Brooke DiPalma

    Senior Reporter

    Brooke DiPalma is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance based in New York covering fast food, consumer packaged goods, restaurants and more. DiPalma graduated from Marist College where she studied journalism and political science. DiPalma is also interested in mental health. She is the founder and director of P.S. I Love You Day, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

  • Higher oil prices, shipping disruptions create a double-edged sword for retailers

    Higher freight costs and lower consumer buying power could hit retailers in the coming months.

  • McDonald's history: Beyond the Ticker

    With over 38,000 locations in more than 100 countries, McDonald's (MCD) is a global icon in the fast food industry. In 2023, McDonald's generated over $25 billion dollars in revenue, up nearly 10% compared to the year before. Let's dive into the company's biggest moments with Beyond the Ticker. 1940 The McDonald's brothers, Dick and Maurice, opened the first McDonald's restaurant on May 15, 1940, in San Bernardino, California. 1954-1955 Ray Kroc purchased the rights to franchise McDonald’s and opened the first franchised restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. 1955-1965 Kroc bought the brothers out, then developed its current model of owning the real estate that McDonald’s franchise locations are on. 1965 In April 1965, McDonald's went public via an initial public offering at $22.50 per share. 1972 McDonald's hit a milestone – generating $1 billion in sales. 1990 The first McDonald's restaurant opened in the Soviet Union in Pushkin Square, Moscow, marking a symbolic moment of the Cold War, serving thousands of customers. 2003 In the early 2000s, the thriving food chain was met with competition and tragedy. Former executive James Cantalupo came out of retirement to lead the company, but in 2004 he suddenly passed away after 16 months at the helm. 2004 Life-long McDonald’s employee Charlie Bell was named CEO but tragically passed away from cancer shortly after. Amid the two tragedies, the movie Super Size Me took off - resulting in McDonald’s getting rid of the Super Size option. 2005-2012 Jim Skinner served as CEO, taking the company through the Great Financial Recession. 2012-2015 Don Thompson served as CEO, then retired as he faced pressure over declining sales. 2015 Steve Easterbrook then took the top seat, and in an attempt to reinvigorate its brand, McDonald's launched its all-day breakfast menu. Soon after, Easterbrook was fired for having an “inappropriate personal relationship” with an employee, according to the SEC. 2019 US president Chris Kempcinski was promoted to CEO, taking the company through the Covid-19 pandemic. 2023 McDonald's continues to expand and evolve, with its latest concept, CosMc's, a drive-thru-only restaurant featuring McCafe products, beverages, and treats. From a single restaurant to billions and billions served, McDonald's aims to hold its top spot as the quintessential American fast food chain. From tech giants to retail titans, Beyond the Ticker is a historical series that takes a deep dive into some of Wall Street's trending companies and how they transformed into the financial icons they are today. Check out more of our Beyond the Ticker series, and be sure to tune in to Yahoo Finance. Editor's note: This video was produced by Zach Faulds.

  • Inflation: Grocery prices reaccelerate, now 25% higher than pre-pandemic

    Grocery prices are seeing their first year-over-year acceleration since August 2022.

  • Ugly shoes are here to stay: Ugg, Crocs thriving as consumers turn to comfort

    The pandemic provided a catalyst for consumers to increasingly don casual wear to all occasions.

  • Sephora, Ulta, and e.l.f. among the top beauty brands for US teens, per survey

    Beauty spending is up among teens, with brands like Ulta, e.l.f., and Sephora getting a boost.

  • Solar Eclipse: how businesses are cashing in

    Don’t look at the sun! Because on Monday, April 8, 2024, our Moon moves directly in front of the sun, causing a total solar eclipse. The disk of the Moon will block the sun from view, turning day into night. What is a solar eclipse, and what is the best place and time for you to get the best view of this once-in-a-lifetime event? Here is what you need to know. Once the moon completely covers the sun in full totality, it is safe to take off your glasses because total eclipse has arrived! The sky will get as dark as night and the temperature will begin to drop. You will see the blackest black where the Moon is, surrounded by wispy white string of light from the sun’s outer atmosphere. The total eclipse path will begin in Mexico, but will slowly move up north, reaching Texas at around 1:30pm local time. The lunar wonder will pass through 15 states, proceeding through the northeast until concluding for most viewers off the coast of Canada, totaling 9,190 miles. Cities across the United States, including Dallas, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Cleveland will most likely be hot spots for the upcoming eclipse. Some of your favorite snack brands are releasing solar eclipse themed versions of their star products. Delta (DAL) is flying a plane from Texas to Detroit on a path specifically designed to follow the total eclipse path. Share a large pizza with friends for only $12 with Pizza Hut's Total Eclipse of the Hut campaign. Sun Chips is releasing a one day lunar eclipse theme flavor. Krispy Kreme (DNUT) and Oreo unite for a decadent Total Eclipse-style doughnut. If you are snacking during the total solar eclipse, then know that, according to Time Magazine, you are one of those helping inject $1.5 billion into your local economy. Editor's note: This article was written by Noah Chadwick

  • Walmart, Dollar Tree, and auto and home retailers stand to benefit from higher tax refunds

    How a boost of extra cash may impact the spending habits of US consumers.

  • Chipotle, McDonald's well positioned as fast food chains deal with California's rising wages

    Companies with strong sales momentum and branding power can weather the storm, while regional chains like Jack in the Box may struggle.

  • Starbucks' stock continues to struggle as competition heats up in the US, overseas

    Dutch Bros, Dunkin', McDonald's, and even Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell are all looking to get a piece of the breakfast compeition.

  • Walmart shares are on a tear, with further growth expected from the retail giant

    Walmart's stock has been on a hot streak as the company continues to gain favor with shoppers across the income spectrum.

  • Lululemon history: Beyond the Ticker

    A retailer originally known for its yoga wear, Lululemon (LULU) has evolved into a competitor of Nike (NKE), Adidas (ADDYY), and many more. In 2022 alone, Lululemon's revenue topped $8 billion, a more than 30 percent increase year-over-year. But what led to Lululemon's success? Let's dive into the company's biggest moments with Beyond the Ticker. 1998 Lululemon was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson. Its first retail space was inside a local yoga studio in Vancouver, Canada. 2000 In November 2000, Lululemon opened its first official store in Vancouver. 2003 Lululemon’s first store in the United States opened in Santa Monica, California. 2007 On July 27, 2007, Lululemon went public via an initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ at $18 per share. 2013 A few years later, the company hit rocky terrain. In March 2013, Lululemon recalled 17 percent of its black yoga pants for being too sheer, which cost it roughly $60 million in lost sales, according to the New York Times. Its CEO Christine Day resigned that June, and later told Fortune she left due to conflicting views with its founder Chip Wilson. That November, Wilson resigned as chairman following accusations of "fat shaming" brand strategies. Wilson previously told Bloomberg TV that issues with his company's leggings were because "some women’s bodies don’t work for the pants." 2014 In the midst of all this noise, Lululemon marched on, pushing more into menswear and investing in digital sales. It also opened its first European store in London. 2018 Day's successor, Laurent Potdevin then resigned in 2018. That August, Calvin McDonald took the helm as CEO and carried forward the momentum as the company moved its appeal beyond yoga. 2020 In June 2020, Lululemon took a chance at at-home, online fitness with the acquisition of Mirror for $500 million and rebranded it as Lululemon Studio. 2023 The company announced plans to ditch the Mirror fitness hardware with plans to end its classes in 2024. To soften the blow for investors, it signed a five-year strategic global partnership with Peloton (PTON), which would stream its classes on the connected fitness platform and produce and sell Peloton-branded clothes. After joining the S&P 500 in October, Lululemon's shares soared over 57% in 2023, with the company hitting an all-time high stock price of $511.29 on December 29. Lululemon continues to expand and compete with the giants of the athletic apparel industry, just this year announcing new footwear offerings, including its first-ever men’s collection. From tech giants to retail titans, Beyond the Ticker is a historical series that takes a deep dive into some of Wall Street's trending companies and how they transformed into the financial icons they are today. Check out more of our Beyond the Ticker series, and be sure to tune in to Yahoo Finance. Editor's note: This video was produced by Zach Faulds.

  • Saying no ‘with great humility and self-respect’: Omsom CEO

    Vanessa Pham was just 24 years old when she started the packaged Asian food start-up Omsom with her sister, Kim. The brand is now available in major retailers, including Whole Foods (AMZN, Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM). The young CEO met with Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma to discuss the lessons she’s learned from leading the brand, including how to say no. “I think with great humility and self-respect is how you show up when you say no,” says Pham. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series will give consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more of our conversation with Pham, click here. For more of our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • Three tips for entrepreneurs from a successful startup CEO

    If you have been to a grocery store recently, including Whole Foods (AMZN), Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM), you may have seen the packaged Asian food startup brand, Omsom, on the shelves. The company, created by daughters of Vietnamese refugees, launched during the pandemic in May of 2020. The younger daughter, and current CEO of the brand, Vanessa Pham, was only 24 years old when the pair began the business. Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma sat down with Pham for a deeper dive into what it takes to lead a new company at such a young age. The CEO offers three tips for new entrepreneurs. “The first one is to lean into your strengths instead of focusing on your gaps,” says Pham. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series gives consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more of our conversation with Pham, click here. For more of our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • More progress in Macy's buyout battle as Arkhouse negotiates to gain access to its financials

    Macy's is expressing some willingness to see what Arkhouse can offer.

  • Dollar General, other discount retailers stand to gain from Dollar Tree's troubles

    While other discount retailers may pick up some additional sales, it's the shoppers who will lose in the Family Dollar closures.

  • Omsom is taking Asian food mainstream as demand grows for ethnic packaged food

    How two sisters are leaning in and making noise in the burgeoning ethnic food market.

  • How one startup is shaking up the ethnic food aisle

    Vanessa Pham might not be a household name on Wall Street yet, but she has plenty of time to make that happen. The 29-year-old co-founded Asian food startup Omsom with her sister, Kim. The company sells chef-crafted packaged noodles and sauces. So far, Omsom has managed to sell more than 4 million products and is available in more than 2,000 stores, including Whole Foods (AMZN), Target (TGT), and Sprouts (SFM). Pham and her sister, the daughters of Vietnamese refugees, were able to secure investors such as Away Co-founder and CEO Jen Rubio, Zola Co-founder and CEO Shan-Lyn Ma, and food-focused VC firm New Fare Partners Founder Elly Truesdell. At Omsom’s office in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Pham gives Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma a literal taste of how she leads her small team to shake up ethnic aisles and change the way consumers eat and think about Asian cuisine. “Omsom is all about being proud and loud, especially when the stereotype of Asian Americans in America's kind of like submissive, or docile,” Pham says. “Omsom is our true kind of energy and ethos and spirit.” Pham details not only how she and her sister have managed to build the brand at such a young age, but also how they were able to launch during the pandemic and endure the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, which held the business’s capital. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series gives consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change, and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more on our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

  • Dollar Tree's 1,000 store closure tells the perils of poor acquisitions

    Dollar Tree is scaling back its presence after its acquisition of Family Dollar didn't go as planned.

  • Breakfast wars: McDonald's, Wendy's, and other fast food giants are vying for diners' morning dollars

    Wendy's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and McDonald's all hope to become a part of consumers' morning routines.

  • Inflation: Grocery prices are plateauing, while the cost to dine out is rising at a lower rate

    The cost of most grocery items continues to decelerate, though pricing for restaurant meals continues to edge higher.