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The government’s aim of achieving world-class animal welfare will evaporate unless it can prevent low-welfare imports from entering the UK, according to a new report.
The UK, as part of the EU, currently enjoys some of the highest standards for farm animal welfare in the world.
But these welfare standards risk being "diluted or sacrificed" after Brexit unless assurances given by government ministers become firm commitments written into UK law.
This is the message of a report published by the Food Research Collaboration at City, University of London. It spells out the gaps in animal welfare standards between the UK and its likely future trading partners.
It specifies the measures that need to be put in place to protect animal welfare – and livestock farmers – as the UK leaves the EU.
Influential voices are already arguing in favour of weakening UK standards to facilitate trade deals, unilaterally removing import tariffs, and ending farm subsidies.
Lawyer and report author Peter Stevenson, said animal welfare will "evaporate" unless it can prevent lower-standards imports from entering the UK market.
He said trade and subsidies will be the "key determinants" of post-Brexit farm animal welfare.
Mr Stevenson also explained that if the UK is flooded with low-standard imports “farmers may, understandably, resist welfare improvements and could even press for existing standards to be lowered. Subsidies must be used to support farmers who wish to attain genuinely high welfare standards.”
US food standards
The US Commerce Secretary has already stated that the UK would have to adopt US food standards to secure a trade deal after Brexit.
This means that food items currently outlawed in the EU, including hormone-treated beef, dairy and pork products from animals raised using growth promoters, and chlorine-washed chicken would have to be accepted into the UK.
The US also uses much higher levels of antibiotics in livestock production than the UK.
In terms of mg of active ingredient of antibiotic per tonne of livestock unit, use in US pigs is about twice as high as in UK pigs, and use in US cattle is about nine to sixteen times as high as in UK cattle.
According to Compassion in World Farming, importing meat from these animals could increase the risk of UK consumers being affected by antibiotic-resistant foodborne diseases.
Professor Tim Lang, Policy Advisor to the Food Research Collaboration added: “The animal welfare movement is one of the best organised lobbies in the UK. They have extracted important assurances from the Government – but so far nothing that is legally binding.”


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Angry Orchard debuts new hard cider variety
CINCINNATI — Angry Orchard announced the national release of Angry Orchard Green Apple hard cider. The cider, which will appear on store shelves this week, has the tartness of a green apple and is the first year-round style of Angry Orchard hard cider made with American apples, the company said.
"With its bright, fresh apple aroma and notes of honeydew melon and kiwi, Angry Orchard Green Apple is a refreshing and complex cider balanced by tartness characteristic of green apples," said David Sipes, cider maker for Angry Orchard. "For Green Apple, we explored apples from a few different regions, but we ultimately were inspired by the flavors found in culinary apples grown in Washington State. These apple varietals boast a fresh apple flavor balanced by unmistakable apple tartness, perfect for our Green Apple hard cider."
Angry Orchard Green Apple is available year-round in six-packs for a SRP of $7.99 to $9.99. Other hard ciders made by the company include Angry Orchard Elderflower, available in April 2014, and Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple, a seasonal cider available during the colder months of the year.
Ruffles heats up store shelves with latest addition
PLANO, TX — Ruffles, a brand from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, announced that Ruffles Deep Ridged Classic Hot Wing potato chips has joined its product lineup. The introduction of the new chips is part of an ongoing partnership between PepsiCo and restaurant franchise Buffalo Wild Wings, which was announced last December.
Ruffles Deep Ridged Classic Hot Wings chips are now available in two sizes: a 2.5-oz. bag for a suggested retail price of $1.49; and a 7.5-oz. bag for SRP of $4.29. The new Ruffles Buffalo Ranch Dip is also available nationwide in a 15-oz. jar for a SRP of $3.69.
Sunny Delight teams up with SodaStream
CINCINNATI and AIRPORT CITY, Israel — SodaStream, a manufacturer of home beverage carbonation systems, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Sunny Delight Beverages Co., a producer of juice-based drinks. The companies will co-develop flavors like SunnyD Tangy Original Orange and Orange-Strawberry exclusively for the SodaStream system.
"We are excited that consumers will soon be able to enjoy carbonated versions of our SunnyD flavors made at home with the SodaStream system," said Billy Cyr, President and CEO of Sunny Delight. "This partnership highlights our commitment to evolving our business to reflect the changing trends within the beverage industry, providing consumers with new and innovative ways to enjoy SunnyD."
The products are expected to debut in the United States during the second half of 2014. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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HTC Desire 8
Some last minute specifications for the upcoming Desire 8 fill in some of the blanks from before. Assuming they’re accurate, we should see a 5.5-inch 720p HD display, 8GB storage, 1.5GB RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and microSD expansion. Powered by Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the phone is alleged to feature a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor.
Samsung Galaxy S5
With only a couple days left to go before it’s announced, the Galaxy S5 is again rumored with a fingerprint sensor. This time, however, we’re hearing that the sensor will be built into the display, making it available anywhere it’s touched. What’s more, the Galaxy S5 will purportedly show your real-time fingerprint on the display as you swipe about.
HTC M8 Mini
HTC’s smaller take on the flagship HTC One experience might be a shiny one, if not a small one. New images hitting the web this week have the device as offering a nice, metallic-like finish. The phone is set to provide a 4.5-inch display. Remember when that was considered huge?
Nexus 8 and Android 4.5
Google could wait until July to introduce the next build of Android, which is assumed to be 4.5. According to an unnamed Google Dublin source, the Nexus 8 will debut in July with latest version of the platform. As for the Nexus 7, the tipster says it’s being replaced by the 8-inch device.
NVIDIA looks to be testing a new Tegra K1 version of its Tegra Note tablet, should newly discovered benchmarks prove correct. Shown having a 1920×1200 resolution display, the device was running Android 4.4.2 at speeds of 2.1GHz. Other specs outed here include 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.
Amazon Android-powered set-top box
Amazon could introduce its Android-powered set-top box as soon as March, according to a new Re/code report. Details are expected to include watching of TV and Amazon content as well as access to apps and other service providers.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony’s flagship tablet experience for 2014 could debut as soon as Mobile World Congress. Specifications tipped by evleaks include a 10.1-inch (1920 x 1200) Triluminos display, a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 6,000mAh battery. Powered by Android 4.4 KitKat, it’s purported to be 6.4mm thick and waterproof.
Huawei’s first crack at the smartwatch space is less than a week away so it makes sense that it would leak online. A photo posted to Weibo shows the device as having more of a wrist-band appearance than that of a watch; it’s not unlike LG’s Lifeband Touch, Fitband Flex, or Jawbone Up.


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Statistics South Africa has released its latest report on liquidations and bankruptcies, with data showing a sharp annual increase in liquidations across the country.
216 companies were liquidated in March 2021, up from 178 the month before – a jump of 21%. Voluntary liquidations increased by 61 cases and forced liquidations by 10 cases.
This is 49% more than the total liquidations recorded in March 2020. The report also shows that the total number of liquidations increased by 18.9% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Liquidation refers to the winding-up of the affairs of a corporation or private company when liabilities exceed assets and it can be resolved by voluntary action or by court order.
The table below highlights the categories of companies that reported the most liquidations in the first quarter of 2021.
Of all sectors, finance, insurance, real estate, business services (77 liquidations), trade, catering and accommodation (47) and industry (10) are the hardest hit.
Commenting on the data, Lings Naidoo, co-founder of BeyondCOVID, said it’s not that more and more companies suddenly find themselves in trouble, but that many companies closed in March of this year and that ‘Small and medium-sized businesses are likely to struggle for several months before they have to shut down, if not longer.
Launched last year during the harsh national lockdown, the BeyondCOVID Business Survey, conducted by management consulting firm Redflank, aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on SMEs.
“Our research has shown that small, micro and medium enterprises, in general, are 26 times more likely to close their doors during times of economic upheaval than their corporate counterparts,” Naidoo said.
26% of SMEs that took part in the survey had to close during the lockdown, temporarily or permanently, shows the BeyondCOVID survey.
In addition, 54% of respondents say they work below their usual capacity and a third said they need financing to continue the business.
Read: The average net salary in South Africa right now


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Update: The capable (not to mention iPhone 5- and Retina-aware) subway scheduler app NextStop has been updated to include the realtime info for the relevant lines. It's a much prettier and effective way to get at this info than the MTA's app, which should be considered a beta at best and a techno...
Have you ever been out and about with your cell phone, needed some information, and looked it up right there on the spot? You're not alone: The Pew Internet Research Project has released a report that says more than half of US cell phone owners have used their devices to get information they ne...
Game Center is almost out in consumers' hands, but that hasn't stopped the folks at OpenFeint from pushing forward on their unofficial social network for gamers. PlayTime is a newly-announced feature of the third-party social networking software that will allow players on both iOS and Android to pla...
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LONDON, Ontario, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TheBullionBrokers.com is preparing for a 48-hour sale where the company will sell up to 1000 ounces of recognized silver bullion rounds and 20 ounces of recognized gold bullion rounds at spot price. The precious metal markets over the past year have been an increasingly hot commodity due to the world's economic uncertainty that has been playing out.
The Bullion Brokers is a spin-off of another company that will try its hand at online marketing of its bullion products. The official website is said to be launching in December but the company needed to test the deliverability of their products within their order process before completing the build out of the remaining portion of their operating systems.
TheBullionBrokers.com is set to be a monthly membership-based online distributor of precious metals at close to wholesale pricing when the company officially launches in December of this year. This 48-hour sale is set up for anyone that wishes to participate, but limit restrictions will apply.
The Bullion Brokers will commence the sale of this bullion at 9am Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 in order to test their shipping system and it will end on Friday, October 14th, 2011 at 9am EST unless the company sells out prior to the announced closing time. Customers that wish to participate in the sale are urged to read the entire FAQ page of the company's website before proceeding with an order.
"There are limit restrictions on the bullion," says CEO David Wood. "The entire purpose of us selling this bullion at spot is to get a number of orders in sales for testing our processing and shipping arrangements. The limits are minimum 10 and a maximum of 50 ounces of silver bullion and because of the limited availability of our gold supplies until November at this time we will only be offering one ounce of gold per customer at spot value at this time." Further restrictions include United States and Canadian customers only.
All bullion being sold during the 48 hour period is recognized bullion such as Canadian Maples and American Eagles. Once again all interested participants must read the FAQ page of the company website before ordering. For further details please visit http://www.TheBullionBrokers.com.
TheBullionBrokers.com is an online membership-based bullion dealer at below wholesale pricing.
This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.


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Jordan Is Set to Release Air Jordan 6 “Gatorade”
Inspired from Michael Jordan’s commercial.
Jordan Brand has plans of releasing an Air Jordan 6 completely inspired from Michael Jordan’s Gatorade commercial- appropriately naming it “Gatorade.” The shoe consists of a green suede upper along orange on the midsole and a white outsole.
These are set to launch via Jordan retailers on October 28 for approximately $190 USD.
Photograph via Hypebeast


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AT&T today unveiled three new shared data plans aimed at businesses, offering 30GB, 40GB, and 50GB of data, along with unlimited calls and texts.
The plans, which begin at $300, also come alongside new Mobile Share - Data only and Business Pooled Nation for Data plans for business customers.
The new plans make it even easier and more affordable to work or play on the go, whether that be taking mobile payments, controlling inventory, downloading videos, managing fleets, or navigating unfamiliar streets.
For consumers, AT&T's new plans are limited to 10 devices. Businesses can add 15 devices for 30GB plans, 20 devices for 40GB plans, and 25 devices for 50GB plans.
Additional devices, such as iPads and basic phones, can be added for an extra monthly fee, and AT&T also requires the same $30 per smartphone that customers must pay for other data plans. A 50GB plan with 10 smartphones would run approximately $800 per month or $1250 per month for 25 smartphones.
As for Mobile Share - Data, businesses and consumers can now purchase data only plans for tablets and laptops that range from 4GB to 50GB ($30 to $335 per month), and with Business Pooled Nation for Data, businesses in need of more than 25 devices are able to purchase data buckets from 300MB to 10GB.
Previously, AT&T's plans maxed out at 20GB of data for $200 per month.


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Ease of Doing Business for MSMEs: E-commerce sellers on marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, and others sold goods worth Rs 32,000 crore during festive sales this year, up 23 per cent from the previous year’s sale. The growth rate, however, was the second slowest since the 20 per cent YoY growth from 2016 to 2017. The festive sales’ gross merchandise value (GMV) growth rate for the following years was 150 per cent (2017-18), 27 per cent (2018-19), and 37 per cent (2019-20), data from the management consultancy firm RedSeer’s latest report on e-commerce festive sales showed. Over 8.5 lakh Amazon sellers and more than 3.75 lakh Flipkart sellers participated during the sales this year.
The data was compiled based on sales from October 2 to October 10. The report, citing expert discussions and RedSeer analysis, said Flipkart Group emerged as the ‘leader’ during the festive sales with a 64 per cent GMV share followed by Amazon’s 28 per cent, and 8 per cent by other platforms. The 23 per cent GMV growth this year was led by key themes including a resurgence in fashion sales while the mobile category dominated with 46 per cent GMV share. Purchases from Tier-II cities dominated the sale with around 61 per cent shoppers followed by around 22 per cent from metros, and around 17 per cent from Tier-I cities.
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“The festive season this year has been one that is driven by a larger theme of affordability. Constructs were built carefully by the platforms through BNPL (buy now, pay later) schemes and bank tie-ups as well as seller driven discounts to serve up the most competitive prices of top leading brands and serve the aspiring customer,” said Ujjwal Chaudhry, associate partner at RedSeer Consulting in a statement.
Overall, there was a 1.2X increase in the total number of shoppers this year to 62 million from 52 million during last year’s sale. With the festive season last till new year, the sellers on e-commerce and social commerce platforms are offering additional discounts, for higher sales volume, up to 40 per cent or more additional discounts on the back of “a favourable perspective of forecasted volume sales and growth during the upcoming festive season,” RedSeer had said in a recent report this month.


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January 11, 2011
Mobile shopping is exploding with one-third of shoppers surveyed using mobile phones to visit retailer websites, according to a ForeSee Results survey.
Another 25 per cent of shoppers surveyed said they plan to use their smartphone for mobile shopping, according to ForeSee’s survey of 10,000 visitors to the biggest U.S. e-commerce websites during the Christmas 2010 shopping period.
This means more than half of all online shoppers are either already using or plan to use their smartphones for retail purposes and retailers must embrace mobile shopping or be left behind.
Ethical Bean not only offers mobile ordering so consumers can order and pay for a coffee while in transit (for later pickup at an Ethical Bean cafe), but has also included QR, or quick read codes on all its supermarket coffee packages so consumers can get detailed information the product while standing in the grocery aisle.
By simply picking up a bag of coffee and using their smartphone to read the QR code, consumers have quick, easy access to a wealth of information including not only on the country and district where that particular bag of coffee was grown, but the co-op it was grown in and how many members work there. There are maps, videos, organic and Fair Trade certificates, and the name and biographer of the particular operator who roasted this particular batch of coffee, along with the roast parameters such as time and temperature. Read more)


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Final rounds for the Dragon Ball Xenoverse World Tournament end this Saturday, September 26 according to information from the official contest webpage. Meanwhile, Xenoverse 2 rumors have reached a fever pitch following an allegedly leaked screenshot surfacing online. However, many observers have doubts.
What to Make of the Leaked Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot
However, game watchers quickly called the validity of the screenshot into question. PushSquare observed that a comma was placed between the words June and 2016. The publication went on to say that putting a comma between the month and year is a grammatical practice not normally used by major gaming publishers.
This development does not necessarily prove that a Xenoverse 2 is not possible. Even so, it is still too early to say whether Bandai is working on the fabled sequel.
Keep in mind that the original Xenoverse videogame was launched just this year. It is no secret that videogame development is notoriously demanding. So, it is looking even more unlikely that the Xenoverse sequel is launching immediately next year.
There is also the possibility that Bandai Namco is not ever planning to release a Xenoverse sequel. In June, the Japan-based firm ended support for Dragon Ball Xenoverse with the final downloadable update, dubbed "DLC 3."
Official Xenoverse World Tournament Ends
Bandai Namco confirmed that the fight between the remaining two players will be "recorded and displayed" on the official YouTube channel. The company did not say whether the final event will be live-streamed over on Twitch.
The event ends almost two months of competition between top players for the videogame based on the popular long-running animated series. Dragon Ball Xenoverse is currently available on all major console platforms including the PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox 360.


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Want to see your money grow as quickly as possible? Recent history suggests that mid-cap stocks, or those typically defined as having market caps of between $2 billion and $10 billion, are what you should consider buying. According to Morningstar, a hypothetical $10,000 invested on Dec. 31, 1995, would have been worth nearly $84,000 at the end of 2015, compared with $68,000 for small-cap stocks and just $48,250 for large-cap stocks.
But which mid-cap stocks offer the best potential to see your investment grow into large-cap territory over the long run? For that answer we turned to three of our Foolish contributors, who wound up singling out specialty biotech Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ), private-banking provider First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC), and video-game publisher Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO).
Don't sleep on this rapidly growing biotech stock
Sean Williams (Jazz Pharmaceuticals): Though it's a company already bordering on large-cap territory, with a $9 billion market cap, specialty-drug maker Jazz Pharmaceuticals has, in my view, some serious large-cap aspirations.
Jazz, an Ireland-based drugmaker, leans heavily on its lead drug, Xyrem, a treatment for narcolepsy. Significant pricing power and an uptick in usage have been instrumental in growing sales of Xyrem throughout the years. During the first quarter, Jazz reported a 9% increase in year-over-year sales to $272.3 million and, on an extrapolated basis, puts Xyrem on track achieve blockbuster sales of near $1.1 billion in 2017.
Jazz's pricing power on Xyrem and the possibility of generic competition have long been a concern of Wall Street, but I view neither as being particularly worrisome. In April, Jazz announced a settlement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals that allows Hikma to sell generic Xyrem beginning in 2023, which gives Jazz nearly six more years of high-margin sales for Xyrem without the fear of generic competition. Similarly, the chances President Trump will successfully get drug-price curbs from Congress seem slim at best. With lawmakers focused on a new healthcare bill and tax reform, and Republicans in general favoring free-market economics, there's little reason to believe Jazz will see its pricing power on Xyrem negatively affected.
Jazz has also been working to diversify its product portfolio and pipeline away from its reliance on Xyrem. Sales of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease treatment Defitelio doubled during Q1 to $35.9 million, and in April the company submitted a rolling new drug application for vyxeos as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. If approved, vyxeos could see sales approach $750 million annually at its peak, which would make its $1.5 billion acquisition of Celator Pharmaceuticals seem quite the bargain.
With plenty of operating cash flow, strong margin, and lessening gray clouds, Jazz Pharmaceuticals has the potential to blow well past the $10 billion cutoff to be considered a large-cap stock.
The banker to the 1%
Jordan Wathen (First Republic Bank): This bank stretches the boundaries of the mid-cap definition, currently valued at about $15 billion, but it's almost certainly going to grow larger.
The company operates as a banker to the wealthy in key markets such as Silicon Valley, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. It has 7% deposit market share in the San Francisco area and so has probably reached scale in Silicon Valley, but it has less than 2% share in Boston, and less than 1% in New York and Los Angeles. These metro areas present an excellent opportunity for growth.
Focusing on wealthy clients is an inherently good banking model, as the cost of maintaining a customer relationship doesn't necessarily scale with the value of the customer. High-net-worth borrowers make for excellent credit risks, which is reflected in the fact that it has charged off less than 0.5% of loans in each of the past 15 years. Management is a key part of the story here, as James Herbert has proved to be a capable deal-maker and manager.
The market has rewarded First Republic's underwriting quality and growth opportunity with a rich valuation, which recently stood at about 2.5 times tangible book value, or about 24 times last year's earnings. That said, core earnings power is growing each year at a breakneck pace, as deposits and loans have grown at more than 20% annually in the past 15 years, with little signs of slowdown.
If the market allows the valuation to adjust to 2 times tangible book value -- to account for a recent decline in interest rates -- it would make a fantastic addition to a growth-oriented portfolio.
An explosive entertainment company
Keith Noonan (Take-Two Interactive): Video-game publisher Take-Two Interactive's valuation has exploded over the past five years, with its market cap increasing 750% over the stretch to reach roughly $7.8 billion. But the strength of the company's properties and momentum from industry trends suggests that growing into large-cap territory is in sight.
Take-Two has been benefiting from growth in digitally delivered content, which is doing great things for its sales and earnings and looks poised to continue boosting performance. Video-game players are increasingly downloading titles instead of purchasing physical retail copies, but they're also buying up in-game items, virtual currency, and content expansions at record levels, creating high-margin sales that look to become the new normal for Take-Two. The company is also benefiting from great engagement with its Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K franchises, the latter one in particular, but there are notable growth avenues outside its core console video-game business.
The mobile market is one area that presents a huge opportunity for Take-Two. For the current fiscal year, the company expects just 6% of its sales will come from software on smartphone and tablet platforms, but comments from management and its recent purchase of mobile developer Social Point suggest that it aims to make much bigger inroads in the $41 billion mobile-games market.
If the company can continue to leverage its core franchises and benefit from digitally delivered sales growth, it has solid appreciation potential. If it also manages to introduce new intellectual properties with long-term staying power, while taking advantage of opportunities in areas such as mobile, esports, and mixed reality, then the high-flying video-game company still has huge long-term growth ahead.


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Ex-fleet and lease cars hitting record auction high
07 July 2015
Author: Daniel Puddicombe
Average values for ex-fleet and lease vehicles sold at auction remained at a record level for the third consecutive month in June, according to new figures from remarketing giant BCA's latest Pulse report.
Ex-fleet and lease vehicles were on average £279 more expensive in June 2015 in comparison to the previous year - £9727 compared to £9448.
Overall, the average value of a used car sold at auction fell by £45 (0.5%) to £7758 in June compared to the previous month.
However, values are continuing to climb, as the average sale price of a car at auction in June 2015 was up by £282 compared to June 2014's figure of £7476.
"The summer months typically see some pressure exerted on average values so we are not surprised to see the headline figure drop for the second consecutive month," said Simon Henstock, BCA UK operations director. "The most significant factor in the current marketplace is that supply and demand are reasonably well balanced, with conversion rates remaining relatively stable."
"It is also worth remembering that values remain at exceptionally high levels on average, reflecting that buyers are continuing to compete strongly for good retail-quality stock," Henstock said.


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ACE conference to help Sarawak entrepreneurs advance into China market
By Jude Toyat
The ASEAN-China Entrepreneurs’ (ACE) conference jointly organised by Sarawak Entrepreneur Association (SEA), FAME International College and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) will take place here at Imperial Hotel Kuching from May 12 to 13.
According to its organising chairman David Chew, the goal of the conference is to provide a mutually beneficial and commercialization platform where Malaysian and particularly Sarawak local entrepreneurs can advance into Asia’s largest market.
“Entrepreneurs can explore and gain insights into various businesses and trade opportunities with the Chinese counterparts through strategic business networking, sharing session, awareness workshops and trade forums during the conference,” he said in his speech during the ACE Conference briefing held at Lot10 Boutique Hotel on March 23.
Chew added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was invited as the guest of honor for the conference whom will be represented by the Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi, and Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kuin Hian as the advisor.
The conference is also supported by the Malaysia federation and state government, China consulate and private sectors.
“The conference will be a combination of critical information presentation, forums, company showcase, and business networking.
“Domain expert, well-known corporate speakers, successful entrepreneurs from both China and ASEAN, policies makers, relevant government agencies (i.e. Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Minsitry of Industrial Development (MID), China consulate, Thailand Ambassador, Indonesian consulate, Brunei consulate and etc.) will be invited as speakers,” he added.
More than 10 delegates from Latem Singapore, 10 from Myanmar, 30 from China, 5 from Cambodia, 10 from Thailand will also take part in the conference.
“Meanwhile, the keynote speakers will include Doer’s Knowledge Management Group Ltd. chairman Dr Wilson Lin Mei Hsien, Airasia Malaysia chief executive officer Aireen Omar, Huang Bing from E6 Logistics Company from China and many more.
“They will be presenting critical information such as business landscape, new ideas, government’s economic development direction, local projects opportunities and etc. for businesses development, businesses collaboration and opportunities creation,” Chew said, adding that as a result of last year’s conference, there will also be a few MoU signing ceremonies that will be witness by the VVIPs and VIPs attending the conference this year.
In addition, to give opportunities for participants to raise questions directly to the domain expert, policies makers, relevant speakers and authorities, there will also be a forum sessions in the conference this year.
“The forum will provide an opportunity for participants to gain more understanding of certain topics, and also feedback to the relevant parties of entrepreneurs’ concern and issues. Apart from that, there will be company showcase stations at the conference venue.
“This is an opportunity for foreign and domestic companies to showcase their company profile, products and services to the conference delegates, and also general public,” he added.
Booths for interested entrepreneurs are also on sale and priced at RM4,000 (normal booths) and RM5,500 (corner booths).
The ASEAN-China Entrepreneurs Conference is supported by the Sarawak Government, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Sarawak Convention Bureau, SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), AirAsia, Ibraco, Spark Company, Doer’s Knowledge Management Group Ltd., Crowe Horwath, Horwath Capital Beijing, Celcom, RHB Capital Berhad, E-Six Logistic Management System, and Asia-Latam Connection.
Sarawak Entrepreneurs Association (SEA) is a non-profit organisation that aims to grow professional and young entrepreneurs in the state by providing an open platform and mentors from various backgrounds to support and guide up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the planning, building and promotion of ideas and businesses.
The association aims to be a bridging link between Sarawakian entrepreneurs and the government for resources and support necessary to start, build and expand their expertise.


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Packaged Foods company Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE: CAG) on Thursday said its fourth-quarter profit increased supported by a 6% revenue growth. Earnings came in above the consensus forecast while sales missed.
At $2.91 billion, fourth-quarter net sales were up 6% year-over-year. But the top line performance fell short of expectations. Organic sales benefited from an improvement in price/mix, aided by the company’s inflation-driven pricing actions that were reflected in the marketplace throughout the quarter and favorable brand mix.
Fourth-quarter net income, adjusted for special items, moved up to $0.65 per share from $0.54 per share in the same period of last year and topped expectations. Reported profit, meanwhile, declined to $158.9 million or $0.33 per share in the most recent quarter from $309.5 million or $0.64 per share in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Check this space to read management/analysts’ comments on Conagra Brands’ Q4 2022 earnings
“Throughout fiscal 2022 our team took decisive actions to offset inflation and invest in our business. I’m pleased that our brands continued to resonate with consumers, and we continued to grow share,” said Sean Connolly, chief executive officer of Conagra Brands.
Looking for more insights on the earnings results? Click here to access the full transcripts of the latest earnings conference calls!
For technology stocks, 2022 has been a challenging year, with companies losing significant market value amid prolonged stock selloff. In that respect, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is among the worst-affected
Shares of Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) were down on Thursday. The stock has gained 36% over the past three months and 18% over the past one month. The company’s sales
Department store chain The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) on Thursday said its third-quarter sales and adjusted earnings increased year-over-year. The latest numbers also exceeded the market's expectations. Net earnings attributable to


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Sanjiv Puri, Chairman of ITC, said in an interview that he hopes India’s temporary ban on the export of wheat and rice will be short-lived once the food supply stabilizes, admitting that the bans have impacted the cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate.
What Happened: Puri noted in an interview with Bloomberg that businesses tied to Indian consumption have shown resilience, while those closely integrated with global supply chains, like exports and commodities, have faced volatility.
“It is impacting us. As businesses we have to be also responsible,” Puri said in the interview. “People have to have food in the country. So we have to understand that and people have to be able to afford it. These are realities we must recognise.”
The Bottom Line For ITC: ITC, a major wheat exporter, reported a 25% decline in revenue for its agriculture business in the April-June quarter due to the export bans.
He said he hopes for a short-lived ban, contingent on favorable crop outcomes and increased agricultural production to generate surpluses.
Get Ring The Bell, Benzinga India’s weekly briefing. Designed specifically for investors like you.
Puri highlighted the company’s focus on value addition, particularly in medicinal and aromatic plants, horticulture, and aquaculture. These value-added sectors are expected to be more profitable than traditional commodity businesses.
Editor’s Note: Artificial intelligence was used as a secondary aid in the writing of this story.
© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Peter Drucker, the notable business thinker of the 20th Century once said that business was simply about two things: marketing and innovation. But he defined innovation not as possessing brilliant ideas but in being conscientious. Using Drucker’s definition of innovation, we – as leaders, as a municipality, as a state – need to more radically implement a conscientious policy of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation centers as a mandatory institution that services each community’s wellbeing just as we expect to find fire and police departments, public schools, libraries, parks and medical centers in every city. Lest we forget, it is new startups that are creating the most new jobs and new revenue, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Policymakers need to tie their economies with entrepreneurial growth.
With no disrespect to our municipal small business assistance centers, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) or to the chambers of commerce, we need to get our heads around those facts that drive our economy. While these institutions provide a valuable service to small businesses, what’s blatantly obvious is that their services are utilized randomly than as an inclusive culture that we as a community should expect in our economic agenda. If over 60 percent of businesses fail by the third year that should be evidence enough that our existing methods of supporting entrepreneurs needs a lot of improvements.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Keep Our Economy Strong
Innovation and business development should be at the heart of a healthy community because they create new jobs and generate the revenues necessary to provide our public services. China is an example of this as are more and more nations such as Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Hungary and New Zealand – all with higher startup rates per capita than the United States. (Source: Gallup World Poll)
Moreover, as our jobs economy migrates at a rapid pace towards a self-employed workforce, we must consider a new method of supporting their wellbeing in the same way as employees have an Employment Development Department. According to the Freelancer Union, the self-employed workforce will be at least 40 percent of all workers by 2020 even by conservative estimates. Being proactive to support this growing trend now will serve our economy far better than continuing to ignore the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation as natural and necessary change agents.
Innovation is critical for our economy to grow but it must go hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs who can run with the idea and bring it to market. No matter how great an idea, if it doesn’t become marketable, it has no value to society. True entrepreneurs are doers – and they calculate the risks and go after what they believe is the right course of action with a sense of passion and urgency.
Growth in Jobs and the GDP Only Comes with New Entrepreneurial Activities
Think about it this way, jobs and the national GDP growth rarely follow innovation. But growth in jobs and the GDP will always follow the rise of entrepreneurial activities. Both the Gallup polls and the Kauffman Foundation have compiled enough data on this factor to indicate that while innovations are valuable, they are not always of value to the customer; thus having no economic or social benefit.
According to the Kauffman Foundation, nearly 100 percent of the US net new jobs are coming from new, small businesses (one to 19 employees). Yes, these are entrepreneurs who oftentimes are sweating the finances and working ungodly hours creating jobs and increasing the local tax base, usually with little support or capital infusion. These are the very jobs that job training programs are servicing and for which a community almost unknowingly gains economic benefits. By periodically taking away incentives for entrepreneurship, those businesses go away and job training programs become irrelevant.
We need continuous support of our innovators as the federal government has done for the sake of the economy, but it’s the entrepreneurs who gladly take on the role of instigators; who experiment and iterate, who figure out how to market and sell these new innovations. It’s the entrepreneurs who are asking the critical questions: 1. Who are the customers? 2. What value is this innovation bringing to them? 3. How many customers will buy this? 4. How will we deliver it better than anyone else?
Every local community needs to finance and support an economic ecosystem consisting of innovators, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial support systems, and policymakers working hand-in-hand in a circular system. Like a garden, we need seeds, water, fertilizer and sunshine. Cut out one and the garden dies.
5.4 Million Businesses Justify A Stronger Support System
The demise of many entrepreneurs was felt during the Great Recession of 2008. Until that point, new startups outpaced business failures by 100,000 each year. But from 2009 to 2014, the annual failures outnumbered new startups by 70,000 – 470,000 failing to 400,000 new startups. It was the first time in American history when the numbers went in reverse. (Source: Gallup Poll, 2014)
In terms of jobs, this translates to a high of 138,000,000 employed at the start of the 2008 to the elimination of over 8,000,000 jobs at the low point in January, 2010. As startups are beginning to come back, the number of jobs has also risen to an all-time high of 142,000,000 as of August 2015. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) Of this amount, the US Small Business Administration estimates that 63 percent are employed by firms with one to 19 employees.
While 2015 looks promising with more startups since 2008, the United States still lags behind 11 other nations in business startups. According to Kauffman, new startups are the biggest generators of jobs. Overall, there are 6 million businesses in the country with 3.8 million of them having four or less employees. Companies with 5 to 9 employees are one million strong. 600,000 firms have 10 to 19 employees (meaning 5.4 million or 90 percent of all businesses have under 20 employees). 500,000 businesses employ 20 to 99. There are 90,000 companies with 100 to 499 employees, 18,000 have 500 employees or more and 1000 firms have over 10,000 employees. (Source: Gallup Poll, 2014)
Getting Our Heads Around A Formal Economic Ecosystem
If the Kauffman study is correct, that young firms are the greatest engine for job creation (1.5 million new jobs per year by firms less than a year old), we need to rethink our local policies encouraging a beehive of entrepreneurial activities in every city. If we change our paradigm of innovation and entrepreneurship centers as new income generators for the local economy, the improved odds for businesses to succeed means a long lasting revenue stream for the city coffers.
Specifically, these centers would include hands-on training, one-on-one advising, access to capital, incubators with a systematic support system, shared workspaces, post-launch support services, community-wide business launch festivals and specialized network gatherings. In addition, public schools need to update their curriculum to prepare students for the emerging economy by introducing entrepreneurship, creativity and financial literacy as experiential training rather than classroom lectures.
Economists may present data showing the historical turbulence of our economic system but we also haven’t supported a publicly funded economic ecosystem. We seem to be caught in a time warp where we continue to believe in entrepreneurs as lone wolves who prefer operating without anyone interfering. We know that when this happens, 63 percent of them go belly-up by the third year. And we also know that when entrepreneurs work in tribes, putting their ideas out there to discuss and improve, 89 percent of them get to the five-year benchmark when steady customers and profits are realized.
The facts are staring us in the face: entrepreneurs bring innovation to market. They produce nearly 100 percent of the net new jobs in America. Profitable businesses pay their fair share of taxes and contribute their expertise to the market which then creates an exponential aftereffect allowing others to thrive. It’s time to shift our thinking and develop a conscientious innovative solution. What we need is an economic ecosystem invested through public funds with every expectation of generating jobs and strong revenues.


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The country has achieved almost 30 percent growth in export in the first quarter of the fiscal 2011- 12 mainly due to buyers shifting of imports from China and South Korea to Bangladesh and improved compliance to the factories.
According to a primary estimate by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the overall export earning in the first three months of the fiscal surpassed 6400 million US dollar against 5600 million US dollar of the previous year. This is 800 million US dollar higher during the first quarter of the previous year.
“We haven’t received the final data on the three months exports but we are estimating that growth for the three months period would cross over 30 percent”, Jalal Ahmed, EPB Vice Chairman told BSS on Tuesday.
He said in the current fiscal the country is earning over 2.2 billion US dollar from exports in every month compared to 2 billion US dollar during the same period of the last year.
buyers mainly from the USA and Europe have increased import of apparels from Bangladesh shifting from China and South Korea, he said.
Jalal said Bangladesh has been competing in both quality and price with other apparels exporters during the last couple of years. He said the conducive business
environment, created by the government in collaboration with the private sector, contributed to the export surge.
“I am not claiming that the country has been able to create cent percent working atmosphere but I can assure that the situation has improved significantly,” Ahmed added.
The EPB Vice-Chairman said though there is no study on productivity of Bangladeshi factories, the production in the factories has significantly improved during the last couple of years.
“If the productivity rate is officially measured it would be found how the Bangladeshi factories have improved production scenario in the context of both quality and price,” Ahmed claimed.
The government has set an export target of 26.5 billion US dollar in the current fiscal (2011-12) against the previous year’s export earning of 22.92 billion US dollar.
All the major Bangladeshi items, including woven, knitwear, textile, footwear and frozen foods, recorded over 30 percent growth during the period, according to the EPB primary data.
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16:23 17th Jul, 2014
Sony Xperia Z3 passes FCC; Should We Expect An Announcement? | TechTree.com
Sony Xperia Z3 passes FCC; Should We Expect An Announcement?
After the handset leaked a number of times in the past, we should be expecting a launch date soon.
Sony’s Xperia Z3 has reached the FCC for certification. The handset showed up under the IDs PM-0800 and PM-0801 which stand for their respective model names D6603 and D6616. Not much has been revealed about the handset so far, even though it has appeared in a number of leaks. So Sony has in fact, managed to keep a secret, so should we expect an official announcement soon?
News about the Sony Xperia Z3 surfaced long ago with the components leaking first along with the different manufacturing process. As of today the handset looks rather different and has a more rounded appearance, something which even Apple seems to be fond of with its upcoming iPhone 6.
The FCC filings don’t reveal much apart from the model names but the handset. But The Z3 is expected to carry a Quad HD display, which was the only piece of hardware the Xperia Z2 lacked being the second one to launch earlier this year. As for the processor, since the Snapdragon 801s are already done with, we could expect Sony to switch to the Snapdragon 805 instead.
Kurozumi Yoshiro, Sony Mobile’s Creative Director had said post the launch of the Xperia Z2 this year, that the industry is moving at a quick pace, and it has become essential not to stick to a certain design for too long. “In order to maintain a flagship, you must update at this frequency,” said Mr Kurozumi. The frequency that he spoke about was a new product cycle of 6 months which should line up the Xperia Z3 launch as soon as August this year.
TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Sony, Sony Xperia Z3
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Crytek issued a new update for the PC version of Warface this week, adding two new modes to the multiplayer game. The free-to-play FPS received a co-op mode known as Tower Raid, shown in a new trailer for the game, in addition to the Capture versus mode. Crytek also renamed the Claymore mine in the update, changing it to the "Directional Mine," and increased the item unlock progression speed in both co-op and versus modes.
Crytek provided the full patch notes in a post on its GFace social platform. There's no word on whether these modes will wind up on Xbox 360 as well. Warface entered its beta phase on the platform earlier this month, and requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play.


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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
The latest release in the storied Call of Duty franchise is off to a solid start. Advanced Warfare has sold a combined 3,722,031 at retail in the US. As we've seen before, Microsoft's platform was responsible for the most sales at 1,293,397 followed by the PlayStation 4 which accounted for 1,249,181 copies sold according to unofficial sales figured provided by VGChartz.
Activision has been surprisingly mum with its official sales figures up to this point but here's what we know so far.
Earlier this week, the company revealed that Advanced Warfare launch sales were bigger than last year's release, Call of Duty: Ghosts. The admission was based on GfK Chart-Track in the UK as well as Activision's internal numbers (which they didn't publish).
We also have to remember that Ghosts didn't launch simultaneously on next generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony. This fact alone would skew sales in favor of Advanced Warfare. Furthermore, the newest release when on sale a day early for those that pre-ordered the Day Zero edition.
To put things into perspective, VGChartz sales figures from Ghosts' launch week reveal 3,423,561 units sold at retail in the US. Add in PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch sales, however, and that figure climbs to 4,163,984.
Given Activision's silence and the unofficial figures, it's probably safe to say that sales are slightly down this year. That said, however, the franchise is still immensely popular as evident by the fact that Advanced Warfare set a new record on Twitch for the most streamed console game of 2014.


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Download Fortnite BR Free on Xbox One, PC, PS4 now
See how to get Fortnite BR Free on Xbox One, PC, and PS4 now below.
Fortnite’s new Battle Royale mode is now live, as confirmed by the official Twitter account. You can now download Fortnite BR Free on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. -UPDATED 9/26/17 11am.
Download Fortnite Battle Royale for free now:
PS4: PS Store https://goo.gl/BGQ3u7
However, while this is great news as PS4 and PC users can download the free game mode, there’s some slightly disappointing news for Xbox users.
Confirmed in a tweet sent by the games official Twitter account in the last 10 minutes, it appears as though it could still be a few more hours before Battle Royale is available for Xbox One gamers.
The developers Tweeted:
“The servers are back up! Squad up now for free in Battle Royale on PC/PS4. The free version will be available on Xbox One in a few hours.”
Players might not be waiting for all that much longer for the new Fortnite Battle Royale update.
A new tweet from the Fortnite team reads:
“We’re updating Fortnite and servers are currently down. We’ll update here as soon as we’re live again!”
Fortnite’s Battle Royale update is released today on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mac and best of all, Epic Games have announced it will be part of a free-to-play update – even if you don’t already have Fortnite!
Fortnight is traditionally known as a tower defence-style game, but today will launch a new Battle Royale mode to compliment the PvE side of the game.
It’s not been without controversy, attracting a lot of negative comments and comparisons to Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Like PUBG, Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode pits 100 players against one another on a massive open map.
There’s no respawn’s, it’s kill or be killed and the last player standing, wins.
As mentioned, the Fortnite Battle Royale free update will arrive today, Tuesday September 26, but not before the games servers go down for an “extended” period.
Epic Games have revealed that Battle Royale is part of the v1.6.3 patch which is coming soon to PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mac.
Fortnite’s free-to-play Battle Royale mode will be available once servers come back online after going down at 1am PT, 4am ET and 9am BST.
However, there is no time revealed for when these servers could come back online with the new mode ready to play.
In a new blog post, the Fortnite team said: “It’s time for everyone to drop out of the Battle Bus and into Fortnite Battle Royale as the mode goes free on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Mac with the release of the 1.6.3 patch tomorrow (Sept. 26).
“Gather your squad – four-player and two-player groups are here.”
Stay tuned for more updates as they’re revealed.


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As online dating becomes more prevalent, so do the chances of falling victim to a Chinalove scam. Chinalove, a popular online dating platform, has been at the center of controversy for allegedly scamming users. In this article, we will explore the real-life experiences of Chinalove scam victims and the lessons learned from their experiences.
As online dating has become increasingly popular, so too have the risks associated with it, such as falling victim to a scam. One such platform that has been at the center of controversy regarding alleged scams is Chinalove. In this article, we will delve into the real-life experiences of Chinalove scam victims, as well as the lessons that can be learned from their experiences. By understanding the risks and taking preventative measures, individuals can protect themselves while still enjoying the benefits of online dating.
Real-Life Experiences of Chinalove Scam Victims
Several individuals have come forward with stories of falling victim to scams on Chinalove. Here are just a few of their experiences:
Testimonial 1: Fake Profiles and Requests for Money One victim reported. That they had met someone on Chinalove who claim to be a successful business owner. However, as they got to know each other better. The individual began requesting money, claiming to need it for various business-related expenses. It soon became clear that the individual’s profile was fake. And they using Chinalove as a way to scam unsuspecting users.
Testimonial 2: Stolen Identity and Unauthorized Charges Another victim reported. That their identity had been stolen through Chinalove, resulting in unauthorize charges on their credit card. Despite reaching out to customer support for assistance. They were met with unhelpful and dismissive responses. The victim was left feeling frustrated and violated, with little recourse for seeking justice.
Testimonial 3: Lack of Customer Support and Security Another victim report. That they had been scam out of a significant amount of money on Chinalove. When they attempt to reach out to customer support for assistance. They found that the support team was difficult to reach and unresponsive to their concerns. The victim was left feeling alone and vulnerable, with little hope of recovering their lost funds.
Testimonial 4: Catfishing and Deceptive Practices Yet another victim report. That they had been catfish on Chinalove, with the individual. They had been talking to turning out to be someone completely different. Than they had claimed. The victim was left feeling deceive and betray, with their trust in online dating platforms shake.
These experiences serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with online dating, and the importance of remaining vigilant and cautious while using these platforms.
Lessons Learned from Chinalove Scam Victims
While the experiences of Chinalove scam victims are undoubtedly disheartening, they also provide valuable lessons for others to learn from. Here are a few key takeaways:
Lesson 1: Exercise Caution and Skepticism One of the most important lessons learn from Chinalove scam victims is the importance of exercising caution and skepticism. When using online dating platforms. While it’s natural to want to trust and believe in the people we meet online. It’s also important to remember that not everyone has good intentions. By remaining vigilant and skeptical, individuals can better protect themselves from falling victim to scams.
Lesson 2: Verify Identities and Profiles Another important lesson is the importance of verifying. The identities and profiles of individuals we meet online. This can include conducting a reverse image search to ensure. That profile pictures are not or take from other sources. As well as asking for additional information to confirm an individual’s identity.
Lesson 3: Seek Assistance and Support If you do fall victim to a scam on Chinalove or any other online dating platform. It’s important to seek assistance and support as soon as possible. This can include reaching out to customer support for the platform. As well as reporting the incident to relevant authorities such as your bank or local law enforcement.
Lesson 4: Stay Informed and Educated Finally, staying informed and educated about the risks associated with online dating can go a long way in preventing scams and other negative experiences. By staying up-to-date on the latest trends and tactics used by scammers, individuals can better protect themselves and their personal information while using online dating platforms.
Overall, while the experiences of Chinalove scam victims are undoubtedly distressing. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and cautious. When using online dating platforms. By following these lessons and taking preventative measures, individuals can better protect themselves. While still enjoying the benefits of online dating.
How to Avoid Falling Victim to Online Dating Scams
- Research the Platform and User Reviews Before Signing Up
- Keep Your Personal Information Private and Secure
- Use Caution When Communicating with Other Users
- Trust Your Gut and Report Suspicious Activity
RELATED ARTICLE: AnastasiaDate Fraud: How to Protect Yourself Against Scammers
As the online dating industry continues to grow, it’s important to remain vigilant and cautious of potential scams. By learning from the experiences of Chinalove scam victims and implementing. The lessons and tips outlined in this article, you can protect yourself and your personal information. While enjoying the benefits of online dating.


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Fast food boss Andrew Withers will be joined by Royals chairman Sir John Makejski at the first Woodley Festival of Business tomorrow.
The event will bring together local firms, business owners and organisations which support them, to highlight the town’s thriving business community.
Organisers hope the fair will help Woodley break free from the shadow of its bigger neighbour.
Tom Clark, chairman of Woodley Business Club and event organiser, said; “Woodley is often overlooked because of its close proximity to Reading, a major commercial centre.
“However, there is a diverse range of businesses in Woodley, including retail and leisure, business-to- business organisations, wholesalers, professional services and home-based sole traders.”
One of the those businesses is Southern Fried Chicken, in Headley Road East industrial park.
The business was started by Mr Withers’ father in the 1960s and there are now 600 franchise stores around the world.
Mr Withers recently appeared on Channel 4’s Undercover Boss programme.
He will be talking about the show and how it helped him focus on improvements and to grow the business.
Fellow speaker Sir John is best known as chairman of Reading FC, but made his fortune by starting up Thames Valley Trader, which became Auto Trader, in 1976.
He will share his experiences with the audience at The Oakwood Centre, in Headley Road, from 5pm.
Mr Clark founded Woodley Business Club in November 2011. It meets on the last Tuesday of every month.
He said: “The Festival of Business aims to bring local organisations together, create networking and the opportunity to learn from others. It is a celebration of all that Woodley’s business community has to offer.”
The festival is not-for-profit with organisations giving their expertise in fields including marketing, audio visual equipment and graphic design.
Woodley Town Council and Wokingham Borough Council are sponsoring the event with support from Woodley Town Centre Management, Bracknell and Wokingham College, Reading 107fmn, The Real Business Club and other small business associations.
Local MP and Home Secretary Theresa May said: “This is a great opportunity to celebrate Woodley businesses and to encourage new ones to start up. A strong business community with thriving local companies is vital to any town.”
Entry is free. Limited tickets are available at tickets.eventu.co.uk/business/65-woodley_festival_of_business/.


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Korean smartphone maker Samsung is working on its new handset Galaxy Z Fold 3. Many reports related to this smartphone have surfaced online. According to Gizmochina’s report, the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 3 smartphone will feature three cameras and an LED flash light in a vertical line. While other leaked reports suggest that S-Pen will be provided with Galaxy Z Fold 3. Through this, users will be able to make notes during video calls. Many tech tipsters have revealed that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will get an in-screen camera. Also, Gorilla Glass can be supported to protect the screen.
Read more: Gizmochina | BGR India | SamMobile


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Internet of Things technology may soon multiply in the billions. But security for these devices is practically non-existent. What needs to be done to secure IoT users now and in the future?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has recently issued a Public Service Announcement (PSA), encouraging consumers to think twice before purchasing internet-connected toys.
The first Mac malware of 2017 was discovered by an IT admin, who spotted some strange outgoing network traffic from a particular Mac. This led to the discovery of a new piece of malware unlike anything I’ve seen before and the first new piece of malware for the Mac in 2017.


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Disney might be set to gain even more control over Hulu: AT&T said it is considering selling WarnerMedia’s 10% stake in the streaming venture — which is worth as much as $930 million — as part of shedding nonstrategic assets to pay down its massive debt load.
AT&T execs made the comments at the telco’s investor day briefing Thursday. It’s potentially looking to shed its Hulu minority stake as WarnerMedia gears up to launch its own subscription VOD service. AT&T said the new SVOD service, set to debut in the fourth quarter of 2019, will include three service tiers: one focused on movies; one with movies plus original programming; and a third tier comprising content from the first two along with WarnerMedia library content and licensed programming.
If AT&T sells the WarnerMedia stake in Hulu, that could bulk up Disney’s ownership in the streaming TV company — giving the Mouse House even more incentive to invest in Hulu and expand it to international markets. Disney already is set to assume a majority ownership stake of 60% in Hulu under its deal to buy big chunks of 21st Century Fox’s assets, a transaction expected to close in the first half of 2019.
Disney most recently said Hulu would carry a $9.296 billion fair value after the 21CF deal closes, including an implied control premium of $1.246 billion, per an SEC filing on June 28 in connection with the proposed Fox deal. That’s up from Hulu’s implied valuation of around $6 billion in August 2016 with Time Warner’s original investment.
If AT&T exits Hulu, that would leave just Disney and Comcast, which currently holds 30% share, as owners. There’s been broad industry speculation that Disney will try to buy out Comcast to gain full control over Hulu.
But Comcast in September signaled that, for the time being, it’s interested in keeping its hand in the Hulu pot. The conglomerate appointed three execs to Hulu’s board: Universal chairman Jeff Shell; Linda Yaccarino, chairman of NBCU advertising sales and client partnerships; and Matt Bond, NBCU’s chairman of content distribution. The Hulu board appointments by Comcast came after the expiration of Comcast’s restriction on management decisions regarding Hulu under the 2011 agreement with the DOJ related to its NBCU acquisition.
Under Disney’s control, Hulu will stay focused on adult-oriented, general entertainment fare while the forthcoming Disney+ subscription product will be in the family-friendly wheelhouse, Disney chief Bob Iger told analysts on the company’s Nov. 8 earnings call. Iger added that Disney intends to invest in Hulu and expand the service internationally, but he didn’t provide details.
According to Disney’s 10-Q for the third quarter of 2018, WarnerMedia has the right through August 2019 to put its shares to Hulu (or Hulu may call the shares from WarnerMedia under certain limited circumstances arising from regulatory review). In the event Hulu is required to repurchase WarnerMedia’s shares, Disney and 21CF have agreed to make capital contributions for up to $400 million each; following the closing of the 21CF deal, Disney will assume 21CF’s capital contribution obligations to Hulu.
The $930 million implied value of WarnerMedia’s stake is a 16% premium over Time Warner’s original $583 million investment in Hulu in August 2016 plus its subsequent $200 million capital contributions to the streamer.
The appreciation of Hulu’s value comes even as Hulu continues to lose money — with losses accelerating as it continues to invest in technology and programming, including for its live-TV streaming service.
Hulu lost upwards of $440 million during the third quarter of 2018, more than double a loss of $207 million a year earlier and losses of $357 million in Q2, according to regulatory filings by Comcast and 21st Century Fox.
For Q3, Comcast recorded a $132 million loss attributed to Hulu (versus a $62 million loss in the year-prior quarter), per the company’s 10-Q filing. Meanwhile, 21CF reported a $114 million loss for Hulu in the most recent quarter.


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Ed Forler is Dave and Buster's Vice President of Operations, which seems to have him involved in all aspects of D&B new store roll-outs and when necessary, being a public voice for the company. This article is a quick read 20 questions style interview with Ed, where he talks about the new location coming to Gloucester Township, the Philadelphia location, their competition with Round 1... and more importantly, Ed's connection to the Delaware Valley. He has Eagles Season Tickets!
It's been widely reported that the Dave and Busters coming to Gloucester Premium Outlets is opening Spring 2020. But no one knows when the Round One venue at the Deptford Mall will be opening... until now. 42Freeway has literally translated the Round One Japanese Quarterly earnings report to get the expected opening date for the Deptford Mall store, and it's surprising. Also, this is a two-part post as we interviewed a Dave and Busters Executive who knows the business and our area, and I should be posting that Friday!
42 Freeway was the first to tell you back in May that Dave and Buster's is coming to the Gloucester (Township) Outlet center off of Route 42, and now we can say the project was approved by the planning board. Other outlets later added an early 2020 opening is targeted. Article has images and description!


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Four beef and lamb exporters from across the UK will join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) at the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) in Texas this year.
The red meat businesses will be attending the event, which takes place in Nashville from March 18 – 20, with the aim of helping to grow pork, beef and lamb exports.
The exporters and AHDB will also be joined by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) to showcase the quality and sustainability of red meat products from across the UK.
Three of the export businesses attending the AMC are listed to export pig meat to California further to the state’s introduction of new legislation Proposition 12 on January 1 of this year.
Proposition 12 has established stricter production standards including the provision of greater freedom of movement for pigs. The legislation prevents the sale of pig meat in the state that does not meet the new criteria.
The event is set to host more than 1,900 meat professionals from across the United States, giving UK exporters the opportunity to network, AHDB said.
Annual Meat Conference
AHDB will share a joint stand with HCC at the AMC, and will provide attendees with the chance to sample pork, beef and lamb, as well as watch a butchery demonstration by AHDB’s butcher Martin Eccles.
AHDB senior trade development manager, Susana Morris, said the AMC is a “key event” in the red meat calendar, and provides a platform for UK exporters to meet with key industry stakeholders in the US and “explore opportunities for high-quality UK beef, lamb and pork”.
“The US presents a number of opportunities for our red meat exporters. Quality and ‘naturalness’ are important to US consumers, with the UK’s high-quality sustainably produced red meat ideally placed to satisfy that demand,” she said.
“We look forward to a successful event providing insight into market trends in the US and to continue working collaboratively with industry and government to help develop opportunities for our levy payers.
“Our levy payers have told us how much they value our work on export development. Our aim on their behalf is to ensure our world class red meat products from the UK are showcased on the global stage and remain front of mind in export markets.”
Exports to the US
Import volumes of pork in the US are expected to grow, AHDB said, which will present opportunities for “premium UK product with high-welfare and outdoor-bred being key factors”.
“The main opportunity for UK beef is in products that are differentiated from domestic US production such as grass-fed and hormone free,” AHDB said.
“The US is a net importer of lamb and, while consumption per capita is low, there are pockets of high demand,” AHDB said.
“The US lamb market has been estimated to be worth £37million to the UK in the first five years of trade, with the first shipment of lamb having been sent in October 2022.”


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Animation as an industry is as old as early man’s history. Prehistoric artists used cartoon like techniques to give impression that their images were moving across cave walls. Prehistoric man foreshadowed the invention of cinema by creating art with a rudimentary understanding of the principle of persistence of vision. (From Times of India, September 25, 2012)
With the passage of time, the ancient Animation Industry has grown with technology and has taken the form of modern industry. India’s Animation sector is witnessing a major boom. A new outsourcing fever has gripped the Country. Global entertainment majors like Walt Disney, Imax, Warner Brothers and Sony are signing up huge contracts with Indian animation companies.


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May 10, 2022Travellers’ Choice Awards showcase “suite” stays in 11 subcategories Capella Singapore ranked No. 1 Best Hotel in Singapore and in Luxury category
SINGAPORE, May 10, 2022 – Today, Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, announced the winners of its highly-anticipated annual Travellers’ Choice® Awards for Hotels....
May 10, 2022Travellers’ Choice Awards showcase “suite” stays in 11 subcategories Adelaide home to the South Pacific’s best hotel; 10 Australian hotels make it to the World lists
AUSTRALIA, May 10, 2022 – Today, Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, announced the winners of its highly-anticipated annual Travellers’ Choice® Awards for Hotels....
May 10, 2022Tripadvisor announces annual Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best Hotels’ across 11 different categories to suit every type of traveller
LONDON, UK, 10 May, 2022 – A Scarborough B&B has been named the best-rated B&B in the world for the second consecutive year in the 20th annual Travellers’ Choice® Best of the Best Awards for...
May 09, 2022Tripadvisor Ad Express helps small and midsize businesses reach massive global audience
NEEDHAM, Mass., May 9, 2022 - Tripadvisor®, the world's largest travel guidance platform, today launched Tripadvisor AdExpress, rebranding and adding new features to its popular self-service...
May 09, 2022Report: Tripadvisor Releases Seasonal Travel Index Results (June-August 2022), Outlining Traveler Sentiment and Insights in Several Markets including: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and SingaporeDespite growing concerns around inflation, travel demand remains strong for the months of June, July and August 2022 with 4 in 10 globally reporting planned travel, with only 2 in 10 taking a “wait and see” approach to their intended travel plans Travelers overwhelmingly believe it is more important than ever to travel more sustainably post pandemic, but only if it doesn’t cost that much more to be “green” Cities are back: Orlando, London, Sydney, Tokyo top domestic spots June-August
May 9, 2022 Overview The following seasonal travel index covers traveler sentiment and Tripadvisor platform search data, providing a preview and outlook for travel demand and patterns for the...


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CCC Students Get Cash for Books During Spring Book Buyback
CLARKSDALE – Coahoma Community College students will soon have the opportunity to redeem some of the money they’ve used towards textbooks with the announcement of the CCC Bookstore’s Spring Book Buyback.
The bookstore, located on the first floor of the Vivian M. Presley Administration Building, will be accepting textbooks from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 through Friday, May 2.
According to Manager Annie Hines, the bookstore will accept a wide range of textbook that are in good or fair condition in exchange for cash. Books in bad condition—pages torn, missing the cover, or water damaged—will not be accepted.
“Especially water damage—even if it’s new and you walk over here in the rain with the book uncovered, we can’t accept it,” said Hines. “So I advise students when it rains to be sure that they cover their books up.”
How much students receive depends on the condition and the value of the book, Hines said. Students can inquire about the worth of the book by visiting the bookstore where a representative can look the information up beforehand.
“You just have to come in and take a chance. It’s worth a try,” said Hines.


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In this time of giving thanks, find out which U.S. cities give the most to charity.
'Tis the season for giving thanks. The Daily Beast analyzed data on consumer spending and charitable contributions to determine which 20 U.S. cities dig the deepest for those less fortunate.
It's easier than you think to eat well and save money. Here are 8 tips to…
Click here to read Bob's blog.


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Illegal immigrants are able to enter Britain unchallenged because there are no checks at almost half of small ports in the East of England, a damning report has found.
The Chief Inspector of Borders said that officials had failed to make any visits 27 of the 62 small ports between February 2015 and June 2016.
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The report said that the lack of checks meant that there is no “visible deterrent” for people trying to smuggle illegal immigrants and illicit goods into the UK.
The report also found that the number of illegal immigrants caught near major ports nearly doubled between 2014-15 and 2015-16, rising from 233 to 423.
Suspected illegal immigrants found in
Continue reading full article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/12/illegal-immigrants-able-enter-britain-unchallenged-no-checks/


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Apple has limited AirDrop sharing for Chinese users to 10 minutes in the most recent iOS version. Unfortunately, the change means that permitting AirDrops from anyone indefinitely is no longer possible.
According to TechCrunch, iOS 16.1.1 in China changes the “Everyone” sharing option within AirDrop to “Everyone for 10 minutes,” which will apparently be rolled out globally later this year.
This setting allows iPhone users to get content from other iPhones even if the sender’s phone number is not in their contacts. Unfortunately, the new time restriction makes receiving files from strangers nearly impractical.
The function is one of China’s few unfiltered communication mediums, and the announcement comes after posters criticizing the repressive Chinese Communist Party’s government were extensively spread using AirDrop.
Apple has not revealed why the modification occurred, but it is not the first time the corporation has altered its products for the Chinese market. For example, it had previously ceased including the Taiwan flag emoji on Hong Kong iPhones.
The tech giant has imposed other region-specific limits. Users in the EU, for example, are not permitted to exceed the authorized EU Volume Level due to hearing measures.
Users of Apple products such as iPhones and iPads can utilize AirDrop to share files with other device owners wirelessly. Bluetooth Low Energy and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi technology are used to send transfers. AirDrop’s default setting is “Contacts Only,” and users must manually modify the setting to receive files from “Everyone.”
Regardless of where the user’s App Store account was registered, the new time-limited AirDrop feature apparently appeared on all iPhones sold in China.


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WASHINGTON—Ahead of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s hearing “Disinformation Nation: Social Media’s Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation,” the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation released the following statement from ITIF Policy Analyst Ashley Johnson:
Section 230 has come under the regulatory microscope as Congress evaluates the impact of harmful online activity like disinformation and the role of online platforms in preventing and addressing this activity. Section 230 continues to be instrumental in enabling innovative online business models that rely on user-generated content and providing companies the liability protection necessary to allow them to moderate user content.
At the same time, users would benefit from increased accountability and transparency. ITIF has proposed a three-pronged approach to Section 230 reform that would expand federal criminal law around certain forms of harmful online activity, establish a good faith requirement to prevent bad actors from taking advantage of Section 230(c)(1)’s liability shield, and establish a voluntary safe harbor provision to limit financial liability for online services that adhere to standard industry measures for addressing illegal activity.
Congress should enact targeted changes to Section 230 to ensure companies are taking responsibility for addressing harmful content and conduct on their platforms, including disinformation, while preserving Section 230’s benefits for innovation and free speech.
- For more on this issue, see ITIF’s Section 230 Series: “The Law’s History, Its Impact, Its Problems (Real and Imagined), and the Path Forward for Reform”


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The walks I took around my Berlin neighbourhood and through the city centre over the weekend were undoubtedly the most surreal I’ve ever experienced. On the one hand, we had been told to stay indoors and practice ‘social distancing’ as much as possible; on the other, streets, cafés, shops and parks felt as busy as ever – to the point where it was hard to notice any change from the norm.
Not only was my local ice cream shop open, but the queues extended several metres along the block, with the same kind of social distancing you might find at, say, an orgy. Sure enough, by Sunday evening, social media was ablaze with angry Berliners sharing photos of all the irresponsible mingling, including viral images of the situation at my neighbourhood ice cream parlour.
The anger was understandable given the stern directives issued by the German government and City Senate in the last week, although they also seemed to be part of the problem. Despite the announcements coming thick and fast before the weekend – the cancellation of ITB travel fair in February, followed by the closure of large-scale events and clubs, then the more recent shutting down of schools, gyms and pubs – they were, for the most part, not effective immediately.
Rather, the bulk of the closures were to take place this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, presumably to give businesses time to prepare and the population time to adapt. However, the sun also decided to appear at the weekend, breaking several weeks of grey, grim weather. “If the senate aren’t worried enough to close places straight away, why shouldn’t we enjoy them,” shrugged a friend of mine, echoing, apparently, the mindset of thousands of others. I had to admit, there was a certain logic to it.
Monday, despite many cafés, bars and restaurants being already closed, was the same: sunny and busy. Aside from the general Berliner tradition of sticking two fingers up at any kind of authority, part of the problem this time I realised, as I strolled past clusters of teens and students cheerfully barbecue-ing in the parks and gathering in neighbourhood squares, was that the schools were only officially closed from Tuesday. Since they had been forced to mingle together in classrooms all day, what was the point in separating now?
Indeed, according to local news reports, police had to break up several so-called “Corona Parties” on Monday evening, where hundreds of students had bought cases of Corona beer and gathered in parks to say goodbye to each other for a few weeks. “Obviously I would find it totally and needlessly defiant to just organise a house party or something right now,” said one female student I spoke to, who had partied on her university’s campus grounds rather than publicly. “But I also don’t see myself staying locked in at home either. To go out for a walk somewhere and meet with one or two people, and regularly disinfect your hands and mobile phone, seems fine.”
Such comments show how the pandemic has been tinged with confusion and not a little cognitive dissonance from the start. It’s impossible to know if you have the virus unless you get tested, which hardly anybody has; even if you have it, it can take a couple of weeks for symptoms to show, meaning even seemingly healthy people can still be infected; children can get it but are unlikely to fall ill from it; and even if healthy adults do get it, most would survive it and some would barely notice. We are desperate to escape an invisible illness that won’t really harm the vast majority of us, though needless to say the main reasons for containment – to protect the elderly and vulnerable, and stop an Italy-style scenario in the hospitals – are very clear.
In any case, that’s a lot of factors to try and juggle in our heads at once, and has naturally led to a whole new vocabulary and some awkward situations. As relatively easy as it was to stay away from strangers during my walk, it was harder to avoid interacting with a friend I ran into. After bumping elbows and laughing, he told me he had just been to the doctor with a cough and been signed off work for the week. I instinctively stepped backwards, ostensibly as a joke, but we both knew I wasn’t completely joking. I have also noticed a lot more sidestepping on the pavements. Or is that just my imagination?
Surreal social interactions aside, there has also been a lot of uncertainty for businesses. From this week onwards only “essential” shops are allowed to stay open, which so far includes supermarkets, pharmacies and – thank you Germany! – bookshops. I discovered for myself on Tuesday that the rumours of Berliners panic-buying pasta, toilet roll and milk were true, but a smaller local shop had some in stock – for now. My local bike shop was still open too; the owner was fairly philosophical, saying he would stay open as long as he was allowed, and then try and keep orders going by telephone if and when he had to close.
Others are less sanguine. While the government has said it would release funds to bolster the economy as big companies such as Volkswagen and Tui start to struggle, details for smaller companies, as well as freelancers, have been vague.
“At the moment everything is a bit confusing,” says Philipp Brokamp, owner and head brewer at one of my favourite Berlin pubs, Hops and Barley. “Pubs have to close, cafés and restaurants can be open from 6am-6pm, but the tables have to stand 1-5 metres away from each other. So why are there queues in front of ice cream shops, why can you still drink a coffee everywhere, but the pubs have to close? I have to think about paying rent and money for 13 employees and the government says help will follow, but I don’t know what kind of help? Of course everything is very new, but more detailed information for us people who have zero income at the moment would be good.”
It’s during crises like these that local communities often start to shine, and people are naturally coming together to help, supporting their local restaurants and stores by ordering online, and starting social media initiatives like the #Nachbarschaftschallenge (neighborhood challenge) to help those who are most at risk. On Monday a handwritten sign appeared in the hallway of my residential building with a phone number and an offer to go shopping for anyone elderly.
So in many ways life goes on. But the current fear among people I know, and on my social media feeds, is that due to not enough people taking the regulations seriously, or because of a new spike in infections (or both), we will soon have to endure a more stringent lockdown, like Spain and France. Angela Merkel’s address to the nation last night, her first in 14 years, made this quite clear. “The situation is serious,” she said. “Take it seriously. Not since German reunification, no, not since the Second World War has our country faced a challenge that depends so much on our collective solidarity.” Berlin mayor Michael Müller was even more blunt. Referring to both the ongoing public gatherings and panic-buying he said he would be forced to close parks and gardens, and initiate a curfew, if it didn’t stop.
One thing above all seems quite clear: we are still very much at the beginning of whatever this is.


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Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Uber and Lyft on Tuesday claiming the app-based companies are misclassifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The state is the latest to challenge the way the multibillion-dollar ride-hailing industry treats its workers.
“For years Uber and Lyft have built their billion-dollar businesses on a model that exploits drivers,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a video message announcing the lawsuit. “Uber and Lyft set the rates. They alone set the rules. Drivers are employees.”
Massachusetts is the second state to sue Uber and Lyft over the misclassification of drivers. In May, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, sued the companies, arguing that their drivers were misclassified as independent contractors when they should be employees under the state’s AB5 law that went into effect on January 1st. Becerra recently filed a motion for a preliminary injunction that would compel the ride-hailing companies to reclassify drivers as employees within weeks.
Previously, Healey signaled that Massachusetts could become the next state to take Uber and Lyft to court over driver classification. In March, her office filed an amicus brief urging a federal judge to order the companies to immediately reclassify their drivers as employees and provide them with paid sick leave, saying it could help stem the spread of coronavirus.
“The bottom line is Uber and Lyft have gotten a free ride for far too long,” Healey said on Tuesday. “For years these companies have systematically denied their drivers basic workplace protections and benefits, and profited greatly from it. This business is unfair and it’s also illegal under Massachusetts law.”
Uber and Lyft have long argued that drivers don’t want to be classified as employees, preferring the flexibility to set their own schedules and drive for multiple apps that come with gig work. “Our drivers consistently tell us that the reason why they value Uber is they value their freedom,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on the earnings call last year. “They’re their own boss. They run their own business.”
“We will contest this action in court.”
Now, the companies are using the pandemic to argue that states seeking to challenge their classification of drivers are imperiling jobs.
“At a time when Massachusetts’ economy is in crisis with a record 16 percent unemployment rate, we need to make it easier, not harder, for people to quickly start earning an income,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. “We will contest this action in court, as it flies in the face of what the vast majority of drivers want: to work independently. We stand ready to work with the state to modernize our laws, so that independent workers receive new protections while maintaining the flexibility they prefer.”
“This lawsuit threatens to eliminate work for more than 50,000 people in Massachusetts at the worst possible time,” a Lyft spokesperson said in a statement. “Drivers don’t want this — 89 percent of Massachusetts Lyft drivers drive fewer than 20 hours per week and choose to drive rideshare precisely because of the independence it gives them to make money in their spare time. Across the country, drivers have said they want to remain independent contractors over employment by a 4 to 1 margin.”
Drivers have long complained about poor pay, lack of protections, and an inability to band together as a union to effect change. There have been stories about drivers sleeping in their cars because they can’t afford to live in the cities where they work, struggling to make ends meet, and feeling at the mercy of a faceless algorithm that dictates their every move.
If the lawsuit is successful, tens of thousands of Massachusetts drivers could be eligible for the type of benefits traditionally associated with full-time employment: health insurance, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and a minimum wage guarantee.
But more importantly, it could accelerate the fragmentation of the ride-hailing industry, in which drivers are treated as employees in some states, and contractors in others. Experts predict the companies will likely pass those costs along to consumers through higher fares with only a modest impact on demand.


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Vietnamese companies are dominating the cooking oil market despite the presence of big foreign brands.
The new brands in the cooking oil market of VN
The cooking oil consumption level in Vietnam is less than 10 kilograms per head per annum, lower than the WHO recommended level of 13.5 kilograms. However, the figure is expected to rise to 16.2-17.4 kilograms by 2020 and to 18.6-19.9 kilograms by 2025.
According to Nielsen, Vietnam’s cooking oil market is valued at VND30 trillion and is growing, thus attracting investors.
Kido, established as a sweets manufacturer, sold its sweets production division and joined the cooking oil market. It quickly became a new influence in the market following a series of M&A deals.
Most recently, Kido took over Golden Hope Nha Be, a joint venture between Vocarimex and Sime Darby Plantation from Malaysia. Prior to that, Kido acquired the controlling stake at Vocarimex and Tuong An Vegetable Oil.
However, though the market is promising, it is not easy to make money.
Opening a $130 million soybean oil plant in 2011, Bunge, a group from the US, still had not made any profit when it faced an import tariff cut to zero percent. After four years, it had to sell 45 percent of shares to Wilmar from Singapore in July 2016.
Acecook, a well-known instant noodle brand, stopped working in the cooking oil manufacturing sector.
The market penetration cost is high as enterprises have to spend big money on marketing and advertisements to obtain market share, while the profit margin is small and the risk is high.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) once helped Vietnamese enterprises avoid direct confrontation with foreign companies by raising the import tariff.
However, the safeguard duties against imports terminated in May 2017. This has paved the way for imports to flood Vietnam, putting pressure on domestic companies.
Tran Le Nguyen from Kido said there is cutthroat competition between Vietnamese and foreign brands.
Musim Mas from Singapore, one of the world’s largest vegetable oil manufacturers, set its plant in Vietnam with investment capital of $71.5 million and designed capacity of 1,500 tons per day. Through ICOF Vietnam, the distributor, Musim Mas brings high-end products to the domestic market.
Vietnamese firms have also made heavy investments to improve capacity. Vocarimex has been developing material areas to ease reliance on input material imports. It has shifted to make peanut oil and sesame oil and joined forces with catfish businesses to produce fish oil.
For Kido, by cooperating with Felda Global Ventures (FGV), a palm oil grower and manufacturer, and Indo-Trans Logistics (ITL), it would have both a stable material supply and reasonable transportation costs.
By Kim Chi
Source: Viet Nam Net