Starbucks Coffee Co.

Dallas — Cypress Equities has acquired the Glendale Marketplace in Glendale, Calif. The 154,420-sq.-ft. open-air retail and entertainment center is adjacent to the Americana at Brand.

National retail brands represented in the center include HomeGoods, Old Navy, Starbucks, GNC and Outback Steakhouse.

SRS Real Estate Partners will represent Cypress in lease negotiations.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company is entering the yogurt business. The company announced it has entered into a strategic agreement with the makers of Dannon to offer a jointly created and developed selection of specialty yogurt products in participating Starbucks stores and in grocery channels.

Seattle – Twelve deaf consumers are suing Starbucks over what they claim was harassment at the hands of employees of a lower Manhattan Starbucks store on March 7, 2013.

Seattle – Starbucks is testing new drink options including handmade sodas and a coffee beverage known as “cold foam mocha.” As reported by the Starbucks Melody blog (which is not affiliated with the retailer), last month Starbucks began the second phase of a carbonated beverage test including proprietary root beer and ginger ale at select locations in Atlanta and Austin.

Seattle – The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that Starbucks shift supervisors are eligible to share tips left in plastic containers by cash registers with baristas. However, assistant managers are not entitled to share in the tips.

Seattle – Starbucks has enacted small increases in the prices of less than one-third of its beverages in select markets. The increases, which average about 1%, affect smaller sizes of brewed coffee, tea, latte and espresso drinks. Larger venti- and grande-sized drinks will not have their prices changed.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Company is raising prices on some of its beverages starting on Tuesday. Prices will rise an average of 1% starting June 25, but will vary slightly in different regions.
   
"Less than a third of beverages will see a small increase in most stores," said Lisa Passe, a Starbucks spokeswoman, in an Associated Press report.

Canton, Mass.  -- As part of a brand overhaul, Dunkin’ Donuts is switching its focus from doughnuts and baked goods to coffee and other beverages. At this week’s annual consumer conference hosted by investment banking firm Jeffries, Paul Carbone, CFO of parent company Dunkin’ Brands Group, said beverages accounted for 58% of sales at U.S. franchise locations last year.

“We are a beverage company,” Carbone said. “Fred the Baker is not coming back.”