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Nov. 17, 2010 -- Federal officials have warned four companies that caffeine added to some of their alcoholic beverages makes their drinks unsafe and has asked the companies to provide data concerning these safety concerns.
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued similar warning letters to these companies:
- Charge Beverages Corp., of Portland, Ore., which sells Core High Gravity HG Green, Core High Gravity HG Orange, and Lemon Lime Core Spiked.
- New Century Brewing Co., of Boston, which produces Moonshot.
- Phusion Projects, based in Chicago, which sells Four Loko.
- United Brands Co., based in San Diego, which markets Joose and Max.
‘Unsafe’ Food Additives
The FTC says its letters warn that caffeine as used in the companies’ products is an “unsafe food additive” under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
“Consumers might mistakenly assume that these beverages are safe because they are widely sold,” David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, says in a news release. “In fact, there is good reason to believe that these caffeinated alcohol drinks pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.”
He says consumers, especially young, inexperienced drinkers, “may not realize how much alcohol they have consumed because caffeine can mask the sense of intoxication.”
The FTC’s statement says the agency “strongly” urges the companies to review the way they are marketing the products and orders the firms to “take swift and appropriate steps to protect consumers.”
Both federal agencies give the companies 15 days to comply with government directives.
Scientific Review of Products
The FDA says its warning letters were sent following a careful scientific review and the examination of peer-reviewed studies on the consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
The FDA says it also consulted experts in the fields of toxicology, neuro-pharmacology, emergency medicine, and epidemiology, and that it also reviewed information manufacturers provided to federal authorities. The FDA also says its investigators performed independent laboratory analysis of the products.
Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, says the agency rejects the claim made by the companies that “the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is ‘generally recognized as safe.’”
Rather, he says, evidence exists supporting the federal contention that the caffeinated alcohol drinks “pose a public health concern.”
Concern has been raised before that caffeine can mask some of the cues of intoxication, leading to dangerous and life-threatening situations, the FDA says. It also says its officials believe that the products involved are being marketed in violation of the FFDCA.
Lawmaker Praises Actions of Federal Agencies
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who has been critical of caffeinated alcoholic beverages, says in a news release that the actions of the federal agencies effectively send notice to the companies that their products are unsafe and that such drinks won’t be tolerated.
“Let this serve as a warning to anyone who tries to peddle dangerous and toxic brews to our children, ‘Do it, and we will shut you down,'" Schumer’s statement says.
He says the actions by the federal agencies “should be the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks” and that “parents should be able to rest a little easier knowing that soon their children won’t have access to this deadly brew.”
Schumer says New York’s State Liquor Authority and the state’s largest beer distributors agreed to stop selling the drinks this past week. He also says Oklahoma, Utah, Michigan, and Washington have taken steps to ban the drinks.
United Brands says in a news release that it is engaging with alcohol regulatory bodies and legislators to provide clarity around the responsible marketing practices of the company. Phusion Projects says in a news release that it will produce only non-caffeinated versions of Four Loko.
Rhonda Kallman, founder and CEO of New Century Brewing, which makes the caffeinated alcoholic beverage Moonshot, tells WebMD she is perplexed by the federal actions and “reeling from the news.”
She says Moonshot contains only a tiny amount of caffeine, much less than the products made by the other three companies.
“I’ve been in the business for 25 years,” she says. “I’m curious about this. There has to be some percentage that works, because caffeinated alcoholic beverages have been around for decades.”
Charge Beverages could not be reached for comment prior to publication time.


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FRANKFURT -- BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen Group's VW, Porsche and Audi brands could face "very high" fines if suspicions of collusion prove true in court, European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told Business Insider.
EU and German antitrust regulators are investigating whether the automakers held meetings to discuss suppliers, prices and standards to the disadvantage of foreign carmakers.
But Vestager said it was too soon to speculate on "the extent of possible sanctions and the timing of an EU Commission decision," the online business news site quoted her as saying.
Referring to EU competition moves against Google and Facebook, Vestager said: "I don't see a major difference between the business practices of American tech companies and those of German carmakers."
German magazine Der Spiegel reported in July that VW, BMW, Audi and Porsche may have colluded to fix the prices of diesel emissions treatment systems using industry committees and discussed suppliers and component pricing.
Sixty committees made up of about 200 employees discussed vehicle development, brakes, gasoline and diesel engines, clutches and transmissions as well as exhaust treatment systems, Der Spiegel reported, citing a letter sent to cartel authorities. The magazine said VW admitted to possible anti-competitive behavior in a letter to cartel authorities on July 4.
Companies found guilty of breaching EU cartel rules face fines of as much as 10 percent of their global turnover.

domain: news


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Mirian Metreveli: tourists in Batumi will get a more upscale vacation, and real estate buyers will have confidence in the future Will Georgia Become Caucasian Switzerland? International event on real estate, investment and immigration - GREIMS Moscow will be held on 27-28 February in Moscow, Russia The largest overseas real estate exhibition “MPIRES” in Expocentre was a great success Saint Petersburg - the cultural capital of Russia will become the capital of investment projects on 28-29 November Global Promotion Group opens autumn season!
Вusiness / Investments / Analytics / Reviews / News / Georgia / Real Estate Georgia / Tourism Georgia 04.08.2019
In the first half of 2019, the Georgian economy grew at 5%
In the first half of 2019, Georgia’s GDP grew at 4.9% compared to the same period last year. These are evidence by preliminary data from the National Statistics Service of Georgia.
Real economic growth in Georgia in June of 2019 reached 5% compared to the same period in 2018. The Growth was observed in such sectors as industry, real estate, consumer services, as well as in the areas of construction, trade, transport, hotel, and restaurant business. The decline was observed only in the financial sector.
“The growth of the processing industry is mainly related to the rise in the metallurgical industry. The export of ferromanganese and silicon increased by about 41%. The growth in the areas of real estate operations and the provision of various consumer services is due to an increase in the turnover of companies such as advertising, accounting, and auditing related to computers, architecture, and others. In the trade sector, the growth was associated with the wholesale of diesel. In fact, diesel imports increased by 17%. Also, re-export of cars increased by about 63%”, - said Gogita Todradze, the executive director of the National Statistics Service.
According to the state budget for 2019, the forecast for economic growth is 4.5%. As for the forecast for the next years, it's assumed that the economic growth will be at 6% by 2022.
At the same time, the IMF predicts the growth of the Georgian economy at 4.6% in 2019. The World Bank has worsened the economic growth forecast for Georgia and lowered it from 5% to 4.6% in 2019. According to the WB forecast, the economic growth rate will recover to 5% by 2021.


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Trade body the BRC and shopworkers union Usdaw have come together to demand tougher action from the next government to address violence against retail staff after it surged 25% over the last year.
The pair made their call as political parties lock horns in the general election campaign. The organisations want politicians to bring forward legislation to protect store staff from attacks in the workplace.
The issue was raised as part of the Respect for Shopworkers Week and following the launch of the BRC’s retail manifesto which demanded policies to deal with the crime afflicting retail and which costs the industry £1bn.
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To go along with the premium $10,000 and up pricing of the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition, Apple will charge up to $999 for the Apple Watch Edition’s AppleCare+ Protection Plan, 9to5Mac has learned. The Apple Watch Edition notably has very different AppleCare coverage from other Apple Watch models, coming with two years of 24/7 support and a special setup hotline right out of the box. AppleCare+ will add a third year of technical support and support for up to two incidents of accidental hardware damage. More affordable AppleCare+ coverage will also be offered for the aluminum Sport and stainless steel standard models, which will cost $59 and $79 respectively, adding a second year of technical support to the included one year, plus support for up to two incidents of accidental hardware damage…
999 Stories April 3, 2015
999 Stories February 19, 2013
Apple launches Apple TV in India for Rs 8,295 ($150)
After officially bringing iTunes music and movies to India alongside a huge international rollout in December, Apple appears to have now launched Apple TV in the country. The Apple TV product page on Apple’s India website was first spotted by BGR India, but Apple has yet to issue an official press release announcing the product launch. The product page doesn’t include a “buy” button, and some reports claim stock has not yet made it to Apple resellers in the country. BGR first posted a screenshot of Apple’s site showing an Rs 7,900 price tag, but Apple’s website now shows a price of Rs 8295 (as pictured to the right). That’s roughly $150 USD and slightly higher than first rumored. As pictured above, the product page also highlights a number of Bollywood films and other local content in addition to The Wall Street Journal, YouTube, Vimeo, and MLB.TV.


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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II aims for realism in night or day.
Image Credit: Activision/Infinity Ward
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Microsoft president Brad Smith announced that the company has signed a 10-year deal to bring Xbox games — including Call of Duty once it is acquired — to Nintendo players.
The signed deal means Microsoft is living up to its promise to the Federal Trade Commission that it will make Call of Duty available to other platform companies like Nintendo if its $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard is approved.
Smith said in a tweet, “This is just part of our commitment to bring Xbox games and Activision titles like Call of Duty to more players on more platforms.”
The binding agreement means that Nintendo players will get the games on the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity, so they can experience Call of Duty just as Xbox and PlayStation gamers enjoy Call of Duty.
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Join the GamesBeat community in Los Angeles this May 22-23. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry to share their updates on the latest developments.
Microsoft said it is committed to providing long-term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms. The FTC has sued Microsoft for potential antitrust claims, and Microsoft has not yet been able to strike a similar deal with Sony, which is trying to get regulators to quash the deal.
The feature parity claim is interesting because I think it means that Microsoft will bring the game to a new Nintendo console that hasn’t been announced yet, as such a machine would be able to run the full Call of Duty game. The Nintendo Switch isn’t capable of running the full Call of Duty, I believe.
I think the wording is very careful. Microsoft said it is bringing the games to Nintendo gamers, but it did not specifically say it is bringing games to the Switch.
GamesBeat’s creed when covering the game industry is “where passion meets business.” What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you — not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.


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• Imports have increased from 23, 412 tonnes last year to 31,422 tonnes this year.
Kenya's sugar imports have gone up by 34 percent due to low production
Sugar imports in October rose to 31,422 tonnes compared to 23,412 tonnes imported in the same period last year.
The October Sugar report released by the Sugar Directorate showed that table sugar imports for the month totaled 15,645 tonnes while refined white sugar was 15,777 tonnes.
“Total sugar imports from the COMESA FTA countries for the month were 12,243 tonnes, COMESA NON FTA gave 1,959 tonnes, while East Africa Community provided 6,929 tonnes (all being from Uganda), whereas the rest of the world countries’ imports were 10,292 tonnes,” reads the report.
Solomon Odera, head of the Sugar Directorate at Agricultural Food Authority said overall, sugar imports in January – October 2019 was 207,617 tonnes of table sugar and 147,860 tonnes of refined white sugar.
This totaled to 355,477 tonnes against 213,496 tonnes in the same period last year, a 67 percent increase.
“The significant increase is attributed to huge imports of table sugar in this year to bridge the rising domestic demand against the declining local production, said Odera.
He said table sugar imports were depressed in 2018 due to high sugar stocks in the market resulting from huge duty-free imports in 2017.
"Moreover, sugar imported under the duty-free window was much cheaper than the COMESA sugar, thus discouraging importation from the regular suppliers,” he said.
The report further indicates that total sugar production in January - October dropped to 371,251 tonnes compared to 411,722 tonnes last year.
“The continued closure of Mumias, Kwale and Chemelil sugar factories had a huge negative impact on sugar production. Moreover, in the month of October 2019, Nzoia and Butali Sugar Factories were closed for annual maintenance,” he said.
He said currently, the industry is facing inadequate supply of sugarcane for milling, leading to underutilization of the sugar mills and a decline in sugar production.
The retail sugar prices began the year at a monthly average of Sh112 per kilogram and dropped to a low of Sh107 per kilogram in March this year.
The report stated that due to the increasing wholesale sugar prices, the prices reverted to an upward trend to attain a maximum of Sh116 per kilogram in June.
“In July – October 2019, the prices drifted downwards due to stiff competition caused by supply of low priced sugar at the wholesale level, to finish October at a monthly average price of Sh105 per kilogram,” says the report.


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Most AM companies which report public information noted during their Q1 releases that they expected Q2 to be much more heavily impacted by COVID-19.
They weren’t wrong.
Shutdowns and uncertainties didn’t actually hit Western firms until March. But it’s no secret that the metal additive manufacturing industry was already in the midst of tougher times throughout 2019 — we’ve written about it pretty extensively at SmarTech. Most of the ongoing metal AM slump story involved hardware.
Metal powder sales have remained excellent. Total shipments of powders for the year in 2019 grew an estimated 37 percent compared to 2018, to an estimated 2,650 tons shipped to AM users. SmarTech estimates that in the first quarter of 2019 alone -just three months -there was as much powder sold and shipped to users as there was in all of 2014 combined; about 550 […]
Trumpf’s new nozzle technology increases the coating speed to well over 600 square centimetres a minute, even reaching...


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US Steel to Build CRNGO Electrical Steel Line at Big River
Argus reported that according to an investor presentation, US Steel will build a 200,000 short ton per year non-grain oriented electrical steel line at its electric arc furnace minimill steelmaking operations in Arkansas in US. The USD 450 million investments at Osceola based Big River Steel will target the electric vehicle industry. Funding for the project will come from Big River Steel's cash flow, with USD 50 million expected to be spent in 2021, USD 325 million in 2022 and USD 75 million in 2023. The facility will be built next to Big River Steel's finishing line and is expected to be online by the third quarter of 2023.
The technology at Big River will allow US Steel to commercialize thinner and wider NGO electrical steels to meet the specific requirements of various consumers
The investment could lead to NGO steel products making up 7% of Big River Steel's product mix, with hot-rolled coil products making up half, cold-rolled coil 27% and hot-dipped galvanized coated products 16%.


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After five months of debilitating conditions brought on by the corona virus, and as the pandemic seems to be levelling off, businesses need to look ahead to the recovery phase and how to regain their place in the economic space. Those brands that are quick off the mark to reassure consumers that they have weathered the storm and are fully equipped to pick up the pieces, re-define and re-invent their offerings to embrace the new economy, will be the ones to benefit the most and lead in the recovery.
With that in mind, FASA has partnered with the Sunday Times to produce its definitive Franchising Print and Digimag on the 27th September 2020 which will take a closer look at how the franchise sector has fared during this pandemic and why it is poised, as a proven business format, to bounce back and reclaim its position as an important cog in the South African economy.
More importantly, the Sunday Times invites franchise brands, both established and new, to be part of this important business feature that will tell the world that franchising is alive and well. If you are one of those entrepreneurial franchisors or are a service provider to the industry, this is your chance to make your mark as one of the leaders in the post-Covid recovery and showcase your brand to both the consumer base that the Sunday Times reaches and to those looking to invest in the new future.
To this end, FASA has joined forces with the Sunday Times to once again publish their popular Franchising Feature that will reflect on how the industry has contributed to the South African economy, examine why franchises are better equipped to succeed in trying times and what plans individual franchise brands have as they re-group to tackle the future post-Covid-19.
The Sunday Times Franchising Supplement will be distributed to 20 000 Sunday Times subscribers and will be available to view online here
The Sunday Times is offering franchise brands the opportunity to showcase their resilience and forward thinking strategies in a unique Franchising feature which will appear in the Sunday Times on the 27th September. For pricing info click here and for more info on participation options please contact Roman Ross on 073 253 9440 or email on firstname.lastname@example.org


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Keller and Heckman’s international packaging practice keeps abreast of developments in worldwide packaging and packaging material regulations. News items of particular interest to our packaging audience can be found in this section.
On June 3, 2019, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning its Food Safety National
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) issued two publications in May as part of its Series on the Safety of
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its website on June 4 to include information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to issue a proposed rule to amend its food additive regulations to allow a Food Contact
On May 29, 2019, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) published information on the approval of a new food-contact additive, six new resins,


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BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) reported total revenue of $184 million for the third quarter of 2022 compared to $218 million in the same period last year.
The company reported net income of $74 million compared to a net loss of $130 million last year. Net loss per share amounted to $0.05 versus $0.23 last year.
Looking for more insights on the earnings results? Click here to access the full transcripts of the latest earnings conference calls!
Production disruption and logistics issues continue to have a crippling effect on the industrial sector but the performance of companies, in general, has been mixed so far. Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) Thursday said it added 8.3 million paid members in the December quarter. Revenues increased and matched estimates, aided by the relaxation of COVID restrictions and resumption
Investment management firm Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) has stayed largely unaffected by the coronavirus crisis, rather it managed to tap into new opportunities. The company owes its impressive financial


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• Nigeria accounts for 67%, Ghana 10% of global output
The Federal government has raised concern over the inability of the country to export yam despite accounting for 67 per cent of the global output.
Of great concern to the government is the fact that Ghana, which produces a meager 10 per cent of the global output has its earning from export of yam grow from $18.48m in 2015 to $39.7m in 2021.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Ernest Umakihe, said if Ghana that produces only 10 per cent can achieve such feat, Nigeria can earn six times more than Ghana based on her production capacity.
While speaking at a stakeholders workshop on repositioning yam as an export crop, Umakihe said Nigerian’s first attempt at exporting yam was by Nasarawa State Government in 2009 with 8.5 metric tonnes on June 8, 2009 and within the same month another 66 metric tonnes were exported in two shipments, followed by Oyo State, but without success.
“It was only in 2017 that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture under the leadership of Chief Audu Ogbeh, then Minister Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised the first flag-off ceremony with a batch of 72 tons to UK and USA. I believed, these were done without proper planning before the execution. Aside the mentioned attempts, nothing much has been heard of the yam export from Nigeria,” he added.
He lamented that despite being the leading producer of fresh yams in the world, it is unfortunate that Nigeria is nowhere in the map of yam exporting countries.
Umakihe expressed concern that with China delving into yam exportation, and considering Nigerians taste for imported goods, Chinese yam may soon be found in Nigerian kitchen if care is not taken, thereby creating more unemployment for Nigerians and reducing income of farmers.
Speaking on the theme of the workshop: ‘Prospects and Challenges of yam export in Nigeria,’ he said it is the duty of Nigerians to find out what went wrong and how to address.
He stated: “If we must have sustainable food security for our teeming population of over 200 million Nigerian people and have enough to export to other countries, there is the need to critically examine the factors militating against quality production and export of our major commodities of which yam is one of them.”
Umakihe noted that the workshop is very timely as Nigeria is diversifying its economy towards non- oil export commodities, noting that agriculture remains the best option and with the country’s comparative advantage on yam, the country deserves to create wealth along its value chain.
He mentioned that to reposition yam as an export crop, it is important to come up with deliberate action to take yam production, processing and marketing to the next level in line with international best practices.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted things to be done to reposition the value chain for export to include: incorporating major stakeholders in yam value chain, partnering and collaborating with complementary organisations both nationally and internationally, as well as establishing the process and regulations to ensure competitive and profitable yam business.


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When it comes to other, less popular cryptocurrencies, the buying options aren’t as diverse. However, there are still numerous exchanges where you can acquire various crypto-coins for flat currencies or Bitcoins. Face-to-face trading is also a popular way of acquiring coins. Buying options depend on particular cryptocurrencies, their popularity as well as your location.
But while cryptocurrencies are more used for payment, its use as a means of speculation and a store of value dwarfs the payment aspects. Cryptocurrencies gave birth to an incredibly dynamic, fast-growing market for investors and speculators. Exchanges like Okcoin, Poloniex or shapeshift enables the trade of hundreds of cryptocurrencies. Their daily trade volume exceeds that of major European stock exchanges.
As the industry continues to investigate blockchain platforms, it’s apparent that Ethereum is becoming a de facto leader. For example, a few days ago JPMorgan publicly open-sourced its Quorum platform, architected and developed around the Go Ethereum client by Jeff Wilcke and his team. Several other major banks are using Ethereum, and Microsoft is anchoring its Bletchley platform on it as the foundational blockchain element. Industry, both publicly and confidentially, continues to contribute to Ethereum and work with us and others to help our promising, toddler-age codebase reach maturity. Stay tuned for news on this front.
^ Mooney, Chris; Mufson, Steven (19 December 2017). "Why the bitcoin craze is using up so much energy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018. several experts told The Washington Post that bitcoin probably uses as much as 1 to 4 gigawatts, or billion watts, of electricity, roughly the output of one to three nuclear reactors.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, four of the 10 biggest proposed initial coin offerings have used Switzerland as a base, where they are frequently registered as non-profit foundations. The Swiss regulatory agency FINMA stated that it would take a "balanced approach" to ICO projects and would allow "legitimate innovators to navigate the regulatory landscape and so launch their projects in a way consistent with national laws protecting investors and the integrity of the financial system." In response to numerous requests by industry representatives, a legislative ICO working group began to issue legal guidelines in 2018, which are intended to remove uncertainty from cryptocurrency offerings and to establish sustainable business practices.
Nigel Dodd argues in The Social Life of Bitcoin that the essence of the bitcoin ideology is to remove money from social, as well as governmental, control. Dodd quotes a YouTube video, with Roger Ver, Jeff Berwick, Charlie Shrem, Andreas Antonopoulos, Gavin Wood, Trace Meyer and other proponents of bitcoin reading The Declaration of Bitcoin's Independence. The declaration includes a message of crypto-anarchism with the words: "Bitcoin is inherently anti-establishment, anti-system, and anti-state. Bitcoin undermines governments and disrupts institutions because bitcoin is fundamentally humanitarian."
There are also purely technical elements to consider. For example, technological advancement in cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin result in high up-front costs to miners in the form of specialized hardware and software. Cryptocurrency transactions are normally irreversible after a number of blocks confirm the transaction. Additionally, cryptocurrency private keys can be permanently lost from local storage due to malware, data loss or the destruction of the physical media. This prevents the cryptocurrency from being spent, resulting in its effective removal from the markets.


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[Finland] Last week marked the end for Nokia’s unsuccessful games service N-Gage. Nokia announced that they will be closing down the service at the end of September 2010. About four hardcore fans protested mildly in the N-Gage blog as the rest of the world yawned. Seems like N-Gage was a project doomed to fail. Who was the target audience again? Oh who cares.
The service was launched in 2003 as an attempt to tap into a growing games market. Anyone remember the clumsy N-Gage phone? Didn’t think so. Although maybe its hideousness and general usability difficulties stuck on your mind.
To put it simply the whole ordeal comes with a huge red FAIL-stamp attached. The phone didn’t work, the games didn’t sell, the competitors had better ideas. Then that Apple phone was launched and Nokia’s N-Gage project was deader than a zombie in the vacuum of space.
It’s not all dead and buried though and some of the N-Gage games will live on in Nokia’s Ovi store. However Finnish newspaper Talouselämä wonders if Ovi is going to share the same fate as the N-Gage store a couple of years down the line. According to the newspaper both services have set off to a similar start, with an undefined target audience and fewer users than their competitors.
Where have we heard that before, have we?


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Land reopening crash prices of grains, foodstuff in Katsina
The reopening of four land borders by the Federal Government last week has significantly crashed the prices of grains and many other commodities as well as slowed down hoarding activities in Katsina markets according to a Daily Trust report.
Prior to the announcement, grain merchants and other businessmen hid under the guise of company agents to buy farm produce in bulk and store to maximise profit in the near future.
According to dealers, despite the restriction on the importation of rice and other food items, merchants were still skeptical to stockpile farm produce as government might change its decision anytime, depending on the circumstance on ground.
Similarly, Mallam Muhammadu Tarzana, a grain dealer at Bakori market, said the announcement of border reopening last week had made an impact on the market price of major food items.
“Unlike last year when, by this time, maize was between N8,000 and N9,500, sorghum was N7,000, they are now sold at N14,000 and N13,000 respectively.
“The recent announcement of border reopening has crashed down the price of paddy rice from N14,000 to N12,000, sorghum from N14,500 to N13,000 and maize from N15,500 to N14,000.”
Tarzana added that most merchants withdrew from bulk purchase of the produce after the announcement, expecting that waivers for the importation of food items would follow anytime soon.


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Chairs Coffee to Donate 10 Percent of June 4 Proceeds to Crosswalk Teen Shelter
FOR RELEASE MAY 30, 2012
Volunteers of America/Crosswalk
509.499.9886 or email@example.com
Spokane, Wash.– May 30, 2012 – Monday, June 4, 2012, Chairs Coffee (112 W. Indiana) will donate ten percent of their proceeds to Crosswalk teen shelter (525 W 2nd Ave) as part of their weekly “Give Back Monday.” Each week the staff and customers of Chairs Coffee take a moment to do their part by giving back to a local nonprofit or charity. The coffee shop is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the day of the event.
Founded in 1985, Crosswalk is an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program, and a group of lifesaving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. In an average year, Crosswalk serves more than 1,000 youth. Emergency shelter is available 365 days a year and all services are free and voluntary.
“It’s wonderful to see a local business stepping up to support local youth in need,” says Bridget Cannon, director of youth services at Volunteers of America, which runs the shelter. “The money is wonderful, but it also means a lot to these youth—who have been through so much—to know that people out there care.”
Chairs Coffee was started by two guys who care. It all began when locals Mitch Moczsulski and Chris Nichols were looking for a place to hold a meeting for a nonprofit they started and heard about this cool coffee shop on Indiana. When they went to check it out, they were disappointed to find it had closed for good.
Seeing a great opportunity, they jumped on a chance not only to start a coffee house, but to bring something needed to Spokane—a place with great coffee, food and people where folks can gather, sit and socialize. Just two months later in February 2011, Chairs Coffee opened its doors and has quickly become a success. The “Give Back Monday” event is designed to pay that success forward.


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Poshmark Inc. said late Friday it confidentially submitted to securities regulators a draft registration statement for its initial public offering. The number of shares to be offered and the price range are yet to be determined, the Redwood City, Calif., company said in a press release. The IPO is expected to start after the Securities and Exchange Commission completes its review process, subject to market conditions. Poshmark is an online marketplace for new and used clothing and other fashion items.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
- Economic Report: Chicago Fed’s national activity index moderates for third straight month in September - October 26, 2020
- XpresSpa to expand airport testing service beyond COVID-19 to include flu, mono and strep throat - October 26, 2020
- Chicago Fed’s index of national economic activity falls in September - October 26, 2020


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HP has won a lucrative contract to deploy a network of point-of-sale (POS) PCs across An Post’s network of over 1,000 post offices.
An Post will use HP’s rp5000 POS PCs to increase productivity on a secure and reliable network.
Almost two million people use An Post offices every week to avail of services such as bill payments, benefit payments and general account transactions.
An Post said the new system has enabled it to roll out new services such as the ability for motorists to pay penalty fines issued by An Garda Siochana without having to enter a Garda station.
“We are delighted with the performance of the new rp5000 system units across the post office retail network as we forge ahead with the introduction of a wide range of new financial and retail services,” said John Cronin of Post Consulting Ireland, a subsidiary of An Post.
Post Consulting Ireland is responsible for supporting An Post’s automated network of 1,000 post offices and 3,000 PostPoint outlets across the country.
HP was able to install the first 1,100 POS systems into the branch network within four months with the remaining 700 systems to be installed in the next four months.
“The additional services being offered from An Post should be of great benefit to city, town and rural populations, bringing transactional and banking services closer to the community,” said Karen Walshe of HP Personal Systems Group.
By John Kennedy


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As 3D printing gains traction in the public space there will be big players looking to capitalize on streamlining makerspaces by increasing their accessibility and overall appeal to the masses. We’ve made a few comments here about Kinko’s taking that plunge, but our predictions were a little off their mark, at least for now. The office-supplies giant Staples plans to make that first leap of introducing 3D printing into their stores, but don’t hold your breath America, because they’re running the Easy 3D pilot program in Belgium and The Netherlands starting in 2013.
Many Staples customers are architects, designers, and engineers that need paper for documents, and whatever else Staples sells. It will further enable those customers with Staples offering them affordable rapid-prototyping and proof-of-concept services. Logistically the architect saves time and money by getting office supplies and models in the same building, or by having them shipped, which is offered too. Staples’ execution is a little odd as the printer that will be deployed is the Mcor IRIS, which prints solid objects in paper, A4 and letter-sized to be precise. Since Staples already has access to cheap paper they can probably make this work, but while it is 3D printing, it’s not additive manufacturing like most 3D printing is; it’s a subtractive process, starting with a stack of paper and then removing what’s not part of the model. Since no toxic resins or dyes are used though, the waste is recyclable. As paper absorbs ink well the objects can also be in color, and not just single solid colors either; no, these objects are near photorealistic, something only a few of the most expensive printers can achieve. Something that this printer is not is expensive. One of the primary reasons for using the IRIS is its substantially lower cost of ownership compared to other printers.
President of the Staples’ European Printing Systems Division, Wouter Van Dijk, recently said in a press release, “Given our market leadership in commercial print, why would we ever stop at two dimensions?” That’s a good question. Another is, why didn’t you say that last year? I feel this Easy 3D pilot sets the stage for the competition to launch similar services in the US without need of testing internationally, but that’s just what I’d do. Maybe a competitor will come with some true additive manufacturing to distinguish itself from Staples. Either way, this should light a fire under the commercial print industry’s collective ass to get us more retail-oriented 3D printing.


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The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) says truck and bus tire manufacturers in China are dumping tires in the U.S. at less than fair market value, and those tires should be subject to tariffs of at least 20%. The tariffs are retroactive.
The DOC announced its preliminary results Aug. 29.
In every tariff investigation, the DOC selects manufacturers to serve as mandatory respondents. Those companies then provide data and answer questions, and those figures and answers serve as the basis and gauge for the industry as a whole. Other manufacturers also may volunteer to provide their own data throughout the investigation as well.
In the truck and bus tire investigation, Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Co. Ltd., and Double Coin Holdings Ltd. were the mandatory respondents.
Here are the rates:
|Non-selected separate rate respondents
|Rate for all other manufacturers in China
Commerce preliminarily found Double Coin “is not eligible for a separate rate and is part of the China-wide entity.”
The higher rate for the other manufacturers in China is “due to their failure to respond to Commerce’s requests for information.”
The DOC says there was evidence that truck and bus tires were dumped in the U.S. soon after the United Steelworkers sought the investigation in January and, as a result, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be instructed to retroactively impose the tariffs on products. The effective date will be 90 days prior to the forthcoming publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register. (It usually takes about a week for the Federal Register notice to be published, so the tariff retroactive date likely will be around June 7.)
These anti-dumping tariffs are on top of the countervailing tariffs the DOC preliminarily approved in June. Adding the two tariffs together determines the full penalty. For Double Coin, for example, it’s 39.63%. Review the countervailing tariff details here.


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Brian Tong delivers everything happening around Google with his high-energy style, covering the late
CNET editors choose and review the best thin and light laptops, notebooks, and ultrabooks.
A beautiful touch display and the latest Nvidia graphics grace the latest Razer Blade. It's expensive, but it's a dream laptop for mobile gamers.
This 10-inch hybrid is very flexible, but falls short for long-form typing.
Sony has released a range of its high-end audio products in Australia, from headphones to speakers, all designed for listening to high-res audio files.
Neil Young's Pono has proved there is a market for high-resolution audio players. So why are people rushing to buy one when there are alternatives already available?
A crisp display, quad-core processor and full Windows 8.1: the ThinkPad 8 is a slim little Windows tablet, and one of the best for its size.
The Wiko Wax looks like a typical black Android smartphone, but houses a pretty fast Tegra 4i processor.
The Japanese TV maker is known for going big at the Consumer Electronics Show, and this year is all about the subpixels.
Company plans to release a new e-reader in the second quarter of 2014 that will feature a 300ppi screen, TechCrunch reports.
The ultrabook has surfaced in a new video that takes us on a tour of its Gorilla Glass finish and high-resolution display.
Photos taken by a Windows Phone VP appear to confirm that the new phone will be dubbed the Lumia 1020.


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As the luxury fashion industry consolidates, customer loyalty drifts and the traditional growth mechanisms falter, the sprawling list of contemporary brands that bubbled up in the last 15 to 20 years have begun exploring their options.
Fashion brand Acne’s owners are said to be seeking a buyer (a report the company officially denies). Michael Kors is attempting to turn its new subsidiary Jimmy Choo into a billion-dollar brand, doubling its revenue. Coach and Kate Spade joined forces. Over the past year, private equity investors put money into brands like La Perla, MSGM and Mary Katrantzou. Richemont recently acquired a majority stake in Yoox Net-a-Porter, and the financially struggling Lanvin finally sold to Fosun, proving that the need to engineer growth, particularly in e-commerce, ladders all the way up to the highest of luxury.
Acne’s owners plan to stay involved in the brand, which hails from Scandinavia and hasn’t been over-distributed in the U.S., which bodes well for the sale. But for most players in this tier of fashion brand — one that’s not protected by the defensible halo or history of a luxury house and is easily eroded by fast-fashion powers — several forces are working against the likelihood that a sale will result in big payoffs or an acquisition will call for a high valuation.
“From an economic perspective, older brands actually make money, which is rare and nice,” said Richie Siegel, the founder of the retail analytics company Loose Threads. “But the contemporary side of the market is precarious. The middle-tier plays can often be the hardest sell.”
Brands like Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Theory, Tory Burch and Vince hit their stride when customers who couldn’t afford premium luxury brands were eager to get their hands on product that felt premium, but sold for cheaper prices. It worked, and the brands skyrocketed. Then, the rug was pulled out from under them when customers moved online, digitally native brands emerged with trendier pitches, and the traditional channels for growth for both marketing and distribution failed to deliver on previously guaranteed gains.
“The formula for branding has always been: Make good product, put a good brand around it and then distribute it in good places,” said Siegel. “Distribution is a commodity now, and it’s been separated from audience; there’s no guarantee that distribution will lead to a meaningful audience. Not to mention, there are more products than ever today. Look at Vince: You can make similar products [as other brands] and deliver them at similar prices.”
It doesn’t help that investors have been distracted by the startups that have positioned themselves as modern fashion brands, relying on customer-driven design, sustainable supply chains, brand values and transparency.
“Press, word of mouth, attention, hype — that’s all gone to digitally native brands, whereas it used to sit around designers,” said Siegel. “That leaves traditional brands with fewer options when seeking investments or a sale, or at least an uphill battle.”
Fashion brands with legacy systems and unwieldy supply chains are also saddled with baggage that could be unattractive to investors in the space. Lawrence Lenihan, the co-founder of Resonance, a venture firm that invests in emerging designer brands, believes that since the barrier of entry is lower today for designers, it’s a better business move to build new creative-led fashion companies from the ground up than try to rebuild an existing one.
“We want to create businesses,” said Lenihan. “We’re looking at an industry that’s driven by AI, data and technology, and so building the backbone from a business perspective that lets creatives focus on product design alone is our goal.”
Consolidation has become a continuous theme in luxury, and more M&A deals are likely in the pipeline. Michael Kors CEO John Idol said in a recent investors’ call that the company plans to acquire more brands to its portfolio, and Tapestry CEO Victor Luis has plans to do the same. But while the mergers of multiple brands — building an American conglomerate, essentially — would take pressures off of individual companies, it’s not easy to do.
“Simple mergers can be complicated enough. Now imagine the task of bringing a collection of brands together under one roof,” wrote Luca Solca, the head of luxury goods at Exane BNP Paribas.
Private equity investors are an option, and according to Siegel, individual investors like to put their dollars behind promising brands even if they haven’t seen profits skyrocket. But that type of investment can put pressure on a middle-tier brand to meet unattainable expectations — a corner that young brands often get themselves stuck in when raising capital to get off the ground.
Rather than sell, brands like Theory, Milly and Mara Hoffman are all attempting to restructure internally in order to drive direct sales, and no longer rely on wholesale partners. To these brands, it’s all about regaining control.
“It’s expensive, but to be in control and not subject to some low-market power or outside investor is what we need to do,” said Milly CEO Andy Oshrin.
Brands stay silent on Tyre Nichols killing as marketers signal it as an industry backslide
Compared to the things that were said and acted upon during the murder of George Floyd and the protests that took place three years ago, many brands have been relatively quiet around Tyre Nichols.
Giant Spoon picks the Super Bowl to test ChatGPT’s marketing chops
As ChatGPT and AI rise in popularity, one marketing agency has chosen the Super Bowl to try out the technology's creative capabilities.
State Farm to skip out on a Super Bowl ad this year, going all in on TikTok instead
With a $7 million price tag, State Farm is skipping out on a traditional Super Bowl spot in favor of a TikTok campaign this year.
SponsoredAdvertising predictions that will shake up the media industry in 2023
Chris Kelly, CEO, Upwave Like many people, marketers and advertisers were ready to see 2022 come to a close. A year that started off promising was assailed by inflation, layoffs and the disastrous effects of RSV, the flu and additional COVID strains. Still, despite an uncertain outlook for 2023, there are plenty of reasons for […]
Hyatt, Lacrosse Unlimited, Lulu’s tap college athletes’ authenticity to target Gen Z
Hyatt, Lacrosse Unlimited and Lulu's are among brands highlighting partnerships with college athletes in an effort to reach new consumers, particularly those in the Gen Z cohort.
Marketing Briefing: Twitter, TikTok vie for ad dollars, offer incentives as they seek to own second screen for Super Bowl
While Twitter has traditionally been the platform that marketers turn to for real-time marketing efforts during the Super Bowl, the shift in leadership and advertiser exodus over the last year has left its place in this year’s Big Game a question: Will its importance continue?


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Microsoft is turning to its experience centers in London, New York and Sydney to boost sales of its products as retail foot traffic continues to climb in markets around the world.
The company’s move to use its experience centers to boost sales marks a pivot in its strategy. The company had previously just been using its experience centers to host business customers, Reuters reported.
In June last year, the company absorbed a charge of $450 million when it decided to shut down all of its 82 U.S. store locations that primarily served its retail customers.
Microsoft’s announcement to use its experience center to sell to consumers comes just a few weeks after Google announced plans to open its first retail store in New York City this summer.
Google plans to use the store to promote and sell a wide variety of products such as Pixel phones, Fitbit products, Google Home and Nest thermostats, among other things. The launch of the store marks the first time Google is setting up a permanent store.


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Photo: Michael Verhoef (Flickr)
Colonel Sanders has retired from his post on the signs of newer Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.
Modern Fast Food
KFC, in an effort to re-brand and update, has announced it will create a more upscale chain called “KFC Eleven” without the iconic Southern gentleman. The name is a reference to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC’s original recipe.
The move comes in response to changing tastes. Young consumers are shunning fast food for “fast casual” chains, like Chipotle and Panera, while health-conscious consumers associate cartoons and symbols, like the Colonel, with unethical marketing.
KFC Eleven will offer flatbreads, rice bowls and only boneless chicken.
Mascots And Marketing
KFC is by no means the first fast food restaurant to undertake rebranding efforts in the last few years. Burger King has already dropped its iconic King after market research found that consumers thought he was “creepy.” Wendy’s has also updated its character.
Nonprofit groups have called upon McDonald’s to retire Ronald McDonald, the happy clown that has served as a mascot for decades. Groups say it’s irresponsible to market unhealthy food to children using friendly characters.
McDonald’s has retired Ronald’s sidekicks, like the Hamburglar and Grimace, and Ronald has taken a backseat in modern marketing.


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SPARTANBURG (AP) — Voters in a number of South Carolina communities have agreed to allow diners to have a drink on Sunday.
Media outlets report that referendums to allow alcohol sales in bars and restaurants were approved Tuesday in Spartanburg and Greenwood counties. Similar referendums were approved by voters in Sumter and Lake City.
In Spartanburg County, the measure was approved by about 10,000 votes. In Lake City the referendum allows beer and wine sales in restaurants and allows beer and wine to be sold in stores.
In communities that approved the alcohol sales businesses and nonprofits may apply for permits through the Department of Revenue to begin selling alcohol on Sundays.
Supporters have said that allowing Sunday sales should boost business at local restaurants.


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The textile traders of Aligarh staged a protest against the Central government following the decision to hike the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on textile fabrics from 5 percent to 12 percent.
Staging a protest against the rise in goods and services tax (GST) from 5 per cent to 12 per cent, the Aligarh Cloth Merchant Association (ACMA) said that hike in GST rates would adversely impact the textile industries, which is already reeling from COVID-19 blow.
In November, the Centre had decided to increase the GST on textile products from 5 per cent to 12 per cent from January 1. Speaking to ANI, Rajiv Agarwal, President of ACMA, “Cloth is one of the basic needs for humans. The hike in GST would affect the manufacturing and sale of textile goods. COVID-19-induced pandemic has adversely impacted the sale of textiles in India and affected our income.”
He further added, “I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to understand our pain and difficulties and rollback the hike in GST.” (


text: Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Ltd. (SAVWIPL) has appointed Christian Schenk, Board Member for Finance and IT at Škoda Auto, as the new Chairman. As previously announced, Piyush Arora has joined the board as Managing Director of SAVWIPL and Christian Cahn von Seelen will lead Sales & Marketing. “The year 2022 will bring significant initiatives from all Volkswagen Group brands in India. SAVWIPL enters the last mile of the India 2.0 project with the recent launch of the Škoda Slavia and the subsequent launch of the Volkswagen notchback,” the company said in a statement. “The group’s premium brands – Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini – are preparing to launch exciting new products that will delight customers and contribute to India’s growth story,” she added. The company recently started exporting the Volkswagen T-Cross, the first vehicle built on the MQB-A0-IN platform and customized for the Indian market. Škoda Auto took over Volkswagen India Private Ltd. in 2019 with the establishment of the merged entity Škoda Auto. and the announcement of the India 2.0 project, responsibility for the Group’s brands in India.


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RST THERMAL TO REPRESENT LG HOME COMFORT SOLUTIONS AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS IN NEW ENGLAND REGION
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan. 13, 2015 – LG Electronics announced today the appointment of RST Thermal as the manufacturer’s representative for LG’s industry-leading home comfort solutions and light commercial systems in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. A leading manufacturer’s representative firm in the New England area, RST Thermal provides technical and sales support to wholesale distributor partners, contractors and homeowners.
“RST Thermal has remained an integral part of the growing heating and air conditioning industry since 1989,” said Richard Trethewey, President of RST Thermal. “By maintaining a strong focus on quality products that provide the utmost efficiency for consumers, we’re pleased to represent a portfolio of LG’s air conditioning systems across six New England states.”
RST Thermal has pioneered and championed the best, highest quality heating and cooling products while bringing energy efficient systems to the New England market for more than two decades. Now the firm will showcase the benefits of LG systems that offer flexible and cost-effective designs, quiet operation and simple installation, while allowing owners to cool or heat rooms without invasive ductwork.
“Aligning with a company that shares our commitment to advancing energy efficiency and home comfort in the US market is another step forward in helping consumers save real money on their utilities in residential and commercial spaces, without sacrificing comfort,” said Kevin McNamara, Vice President of LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., Commercial Air Conditioning. “With RST Thermal’s extensive experience and knowledge of the industry, LG’s innovative air conditioning systems will have an even more significant impact across New England.”
Trethewey is also well known throughout the industry. Since 1979 he has been the heating and plumbing expert for the PBS “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House” television franchise, where he has shared the latest hydronic and HVAC industry innovations while educating consumers on efficient systems.
For more information on LG’s heating and cooling solutions, visit www.lghvac.com.
SOURCE: LG Electronics


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A new drone that's due out next year uses six rotors instead of four to help it capture more stable video and spend more time in the air.
- Very Attacked People (VAPs) are doing cybercriminals’ work for them: report
- Telstra: We blocked 2.9 million scam calls in a month, but they keep coming
- Government rewriting cybersecurity conversations around consumer focus
- Chrome 77 fixes 52 security flaws, removes 'ineffective' green bar EV SSL indicators
- Security for the Internet of Everything: Turning the network Into a giant sensor


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Netflix Strikes Paid Connection Deal With AT&T
Netflix has struck a paid data connection deal with another one of its supposed antagonists.
The company announced Tuesday that it had agreed to pay AT&T for a direct connection between the two companies’ networks. The companies struck the deal back in May and have been working since then to connect their networks.
“We’re now beginning to turn up the connections, a process that should be complete in the coming days,” company spokeswoman Anne Marie Squeo said in a statement. An AT&T representative confirmed the arrangement.
The agreement ends a standoff between the two companies. AT&T had been pressing Netflix to pay for an upgraded connection between their networks since at least March.
Internet traffic flows between different networks generally in one of two ways, through transit, in which a smaller network passes its traffic through a larger one to connect to the broader Internet; and peering, in which large networks connect with each other. Traditionally, smaller networks paid larger ones for transit services, but peering didn’t require any kind of payment from one company to another. Instead, both networks bore their own costs of interconnecting.
In recent years, big Web content companies including Netflix have begun to account for a large and growing portion of Internet traffic. In order to pass that ever-growing amount of data on to consumers without creating a bottleneck, the connections between those companies and Internet service providers (ISP) such as AT&T have had to be upgraded. Unlike past arrangements, the Internet service providers have balked at upgrading those connections on their own dimes and have instead demanded payment from Netflix and other big Internet companies.
Netflix has protested the move to these so-called “paid peering” arrangements. The company has noted that it is sending to ISPs’ customers only the data they are demanding in the form of streamed movies. And it has argued that the only reason ISPs can demand to be paid for peering is because of the limited competition for broadband access; if AT&T were to block or throttle Netflix, many of its customers would have no other place to turn for Internet access. The company has called on the Federal Communications Commission to ban paid peering arrangements as part of a broader move to curb ISP practices as part of a new, stronger net neutrality policy.
H/T to Reuters.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.


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Apple Removes App Used By Hong Kong Protesters To Track Police Movements
Thursday, October 10, 2019, 6:35 PM
Apple Inc removed an app that protestors in Hong-Kong have used to track police movements, saying the app violated its rules because it was used to ambush police and by criminals who used it to victimize residents in areas with no-law-enforcement. Apple rejected the crowdsourcing app, HKmap.live, earlier this month but then reversed course last-week, allowing the app to appear on its App Store.
Apple Bug Lets Users Hear Others Via Facetime Before They Pick Up Call
Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 7:39 PM
Apple Inc. customers discovered a software bug on Monday that lets people listen in on other users by way of the company's FaceTime video chat service. The bug allows a user to call someone on FaceTime and automatically begin hearing the other person before they pick up the call. The other person isn't aware that the caller can hear them.


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As part of its Arts and Culture programming, the Home Depot Backyard (HDBY) will be hosting its Truist Night Market event on the evening of May 4.
The three-hour event — taking place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — will once again feature a variety of local and non-local restaurants, brewing companies and entertainment for attendees to enjoy.
Headlining Truist Night Market is the event’s new beverage partner, the Texas-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
In addition to offering its award-winning vodka selections, Tito’s — along with The Home Depot Backyard — is partnering with nonprofit food rescue organization, Second Helpings Atlanta, to donate any additional food from the event to provide meals to Atlanta residents in need.
Other beverage makers that will be in-attendance include local Georgia brewing companies Creature Comforts Brewing and Burnt Hickory Brewery, Mockly Mocktails and more.
Among the food offerings that will be at the event to fill the stomachs of lucky patrons include Dat Fire Jerk Chicken, Hero Doughnuts and Buns, DAS BBQ, Westside Motor Lounge, Chef Demetrius Brown of Heritage Supper Club, among many others.
Along with delectable bites and delightful drinks, the event will also feature a variety of live musical entertainment — including Atlanta-based singer Erica Dawson, who will be headlining.
Truist Night Market, similar to past events, will also have a Vendor Village, which will feature up to 20 local artisans and vendors that specialize in art, apparel, cooking accessories, jewelry, skincare, among other products.
Debuting in 2019, Truist Night Market is one of Home Depot Backyard’s longest-running events, and in that time has highlighted over 90 restaurants and artisans from the Atlanta area.
Truist Bank is the event’s new presenting partner, and will be supporting the event and providing resources to local and small businesses, including offering vendor opportunities.
Food and beverage packages for the event are available at BigTickets.com. All guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.


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Instant Analysis: Avon Products Inc. to Sell North American Sales Unit
As part of a $605 million strategic deal with Avon Products , hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management will pay $170 million to acquire an 80% stake in the beauty care company's North American business unit and then take it private while also investing $435 million for a 17% stake in the cosmetics company itself.
Does it matter?
Avon has been on a multiyear skid, with sales falling from $11.3 billion in 2012 to $8.8 billion last year. Trailing revenues over the past 12 months are just $7.6 billion. Sales in North America are doing even worse, falling for seven consecutive years, and they're down 17% so far in 2015. Division losses, meanwhile, have grown to $47 million. The rise of cheap cosmetics that are of good quality from rivals like Sephora has added pressure to Avon's business, making the cosmetic company's rejection of an $11 billion buyout from Coty three years ago a major missed opportunity.
The investment by Cerberus, therefore, is paltry in comparison, but it allows Avon to shed the one segment that was driving down the rest of its operations, while at the same time getting a cash infusion to help strengthen its balance sheet. Avon is also suspending its $0.24-per-share dividend to further that goal.
The cosmetics business has become much more competitive. Procter & Gamble is also exiting the cosmetics business , announcing this past spring that it wanted to sell its beauty care division even though it represented a quarter of its revenues and profits. But segment sales have taken a hit from the number of rivals now in the space, dropping 12% on a 7% decline in volume.
Yet with analysts critical that Avon left money on the table and hedge fund Barington Capital -- which recently announced a 3% stake in Avon -- believing a division sale was not the appropriate course for the beautician to take, the deal has left many doubtful about the efficacy of the deal with Cerberus, particularly as it effectively creates two owners for one brand.
While the prospect of the beauty care company selling the business was not unexpected, the details are and they are apparently leaving a bad taste in many mouths. Avon Products has now agreed to shed what could have been a stable component had it shorn up the business instead of selling it, while opening itself up to the risks associated with operating solely in foreign markets.
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The article Instant Analysis: Avon Products Inc. to Sell North American Sales Unit originally appeared on Fool.com.
Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Procter & Gamble. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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E3 2008 has finally come to a close, but all is not good apparently as several major publishers have voiced concerns about the worth of the show and whether or not they will continue to be part of it in the future.
EA's CEO John Riccitiello was perhaps the most blunt of all who said that he flat-out hated E3 in it's new scaled-down incarnation during an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle
"I hate E3 like this,
" said Riccitiello. "Either we need to go back to the old E3, or we'll have to have our own private events.
These opinions were then mirrored by Ubisoft as well, where the publisher's American president said that the show was totally terrible and is now similar to a pipe-fitters show in a basement.
E3 used to be the most important event on the games calendar, but has been scaled down in recent years to become a press only event. However, with publishers now keen to show products on their own terms and time-tables and without competitions, E3 has largely become redundant for many. EA for one already hosts several events around the year - in fact, we're heading out to see the latest build of Red Alert 3
tomorrow - while Ubisoft hosts a larger single showcase in France every year.
"It's one milestone in the communication of your products throughout the year, and it's important because it's the ramp-up for Christmas,
" said Ubisoft's Alain Corre in an interview
with GI.biz. "But E3 here, mid-July, in the Convention Center in downtown LA - it's not appropriate I would say.
Even Nintendo has been critical it seems, with Shigeru Miyamoto stating that the event is no longer the place to showcase titles for the dedicated gaming enthusiast.
The attendance figures are especially damning though. At it's peak, E3 played host to over 60,000 attendees, whereas the event is now limited to just 5000 professional journalists. This year's keynote speaker Governor Rick Perry delivered his opening speech to less than 20 people. What does that tell you? Let us know in the forums


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Mozambique takes Claritum beyond 70 operating countries
NOVEMBER 27, 2018
Mozambique makes it 70 countries! Claritum has added Mozambique to the list of user countries on the Claritum eProcurement cloud-based platform. The post Mozambique takes Claritum beyond 70 operating countries appeared first on Claritum. Claritum Article - Procurement Blog. “Claritum has passed the 70 country mark, doubling the number of countries in the last 12 month period.” ” said Prof. Richard Hillum, Executive Chairman at Claritum.


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HSBC has become the latest bank in Australia to add support for Apple Pay. “Apple Pay is now available with all HSBC credit cards,” the bank says, and customers will be able to “enjoy the same rewards and privileges” as they do with their physical card. Four of the country’s largest banks have delayed offering support for Apple Pay, following their fight to gain access to the NFC technology within iPhone handsets. A total of 50 Australian financial institutions now offer support for Apple Pay.
- Google Pay goes live in Italy
- Pulse reports on US uptake of mobile debit card payments
- Bank of America brings mobile payments to business card customers
- OP Financial tests face recognition for payments in stores
- Singapore begins rollout of QR code that works with multiple mobile payment schemes


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British Tour de France and Olympic glory trumped a washout summer and turned the UK into a nation of bike lovers in 2012.
That’s the gist behind figures released by research analysts Mintel today that claimed four in ten UK residents now cycle, with 14 percent riding at least two to three times a week.
Up to 3.1m Brits – extrapolated from the 2,000 strong online survey group – are believed to be riding ‘most days’. Leisure riding was the most popular type of cycling for 66 percent of group, although only 25 percent said they were commuting by bike.
The figures will be music to the ears of bike shops up and down the country who should have experienced a boom year. Mintel valued the market at more than £700m a year and forecasted it to rise to £869m by 2017.
While people in the market for a bike still prefer to see the bike before they buy, – and perhaps surprisingly – general online retailers such as Amazon and eBay outperformed the specialists such as Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles.
The boom is the result of Olympic and Tour de France glory, rising motor vehicle costs and favourable government health and transport policy, said Michael Oliver, Senior Leisure Analyst at Mintel.
“Undoubtedly, there is considerable momentum behind bikes at the moment, driven by high profile sporting successes in the Tour de France and Olympics, rising fuel prices and higher public transport costs. As an environmentally-friendly type of outdoor exercise, cycling is very much on trend.”
He believes the industry revenues were dampened by the very wet summer, the second wettest on record.
Deeper in the data, Mintel reported that specifications and bike brand was more important to men than women, but that women were keener on value for money and styling. However, choosing a familiar brand or one that had been seen as successful in races was only deemed important for less than 20 per cent of the 1,500 people who responded to that question. Instead, value for money was overwhelmingly the most important consideration with more three quarters citing this as important.
According to the figures, customers still prefer the see-before-they-buy approach. Halfords and other general chain shops continue to be the most popular option followed by local independent bike shops and then specialist chains such as Cycle Surgery.
Laurence Boon, marketing manager for CycleScheme, which offers tax free bikes through the Government’s Green Transport Initiative, confirmed to BikeRadar that Bradley Wiggins’s Tour success and overall Olympics success had a transformative effect on bike sales in 2012.
“The majority of the trade had a quite a tough period January to June,” he said “The weather was quite difficult, there was lots of rain, but from June, July onwards we significantly grew year on year to the point where the year ended up ahead. An awful lot of that came from post TdF and Olympic success and we certainly see that as a contributing factor.”


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(AP) -- While Microsoft Corp. prepares to release the next incarnation of Windows on Oct. 22, Apple Inc. is cutting ahead, launching a new version of its operating system for Mac computers on Friday.
Aug 26, 2009 in Software
It's the amateur photographer's management tool for digital pictures. But Apple's iLife multimedia software suite has some A-list users as well.
Jul 09, 2009 in Software


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South Dakota resident Sylva Stoel had been working at J.C. Penney for two weeks when her boss approached her to tell her that her outfit was inappropriate — specifically, her shorts.
"I bought [the shorts] thinking they were pretty professional," the 17-year-old told Fox59. "They didn't show anything other than my legs, which I don't think is too provocative."
The catch? Stoel said she had bought the shorts from J.C. Penney's "career" section.
Her supervisor reportedly asked Stoel how long it would take her to head home and change into bottoms with more coverage. Instead, the feminist blogger said she quit on the spot.
He asked how long it'd take for me to go home & change. I said "idk probably the whole day" I'm not coming back
In a statement, J.C. Penney said their dress code bans all shorts.
JCPenney's dress code policy for store associates prohibits the wearing of shorts of any length. This policy applies to both male and female associates. We have reached out to the associate who blogged about this policy, but she has not returned our telephone calls thus far.
But the teen claims that during her job orientation, she was never told shorts were unacceptable.
"The only word the manager said on dress code during my job orientation was that denim was not allowed, T-shirts were unacceptable, spaghetti-strap tank tops weren't allowed and skirts couldn't be 'too short,'" Stoel told Mic.
She added when she had seen male co-workers show up in denim and undershirts, they were never sent home.
"Unfair dress codes affect millions of women, and it's time to speak out against them," she told the Huffington Post.
Stoel's story went viral, and caused a firestorm on Twitter. Many agreed with her, while others criticized her judgment.
@queenfeminist @jcpenney if they thought it was too revealing they shouldn't have it in the career center. They're hypocrites and sexist.
@NdidiShinn @queenfeminist hey they also sell bath robes does that mean someone can wear it to work??? lol no of course not.
@queenfeminist Now that the world has seen your immaturity...Good luck finding a new job! @jcpenney
@queenfeminist ankles, knees, AND thighs??? ohG God WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN
Stoel, for her part, said she has no regrets about quitting.
Hey @jcpenney wanna know how to appeal to ur millennial customers ur losing? Bring ur dress code to the 21st century.
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Stoel and J.C. Penney for comment.


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Nike strikes deal with New York CityPosted: Updated:
Here’s the latest business headlines from Cheddar
Nike has struck a deal with New York City. This gives the athletic apparel retailer the rights to use New York iconography for two years. This means people may soon be able to buy a Nike T-shirt featuring the iconic NYPD logo, or a hat with the Parks Department's leaf. The city will get a cut of the sales. City Hall is guaranteed at least $20,000 a year.
YouTube is planning to end targeted ads on videos that kids are likely to watch, according to Bloomberg. The move comes after the Federal Trade Commission has been investigating the video platform, and whether or not it has failed to protect young viewers. YouTube and the FTC reportedly reached a multimillion-dollar settlement over the matter. Videos featuring kids under the age of 13 receive three times more views than other videos, and this move could cost YouTube tens of millions of dollars in ad sales.
Walmart is suing Tesla after solar panels at seven of its stores caught on fire. Walmart is alleging breach of contract, and asking Tesla to remove solar panels from more than 240 of its locations. The companies have partnered on clean energy initiatives for years.


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Angel Society of Fallbrook celebrates 30 years at luncheon
The Angel Society of Fallbrook celebrated another successfulyear at its recent year-end luncheon at the Pala Mesa Resort, anevent attended by 220 women and which featured entertainment bycabaret singer Gigi Eckles and a fashion show of clothes from theorganization’s Angel Shop, one of its sources of income. Shop salesin the group’s 2007-08 fiscal year totaled nearly $223,000.Donations in the group’s fiscal year, which ran from May 2007through April 2008, totaled $112,350.
Also $6,500 was raised that day through sale of treasures,jewelry, boutique, linens, and an opportunity drawing. This moneywill be added to the organization’s funds for charitablecontributions.
Since the organization began in 1978, it has distributed about$2.5 million to local charities, projects, schools and institutionsin the greater Fallbrook area. Above are some of the models in thefashion show: Molly Eckenrud, left, Joan Hatfield, Kathy Molina,Claudia Fihe and Gigi Holladay.


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For a few weeks now, leaks and rumours have picked up pace about the release of upcoming Galaxy Note 10 smartphone(s) from Samsung. With 2019 being an important year for the South Korean tech giant, the company is expected to go big with the flagship Note device and bring to the table new features and refined design.
Previously we've had some information about the design and internals of the Note 10, however, now a latest report has emerged claiming that the Galaxy Note could be announced to the world as soon as August 10. As per news coming out of Korea, Samsung is sticking to the timelines it set last year and will launch the device a day later than last year.
However, unlike last year, there will be a twist in the tale as Samsung will launch two phones under the Galaxy Note series - the basic Note10, and a Pro variant of the device which is expected to be more expensive and come with advanced features and even better hardware than the vanilla Note 10.
As per recently leaked renders, the Note10 and the Note10 Pro could bring similar designs, but the Pro model is expected to get a slightly larger screen and come with an extra camera on the back. The leaked renders also suggest that Samsung plans to ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the Galaxy Note series, as well as the dedicated Bixby button.
The selfie camera is expected to be positioned at the centre and not on the right side as found on the Galaxy S10 series. The Galaxy Note 10 is also tipped to arrive with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor on the smartphone. The panel could be a Dynamic AMOLED one with HDR10+ support and sport 1440 x 3040 resolution.
Moving to the back, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 gets a new glass panel and a triple camera module. The size of this display is being rumoured to go up to 6.6-inch and the battery inside the phone to be a massive 4500mAh one. As for the SoC, the phone is expected to be Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 855 SoC.


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This week the stock market has experienced a very good week. Stock futures dropped Thursday during after hours trading. The Dow Jones was down by eighty points. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ had dropped around one hundred points. Major indexes experienced their fourth straight day in the green. The Down Jones along with the S&P 500 are up by seven percent for the week. The tech heavy NASDAQ has grew by nine percent this week. The stock market has experienced its best week since April 9.
Tech stocks have benefited from positive futures and have thus skyrocketed this week. Apple has experienced a six percent growth this week. Nvidia is up by eight percent for the week. Facebook has grown close to seven percent for the week. Microsoft has seen a nine percent gain for the week. Nio has skyrocketed this week with a gain of thirty six percent.
Tesla’s stock price has increased by twenty five dollars this week or a little over six percent. Other electric vehicle stocks have traded mostly in the positive this week and Tesla has followed the trend. For the past year, the electric vehicle maker has grew by over five hundred percent. The company plans to roll out more vehicles. Canada and Norway are set to be the destinations it introduces beta software.
Friday will give way to more earnings report. Toyota, Marriott, CVS, The Hershey Company, Square and Dish Network report on tomorrow. Much anticipation surrounds Square which has performed well this year in the stock market. Square has grown two hundred percent for the year due to the rise in online shopping. Qualcomm beat expectations with its earnings this week. The expected EPS was 1.17 and the actual EPS was 1.45. The stock is up by sixteen percent for the week.


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Medina County detectives found so many stolen antiques and knick-knacks inside a rental home that multiple vehicles were used during two trips from Akron to Medina to transport the stash of evidence to the sheriff's office.
"I'm surprised we recovered all of this. Most of the time we're not that lucky," said Sgt. Kevin Ross.
The stolen valuables included a jelly cupboard with a price tag of $499 and a marble wolf statue with an estimated value of $200.
Other items that were inventoried and loaded into a property room include lamps, figurines, carvings and Christmas decorations.
Ross estimated the total value between $10,000 and $15,000.
Investigators suspect most, if not all of the items, were stolen during multiple break-ins to Wagon Wheel Gift Shop on Medina Road in Granger Township.
On Thursday morning, the owner of the shop called 911 after her stepson reported seeing a U-Haul and suspicious people outside of the business.
"I think somebody is breaking into my shop right now," the owner said. "They already ripped me off and stolen a bunch of stuff, but apparently they're not done and they're back there again." She then added, "They'll catch the thieves right in the act."
Medina County deputies and Montville Township police officers responded and found two women and a man loading up the U-Haul, according to Ross.
When police questioned one of the women she explained that other valuables from the shop would be found at a home on Ford Avenue on Akron's east side. The woman went with investigators and pointed out some of the antiques, but not all of them, Ross told News 5.
"The victim came over and identified several more things. We were out until late last night. It took us two trips from Akron to Medina to recover all of the items. We had two pickup trucks and three vehicles," Ross said.
The store had essentially been shut down over the past three years because the owner was caring for a relative, but Ross doesn't think the owner made plans to close it for good and much of the inventory was locked up in the building.
Detectives suspect other items stolen from the shop were sold on social media sites such as Craigslist and OfferUp.
No arrests were made. Detectives continue to investigate what they call "convoluted stories" told by the three persons of interest. Charges of breaking and entering or burglary are possible.
The on-going investigation will also look into the possibility of other victims.
"We might end up getting bigger than this one. That's something we'll have to find out," Ross said.
The owner of the shop declined to comment.


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But the athletic footwear marketer denied it was deliberately trying to court controversy-and media attention-by creating an ad it knew the networks wouldn't accept.
Rather, Nike said its point is to further protest what it believes is TV sports' prejudice against soccer-a sport Nike sees as a major growth area.
The ad in question blasts the networks for not giving more time to women's soccer. The The 30-second commercial features Mia Hamm, who played on the U.S. women's team, which Nike sponsors. The spot's voice-over notes that Olympic viewers "didn't see the best football player in America win a gold medal in Atlanta this summer . . . because all the networks agree that the best football player in America isn't good for ratings."
NBC, CBS and ABC rejected the ad in storyboard form before it was created. ABC later rejected the finished commercial as well. Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore., created the spot as part of a larger campaign promoting Nike's soccer business.
"We felt-and it's the sentiment among this country's 17 million soccer fans-that NBC dropped the ball by not showing women's soccer at the Olympics," a Nike spokesman said. "We wanted to be a voice for those 17 million to say, `Hey, you say it's not good for ratings, but why don't you even give it a try?"'
ESPN, primary TV partner for Major League Soccer, and Fox, which doesn't broadcast soccer programming, began airing the spot earlier this month, Nike said, as did Comedy Central and Black Entertainment Television.
BANKING ON SOCCER
Nike is staking much of its future global growth in becoming the premier soccer brand. Currently a $200 million business for Nike, the company wants to be the category leader by the 2002 World Cup.
ABC said it rejected the ad in storyboard form on the grounds that the commercial's claims were erroneous. ABC and ESPN, both owned by Walt Disney Co., carry an array of soccer programming, most of it featuring men's teams.
NBC also confirmed it refused to run the spot. At presstime, CBS had not returned phone calls.


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White House to Push Infrastructure Plan in Summit Meeting on Chip Shortage
By Alex Leary
WASHINGTON -- Top Biden administration officials will meet with
senior executives of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Intel
Corp., Alphabet Inc. and others to address the global chip shortage
that has hobbled auto manufacturing and other industries.
The White House wants to use Monday's gathering as a platform
for selling President Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure
proposal, which is facing opposition from Republicans and the
business community given that it relies on increasing the corporate
The plan includes $50 billion for the American semiconductor
industry, to help with factory building and research and
National security adviser Jake Sullivan will be among the
participants, reflecting the strategic importance of semiconductors
and longer term concerns about waning U.S. dominance in the
In a statement Friday, Mr. Sullivan said the shortage "creates
critical national security vulnerabilities" and "a perfect example
of an urgent economic and national security priority for the Biden
Also participating will be National Economic Council Director
Brian Deese who said in a statement that the summit "reflects the
urgent need to strengthen critical supply chains and strategically
position the U.S. economy to lead the 21st century." Commerce
Secretary Gina Raimondo will also join the virtual meeting.
GM and Ford are among companies that have had to cut production
for a lack of chips that go into software modules used to control
everything from brakes to air bags.
More than a dozen other companies will join the meeting, with
most expected to be represented by their chief executives or other
senior leaders. They include Samsung Electronics Co., Dell
Technologies Inc., Micron Technology Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp.,
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., AT&T Inc. and Cummins
Support for the semiconductor industry has gained bipartisan
support on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers pointing to fears over
China's heavy spending on chip-making capacity, and Mr. Biden is
seeking to harness that to advance his agenda. But some
conservative groups have faulted the aid, saying chip makers
shouldn't be federally subsidized.
Mike Colias contributed to this article.
Write to Alex Leary at email@example.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 09, 2021 12:14 ET (16:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.


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Broadband research firm Point Topic released its latest forecasts, which estimate that there will be 925 million broadband subscribers worldwide by the end of 2018.
This is lower than their previous estimates as they saw continued declining growth rates in the world’s major broadband markets – the US, China and Japan.
“It is now becoming less likely that the 1 billion subscriber mark will be exceeded within this decade,” Point-Topic predicted.
The following graph shows Point Topic’s predicted global broadband growth.
Broadband subscriber growth by region
Whilst globally broadband growth is expected to remain fairly constant, Point Topic predicted differences between the growth in different regions.
At the end of 2018, 40% of the world’s broadband subscribers are expected to be in South and East Asia, compared to 34% at the end of June 2013.
Eastern Europe and Latin America are expected to have comparable growth rates and market shares over the next five years. Growth will be slowest in the developed markets of Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.
Based on recent growth trends, Point Topic reduced their broadband forecasts for all markets other than the Middle East and Africa.
This is due to continued slow growth in the world’s largest broadband markets, and in particular the US, China and Japan.
Several markets in Western Europe reported a loss of broadband subscribers in recent quarters. In these markets, copper broadband subscriptions continue to decline as the fibre market grows rapidly – but net growth rates remain slow.
Broadband subscriber growth by market type
These differences in broadband subscriber growth across the world are driven by how developed the broadband market is within a particular country.
Point Topic uses three different classifications depending on the age of the market: emerging, youthful and mature.
In total, the youthful markets have the greatest volume of subscribers, but they are seeing the most rapid growth across the emerging markets.
Broadband subscriber numbers in the more mature markets (Western Europe, South Korea and Hong Kong) are only expected to grow by 12% over the next five years.


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What’s the big news at Alaska Airlines this quarter? The company spent more time than is typical on its quarterly call this morning discussing its MileagePlan loyalty program and the value it brings to the company, including the co-branded credit card. And the numbers are significant.
MileagePlan has grown its membership base by 30% in two years, a massive increase for a mature program. And the growth is relatively consistent year over year. That is impressive but the ability to convert those new members to actively engaged customers is where the real money comes from and co-brand credit card enrollment is a big part of that profitability.
For Q1 2016 the company says it increased co-brand credit card accounts by 12% year-over-year. That is also a massive growth rate and likely not wholly attributable to the churning of the most aggressive points game players. The partnership with Bank of America is expected to contribute $60mm to the company for the full year and in Q1 it hit the expected target to meet that goal. And the numbers may do even better as new credit card products roll out.
Alaska Airlines expects a boost in sign-ups starting on 1 June 2016 as new features are added to the card. These include:
- Free first checked bag (already a benefit)
- 30,000 points sign-up bonus, an increase from the current 25k
- Removal of foreign transaction fees
On the earnings call it was suggested that the card will be one of the best or most compelling airline travel cards available. I’m not willing to go that far but, depending on the annual fee holding steady it will improve to remain competitive in the market. Either way, expect to see a significant marketing push for the new card in a few weeks, especially with the “BIGGEST SIGN UP BONUS EVER” part of the news.
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You say: “That is also a massive growth rate and likely not wholly attributable to the churning of the most aggressive points game players.”
Why do you say that 12% growth is not wholly attributable? I mean, I don’t expect you to know one way or the other, but I am constantly curious about the impact that “churners” have relative to the general population. I’d bet that it’s more than most people would think.
I’m in no way an analyst here but I’m confused why the surprise over Alaska’s growth in MileagePlan membership and credit card holders. SLC is my home market and since Alaska expanded here, starting routes somewhere around June 2014, they have been marketing like crazy. Billboards and websites offering $50 flight credit to new MileagePlan signups, mailers promoting the credit card. If Alaska is as aggressive in other markets like they are here then it’s no wonder they’ve been able to grow things so well. It seems that not only did they want to attack Delta at a hub city but they went all in, actually doing a lot to make things work. I’m not surprised to see this type of growth, had they not expanded their route map and not been so aggressive marketing the loyalty program and credit card I doubt these numbers would have been quite so large.
Again, I’m not an analyst so I may have completely misunderstood things.
Not sure they can claim “The Biggest Bonus Ever”, as there was a 50K bonus, albeit short-lived.
Comments are closed.


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Across all estates in Kenya, especially in slums, there is almost always a chemist opening up.
At the heart of Kibera, there are shops as far as the eye can see. For every 10 or so shops, there is a chemist. A man or woman in a lab coat is giving advice on the type of drugs that should be taken and with so much confidence you would think he/she is a doctor or pharmacist.
These men and women in lab coats sell drugs, without a subscription. They are entrusted with so many lives and because they do not charge a consultation fee, they are considered the convenient and cheaper option compared to hospitals.
According to the 2013 Kenya Household Health Expenditure Survey, one in 10 Kenyans would rather consult a pharmacist than go to hospital, and almost a third buy medication over the counter without a prescription.
The HealthyNation walked into five of these shops without a subscription and not one refused to sell antibiotics, amoxicillin to be precise. Most of the pharmacies were not fully stocked with a majority selling antibiotics and cold and flu syrups for children.
One of the men in a lab coat asked what symptoms before advising on how to take the drugs, the rest did not bother.
This is the reality of most of Kenya’s pharmacies in a country where the number of registered professionals by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board is far less than that of retail outlets. Only 5,840 pharmacies were registered out of an estimated 15,000 outlets in the country.
MARK OF QUALITY
It is not all gloom and doom with 60 pharmacies across the country taking the lead in smoking out fake drugs and quacks. A simple green cross sticker in front of the pharmacy is proving to be a game-changer in the industry that is putting the lives of many at risk.
Dr Daniella Munene, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya CEO, said when fully adopted, this mark of quality would ensure the safety of many Kenyans.
Green cross, she said, is used as a symbol of professional medical dispensaries globally and if all pharmacists in the country would adopt this it would help consumers distinguish between professionals and quacks.
“Without the outer mark of quality, it is easy to open up small shops and stock them with basic medicine and sell drugs that are counterfeit. The sign is visible from afar and it not only helps the patient in identifying a standard pharmacy, but also helps the regulator in keeping the market free from quacks,” she says.
Green cross, which is available to anyone licensed by the board, requires electronic documentation which makes it possible to query and monitor the trends. “Because it requires electronic documentation it would be easy to monitor everything. For example, if a patient is buying an antibiotic today and comes back seven days later for another in a different green cross pharmacy, he can be advised on another,” said she said.
The CEO said when the legitimate pharmacists display the Green cross it was a guarantee that they had a licence, proper premise conditions, the required medical equipment, lock-and-key storage facilities for expired or restricted drugs, a semi-private patient counselling area and qualified pharmacists and staff.