The Girl Scouts are retiring two cookie flavors after this season | CNN Business
CNN - Jan 7th, 2025
The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced the discontinuation of two cookie flavors, S’mores and Toast-Yay!, as the 2024 cookie season begins. The S’mores flavor was introduced in 2017, while the Toast-Yay! debuted in 2021. This decision follows the retirement of the Raspberry Rally flavor. The organization aims to avoid the resale frenzy seen with the Raspberry Rally, where boxes were sold for up to $30 each online. Alongside these changes, GSUSA is facing a price increase, with cookie boxes potentially costing $7 due to inflation and rising production costs. This marks a continued trend of increasing prices, following a recent hike to $6 per box in 2023. The cookies, including popular varieties like Thin Mints and Samoas, will be available at booths and online starting February 21 through April, providing essential revenue for the organization.
The Girl Scouts organization, facing financial challenges, is also increasing membership dues significantly over the next few years to bolster its finances. Despite generating $38 million in revenue from nearly 2 million members in 2023, GSUSA is projecting a $5.6 million operating loss in 2024. Efforts to balance their budget include supplementing dues with philanthropy and licensing deals, though these have not completely offset financial difficulties. These developments highlight the organization's ongoing struggle to maintain financial stability while navigating changing market dynamics and production costs, impacting both its membership and product offerings.
RATING
The article provides a concise and informative overview of the changes in Girl Scout cookie offerings and the financial challenges faced by the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). It presents key facts about the discontinuation of cookie flavors and the rationale behind price increases. The article is generally factual and clear, though it lacks depth in some areas, such as providing more detailed explanations for the flavor retirements and financial challenges. The sources used are not explicitly mentioned, which affects the perceived credibility of the information. While the article maintains a neutral tone, it could benefit from more transparency regarding the data sources and a wider range of perspectives on the financial situation of the GSUSA.
RATING DETAILS
The article appears to be factually accurate, providing specific details about the discontinuation of certain Girl Scout cookie flavors and the recent price adjustments. For instance, it accurately states that the 'S’mores' and 'Toast-Yay!' cookies are being retired, and it provides historical context regarding the pricing of these cookies. However, the article lacks specific references or citations to support some of its claims, such as the financial losses projected for the organization, which could be strengthened by additional data or sources. Despite this, the overall information aligns with publicly available data and recent news reports about the Girl Scouts, contributing to a high score for accuracy.
The article is relatively balanced in its presentation of the information, focusing on both the discontinuation of cookie flavors and the broader financial context affecting the Girl Scouts. However, it primarily presents the perspective of the GSUSA without exploring alternative viewpoints or reactions from other stakeholders, such as consumers or local troop leaders. While it does mention the reasoning behind price increases and membership dues adjustments, it would benefit from including more diverse opinions or expert analysis on the financial strategies of the organization. This would provide a more comprehensive view of the challenges and decisions faced by the GSUSA.
The article is well-written, with clear language and a logical structure. It effectively conveys the main points without unnecessary jargon or complexity. The flow of information, from the announcement of cookie flavor discontinuations to the discussion of financial challenges, is coherent and easy to follow. The tone remains neutral and professional throughout, avoiding emotive language that could skew the reader's perception. However, the article could enhance clarity by incorporating direct quotes or more detailed explanations of certain points, such as the reasons for flavor retirements, to provide a fuller understanding of the issues discussed.
One of the article's weaknesses is the lack of explicit sourcing. While it mentions a GSUSA spokesperson and references data such as membership dues and revenue figures, it does not provide specific citations or links to verify these claims. This lack of attribution makes it difficult to assess the credibility and reliability of the information presented. Ideally, the article should reference specific reports, statements, or data sources, such as financial reports or official GSUSA announcements. This would enhance the trustworthiness of the article by allowing readers to verify the information independently.
The article provides some context regarding the financial situation of the GSUSA and the changes in cookie offerings, but it lacks full transparency in certain areas. For example, it does not disclose the methodology behind the financial projections or specify the sources of its data. Additionally, while it mentions the spokesperson's comments, it does not provide direct quotes or detailed explanations of the pricing strategy or membership dues adjustments. More explicit disclosure of the sources and rationale behind the financial figures and organizational decisions would improve the article's transparency and credibility.
