Costa Coffee is to end the Costa Book Awards after 50 years | Photo credit: Costa Coffee

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Costa Coffee closes chapter on Book Awards after 50 years 

Costa Coffee is to end the Costa Book Awards with immediate effect, meaning that the 2021 Costa Book Awards held in February 2022 was the 50th and final awards. Established in 1971 as the Whitbread Book Awards, the UK’s largest coffee chain took ownership and financing of the awards in 2005, helping to celebrate some of the best books written by authors from across the UK and Ireland. The total prize fund for the awards in 2021 was £60,000. 

"We would like to thank all those who have been involved and supported the Costa Book Awards over the last 50 years as we close this chapter," Costa said in a statement.

Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day raises $1.8m for US children’s hospitals  
 

US Donut and coffee chain Dunkin’ has announced that $1.8m will be donated to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to support its efforts to support children facing hunger or illness. On May 25, participating Dunkin’ restaurants donated $1 from every iced coffee purchased to the foundation, with over 85 local grants to be awarded a share of the funding.  

Panera opens digital-only store for delivery and collection 
 

Panera Bread has opened the first ‘Panera To Go’ outlet in Chicago, USA, as part of a newly trialed store format catering for rapid collection and delivery orders. Panera To Go is a digital-only bakery-cafe, designed for densely populated areas unsuitable for a dine-in bakery-cafe, operating a reduced front of house where guests and delivery drivers can easily collect orders. As of the end of 2021, 81% of Panera’s sales were via one of Panera’s off-premise channels. 

Starbucks KSA opens its first all female operated drive-thru in Saudi Arabia

Alshaya Starbucks KSA has launched its first all Saudi female operated drive-thru outlet in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia as part of a long-term commitment to increase its female workforce to 30% by the end of 2022. The Alshaya Group-operated Starbucks chain has plans to launch further drive-thru stores over the coming years in Saudi Arabia. Women currently represent 20% of Starbucks KSA’s workforce.  
 

Oatly introduces electric vehicle fleet in the US 
 

Swedish oat drink company Oatly has introduced a fleet of five electric powered, heavy-duty trucks to the company’s ground transportation in North America. Following success utilising electric trucks in European transportation operations since 2020, Oatly now expands the initiative to include an initial fleet of five electric trucks in the US. The company aims to shift to 100% sustainable ground transport for its products and materials by 2029.