In the face of stiffening competition from "value" competitors such as McDonald's and 7-Eleven, Starbucks is returning to the "romance and theatre" experience that was so essential to its rapid rise. One result will be a return to grinding fresh beans every time a pot of coffee is brewed rather than mashing up a batch in the morning, Julie Jargon has learned. Customers will once again smell fresh coffee grounds and hear grinders whirring all day. Depending on traffic, baristas will now use 24-, 12- or 8-minute "cadences" to brew coffee so that no variety runs out. And instead …

Nestlé Purina PetCare wants to makes sense of the unruly dog-and-cat accessory aisle by pushing out generic-brand toys, beds, bowls and odor products with its new Purina Pet Gear line. The products, which are color-coordinated and available in three palettes, will launch this summer at Kmart, Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Stop & Shop and Giant, Becky Ebenkamp reports. "It's a highly fragmented category," says Rebecca Smith, director of new products and business development for the brand. "We bring 80 years' experience and expertise to that space and consumers trust in us." There are three …

As expected, the Obama plan to overhaul financial regulations includes a proposal to create a new agency to protect consumers of mortgages, credit cards and other financial products. The overall plan is built around five key points that are detailed in the draft of an 85-page white paper obtained by the Post, Binyamin Appelbaum and David Cho report. President Obama is scheduled to announce the plan today. One element likely to provoke fierce debate is the establishment of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency that would have broad authority to overhaul a tangled mess of federal regulations, …

My mother had about six alcoholic drinks a year, and half of them were Drambuie. And that, right there, is Drambuie's problem. CEO Phil Parnell is trying to re-introduce the after-dinner drink to 28-to-35 year olds who associate it with their grandparents. The AKQA agency's Tom Bedecarre has some free advice for Parnell. First, forget about the rich heritage of the brand (its Scotch whisky, herbs, spices and honey recipe dates back to 1745) and play up the tall new bottle design and "long drinks" -- cocktails served in tall glasses over ice. Second, come up with a …

Best Buy may have cut advertising expenses as same-store sales and profits fell (while market share improved) in the first quarter, but it was also busy concocting a TV spot that directly challenges Wal-Mart clerks' knowledge about the products they sell. In "True Stories," a Best Buy associate talks about a customer who calls with some questions about a TV. It turns out he's a Wal-Mart employee, Natalie Zmuda reports. "You're obviously calling us because we're knowledgeable," the associate tells the Wal-Mart guy. "We've got the price match guarantee, so why don't you come on in?"

The super-premium line, which rhymes with "sir," features products that contain ingredients such as natural oils, extracts and botanicals.