🍔 Axios PM: Fast-food fracas

Mapped: Cross-country conference | Friday, September 01, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Sep 01, 2023 🕶️ Happy long weekend! Today's PM — edited by Noah Bressner — is 491 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for the copy edit.     1 big thing: Fast-food fracas Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios   Fast-food chains are coming under fire from false advertising lawsuits that claim their food doesn't match ads or photos on the menu board, Axios' Kelly Tyko writes. Why it matters: Consumer advocates point to shrinking portion sizes and overzealous marketing teams. The food industry says lawyers are egging on litigious customers. What's happening: 101 class-action lawsuits were filed against food and beverage companies in the first half of the year, according to data from Perkins Coie, a law firm that tracks class-action suits. In 2008, that number was 19. 🔎 Zoom in: A federal judge in Florida ruled last week that a lawsuit against Burger King could move forward. The lawsuit claims that advertisements and photos on store menus show burgers that are about 35% larger than what's available to customers. Taco Bell was sued in July over claims its Crunchwraps and Mexican pizzas contain half as much filling as advertised. McDonald's and Wendy's are facing similar lawsuits. Keep reading.     2. 🐕 Where animal shelters are slammed Data: Shelter Animals Count. Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Animal shelters are being overrun with stray or owner-surrendered pets this year, Axios Chicago's Carrie Shepherd writes. Why it matters: The increase is leading to spiking euthanasia rates across the country. What's happening: Intakes at shelters across the country are expected to reach a three-year high this year, according to the Shelter Animals Count database. Adoptions or returns to owners aren't keeping pace. Zoom in: Cities with high adoption rates have been hosting "Clear the Shelters" promotional events, where adoption fees are waived or free microchips are offered. The Denver Animal Shelter recently hired the department's first social worker in an effort to take a "proactive approach" to pets being surrendered. Keep reading.     A message from Amazon "Amazon opened a door I didn't think was available anymore"     Christine, a mom of five, couldn't find the time or money to get her degree. Amazon helped her jump back in with fully funded tuition and a flexible working schedule. The impact: "Before Amazon, we couldn't afford for me to go to school — with five kids it just wasn't possible." Read Christine's story.     3. Catch me up Data: Axios Research. Graphic: Rahul Mukherjee and Erin Davis/Axios. (Note: Notre Dame is independent for football.) 🏈 Mapped: The Atlantic Coast Conference is adding teams on the West Coast: Stanford, Cal (Berkeley) and SMU will join for the 2024-25 school year. Keep reading. 💵 The economy added 187,000 jobs in August. That's a steady pace but not the rip-roaring job creation that defined much of the pandemic recovery. Go deeper.     4. 📱1 fun thing: FOMO boom Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   An increasing number of recommendation apps are popping up to serve niche audiences, Axios' April Rubin writes. Why it matters: Groups of friends — driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO) on the best of the best — are flocking to siloed apps and services for advice on what to consume. 📚 Users on Goodreads, a book recommendation site owned by Amazon since 2013, have collectively grown more powerful and can make or break book launches. Similar sites have gained traction: There's Letterboxd (movies), Serializd (TV shows), Beli (restaurants) and Untappd (beer). "We are basically living in a world where we have too many options and we are not experts in every domain," said Jinseok Chun, a business professor at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. Keep reading.     A message from Amazon "I've been promoted 3x in just two years"     Since starting at Amazon in 2021, Jessica has been promoted three times. "Being promoted so many times has been a huge boost in pay but also in my confidence," she said. The story: Amazon offers free technical training programs to help employees like Jessica move into higher paying roles. Read more.   📬 Thanks for reading. Please invite your friends to join. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: