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.

  • Starbucks founder Howard Schultz says company needs to 'overhaul' strategy as troubles mount

    Howard Schultz has weighed in on Starbucks recent troubles, but there are no leadership changes in the works.

  • Whole Foods CEO: The chain is investing in value and technology — with help from Amazon

    Value, quality, and convenience are what consumers are seeking, per Whole Foods' CEO.

  • Tyson shares close lower as pinched consumers get choosy about meat

    Tyson Foods expect sales to remain flat in 2024 as consumers seek value and trade between channels.

  • Starbucks CFO says there are no plans to lower prices, but Wall Street is skeptical of its 2024 plans

    The company is planning to introduce new menu items, loyalty offerings, and more, but it likely falls short of what's needed for a turnaround.

  • Shake Shack history: Beyond the Ticker

    Roadside burger chain Shake Shack (SHAK) may have just gone public in 2015, but it has been one of the fastest-growing fast-food chains for the past 20 years. In 2023, Shake Shack generated over $286 million in total revenue, up 20% year-over-year. Let's take a look at the company's biggest moments with Beyond the Ticker. 2001 It started as a hot dog cart, operated by restauranteur Danny Meyer in New York's Madison Square Park. 2004 That turned into a permanent location – where it added more menu items like burgers, fries, frozen custard, and those famous milkshakes. 2010 Meant to be a single location, there was an appetite for expansion. By 2010, two more locations were added in New York. One in the Upper West Side, and the second in the home to the New York Mets, Citi Field. 2015 On January 29, 2015, Shake Shack went public via initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at $21 per share. 2017-2024 From there, the burger chain only continued to grow – expanding its digital platforms, partnering with third-party delivery service providers like Uber Eats (UBER), adding kiosks to stores, and even drive-thru's. 2024 This year at roughly 90 US locations, it’ll now be using Carbon Neutral Whole Milk, after it expanded its partnership with US-based carbon-neutral food company, Neutral Foods. In March, the company announced that CEO Randy Garutti would step down after a 20-year run. Rob Lynch, the current CEO of Papa John's, will be named the next CEO, effective May 20, 2024. And Shake Shack continues to make its mark on the fast-food, fast-casual industry, with 530 locations across the globe and growing. 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.

  • Starbucks CFO on sales decline: 'We didn't respond fast enough'

    Starbucks (SBUX) shares plummeted in its worst intra-day move since 2020 following disappointing second quarter guidance that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Starbucks CFO Rachel Ruggeri tells Seana Smith and Brooke DiPalma that the beverage giant "didn't respond fast enough" to the decline in sales as the number of occasional customers dropped. She points to upcoming digital initiatives, like the rewards program and in-app offers, that will seek to engage more customers and drive sales. As the company's shares continue to drop, Ruggeri says Starbucks is not considering price cuts, and is instead focused on "investing" in its rewards program. "When we bring customers into the program, we know that their lifetime value increases. They spend more money and they come more frequently. So we see that as our biggest opportunity," she says. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • Starbucks stock plunges 14% after badly missing its Q2 earnings estimates

    Starbucks' decaf-like start to the year continues into the second quarter.

  • How Hain Celestial's new CEO plans to take Terra chips, Sleepytime tea to the next level

    Wendy Davidson is an industry veteran, but now faces her toughest challenge yet.

  • Coca-Cola CEO: Inflation will normalize throughout 2024

    The beverage giant is seeing normalizing costs for sugar, aluminum cans, and more.

  • McDonald's Q1 earnings miss sales expectations, as consumers tighten their wallets

    McDonald's hefty expansion plans helped to boost sales in Q1.

  • Starbucks revisits promises ahead of its Q2 report, but key issues remain unaddressed

    Starbucks laid out five promises ahead of its second quarter earnings aimed at improving results for its employees, customers, farmers, and shareholders.

  • Walmart history: Beyond the Ticker

    For more than six decades, the discount megastore Walmart (WMT) has redefined retail. In 2023 alone, the company brought in more than $648 billion dollars in revenue. Beyond the Ticker takes a deep dive into the company’s biggest moments. 1962 Walmart was founded by Sam Walton. Its first location was in Rogers, Arkansas. 1967 The Walton family owned 24 stores and had racked up $12.7 million in sales. 1970 On October 1, 1970, Walmart went public via an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares opened at $16.50 per share. 1983 The company opened its first Sam's Club in Oklahoma in a bid to compete with Costco’s (COST) wholesale, member-only model. 1988 Founder Sam Walton stepped down as CEO, and David Glass was named his successor. That same year, the first Walmart Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri, creating what it’s currently known for – a mix of general merchandise and grocery. 1996 Walmart opened its first location in China and surpassed $1 billion in sales for the year. 2000 Walmart.com launched, allowing US customers to shop online – as Amazon.com (AMZN) began to take off. 2017 To compete with Amazon, among other online retailers, Walmart introduced free two-day shipping. 2020-2021 During the pandemic, the retailer boomed as consumers sought out the COVID-19 vaccine, and then, cheaper groceries as inflation picked up. 2024 In late March, Walmart stock reached a record closing high of $61.45 per share. And it only keeps growing – with more than 10,500 stores in 19 different countries. 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.

  • Chipotle CFO says diners will keep burritos in their budget as US GDP growth slows

    Chipotle is seeing all income cohorts spend more and visit more frequently.

  • Chipotle blows by earnings estimates as resilient foot traffic, margin expansion boost Q1 results

    Chipotle posted another strong quarter against a difficult macro backdrop.

  • 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