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(BELMONT, Calif.) — Volkswagen on Tuesday said it would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, an electric vehicle startup based in California. The move sets the stage for a partnership that could benefit both companies and reshape the growing EV industry.

The joint venture, which the two companies said would focus on software development, grants Volkswagen access to Rivian’s engineering expertise while bolstering Rivian with a much-needed cash infusion.

“Through our cooperation, we will bring the best solutions to our vehicles faster and at lower cost,” Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said in a statement on Tuesday. “The partnership fits seamlessly with our existing software strategy, our products, and partnerships.”

Here’s what to know about the $5 billion deal between Volkswagen and Rivian:

What do Volkswagen and Rivian bring to the partnership?

At first blush, Volkswagen and Rivian appear to be a fairly odd couple.

Rivian has struggled to turn a profit even as sales of its R1S sport utility vehicle and R1T truck have grown. Over the final three months of last year, the company set a quarterly record for car production and delivery but reported more than $600 million in losses, an earnings report showed. During that period, the company delivered about 14,000 cars.

The company manufactures its vehicles at a factory in Normal, Illinois. In March, the company said it was pausing construction of a manufacturing facility in Georgia.

By contrast, Volkswagen began operations in Germany before World War II, steadily expanding into a global behemoth with 114 production facilities worldwide, according to the company’s website.

Over the first three months of this year, Volkswagen brought in about $80 billion in sales, an amount 67 times larger than the revenue generated at Rivian during the same period, an earnings report showed.

Volkswagen, however, has struggled to make a successful transition to EVs. The company saw its EV sales fall slightly at the outset of 2024 compared to the same quarter last year, Inside EVs reported in April.

How will the deal work?

The partnership will focus on the development of software used to operate electric vehicles, Rivian and Volkswagen said in a statement.

Improved software, the companies added, will lower production costs and accelerate advances in new products.

In theory, the savings could help Rivian erase its losses and reach a wider market, while allowing Volkswagen to produce more competitive electric vehicles.

Volkswagen will initially invest $1 billion, before increasing its funding to as much as $5 billion, the company said.

“Since the earliest days of Rivian, we have been focused on developing highly differentiated technology, and it’s exciting that one of the world’s largest and most respected automotive companies has recognized this,” Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe said.

He added, “Rivian was created to help the world to transition away from fossil fuels through compelling products and services, and this partnership is beautifully aligned with that mission.”

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Rivian soared nearly 30%.

Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at investment firm Wedbush, praised the partnership in a note to clients on Wednesday, saying the move would help Rivian increase production while lowering costs.

“This is a core game-changer for Rivian,” Ives said.

The stock price of Volkswagen Group, on the other hand, inched downward in early trading on Wednesday.

What does this mean for the electric vehicle industry?

The EV industry is widely expected to grow in the coming years. Sales of Evs are expected to quintuple by 2030, ultimately accounting for 40% of cars purchased worldwide, Morningstar forecasted in September.

Poised for expansion, the market has unleashed fierce competition among automakers. Companies exclusively focused on EVs, such as Tesla and Chinese carmaker BYD, lead the industry; but they face competition from deep-pocketed legacy companies making the transition.

Ford, GM and Stellantis are each investing tens of billions of dollars into EV development, according to a S&P Global Mobility Report. The partnership announced by Volkswagen helps the German automaker match the scale of investment taken up by its peers.

Volkswagen has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Last year, Rivian said it signed a United Nations agreement to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

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(NEW YORK) — It’s almost Independence Day in the United States, and if you’re making a trip to the grocery store to prep for any Fourth of July food-related festivities, experts have shared new pricing data on some of the most popular products to help you plan ahead.

Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute has released its annual Fourth of July Food Report, which calculated costs on hot ticket items for backyard get-togethers like hamburgers, which are actually three times cheaper than dining out this year.

With the worst of food inflation in the rear view for now, the mid-June 2024 Consumer Price Index showed “Food at Home” — think groceries — only rose by 1% compared to the “Food Away from Home” category, which rose by 4%.

How to save on food this Fourth of July

The Agri-Food Institute experts found that the cost savings are substantial when comparing the price for ingredients to make a home-cooked quarter-pound hamburger versus the average cost of popular fast-food restaurant quarter-pound burgers.

“The current cost of ingredients to prepare a quarter pound hamburger with cheese, tomato and lettuce at home is $2.16 per burger,” the report stated. “For a party of 10, the home chef will save nearly $50 — $47.90, to be exact — on burgers by firing up the grill.”

The report also looked at side dishes along with other foods that make a great cookout menu.

If prepping potato salad at home, white potatoes are approximately $0.96 per pound, which is a 4.4% drop since last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Although the price for potato chips has increased 2.7% since this time last year, the experts at Wells Fargo said “they are still a good buy for appetizers and a side for burgers.”

Salsa prices are up 2.5% from a year ago, but guacamole has dropped by 1.1%, so tortilla chips and guacamole are a smart snack choice for celebrations this year.

You can’t have a barbecue without something to drink, and with bottled iced tea prices up nearly 2.4%, which is in line with many other types of beverages, preparing a large batch of tea at home will help you save big — plus it helps reduce packaging waste.

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(NEW YORK) — The post-pandemic travel boom has sparked some ambitious and necessary changes within the airline industry due to the influx of frequent flyers who are seeking more from their pre-flight routines, be it enrolling in expedited security lines or enjoying access to airport lounges.

Delta Airlines previously recognized that the steady stream of customers was causing overcrowding at some of its Sky Club lounges, prompting the company to adjust its entry policies, but now the Atlanta-based carrier is opening the first of many doors to a new category of higher tier lounges.

Delta debuts first Delta One Lounge, new premium airport experience

The new Delta One Lounge in Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, which officially opens Wednesday to customers departing or arriving in the Delta One cabin, is the largest of any existing Delta Sky Club and boasts an array of elevated amenities and experiences including shower suites, spa treatments, relaxation pods, an outdoor terrace, a signature bar and a full service brasserie-style restaurant.

Claude Roussel, vice president of Delta Sky Clubs and Lounge Experience, called this a “new era for Delta,” adding that the airline is “raising the bar across the board.”

“We want our guests to feel the difference here; Moreover, we want them to feel welcomed and valued from the moment they step through the door,” he said.

The opening is just the beginning for Delta’s latest premium strategy, with at least two more Delta One Lounge outposts expected to open this fall in Los Angeles and Boston.

Guests enter and pass the concierge desk before walking into the sprawling 39,707-square foot space with modern interior design, high ceilings, brass accents, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the tarmac and an area for every type of pre-flight experience.

Beyond the entrance sits a fireplace lounge accented with pillows, vases and coffee table books from the famed Italian fashion house Missoni, Delta One’s newest onboard partner; an art deco-inspired Icon Bar with signature drinks like the Woodford Reserve Peach Tree Old Fashioned, a nod to the airline’s Georgia roots; a year-round terrace with bar cart services; a large grab-and-go market and bakery; a business lounge with plug-and-play monitors; and tucked in the farthest corner is the wellness area with a quiet serenity lounge, shower suites outfitted with Grown Alchemist products and a hidden closet to utilize the lounge’s valet steaming service that will refresh any garments.

The standout 140-seat brasserie sets the new Delta One Lounge apart from its existing Sky Clubs and from other business lounge competitors, offering a seated three-course dining service with seasonally inspired dishes from chef Nickolas Martinez such as hamachi crudo, corn agnolotti, seared salmon, steak frites and desserts like chocolate soufflé.

The culinary collaboration comes from Restaurant Associates and Union Square Events, a concept from famed New York restaurateur Danny Meyer.

For those who want a more casual eating experience, the Market and Bakery has pre-plated bites for convenient walk-up service, offering everything from small sandwiches to custom made salads, fresh flatbread pizzas and a juice bar.

JFK Delta One Lounge fast stats

• 515 seats
• 8 shower suites
• 8 soundproof booths
• 9 relaxation pods
• 140-seat brasserie-style restaurant
• Year-round terrace with seating for 40
• Valet service to your gate
• Hours of operation: 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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(NEW YORK) — When artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia became the world’s most valuable company last week — surpassing household names like Apple and Microsoft — the moment appeared to be a declaration of victory for the AI boom on Wall Street.

Over the next three trading days, however, Nvidia shares plummeted 13%. The company lost more than $500 billion in value and plopped down to third place among the largest firms.

Rather than a rebuke of AI or Nvidia, the extraordinary losses amounted to a routine selloff on a massive scale as traders sought to cash in on some of the gains made by the chipmaker during its meteoric rise, market analysts told ABC News.

Analysts differed on whether the recent slide offers a worthwhile opportunity for investors to buy the stock at a favorable price.

“It’s normal to see stocks take a breath,” Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at trading firm Interactive Broker, told ABC News. “What’s abnormal is that Nvidia went so far and so long without taking a breath.”

It’s difficult to overstate the success that Nvidia enjoyed prior to its recent decline. The California-based company, which sells the majority of computer chips behind new AI products like ChatGPT, saw its stock soar nearly 700% in two years.

Even when accounting for the recent decline, shares of Nvidia have climbed nearly 150% since the outset of 2024.

After a prolonged ascent, stocks often fall victim to a phenomenon called profit-taking, when traders sell off some of their shares to lock in the returns. In this case, analysts said, that routine pullback was larger than one might expect because the preceding rise had been unusually steep.

“It’s not normal to have a stock go up this dramatically,” Sosnick said. “As a result, when it’s due for a little bout of profit taking, that will be abnormal, too.”

Ivan Feinseth, a market analyst at Tigress Financial, agreed. “The stock has had a huge run,” Feinseth told ABC News. “Some people who are more short-term oriented feel it’s time to take a profit.”

While citing a trend tied to market behavior rather than business performance, the analysts dismissed the notion of newfound weakness in the AI sector or Nvidia.

In an earnings release last month, the company reported $26 billion in revenue, which marked a staggering increase of 262% over the previous year. Profits jumped more than 600% over that same period.

In March, the company announced its latest and most powerful chip, Blackwell. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI are among a who’s who of major tech firms set to adopt the new technology, Nvidia said in a statement.

“It’s Nvidia’s world — everyone else is paying,” Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at investment firm Wedbush, told ABC News.

Despite their agreement on the cause of the stock decline, analysts differed in their assessment of whether the current moment offers a chance for investors to jump into the stock.

Feinseth encouraged investors to buy into the stock, since he expects the dip to draw renewed interest in the company and send the price higher. “This is a stock that everybody wants to own and everybody is going to react to buying any selloff,” he said.

Early trading on Tuesday appeared to confirm that view. By noon, the stock had risen almost 5%, recovering much of what it had lost in recent days.

“This was just a small bump,” Ives said.

Sosnick, by contrast, cautioned against buying Nvidia shares unless the price falls further. Otherwise, he added, the relatively modest potential gains do not outweigh the risk of continued volatility.

“The stock is not super expensive but nor is it particularly cheap,” Sosnick said.

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(NEW YORK) — High-profile anti-LGBTQ+ consumer boycotts last spring left corporations little time to reconsider long-planned marketing campaigns for Pride Month, experts previously told ABC News.

Over the past year, major companies have had ample opportunity to prepare their advertising for the time of year when public attention centers on the LGBTQ+ community. In this case, however, Pride Month coincides with a growing conservative backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) in the private sector.

Experts who spoke with ABC News differed about the scale of LGBTQ+-themed advertising so far during Pride Month, but they agreed the anti-DEI movement has made it more difficult for companies to align their policies with the support for LGBTQ+ employees voiced in such marketing.

“When you have this level of political animosity as part of our public discussion, it will show itself in the market,” Joanna Schwartz, a professor of marketing at Georgia College & State University who focuses on LGBTQ+ advertising, told ABC News.

In recent months, some business leaders have sharply criticized corporate DEI programs, including prominent figures such as billionaire investor Bill Ackman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

At least 10 states have implemented restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Some of these policies ban state funds for diversity-based programs, activities, and offices on college campuses, as seen in Alabama. Some states, like Texas, ban diversity offices at universities altogether. Florida’s law also targets diversity training or programs in private workplaces.

The political push accelerated after a Supreme Court decision last year disallowing affirmative action programs at undergraduate colleges that previously considered a candidate’s race as part of their admissions process.

“We know that politics are elevated in the current climate and we know companies are facing that,” Tammi Wallace, president of the Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, an advocacy group that works with corporations headquartered in the area, told ABC News.

“I have heard of some companies that have pulled back DEI budgets,” Wallace added. “That’s probably the biggest impact that we’ve seen.”

Christie Lindor, a diversity strategist and CEO of Tessi Consulting, said she has heard from LGBTQ+ employees frustrated with what they perceive as risk aversion in company programming around issues of gender and sexuality.

“I’ve seen a lot of companies dilute organizational programming,” Lindor told ABC News. “LGBTQ programming is part of that.”

“It definitely has created opportunities where people, especially those in the LGBTQ community, are questioning the authenticity of their organizations,” Lindor added.

Still, executives at large corporations overwhelmingly support DEI initiatives, according to a Morning Consult poll in December. Diversity programs are considered important for business by 82% of executives at companies with 1,000 or more employees, the survey found. More than two-thirds of executives said they expect such programs to become more important in the coming years.

In response to the public scrutiny, some corporations are preserving DEI programs but doing so quietly, Frank Dobbin, a professor of sociology at Harvard University who studies corporate diversity, told ABC News.

“Some companies are changing the names of their DEI activities, so moving them from a focus on equity or diversity to a focus on talent,” Dobbin added.

The political push against DEI places even greater importance on the outward posture of corporations toward the LGBTQ+ community, Dobbin said. 

“It’s a mistake for companies not to continue to express their support, especially in the face of all these people who are leading the charge against any kind of DEI programming,” he said.

Experts who study LGBTQ+ advertising differed about the relative volume of corporate marketing during Pride compared to previous years.

Schwartz described a “pull back” in advertising during Pride as a result of consumer boycotts and a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ political sentiment among some conservatives.

Instead of mass-market advertising and LGBTQ-themed merchandise displays, companies have prioritized targeted ads that are more likely to reach LGBTQ+ customers and less likely to stoke criticism, Schwartz said.

“Companies are finding other ways to connect with this community,” Schwartz said. “They are having to be more careful this year, and will probably have to be more careful for several years.”

Michael Wilke, founder of AdRespect, an archive of LGBTQ+ representation in marketing, disagreed with the assessment of a dropoff in themed advertising. Rather, he added, corporations have largely maintained their advertising, albeit in a quieter fashion.

“We’re in a golden era of inclusion of LGBTQ — and that extends to advertising,” Wilke said.

“In the past year, companies that are staying the course may not be touting that they’re doing so,” he added. “They’re not promoting it to avoid attracting a pile on.”

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(NEW YORK) — For retail lovers there’s nothing quite like the rush of a good deal, and whether it’s TikTok Shop or discounts for digital boutiques on Instagram, deals are seemingly always at shoppers’ fingertips.

The digital trend of “spaving,” spending more money to save more overall, has taken off online.

“Brands have always pulled out all the stops, but the stops that they can pull out are … greatly enhanced now because of the technology and data that they have available,” financial planner Natasha Knox, founder of Alaphia Financial Wellness, told ABC News.

Despite inflation, Americans are still spending money, owing $1.2 trillion in credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Q1 financial report.

Meanwhile, online promotions are on the rise by 26% from the same time last year, according to Numerator.

Knox explained that “the sophistication of understanding our particular buying patterns and habits” has made shoppers “that much more susceptible” to spending.

Mom of two Kristen Kline told ABC News “spaving” is a trend she has become more familiar with in recent years online.

“About half the time or more, I will spend more to save more, especially, I think, in the past couple of years on TikTok and online and Instagram with all of those ads,” she said. “They’re really enticing.”

Kline will “spave” ordering things like household necessities, but other times she’s spent money just because there’s seemingly a deal.

“They’ll say, you know, ‘this is going to sell out.’ And it sold out last time. So, I used to go — ‘oh my gosh, I have to get it,'” Kline recalled. “Because of that, I have been sending my daughter a lot of the things that I bought that maybe I don’t really need.”

When it comes down to spending and saving or skipping entirely, Knox suggests staying practical.

“If it’s for something that is, let’s say, consumable that you use regularly anyway and that you have the budget for — it makes sense,” she said. “But when it is items that were not planned — you end up buying two things in order to get the third one free — most importantly, you didn’t account for it or budget for it then that’s when it becomes problematic.”

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(NEW YORK) — Many travelers are taking tips from TikTok packing carry-on bags as efficiently as possible to avoid checked baggage fees, and while some airlines still charge for smaller roll aboard suitcases depending on your fare class, JetBlue just announced plans to drop the fee entirely.

Starting September 6, all JetBlue customers, including Blue Basic fares, will receive one free carry-on bag in addition to one small personal item, the airline announced this week.

Previously, customers who purchased a Blue Basic fare and wanted to bring a carry-on bag would need to buy another fare option or purchase an Even More Space seat.

“Carry-on bags are an important part of travel to customers, and when presented with a choice between JetBlue’s award-winning service and another carrier’s basic offering, we want JetBlue to be the easy winner,” JetBlue president Marty St. George said in a statement. “We’re always looking for ways to evolve our offering in response to customer preferences. This is a win-win as we improve the customer experience and keep JetBlue competitive in our industry.”

This comes on the heels of major airlines, including Delta, United and American updating pricing structures on checked bags, during a time when airfare is expected to increase due to a combination of inflation, jet fuel costs and a backlog of new plane orders.

As more travelers look for ways to save at each leg of the journey, the decision from JetBlue ensures fare variety with reasonable accommodations at no additional cost for every type of customer.

“As flying becomes cheaper and more accessible for a spectrum of customers, a one-size-fits-all offering no longer works,” St. George added. “Whether a customer prefers more included benefits, or they shop solely on price, our fare options coupled with our great onboard service, makes JetBlue the best choice. No matter what fare a customer prefers, we provide clear and transparent information on what that selection includes.”

Blue Basic customers remain the final boarding group, and those fares are subject to a cancellation fee that does not apply to any other fares.

Read more about the fare types and JetBlue pricing structure here.

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(NEW YORK) — Welcome to the new era of electrification.

Bugatti, the 115-year-old French marque known for its powerful W16 engines, unveiled its first electrified hypercar, the Tourbillon, on Thursday at the company’s atelier in Molsheim.

A naturally aspirated V16 engine and three electric motors replace the prodigious W16 powerplant and four turbochargers found in previous Bugatti models. The Tourbillon’s all-new hybrid powertrain generates 1,800 horsepower, up from 1,500 horsepower in the Chiron, the last model to showcase the W16.

The $4.1 million Tourbillon, which is currently in the testing phase, can also reach a top speed of 248 mph.

Emilio Scervo, Bugatti’s chief technical officer, said choosing a hybrid powertrain over an engine-less design was the “most important decision” for his team.

“We chose the hardest option, creating a powertrain from scratch and pairing it seamlessly with a complex system of e-motors, a new generation eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and more, all developed from the ground up,” he said in a press release. “But it was important to us that this car retain that pure and raw analogue feel of a naturally aspirated combustion engine.”

Bugatti’s move to produce a hybrid over an EV mirrors the reversal taking place in the automotive industry. A growing list of automakers are delaying their electrification plans as sales of EVs weaken and demand for hybrids heats up. When Matt Rimac, the founder of electric sports car maker Rimac, merged Bugatti with Rimac in November of 2021, analysts largely expected to see a fully electric Bugatti by the end of the decade. Insiders are now heralding the company’s transition to hybrid and expect Bugatti to sell all 250 units of the Tourbillon.

“I’m delighted that Bugatti chose to make an entirely new engine in a world turning to electric motors,” Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver and co-host of the magazine’s “Into Cars” podcast, told ABC News. “That it’s powered by an 8.3-liter, V16 that revs to 9000 rpm makes it entirely unique not only today, but in the history of street cars. Bugatti’s decision to build an internal-combustion engine that makes less power than its quad-turbocharged predecessor may have been driven by the desire to prioritize engine sound and characteristics over horsepower.”

Pairing an electric motor to a gas-powered engine is becoming more common among automakers; the latest examples include the Corvette E-Ray, McLaren Artura and Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Bugatti, however, is the sole automaker to offer a 16-cylinder hybrid powertrain. Adding electric motors to an internal combustion engine — hypercar or not — maximizes performance and can produce eye-popping horsepower. Drivers get instantaneous torque without spewing too many noxious gases. For a Bugatti Tourbillon owner, there’s not much to dislike.

“You get the efficiency gain of a turbo but with the low-end throttle response of a larger engine, an appreciable performance step,” Larry Webster, senior vice president of media and editorial at Hagerty, told ABC News. “From an enthusiast perspective, this is a great application of electrification and a trend I think we’ll see continue.”

He added, “Electrification has opened up entirely new ways for engineers to squeeze more power into the same amount of space. The horsepower war is in full swing and shows no sign of abating.”

The Tourbillon’s 8.3-liter engine makes 1,000 horsepower and the car’s three electric motors produce another 800. The car, including the added weight of the large battery pack and its electrically actuated dihedral doors, still weighs less than the Chiron, which the company attributes to the lightweight materials used in the engine and chassis.

The electric motors — two in the front, one at the rear axle — are powered by a 25 kWh 800V battery that’s stationed behind the driver and passenger. The car can travel more than 37 miles on electric power alone.

The interior of the Tourbillon has been totally redesigned as well. There is now a small touchscreen that can display vehicle data and Apple CarPlay. There’s also the option of keeping it entirely hidden; a mechanism deploys the screen if the driver so chooses.

The instrument cluster was built by Swiss watchmakers and contains more than 600 parts, titanium and gemstones such as ruby and sapphire. Bugatti’s designers reworked the interior to be more spacious, “making it ideal for longer trips and daily use,” according to the company. There’s even a frunk — a front trunk — now for extra storage space.

“It is crazy to build a new V16 engine, to integrate with a new battery pack and electric motors and to have a real Swiss-made watchmaker instrument cluster and 3D-printed suspension parts … but this is what Ettore [Bugatti] would have done,” said Rimac.

An electric Bugatti may be coming one day, but for now, a hybrid Tourbillon still satisfies the needs of the uber wealthy who can afford it, Webster said.

“I certainly never thought we needed all-electric sports cars for maximum performance and pleasure,” he said. “An internal combustion engine is a major contributor to the personality of the car thanks to the sound, the throttle response, and the motive power.”

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(NEW YORK) — As Americans continue to seek value amid increased food costs and inflation, Subway is adding its hat to the summer deals ring, offering customers the promise of more bang for their buck with a new menu item.

“We are starting to see restaurants come up with menu items that are focused on adding greater value. The challenge that comes with greater value is there’s a sacrifice for consumers — quality,” Doug Fry, president of Subway North America, told ABC News’ Good Morning America about the current landscape and trends. “We don’t think our guests need to sacrifice quality for price. So we’re bringing in $3 Footlong Dippers.”

On Tuesday, the fast food sandwich chain announced the debut of Footlong Dippers — a hot, cheesy rolled snack made from the new lavash-style flatbread — joining the Sidekicks menu for $3.

The new Footlong Dippers come in three flavors: pepperoni and cheese, chicken and cheese, and double cheese.

“It’s really about consumers wanting to snack on the go, but not sacrifice quality or quantity for price,” Fry said. “When I think about value, value is really about price, quantity and quality. That’s what consumers need when they want to go over a value proposition.”

Although inflation has dipped over the last couple months, Fry said that Subway is “focused on listening to guests” who have sought out snacks on the go.

“We want quality, something they can feel good about eating. With the $3 Footlong Dipper, it comes with 11 different sauces to choose from. Our consumers get to mix and match,” he said.

When it comes to course-correcting on food pricing, which lawmakers have called out as corporate greed using inflation as an excuse to raise prices, Fry spoke to how Subway is offering every day value across its locations.

“What we try to do is offer something for everyone’s appetite and everyone’s budget. We work closely with our franchisees who set their prices. We work with data analytics to make sure we are meeting the needs of our guests, offering value on every part of our menu, without sacrificing quality,” he explained.

Whether its a fast food spot or the grocery store, Fry emphasized that the most value for consumers comes in the form of brand loyalty.

“I think loyalty programs in general are really important in today’s economic times,” he said. “Our MVP Rewards loyalty program is where our most loyal fans go to get the best perks, best values. We’ve given back $60 million in cash to our loyal fans. That’s value going right back into their pocket. That’s not going away.”

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(ALBANY, N.Y.) — New York employers are now required by law to provide paid break time to employees who need to pump breast milk while they are at work.

The law, which went into effect on Wednesday, allows employees to take 30 minutes of paid break time to express breast milk for up to three years following childbirth.

“As New York’s first mom Governor, I am fighting every day to give working parents the protections they need to keep their families strong and healthy,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.

“From our nation-leading prenatal leave program to this legislation requiring employers to give breastfeeding mothers much-needed break time, our state is continuing to stand up for parents in the workplace and protect maternal and child health,” she added.

Under the new law, employers are required to let their employees know about their right to the paid breaks. The legislation applies to both public and private employers in the state, regardless of their size or industry.

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