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Starbucks Rewards to partner with external brands, and 4 more key earnings takeawaysStarbucks Rewards to partner with external brands, and 4 more key earnings takeaways

Starbucks reported strong earnings on the heels of announcing its third pay increase for hourly staff in about a year

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

October 29, 2021

3 Min Read
starbucks rewards
The Starbucks Rewards test with external brands is already underway in Canada.Starbucks

Joanna Fantozzi

Starbucks has outlined two major priorities for the brand moving forward: ramping up customer loyalty and becoming the foodservice employer of choice during the continued industry labor crisis, the Seattle-based coffee chain made clear in the fourth quarter earnings call with investors on Thursday.

During the call, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson announced that the Seattle-based coffee chain will soon be partnering with external brands in the U.S. so that customers could ostensibly earn Starbucks stars while spending money elsewhere.

“Through blockchain or other innovative technologies, we are exploring how to tokenize Stars,” Johnson said Thursday.  “This will enable customers to exchange value across brands, engage in more per...

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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