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Your guide to the state of the pizza industry during a time of crisis
There has never been a time like the pizzeria industry is experiencing in 2020.
It has shown through a resiliency to adapt, shift and thrive amidst uncertainty. This moment has created a time of reflection to streamline business and institute operational strategies that will have a lasting impact.
In mid-March, the COVID-19 Pandemic prompted many state and local governments to institute stay-at-home mandates, close businesses and schools and cancel events. Restaurant teams were deemed essential workers to help feed America. Though restaurants were permitted to operate, with closed dining rooms, many had to change the way they do business.
In August, we conducted a COVID-19 Pizzeria Industry Impact Survey to track just how pizzerias across America have been impacted and how they have adapted to the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. Pizzerias make up an estimated 92,000 of the more than 650,000 restaurants in the United States.
Restaurant Industry’s Grim Reality
To better understand where the pizza industry stands, let’s first examine the restaurant industry as a whole. The pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the stability of restaurants.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) reported that between March and July, the foodservice industry lost $165 billion in revenue and is on track to lose a total of $240 billion by the end of 2020. In August, restaurant sales were down 34 percent from the previous year. The NRA has also estimated that one in six restaurants (at least 100,000) is closed permanently or long-term. Its recent COVID-19 six-month impact survey revealed that restaurant staffing levels are only 71 percent of where they would normally be and nearly 3 million employees are still out of work.
In a September release, NRA President and CEO Tom Bené said, “For an industry built on service and hospitality, the last six months have challenged the core understanding of our business. Our survival for this comes down to the creativity and entrepreneurship of owners, operators and employees. Across the board, from independent owners to multi-unit franchise operators, restaurants are losing money every month, and they continue to struggle to serve their communities and support their employees.”
Since the shutdown in March, Pizza Today had received numerous reports of many operators experiencing significant sales growth during the pandemic. We wanted to see if this was an industry-wide occurrence. We reached out to pizzeria operators to gather a consensus of where pizzerias stand amidst a global pandemic. Roughly 650 respondents shed light on their COVID-19 experience.
Let’s examine a snapshot of the pizzerias surveyed and their concept details before the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 88 percent of pizzerias surveyed have been open for three or more years. Nearly 63 percent of those have been in operation for 10 or more years.
- The top three concept segments (in order of largest percentage) include Casual Dining, Fast Casual/Build-to-Order and Carryout and Delivery Only.
- 78 percent were dine-in concepts. Of the pizzerias with seating, 42 percent had more than 50 seats pre-COVID-19 and over 20 percent seated more than 100.
- 88 percent had fewer than 50 employees.
Let’s dive into what has happened to pizzerias during the pandemic. There is evidence that while the pizzerias were dramatically affected by COVID-19, there are also beacons of hope. Be sure to read the first-person accounts of this uncertain time from pizzeria operators around the country.
Nearly 70 percent of pizzerias experienced a closure of some sort during the COVID-19 pandemic. While 43 percent of pizzerias experienced a closure of less than a month, another 31 percent closed for two months or more. As of August, more than half of American pizzerias operated without any dine-in business and only 2.6 percent were operating at 100 percent dine-in capacity. With a predicted fall/winter resurgence of the virus, dine-in remains to be a gray area in many business models.
Staffing Challenges Persist
Industry-wide staffing has been significantly difficult. From March until August, 44 percent of operators furloughed or laid off employees. Of those that reduced their workforce,
38 percent of those surveyed lost 50 percent or more of their team.
There is a bright spot in the employment forecast —72 percent of operators have indicated that they have been able to bring back their furloughed staff. We’ve received numerous reports that keeping fully staffed has become the employment challenge operators are currently trying to solve.
The Operational Shift
To operate their restaurants, owners had to think quickly and shift to a very different model in some cases. Nearly a quarter of pizzerias were already operating a Delivery and Carryout Only (DELCO) model. For those restaurants, the shift was incorporating the safety and sanitary procedures set by the Center for Disease Control and state and local governments.
Others initiated new programs and services to either remain open or reopen. Nearly 62 percent of pizzerias went to a DELCO model. Curbside/contact-free pick-up became the go-to initiative. Before COVID-19, curbside was a rare service offered by a very small percentage of pizzerias. During the pandemic, 69 percent of pizzerias offered curbside. Over 43 percent also offered contactless delivery. More than a quarter of those surveyed took advantage of outdoor seating capacity.
Pizzeria owners also got creative and opened drive-thru operations as well as sectioning off parking spaces and parking lots for dining and carryout operations. Some even set up either food trucks outside of the restaurants to aid during peak rushes or sent food trucks into surrounding neighborhoods. To add revenue, pizzerias even added alcohol delivery and bodega/grocery offerings. Common grocery items included flour, yeast, produce, meats and even sanitizing supplies.
In order to meet state and local COVID-19 operational requirements, pizzerias instituted several new and/or enhanced measures, including outsourcing a cleaning company, using front of house dividers and shields, added disposable paper and packaging, PPE, enhanced cleaning supplies and others, like UV light, changing front of house floor plan, signs and distance markers.
The financial investment of instituting these measures to serve guests during the COVID-19 Pandemic has been significant. Though, 58 percent of pizzerias have been able to limit costs to less than $2,500. While 42 percent spent between $2,500 and $7,499, 10 percent spent over $7,500.
The Financial Blow
Though pizzeria have fared far better than the overall restaurant industry, 60 percent of pizzerias experienced a decrease in sales. But, 50 percent of those pizzerias that experienced sales growth were up by 16 percent or more over 2019 sales.
Though profit margins are typically higher in DELCO models, 63 percent of pizzerias experienced reduced profit margins. Labor costs and price of goods have increased since March. Thirty-seven percent of pizzerias increased profit margins by six percent or more.
Unfortunately, with the uncertainly of the COVID-19 pandemic, recovery may take several months to years. Pizzeria owners surveyed who experienced declining sales offer a varied view of how long it will take their businesses to recover from negative sales numbers during the pandemic. While only roughly 12 percent said they should recoup losses in less than six months, 23 percent think recovery will take six months to one year after the pandemic subsides. Another 22 percent project it will take over a year to recoup losses. While 17 percent say they may never fully recoup losses, another 26 percent say it is too early to predict how long recovery will take.
In response to COVID-19’s impact on businesses, the federal government established the $669-billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 27. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. Over 70 percent of pizzerias enrolled in PPP. Of those who received PPP loans, 32 percent said PPP was very critical and without it, the pizzerias would have shuttered. Another 35 percent found the PPP loans fairly critical and helped their business stay afloat. Only nine percent indicated that PPP was not very important to the stability of their restaurant.
Supply Chain Disruptions
While some were fortunate to not experience disruptions in the supply chain, 75 percent of operators said their business had some disruption in their supply chain. Eighty percent of operators surveyed reported that disruption(s) took two weeks or longer to fill. Meats were the hardest hit category and continue to have sporadic issues with availability. Over 75 percent of those surveyed experienced meat shortages. Cleaning supplies and PPE were also hard to acquire. Over 40 percent of operators found issues with cheese availability and many were forced to make cheese substitutions. There were also supply chain issues with pizza boxes, paper products, some produce, yeast, among other.
Many operators had to make drastic changes to their menus in order to provide guests quality products in a DELCO model. Roughly 47 percent of pizzeria operators altered their menu offerings due to the pandemic. Over 70 percent of those streamlined or decreased the number of menu items offered. Though pizza-making kits were a trending topic during the pandemic, only 14 percent of pizzerias offered make-at-home-pizza kits.
Leveraging Tech to Get Through the Pandemic
Technology has played a pivotal role for successful restaurant operations throughout the pandemic. For many operators, transitions to new technology, that typically take months to fully integrate, were being launched overnight.
By far, online ordering has been the most pivotal technology investment that pizzeria operators have made to be more effective during the pandemic at nearly 55 percent. While online ordering has steadily increased to be an industry standard, operators have invested in better execution, increased efficiency and tools to increase the ticket averages of online ordering.
A quarter of those surveyed invested in POS systems and phone systems.
We also saw QR codes make a comeback this year with 23 percent of respondents deploying the technology since March. Thought to be a trend that faded years ago, restaurants discovered QR codes’ full potential as a way to provide menus with zero contact. The camera on many of today’s smartphones can scroll over a QR code and send users directly to a hot link containing a restaurant’s menu.
Others used text marketing, as well as text ordering. Some operators even indicated they invested in tablet ordering, contactless credit card machines and e-commerce sites.
Big Picture: Operational and Capital Improvements
With dining rooms closed across most of the country and many pizzerias shifting to concentrated operating hours, over 50 percent of operators surveyed used the time to make improvements in their business.
Deep cleaning has been the most top-of-mind investment for pizzeria operators during the pandemic. We asked operators what kind of operational or capital improvements they’ve made since March. The answered were varied. The emphasis for many operators was enhancing dining and kitchen spaces, as well as building or upgrading outdoor seating. Many focused on maintenance and repairs.
Operators responded that they have painted their interiors, replaced flooring and seating. Others repaired furniture and updated the décor. Several completed full remodels of their dining area. Many changed the layout and flow of their front of house space. Some even expanded their footprint.
Equipment purchases made were focused on big kitchen items, as well as HVAC and air handling equipment. Some focused on the reconfiguring/building prep areas and rooms. View a complete list of improvements surveyed pizzerias made during the pandemic.
Pizzerias have proven their resiliency in the face of months of uncertainty. The most primary concern for operators right now is keeping their staff and customers safe and keeping their businesses open.


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The recent bankruptcy of Nevada-based solar panel maker business Amonix and the infamous collapse of the manufacturer Solyndra have left many, including the nation's political class, feeling pessimistic about the future of the industry. Part of the problem relates to the high costs associated with setting up companies in the clean energy, both in terms of legal representation and due diligence research.
To combat this, Sol Systems, a green technology finance corporation, has released a streamlined documentation framework designed to speed up the process that inhibits the formation of small- and medium-sized solar-based companies. According to the organization's press release, the previous standard practice involved a lengthy review period that would cost the investor thousands of dollars to conduct. Under the new system, called SolSnapshot, a weeks-long process becomes accomplishable within a few days.
"By reducing these costs through standardization, SolSnapshot provides investors and developers with an affordable fatal flaws analysis for a given project for a few thousand dollars – instead of a hundred thousand, and in a few days – instead of a few weeks,' Yuri Horwitz, Sol Systems' CEO, said in a corporate press release.
The development may be an important catalyst in the process of shifting away from large, government-sponsored initiatives to smaller operations that, up until recently, were mostly locked out of funding markets by their competitors. With the new program in place, communication and collaboration between investors and project owners can be accomplished far more easily due to the reduction in bureaucratic hurdles.
SolMarket, the finance division of Sol Systems, will serve as the framework for the new review process. According to the source, the solar project marketplace is a digital directory for technology designers to tap into a $2.5 billion venture capital market.

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Those in the know suggest his new Care Package odds ‘n’ sods compilation could earn more than 100,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 8. The set, which was released on Aug. 2 via OVO Sound/Republic Records, collects 17 of Drake’s stray tracks — many of which were never officially released and only available via SoundCloud or YouTube.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the Aug. 17-dated Billboard 200 chart (where Care Package may bow at No. 1) is scheduled to be revealed on Billboard’s websites on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Drake has previously hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with Scorpion (five weeks at No. 1 in 2018), More Life (three weeks, 2017), Views (13 weeks, 2016), What a Time to Be Alive with Future (one week, 2015), If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (one, 2015), Nothing Was the Same (one, 2013), Take Care (one, 2011) and Thank Me Later (one, 2010).
Other albums aiming for significant debuts on next week’s Billboard 200 include Lil Durk’s Love Songs 4 the Streets 2, Skillet’s Victorious, Tyler Childers’ Country Squire, and the Descendants 3 soundtrack. Meanwhile, rock band Tool could see four of its albums re-enter the chart, led by Ænima, after the band released most of its catalog to digital retail and streaming services on Aug. 2. The act may also see one of its albums hit the Billboard 200 for the very first time, as the Opiate EP might debut on the tally. Opiate was released in 1992, and though it never charted on the Billboard 200, it went on to sell 1.27 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.


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The Samsung Galaxy S5 launched around the world just a few days earlier. We have yet to see any sort of press release style announcement from Samsung, however reports coming out of Korea are suggesting sales have been strong. In fact, it was said the Galaxy S5 launch day sales beat Galaxy S4 launch day sales.
Details are coming by way of ZDNet Korea, who recently spoke with a Samsung spokesperson. According to details coming from the report, Samsung saw (on average) 1.3 times more Galaxy S5 sales on launch day (as compared to Galaxy S4 sales on launch day). While the overall was 1.3 times, some specific markets saw greater sales and demand.
It was said Galaxy S5 sales in the UK were double that of the Galaxy S4 for launch day. There was also mention of some long lines and stores quickly selling through their inventory. One mention was for a location in Paris where is was said the store opened at 8AM and sold 200 units in the first hour, and later went on to sell through their entire 800 unit inventory.
As we saw on the launch day, Samsung began offering the Galaxy S5 in 125 countries around the world. And while that seems like a fairly large launch day number — it seems that will soon be growing to 150 countries. We’ll have to wait for the official numbers for a proper comparison, but we can look back to what Samsung did with the Galaxy S4.
That handset sold 10 million units in the first month. Looking further back, the Galaxy S III sold 10 million in 50 days, the Galaxy S II took 5 months and the original Galaxy S took 7 months. Simply put, we expect Samsung is looking to sell the first 10 million in less than a months time.


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Sustainability is moving further and further up our fashion priority list as each season passes. With designers shouting about the importance of ethical fashion and highlighting their efforts made to lower the impact of manufacturing on the planet. The prevalence of the fast fashion industry on the millennial generation has made modern day fashion decisions limitless, with the convenience of a new pair of shoes, handbag or jacket delivered to your front door with a click. This however, has consequently contributed to the shocking reality that of the 53 million tonnes of clothes produced globally each year, 87% actually ends its life in a landfill*
#1 What is ethical fashion?
One designer leading the way on the topic of ethical fashion is Vivienne Westwood, whose AW19 show was an amalgamation of new season fashion and political activism, calling on all to buy less and buy better. Utilising her show to broadcast to the world, Vivienne enlisted the help of special guest and Chief Executive of Greenpeace, John Sauven who spoke of how the fashion industry needs to make better choices in order to save the planet.
#2 How is our shopping behaviour changing?
When looking into google searches surrounding the topic of sustainability in fashion it is clear that we have quite the appetite for change, with Lyst reporting that in 2018 there was a reported 47% increase in shoppers looking for items that have ethical and style credentials with terms such as “vegan leather” and “organic cotton”. Further to this we’ve started to see brands with a passion for sustainability ranking highly in the most ‘searched for’ categories. French footwear newbie Veja take the top spot for Instagram brands when comparing spikes in search and mentions on Instagram. However with the ever rise of the influencer whose role is to convert their following into fashion sales, some may argue that the industry is being counter-intuitive?
#3 How to buy less and buy better
There are plenty of ways to implement this into your shopping habits, from creating a capsule collection full of timeless key pieces, to swapping your haul shop at fast fashion retailers and buying quality items designed to last. When making your purchasing decisions take a look at the items composition, will it last for a few years or will it be in the charity bag after a few months? Sticking to staple items like the perfect pair of blue denim jeans, a crisp white shirt or a classic trench coat can also help when over spending becomes tempting.
We can however see a big contribution from designers, fashion bodies, journalists and influencers to minimise the impact that fashion has on the planet. From using organic materials to hosting internationally recognised events like the Ethical Fashion Show in Berlin, British Fashion Council’s Sustainable Fashion Show and the annual Copenhagen Fashion Summit where leaders discuss everything from manufacturing to consumption. Brands are launching collections made from sustainable materials, sourcing fair trade partners and inputting other initiatives to reduce waste, carbon emissions and overall affect on the planet.
We’re finding that journalists and influencers are writing about the topic of ethical fashion more as well as the purchasing decisions they are making, like this from Anne Marie Curtis – Ex Elle Editor in Chief
“This past year that I have been shopping less — not spending less, mind you, but being more careful about what I buy.”
Words by Emma Bowkett
*According to a 2o17 study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation


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Hundreds of small Asheville businesses get relief this week from TDA funding
COVID-19 shutdowns hit small businesses like a freight train this spring, right when business was picking up.
Brandy Mills, owner of TBM Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery, was shaken by how quickly she went from growing her 4-year-old bakery to wondering if she should close down.
"We're big on being a part of the community, so it's more than just a business to us," she said. "And we thought, 'If we lose this connection to our community, it would be disheartening.'"
She decided instead it was time to dig deep and get innovative.
"Not only to recover from this crisis, but to continue to be resilient in its aftermath," said Mills, who also works as an ER nurse.
On June 19, Mills learned, along with hundreds of other local businesses, she'd won grant money from the $5 million Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund, established by the county's Tourism Development Authority to help local businesses recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19.
Nearly 400 small local businesses will get grants of $2,500-$50,000, including Asheville Yoga Center, Biscuit Head, Hood Huggers International, Rhubarb, Ultimate Ice Cream, The Orange Peel and more.
The TDA and Mountain Bizworks, a local business-supporting nonprofit since 1989, say is the fund is expected to retain, recover or create nearly 4,800 jobs.
A boost for a bake shop, bar
Mills applied for an $18,000 grant, but on June 19 was not yet sure how much she would receive.
"I'm grateful for any funding," she said. "Trying to figure out how to survive in this culture with limited resources has been my go-to."
It's a relief for a small family-run business that's had to pivot quickly, Mills said.
Not only was the small bake shop closed for two months, prices from her distributors climbed. She also needed more staff and resources to adhere to new COVID-19 guidelines in a time when business remained unpredictable.
"This grant helps us transition into a new way of business, and it also helps us remain sustainable until we can get things to pick back up," Mills said.
Earlier loan programs, including the federally funded Paycheck Protection Program, were not a perfect fit for her small business.
"The parameters are so prescriptive, and the timeline in which you have to use it, forced us to get going to meet that timeline, but wouldn't allow us to transition into a new way of business," she explained.
That's because the majority of PPP loans had to be used on payroll rather than infrastructure to be turned into grant funding.
"When you already have business debt, it just doesn't make good sense to add onto that," Mills said.
Charlie Hodge also received a grant for his Asheville Beauty Academy bar and venue, closed for more than three months under Phase 2 guidelines.
Hodge said federal funding, and the debt it would create, would not work for him.
"It would mess up the cash flow, so this grant money is really worth a lot to us," he said.
Still, he said, it's only a piece of the puzzle.
"Grant money is great, but being busy and doing what we're built to do is better," Hodge said.
The TDA, he said, is good at helping facilitate that.
Still work to do
Of $13.5 million requested, $5 million was approved, underscoring COVID's immense impact on the Asheville business community, and that plenty of need remains.
"Now we have to figure out how we, as a community, make the most of this windfall," , said Noah Wilson, director of sector development for Mountain BizWorks. "It's very rare when businesses get grants, period, much less 400 in a single county."
Awards were capped for non-minority businesses. Still, a clause in the legislation requiring grantees to have at least two employees left out many people of color, with the vast majority of Black business owner sole proprietors.
Local artists, too, often don't have employees.
Still, Wilson said, 18% of the money in the grant pool went to entrepreneurs of color, with 15% going to the arts.
"We worked hard to make this fund as equitable and inclusive and effective as possible," he said.
He said the largest issue is why some entrepreneurs aren't able to hire help.
"Why is it that nationwide, 82% of entrepreneurs of color, and 95% of black entrepreneurs, are sole proprietors?" he said. "It's not because help isn't needed. The opportunity ahead of us is to make the industry itself more equitable and inclusive, and that comes from growing the things that we as a community prioritize."
In that vein, he said the COVID crisis affords opportunities to rebuild the economy and tourism industry with an eye toward diversity.
"We have a chance to make sure that more entrepreneurs of color, and especially Black entrepreneurs, are able to start and grow businesses that tap into the $2 billion per year that tourists spend here, and attract and serve more diverse audiences," he said.
"We have a chance to think big around how we support the arts and local sourcing, and ensure that our county attracts audiences that value what our community values. And that starts from the inside."
How did the money get here?
Stephanie Brown, outgoing president and CEO of Explore Asheville, the marketing arm under the direction of the TDA, sat in on a meeting of restaurateurs in the beginning of the COVID crisis, watching the dismay creep over their faces as they realized that they might have to close their doors.
"And somebody in that room is like, Stephanie, can't you do something?" Brown said.
Not easily. The Buncombe County TDA funded the grant with local hotel tax revenue, which draws $25 million annually.
TDA funding is mandated by law to be used only for tourism development.
That meant the pathway to changing the legislation was to retain the funding's purpose, which is, basically, building things that attract overnight visitors.
"So what we did was change the process to say OK, we're recognizing that instead of building new stuff, we're gonna save the stuff we have," Brown said. "Because tourism won't ever come back if our main street is boarded up, not to mention the effects on these beloved people."
First, local hoteliers had to sign off on the idea.
Then, NC Sen. Chuck Edwards introduced the "Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Act" in late-April at the General Assembly, with Gov. Roy Cooper signing it into law May 4.
Almost immediately, Mountain BizWorks launched the grant infrastructure, then managed the application period, May 15-May 31, receiving 443 unique applications from the Asheville area.
"I'll never forget that management team call," said Wilson. "The TDA needs us to run a 5 million grant fund that's never been built before from scratch, and on an emergency basis as fast as humanly possible? Are we going to do this, knowing it's going to push us to the limit?"
In the end, the answer was "Yes."
"We know how to help," Wilson said. "And we have the perspective on how to create a vibrant small business economy that works for us here in WNC."
The nonprofit launched bilingual webinars and mobilized four partnership organizations — Asheville SCORE, the small business center at A-B Tech, the Small Business and Technology Development Center and Western Women's Business Center — to offer one-on-one assistance to applicants.
Mountain BizWorks researched years of financials to make sure grantees had the stability to last at least a year with the funding boost.
Still, almost none of the applicants received the level of funding they requested, though Wilson said he's talking with grant recipients about how they might leverage their money in a way that's beneficial community-wide.
"So there's still some need, but we made sure the funding would meaningfully assist them," he said.
He advised businesses to spend locally, and to pool their resources for the greater good.
"Our community is hurting badly, and this is an opportunity to turn the tide, but for that to work, we have to work together," Wilson said.
That's especially important with a bleak winter likely to be ahead.
"It's going to be a hard winter, there's no question," he said. "A lot of this is making the best of summer."
Mackensy Lunsford has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years, and has been a staff writer for the Asheville Citizen Times since 2012. Lunsford is a former professional line cook and one-time restaurant owner.


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Ed Sheeran says he's not trying to "stitch up" fans over cancelled tickets
26 May 2018, 22:13
Many Ed Sheeran fans were disappointed this week when they found their tickets to see him were invalid.
The 'Perfect' singer has reassured fans that his "strong" approach on tackling ticket touts for his gigs will benefit fans eventually.
Many fans who came to see him at the first dates of his UK tour in Manchester with resold tickets were told they were cancelled, and they had to buy new ones on the door.
"The only people it is going to harm in the end is the touts," Ed told BBC News.
"I hate the idea of people paying more than face value for tickets when you can get them at face value."
Various fans were not pleased to find that their tickets were invalid on Friday, including one woman who said she was "fuming" after paying £400 for two tickets on a secondary ticket site.
Secondary ticketing is where people buy tickets for a gig and then instantly resell them - usually via sites like Viagogo, StubHub or GetMeIn.
Ed Sheeran had warned fans that secondary tickets would not be valid.
His promoters have since cancelled over 10,000 tickets that were resold on Viagogo - usually at hugely inflated prices - for 18 dates.
Fans who had resold tickets were asked to pay £80 on the door, which is the usually value of a ticket. They are then legally able to get a refund via the site they bought it from.
"It's all being done properly I'm not trying to stitch fans up," he said. "People just need to start taking a stance and within two or three years companies like Viagogo are going to be kaput (no longer in business).
"Loads of acts are doing it, Arctic Monkeys, Adele, no one is OK with it. The fans are not OK with secondary tickets. Sometimes you can spend all that money and it is a fake ticket. I think it is just about being strong and not giving in."


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Source: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock
Shares of Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ:MULN) are in full focus, as several catalysts for the electric vehicle (EV) company are quickly approaching. First, Mullen is expected to report its Form 10-K, or annual report, by Jan. 13. The deadline was initially set to Dec. 29, which resulted in Mullen receiving a 15-day grace period. Mullen’s financials for the three months ended Sept. 30 will be disclosed in the report.
After that, the company will hold its special meeting of stockholders on Jan . . .


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It’s not been an easy few weeks for Samsung following the recall and then dropping of the Note7 in the wake of safety concerns over the device exploding.
While Samsung’s rivals have yet to make any sort of comment on the unfortunate situation that has befallen their competitor, one smartphone case manufacturer is not holding back – having created a skin for the iPhone that gives it the look of a compromised Note7.
It’s even called the Explo-sung.
The product description suggests it would make a perfect Halloween dress-up for your iPhone, calling it their “hottest skin yet”.
It’s available for iPhone handsets going back to the iPhone 5, with a price tag of $24.99.
The company selling it, UniqFind, doesn’t appear afraid to create outlandish designs for cases – its website also features designs for iPhone and MacBook that give them the impression of being badly smashed.
However, Samsung’s sense of humour when it comes to the Note7 issue is, perhaps unsurprisingly, lacking. The tech giant has already begun issuing takedown notices for some videos of a mod created for Grand Theft Auto V for PC that use the Note7 as a bomb.


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The Ontario federal government has launched proceedings that are legal the bucks Store Financial solutions Inc. over its operations and licenses
Share this whole story: Ontario files lawsuit against pay day loan operator Cash Store
The Ontario federal government has launched appropriate procedures resistant to the money Store Financial Services Inc., a publicly exchanged firm in the loan that is payday, over its operations and licences.
The applying to begin with action that is legal the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, filed by the Ministry of Consumer Services on June 7, asks the court to declare that by giving customers with credit lines, money Store is basically in the pay day loan company and it is consequently susceptible to OntarioвЂ™s pay day loans Act. As well, the federal government desires the court to purchase the organization to have an online payday loan broker licence.
Ontario files lawsuit against pay day loan operator money Store back again to video clip
The lawsuit follows into the wake of a determination because of the customer protection branch of OntarioвЂ™s Ministry of customer Affairs to revoke money StoreвЂ™s payday loan provider licences on Feb. 4. Ontario served notice so it meant to remove the licence of this Edmonton-based business, that has 512 branches across Canada and 25 in the uk, since it alleges that by charging you charges, it permitted money Store to end run the provinceвЂ™s maximum borrowing cap of $21 per $100 lent.
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Money Store disagreed, arguing that its https://cheapesttitleloans.com/payday-loans-wi/ credit lines aren’t governed by the provincial work, and filed for a judicial review on April 29 looking for a statement that the item is maybe not a pay day loan. Peter Block, a spokesman for the business, declined to comment further since the instance is prior to the courts.
Meantime, the provincial federal government issued an вЂњalertвЂќ to customers telling them regarding the research and reminding them of the liberties.
The Canadian pay day loan Association, the industry lobby team, stated it вЂњstrongly supports the legislation and certification for the cash advance item as well as the loan providers whom provide productвЂќ as the loans are вЂњan essential credit option employed by numerous Ontario residents and delivery with this item in a good and accountable way is important.вЂќ In a declaration, CPLA president Stan Buell applauded the provincial governmentвЂ™s leadership part in вЂњdiligent assessment and enforcement of legislation.вЂќ
Money shop, which includes faced challenges that are similar Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia, switched its type of company from providing pay day loans to personal lines of credit, as well as in doing this, the organization argued that personal lines of credit aren’t governed by the provinceвЂ™s Payday Loans Act.
Couple of years ago, the B.C. federal government fined the organization $25,000 and demanded it refund fees that areвЂњunlawful by customers. Who hasnвЂ™t occurred yet because money Store appealed.
Basically, pay day loan operators offer short-term funds or payday advances in smaller amounts, fundamentally to pay for last-minute or crisis costs. Typically, this particular loan is $1,500 or less for a maximum term of 62 times in addition to cash is advanced level in return for a cheque that is post-dated various other form of pre-authorized re payment.
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On average, Canadians borrow $300 for a term that is two-week. In accordance with Statistics Canada, about 3% of Canadian families have developed a pay day loan.
The line that is bottom 1,350 players populate the Canadian industry that is well worth a projected $2-billion yearly. When it comes to Ontario, where 750 of the businesses run, the payday advances Act had been established in 2008, and amended last year as soon as the federal federal government stressed loan providers were certainly getting across the borrowing that is maximum by asking charges.
The exact same holds true various other provinces вЂ“ with the exception of Quebec, where loans that are payday forbidden. Borrowing costs range from province to province, as an example, $25 per $100 in Nova Scotia, $23 per $100 in B.C., and $17 per $100 in Manitoba.
Within the U.S., 15 states have actually an outright ban on pay day loans while some have now been launching strict legislation to control them. Nevertheless, the measures haven’t stopped the sector from expanding. In line with the nyc days, three million People in america obtained short-term loans in 2011, amounting to US$13-billion, significantly more than a 120per cent enhance from US$5.8-billion in 2006.
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Can the beleaguered investor turn things around?
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) ("Herbalife" or "Company") announced today it has waived the share price condition related to its previously announced cash tender offer for its common shares, par value $0.
It certainly looks like 2017 is shaping up to be another "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad" year.
Workers head out to watch eclipse. Wall Street struggles for direction.
Herbalife disclosed the talks in an announcement detailing its share repurchase program.
Bulls wait on the sidelines for reason to move back into the market.
TheStreet's Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer sheds light on Monday's trending stocks.
Herbalife engaged in talks to become private.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) ("Herbalife" or "the Company") announced today it has commenced a "modified Dutch auction" self-tender offer to purchase for cash up to an aggregate of $600 million of shares of its common stock...
Herbalife and Nu Skin fell sharply following China's regulatory decision.
As Ackman's fund, Pershing Square, pushing for control of the board at ADP, the company highlights that the fund has underperformed ADP in recent years.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) reports results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.
Charts call a breakdown once they report earnings after the close Tuesday.
Soon enough, we'll know where the demand lies.
The Dow is poised to open at an all-time high on Tuesday.
Premier global nutrition company, Herbalife (NYSE: HLF), today announced it has selected Salesforce, the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), to enhance distributor effectiveness and efficiency, and...
The labor market goes under inspection and Apple releases its earnings report.
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Enter a symbol above to add it to your watchlist.


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By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that in the third quarter of 2019, the Nigeria banking sector pulled a total volume of 800,201,498 transactions valued at N42.76 trillion.
These transactions were carried out in the period under review via the different electronic payment channels in the sector. It was further stated that NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) transactions dominated the volume of transactions recorded; 298,988,572 worth N26.18 trillion.
An analysis done by Business Post showed that cheques accounted for N1.01 trillion with 1.92 million volume, while ATM recorded 212.8 million transactions worth N1.62 trillion, with POS having 121.4 million transactions valued at N856.9 billion.
In addition, a total of 26.7 million transactions worth N120.6 billion were carried out in the first nine months of this year via the web, while 113.1 million deals worth N1.4 trillion occurred via mobile payment platforms in the period under consideration.
Under the Remita platform, 13.1 million transactions valued at N5.0 trillion were done in Q3 2019, while NAPS had 12.0 million transactions worth N6.4 trillion were executed, with Central Pay recording 111,273 transactions valued at N1.2 billion.
In a report released by the agency, it was disclosed that in terms of credit to private sector, the total value of credit allocated by the bank stood at N16.25 trillion as at Q3 2019, while oil/gas and manufacturing sectors got credit allocation of N3.39 trillion and N2.57 trillion respectively.
It further said as at the third quarter of this year, the total number of banks’ staff decreased by 2.81 percent quarter-on-quarter from 104,364 in the second quarter of 2019 to 101,435.
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Audi With Record Figures in the Asia-Pacific Region
Audi has started the year 2004 with sales records in the Asia-Pacific region. With a total of 22,321 vehicles sold, representing a 29.0 percent increase on the previous year, more Audi cars were sold than ever before in the first quarter. Audi also enjoyed the best March in company history, with record sales of 8,724 vehicles sold (up 31.0 percent). Sales of the Audi A8 increased at a disproportionately high rate and achieved growth rates of more than 200 percent.
With sales of 17,522 vehicles in the first quarter of 2004, China is the region’s largest growth market (up 44.0 percent).
“These record figures speak for themselves and confirm that our premium strategy in the Asia-Pacific region is on track. We are very confident that we’ll achieve another sales record for the whole of 2004,” says Ralph Weyler, Member of the AUDI AG Board for Marketing and Sales.
The Asia-Pacific region includes the markets of China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore.


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Wine drinkers, rejoice.
On Monday, a House panel advanced legislation that would repeal a state law prohibiting the sale of wine in containers larger than a gallon.
The House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee OK’d the bill (HB 6073) with a near-unanimous vote. Rep. Chip LaMarca, a Lighthouse Point Republican, is the bill sponsor.
Currently, vendors who sell wine in a container larger than a gallon commit a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 maximum fine and 60 days in prison.
Wright’s proposal, however, would allow the sale of wine in a container of any size.
“This may have a positive fiscal impact on businesses that sell wine,” the House analysis reads.
The bill will appear before the House Commerce Committee next.
Sen. Jeff Brandes‘s companion bill (SB 142), meanwhile, is slated to appear before the Rules, Regulated Industries, and Commerce and Tourism committees.
If signed into law, the proposals would take effect July 1.
Notably, this isn’t LaMarca’s first crack at the gallon wine bottle. Last Session, he unsuccessfully filed to repeal the same law.
That bill (HB 6037) died in the Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee.
LaMarca’s latest proposal joins other bills also looking to rethink booze sales in the Sunshine State.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Josie Tomkow are sponsoring bills (SB 148/HB 329) that would allow Floridians to enjoy a cocktail-to-go. Those proposals have already cleared their first panels unanimously.
The flurry of booze-related-proposals comes after the Department of Business and Professional Regulation allowed bars and restaurants to sell drinks to go amid the pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns.
The special permission, however, will end with Florida’s COVID-19 state of emergency.
Notably, some lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis are supportive of booze-to-go proposals.
“I’m for it being permanent, and I think that you’ll probably get a pretty good reception in the Legislature just based on the experience and just based off everyone having to go through what you guys have gone through,” DeSantis said in September.


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Abalone producer Oceanus Group has posted a net loss of 45.2 million yuan (S$9 million) for the three months ended March 31 as demand for its products weakened during the period.
This pushes it deeper into the red - the firm made a loss of 39 million yuan in the same period last year.
Sales dropped 69 per cent in the first quarter from the same period a year ago to 14.8 million yuan, as a result of China's new wave of austerity measures imposed by new government, the firm said.
"Abalone, like many other high end consumer products including liquor, were affected by the frugality drive," it wrote in its financial statement on Monday.
"We expect this trend to continue well into the next two to three quarters."
Oceanus has made a loss per share of 1.77 yuan cents for the first quarter, while its net asset value stood at 14.34 yuan cents a share as at March 31.
The firm said it plans to speed up the implementation of structural and organisational reforms to improve its production and business fundamentals in anticipation of a market recovery.
"These when fully implemented will enable the group to fully exploit its land-based resources to become a dominant market leader," it wrote, adding that the weak market conditions will likely cause many smaller abalone producers to consolidate or drop out of business altogether.


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South Lake Tahoe, CA…The Cash Mob lunch on October 8 at Gunbarrel Tavern & Eatery was a success. Fifteen people showed up to try a variety of menu items including beer can chicken, shrimp ‘n grits, and jalapeno bacon mac ‘n cheese at the newest restaurant in the Heavenly Village. Gunbarrel Tavern officially opened their doors on August 30 with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony. TahoeChamber’s Cash Mobs help grow the local economy by supporting local businesses in an innovative fashion – in the case of Cash Mobs – guests just show up and purchase lunch. Cash Mobs also help support TahoeChamber’s commitment to providing relationship building opportunities and promoting the community. On behalf of the chamber board, staff, and ambassadors, a huge thank you goes out to the staff at Gunbarrel Tavern and the lunch mob attendees. For more information on ash Mobs, visit www.facebook.com/cashmoblt or contact Emily Abernathy at email@example.com or at 775.588.1728 ext. 303.
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It’s Netflix or Playstation now– with some key difference!
Microsoft is launching the Netflix of games, letting people play as many as they want for just $10 a month.
The Xbox Games Pass will be a monthly subscription service that gives access to 100 games, Microsoft has said. As such, it works like Netflix or similar to the PlayStation Now service that Sony has offered for years.
But unlike Sony’s option, where people are required to stream the games over the internet, Microsoft will let people actually download the titles to their own console. Microsoft’s will also have fewer titles, with only 100 at launch compared with PlayStation Now’s 450 – but all of Sony’s games are for the PS3, and there’s been no indication that it will bring the latest games to the service.
The full list of those launch titles hasn’t yet been revealed, but Microsoft has indicated that some of the biggest games and publishers will be part of the arrangement. That will include games like Halo 5, which was only relatively recently released, for instance.
Microsoft says that the 100 games on offer will change over time, with titles being removed and added each month. If people want to hang on to a game that is being removed, they will have to buy it so that it can stay in their library – but they will be offered it at a discount.
Xbox Games Pass will initially roll out to Xbox Insiders, the small group of people who try out software and services before they are released to the public. It will make it available to the public later this spring, Microsoft said.


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Scent marketing campaign for Trident in Metro de Madrid.
L'Orèal Unveils its New Product with an Interactive Bus Shelter
On the occasion of the inaugural flight of ANA's Paris - Tokyo Haneda airline, JCDecaux Airport Paris orchestrated a surprising operation from the check -in area to the takeoff.
Lipton Ice Tea - Brandzone promotion in Belgium
Vueling bike wraps.
Canon Captivates the Audience with Movement at the Flagship Shelter
For the launch of Miracle Skin, Garnier and JCDecaux designed and implemented a campaign in Paris.
Reporters Without Borders brings its message to Sochi during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Special lighting poster to promote Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey on National Geographic Channel
To promote new destinations, SAS and JCDecaux made airplane windows and placed them on Eurosizes.
For the promotion of McDonald's breakfast and the slogan 'Wake up your smile', we prepared a 'smilemeter' and coffee scent six sheets in Madrid and Barcelona.
The iconic British retailer Marks & Spencer and JCDecaux Netherlands created a virtual catwalk in The Hague.
Recent Campaign for Coca Cola Life in Metro de Santiago.
Situated at the centre of luxury hotels and shopping malls, Mido has transformed a roadside bus shelter into a countdown hotspot to celebrate the New Year Eve.
B2B technology brands: CA Technologies, HP and Salesforce, have taken over Heathrow Express this February in a number of Outdoor advertising campaigns with JCDecaux Airport.
Helsinki Missio wants to remind us not to leave people alone and unnoticed.
We have done for Cacaolat, a spanish milkshake company, the first scent marketing campaign in street furniture in Spain.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman Innovate campaignin the UK
Innovation bus shelter in the center of Helsinki in December 2013.
JCDecaux Innovate sonic campaign for The Hitchhiker`s guide to the galaxy. UK.
JCDecaux Israel launched an amazing campaign for the launch of Stoli's night edition bottle -- a special bottle that changes its visibility at night -- it glows at the dark.


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Advertiser Disclosure: At ElectricityRates.com, our number one goal is to help you make better energy decisions. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines, however this post may include references to products offered from our partners.
Retail energy provider NRG Energy Inc. announced on Monday, July 23, its plan to merge with GenOn Energy Inc. in a $1.7 billion deal, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the news source, the two companies say together, they can create savings of up to $300 million a year by lowering administrative and financial costs. When the merger is complete, the companies will join to create the largest retail energy provider in the country.
NRG CEO David Crane said that the merger will allow the company to make new investments that will help the energy industry as a whole.
"It is time for this country to reinvest in its energy infrastructure," Crane said during a conference call with reporters. "If we can get a good return for our shareholders, we will reinvest in our infrastructure."
According to the news source, the deal is expected to give both companies a major boost after having struggled for some time as wholesale power prices fell to their lowest in 10 years.
According to the Houston Chronicle, NRG was already one of the largest generating companies in Texas. The merger comes a consumers in the state face major electricity rate hikes.


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On January 11, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a new rule to apparently shed light on the dark corners of the financial industry. The proposed rule would create a public registry of the fine print in the contracts offered by non-bank companies that fall under CFPB’s supervisory jurisdiction. These contracts, often referred to as “take it or leave it” agreements, contain terms and conditions that attempt to waive or limit consumers’ legal rights and protections.
Many contracts with consumers are non-negotiable form contracts, which can mislead consumers into thinking that the terms or conditions are legally enforceable. But, under the proposed rule, non-banks will be required to submit information on the terms and conditions in these form contracts that seek to waive or limit individuals’ rights and other legal protections. This information will be made publicly available in a registry that will be open to the public, including other consumer financial protection enforcers.
“Some companies seek to censor their customers and strip them of their rights by inserting fine print into non-negotiable contracts,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “The CFPB is proposing a registry of these contract clauses to find out where people are unable to speak up when they’ve been harmed.”
The proposed registry would include examples of terms and conditions such as:
Waivers of legal protections for servicemembers, like the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Credit reporting terms that undermine consumers’ rights to legal action and class action lawsuits
Limitations on lender liability for bank fees caused by repeated debit attempts
Unenforceable waivers in mortgage contracts that mislead consumers
With this proposed rule, the CFPB aims to hold non-banks accountable for the contracts they offer to consumers, and empower individuals to make informed decisions about the financial products and services they use in their daily lives.


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ITC LTD Q2 RESULTS
ITC posts highest-ever quarterly profit; key Q2 takeaways
Cigarette revenue for the company grew 6 per cent to Rs 5,326 crore in September quarter.
ITC posts strong Q2 results; should you buy the stock?
The net profit exceeded analyst forecasts of Rs 3,640-3,670 crore, while revenue met e...
ITC Q2 profit jumps 36% YoY to Rs 4,023 crore, beats Street estimates
Analysts in an ETNow poll had projected a net of Rs 3,656 crore.
Sensex rises 100 points, Nifty above 11,600; ITC jumps 2% post Q2 results
OPENING BELL: Sensex rises 100 pts, Nifty above 11,600; PNB Housing jumps 10%, Vodafone Idea slips 8%Sensex rises 100 points, Nifty above 11...
How these 9 industry sectors are likely to perform in Q2 of FY20
The silver lining is the situation is not expected to be as bad as it was in the first quarter.
Q2 report cards show better profit than expected, stem earnings downgrades
Corporate report cards have largely managed to beat Dalal Street’s expectations on the profitability front.
ITC Q2 results today: Cigarette, paper biz key to watch
Brokerage HDFC Securities is pencilling in 8 per cent YoY growth in cigarette revenues.
ITC Q2 profit rises 12% YoY to Rs 2,955 crore, beats Street estimates
Analysts in an ET Now poll had estimated the profit figure at Rs 2,897 crore.
ICICI Bank Q2 profit more than halves to Rs 909 crore, asset quality improves
Analysts in an ET Now poll had estimated the profit figure at Rs 815 crore.
After Market: Britannia, Affle India rally on good Q2 show, 72 stocks hit 52-week highs
Nifty Media index was the biggest sectoral loser on the NSE.
Bajaj Auto cracks 4% post Q2 results
The operating profit jumped 6 per cent YoY to Rs 1,382 crore against Rs 1,306 crore in the same period last year.
ITC drops as brokerages cut target post unimpressive Q2 results
The company's revenue for the September quarter slipped sharply to Rs 9,760 crore from Rs 13,491 crore.
ITC's Q2 results today; here's what to watch out for
Non-cigarette businesses are expected to grow by at 8 per cent on YoY basis.
ITC Q3 results: Profit may rise 8-11%, cigarette volumes at 5-6%
Edelweiss Broking expects revenue and profit to grow at 12 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.
After Market: TCS, Infosys fall ahead of Q2 earnings; Airtel, Vodafone surge on Jio’s charge on voice calls
Nifty IT index bucked the overall bullish trend and ended in the red.


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3 Mins Read
Organised by marketing and public relations company Scout 22 alongside plant-based industry veterans and groups, the new Scout Plant-Based Expo is slated to launch in September next year in Los Angeles. The expo will feature the newest plant-based food innovations and brands, and aims to connect these solutions with investors, retail buyers and distributors.
Scout Plant-Based Expo has just been announced for September 18, 2021, and will be held in the open-air Paramount Studios Backlot in Hollywood. The new expo is designed to be artisanal and carefully curated, to ensure that emerging and existing plant-based brands can enjoy “a significant presence and sufficient time” with potential partners, buyers, investors and distributors.
It seeks to address the challenges that many brands and organisers face with large-scale exhibitions, according to the founders of plant-based-focused PR firm Scout 22, Lori and Jim Amos.
“These mega expos we are now accustomed to are counterproductive — it is impossible to get quality time to make connections and it really is the brands that have the most money to spend who are the ones that get noticed. We want to change that,” they explained.
In addition, the organisers say that they will be able to provide companies who exhibit at the expo with valuable PR and marketing services as part of the cost of the booth package.
“Our booths will be single rate for everyone, no one will get a double wide or super-sized option no matter the size of the company so everyone is on a level playing field,” said Jim. “It’s 100% about boosting the plant-based community up—all boats rise vs. a race to the top for those companies with the most money.”
Applications for the Scout Plant-Based Expo will open this summer, and attendees will be approved based on a criteria including product taste, cruelty and exploitation-free, positive or net-zero impact on the planet, sustainability of ingredients, supply chain transparency and compliance with healthy workplace standards.
Some industry experts say the time is right for a more intimate small-scale event to emerge in place of the larger kinds typically held in the past, especially as the outlook for conventions and expos remains negative for the foreseeable future until a vaccine can be found for Covid-19.
For those who are unable to take part in person, which again may be a likely situation for many given the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic, the event will feature a virtual component for individuals or companies looking to discover the latest brands and trends in the plant-based sector.
The organisers also highlight that plant-based foods have never garnered as much attention as it has now, due to heightened consumer concerns about health, safety, sustainability and vulnerability of the food supply chain . According to statistics from market research firm Nielsen, sales of vegan meat jumped by a staggering 280% in the second week of March compared to the same period last year in the United States.
In Asia, consumers are additionally concerned about the wave of livestock diseases, including the ongoing African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, recent reports of avian flu and the resurgence of Div1 virus that affects shrimp populations. Market forecasters now predict that led by Asian consumers, the global plant-based meat market could reach as high as US$21 billion by 2025. That being said, there is currently no dedicated plant-based trade show in the region.
Lead image courtesy of Pexels.


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Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid caused a stir in the fashion world when they walked the runway for Balmain earlier this month seemingly having swapped hair colours.
It was later revealed Kendall and Gigi, both 20, were simply wearing wigs, but they undoubtedly shocked with the contrasting hues. The wigs looked so real that it was almost hard to believe Kendall really hadn't decided blondes have more fun.
Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner caused a stir when they stepped out wearing the wigs
Now it's been revealed where the supermodels got the lifelike wigs from; Balmain Hair Couture – and it looks like you'll soon be able to switch up your hair as much as your lip colour.
The brand isn't new, having been around for over 30 years, but it currently only stocks hair care products to the public. However, following the flurry of excitement over Kendall and Gigi's wig, they're expanding.
CEO Stewart Guliker told BoF: "Changing your lips from purple to red, that's nice and you can get a reaction. But changing your hair – it's a shock effect. That's what people do and like to do and be noticed."
Kylie Jenner is no stranger to changing up her hair colour
Kendall's little sister Kylie, 18, is well known for her love of wigs, and regularly steps out with a different hair colour. But Kendall has insisted she prefers to keep it natural.
Writing on her website, she explained: "It was totally surreal when Gigi and I took our blonde Balmain runway wigs to IRL after the show! I almost felt like I was a different person. Those wigs are SO uncomfortable, though. (I don't know how Kylie does it!)
"I would do a wig again, but dyeing my hair would ruin it. I'm a brunette, through and through – that's just me. It's fun to have alter-egos!"


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WITH individual Wagyu steaks now selling for up to $600 in metropolitan city restaurants, the task of judging the quality and characteristics of Wagyu in branded beef competitions can no longer be taken lightly.
Sydney’s Black Bar & Grill steakhouse, an extension of the city’s Star Casino complex, currently features a $600 Blackmore Fullblood Wagyu steak, available only as a pre-ordered ‘off-menu’ item.
It’s symbolic of the sort of pressure to perform that high-end Wagyu beef now faces, and largely triumphs over, in high-end food service outlets in Australia, and around the world.
A team of judges (including this correspondent) last week rallied at Brisbane’s Eaton’s Hill Hotel to taste-test and rank entries in the Australian Wagyu Association’s 2018 branded beef competition.
Sixteen striploin entries arrived from elite Wagyu supply chains based in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Three steak classes were judged for Fullblood, crossbred, and commercial steak (mid marbling range) entries, plus Wagyu gourmet sausages, using heavily-managed cooking and preparation procedures designed to deliver consistency. Each entry was ranked using standard MSA consumer taste test guidelines (tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall liking), as well as visual raw state.
Judges included an expert panel made up of chefs and restaurant owners, animal and meat scientists, and other industry identities.
Five key lessons
As one of the judges in this year’s competition, here’s five quick lessons we learned:
Lesson One: ‘Tenderness’ is not a term that can be readily used to differentiate high quality Wagyu beef samples. While subtle differences can be distinguished, the fact is that all entries were supremely tender, by conventional beef standards. It means that other attributes, like juiciness and flavour, become the main determinants of how the points are distributed.
Lesson two: Marbling was perhaps more abundant than ever in entries in this year’s competition (see example published here). Judging entries in the raw portion of the competition, it appeared that the composition of marbling tended to be somewhat coarser this year than some examples seen earlier. That may be partly explained by the greater number of entries this year in the crossbred and ‘commercial steak’ classes, rather than in the Fullblood class.
Lesson three: Despite somewhat similar Japanese-style longfed rations being used, interesting flavour contrasts can still be found in different samples of heavily marbled Wagyu beef. This judge’s tasting notes this year ranged from the predictable ‘cereal’ notes (wheat biscuit to cereal husks and lentils) to nutty, herbal, minerally and savoury flavour notes. Mellowness, richness and silkiness varied between entries (all entries, from fullblood to commercial were intermingled in the blind tasting, to avoid pre-conceptions among judges). Long-lasting flavour was a feature of the better entries.
Lesson four: Wide variation was seen in meat (muscle fibre) texture, from extremely fine in some samples, to quite coarse in others. While meat texture fineness is much prized in Wagyu in Japan, it is less closely scrutinised in most other countries. MSA, for example, does not include a category for meat texture.
Lesson five: The size of some of the striploin samples in the competition had to be seen to be believed. A slight adjustment in this year’s rules to the cutting-point where samples were extracted from each primal may have contributed, but some of these striploin steaks were truly epic in their dimensions. The example pictured above basically covers half of a large commercial dinner plate. Carcase weights producing some of the larger samples must have been at least 550kg, and perhaps closer to 600kg, experts said on the day.
- Winners of the 2018 AWA branded beef competition will be announced at a gala dinner during the 2018 Wagyu conference being held this year in Mackay, in the lead-up to Beef 2018 in May.


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These are all the posts that have been tagged with europe.
The European Sugar Refineries Association (ESRA) and the Committee of European Sugar Users (CIUS), have called for EU negotiators to give access to sugar in the EU-Mercosur FTA talks.
Collaboration and innovation – those are the two key aims for Food Matters Live, which I attended yesterday to discover the latest trends in the industry and see new launches that have been developed to meet these trends.
Rousselot has developed a new gelatin-based solution for the starchless production of gummies, which is set to launch later this month.
After a busy few months of travelling for various international trade shows, conferences and factory visits, it has got me thinking about upcoming events, including ProSweets Cologne and ISM.
Here is your weekly round-up of sweets and snacks news from our sister site, Sweets and Savoury Snacks World.
IOI Loders Croklaan Europe is to launch a chocolate filling fat that reduces saturated fatty acid (SAFA) content by 30%, while maintaining texture stability and a cool-melting effect, later this month.
IOI Loders Croklaan Europe has launched Presdough 270 SB, a shea-based palm oil alternative for use in bakery products.
Food Ingredients Europe will once again take place in Frankfurt, Germany, from 28-30 November, with its focus this year on natural colours and flavours.
Mondelēz International has booked an 81.2% increase in third-quarter net profit, thanks to revenue and margin growth.
UK-based bakery equipment supplier European Process Plant (EPP) has completed a management buyout of the company.
Emulsifier business Palsgaard has developed what it claims is the world’s first palm-free, powdered emulsifier for industrial cakes.
Equipment: Cocoa processing Ingredients: Flavours and colours Packaging: Labelling and coding Product focus: Bakery products Show issue: Food ingredients Europe
With the Expo FoodTec Pavilion and its new Content Hub, this year’s Food ingredients Europe is set to offer a vast range of packaging, machinery, processing and consultancy services.
My blog comes to you this week from the Netherlands, where I’m on a two-day trip visiting various ingredients and equipment manufacturers.


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N26 is building out its perks ecosystem, adding partnerships with new brands at a rapid clip.
This month, the company partnered with scooter rental company Lime and online travel platform Booking.com to offer added rewards to customers who transact using their N26 debit cards.
“We’re very careful around using data the right way, but one way we use data is customizing our offerings,” said Nicolas Kopp, U.S. CEO of N26. “That involves looking at current data we have on [customers], where they spend and what benefits and partnerships they might appreciate.”
By adding popular services like Lime and Booking.com to its perks program, N26 is working to replicate credit card-style rewards. The new perks also help the company move beyond financial services and toward the direction of a holistic life and money platform, Kopp said.
The company used focus groups and surveys to determine which partnerships would work best.
N26 customers will get 50% off all Lime rides and 15% cash back on travel reservations with Booking.com if they use their N26 debit cards. Other cash-back and discount partnerships include the meditation platform Headspace, the foreign language service Babbel, the skincare subscription service Curology, ticketing service Headout and the online fashion retailer Yoox. N26 also partners with fitness app Aaptiv and the streaming service TIDAL as part of its perks offering.
Through brand partnerships, N26 is aiming to reach diverse customer segments. According to Kopp, more than 40% of N26 customers in the EU are older than 35, and the startup would like to target a wider demographic in the U.S. as well. N26 has 3.5 million customers in 25 markets, and the company has raised $670 million from investors.
Bank Innovation Ignite, which will take place on March 2-3 in Seattle, is a must-attend industry event for professionals overseeing financial technologies, product experiences and services. This is an exclusive, invitation-only event for executives eager to learn about the latest innovations. Request your invitation.


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EV and PHEV sales in Europe continue to break records in 2019 with a 44% increase to nearly 126.000 sales of plug-in vehicles, of which close to 83.000 full electric cars and almost 43.000 plug-in hybrid cars. Sales of the former surged almost doubled at +94% while PHEV sales were virtually stable at -3%. If in 2018 battery electric cars outsold PHEVs for the first time, in the first quarter of 2019 almost twice as many EVs were delivered than plug-in hybrids. Plug-in vehicles accounted for 3,1% of the European car market, up from 2% in the first quarter of 2018 and 2,2% in the full year 2018.
Home » Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine


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Japan envoy calls on Taiwan to lift food ban
By Joseph Yeh, The China Post Wednesday, November 30, 2016, 12:27 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A top Japanese envoy on Tuesday called on Taiwan to lift its import restrictions on products from Japan's nuclear-affected areas as soon as possible, as annual trade and economic talks between both sides kicked off in Taipei.
During his opening remarks, Japan Interchange Association (JIA) chairman Mitsuo Ohashi discussed Taiwan's ban on some Japanese food products following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011.
He said he wanted to thank Taiwan's government for their ongoing efforts in moving toward lifting the ban.
Ohashi said Tokyo had heard some "ungrounded accusations" about Japanese food imports to Taipei, which he said had "seriously hurt the feelings of people in Fukushima and other parts of Japan."
"The ban is an issue we took seriously, and we hope Taiwan can soon lift its restrictions on Japanese food products," he noted.
Ohashi made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 41st Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting held in Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
The government had imposed a ban on the import of food produced in the five nuclear-affected prefectures of Japan — Gunma, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Chiba —following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
It further tightened restrictions when products from these prefectures were discovered on shelves in Taiwan last year, drawing strong criticism from the Japanese government.
Since the Democratic Progressive Party regained power in May, many have speculated that the new administration could soon lift the ban.
The Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting has been the only official platform for Taiwanese and Japanese officials to discuss issues of mutual concern since diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 1972. It has been held annually since 1976.
The Japanese delegation was headed by Ohashi, while the Taiwanese delegation was headed by his Taiwanese counterpart Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), chairman of the Association of East Asian Relations (AEAR, 亞東關係協會).
The two groups are quasi-official organizations set up by their respective governments to handle bilateral affairs in the absence of official ties.
Food Import Issue 'won't be touched on'
Ohashi's call came a day after Foreign Minister David Lee's (李大維) pledge Monday that the issue would not make it onto the agenda of the two-day meeting.
Asked to comment, Tsai Ming-yaw (蔡明耀), secretary-general of AEAR, again stressed that the food import issue would not be touched on during the Taipei meeting.
"The Japanese side is simply expressing their concern about the issue they care most, as they have always believed Taiwan's ban on Japanese food imports is not based on scientific evidence," he said.
He noted the decision to lift the ban is not the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry and said the government has consistently maintained that safeguarding the health of Taiwanese people is its top priority.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is asking for public input on ways to spur new mortgage products that help households.
Director Chopra delivered prepared opening remarks at an Exchequer Club Meeting in Washington, DC
CFPB Annual Report of 2021 Mortgage Market Activity Reveals an End to the Refinancing Boom and an Increase in Home Purchase Loans
Asian, Hispanic white, and Black shares of home purchase loans increased
Business model relies on data collection, and loans serve as close substitute for credit cards
Director Chopra delivered prepared remarks on a press call discussing the release of a report on market trends and consumer impacts from Buy Now, Pay Later loans.
CFPB and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Take Action to Protect Caregivers and Families from Illegal Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released an Issue Spotlight highlighting some of the difficulties and experiences heard from caregivers about being pursued over friends’ or family members’ alleged debts from nursing home facilities.
Director Chopra’s Prepared Remarks at the CFPB Field Hearing on Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices
Director Chopra delivered remarks at a virtual roundtable exploring challenges around nursing home debt collection practices, and the impact they can have on the financial wellbeing of caregivers, their families, and friends.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued the first in a series of reports focusing on the finances of consumers living in rural areas. Today’s report focuses on rural Appalachians, who tend to earn less than consumers in other rural areas and have higher rates of subprime credit. In particular, medical debt collections are a much more prevalent issue among rural Appalachians, and consumers with medical debt collections often experience difficulties making ends meet on other financial obligations.
Director Chopra's Remarks on the Announcement Regarding the Cancellation of Loans for ITT Tech Students
Director Chopra delivered remarks on the cancellation of loans for ITT Tech students on a joint press call.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) confirmed in a circular published today that financial companies may violate federal consumer financial protection law when they fail to safeguard consumer data. The circular provides guidance to consumer protection enforcers, including examples of when firms can be held liable for lax data security protocols.
Director Chopra’s Prepared Remarks at the 2022 National Association of Attorneys General Presidential Summit
Director Chopra delivered remarks on digital marketing and advertising at the 2022 NAAG Presidential Summit in Des Moines, IA.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an interpretive rule laying out when digital marketing providers for financial firms must comply with federal consumer financial protection law.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is taking action against Hello Digit, LLC, a financial technology company that used a faulty algorithm that caused overdrafts and overdraft penalties for customers. Hello Digit was meant to save people money, but instead the company falsely guaranteed no overdrafts with its product, broke its promises to make amends on its mistakes, and pocketed a portion of the interest that should have gone to consumers.
The Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a joint letter today reminding auto finance companies of their responsibilities to recognize important legal protections for military families under the Servicemembers Civil Rights Act (SCRA). While servicemembers have the same rights as non-military borrowers, the SCRA provides additional rights to protect servicemembers and their families against unique financial challenges.
CFPB Fines U.S. Bank $37.5 Million for Illegally Exploiting Personal Data to Open Sham Accounts for Unsuspecting Customers
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against U.S. Bank for illegally accessing its customers’ credit reports and opening checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and lines of credit without customers’ permission. U.S. Bank pressured and incentivized its employees to sell multiple products and services to its customers, including imposing sales goals as part of their employees’ job requirements.
Director Chopra’s Prepared Remarks at a Joint DOJ, CFPB Press Event on the Trident Enforcement Action
Director Chopra delivered remarks on redlining at the joint press event.
CFPB, DOJ Order Trident Mortgage Company to Pay More Than $22 Million for Deliberate Discrimination Against Minority Families
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) took action to end Trident Mortgage Company’s intentional discrimination against families living in majority-minority neighborhoods in the greater Philadelphia area.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published an analysis of how actions announced by the three largest national consumer reporting companies – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion -- will affect people who have allegedly unpaid medical debt on their credit reports.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) penalized Hyundai Capital America (Hyundai) for repeatedly providing inaccurate information to nationwide consumer reporting companies and failing to take proper measures to address inaccurate information once it was identified between 2016 and 2020.
Federal Regulators Fine Bank of America $225 Million Over Botched Disbursement of State Unemployment Benefits at Height of Pandemic
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) have fined Bank of America $225 million for botching the disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the pandemic.
Director Chopra delivered opening remarks to the Financial Literacy and Education Commission on July 14, 2022.
Written Testimony of James S. Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs, before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security
Assistant Director of Servicemember Affairs James S. Rice's statement before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security.
CFPB Sues ACE Cash Express for Concealing No-Cost Repayment Plans and Improperly Withdrawing Consumers’ Funds
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit today accusing payday lender ACE Cash Express of concealing free repayment plans from struggling borrowers. Because of ACE’s illegal practices, individual borrowers paid hundreds or thousands of dollars in reborrowing fees, when they were in fact eligible for free repayment plans.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a legal interpretation to ensure that companies that use and share credit reports and background reports have a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an order today terminating Payactiv’s Sandbox Approval Order relating to its earned wage access products. The CFPB had given Payactiv special regulatory treatment, including as to liability under a relevant federal consumer financial law with respect to these products. Payactiv requested the termination in order to make changes to its fee model.


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*On the streets and in hip-hop culture he’s known as E-40, but in wine culture he goes by his government name Earl Stevens.
Yes, E-40 is involved in the wine business. In fact, his product, Earl Stevens Selections, is a major hit.
His three wines include a moscato, a red blend called “Function,” and “Mangoscato,” which is a high-alcohol fortified wine.
Stevens’ wines have been so popular since their October 2013 release, they are competing on the same level as the likes of Rodney Strong and Ferrari-Carano.
“I’ve always loved wine,” Stevens told the Sacramento Bee via a phone call from his Bay Area home. “Sometimes you’ve got to roll the dice, but I had a good vibe about it. We’re making progress.”
Earl Stevens Selections is not only popular in the wine industry, but he’s found traction in a business crowded with celebrity brands.
A lot of these celebrity brands haven’t matched Stevens’ success. He’s a tastemaker and entrepreneur looking to turn his business into a bonafide supermarket brand.
“I’m a wine drinker,” Stevens said. “It’s one of those drinks that was always around. Any rapper can have a wine and say, ‘Hey, buy it.’ But you have to be a person who’s real out there. I’m street dude but I’m a person you can walk up to and approach.”
Read more about E-40’s wine endeavors at The Sacramento Bee.


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Mucho Gusto, the pop-up pairing dinner party created by cofounders Jake Hébert and Justin Himmelbaum, is back in business.
This week, the duo announced it's found a new home for their creative culinary journey at 13 American Table in Boca Raton, a creative partnership they've established for a series of pop-up dinners that will take place every other Monday beginning December 5.
Over the next six months, the restaurant — which is typically closed on Sunday and Monday — will open its doors for a special Mucho Gusto takeover with an all-new lineup of pop-up dinners offering guests five to seven courses paired with a diverse range of beverages, from beer and cocktails to wine and agua frescas.
According to Himmelbaum, each dinner will have a unique theme, with prices varying depending on the event. The seasonal menus include local produce, fresh fish, and a selection of meats cooked on 13 American Table's Josper charcoal grill.
"We are really very excited for this partnership and expanding into Boca Raton," said Himmelbaum. "This event will be to Mondays what Taco Tuesday is to Tuesdays: the brightest spot in an otherwise mediocre day."
During each dinner, guests can also look forward to meeting others who share a love and passion for good food and drink, adds Alberto Aletto, owner of 13 American Table and Tucci's in Boca Raton.
"These dinners are just as much about the social aspect as they are the food and drink," said Aletto. "We want these dinners to bring together a community of new friends and acquaintances."
Tickets for each Mucho Gusto dinner can be purchased online at EventBrite. Patrons can learn details on upcoming events and pricing by visiting 13 American Table's Facebook page or the Mucho Gusto website.
13 American Table. 451 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton; 561-409-2061; 13americantable.com.
Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.
Keep New Times Broward-Palm Beach Free... Since we started New Times Broward-Palm Beach, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering South Florida with no paywalls.


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|By Marketwired .||
|October 2, 2013 07:46 PM EDT||
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/02/13 -- Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced the appointment of Debra Etsell as a member of the Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC).
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Etsell to the Farm Products Council of Canada," said Minister Ritz. "I'm confident that Ms. Etsell's hands-on farming experience and passion for seeing the sector grow will be an asset to the Council's work."
The FPCC plays a key part in Canada's supply management system for poultry and eggs. Created in 1972, the Council supervises the operations of the four national marketing agencies that manage the supply of Canadian chicken, turkey, eggs and broiler hatching eggs. These agencies establish and allocate production quota, promote products, raise funds through levies and license marketers. In addition, the Council supervises the operation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency. Until 2009, the FPCC was known as the National Farm Products Council.
Ms. Etsell's appointment is effective immediately and is for a term of three years. A biographical note is attached.
To learn more about the FPCC, please visit http://fpcc-cpac.gc.ca/
Debra Etsell has been in the agriculture industry for approximately 25 years. Ms. Etsell is the director of Coligny Hill Farms Ltd., an Abbotsford, British Columbia farm where she along with her husband and two sons, currently produces turkeys, hay and wine grapes. Ms. Etsell's passion for agriculture has also led to working with various farm organizations. Since 2007, Ms. Etsell has been with the B.C. Blueberry Council and is currently its Executive Director. Ms. Etsell has also worked for the B.C. Agriculture Council as well as the B.C. Raspberry Industry Development Council.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz


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Duct tape is no longer just an ordinary household staple for fixing leaky pipes and broken chair legs. These days, crafters have been plucking the tape out of toolboxes or buying it at crafts stores to create everything from wallets and guitar straps to wedding bouquets and prom dresses. But why duct tape?
Duck Brand has further driven attention to duct-tape crafts — and itself — with a series of well-publicized contests, including its annual Stuck at Prom competition, where winners earn scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Two contestants in the 2012 prom 2012 were Kelli Harrod and Daniel McIlduff. During Harrod’s senior year, she spent a month designing a bright yellow, one-shoulder cocktail dress with ruffles and colorful flowers, while her boyfriend, McIlduff, made his bright yellow vest and black tuxedo. Everything in their outfit, including her shoes, was made of duct tape.Social media outlets such as Instagram and Pinterest, both of which launched in 2010 as virtual places to share photos, have accelerated the trend. They created a new outlet for showing off quirky, Do-It-Yourself duct tape crafts, in a particularly public way. That challenged viewers to try similar projects and even one-up each other.
On prom night, after wearing their attire the whole evening, they were relieved to be tape free.
“It was really hot,” said Harrod, now a freshman at Wittenberg University in Ohio. “The duct tape traps all the body heat. It’s very uncomfortable. It’s like wearing plastic.”
This April, Duck Brand opened a pop-up shop in New York City’s fashion district for 12 days to showcase its latest wares. The storefront displayed five intricate prom dresses made entirely out of duct tape, replicas of gowns worn on the reality TV show Project Runway. Customers at the ephemeral shop ranged from adults who needed to repair busted wallets to schoolgirls who needed to restock their inventory to keep their duct tape businesses flourishing.
Sydney Minor, 9, was among them. “I make rose pens, wallets, bookmarks and bags, flip flops, and I sell them at school,” said Minor, a fourth grader from New York City, who has been a duct tape entrepreneur since last fall. As she dug through rolls of vividly colored options and settled on flying pigs and peace signs, she added, “Sales are good because lately a lot of kids have been getting into duct tape at my school.”
Already this year, she’s earned $55, selling 15 rose pens, eight wallets and seven card holders for $1 each and 10 bookmarks for 25 cents each.
“I know this doesn’t add up to $55,” said her entertained father, Scott Minor, “but some generous relatives have let her ‘keep the change.’”
Determined to increase her sales this summer, Minor – like any good entrepreneur – is adding another component to her business: a lemonade stand.


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Taiyo Yuden Co Ltd (6976.T)
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|63||2015||President, Representative Director|
|61||2018||Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Director of Business Planning, Director|
|54||2018||Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Director of Electronic Components Business, Director|
|63||2016||Managing Executive Officer, Chief Director of Composite Device Business, Director|
|59||2019||Managing Executive Officer, Director|
- Nikkei gains as trade tensions ease; Apple suppliers, chip-related shares outperform
- Nikkei inches higher; Apple suppliers, chip-related shares outperform
- Japan shares rise sharply on Trump's tariff delay; Apple suppliers soar
- Japanese stocks rebound on Trump's tariff delay; Apple suppliers shine
- Japanese stocks dive to 7-month low on fears of full-blown U.S-China economic war


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Finish Line Inc. swung to a fiscal third-quarter profit that easily beat expectations, as the athletic-gear retailer posted strong same-store-sales growth.
Finish Line raised its earnings outlook for the year, calling for per-share growth to 9% to 12%, to $1.60 to $1.65, compared with the prior estimate of growth in the mid-single digits.
It expects same-store sales to increase 3% to 4%, compared with September's estimate for growth in the low single digits.
Finish Line is focused on offering more basketball gear at its stores after signaling last year that demand for some of its running shoes, its largest product category, had slowed.
Finish Line's 7.1% same-store sales growth for the latest quarter topped the 4.1% growth larger rival Foot Locker Inc. reported last month. Foot Locker had outperformed Finish Line in recent quarters, as it traditionally focuses more on basketball.
For the quarter ended Nov. 30, Finish Line reported a profit of $2.3 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a loss of $107,000, or less than a penny a share, a year earlier. Excluding the impact of impairment charges, earnings were 6 cents a share.
Sales rose 23% to $364.5 million.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently projected earnings of a penny a share and revenue of $353.7 million.
Gross margin narrowed to 29.6% from 30.3%.
Write to Everdeen Mason at email@example.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Best Buy Co. BBY, +1.85% Wednesday said it plans to open about 130 new stores in the U.S., Canada and China in fiscal 2008. The company expects to increase its total global retail square footage by 10% to 46 million square feet by the end of fiscal 2008, which begins March 4. The Minneapolis consumer electronics retailer estimates its store expansion plan will create about 12,000 retail jobs. It plans to release in fourth-quarter results on April 4. The stock closed Tuesday at $50.65, up 1.3%.
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Enterprise blockchain news
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U.S. Health Dept uses blockchain for cybersecurity
U.S. Department of Defense working on blockchain...
US Dept of Energy funds blockchain security project...
Curv partners with Munich Re for $50m digital wallet...
Thales, IDC research reveals extensive US government...
Nomura and Digital Garage invest in Quantstamp...
IBM launches enterprise blockchain security testing...
ConsenSys-incubated Trustology announces $8 million...
Ex-Banker team plans to safeguard blockchain keys for...
Blockchain past peak in Gartner hype cycle
Find out more.


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Skimming device found at Waynesboro credit union
WAYNESBORO - Police said an alert customer on Sunday noticed two illegal skimming devices had been attached to his credit union's ATMs, prompting him to alert authorities, according to a press release.
The skimming devices — used to steal credit and debit card information — were found at the DuPont Community Credit Union at 140 Lucy Lane, the Waynesboro Police Department said.
The Stuarts Draft man was using one of the financial institution's outdoor ATMs when he noticed its card reader appeared to be loose. Police said he wiggled the card reader and it came off the machine. The device was the same color and shape as the existing card reader cover, and was placed on top of the original card reader, police said.
In addition to the skimmer, a gray box with a pin-hole camera was erected in the upper-right corner of the ATM. Police said the camera was designed to record the PIN numbers of unsuspecting customers. A second ATM at the branch also was found to have a skimming device.
DCCU has identified and contacted all members that used the ATM during the period the devices were in place. No other members are affected.
Woman suspected of DuPont ATM fraud
Waynesboro police said they are hoping to review DuPont's security footage.
A bank official at DCCU said all impacted members have been contacted.
The skimming incident is the second this year. In March, a maintenance person at the Union Bank & Trust on Lucy Lane also discovered a skimming device, police said.
A DCCU branch in Staunton also was found to have a skimmer earlier this month.
Anyone with information concerning the skimming devices is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-2017.
The story has been updated.
Grottoes machine shop to move to Verona in search for growth