The Zeitgeist: February 7, 2025

Today's Edition: Super Bowl, Eggs and Robot Pets

February 07, 2025

Good morning! The Super Bowl hype is in full swing, with brands rolling out their ads early and a record-breaking $1.39 billion in legal bets expected before kickoff.

In the business world, Chipotle just spiced things up with a major milestone, opening 304 new locations in 2024—its biggest expansion year yet. Over at Starbucks, a brand glow-up is brewing! CEO Brian Niccol is on a mission to bring back that cozy, community coffeehouse vibe, hoping to reconnect with customers and reignite the magic.

Meanwhile, bargain hunters may have to shell out more for their Shein and Temu hauls, as the U.S. Postal Service is cutting off parcel acceptance from China and Hong Kong. Looks like those ultra-cheap deals might not be so ultra-cheap anymore!

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

The big star of this year’s Super Bowl campaigns is…you

For one of the biggest fan-focused days of the year, brands like Taco Bell and Doritos are bringing fans even closer to the big game action.

By Diana Bradley | Campaign US

Food, fans, and feel-good causes: How brands are activating in New Orleans around the Super Bowl

While everyone has their eye on this Sunday’s ads, some brands are finding other ways to win over the spotlight - from unique food offerings to giving back efforts.

By Jennimai Nguyen | Marketing Brew

McDonald's Shamrock Shake returns — and so does Grimace's uncle

McDonald's is bringing back the mascot Uncle O'Grimacey, Grimace's uncle, to promote the seasonal milkshake.

By Amelia Lucas | CNBC

Also, Heinz’s Mustard x Mustard collab, The White Lotus x Away’s limited edition collection and PepsiCo X Wing Super Bowl delivery partnership.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

For America's lonely seniors, robot pets are more than a novelty

While an epidemic of isolation and loneliness rises, a new type of “furry friend” is changing the game for seniors.

By Neal Broverman | Mashable

Want eggs with that? It’ll cost more

The price of eggs has skyrocketed nationwide - and in an economy where every egg is golden, restaurants are raising prices in response.

By Cassandra Cassidy | Morning Brew

Barnes & Noble to add 60 new stores as bookstore revival picks up speed

Barnes & Noble opened 57 stores in 2024 and plans to open at least 60 in 2025, part of a surprising revival for brick-and-mortar bookshops.

By Dave Lawler | Axios

Striding out with the new breed of Gen-Z walking groups

Gen Z and millennial walking groups are making hiking a social, community-driven trend, boosted by TikTok, a desire for IRL connection, and the sober-curious movement.

By Leah Quinn | Financial Times

Corporate

Opinion: Corporate America isn't abandoning DEI — it's just rebranding it

A handful of companies say they are retreating on diversity, equity and inclusion, but watch closely: They are likely to quietly continue their commitments.

By Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow | The Los Angeles Times

Fewer Americans Are Quitting Their Jobs

New data show the number of workers who left their jobs last year hit the lowest level since 2020

By Matt Grossman | The Wall Street Journal

Tech layoffs 2025: Salesforce to slash 1,000 jobs as it joins Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and more in cutting roles

We’re just seven weeks into the year, but a number of high-profile technology giants have already begun trimming their ranks. Here’s what to know.

By Michael Grothaus | Fast Company

Walmart's latest acquisition is a shopping mall in Pennsylvania

Walmart's purchase was an all-cash $34 million deal, according to CBL, a shopping mall owner that sold the property and is an example of the unexpected ways that malls are being redeveloped and repurposed.

By Melissa Repko | CNBC

Commerce

Half of wealthy Gen Zers and millennials admit to ‘digital shoplifting,’ rationalizing it with inflation and influencer hacks

Gen Zers and millennials are duping online merchants into refunds for products they’ve received and are keeping, and the consequences for it are slim for the customer, but not the merchant, who loses 3.75 times the transaction cost every time.

By Sydney Lake | Fortune

Trump’s tariffs could derail online shopping in the U.S.

Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports threatens to drive up e-commerce costs, squeeze businesses reliant on Chinese supply chains, and push prices higher for American consumers.

By Chris Stokel-Walker | Fast Company

As Big Retailers Pull Back on D.E.I., What Happens to Emerging Black Sellers?

Black-owned brands got a foot in the door through accelerator programs at big retailers like Target and Amazon. Now they worry the door might be closing.

By Jordyn Holman and Julie Creswell | The New York Times

Chick-fil-A is using drones and ‘game film’ to study how to beat its drive-thru order record

One Rockford, Illinois location boosted its drive-thru sales by 50% in 2022 after enlisting the help of Chick-fil-A’s Film Studies unit.

by Morning Brew and Molly Liebergall | Fortune

Connections

Feed intelligence

How a TikTok Code Word is Exposing the Limits of Online Organizing

While phrases like “cute winter boots” or “Dior bags” are driving more views to political content, its virality comes from trend-chasing rather than any success in evading TikTok’s alleged censorship.

By CT Jones | Rolling Stone

Influencer Emma Chamberlain launches LA cafe

The YouTuber collaborated with her management firm, UTA Ventures, to launch the first brick-and-mortar location for her canned coffee brand, reflecting UTA’s ongoing strategy of investing in talent-driven ventures and startups.

By Lisa Jennings | Restaurant Business

Hollywood wants its next 'Beast Games'

Following MrBeast’s streaming debut, Hollywood is now looking to social media creators for unscripted content.

By Lucia Moses and Geoff Weiss | Business Insider

Mom Micro Influencers Might Be the NFL’s MVPs

They can play a pivotal role in reshaping family perceptions on football and driving brand engagement.

By Alden Reiman | AdWeek

Media Moves:

  • Lisa Eadicicco, formerly Senior Editor at CNET, is now a Tech Editor at CNN Business.

  • Stacey Klein was promoted from her role as Senior White House Producer to the Washington Senior Director of Newsgathering for NBC News. She starts her new role on February 24.

  • Peter Wallsten, currently the Investigations Director at The Washington Post, will join The New York Times as the Accountability and Enterprise Editor on February 18.

  • Former “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd is leaving NBC News after nearly two decades at the network.

  • The Los Angeles Times offered voluntary buyouts to employees with two or more years of tenure this week, citing ongoing difficult economic challenges in a challenging media landscape.

Also... read what happens when a former NFL player becomes your coworker.

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