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thebftonline.com | Wed, May 8th, 2013
TIFA will help ease trade in West Africa
By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY
The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) that is being considered by the US Government with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will help goods move more easily and faster within the sub-region, Sam Ntum, a Senior International Trade Specialist of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, has told the B&FT.
Announced on March 29 by the acting United States Trade Representative (USTR), Demetrios Marantis, during a visit to Washington of President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Joyce Banda of Malawi and Prime Minister José Maria Neves of Cape Verde, the US believes the framework agreement can significantly contribute to economic growth and increase international competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I think that President Obama would want to strengthen the relationship with ECOWAS, which covers a whole bloc of countries. So even though there are individual agreements with countries, having an agreement with a regional economic bloc will be stronger,” Mr. Ntum said.
If concluded, the TIFA will create opportunities for US companies interested in doing business in West Africa, and will assist in addressing impediments to U.S. trade and investment in the region. It would also provide a forum for discussion of topics relevant to economic integration efforts in West Africa.
The TIFA, Mr. Ntum said, will work to make sure that the boundaries within ECOWAS countries are eliminated to allow for free movement of goods to stimulate the economies of these countries and increase the amount of trade.
Mr. Ntum cited the example of the East Africa Economic Community, which is one of the leading regional economic organisations in sub-Saharan Africa and has made great strides in recent years toward integrating the economies of its member states. It has established a free trade area and a customs union and is working toward a common market.
On July 16, 2008, the United States and the East African Community (EAC) signed a United States-EAC TIFA in Washington, DC. Trade ministers and other senior officials from the five EAC member-states — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda — witnessed the signing.
Mr. Ntum was speaking on the sidelines of a US-Ghana Breakfast Meeting in honour of a trade mission to Accra from the state of Illinois.
Organised in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AMCHAM), the three-day visit which ends today seeks to build relationships with US business owners and state officials; understand the opportunities offered by US businesses; and enjoy pre-screened meetings with US manufacturers, exporters, and construction experts.
The meetings will be tackling major industry sectors like manufacturing, energy (renewable), pharmaceutical products, construction, housing, oil and gas, cosmetics, engineering and machinery, medical equipment, and imports and exports.
Some of the companies participating in the programme include Green Innovation & Technology Inc; Ethno Solutions; Bennu Group-Ability Engineering Technology Inc; MI-Jack Products Inc; Kofa International; Masterpiece Products Inc; Lodaat LLC; Natural Enrichment Industries; and Johnson Publishing Co. DBA Fashion Fair Cosmetics.


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BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Car leasing marketplace Honcker Inc. announced it has closed a seed financing round led by Evolution Corporate Advisors, with participation from Lead Edge Capital. Consumers can now lease cars utilizing the Honcker app for delivery in eight states from more than 200 dealers that are participating in its marketplace, according to the company.
“Consumers never need to visit a dealer again to lease a car. Honcker is disrupting the traditional leasing experience for customers while digitally extending the rooftops of its dealer partners,” said Gregg Smith, founding partner of Evolution Corporate Advisors.
Since launching on iOS and in the app store in 2016 with a focus on New York, Honcker is now delivering vehicles to consumers in eight states, with more on the way to fully leverage and utilize the company’s network of more than 200 dealer-partners, according to Nathan Hecht, the company’s founder and CEO.
“Honcker is revolutionizing the automotive industry by bringing the entire car leasing process online - from selection to pricing to closing - and providing a seamless lease execution process that can be completed by a consumer in just minutes from the convenience of their own home on their mobile device,” Hecht said. “This injection of capital from our new value-added partners will now allow us to truly step on the gas.”
Originally posted on F&I and Showroom

domain: news


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Investment in Surrette Battery and Parrsboro Metal Fabricators
Friday, March 28, 2008
Two of Cumberland County's top
employers — Surrette Battery Company Ltd. and Parrsboro Metal Fabricators Ltd. — are investing in
new product development and markets with help from the province, through Nova Scotia Business Inc.
The companies are the first businesses to benefit from the expanded use of Nova Scotia Business Inc.'s performance-based payroll rebate. The partnership is an investment in the companies' future, competitiveness and workers.
Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, made the announcement today, March 28, on behalf of Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Economic Development.
"Competitive companies are vital for sustainability and growth throughout Nova Scotia," said Mr. Scott. "The province and NSBI are committed partners as businesses like these invest now and for the future."
Surrette Battery in Springhill is one of the leading lead-acid battery manufacturers in North America. The price-conscious railway sector holds more opportunity for Surrette, and the company plans to target the European and Mexican markets for its renewable energy products.
The company is committed to maintaining a minimum of 50 full-time positions and has signed a maximum $74,000 payroll rebate, with the province, through NSBI, tied to performance targets for the next five years.
NSBI is also loaning the company $225,000 as it starts production improvements and develops new markets for renewable-energy products.
"Our goal is to reduce production costs and improve productivity while maintaining our skilled workers," said James Surrette, president of Surrette Battery. "NSBI is helping us achieve these goals as we expand our reach in the marketplace."
Parrsboro Metal Fabricators Ltd. already has a diversified line of furnaces and heating products, including Kerr products. The company plans to increase the fuel efficiency of its products and develop new ones for today's environmentally conscious and price-sensitive consumers.
The province, through NSBI, has approved a maximum $138,000 payroll rebate with the company. Parrsboro Metal Fabricators is committed to performance targets within the next five years, including maintaining a minimum of 68 full-time positions.
The company is also receiving $600,000 in financing from NSBI for new equipment and to develop new products.
"Everyone at Parrsboro Metal Fabricators is working together to constantly improve and to diversify," said Tim Babineau, operations manager. "The need to focus on improving productivity and cost competitiveness in export markets has never been more immediate, and we look forward to positive results from our efforts."
For companies committed to using their funds for at least 20 per cent of project costs, the payroll rebate may be used as an additional investment to promote improvements in competitiveness through export markets and the retention of employment.
"We know Nova Scotia is competing and winning in the global economy," said Stephen Lund, president and CEO of NSBI. "We need to continue to invest in our people and support companies like Surrette Battery and Parrsboro Metal Fabricators as they make crucial investments for the future."
Nova Scotia Business Inc. is Nova Scotia's private-sector-led business development agency. NSBI is the investment attraction arm of the province and helps businesses in Nova Scotia meet growth potential through advisory services, trade development, financing and venture capital.
Business Financing - Payroll Rebate


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The Henkel Packaging Adhesives division together with representatives from more than 900 companies discussed the trends that are set to shape packaging sustainability in 2022. Teamwork between all players in the value chain is essential.
Sustainability in the flexible packaging and paper markets in 2022 was the theme of the Henkel Packaging Adhesives - Sustainability Days 2021, a virtual conference held from 16 to 18 November.
The event brought together representatives from more than 900 companies in 90 countries, as well as experts, raw material suppliers, converters, OEMs, associations, retailers and recyclers from across the packaging and consumer goods value chain. They discussed the opportunities and challenges for achieving greater sustainability and set the agenda for joint action to be taken in 2022 to achieve real change.
The participants agreed that in 2022, the industry must adopt a comprehensive outlook and that a focus on circular economy and design for recycling must now be considered business as usual.
While aspects focusing on CO2 reduction and dematerialization are just as important, “it’s vital to avoid tunnel vision and seeing any one method as being the ultimate answer”, warns Tilo Quink, Global Head of the Packaging Adhesives Business at Henkel. “For example, within the European market there is a strong focus on reuse, while the US is more focused on compostability and biodegradability. Yet neither provide a blanket solution and neither are mutually exclusive.”
The forum also discussed transparency as an essential aspect of sustainability. This includes transparency in certification and testing methods as well as transparency for the consumer, with clarity on how to properly dispose of different kinds of packaging after use.
“It’s vital to move towards more open and transparent practices as an industry. When one part of the value chain fails, we all do – but conversely working together is the key to success,” said Arne Jost, Senior Manager Circularity Assessment and Validation for Packaging Adhesives at Henkel.
The German group is a pioneer in the field of sustainable solution with a longstanding strategic commitment to developing new high performance solutions with low energy consumption, such as the line of UV curing adhesives which are now even more accessible thanks to the ramping up of production capacity in Europe and new US production plants coming online in 2022. Henkel is also working to reduce use of resources and waste through measures such as bulk delivery of liquid adhesives via road tankers to avoid packaging.


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Easing corona virus restrictions domestically has done little to repair the current mindset of fear in the marketplace as the world continues to navigate the unprecedented disruption caused by the corona virus pandemic.
Ongoing Job keeper payments, combined with myriad lifestyle choices available to workers, mean that companies should invest in client and staff retention strategies urgently.
What then is the solution?
Invest in your people before you get left behind in the head hunting frenzy that’s happening right now behind the scenes. Smart companies understand that there are a lot of good people out there thus are already preparing for a post-pandemic world and snapping up the talent.
Implementing coaching and development programs to really invest in your employees at the moment will be the key to business success post-pandemic.
When you start investing in your people, those people will have a mindset of gratitude, and the chances of them sticking around later vastly improve.
Putting these plans in place before the Job keeper payments end next month will put your business on the front foot. Once it dries up, companies are going to be a lot more aggressive to win new business, and they’ll be doing anything they can.
So how can businesses prepare for the end of Job keeper?
This is the time to make plans, know customers and invest in your people. We’re going to see more economic hard times.
There are a lot of great businesses out there that had been running for 30 years and have basically been destroyed overnight so the impact isn’t going to be pretty.
We’ve never existed in a world like this before. And we probably never will again. What we have to do is we have to be a supportive community and look after each other as a nation.


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Three veterans of Sotheby’s auctions are launching a new art consultancy firm that will focus on the booming market in Asia. Amy Cappellazzo and Yuki Terase join forces to launch the consulting firm. The company, Art Intelligence Global (AIG), will operate internationally between Hong Kong and New York. The two founders will advise on transactions and bring their expertise to the global art market.
Adam Chinn, former COO of Sotheby’s and co-founder of the private online sales platform Live Art, is also a partner of the firm and will oversee commercial and legal operations.
Terase, who was previously responsible for contemporary art in Asia at Sotheby’s, will run the firm’s Hong Kong headquarters, which will include exhibition space. Cappellazzo and Chinn will manage the New York space of the former Pace / MacGill gallery location in Midtown, with plans to open their US site in early 2022.
Cappellazzo told the New York Times that the company plans to exploit the growing power of the Asian art market. According to Cappellazzo, although a collector base is already well established in the United States, another powerful collection of collectors is still forming in Asia. The Hong Kong market has already overtaken Europe as the second art market after the United States and is expected to grow further in the years to come. âWhen you get a whole crop of new collectors, they’re a lot more ravenous because they’re starting to build something,â she said.
In June, Cappellazzo left her position at Sotheby’s as president. She had joined Sotheby’s after the house acquired her consulting firm, Art Agency, Partners, which she founded with Allan Schwartzman and Chinn in 2016. Prior to that, Cappellazzo was the long-time president of art according to -war and contemporary at Christie’s.
A month later, Terase left after nearly a decade at Sotheby’s. Under Terase, Sotheby’s Asia division expanded its sales offerings to include more Western art. The move paid off. Last June, its contemporary art auction in Hong Kong – with nearly half of its lots by Western artists – grossed $ 102 million, one of the highest sales totals the house has ever made. never made during an auction in the territory.
Terase distinguished herself from her peers by educating a class of up-and-coming buyers on concept works considered non-traditional offers in auction houses. But she has also shown a knack for connecting with Asia’s biggest collectors, with figures like Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and Taiwanese musician Jay Chou in her rolodex. She has also helped sell prime lots, auctioning off a Gerhard Richter painting owned by cosmetics mogul Ronald Perelman for $ 28 million last summer. This painting is today the most expensive work of a Western artist ever auctioned in Asia.
Executives at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips have closely followed Terase’s progress in Asia and have also begun to place more emphasis on the booming art market on the continent. âAsia is our fastest growing region at Sotheby’s,â Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart said in a statement last June. Last week, Sotheby’s modern and contemporary Hong Kong auction series totaled $ 185 million, resulting in a 35% increase in sales from the total of $ 600 million in 2020. And, in the Possible goal of appealing to Asian collectors, the three houses have started to make their nightly auctions in London and New York less Eurocentric and have pushed back the timing of those auctions, bringing them closer to when buyers in places like Hong Kong will be active.
Signs of growth in the Asian market were also seen last year at Phillips, which collaborated with Chinese auction house Poly Auction and took its sales of modern and contemporary art to new heights. Last spring, Phillips made $ 122 million on four consecutive sales of modern and contemporary white glove art in Hong Kong and Beijing, an increase of 121% from the previous year, marking the season total. highest ever for the home in Asia. Meanwhile, Christie’s said that in the first half of 2021, Asian buyers accounted for $ 1.04 billion of the $ 3.5 billion in sales it made.


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Company Profile: Positive ID
A Chip Off the Old Block: Update on Implanted Microchips
A Delray Beach company retools technology - and marketing strategy - for human microchips
The company is also developing another non-implantable device that can check the blood sugar levels of diabetics by measuring the levels of acetone in their breath as they exhale. PositiveID purchased the intellectual rights to the technology earlier this year from Easy Check Medical Diagnostics, which is headquartered in Miami and Tel Aviv. “All we have to do is miniaturize it,” Silverman says.
In addition, the company has completed a prototype “iGlucose system” to automatically and continuously communicate blood sugar readings to an online database. The company envisions integrating its iGlucose system and its other rapid testing devices so that all test results could be automatically downloaded into a patient’s online personal health record.
Implanting the chip [Photo: Newscom]
Until those products hit the market, PositiveID is operating using revenue from NationalCreditReport.com, a subsidiary that provides credit monitoring and identity theft protection products. Those products bring in approximately $250,000 a month. The company’s main source of capital comes from selling shares of stock, which trade on Nasdaq as PSID.
The company, Silverman says, is debt-free with about $6 million in cash and is selling another round of stock — in part to fund the testing of its planned products.
While the controversy generated by PositiveID’s implantable chip has quieted down, Silverman is still wary that any new implantable products could arouse fears of Big Brother. “I’ve been around a long time, and I know if we ultimately get some type of federal approval or FDA approval for the implantable glucose chip, I’m sure some people will raise their head again — but for now, we’re focused on delivering products.”
The Jacobs became the first VeriChip-implanted family in 2002. [Photo: Newscom]
» In 2004, Mexico’s Attorney General, Rafael Macedo de la Concha, told the media that he and at least 18 employees had been implanted with the VeriChip for security reasons.
» In 2004, the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona began offering VIP patrons VeriChip implants that provide them special access to VIP areas and links to prepaid accounts to pay for drinks.
» In 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, VeriChip Corp. donated implantable chips to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which used them to track and identify corpses in Mississippi and Louisiana.
» Between 2007 and 2009, more than 100 patients and caregivers who were clients of Alzheimer’s Community Care in West Palm Beach received VeriChip implants as part of a project to provide a safety net for Alzheimer’s patients to help identify them and notify caregivers in case of an emergency.


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11 April 2017
Digital version includes famous neural network AI developed by Keldon Jones
There’s been a veritable slew of fantastic tabletop games making their way to phones, tablets and PC in the last few months, and it looks like the prosperous bounty will continue with one of the best-loved card games around: Race for the Galaxy.
Tom Lehmann’s iconic title of galactic expansion turns ten years old this year, and studio Temple Gates Games has taken on the task of bringing the strategic favourite to iOS and Android.
Race for the Galaxy on mobile will feature online multiplayer for the full two to four player count, including options for both asynchronous and real-time modes.
There’s the chance to play against computer opponents, but these are not your typical virtual rivals – Temple Gates has teamed up with Keldon Jones to include the researcher’s famous artificial intelligence for the game, which was originally created as a project to test neural networks.
The base game will include five starting worlds, plus 90 settlement and development cards. However, there will also be a free New Worlds promo pack thrown in, including six starting planets, as well as the option to pick up the Gathering Storm and Rebel Vs. Imperium expansions from launch.
Race for the Galaxy will be $6.99 on the iOS App Store and Google Play, meaning it’ll likely be around £5.99 over in the UK.
Release is planned for May 3rd, but you can get in early by signing up for the beta, which begins on April 12th.


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Further evidence emerged this week that phishing attacks are spreading far beyond e-mail inboxes. They also are using instant messages in the quest to trick users into divulging personal information through spoofed Web links of well-known companies.
Yahoo Messenger is the latest to come under threat by phishing. Security researchers and Yahoo Inc. confirmed that an attack had begun to spread on the IM service earlier this week.
In the attack, users receive an IM message that often appears to be coming from a buddy-list contact. The IM attempts to lull users into clicking on a URL, which then takes them to a spoofed Yahoo page requesting log-in information for their Yahoo accounts, according to an analysis by Akonix Systems Inc.
Yahoo officials said on Friday that the attack does not appear to be a widespread threat. Yahoo provides users with information about preventing phishing attacks on its security Web site, but the Sunnyvale, Calif., company has not posted any specific warnings about the latest IM-focused attack.
“Phishing is an industry-wide issue, and one that Yahoo! takes very seriously,” said spokeswoman Terrell Karlsten, in a statement. “A key defense in the fight against phishing is consumer awareness, and Yahoo! has made it a priority to help educate consumers so that they are empowered to protect themselves online.”
Phishing is a well-known problem in e-mail, where messages that spoof the identity of a legitimate company try to get users to provide personal information that can include financial account information.
In the middle of last year, phishing attacks also started making the rounds of the major IM service, said Frank Costello, chief marketing officer at Akonix, which sells software to manage and secure enterprise IM. For example, Yahoo said that this weeks attack is not the first to target its service.
In July, a phishing attack using a combination of IM and e-mail tried to lure America Online Inc. subscribers into providing account information.
“I definitely see it increasing, and its because of the same drivers that drive other malicious threats,” Costello said of IM phishing. “More and more people are using IM, and e-mail is more protected. The volume of virus writing and other attacks is kind of highlighting to the bad guys that IM is out there.”
Akonix has not gathered statistics about the growth of IM phishing attacks, but the company did hear reports about the Yahoo Messenger attack from some of its large customers who share security information for tracking by the Akonix Security Center, Costello said.
Also this week, researchers reported a potential security vulnerability in the Trillian IM client. Trillian, developed by Cerulean Studios, is a client that lets users chat across multiple IM services, including AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger.
Pittsburgh-based LogicLibrary Inc. said it had discovered a buffer-iteration overflow in the plug-in components that allow the client to connect to multiple IM servers. If exploited, the vulnerability could cause the program to shut down or allow a hacker to gain control of the operating system, the company reported.
The flaw originally appeared in Trillian 2.0 but persists in the Yahoo IM plug-in component in Trillian 3.0 and 3.1, according to LogicLibrarys report.
Security researcher Secunia categorized the security vulnerability as low risk. LogicLibrary provides tools for managing software development assets.


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There are so many fascinating things embedded in Tesla’s stock price, its sales and its future. It’s almost too big to contain in one article.
But let’s get started.
But before we delve further into Tesla’s numbers, let’s discuss two critical elements.
First, Tesla sells a luxury item. The Model S costs about $70,000. Depending on trim, more than 400 horsepower is available. Nissan’s Leaf sells for around $30,000. It has one-fourth the power of a Tesla. It might as well exist on another planet.
In a period of booming stock markets and growing income inequality, luxury items tend to show exceptionally strong demand — up to a certain level. That is, in part, what’s happening with Tesla, since the company can’t make enough cars to fulfill demand, according to founder and CEO Elon Musk.
Musk said September sales soared to a record high worldwide, up 65% year-over-year in North America. Furthermore, he said he was hoping to curb demand for Tesla cars because the company is at production capacity, and he doesn’t want people to wait six months for their custom-ordered car. Still, a media report recently said Tesla sales dropped. There was quite a bit of back-and-forth.
Whom to trust? I’ll go with Musk, assuming he hasn’t lost his mind.
Now let’s turn to what’s coming up in Tesla’s earnings report today, and how the company has been doing.
As a company increases revenue as quickly as Tesla has, the first thing to check is gross margins. We can see there was, in fact, a deterioration in this measure for some time, but Musk has turned it around in a big way, widening gross margins from 7.3% to nearly 26% in a matter of two years. That’s incredible. Only Honda
Net income vs revenue
With revenue charted in the blue bars and net income (earnings) margins in the red line, we can see that the increasing revenue along with wider gross margins have pushed Tesla’s net income margins up from negative 200% to basically break-even (trailing 12 months) in a matter of just two years. This is impressive, but, still, there’s this: Tesla has a $30 billion market value and no earnings. GM’s market cap is about $50 billion, and it sold almost 10 million vehicles last year.
Research & development (R&D) per dollar of revenue
This is a surprising chart to me. With Tesla working on new models, the Gigafactory and a new lease program, I would have expected R&D expenses to stay in line with revenue, but it has not. The blue bars chart revenue and the red line charts the share of each dollar in revenue spent on R&D.
Tesla has gone from spending $1.80 for every $1 of revenue to around 13 cents these days. If we chart R&D expenses for every $1 in operating expenses (as opposed to revenue), the trend is nearly identical.
In plain English, this measures how fast a company sells stuff in its inventory. A high number is “good,” in that it reflects a product in demand. A low number is the opposite. The massive increase from under 1 (which is a “bad” number) to over 4 today is tremendous. It’s quite possible that the downward trend from a few quarters ago is actually “good” and “on purpose.” Inventory turnover that’s too high may actually reflect a manufacturer unable to meet demand — and that’s essentially what Musk has said. Taken as a whole, this measure looks quite positive for Tesla.
No matter how bright the future looks, analysts will (and should) always look at the future expectations for a firm. Those expectations can be expressed using the price-to-sales ratio. We can see the P/S for Tesla has dropped from 24:1 to 12:1. That’s actually good news for Tesla’s stock, in that it has taken air out of that “absolute perfection” expectation bubble.
Price-to-sales and revenue growth vs peers
If we graph price-to-sales on the y-axis and revenue growth on the x-axis, we can see that Tesla is a totally different company than its peers. In fact, it has no peers, and that’s one of the great difficulties in understanding the company’s valuation.
So while the P/S ratio has dropped from 24 to 12, don’t think that 12 is a small number; in the auto industry, it’s absolutely gigantic. The same goes for 85% year-over-year revenue growth, which is practically impossible to chart with the other auto manufacturers.
Unlike my prior posts on Google
1. Sales growth must exceed expectations.
2. Gross margins must remain above the mid-20% range.
3. Demand must be outpacing production capacity. Period.
4. A drop in inventory turnover absolutely must be a manufactured outcome by the company — done on purpose.
And forecasts …
Copy and paste the above. Tesla must show that it is a totally different company — that its peers mean nothing and, therefore, peer comparisons mean nothing. If Tesla shows disappointing sales or sales forecasts derived from true demand, the stock will collapse.
However, if all of the above are met, if Tesla truly is running at full capacity, then the stock has room to rise further. But, at some point, a company selling 35,000 cars with such a high market value must show evidence that it will be selling 500,000 cars in 2020, as Musk projects, or it’s in serious trouble.
If Tesla does meet (or exceed) those forecasts, a $30 billion market cap will look like a pittance in six years.


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The BMW i3 electric car is due for a range boost in the near future, Harald Krüger--the company's CEO--said recently.
But BMW hasn't publicly discussed the matter further.
Now, a new report claims the range boost will come courtesy of a new battery pack, which could also be retrofitted to existing i3 hatchbacks.
The new battery pack will take advantage of efficiency improvements realized since the car's launch, according to Autocar.
The range improvement will come from what's described as an "optimized driveline" that will retain the same 22-kilowatt-hour battery capacity as the lithium-ion pack in the current i3.
We think that may have been a misinterpretation on the part of the Autocar author, since the article also suggests that the longer range will come from "higher power density."
2015 BMW i3
That's unlikely, since power density is the ability of the battery to deliver higher output at any given point. Longer range comes from higher energy density, or a rise in the total energy content of a cell of the same size.
Cells with higher energy density are able to hold more energy into the same form factor, so a longer-range battery pack is all but certain to hold more energy--meaning not the same 22 kWh, but likely between 26 and 30 kWh.
There will also reportedly be some efficiency-related improvements, including an "upgraded electronics package" with new software mapping for the battery-cooling system and electric motor.
These changes will result in a range of "well over 124 miles," as measured on the European testing cycle, according to the report--higher than the 80-to-100-mile range of today's i3 on the same cycle.
That would work out to a somewhat shorter range on the more-stringent U.S. EPA testing cycle, but could still mean a significant boost over the i3's current rating of 81 miles.
An increase of 25 to 30 percent would push the i3 over the 100-mile mark, perhaps bringing it close to par with the 107-mile 2016 Nissan Leaf (whose battery pack rose from 24 to 30 kWh within the same form factor).
2015 BMW i3
However, a BMW competitor for the 200-mile 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV isn't likely to appear until around 2018, according to sources.
Interestingly, Autocar also claims the new, longer-range battery pack will be offered as a retrofit option for existing i3 hatchbacks.
This would be fairly unusual, as the only other example of battery retrofitting is Tesla's upgrade program for the discontinued Roadster.
Cost would be a major factor in the viability of a battery-pack retrofit option for the i3.
2014 BMW i3 REx owned by Tom Moloughney
"I'd love to have the option of upgrading the battery pack," said BMW i3 owner and advocate Tom Moloughney, "but I just don't see how BMW can make that financially viable for owners of relatively new i3s."
"I won't mind spending a few thousand dollars on a battery pack upgrade when my car has 130,000 miles on it," he said, "but not after only two years of driving."
However, given that the i3 has only been on sale in the U.S. since 2014, fewer owners may be willing to invest more money in their cars to boost the range only by 20 to 30 miles.


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Posted on June 10, 2013 AT 07:55am
EA Sports has released a teaser trailer ahead of the EA pre-E3 press conference later today, showing off a few of its next generation sports titles.
CG footage of UFC, Madden 25, NBA Live 14, and FIFA 14 is featured–all of these games are expected to be shown during the press conference. The teaser below was also shown during the Xbox One reveal event, so if you saw that don’t expect anything new out of this, but for those who missed it enjoy.
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Amazon has announced several important Prime Day deadlines for sellers. The date of Prime Day 2022 has not been confirmed yet, however it has been predicted that Prime Day will occur in July. Here are the dates that sellers should be aware of:
- Prime Day Lightning Deals: Submit Lightning Deals for the week of Prime Day by April 29th, 2022 (11:59 p.m. PDT). Although there is no way to guarantee that your deal will run on Prime Day, sellers can expect to see an overall increase in traffic and conversions during this period.
- FBA Inventory Shipments for Prime Day: The FBA shipping deadline for Prime Day this year is June 20th. Sellers should plan to send their inventory shipments ASAP so they arrive at fulfillment centers before the deadline.
Although the date of Prime Day 2022 hasn’t been locked down yet, sellers should start preparing as soon as possible to ensure that they don’t get left behind. Sellers need to act quickly – we recommend prioritizing the below:
- Submit Lightning Deals ASAP: Brands should avoid waiting until the last minute to submit promotions for Prime Day. There is limited space for Lightning Deals, and although the deadline to submit promotions is on April 29th, sellers could see the option to submit deals disappear earlier due to high demand.
- Plan Coupon Promotions in Advance: Although coupons for the week of Prime Day do not have a deadline like Lightning Deals, sellers should still plan their coupons and promotions in advance, as they do require approval before going live on the platform. This way, once Prime Day is announced, sellers can ensure that their coupons and promotions go live during this high-traffic time.
- Send Inventory in ASAP: To meet the increased demand that Prime Day brings, sellers should send their shipments in soon, especially if they are shipping internationally. Brands must stay in stock the week of Prime Day to make the most of this peak shopping event.
Amazon experts at Direct Agents can help your brand prepare for Prime Day and other peak shopping periods. Reach out to [email protected] today to get started.
– Sara Rosenberg, eCommerce Strategist


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Fifteen years after its TV debut on Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants remains an international pop culture icon with expanded merchandise lines and new collaborations.
Konami Digital Entertainment has released a large assortment of new Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game products for beginners and veterans.
RJM Licensing has signed on to represent professional photographer Lara Jo Regan’s collection, Dogs in Cars.
Ubisoft has launched the new video game "Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show" today in the U.K.
National children’s club Captain McFinn has released an app that features pro-social learning, allowing preschoolers to communicate with a live character host.
Sony Computer Entertainment America has launched the first dedicated webstore for its game studio Naughty Dog at Shop.NaughtyDog.com.
Corus Entertainment has partnered with mobile technology company Fingerprint to create a mobile entertainment platform for children ages 2 to 7.
Sanrio and Toei Animation Europe are pairing to unite Hello Kitty and the anime series "One Piece" in a joint licensing program for Europe.
Global production and distribution company DQE has launched two YouTube channels as part of its new digital media strategy.
Viz Media Europe has signed on to distribute the Japanese anime series "Kuroko's Basket," which follows two rookie high school basketball players.
Turner Broadcasting has acquired the U.K. pay TV rights for Lupus Films’ animated preschool series “Toot the Tiny Tugboat.”
Planeta Junior Italia has signed a new deal with Grabo to create balloons featuring the new 3D version of the TV series “Maya the Bee.”
The Jim Henson Company has secured a raft of new international broadcast and home entertainment agreements.
The new video game “Barbie Dreamhouse Party” is now available across Europe and Australasia, and will arrive in the U.S. in January.
Celebrity and entertainment licensing agency RMI has signed on to represent the Irish YouTube-turned-movie comedy brand, The Hardy Bucks
U.K. publisher DC Thomson has tapped Cake to distribute the fourth season of “Dennis the Menace and Gnasher” internationally.
24-hour preschool network Sprout launched its first-ever pop-up store at The Market & Shops at Comcast Center in Philadelphia last Saturday.
HBO Global Licensing has signed a new partnership with Telltale Games to create an interactive episodic game series based on “Game of Thrones.”
Simba has launched the first range of Sendokai Champions toys in Spain.
Brand Licensing Europe is partnering with the Sports Merchandise and Marketing Exhibition (SMMEX) to provide new opportunities for attendees.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products is getting ready for the 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters next year by lining up a raft of licensees.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Stories about gauging the successes of food businesses were popular among readers of SmartBrief’s food and beverage newsletters this week. Readers clicked on a story about how MOD Pizza’s co-founder defines success by the company’s number of employees, rather than its revenue, and they also clicked on an analysis of why Amazon hasn’t come to dominate grocery the way it’s come to dominate other retail categories. The success of Hippeas’ new chickpea puffs also drew the interest of readers this week, as did a Publix cashier’s reflection on a 17-year career spent building relationships with customers.
Food and beverage readers also clicked on stories involving companies’ business strategies this week. ConAgra’s acquisition of Frontera Foods drew the most clicks, with Tropicana’s new probiotic juice line and Whole Foods’ reported stake in Instacart also proving popular among readers. McDonald’s increased focus on content creation also made for a popular story among SmartBrief readers.
Check out more info on all these stories and read the rest of the week’s most-clicked news items:
- ConAgra acquires Frontera Foods
- New labor laws put restaurants at a disadvantage, CKE chief exec says
- MOD Pizza defines success differently
- Why Amazon hasn’t taken a commanding grocery lead
- Tropicana to debut probiotic juice line
- Hippeas chickpea puffs off to meteoric start
- Sources: Whole Foods buys a stake in Instacart
- Authentic ingredients are key to Cantonese char siu ribs
- Publix cashier enjoys a career built on relationships
- McDonald’s aims to create 5,000 pieces of content in 2016
If you enjoyed this article, join SmartBrief’s email list for more stories about the food and beverage industry. We offer 17 newsletters covering the industry from restaurants to food manufacturing.


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Africa. Often called the mother land. Many have seen but many do not believe. The image of Africa that is seen worldwide is sometimes false. There are problems but blessings as in any nation. The fashion industry for one has embraced African culture, women, men and everything else that Africa provides to their world. Many have labelled Africa as the future and we can say it is. African Fashion has been growing and continues to do so — flourishing and taking fashion to a new height. Designers such as AFWNY 2012’s very own Francis Hendy, HennaFlower and many more have graced the runway of Africa Fashion Week, showing skills and masterpieces that the world has been dying to get their hands on.
Read Vogue Italia: The Promise of Africa article on designers, editors, creative directors and others who have seen the future of African fashion, African production and work ethic and incorporated it into their lines, shows and editorials. These designers, producers, and business men and women have created jobs in Africa for the native models, designers and workers, not only incorporating their sense of style and expertise but giving back to Africa as it was never done before. Including all black models into fashion shows, working straight out of Africa on a fashion line instead of including a middle man, and causing controversy by addressing something that was never addressed. We commend these individuals in their endeavors to bring light on Africa and its power in society.


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DME Data Solutions launches data application
SAN DIEGO – DME Data Solutions has released a new Windows-based application that uses outcome measures to drive sales, it announced in a press release. The Patient Trend Reporting System combines device data with baseline diagnostic data, patient health assessments and satisfaction survey results. Data is available on-demand and users can generate reports on a regular basis. “A referral or payer can look at a one-page report and immediately see the patient’s baseline and how the patient has progressed since starting therapy,” said Ken Ravazzolo, president, in the release.


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OSI Group, the Illinois-headquartered company reported last month to have been selling expired meat in China for years, said today that six employees at its Shanghai Husi unit have been arrested after being detained by police.
“OSI Group will continue to cooperate fully and in good faith with the authorities,” OSI said in a statement on its website. “We support the government’s consistent application of the country’s food quality and safety laws.”
Heavy media coverage in the past month and public concern about the risks of consuming bad meat has hurt business at McDonald’s, an OSI customer in China that since halted local purchases from the company. Yum!, which had also done business with OSI, has also been affected.
OSI Chairman Sheldon Lavin at a press conference in Shanghai last month apologized for “what happened” at the Shanghai Husi but didn't say what occurred.
OSI’s public relations nightmare began after an undercover reporter at a Shanghai TV station posing as a worker at Husi filmed colleagues that combined expired meat with fresh cuts. Sales of out-of-date meat were reported to have gone on for years.
OSI said last month it would integrate its China management more tightly into its global system, bring in some of its most experienced managers, and set up a food safety promotion center. “We know that we have let down our customers, the government and the public of China,” Lavin said in a statement.
McDonald’s in Shanghai still hasn’t been able to offer the full menu it had before the OSI reports surfaced.
OSI hasn’t provided the names of the employees that it said were arrested or say if they had been charged.
-- Follow me on Twitter @rflannerychina


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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway's newest Iowa acquisition, Prudential First Realty, soon will be adopting the “Berkshire Hathaway Home Services” logo. The company has 77 agents and three offices in central Iowa, and their “For Sale” signs that now say Prudential, will be converted to Berkshire Hathaway.
Brennan Buckley is a company marketing executive in Des Moines.
“It’s really remarkable when you think about how big and vast a company Berkshire Hathaway is," he says. "But you can’t buy Berkshire carpet, there’s no Berkshire Hathaway furniture, insurance or anything else. Real estate is really the first time in a retail setting that Berkshire Hathaway name will have ever been used and one of the first - if not the first - example that will be right here in Des Moines”
Berkshire also owns Iowa Realty, but Buckley says the new branding will only apply to the Prudential franchise. He says Iowa was chosen for the rollout, because all the key companies and people are in the Midwest.


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Non-essential stores are officially allowed to reopen today, but many have long lines waiting outside. Some brands are using virtual queuing apps and appointment booking systems to manage queues and prioritise social distancing.
Today’s the day retailers have been anxiously awaiting since stores closed March 23, and there’s already a strong turnout on the high streets.
According to the BBC, people have been queuing up outside shops in Manchester for over an hour, while big queues have formed outside Primark, TK Maxx and Foot Locker. Primark in London and Birmingham are also reported to have long lines outside.
But long queues outside of stores aren’t necessarily an indicator of popularity – many retailers have opted to eliminate queues altogether by implementing virtual queues or asking customers to book time-slots to enter stores.
Which high street retailers are reopening?
Many retailers seem to be taking a phased approach when reopening their stores. Retailers that only open a small percentage of stores will be able to use the experience as a pilot and implement key learnings across their wider portfolio.
- John Lewis has reopened only 2 stores today, and will reopen 13 branches in stages
- Next will reopen 25 of its 500 stores
- Debenhams will reopen 50 stores in England and three in Northern Ireland
- Marks and Spencer will open all its shops in England and Northern Ireland
- JD Sports is reopening all 309 of its stores in England
- Primark is reopening all 153 of its stores in England
- Argos will reopen 145 standalone stores for click and collect
- Topshop is reopening all its stores in England and some in Northern Ireland.
Retailers ‘unlikely’ to boost sales post lockdown – should focus on long-term relationships
Retailers are eager to make up for months of lost sales, but the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned brands that the ease in lockdown restrictions is unlikely to provide any immediate boost for the sector. London’s West End/Oxford Street shopping district is expecting about 80% fewer visitors today than before the lockdown.
Instead, retailers should focus on building customer confidence to visit stores by demonstrating their commitment to social distancing initiatives and customer experience.
Speaking on a potential retail resurgence when stores reopen, retail expert and TV personality, Mary Portas, said “I think there will be less retail…but interestingly, we will probably get better retail.”
How some retailers are eliminating queues altogether
During the lockdown, many essential retailers asked customers to line up outside stores to reduce the amount of people inside – and the approach only worked because the vast majority of retailers had shut up shop. But as non-essential stores reopen, the streets could become flooded with customers queuing to enter stores, completing contradicting the social distancing efforts we’ve been fighting so hard to keep in place.
To keep their stores open, restore customer confidence to visit stores and keep the economy in motion, a number of prominent retailers, such as Asda and O2, have chosen to implement virtual queue management software to stop consumers from having to wait outside stores.
Virtual queuing software enables customers wanting to visit a store to join a virtual queue via a host with a tablet or by scanning a QR code to check-in from their mobile phones. Once added to the virtual queue, customers receive text messages confirming their queue position and wait time, and they can access a weblink to view their position in the queue which updates in real-time while they wait. This enables customers to wait in the neighbouring area or in their cars while receiving text messages and onscreen updates as their turn draws near.
A number of other retailers are also implementing appointment booking software that enables retailers to manage their store capacity in line with social distancing regulations by enabling customers to book times to visit their stores from a retailer’s website or via a host with a tablet. Customers will receive SMS and email notifications confirming and reminding them of their appointment. This enables customers to minimise their time in store by turning up only when their allocated time-slot or one-to-one appointment is due, further reducing crowding in stores and on the streets.
In-store social distancing and hygiene measures retailers are implementing
The government has made it mandatory for retailers to implement a number of initiatives, such as plastic screens at the checkout counters, and floor markings that encourage shoppers to stand two metres apart.
However, many retailers are rolling out additional measures to put customers’ minds at ease, such as quarantining items after they’ve been touched or closing fitting rooms altogether, introducing ultraviolet boxes that decontaminate items in minutes, decontaminating shopping baskets after each use and using technology that allows customers to virtually try on make-up.
We’re very pleased to see stores reopen across England, and wish retailers all the best in implementing their Covid-19 social distancing initiatives.


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Latest game in the popular franchise blocks the Share Play feature on Sony's PlayStation 4, which is supposed to let friends share games over the Internet.
The first-person shooter won't be available for the Wii U but is headed to the Xbox One and PS4, says the game's developer.
The game will launch on November 4, and include "battlegrounds of the future, where both technology and tactic have evolved."
Rap star Snoop Dogg could soon be calling out your kills with a downloadable voice pack addition for Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Call of Duty, one of the most popular first-person shooters, is launching online in the world's most populous country, putting the game in front of a whole new audience.
The game is this year's biggest entertainment launch, according to Activision, though the company didn't say how much the game has generated in sales since its early November release.
Activision's sales of the game to retailers top $1 billion in just one day, but the announcement also indicates that $1 billion in sales to customers has yet to be reached.
Call of Duty: Ghosts has a new live-action trailer, featuring average schlubs shooting it out in Vegas.
After investing $2 billion in a smartphone factory in Vietnam earlier this year, Samsung looks to open another facility.
Microsoft and CNET's The 404 Show are teaming up to give one lucky winner the Call of Duty Advanced Warfare 1TB bundle! Enter for your chance to win* now!


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From our Walt Whitman desk
The selfie local tabloid seems determined to run a Whole Foods/Herald story as often as possible.
It started with this piece last Wednesday.
Whole Foods design honors Herald legacy
In the South End landmark where ink once flowed and the Boston Herald’s presses roared, shoppers will now enjoy frangipane tarts, cooked-to-order ramen and a milk + honey spa at Boston’s newest and most innovative Whole Foods.
The 50,000-square-foot gourmet supermarket is part of National Development’s Ink Block project on the site that was home to the Herald for 53 years.
(Boston Magazine’s Eric Randall immediately had a smart piece chronicling the Herald’s “screeds against the half of the country that columnist Howie Carr sometimes collectively refers to as ‘Whole Foods nation'” along with a roll call of the Herald’s Whole lotta love.)
Then Saturday’s Herald featured this update from Donna Goodison:
It’s a Whole new story at old Herald site
Whole Foods Market debuted its newest Boston store in the South End Friday — its second largest in the region and considered a flagship for its North Atlantic division — and co-CEO Walter Robb sees room in the Hub for another of its size.
“We’ve seen the city evolving, so we have lots of plans,” the Boston native said. “The opportunity to come in here and get 50,000 square feet — that’s hard to do these days, and I do think there’s another one (in the future pipeline).” . . .
Its South End supermarket is in National Development’s $200 million Ink Block project, the former Boston Herald headquarters site for more than half a century, and it memorializes the newspaper’s history throughout its decor.
Of course it does.
Then yesterday, there was this thoroughly readable piece from Peter Gelzinis:
From press to produce
The legendary author Thomas Wolfe was misinformed when he wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again.”
I’m here to say you can. But when you do, you’ll discover home has been transformed into the biggest Whole Foods store in Boston.
It’s a sweet trip down Memory Lane with Bert McNeil and Mike Bello, Danny and Dennis Messing, and especially Gelzinis himself.
But there’s also a subtext to all that Wholesomeness: “Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell [is] a minority investor in the $200 million Ink Block project, which also will include luxury condos and apartments, retail shops and restaurants.”
So – a Whole lotta money involved.
But we don’t expect that to last long.


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INSIGHTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Source: World Economic Forum
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, explained
The EU is considering a new legal framework that aims to significantly bolster regulations on the development and use of artificial intelligence to address ethical questions and implementation challenges in various sectors…
How will CEOs respond to a new recession and economic reality?
Divergent views on the economic outlook among global CEOs underline the uncertainty of the business environment in 2023. A recent study of EY towards 1,200 CEOs finds that more than half fear a recession worse than the 2008 crisis.
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
CSRD wants to encourage change in business behavior by ensuring that companies are transparent about the progress they are making towards a sustainable future. But reporting still suffers from lack of transparency..
Delivering the real promise of technology – a C-level perspective
Accenture’s Global CIO Penelope Prett shares her views on how to unleash the real promise of technology at the intersection of platforms, cloud, digital experiences, enterprise intelligence and corporate leadership.
Global Economics Intelligence – Supply challenges still persist
The OECD composite leading indicators likewise point to general economic deceleration in the coming months. This is largely attributed to surging energy and food prices, the effects of the war in Ukraine on supply and trade, and …
Source: Harvard Business Review
Tangible signs showing that great resignation didn’t start with the pandemic
Covid-19 spurred on the Great Resignation the last 2 years, but what we are living through is not just short-term turbulence provoked by the pandemic. Instead, it’s the continuation of a trend of rising quit rates that…
Source: World Economic Forum
Davos 2022 – what just happened? 9 things C-Leaders should know
Many things have been discussed at the World Economic Forum 2022, from war in Ukraine to energy costs to climate change to the metaverse, among others. Here are the 9 major take-aways C-Leaders must keep in mind…
How will the shifting world order affect global strategies and C-suite priorities?
Recent events are solidifying the multipolar world and slowing down globalization. International commerce will continue, but fundamental changes will shift companies’ operations and their strategies in the years ahead.
Source: Bain & Company
How to turn inflation disruption into business value with 6 strategic steps
As inflation is growing at record speed as a result of the war in Ukraine and with the pandemic tailwinds, the global economy is dramatically grappling with supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and high wages…
How could the C-Suite best mitigate the effects of inflation
Inflation hit a 40-year high last month, leaping 7% from the year prior. As households grapple with greater price hikes for groceries and other essentials, companies are contending with supply-chain backlogs, keeping prices elevated.
Source: Source: Fjord & Accenture Interactive
Fjord Trends 2022: The new fabric of life is repatterning relationships
We’ve had two years of disruption to the systems on which society is run, and it’s taking its toll. The future is about the need to respond to changes in all relationships -collectively and individually- to create a new fabric of …
Source: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Five Tech predictions for 2022 C-leaders should keep an eye on
The cloud allows what was once science fiction to become science fact. Models and techniques in AI and ML realm have gotten better and better. And now comes a phase where data is abundant and access to it almost instantaneous…
Source: United Nations
World leaders kick start accelerated climate action at COP26
Over 40 world leaders have backed and signed up to the new Breakthrough Agenda, with the purpose to see countries and businesses coordinate and strengthen their climate action each year to dramatically scale and speed…
Covid19 and business: when the pandemic is becoming endemic
We can still dream about putting the Covid19 genie back in the bottle, but the more likely reality is that the virus will become an endemic problem businesses will have to get used by adopting new ways for managing it.
Meet the new CEO: what will the CEO of the future look like?
Today’s leaders are at the helm of a world that is fundamentally changing. Climate change, technological disruption, growing wealth inequality, an ageing population, polarization and declining confidence in …
Business futures 2021: evident signals of business change
Out of global crisis comes a new world of opportunities. But how do we capitalize on this new momentum? How do we accelerate the innovation we have tapped? How do we optimize for the new global reality?
Source: World Economic Forum
Digital Culture: The Driving Force of Digital Transformation
Organizations with a strong digital culture use digital tools and data-powered insights to drive decisions and customer-centricity while innovating and collaborating across the organization. When implemented…
How executives can help sustain value creation for the long term
Ample evidence shows that when executives consistently make decisions and investments with long-term objectives in mind, their companies generate more shareholder value, create more jobs, and contribute…
Making sense of your business strategy beyond the Covid19
Few global events have had bigger impacts on the business world order than the Covid19 pandemic and the ways it has forced new ways of thinking, acting and planning for the future sustainability of multinational…
Source: Conference News UK
Hopin raises $450m to be valued at $7.75bn in just 2 years
Hopin, which was only founded in 2019, has raised more than $1bn. This new round values now the company at $7.75bn. The announcement follows Hopin’s acquisitions of Boomset and Attendify in support of its…
CEOs are looking for new ways of working. But is it really worth it?
Let’s begin with one simple observation: we spend our days working and most of our time with our colleagues. Our daily tasks are shaping the world around us. Our work provides for our families and our organisations …


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SUBMITTED BY DONALD J.P. ZIRALDO.
Canadian winery icons Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, who revolutionized an industry and then helped create Brock University’s renowned grape and wine research centre CCOVI, have been honoured with the first Lifetime Achievement Award ever presented by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The partners were feted as “the pioneers of Ontario’s wine renaissance” at a gala at Toronto’s Exhibition Place, where Ziraldo was joined by Andrea Kaiser, who accepted on behalf of her late father. The award was sponsored by Brock University.
In 1975, Ziraldo and Kaiser obtained a licence for a new winery they called Inniskillin. Ontario wines were typically sweet and syrupy, due to the region’s hardy labrusca vines that could survive Canadian winters. But Ziraldo and Kaiser believed European vitis vinifera vines could produce world-class wines and also cope with the local climate.
They soon began winning major international awards, including the Grand prix d’Honneur at Vinexpo in Bordeaux, France. Inniskillin went from cottage winery to global success, and the reputation of Canadian wines went viral.
Since then, Niagara has become carpeted with vineyards and known as ‘Napa North,’ a destination for connoisseurs and wine tourists alike. When Inniskillin received its licence, the first to be issued in half a century, there were only six other wineries in Ontario. Today there are nearly 200, and grape and wine is a $9-billion national industry that contributes to thousands of jobs.
While sales flourished, however, the industry lacked the research support and regional science that is crucial to keeping an area’s vines healthy and its quality high.
By 1996, a group of winemakers, grape growers and Brock scientists met regularly to identify the needs of the rapidly expanding industry. The group included Bill Cade, then Brock’s Dean of Mathematics and Science, who brought in industry leaders like Ziraldo, Kaiser, Paul Bosc, John Howard and others.
Wine writer Linda Bramble recalled the energy: “I remember Donald (Ziraldo) repeating, ‘Every significant wine region in the world has a research institute associated with it. We need this, too!’”
Before the year was out, Brock launched its Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), which has been a working partner of the industry ever since. Two years later, CCOVI would move into its new home, named Inniskillin Hall in honour of a generous gift from Ziraldo and Kaiser.
At the Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, Ziraldo praised his longtime partner.
“Karl’s genius with Icewine created an opportunity to build a global luxury brand,” Ziraldo said. “I deeply appreciate the recognition by the Chamber, and encourage young vintners to continue our quest for greatness.”
Andrea Kaiser recounted how her father very nearly did not become a vintner. After emigrating from Austria in the late 1960s, he found his education credentials were not recognized in Canada. However, his plans to go back to school and become a teacher changed after a chance meeting with Ziraldo.
“But even in winemaking, he remained a teacher, always eager to share his winemaking techniques,” she said. “He was so honoured to be invited back to Brock to teach at CCOVI as it combined his two passions in life, wine and learning.”
Brock President Fearon said the vision and innovation shown by Ziraldo and Kaiser will continue to inspire generations of entrepreneurs and leaders.
“It is hard to think of two individuals whose vision and commitment to quality and excellence better exemplifies dramatic growth in the competitiveness and vitality of the Ontario industry landscape,” Fearon said. “I am proud to say that Brock, through CCOVI, was a partner in these developments reflecting our commitment to supporting transformative regional community and economic growth.”
Comerford saluted the pair’s legacy to research and education.
“I am very proud that for more than 20 years, Donald and Karl have been instrumental in helping to create at Brock, what has become Canada’s leading grape and wine research centre,” he said.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce President Rocco Rossi said Ziraldo and Kaiser were a perfect choice as the first-ever recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Their determination to create the highest quality wines not only transformed the Canadian wine industry but demonstrates the innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work of the businesses built in our own back yard,” said Rossi.


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As the US and world economy comes continues to recover from the downturn in 2008, this next year provides some strong opportunities for the QSR industry. As these opportunities become available, the industry itself becomes a lot more competitive as more players present themselves with differentiated offerings: Food trucks, healthier menus, and more differentiated offerings webbanki.ru. it’s going to be a changing game for restaurant owners, who have to stay on their toes to try to stay ahead of the competition.
On top of these market changes, the QSR market is being met with some pretty strong influence from a market that will largely dictate changes in the coming years.
Consumer confidence means increased consumer spending, especially among millennials
QSR Magazine recently reported The National Restaurant Association’s most recent Restaurant Performance Index, (which is a measure that tracks the industry’s health), was on the upswing after a late-2013 dip. In turn,
….Economic factors are supporting stronger consumer confidence…And there is a close correlation in consumer confidence and restaurant traffic.
While moms have been predominantly the target market for restaurants, millennials now continue to help shape demand for the QSR industry. Millennials in North America are more ethnically diverse and are also exposed to more cultural influences. So their interest goes beyond food and extends to the experience and that is what’s influences these other trends. According to Denise Lee Yohn, in her post about these two diverse groups
Millenials say, “Value me,” and moms say, “Help me.”
Denise Lee Yohn, references the rise of this highly influential group in her book, What Great Brands Do:
The rising generation of Millennials…is not just looking for tasty treat at a good value when it comes to restaurant choices. In the estimation of one food industry research firm, Technomic, what Millennials want is much more complex: an emotional connection to a brand that is socially responsible and sustainable… These consumers of tomorrow expect brands to inspire them and express their values so well that being a customer should be a source of pride and joy for them.
So, suddenly the entire customer experience, including the emotional connection with the company, becomes table stakes as millennials begin to demand more from a QSR.
Loyalty will drive repeat business
In an increasingly fragmented market where the definition of quick service has become more diverse – even creating varying experiences including fast casual like the Chipotle’s model, the low hanging fruit for QSRs is to build strong connections with their customers to keep them coming back. Loyalty, albeit, one component of the value drivers, must work in tandem with the entire customer experience.
What makes loyalty much more possible today for the local QSR owner, is the amount of information that can be collected from customers that come to your store. The rise of mobile data and social media information now makes this data available to businesses. What’s more, for QSR, the combination of real-time consumer perceptions about the service, the food, the experience now provides powerful insights to owners, who now have a mechanism, to optimize the customer experience.
What’s more, greater understanding of individual revenue contribution by customer at a local level provides stronger fodder for strong local loyalty programs, which has been challenging for many QSRs historically. We, at Virtual Next, understand this is powerful and make this capability available to enable QSRs
Social Media will be a stronger contributor to revenue
For Millennials, who are heavy users of social media, want to be listened to and they, unlike any other generation, have higher expectations of engagement with brands. This goes beyond promotion on Facebook or Twitter. The data found on social media will be an impetus to develop a strong loyalty program.
Imagine being able to use social data to “listen” for customers who love your restaurant, who frequent your restaurant and order the “usual”. Imagine being able to use this information to anticipate their needs to draw them in more often, or surprise and delight them when they do return.
Millennials will not only be your most loyal customers, they will also drive strong advocacy to your business – the strength of word-of-mouth that leads new customers to your door.
Mobile is already here
Mobile is the differentiation for any QSR business. It not only positions a business as an innovator but it provides strong opportunities to streamline and create more efficient operations. Millennials are already strong users of mobile. According to comscore,
Over four out of every five Millennials own a smartphone, compared to just two out of three 35-54 year-olds and two out of five 55+ year-olds. While smartphones have gradually become a mass market product, Millennials have been especially eager to adopt this now essential gadget.
Millennials are more open to innovations that come with mobile applications. They will not only embrace it, they’ll expect it.
In this recent article, The top online ordering trends restaurants can’t ignore the three most common mobile payments options for restaurants, were highlighted:
- Mobile commerce, or paying online via an online wallet;
Mobile payments that use in-app technology, where consumers download an app that has their information stored; and
- Mobile wallets, which replace the complete wallet and offer more security
It’s clear that the future sustainability of any QSR business is to develop and maintain a deep understanding of the Millennial generation, their current and future customers. Are you ready?


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LONDON — November 14, 2017
- UBS Card Center stopped 74 percent more fraudulent transactions in 2016 than in 2015, and saved potential losses of CHF172 million (about $172 million) using FICO® Falcon® Platform and related FICO technology.
- UBS Card Center has won the 2017 FICO Decisions Award for Fraud Control.
- UBS Card Center processes roughly 25 percent of the credit cards in Switzerland.
- FICO® Falcon® Platform is the leading card fraud solution, protecting 2.6 billion payment cards worldwide.
UBS Card Center, which processes roughly 25 percent of the credit cards in Switzerland, has cut the amount of fraud write-offs per compromised card, stopped more fraudulent transactions and reduced false-positive rates using the FICO® Falcon® Platform. The card processor stopped 74 percent more fraudulent transactions in 2016 than in 2015, and saved potential losses of CHF172 million (about $172 million). UBS Card Center achieved these gains by leveraging the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities of the Falcon Platform, including the use of FICO® Fraud Predictor with Merchant Profiles and adaptive analytics.
For its achievements, UBS Card Center has won the 2017 FICO Decisions Award for Fraud Control.
More information: http://www.fico.com/en/products/fico-falcon-platform
“In times of constant cost optimization, we need to keep fraud write-offs to the very minimum,” said Marcel Drescher, director of fraud services at UBS Card Center. “We were facing new business volumes, but did not have the ability to increase staff numbers to absorb the new volumes. Proactivity in combatting fraud, paired with very high standards on customer experience and satisfaction, are major challenges we're facing on a day-to-day basis.”
To solve this challenge, fraud experts at UBS Card Center used the free-form rule writing within FICO Falcon Fraud Manager to create complex rules that deployed the AI-based FICO® Falcon® Fraud Score and Falcon’s innovative adaptive analytics, which use the results of fraud investigations to automatically fine-tune the neural network models in Falcon. “These custom rules, combined with the advanced analytics, was the only way to improve false-positives and account detection rates,” Drescher said.
UBS Card Center also took a new approach — for the first time, it began to directly decline transactions that appeared to be fraudulent, rather than creating a Falcon Fraud Manager alert to be reviewed with the customer.
“This saved manpower — only with further fraudulent activity on a card is an alert created and customer contact established,” Drescher said. “Using this approach, we have been able to manage a 42 percent increase in fraud cases without the need to bring in new staff resources.”
“I was impressed by UBS Card Center’s advanced use of fraud technology to meet their challenges,” said Julie Conroy, research director at the Aite Group, one of this year’s judges. “In particular, their use of adaptive analytics shows that they are using powerful AI and machine learning techniques to their full advantage.”
“UBS Card Center is an amazing success story in the world of payments fraud,” said Torsten Mayer, vice president for the DACH region for FICO. “They have excellent know-how and they deploy the latest breakthroughs in fraud detection to keep their losses low, their false-positives low and their customer satisfaction high. Bravo to Marcel and his team!”
The FICO® Falcon® Platform is the leading card fraud solution, protecting 2.6 billion payment cards worldwide. UBS Card Center, a longtime user of the Falcon Platform, has reduced fraud losses per compromised card by 85 percent since 2000.
About the FICO Decisions Awards
The FICO Decisions Awards recognize organizations that are achieving remarkable success using FICO solutions. A panel of independent judges with deep industry expertise evaluates nominations based upon measureable improvement in key metrics; demonstrated use of best practices; project scale, depth and breadth; and innovative uses of technology. The 2017 judges are:
- Giorgi Alibegashvili, Strategic Project Manager, TBC Bank (2016 award winner)
- Julie Conroy, Research Director, Aite Group
- Douglas Gray, Director, Enterprise Data & Analytics, Southwest Airlines (2016 winner)
- Joy Macknight, Transaction Banking and Technology Editor, The Banker
- Daniel Mayo, Chief Analyst, Financial Services Technology, Ovum
The winners of the FICO Decisions Awards will be spotlighted at FICO World 2018, the Decisions Conference, April 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 180 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.
Learn more at www.fico.com.
FICO and Falcon are registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.
Emily Broadbent for FICO
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Chain to hire 50,000 workers this year as part of plans to open 700 units by 2013
McDonald’s Corp. said this week that its store growth and hiring are about to accelerate in China, with plans to open 700 new stores in the country by the end of fiscal 2013 to bring its total restaurant count there to 2,000. McDonald’s China also said it would hire 50,000 people this year to staff new restaurants, a move similar to this month’s National Hiring Day in the domestic McDonald’s system, which resulted in more than 62,000 new “McJobs” after the ...
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A digital agency based in Bosnia & Herzegovina, helping online media owners increase their revenue through Google and Facebook advertising.
Edin Halilovic (pictured, left) along with co-founder Semir Music, runs Lilium Digital – a digital agency that helps online media owners increase their revenue, primarily through Google and Facebook advertising.
While online advertising is commonplace in many parts of the world, many ad agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina still focus on more traditional channels such as television, says Edin. “This [Lilium Digital] is not an innovative business on a global level, but here in Sarajevo, it’s something new.”
Being early to market has brought a number of opportunities. Lilium Digital was one of the first organisations to earn ‘Google Partner’ status in the country, and has grown to a team of 17 people in two years, says Edin. However, this has also brought some challenges – not least, a lack of understanding around what their business does.
When Edin attended the Creative Enterprise Programme (CEP) in Skopje, Macedonia, in November 2016, Lilium Digital was employing a small team of two or three people. While confident in their service quality, the founders were struggling to get initial appointments with potential clients due to confusion around digital advertising.
“After CEP, I understood that how I communicate in terms of presentations and sales meetings was really important for the future of my business.”Edin Halilovic
The CEP sessions on honing a business pitch and communications encouraged Edin to simplify the message he was sending to people. “Previously I wanted to give as much information as possible, but after CEP I tried to simplify my offer as much as possible. This helped me a lot. Afterwards, people could start to understand what we were actually trying to sell.”
The workshop also prompted Edin to rethink plans for raising external finance. After meeting with state-owned hedge funds, he realised that unless he could find an investor with specific knowledge of digital advertising, this type of funding was probably not the right fit for the business. “You have to make sure investors really understand your industry and can further increase your market reach,” he says.
Following CEP, the founders continued self-financing through the services they offer. “I believe this was the right move to develop the business,” says Edin. He feels that their heavy investment in staff training (particularly through online resources such as Udemy) and their focus on digital has helped drive growth so far, as has organising non sales-like seminars to teach potential clients how digital advertising works.
Edin says it’s a challenge to bring business leaders from global digital organisations to visit the Western Balkans region (particularly after Macedonia was found to be a source of many fake news websites), something he hopes to change through organising a large event. He plans to invite people from both Google and Facebook to Bosnia and Herzegovina to talk about digital advertising and help advance the industry in the region.
Meanwhile, state and tax institutions are not too familiar with Lilium Digital’s business model, or how to record certain transactions, which has again proved challenging. However, there are also advantages to starting a business in the region, stresses Edin, adding that corporate tax is 10 per cent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 19 per cent in the UK (in 2018/19).
As well as clients in Sarajevo, Lilium Digital is now working with companies in Germany and the US. They are moving into new areas and starting new projects, using their expertise to help businesses sell online. They have started an e-commerce venture with a furniture company in Bosnia (which already has production and logistics facilities) to sell their office furniture online in Germany. The company is also working on several other similar projects with various partners.
“What we have in Sarajevo is a huge pool of talent when it comes to software development, but people don’t really have the skills to sell something online or develop their own platforms.”
“At the moment, we’re selling for other companies. In the future, we plan to start developing major platforms of our own.”Edin Halilovic
In terms of business lessons, Edin advises entrepreneurs to focus on sales: “The most important thing is to try and train yourself to sell something,” he says.
“You could be really good at what you do, but if you don’t sell or market your services or product, there is no positive outcome in the long term for your business.”


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From livestreaming to social commerce, China has been at the forefront of digital shopping innovations.
Now, Alibaba’s Tmall Luxury Pavilion, the Chinese e-commerce platform, is stepping it up with a series of digital upgrades in the metaverse starting with an AR fashion show earlier this month in honor of its fifth anniversary, according to a release.
- Instead of supermodels, the show featured “super mascots” from a range of luxury brands that walked down the “virtual runways” wearing items from the collection. Viewers were also allowed to take selfies with the mascots.
- “From 2019 to 2021, Luxury Pavilion has seen its customer base grow over 150% with sales increasing nearly 300%,” the company revealed.
Alibaba’s initiatives also come at a time when several luxury labels are already experimenting with the metaverse, which Janet Wang, head of Alibaba’s Tmall Luxury division, said has been ahead of before it even “became a buzzword.”
“So far, more than 100,000 consumers have visited our AR show online,” she told Retail Brew in an email. “We believe it’s critical for brands to interact with consumers multi-dimensionally through new digital technologies.”
- These technologies also include a “Meta Pass” that offers customers priority access to brands such as Burberry and Max Mara.
- The “digital warrants” that are certified on the blockchain could also be treated as digital collectables, Wang added.
- For instance, a shopper could exchange these warrants for limited-edition items, such as Max Mara’s oversized sweater from its fall/winter 2022 collection, Burberry’s Lola bag, or fleece-lined sneakers from Marni. “Within a few days of our Meta Pass launch, 10,000 Meta Passes were collected by consumers—a milestone we hit sooner than expected,” Wang said.
Over 20 luxury brands have released digital art collectibles via Tmall Luxury Pavilion to date, according to the company. There are also some VR try-ons and digital art exhibitions in the works.
Locked up, but online: And while the innovations have helped luxury brands in China keep up with—or in some cases, stay ahead of—digital trends, it has also been a critical strategy as China deals with near-constant lockdowns that have limited consumer access to physical retail.
“This strategy was crucial to keeping Chinese consumers engaged during lockdowns,” Wang said, adding that when luxury gifting became an important trend during the pandemic, jewelry brands such as Piaget and Bulgari also turned to digital gifting tools as an alternative. “Overall, we see more consumers than ever before investing in upmarket goods, with strong demand for luxury products, particularly items that keep their value, such as jewelry, watches, and home decor,” she explained.
“In general, Chinese consumers, who are digital natives, adopt these new technologies and shopping experiences faster than their Western counterparts,” Wang said. “In 2021, the number of consumers on Tmall Luxury Pavilion grew 153% from 2019, and gross merchandise volume on the platform rose 309%.”
Ground rules: Still, while digital strategies are integral to tapping into the Chinese market, brands that have been most successful under the Tmall umbrella have embraced a more omnichannel approach.
“Brands that perform well on Tmall Luxury Pavilion are quick to think about how they can best service their customers, both offline and online,” Wang told us, pointing to Burberry, one of the first luxury brands to join Tmall Luxury Pavilion, as an example.
“Burberry has worked with Tmall Luxury Pavilion to release digital collectables five times in the last year, receiving outstanding consumer engagement and feedback each time,” she said.
As for those luxury brands still looking to get into the Chinese luxury game, Wang has some specific pointers. “Understanding the Chinese consumer and localization is key,” she told us. “And getting to know Chinese consumer behaviors and expectations can help brands plan their merchandising strategy and deliver the right level of customer service.”—JS


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A LACK of sleep can lead to more than just fatigue and crankiness, new research reveals. It could actually be decreasing your gene activity say the findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
The research, by a team at the University of Surrey in the UK, involved 26 volunteers – 14 men and 12 women – aged between 23 and 31 years-old. They took part in a study which saw tests carried out over a two-week period.
The ‘sleeping beauties’ averaged 5.7 hours of sleep per night during the first week of the study. In week two, the average was allowed to increase to 8.5 hours, with some volunteers waking only after ten hours of rest.
Blood tests carried out at the end of each week recorded changes in over 700 genes. Some of the genes affected are responsible for the body’s immune system and response to stress. It was found that insufficient sleep can upset the metabolism leading to illness.
Jonathan Attwood of bed and bath retailer, The Duvet and Pillow Warehouse (DAPW) comments: “Since it’s now clear that a lack of ‘shut-eye’ can affect our genes and so our health, we hope people will learn to appreciate the importance of a peaceful sleep environment.
“Don’t let your social life, your work or worries keep you awake at night. Aim to get the recommended adult average of seven to nine hours of sleep per night.”
Numerous studies are carried out each year to determine the effect of sleep on the human body and its various functions. The general conclusion is that sleep forms an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
Attwood continues: “It’s in our interests to monitor industry news. We like to know what concerns our customers and what we should be offering them. In light of ongoing research, our product range is selected to encourage a quality forty winks. Items like our memory foam mattress toppers can really make a difference to your sleep environment, for example.”
DAPW are a bed and bath retailer based in the UK. The company retails exclusively online. Products in the bedroom range include mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows and bed linen.
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MEDIA RELEASE posted by QueryClick. You too can post media releases on www.allmediascotland.com, by emailing here.
Contact: Donald Stephenson


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The world-first randomised controlled trial of 70 school students aged 9-12 years found improved balance in students who wore minimalist, light and flexible shoes, compared to a traditional structured school shoe.
Lead author Dr Shayan Quinlan from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health said previous research had shown the benefits of children going barefoot, but because this is not an option at school, research needs to explore the impact of children’s footwear design on musculoskeletal structure and function.
“Our study suggests the ideal shoe design for children would be sufficiently flexible to allow the foot to move similar to when barefoot whilst still protecting the foot from the elements and rough terrain,” said Dr Quinlan who completed the study as part of her PhD with the School of Health Sciences.
“This study is the first long-term research to investigate the effects of school shoe design, which is important because children spend a considerable amount of time in their shoes at school each weekday, potentially impacting their growth and development.”
The study was recently published in the journal Gait and Posture.
Seventy boys and girls at an Australian school were randomly assigned to wear a standard or moderately minimalist school shoe over a nine-month period. The children wore the allocated shoes for a minimum of three days a week.
The standard or control shoe was characterised by polyurethane soles and leather uppers with laces. The minimalist shoe had a softer, shock absorbing sole, with the upper made of a combination of textile, elasticated base and suede panels.
Senior author Dr Alycia Fong Yan, Co-director of the Sydney Biomechanics Laboratory, said the study aimed to determine the long-term effects of the two different shoe designs on toe flexor strength and intrinsic foot muscle structure, as well as on balance.
The researchers performed testing for these measures in January before school commenced and again in September.
“We saw significant improvements in balance in the children who wore the more minimalist shoe, and these improvements were linked with small improvements in toe flexor strength and muscle size. We predict these changes would likely be even more pronounced if the study was conducted in cultures that wear shoes more often, given that many Australian kids already reap the benefits of spending much of their leisure time barefoot,” said Dr Fong Yan.
Based on the study results the researchers recommend parents and carers look for a flexible shoe using the following pointers to identify the difference between available products.
“However, it should be noted that very flexible or minimalist shoes are not ideal for all children or all conditions. In general, more flexibility has been shown to be more beneficial long-term however if you have specific concerns about your child’s feet or development you should speak to your health professional,” said Dr Quinlan.
“Our hope is that this study will raise awareness with parents and health professionals of the importance of the impact of footwear design on healthy foot development in children, as well as the need for further research and innovation in children’s footwear design.”
Declaration: The authors declare no competing interests. An international children’s shoe company supplied the shoes used in this study as in-kind support only. The company played no role in the design or implementation of the study and provided no financial support.


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By now, you have undoubtedly heard that Consumer Reports has flipped its position on the iPhone 4 antenna. At first, the publication said that the signal woes weren't as serious as the Internet seemed to think, but it decided this week that it couldn't recommend the iPhone 4 thanks to its own lab tests on the issue. Now, Apple seems to be deleting discussion threads about the latest Consumer Reports conclusion, and Apple-watchers are incensed—even though this behavior is old hat for Apple.
Threads in Apple's support forums started popping up almost immediately after the latest CR report hit the Web. As noted by TUAW, there wasn't just one thread: there were at least six threads that now point to nothing. There are a few more than have not yet been deleted, however—this thread is still alive, as is this one, but it's unclear how long they will stay up.
Longtime Apple product users know that this isn't the first time Apple has deleted discussion threads about controversial topics. One of the higher-profile incidents of discussion censorship was when iMac displays began displaying gradients back in 2007. Another involved some discussions in 2008 about Apple's decision to get rid of FireWire in its MacBook line. Yet another incidence of discussion disappearance involved threads about iPod touch WiFi connection problems after updating to iPhone OS 3.0.
There is rarely (if ever) comment from Apple as to why the discussions are disappearing, leading many to believe that Apple is actively trying to hide the issue. Others believe, however, that the nuked threads are simply ones that violate Apple's TOS, which states that discussions are specifically for community tech support about specific products, and must not include speculations about Apple's decisions. Posts must also be constructive and explicitly cannot contain "rants." These rules are far stricter than many other forums, but they are undoubtedly being used by moderators to decide which threads are worth shutting down.
Whatever the case, Apple is creating its own Streisand Effect here: the Internet is more abuzz than ever about the CR recommendation thanks to the disappearing threads, and it's likely only going to get worse.
Apple did not respond to our request for comment about the disappearing iPhone 4 discussions by publication time.


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All new cars going on sale must now undergo tougher tests for emissions, under new legal requirements which have come into force across Europe this month (1 September).
The testing requirements, which are intended to mimic ‘real-life’ driving conditions, have been brought in to prevent manufacturers from cheating emissions tests in response to the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal.
Under the old testing regime (NEDC), vehicles were tested in a lab on a rolling road – a process which allowed some carmakers to use software detecting when cars were being tested. This allowed some car manufacturers to provide a false picture of their vehicles’ emissions and led to many new cars vastly exceeding emissions standards.
To combat this the new laws, which have been drawn up by the European Commission, have brought in two new test cycles which it is hoped will ‘help rebuild confidence in the performance of new cars’.
These include a new laboratory test, the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure – WLTP, as well as a test in real driving conditions – RDE, which is focused on the emission of air pollutants.
According to the Commission, WLTP is ‘more stringent and reliable’ than the previous lab-testing regime, providing data on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions values that are ‘much closer to real world conditions’.
The RDE procedure meanwhile, which takes place on the road and uses portable emissions measuring equipment to measure emissions of NOx and ultrafine particles from vehicles on the road.
Roll-out of the new testing regime began last year (2017) – applying only to new models registered for sale. But, from this month, all new cars must have undergone the updated testing programmes, including testing for fine particles. The test will be mandatory for NOx from September 2019.
Welcoming the new testing requirements, El?bieta Bie?kowska, the EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “In the last three years since the emissions scandal broke out, we’ve cardinally changed the rules of the game to prevent emissions cheating, protect our public health and the environment, and boost our industry’s global competitiveness.
“Stronger emissions tests are a key piece of the puzzle. But we are not there yet. I mean: ongoing national investigations, the state of recalls of non-compliant cars, the roll-out of new type-approval rules – and the transition to low emission mobility.â€?
Experts have suggested that it may take ‘several years’, before the new testing regime has a ‘measurable impact’ on vehicle emissions (see airqualitynews.com story).
The car industry has said it ‘fully supports’ the introduction of the new testing procedures.
Mike Hawes, cheif executive of the SMMT, said: “Industry fully supports the introduction of the much tougher and more complex WLTP, a test which better reflects what drivers experience behind the wheel, while also providing comparison data for buyers. WLTP is good news for motorists who can be reassured that they are purchasing ever cleaner, more efficient technology with every new model brought to market.
“With more realistic emissions and fuel consumption information available from 1 September 2018, consumers will be better informed to choose the car that is right for them, and take advantage of the many deals on offer with arrival of the new 68 number plates.â€?


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15 November, 2022
Deceleration in CPI in line with expectations: PHD Chamber
CPI Inflation expected to fall below 6% by December 2022, says industry body PHDCCI
Deceleration in CPI inflation to 6.7% in October 2022 from 7.4% in September 2022 is majorly softened by significant deceleration in the inflation rate of food and beverages from 8.41% to 7.04% and fuel and light from 10.39% in September 2022 to 9.93% in October 2022, both these items have a weight of more than 41% in the total CPI basket, said Mr. Saket Dalmia, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the press statement issued here today.
Fall in inflation rate is in line with our expectation that CPI inflation may fall below 6% by December 2022, said Mr Dalmia.
Calibrated efforts undertaken by the Government and Reserve Bank of India have significantly impacted the escalation in the inflation. The WPI inflation has softened to 8.39% in October 2022 from its peak of 16.2% in June 2022 and CPI Inflation has fallen from its peak of 7.8% in the month of April 2022 to 6.7% in the month of October 2022, said Mr. Saket Dalmia
Going ahead, continued calibrated steps by the Government and RBI would be crucial to bring down inflation in the targeted trajectory along with maintaining economic growth at around 7% in the current financial year 2022-23, said Mr. Saket Dalmia.
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry