A View From My Chair
by Mike Stafford, Chairman of the Board 2025
February 26, 2025
February 26, 2025
BIZ NEWS OF THE WEEK
Can You Say McCompetition? – It’s from China. Mixue Bingcheng and has passed McDonald’s for total number of stores with over 45,000. However, McDonald’s is a worldwide brand while Mixue has 90% of its stores in China. If Mixue ever does expand to the U.S. it will face stiff competition although their low pricing may help.
CNN
Albertsons and Kroger Together Again – No, it’s not more merger talk. Albertsons has named a new CEO to replace their retiring one and Kroger’s CEO just resigned.
Supermarket News
What the Frappe? – Starbucks is not just firing corporate staff but it’s firing frappes, too. Here’s a list of 13 drinks that left us. Starbucks plans to continue its menu reduction targeting elimination of 30% of items.
Today
UCC UPDATE
State of the County Luncheon – Today featuring LA County Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger along with LAEDC’s CEO Stephen Cheung. (Porter Ranch Country Club)
LAPD Captains Luncheon – April 2 (CBS Radford Studios)
Inspirational Women’s Awards Luncheon – May 8 (nominations due March 3)
CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Burbank (burbankchamber.org)
Today – Ribbon Cutting – Conquer All Things Gym 4:30pm
March 12 – Monthly Coffee Chat featuring Poquito Mas CEO
Calabasas (calabasaschamber.org)
March 11 – Community Education Forum 9am Zoom Dr. Jennifer Aguilar,
Principal Louisville HS.
March 18 – Ribbon Cutting – Logix Credit Union 5 year Anniversary
Celebration 23741 Calabasas Rd. #B, Calabasas 4:30-6:30pm.
Filipino-American (faccgla.org)
March 22 – President’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament Los Robles Green Golf Course 12-7pm.
Granada Hills (granadachamber.com)
Ongoing – Farmer’s Market Fridays
North Valley Regional (northridgechamber.org)
April 23 - Heroes in Education Gala
Northwest Valley (chatsworthchamber.com)
March 8 – Tacos and Bingo Los Toros Chatsworth 6-10pm
Panorama City (panoramachamber.com)
March 11 - Next Monthly Meeting at U.S Bank 14500 Roscoe.
San Fernando City (facebook.com/sfcitychamber)
City of San Fernando Small Business Assistance Program application period open thru March 12.
San Fernando Outdoor Market 2025 Market Dates
* Free To Attend
• March - (No Markets) - Off Season Due To Weather
• Saturday April 26, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday May 31, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday June 28, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday July 26, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday August 23, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday September 27, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday October 25, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday December 6, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday January 24, 2026 (5pm to 9pm)
Sherman Oaks-Encino (shermanoaksencinochamber.org)
March 13 – Lunch Break Live – Antonio’s Pizza 13619 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, 11:30-1:30pm
Studio City (studiocitychamber.com)
Be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market on the weekend
Located on Ventura Place, between Radford and Laurel Canyon
Toluca Lake (tolucalakechamber.com)
March 13 – Tolucan Times 1 Year Anniversary Forman’s Whiskey Tavern 10149 W. Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake 6-8pm
West Valley-Warner Center (woodlandhillscc.net)
March 7 – Member Orientation at 8 AM at the Chamber office.
May 10 – Valley Asian and Pacific Islander Cultural Festival at Pierce College.
Winnetka (winnetkachamberofcommerce.com)
March 10 – Membership Meeting
Can You Say McCompetition? – It’s from China. Mixue Bingcheng and has passed McDonald’s for total number of stores with over 45,000. However, McDonald’s is a worldwide brand while Mixue has 90% of its stores in China. If Mixue ever does expand to the U.S. it will face stiff competition although their low pricing may help.
CNN
Albertsons and Kroger Together Again – No, it’s not more merger talk. Albertsons has named a new CEO to replace their retiring one and Kroger’s CEO just resigned.
Supermarket News
What the Frappe? – Starbucks is not just firing corporate staff but it’s firing frappes, too. Here’s a list of 13 drinks that left us. Starbucks plans to continue its menu reduction targeting elimination of 30% of items.
Today
UCC UPDATE
State of the County Luncheon – Today featuring LA County Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger along with LAEDC’s CEO Stephen Cheung. (Porter Ranch Country Club)
LAPD Captains Luncheon – April 2 (CBS Radford Studios)
Inspirational Women’s Awards Luncheon – May 8 (nominations due March 3)
CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Burbank (burbankchamber.org)
Today – Ribbon Cutting – Conquer All Things Gym 4:30pm
March 12 – Monthly Coffee Chat featuring Poquito Mas CEO
Calabasas (calabasaschamber.org)
March 11 – Community Education Forum 9am Zoom Dr. Jennifer Aguilar,
Principal Louisville HS.
March 18 – Ribbon Cutting – Logix Credit Union 5 year Anniversary
Celebration 23741 Calabasas Rd. #B, Calabasas 4:30-6:30pm.
Filipino-American (faccgla.org)
March 22 – President’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament Los Robles Green Golf Course 12-7pm.
Granada Hills (granadachamber.com)
Ongoing – Farmer’s Market Fridays
North Valley Regional (northridgechamber.org)
April 23 - Heroes in Education Gala
Northwest Valley (chatsworthchamber.com)
March 8 – Tacos and Bingo Los Toros Chatsworth 6-10pm
Panorama City (panoramachamber.com)
March 11 - Next Monthly Meeting at U.S Bank 14500 Roscoe.
San Fernando City (facebook.com/sfcitychamber)
City of San Fernando Small Business Assistance Program application period open thru March 12.
San Fernando Outdoor Market 2025 Market Dates
* Free To Attend
• March - (No Markets) - Off Season Due To Weather
• Saturday April 26, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday May 31, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday June 28, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday July 26, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday August 23, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday September 27, 2025 (6pm to 10pm)
• Saturday October 25, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday December 6, 2025 (5pm to 9pm)
• Saturday January 24, 2026 (5pm to 9pm)
Sherman Oaks-Encino (shermanoaksencinochamber.org)
March 13 – Lunch Break Live – Antonio’s Pizza 13619 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, 11:30-1:30pm
Studio City (studiocitychamber.com)
Be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market on the weekend
Located on Ventura Place, between Radford and Laurel Canyon
Toluca Lake (tolucalakechamber.com)
March 13 – Tolucan Times 1 Year Anniversary Forman’s Whiskey Tavern 10149 W. Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake 6-8pm
West Valley-Warner Center (woodlandhillscc.net)
March 7 – Member Orientation at 8 AM at the Chamber office.
May 10 – Valley Asian and Pacific Islander Cultural Festival at Pierce College.
Winnetka (winnetkachamberofcommerce.com)
March 10 – Membership Meeting