Starbucks has over 23,000 stores worldwide, and has converted a number of the locations into being eco-friendly. Starbuck’s business model to become more environmentally friendly has finally paid off. They opened a new location that is the 700th LEED-certified location worldwide, which established Starbucks to be the most eco-friendly company. Starbucks plans to double the amount of LEED-certified locations by the end of 2016, with over 1,200 certified stores.

Starbucks first initiated their plans to convert store locations to be LEED- certified in efforts to rebrand their “chain” image. They hope to win back consumers by producing a “hip” coffee atmosphere where the furniture is slid wood, employees are wearing artisan aprons and siphons LED-equipment. However, even with these efforts, many critics still label Starbucks to be similar to “the Cheesecake Factory” with chain-like atmospheres.

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The Keurig machine has become a home-appliance maker that many consumers envy. However, this year a decline in sales of Keurigs and K-Cups are evident. After closing the third quarter of 2014 up 13 percent, they dropped every quarter since by 22 percent this past summer.

One of the main reasons for this decrease is environmental concerns. The K-Cup pods are un-recyclable, and while Keurig plans to make K-Cups recyclable it will not be available till a distant date. Another reason for this decline is because the new Keurig machines, 2.0, are equipped with DRM technology that prevents customers from using other brand of pods. This limits the variety, and choice of consumers who may prefer other brands of coffee/tea outside of Keurig brands.

Customers have outlined their complaints towards the Keurig, and CEO Brian Kelley has already started to implement new strategies to make improvements. Kelley is hoping to make the Keurig less bulky, less expensive, a better drink selection and servings larger than eight ounces.

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Ballast Point Brewing Company has been acquired by Constellation Brand for $1 billion. Ballast Point first started in San Diego out of a home-brew supply shop. It has a strong indie-brewing tradition and is based in America’s most prominent craft-beer cities.

Constellation Brand is the world’s largest wine producer and owns most of the Mexican beers popular in America like Corona, Negra Modelo. However, even after the acquisition Ballast Point’s ownership disclosed that it “will continue to operate as a stand-alone company with its existing management team and employees running the day-to-day operations.”

This sale continues the latest trend of craft breweries being overtaken by large international companies. By the end of this year, Constellation Brand will now own the 37th largest craft brewery brand.

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Popular clothing brand Urban Outfitters, which also owns Anthropologie and Free People among other brands, has announced that they will be buying Philadelphia’s Vetri Family restaurant group. Over last few years, Urban Outfitters has been integrating food and dining into its stores, with Ilan Hall’s the Gorbals opening in the Urban Outfitter’s complex in Williamsburg. Urban Outfitters cited increased spending in the food industry and the decrease in traffic in actual stores because of e-commerce as issues to turn attention to food and dining within their brand.

The financial details have not  yet been disclosed, but is proposed to be completed by the end of the year. Marc Vetri is one of the the country’s preeminent chefs and his restaurants like Osteria, Alla Spina and Pizzeria Vetri will now be owned by Urban Outfitters. However, operations within the restaurants will not change after the deal. Vetri and his partners will be running all of Urban Outfitter’s food and drink sectors including his restaurants and future expansion strategies.

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