin or others?

Future 7-Eleven customers could have the option to stop and stay awhile, if a new concept the chain is now piloting catches on. Do you think an in-store café will work at 7-Eleven? How might franchisees respond to new demands for additional services that spiral out of the test stores?

Leaders with the vision of Howard Schultz are few and far between in retailing. It’s clear, by his own admission, that Kevin Johnson is no Howard Schultz. Is it cause for concern that Kevin Johnson doesn’t appear to share the same vision for Starbucks as Howard Schultz?

At its investor day on Thursday, Starbucks said that, in a partnership with Uber Eats, the chain will roll out home delivery to nearly one-quarter of company-owned stores in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter. Do consumers want coffee to be delivered to their homes and offices?

Bill Ackman and his hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital, has accumulated 15.2 million shares (about 1.1 percent of the total) in Starbucks with plans to double that stake over the next three years. Have activist investors been a net positive or negative for the long-term prospects of the companies in which they invest?

It’s not like no one saw this coming. Dunkin’ has officially announced that it is dropping “Donuts” from its name. Will Dunkin’s name change help advance its strategy of creating an image for the company as a beverage-led, on-the-go brand?

AT&T is testing a concept meant to turn its brick-and-mortar outlets into a place for entrepreneurs, remote workers and people just to hang out – whether they’re AT&T customers or not. Do you think The Lounge by AT&T concept can be successful in markets with a strong coffee shop culture?

Starbucks announced plans to have 10,000 “Greener Stores” — all powered by 100 percent renewable energy — by 2025. Do you see green store design and operations eventually becoming as important a priority to consumers as green products?

Marking its biggest acquisition ever and first step into retailing, Coca-Cola announced plans to plunk down $5.1 billion to acquire Costa Limited, the third-largest player in coffee retail. What will Coca-Cola bring to the coffee category?

David Hoffmann, the newly named CEO of Dunkin’ Brands, knows what it takes to keep the brand relevant in the minds of consumers — and it isn’t doughnuts. Do you think Dunkin’ Donuts is headed in the right direction under David Hoffmann?

When Howard Schultz stepped down from his position as CEO of Starbucks in April 2017, many wondered how well the coffee giant would fare without its longtime leader in the role. Now, as it turns out, Mr. Schultz believes Starbucks is in good hands and is stepping down as executive chairman. What will the future hold for Starbucks without Howard Schultz?

Blue Apron’s recently announced partnership with Costco is meant to help the meal kit provider out of a year-over-year slump. But one consultant who spoke with RetailWire saw the Costco deal as a poor move for Blue Apron. Do you agree that an acquisition by Starbucks offers Blue Apron better prospects than a partnership with Costco?

Nestle has obtained the rights to market, sell and distribute Starbucks’ consumer packaged goods and foodservice products around the world for $7.15 billion. Do you see the licensing deal between Nestle and Starbucks as a positive or negative for the companies?

Earlier this week, Starbucks announced that it would close all 8,000 of its company-operated stores in the U.S. on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct a training session intended to prevent racial discrimination in its stores. Do you see eliminating the type of problem that occurred at Starbucks in Philadelphia being more of a recruitment or training issue?

In 2012, on the cusp of the so-called “retail apocalypse,” Death Wish Coffee Co. was founded, with the goal of creating the world’s strongest coffee, a high-caffeine blend 200 percent stronger than the average cup of joe. What other advice would you add for owners launching new brands?

Starbucks has brought back its popular afternoon happy hour with deals on Frappuccinos and extended the program to more items. The catch: it’s now invite only. How do you assess the changes Starbucks has made to its happy hour program?

In some cities around the U.S., it seems as though the biggest competition any particular Starbucks store faces is another Starbucks down the street. In the future, there may be even more as retail space may soon be cheaper to rent. Do you agree that retail rents are due for a “permanent” drop in the near future?

Known as one of the pioneers in developing rewards cards, Starbucks has partnered with Chase to launch its first co-branded credit card. Do you see the Starbucks Rewards Visa Card helping revive sales for Starbucks?

Dunkin’ Donuts is continuing along its path to a new look and feel with a new concept store. But is Dunkin’ making a mistake by trying to move upmarket?

Long lines queue up most mornings at Starbucks across the country as people look to get their caffeine boost and perhaps a breakfast sandwich or pastry to go with it. The same cannot be said of the chain’s locations during lunch hour. Now, Starbucks is looking to change that. Is Starbucks finally on the right track with its Mercarto lunch menu?

Starbucks is closing its online e-commerce site that sells coffee, tea, drinkware, syrups, water bottles, brewing accessories and gift sets. Will Starbucks come to regret closing its online store?

Dunkin’ Donuts plans to test an abbreviated Dunkin’ slogan and signage, beginning with a store last week in Pasadena, CA, to help make the chain better known foremost for its beverages. Do you see more pros than cons in removing “Donuts” from the Dunkin’ Donuts name?

When it comes to social issues, Starbucks has positioned itself as one of the more politically progressive chains out there, but that image doesn’t always hold when it comes to the company’s labor relations. What is Starbucks doing right and wrong with its North Star initiative?

An unspecified number of Starbucks stores were unable to process payments yesterday due to problems caused by a software update to the chain’s point of sale system. The issue prevented stores from accepting cash payments as well as credit and debit cards. Did Starbucks go far enough in addressing customers inconvenienced by its outage?

With many municipalities now charging a small fee for plastic bags at stores to reduce their environmental damage, a study finds charging for disposable cups could work the same way. Do you see the clamor to reduce the use of disposable cups reaching the same level as plastic bags?

Looking for ways to eliminate bottlenecks caused by the popularity of mobile orders, Starbucks will open a dedicated mobile order and pay-only store at its Seattle headquarters. Are mobile order and pay-only locations a wise idea for Starbucks?

Starbucks is reportedly putting an end to its “Evenings” program that brought beer and wine sales to more than 400 of its stores. This is not the first time the company has dropped a program or concept after concluding it wasn’t going to deliver the results needed. What do you make of Starbucks’ decision to give up alcohol?

With its latest promotional/entertainment hybrid, Starbucks is debuting a cartoon web series aimed at younger Millennials by writers whose names Generation Xers will also recognize from credits of The Simpsons. How far should retailers go in producing own-branded entertainment programming?

Starbucks is launching “Pokémon Go Frappuccino” in a partnership with Niantic, the maker of the hit augmented reality game. The initiative will see more than 7,800 Starbucks locations in the U.S. turn into “PokeStops” or “Gyms” where players can collect free in-game items or engage in battles. What do you think of augmented reality games as traffic drivers for retailers?

Yesterday’s news that Howard Schultz will step down next year as the chief executive officer of Starbucks shouldn’t come as any surprise. The question is whether or not Mr. Schultz will feel compelled in the future to ride back in and rescue the company as he did once before. Do you think Starbucks will ultimately be more or less successful as a result of its new management structure?

For a promotion, running from October 20 to October 23, Starbucks locations are featuring drinks thought up by baristas themselves, called “Barista Originals.” Can other retailers and foodservice operators benefit from encouraging this type of on-the-clock artistry among their staff?

Though Starbucks has a feverishly dedicated customer base, a new study indicates that the chain’s drive-thru experience could stand to be more caffeinated. Could curbside delivery put a dent in Starbucks’ problem with long lines at the drive-thru?

Starbucks has launched an original web series, highlighting stories in which individuals and communities come together to confront societal challenges in positive, collaborative ways. Do you think other retailers are essentially “storytellers at heart” in the way Starbucks is?

Starbucks chairman and chief executive officer Howard Schultz announced this week that he is taking a step back from the day-to-day running of the coffee giant to focus on the development of its higher-end businesses. Do you see Howard Schultz’s decision as a positive for Starbucks’ business going forward?

Starbucks announced earlier this week that it was part of a group making an investment in Princi, an artisanal Italian bakery. Do you think Starbucks and Princi will be able to maintain the quality of product now served in five locations when extended to thousands?

Kohl’s is abandoning its recent in-store cafe concept and will be closing the two test locations in the next few weeks. Has a cup of coffee become a more important part of the shopping experience over the years? Do cafes and eateries not make sense for some stores and channels?

Starbucks wanted to find a way to reward customers for using a payment card with its name on it, even for purchases made at other businesses. That’s where the new Starbucks Rewards Prepaid Card from Chase comes in. What do you see as the pros and cons of the new prepaid Visa for Starbucks?

Grocery retailers and foodservice operators have been among the leaders in the business community offering hope to food banks and charities. A case in point is Starbucks, which earlier this week announced the launch of FoodShare. What are the biggest impediments in the way of grocers and foodservice operators donating unsold food to charities?

Starbucks is making a change to how it doles out rewards for its loyalty program. Instead of issuing a star for every visit, the coffee giant will now reward its card members with two stars for every dollar spent at locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Will the changes in how Starbucks rewards its customers lead to an increase in its loyalty program membership numbers?

Starbucks has been instrumental in creating “coffee culture” in the U.S., but creating a similar space for tea has been less successful. The company recently announced that it was closing the majority of its Teavana “tea bars.” Was it the right choice to jettison Teavana tea bars even as packaged tea products continue to become more popular in Starbucks locations?

Krispy Kreme, a company that has long kept coffee on its back burner, is trying to up its game in the space where Starbucks dominates, testing out changes that will make its stores more like Starbucks in both product and experience. Does Krispy Kreme have a chance at establishing itself as a viable alternative to Starbucks?

Death and taxes are not the only certainties in life. You can also add the annual claim by some that retailers — those pursuers of all things controversial — are waging a war on Christmas. Do you think some retailers are guilty of being in some way anti-Christmas? How should retailers deal with accusations that they are against Christmas?

Sometimes it seems as though waiting to be served at Starbucks takes forever, and that’s not even during rush periods. But waiting may be a thing of the past as Starbucks’ mobile app now enables customers all over the U.S. to place and pay for orders before arriving. In what ways will the nationwide rollout of Mobile Order & Pay shape Starbucks’ business going forward?

Fall has become synonymous with pumpkin spice-flavored products, but one of the most popular, Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, has also become the most controversial. Last year, a blogger posted a takedown of the drink. Now Starbucks has changed the recipe so that it includes a more “natural” ingredient lineup. How responsive should food manufacturers and retailers be to calls for changes to ingredients, even if the concerns are dubious?

There is perhaps no place in the U.S. as synonymous with ostentatious presentation and over-the-top stunts as Las Vegas—a fact that Starbucks intends to use to its advantage with its entirely unique one-off store on the Vegas Strip. Will the Las Vegas Strip Starbucks experience offer valuable insights to the company or lead to confusion and brand dilution?