http://www.ratinghq.comRatinghq Category Comments Feed for BeveragesRatingHQ (http://www.ratinghq.com)enSONIC: An American Tradition Still On The Go SONIC® Drive-In Carhops have been serving up beloved American food and signature SONIC® favorites at "the speed of sound" since 1953. SONIC is parked in a very prominent place in the annals of drive-in history. Not only did we develop innovations in the drive-in concept, but we are one of the few remaining drive-in chains left in America. In an industry overwrought with automation, SONIC keeps the personal touch. Carhops still deliver food prepared-to-order right to your car. We still make the best burgers and malts, plus signature goodies like Extra-Long Cheese Coneys and Chocolate Cream Pie Shakes. Our appeal doesn't necessarily hail from the past, but from an energy and personality that has thrived by surprising and delighting generations of Americans. Click below to see our story. (sonic.com)http://ratinghq.com/4-133/sonic.html2008-07-10 08:03:17Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 15,012 stores in 44 countries. Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, snacks, and items such as mugs and coffee beans. Through the Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the company's products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also sold at grocery stores. From Starbucks' founding in Seattle as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer, the company has expanded rapidly. In the 1990s, Starbucks was opening a new store every workday, a pace that continued into the 2000s. Domestic growth has since slowed, although the company continues to expand in foreign markets and is opening seven stores a day worldwide.[citation needed] The first location outside of the United States and Canada was established in 1990s, and they now constitute almost one third of Starbucks' stores. By late March 2008, Starbucks had more than 16,226 stores worldwide, including 11,434 stores located in the United States. On July 1, 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 under-performing company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks also cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its bid to re-energize the brand and boost its profit. Of the new cuts, 550 of the positions are layoffs and the rest are unfilled jobs. These closings and layoffs have effectively ended the period of prolific growth and expansion of the company which began in the mid-1990s.http://ratinghq.com/4-12588/starbucks.html2008-09-23 22:23:40Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. The chain has over 1,000 casual dining restaurants, mostly located in the United States. Chili's is currently owned by Brinker International, which also owns On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy, and Romano's Macaroni Grill.http://ratinghq.com/4-12595/chilis-bar-and-grill.html2008-09-29 06:32:01