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Avatars for Microsoft Teams is finally rolling out
As we've reported last month, Avatars for Microsoft Teams have made their debut, bringing a notable shift to the visual dynamics of workplace calls.
In light of an ongoing rollout of a new feature, the visual aspects of your Microsoft Teams workplace calls are poised for a significant transformation. The renowned video conferencing platform recently unveiled the introduction of virtual avatars, accessible to all users of the Microsoft Teams desktop app on Windows and Mac platforms.
This fresh offering endeavors to enhance the overall meeting experience by granting users a wider range of customization choices and elevating the visual appeal of phone interactions.
As highlighted in its official entry on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, Microsoft highlights that the upcoming feature aims to offer users "the option of a camera break while encouraging engagement and fun." The company underscores that the avatars will be customizable, and new personalized reactions will be incorporated.
Expanding on the existing functionalities that allow users to blur backgrounds and soften video feeds to conceal imperfections, the addition of visual effects introduces animated frames and video effects that alter hues.
Microsoft acknowledges that the introduction of the new Microsoft Teams avatars presents an alternative to the current binary choice of "video or no video." Notably, FaceTime users have long been able to employ their own Animoji or Memoji during video calls. With this new feature, Microsoft anticipates attracting a greater number of users to the Teams platform as a whole.
During the recent Microsoft Build event, Microsoft made an additional announcement regarding the introduction of "immersive spaces" for Microsoft Teams calls. Utilizing the newly developed Microsoft Mesh platform, these spaces are designed to offer a truly immersive experience for Teams meetings, catering to those who seek a level of separation from their physical office environment.
The announcement reads:
Today, we are excited to announce key milestones on the journey to bring Mesh to life – progress with the Mesh product as well as by early adopter customers. First, an update on the latest product news:
- Avatars for Microsoft Teams is rolling out to general availability in phases starting this week. It will be available to Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3, Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Teams Premium customers.
- Immersive spaces for Microsoft Teams is in private preview – available for Teams Technology Adoption Program (TAP) customers.
- The Mesh platform is available in private preview. Interested organizations and developers can register their interest here.
Available through a PC or a virtual reality headset, these experiences are said to encompass expansive virtual locations, enabling users to navigate between various rooms or spaces to engage with different teams or individuals. With the inclusion of spatial audio, users will be able to participate in one-on-one conversations or participate in larger discussions with multiple conversations happening concurrently.
Consequently, the introduction of these immersive spaces has the potential to enrich communication within a single team or act as a fundamental component for virtual conferences and company events. It can facilitate seamless collaboration and foster an engaging environment for participants.
Microsoft plans to offer a preview of these immersive spaces in the coming days, allowing users to have an early glimpse of their capabilities. A broader release is scheduled for later this year, making the feature accessible to a wider user base.Advertisement


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What You Need to Know
- Plum Life launched last week.
- It can connect agent clients with Swiss Re's Magnum underwriting automation system.
- SBLI has experimented with other life sales programs in recent years.
A company that’s offering to help life insurance agents start and run their own online sales operations is starting to take shape.
The online store startup, Plum Life, announced its official launch last week.
This week, The Savings Bank Mutual Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts has announced a distribution deal with the Warren, New Jersey-based company.
Plum Life will be offering guaranteed level premium term life products from SBLI through its program, which can connect agents, insurers and consumers through websites and mobile devices.
The Plum Life program also offers tools that can help agents get quotes, submit applications and deliver the policies to the clients.
Plum Life can connect agents with the Swiss Re Magnum automated underwriting system, and Swiss Re serves as the reinsurer for products distributed through the Plum Life program.
SBLI, the initial life insurance supplier, has experimented with other online life sales programs. In 2019, for example, it helped Lifefy Corp. set up an online term life sales system.

domain: news


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Le Soleal a cruise ship ordered from Fincantieri by the French shipping line Compagnie du Ponent (Bridgepoint Group), was launched today at the Ancona shipyard. The ship will be delivered in June 2013 and will be essentially more like a megayacht in size and for the the attention to the interio.
The ceremony was attended, amongst others, by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvee, CEO and founder of Compagnie du Ponant, Véronique Saade, the company’s Deputy General Manager, Gabriele Cocco, Executive Senior Vice President of Merchants Ships of Fincantieri, and Giovanni Stecconi, Manager of the company’s Ancona shipyard. The ship’s godmother was Kiki Tauck, wife of Dan Tauck, CEO and Director of the Tauck Group, a long-standing customer of Compagnie du Ponant.
The new ship, which will fly the French flag, is the third twin following L’Austral and Le Boreal, the two mini cruise ships delivered in May 2010 and April 2011 respectively.
Like its twins, the new ship is equipped with the very latest in environmentally friendly technology, while its small size means that it will be able to reach ports and destinations inaccessible to larger vessels. Its interior will be designed on a human scale with the utmost attention to detail.
The Compagnie du Ponant, based in Marseille, currently has a fleet of three cruise ships targeting the super luxury market. Founded in 1988, it became a member of the Bridgepoint Group in 2012.


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A New York judge has given the go-ahead for a group to collectively sue Apple for damages over its collusion with publishers to fix the price of electronic books.
Denise Cote, a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, wrote in her approval of class status that “Virtually all class members paid inflated prices for ebooks as a result of a centralized price-fixing conspiracy.”
“If certification were not appropriate here, no antitrust class action could be certified,” she wrote.
The case dates back to 2012, when the U.S. Department of Justice and 16 states filed lawsuits against Apple, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers (better known as Macmillan), Penguin and Simon & Schuster, alleging they conspired to keep the price of ebooks at a certain level.
The DOJ alleged the six companies worked together to counter Amazon’s strategy of reducing the price of new and best-selling ebooks to US$9.99.
In 2012, Judge Cote confirmed that assertion and in 2013 Apple appealed her ruling.
In approving the class status, Judge Cote rejected Apple arguments that each ebook purchase is unique and should be heard separately, and that the plaintiffs are not “similar” enough to have their cases heard together.
The case is 11-2293, In Re: Electronic Books Litigation, at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.


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Viva Wyndham Reopens Playa del Carmen All-Inclusive
Viva Wyndham Resorts has reopened its all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
The company is now welcoming back guests to the Viva Wyndham Azteca resort, set in one of the most popular beach towns in the Yucatan.
The 335-room hotel has relaunched after undergoing an upgrade project that included all of the property’s superior rooms.
The new look includes “heritage-rich, Mexican-inspired décor and state-of-the art technology,” according to a statement from Viva Wyndham.
The lobby and public areas have also gotten a makeover, while the resort’s snack bar, El Nopal buffet and Il Palco eatery have also been completely redone.
The resort’s all-inclusive experience features everything from a lineup of live shows and performances to Mexican cooking classes, dance lessons and theme parties.
The Azteca has also added a new kid’s pool, among other changes.
“Viva Wyndham is constantly improving its offerings for our guests because we know that they deserve the vacation of a lifetime at cost conscious rates,” said Amanda Santana, Viva Wyndham’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “It’s always our goal to exceed their expectations and provide a one-of-a-kind experience that guests will remember for years to come.”
For more, visit the Viva Wyndham Azteca.


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"Microsoft has started to make flat-out dazzling products. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. The new Band health monitor has sold out and brought long lines to Microsoft stores for the first time ever. The new lineup of Windows Phones rivals anything else out there in terms of hardware and software design. Getting people to entertain such ideas and give forgotten products a try is another matter. The promise of more productivity hardly seems like the clarion call that Microsoft has been missing, but that’s what Nadella is betting on—and perhaps he’ll surprise us."Nadella's Mantra for Microsoft: 'Productivity.' Is That Counterproductive? - Businessweek
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Nadella's Mantra for Microsoft: 'Productivity.' Is That Counterproductive? - Businessweek
Judging from the tech news today -- with collaborative workspaces, new email tools/services, and redoubled focus on productivity tools -- it's 1996 all over again...


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Sony’s Funimation division has completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll from American telecom giant AT&T.
With the $1.175 billion USD (about $1.48 billion CAD) deal now closed, Sony says it plans to “create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible.”
Sony did not provide a timeline for when this unification will happen. For now, the two services will operate independently.
While Crunchyroll is perhaps best known for featuring a streaming catalogue of a variety of anime shows, the service also offers manga, games and more. Anime can be streamed for free, although there are limitations, including ads. Premium plans start at $7.99/month that remove ads and offer other perks, like access to shows one hour after they premiere in Japan.
Funimation also offers ad-supported shows at no cost with similar perks like ad-free viewing unlocked with Premium plans that start at $5.99/month.
Bringing the services together will, presumably, offer a more expanded viewing catalogue, especially where licensing issues are concerned. For example, the popular volleyball anime series Haikyu!! is not available on Funimation in Canada, but it is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sony says Crunchyroll has five million paying subscribers and 120 million users overall around the world. It’s unclear exactly how many people are using Funimation via its free and paid tiers.


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GM announces $600M paint facility in Kansas City, Kan.
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General Motors announced Monday that it will invest $600 million during the next two years at its Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan.
The investment will be used to build a 450,000-square-foot stand-alone paint shop on the north end of the property. It also will help buy new equipment, including an upgraded press for its stamping facility inside the existing building. The investment represents a huge chunk of the $1.5 billion that GM announced it would spend on its North American facilities in 2013.
The investment in the plant first came to light in August 2012, but GM didn’t provide any details until Monday.
Preparation for construction of the paint shop is under way, said Tom Quinn, GM’s director of projects and investment. Gallagher-Kaiser Corp. will be the general contractor, working in tandem with Fanuc Robotics, which will provide the new equipment.
Quinn said the construction has a target competition date of December 2014. He expects the paint plant to start production in August 2015. The plant should have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years.
“This is the one of the largest single investments in one plant, other than a greenfield plant, in GM’s history,” GM CEO Dan Akerson said. “This is testimony to how well the plant is run, the contributions you’ve made in the past, and contributions we think will be made in the years to come.”
Since 2003, GM has invested about $2.5 billion in the plant.
Technology in the new equipment will lead to a 50 percent reduction in energy use per vehicle and reduced volatile organic compound emissions. New radiant tub ovens, patented by GM, will allow the company to dry paint using 20 percent less natural gas and 40 percent less electricity. New film technology will result in less water use and a smaller waste stream. New Hyper Throw E-Coat will allow GM to sell cars that are much more corrosion-resistant.
James reports about banking, financial services, manufacturing and sports business.
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — One in six American adults has worked in a convenience store, gas station or corner store, and found that their job gave them valuable experience in how to work with people and how to operate a business.
The recent national consumer survey by NACS, the Association for Convenience Fuel & Retailing, also found that less than a quarter of those surveyed (17 percent) said they have worked at a c-store, gas station or corner store. Of that total: 91 percent said they learned how to work with people; 86 percent said the experience they gained was valuable; and 82 percent said that they learned about how businesses are run.
Approximately 71 percent of those who worked at a c-store said they would recommend this type of work to others, especially as a first job. On the same hand, Americans who worked at a c-store as a first job are equally as positive about the experience, with 83 percent who said the work experience was valuable and 74 percent who said the wages they earned were consistent with the level of experience.
Americans who had a c-store job in college noted educational value and flexible hours as job benefits. Of those surveyed, 90 percent said they learned a lot about how businesses are run and 81 percent said the job offered a flexible work schedule that allowed them to schedule work around other things in life.
Adult Americans who had never worked in a c-store were equally positive about the job opportunities available at c-stores, as well. Overall, 85 percent said c-stores are great summer jobs for high school or college students, and 83 percent said c-stores offer good first jobs for those looking to enter the workforce.
Additionally, they said they see c-store jobs as a potential path toward managing or owning a small business. More than two in three non-c-store employees (71 percent) agreed that it is common for workers who work hard to become managers or eventually own their own businesses.
“Convenience stores conduct more than 160 million customer transactions a day and fuel 80 percent of the vehicles on the roads today. None of this would be possible without the 2.5 million employees who serve busy Americans every day — and around the clock. These jobs also provide opportunities — whether to gain valuable business experience as you earn an income, or to eventually grow your own small business,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.
The NACS survey was conducted online by Penn Schoen Berland. During September, it surveyed 1,111 U.S. adults who purchase fuel for a vehicle such as a car, truck or van at least once per month.


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The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is pleased to announce Google as our new Platinum Member.
Google is an American multinational technology company specializing in Internet-related services and products, including online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware.
Google is Alphabet’s largest subsidiary and is a holding company for Alphabet’s Internet properties and interests.
They offer services designed for work and productivity (Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides), email (Gmail), scheduling and time management (Google Calendar), cloud storage (Google Drive), instant messaging, and video chat (Google Duo, Google Chat, and Google Meet), language translation (Google Translate), mapping and navigation (Google Maps, Waze, Google Earth, and Street View), podcast hosting (Google Podcasts), video sharing (YouTube), blog publishing (Blogger), note-taking (Google Keep and Jamboard), and photo organizing and editing (Google Photos).
Google has moved increasingly into hardware; from 2010 to 2015, it partnered with major electronics manufacturers to produce its Google Nexus devices. It released multiple hardware products in 2016, including the Google Pixel line of smartphones, Google Home smart speaker, Google Wifi mesh wireless router. Google has also experimented with becoming an Internet carrier (Google Fiber and Google Fi).
Google in 2019 opened its first Africa Artificial Intelligence lab in Ghana to provide developers with the necessary research needed to build products that can solve problems that Africa faces today.
The center also focuses on enhancing Google Translate’s ability to capture African languages more precisely, with Cisse saying a continent with more than 2000 dialects deserves to be better served.


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The company will contribute 20 per cent of its revenue to non-profit organisations across the country, including ChangeM...
Sponsored by Bayleys and humm, the award covers 12 categories.
It’s been a year of retailers around the globe experimenting with virtual events, with some mixed results. Here are the ...
The UK retailer has acquired a licence to host weddings in its London store. But is it a smart move, or just a gimmick?
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Live-streaming platforms such as Twitch allow major brands to connect with customers in new ways.
Partnering with food delivery service DoorDash became a game changer for global toy chain Toys R Us.
“You talk to your audience in their language, not yours. That’s the only route into their minds.”
The designer has just opened the first store for his new, polysexual streetwear label Heaven.


text: Each year, thousands of people in the United States get sick and dozens die from eating undercooked meat tainted with E. coli bacteria. A quick, inexpensive test in development at Texas A&M University could help ensure safe meat products. Today’s methods of bacteria detection sample only portions of raw meat, says food scientist Douglas R. Miller. He and colleague Jimmy T. Keeton have what they think is a better idea: Detect the germs indirectly by measuring the levels of specific meat proteins after cooking. If meat has been cooked at a high enough temperature to kill the bacteria, these proteins should denature, losing their structure and function. Testing for denatured proteins requires only a drop of meat juice on a test strip. Within minutes, a color change shows the “safety” of the meat. Morningstar Diagnostics, a Roseville, Calif., maker of diagnostic tests, plans to license the technology.


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Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Neenah (NYSE:NP) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Tuesday morning.
According to Zacks, “Neenah is a leading global specialty materials company, focused on premium niche markets that include advanced filtration media, specialized substrates used for tapes, labels and other products, and premium printing and packaging papers. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and its products are sold in over 70 countries worldwide from manufacturing operations in the United States and Germany. “
Separately, DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating on shares of Neenah in a report on Thursday, November 9th.
Shares of Neenah (NYSE:NP) opened at $79.70 on Tuesday. Neenah has a fifty-two week low of $72.35 and a fifty-two week high of $95.40. The stock has a market cap of $1,340.00, a PE ratio of 17.03, a PEG ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.14.
Neenah (NYSE:NP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The basic materials company reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.15. Neenah had a net margin of 8.19% and a return on equity of 19.49%. The firm had revenue of $244.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $233.85 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.10 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. research analysts predict that Neenah will post 4.63 EPS for the current year.
Neenah announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Wednesday, November 29th that permits the company to repurchase $25.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the basic materials company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.06%. This is an increase from Neenah’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. Neenah’s dividend payout ratio is presently 35.04%.
In related news, Director Timothy S. Lucas sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.90, for a total value of $175,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,693 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,414.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider John P. O’donnell sold 3,914 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.66, for a total transaction of $350,929.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 80,880 shares in the company, valued at $7,251,700.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 19,456 shares of company stock worth $1,775,430. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.
Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in shares of Neenah by 1.1% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 13,092 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,051,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Neenah by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 39,077 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $3,542,000 after purchasing an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its position in shares of Neenah by 115.7% in the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,152 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Neenah by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC now owns 30,269 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,744,000 after purchasing an additional 642 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American International Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Neenah by 5.7% in the third quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 13,196 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,129,000 after purchasing an additional 716 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.73% of the company’s stock.
Neenah Company Profile
Neenah, Inc, formerly Neenah Paper, Inc, is a materials company focused in niche markets. The Company has two primary businesses: technical products, and fine paper and packaging. The technical products business is an international producer of transportation, water and other filtration media, digital transfer materials, tape and abrasive backings, labels and other performance-oriented substrates.
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Spider-Man’s self-titled PS4 adventure has helped Sony move a lot more games than it did a year ago, as indicated by new quarterly sales numbers following the web slinger’s September debut. And while we already knew Spidey was breaking records, the new info shows he (along with God of War’s Kratos) is partly responsible for giving Sony a boss level year in terms of game sales.
The PS4 has sold 75.1 million games so far this year — more than 5 million better than the sales it saw a year ago, according to Sony's quarterly report. Those kind of numbers go nicely alongside the PS4’s lifetime console sales of 86.1 million, a pace that puts it only a slight step behind that of the PlayStation 2 — the biggest-selling console in gaming history.
Sony’s numbers don’t reflect the inevitable boost it’ll receive from the recent release of two huge games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and (this is the big one) Red Dead Redemption 2, which in only three short days already has become one of the biggest-selling pieces of entertainment in history.
Add to that a slate of upcoming releases that includes Fallout 76 (Nov. 14), Kingdom Hearts III (Jan. 29), and future titles like Death Stranding and Cyberpunk 2077, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the PS4 can steal the all-time console sales crown from its venerable PS2 predecessor.
Featuring miniature versions of recognizable characters from each film series, Invasion will assemble its supergroup to battle what sounds like an enemy with a crossover identity crisis of its own: the Ecto-terrestrials, which pose a threat the two camps can hope to defeat only by joining forces.
Men In Black/Ghostbusters: Ecto-terrestrial Invasion will release in late 2019.
From the creative minds behind the BioShock series comes a new game packing what sounds like a Stranger Things, kids-with-flashlights vibe.
Co-op survival horror adventure The Blackout Club sends a group of friends on a sleuthing spree to find out what happened to their missing friend — only to discover malevolent forces are burrowing tunnels of supernatural evil right underneath your peaceful little town.
The Blackout Club comes from Question, an indie studio founded by BioShock 2 director Jordan Thomas and BioShock Infinite effects artist Stephen Alexander. Currently in Steam Early Access, the game launches early next year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.


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People are still really mad at Tim Hortons for ditching their Roll Up The Rim To Win cups
Tim Hortons customers have been panning the iconic Canadian coffee chain in recent weeks, as everything from cruel and cowardly to downright classist, for failing to bring back its traditional Roll Up The Rim To Win program for 2022.
The annual promotion — which has since the dawn of time consisted of people rolling up the rims of their empty paper coffee cups to reveal either prize names or the words "please play again" (grrrr) — changed quite a bit in 2020 amid the COVID pandemic.
At that time, Tim Hortons announced that it was eliminating physical cups from the equation due to environmental concerns and public health restrictions.
"Tim Hortons does not believe it’s the right time for team members in restaurants to collect rolled up tabs that have been in people's mouths during this current public health environment," the company wrote of the change. And, I mean, fair.
Since then, Roll Up The Rim has run as a digital program, allowing customers to virtually "roll up" their "rims" using the company's own Tims Rewards app.
'Member when you rolled the rim of your cup and won a prize instead of scanning an app and winning a coupon you won't use? pic.twitter.com/haeRdh4tRr— S S (@SSEightysix) March 12, 2022
Nostalgic Canadians were crushed to learn that they'd no longer find anything written on the paper cups they'd painstakingly unravelled with their teeth, but hey — it was a pandemic. Everyone understood.
Even in 2021, when Tim Hortons announced yet another virtual edition of its beloved springtime campaign and went so far as to change its name for the first time since 1986 from "Roll Up the Rim to Win" to simply "Roll up to Win," people seemed to understand.
They didn't like the fact that they had to download an app to play, and yes, some were angry. Real angry. But nothing like what I'm seeing on Twitter this year now that the 2022 campaign has been live for more than a week.
@TimHortons pull your doughnut filled brains out of your ass and put the “roll up the rim” rims back on the cups— The Manthalorian (@TheManthalorian) March 15, 2022
"Roll Up To Win™ is back at participating Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada from March 7 to April 3. Download the Tims App and scan for Tims Rewards to play!" reads the company's website.
"For more than 35 years, Canadians have been rolling up and winning great prizes when they visit Tim Hortons. Now, Roll Up To Win™ offers the chance to win exciting prizes – like cars, getaways, electronics, gift cards, Tims coffee and donuts, and much more – on more of your favourite treats, all revealed from right inside the Tims App or website. The best part: Every Roll Wins!"
@TimHortons .. roll up the rim is horrible . Rolled up at least 50 rims by now and it's stupid mobile order stuff. Way to use a prize sweepstakes to promote mobile order.— Krazy Kanuk (@kanuk_krazy) March 13, 2022
Some customers take up issue with the claim that "every roll wins."
So now roll up the rim has been made so when you win a coffee the free coffee doesn’t give you another roll. So no more free coffee streaks which was half the fun. What happened to you @TimHortons you used to be cool. @tjdmy #coffee #timhortons #RollUpToWin— TrevorCaverly (@trevcaverly) March 9, 2022
While Tim Hortons had boasted that there would be no more losers under its new, digitized version of Roll Up, not everyone thinks that "winning" 20 per cent off a coffee purchase (only when purchased through the app) is really "winning" at all.
Think I might’ve gotten the worst roll up the rim prize of all time. 20 bonus points on my NEXT mobile order. Booo @TimHortons boooo #brutal pic.twitter.com/aCKRi0mRLY— Becca (@becca9913) March 8, 2022
At least office workers who rolled back in the day could build ridiculous tower of "please play again" tabs on their desks for everyone to enjoy.
Now? Well, you pretty much need a phone to participate, first and foremost.
@TimHortons roll up the rim is so less exciting now. Parents and grandparents can’t partake anymore without a smartphone (which they don’t have).— TrudStar (@TrudStar12) March 9, 2022
And there's no more picking up a whole bunch of coffees for your colleagues to unroll, potentially gifting them cars or donuts of their own for which they'd owe you for life.
@TimHortons hey! Pretty unfair how we cannot roll up the rim if someone else bought us coffee! Some of us don’t have the app or know how to use it. Bring back the old roll up the rim!!!!! Nobody got time for that! pic.twitter.com/PVneT7tGxT— Casey Rosa (@c_bombos) March 11, 2022
Customers have been complaining online that the app is confusing and difficult to use...
@TimHortons I understand the roll up the rim is back, however it won't tell me what I've won— Rajeevan (@Rajeev1884) March 7, 2022
3 rolls and it keeps saying it seems to be sticky try again, and I keep losing the amount of roll have pic.twitter.com/VVolbXCgQZ
If the app even works at all, that is.
First day of roll up the rim and I keep getting this message! I try it over and over, same message. I close the app and open it again and automatically loose my roll. I lost 5 rolls now!! And not one prize!! What the heck! So frustrating!!! pic.twitter.com/JHUQTnpmmm— Sandra Ferguson (@SFPropertyMgr) March 7, 2022
Some are concerned about the fact that they have to give personal data over to a major conglomerate like Tim Hortons owner Restaurant Brands International in order to win anything at all.
hey @TimHortons i am not downloading some app to virtually roll up the rim #RollUpToWin pic.twitter.com/zOC440wZhO— uninformed normie (@YKANEVIN) March 14, 2022
Perhaps missing the memo that things changed over to digital a few years back, some are even expressing surprise this year over the news...
PSA @TimHortons changed their roll up the rim without telling anyone. You have to use the rewards program now. The cups don’t do anything. I just got scammed out of two entries thanks Tim’s— Jake ✖ (@Jaketegrfwedwe) March 7, 2022
Others, deep sadness.
My fiancé is CRYING because @TimHortons did away with the physical roll up the rim to win. Shame on you Tom Hortons, now you have to pay for his therapy sessions. Do better.— tiny dinky daffy (@denny_jenny) March 15, 2022
But for many, the pivot from rolling up physical cups to downloading an app to roll virtually has simply inspired anger.
@TimHortons quit false advertising with your roll up the rim bs, you don't get to roll up any rim anymore and the app was made by a bunch of chimpanzees aparantly.— Jack Royston (@jackroyston7) March 9, 2022
"This app crap cheeses me off. We don't all use computers but we all can roll up the rim. Let's change it back, this is not funny Tim Hortons," tweeted one customer on Saturday.
"We need a 'trucker convoy' to protest against Tim Hortons," joked (I hope) another. "We need back the roll-up to the rim on the cups. That is very important!"
@TimHortons you guys ruined the roll up the rim game. I can’t play unless I preorder my coffee? Get bent.— heylook, it'sED! (@Edinbflo) March 10, 2022
It is not clear if Tim Hortons plans to keep its iconic Roll-Up campaign digital forever, but it's important to note that you can still win serious prizes by participating, app or no app.
You'll earn a "digital roll" for every purchase of a beverage, hot or cold, breakfast sandwich, breakfast wrap and select other items.
Prizes include a staggering 14,015,916 "coffee and food" vouchers, as well as 15 Volkswalken Taos vehicles valued at nearly $40,000 each and ten fully-paid vacations to international Hilton resorts with values of up to $11,585 each.
Tim Hortons says you get a special bonus roll when you place your actual order through their app, suggesting that this ploy isn't necessarily all about public health or the environment.
Join the conversation Load comments


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2018 Volvo S60 Will Be the Main Weapon from Volvo to Compete in 2017. 2018 Volvo S60 maybe is the cool way that the company did to tell their competitor about their strength. It seems like they are
2017 Volvo S90 R-Design, Volvo V90 R-Design, New Luxury from Volvo. 2017 Volvo S90 and V90 R-Design will become the answer from Volvo that wants to create a more energetic car for road drive type car.
2018 Volvo XC60 Spied on Road Test The next model on the popular car seems to be ready very soon. Recently, the new 2018 Volvo XC60 spied on a test with real body armor to cover the exact look and
2018 Volvo V90 Cross Country Spied on Road Testing -- The new 2018 Volvo V90 Cross Country has been spied on a testing road in Southern Europe lately. This car seems to be the next model to replace
2016 Volvo V90 D5 Complete Details Revealed -- Entering this year market competition on the luxurious sedan, 2016 Volvo V90 D5 is coming soon with moderate changes and fewer engine options than


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Speaking during an interview with Official Xbox Magazine, BioWare’s Mike Gamble has said the studio prefers not to label Mass Effect Andromeda an open-world videogame in the traditional sense.
Gamble, who serves as producer on the hotly anticipated sci-fi RPG, explained that Andromeda contains plenty of exploration thanks to the many planets you can visit, but it’s not presented in the same manner as your typical sandbox game.
“I definitely wouldn’t call Andromeda an open-world game,” Gamble said. “We like to use the term ‘exploration-based game’. You still have the concept of tight story deliverance and all the great things you come to expect with Mass Effect. The layer on top of that is a layer of exploration. Sometimes that happens in open spaces, but not always. You can cruise around some of these planets in the Nomad, but it’s not the traditional sandbox-type game.”
As previously reported, exploration is a key factor in Mass Effect Andromeda, with players able to explore uncharted worlds via the Nomad, which is basically an upgraded version of the original Mass Effect’s Mako vehicle. BioWare also recently commented on the game’s side quests, confirming the studio is taking a leaf out of The Witcher 3’s book in terms of the quality they’re aiming for.
Mass Effect Andromeda release date
Mass Effect Andromeda is scheduled for release on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One in the U.S. on March 21 and in Europe on March 23. The game takes place some 600 years after the events of the Reaper invasion depicted in the original trilogy, and sees pathfinder Ryder exploring the titular Andromeda galaxy in hopes of finding a new home for humanity.


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Tesla Hiring Autopilot Data Collection Operator at Giga Berlin
Tesla is hiring for Autopilot data collection operators in Europe, as seen on the automaker’s careers page (via @Tesla_Adri).
The full-time position is set to be based at Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, located in Grünheide.
The employee will be in charge of managing data-recording devices and driving around test areas to collect data. The position also says it requires travel around 50 percent of the time.
Tesla is looking for an autopilot data collection operator for Europe, based in giga Berlinhttps://t.co/HkCB5m1C7f pic.twitter.com/Hc4f8Wl3kT
— Tesla_Adri (@tesla_adri) August 19, 2022
On the job listing, Tesla writes, “We are looking for a highly motivated self-starter to help accelerate vehicle level data collection for the Autopilot team. The Prototype Vehicle Operator will help drive improvement of Tesla’s Autopilot system by operating and becoming an expert on our prototype data collection vehicles across Germany. This role requires a high level of flexibility, as frequent travel is necessary on this team.”
Tesla’s Giga Berlin upgraded production capacity was upgraded last month and this month, and the automaker is still set to hire a significant amount of personnel.
Earlier this month, Tesla reached around 5,000 employees at Giga Berlin and the automaker is looking to add a second shift to production in the coming months. By October, Giga Berlin is expected to produce 3,000 Tesla Model Y units per week.
Tesla was also approved to sell test units for the Model Y, built prior to the facility becoming fully operational.


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Utility customers in Cochise County communities are reporting phone calls and door-to-door visits from people claiming to represent Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative or other local utilities and threatening disconnection unless immediate payment is received.
There are also reports of people posing as SSVEC representatives who are giving price quotes for solar installation.
“SSVEC does not provide quotes on installing photovoltaic systems, and we would never come to your door asking to see your bill,” said Jack Blair, chief of member services at the electric cooperative. “If you do receive a quote on installing solar panels from a reputable source, please call us to schedule a quote review before you sign anything.”
Doing so will allow the utility to help verify that the quote is based on current SSVEC rates and ensure the information is accurate, Blair said.
There also have been multiple recent fraud cases involving scammers contacting utility members and customers saying they represent SSVEC or other local utilities.
“The scammer informs the potential victim that there is a service person en route to their property to disconnect the power or turn off the water,” Blair said. “In some cases, the caller ID may even show that the call is coming from SSVEC or another local utility.
“The scammer then provides a number where the victim can get in touch with a supervisor or attempts to set up a meeting location to collect a supposedly outstanding payment.”
Reports of victims spending hundreds of dollars on gift cards or providing personal payment information have been received by local utilities and law enforcement authorities, Blair said.
“While we do make in-person and automated calls to member to discuss billing or potential disconnect issues, for your security we will never ask that a payment be made during the call,” he said.
SSVEC members can make payments online at www.ssvec.org or call a published cooperative number to make a payment over the phone.
In the event a caller is demanding an immediate payment, please hang up immediately and call one of the verified SSVEC telephone numbers, available online at www.ssvec.org/contact/locations.php. If you suspect the caller is attempting to scam you, contact your local law enforcement agency on their non-emergency line and report the incident.
Submitted by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative


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Spider-Man's release date will be unveiled today at 8am PT, 11am ET, 4pm United Kingdom alongside the release of the magazine's digital issue for the month.
If you're in the United Kingdom, that means you'll need to pay attention at 4PM BST. More details on what the DLC is exactly will be announced later.
The Digital Deluxe edition costs $79.99 and includes the base game plus access to the post-launch DLC, which will include three packs as part of the "City That Never Sleeps" DLC series. More will be revealed as the launch draws near. The magazine is also promising new information on the game's controls and combat, as well as upgrades and customization like suit crafting.
Petra Collins directs Cardi B's new video
In the video, the 25-year-old appears in a red lingerie, which she paired with a matching fur scarf and sparkling diamond jewelry. The rapper had both Fallon and the audience dying of laughter during her last appearance on the late-night show on December 20.
Spider-Man PS4 was announced at E3 2016 and details on the game has been scarce.
So far it looks awesome, but as with their reveal trailer, Insomniac has only used the 4K capable PS4 Pro to show off the footage. Insomniac has a history of excellent game covers, from Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time to the bold Olly Moss Resistance 3 cover. As noted in this trailer, this isn't a 15-year-old Spider-Man getting used to his powers, but rather a more experienced superhero who is going to be able to take full advantage of his abilities. He also battles Mister Negative's gang (which are known as the "Inner Demons"). Throughout the game, we'll get to experience life without the suit as Peter has to balance every day life with being New York's greatest superhero. It seems the only way to play this promising new game is via Sony's PlayStation 4.


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By Shane McGinley
Issue is over faulty battery cable in certain BMW models built between 2003 and 2010
German carmaker BMW is to recall around 15,000 vehicles in the Middle East as part of its move to repair a potentially faulty battery cable in the trunk of nearly 1.3m cars worldwide.
The world's largest premium carmaker will recall around 15,000 5- and 6-Series BMWs built between 2003 and 2010, of which around 6,900 are in the UAE, a spokesperson from BMW Middle East confirmed.
“The issue involves a cover of the battery cable in the trunk of the car. This battery cable cover can in some rare cases be mounted incorrectly. This can cause electrical problems, a failure to start the vehicle as well as in rare cases fires,” said Leanne Blanckenberg, communications manager at BMW Group Middle East.
“We are contacting our customers to ask them to bring their vehicles in for checking – this will take no more than 30 minutes and shall be free of charge to the customer,” she added.
Globally, BMW is recalling around 1.3m cars for repair, but a spokesman told Reuters less one percent of the cars BMW has so far inspected for the issue have exhibited the problem and there have been no reports of fires as a result of the fault.
BMW, which this year opened its largest ever showroom in Abu Dhabi, posted a nine percent increase in sales in the Middle East in 2011 compared to the previous year.
The company said it was the most successful year in BMW Group's history in terms of regional sales.
With a total of 18,657 BMW and MINI vehicles delivered to customers across 14 Middle East markets, it said most of its importers reported an increase in sales in 2011 and a number of markets recorded double digit growth.
The UAE remained the biggest market, accounting for 47 percent of BMW Group Middle East's 2011 sales.
Abu Dhabi was the highest volume selling market, with a 23 percent growth and 4,436 cars sold while Dubai also witnessed an increase of 23 percent with 4,395 cars sold.
Other top performing markets included Qatar by 26 percent (1,265 cars), Saudi Arabia, with a two percent sales increase (3,072 cars) and Kuwait and Bahrain both with a six percent increase.
i wish arabian pepole made this


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“Customers will be able to buy our momos at CCD outlets, starting with Bengaluru,” said Sagar Daryani, cofounder of Wow! Momo Foods, at a webinar hosted by Retailers Association of India on the business of food in post-Covid era.
“The year 2020 is about consolidation and there will be many mergers and acquisitions in the food industry. I am open to more such collaborations,” added Daryani.
In an email response to ET, CDEL said the development is at a very nascent stage and declined to comment.
Wow! Momo Foods, which started operations 11 years ago, posted loss of Rs 7 crore this April amid the nationwide lockdown. Recently, the Kolkata-headquartered food company also launched a grocery arm in which it partnered with ITC, Nestle and P&G to enable delivery of essential supplies through third party vendors.
“Young businesses like ours should be agile to keep business afloat. We extended a new business line and utilised our existing 700 employees to enable payment of salaries,” said Daryani.
According to apex body NRAI, or the national restaurant association of India, the hospitality industry employs 7.3 million people and is the second largest employer of human capital in India after agriculture. The restaurant sector has been on standstill following the nationwide lockdown starting March 25. Even after lockdown restrictions are eased, food and beverage is expected to be hit the hardest within discretionary categories.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- ET Markets
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- Bills Pending, 13 States Barred from Power Exchanges
The Centre on Thursday barred 13 states from buying or selling electricity on power exchanges until they clear their current bills from power plants, sending a clear signal that they will have to clear accumulated dues and pay regular bills on time.Indus Towers Stake Sale: Vodafone, CDPQ on Call
Canadian pension fund Caisse dedépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is in talks with Vodafone Plc to buy the residual 21% stake the UK telecom major owns in Indus Towers, India’s largest mobile tower installation company,said multiple people aware of the negotiations.Mahindra Weighs Acquisition of GM’s Talegaon Factory
Mahindra & Mahindra is exploring the possibility of acquiring US carmaker General Motors’ factory at Talegaon in Maharashtra, soon after another Indian automaker, Tata Motors, agreed to take over Ford’s plant in Gujarat.
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Home-grown solar and battery start-up RedEarth Energy Storage has locked in $4.75 million in Series A funding from government, institutional and family investors that it will use to expand its production of storage systems to tap into keen demand from households and businesses to optimise their energy use.
The Brisbane-based firm is founded by the co-founder of ASX-listed RedFlow, Chris Winter, and Charles Walker, an investment banker émigré from the UK and a former colleague of Winter at that battery producer.
RedEarth is firmly in growth mode, with ambitions to manufacture more than $70 million of battery systems in the next four years.
While the battery storage sector has been dominated by overseas players, RedEarth expects to gain traction in the competitive market with its on-the-ground, after-sales presence to help customers get the most out of their solar and storage systems.
Winter and Walker expect that their knowledge of local conditions and Australian regulations should also give them a leg-up against much higher profile brands such as Tesla.
Some $1.96 million of the funding is from the Queensland government’s Business Development Fund, managed by QIC, which provides early-stage co-investment funding for innovative, future-focused businesses.
The rest has come from Australian firms including Sydney-based Kemosabe Capital, which aggregates funding for high net worth individuals, and from family investment firms including Lowvix.
RedEarth started producing its storage system, which had range from a compact 2 kilowatt-hour unit to a shed-sized 1 megawatt-hour in capacity, last financial year when it produced just over 100 units. That is expected to grow to about 1000 units in 2019-20. The systems use battery technology from LG Chem.
The expected growth is supported by estimates from Bloomberg New Energy Finance that more than 70,000 Australian households will install batteries over the next year as the rooftop solar boom continues apace and families and businesses look to make the most of their self-generation.
Winter and Walker point to demand from households looking to optimise their solar panels and minimise reliance on the grid through to those wanting reliable back-up power and to energy users in remote areas that have no access to the electricity grid. Paybacks periods depend on energy usage and system size but can typically be about seven years.
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The alliance between Credit Suisse Australia and Kiwi-broker-turned-rival Jarden is no more.
Will third time prove the charm in ARA Asset Management's quest to get businessman Gary Weiss onto Cromwell Property Group's board?
Local listed online learning company 3P Learning is set to be acquired by global rival IXL Learning.
Chevron has kicked off the sale of its one-sixth stake in Australia's largest producing oil and gas project, the North West Shelf, with an eight-point pitch to potential buyers.
Strong demand for new ASX-listed healthtech companies has drawn a fast growing UK-based telehealth business to gear up for an Australian sharemarket float.


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The global petfood industry continues to grow, thanks to continuing humanization of pets. Make sure you’re keeping up with the latest consumer trends and needs—plus all you need to know about pet nutrition and petfood packaging, safety and processing—by attending Petfood Forum 2012 and Petfood Workshop: New Product Development.
Scheduled for April 2-4 at the Renaissance Schaumburg near Chicago, Illinois, USA, Petfood Forum kicks off with opening keynote speaker Betsy Banks Saul, founder and president of Petfinder.com, sharing what she has learned from pets, pet owners and partners like petfood companies during the 15 years her organization has been helping pets find homes. (Plus, pets from Petfinder.com’s member shelters in the area will drop by to visit her presentation.)
The conference ends with closing keynote Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner of foods for the US Food and Drug Administration, explaining how petfood safety fits into the overall food safety picture and what the new Food Safety Modernization Act means for smaller producers.
In between, you can learn from dozens of other industry experts, network and catch up with colleagues, meet new industry professionals and do business with leading suppliers in the exhibit hall, which will be bigger than ever.
Immediately following on April 4-5, Petfood Workshop: New Product Development focuses on one of the drivers of our industry’s continued growth—innovation—and how you can improve that process within your company. Find more information.
Following is the schedule, speakers and topics for Petfood Forum as of press time. For updates, bookmark www.petfoodindustry.com/PFF2012.aspx and watch for the March issue.
Monday, April 2
12:00-6:30 pm Exhibitor set-up
12:00-7:30 pm Registration/check-in
5:30-7:30 pm Opening reception
Tuesday, April 3
7:30-8:30 am Breakfast
8:30-9:30 am Keynote: Betsy Banks Saul, founder and president of Petfinder.com, which bills itself as the oldest and largest searchable directory of adoptable pets on the Web and serves as a portal to over 13,000 animal shelters and adoption groups around the US and Canada.
9:30 am-6:30 pm Exhibit hall open
9:30-10:30 am General session: Consumer insights from the pet e-commerce channel—Jon Roska Jr., founder of PetFoodDirect.com and VP of merchandising for Pet360, shares what he’s learned about pet owners who buy, rate and search for petfood online.
10:30-11:00 am Coffee break in exhibit hall/visit with pets from Petfinder.com member shelters
11:00 am-12 pm Time in exhibit hall/visit with shelter pets
12:00-1:30 pm Lunch
1:30-4:55 pm Concurrent sessions—see descriptions and speakers, also see Table 1
2:55-3:30 pm Coffee break in exhibit hall
4:55-6:30 pm Reception in exhibit hall
5:45-6:30 pm Poster reception in exhibit hall annex
Wednesday, April 4
7:30-8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am-12 pm Exhibit hall open
8:30-11:55 am Concurrent sessions—see descriptions and speakers, also see Table 2
9:55-10:30 am Coffee break in exhibit hall
12-1:15 pm Closing keynote/lunch: Michael Taylor, JD, deputy commissioner for foods for FDA and the person overseeing all food safety policy and regulation for the US, addresses similarities and differences between human food safety and petfood safety and new rules arising from FSMA.
12-10 pm Exhibit hall tear-down
Descriptions and speakers for Petfood Forum concurrent sessions
Yellow pea products: functional petfood ingredients —Gary Lynch, PhD, senior project coordinator with Roquette, describes the fractioning of yellow peas by wet milling process as a relatively new source of ingredients with applications such as a protein for texturization, a highly digestible source of amino acids, purified pea starch for grain-free formulations and a binder for meat chunks in wet petfood.
The link between nutrition and cancer in companion animals —Elizabeth P. Ryan, PhD, assistant professor with the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, describes the limited but promising research on the role nutrition may play in preventing and controlling canine and feline cancer.
New evidence on the effects of obesity on pet health and the role of manufacturers in pet obesity prevention —Jennifer Adolphe, RD, MSc, PhD candidate at the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses recent research on the negative health effects of obesity in pets, how it can be applied to formulating weight control diets and the role of petfood manufacturers in the treatment and prevention of obesity.
QMR: a new technique for determining body composition —Howard Dobson, VP of R&D for CanCog Technologies, describes a new technology, quantitative magnetic resonance, that can help determine proportions of fat and lean tissue and total body water in dogs and cats.
An in vitro procedure for comparing fiber sources in dog foods —Marie Varloud, PhD, scientist with In Vivo NSA, explains a method for studying fiber digestion and fermentation by canine microbiota; this can help in selecting a fiber source for a formulation.
Particle size effect on feline palatability, processing and more —Kristopher Figge, senior scientist for AFB International, provides details of research that evaluate the potential effects of kibble particle size on feline palatability, production energy usage and texture.
Optimal nutrition for canine athletes —Matt Panasevich, graduate research assistant, University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, explains how to formulate performance diets with the goal of providing an ideal ratio of macronutrients to maximize energy usage from both anaerobic and aerobic metabolic pathways; he focuses on research with Greyhounds.
Innovations in treats and nutritional enhancements for small mammals —Micah Kohles, DVM, director of technical services for Oxbow Animal Health, presents the latest research on nutrition needs and trends for small mammal pets other than cats and dogs.
Trends and insights in pet retail channels —David Lummis, senior pet market analyst for Packaged Facts, provides an update on the US petfood market, with a focus on pet retail channels: Which ones are gaining or giving up ground?
Going from testimonials to real evidence-based science —Roger Clemens, PhD, president of the Institute of Food Technologists and chief scientific officer for ET Horn, stresses the importance of using evidence-based scientific information in making label claims while presenting products to the market and balancing the science with marketing needs and demands.
The importance of petfood smell in leveraging consumer satisfaction —Chloe Champion, markets and trends manager for SPF, and Mark Rubin, senior flavorist for Firmenich, present new research on what pet-owning consumers think about the smell of kibble and its impact on perceived quality and value in today’s marketplace.
Update on commodity ingredient prices and availability —Susan Sutherland, associate director of Agricultural Products for the CME Group, and Bob Bresnahan, CEO of Trilateral, a purchasing and risk management advisor for businesses depending on commodities and related ingredients, will share short- and long-term projections and recommendations for dealing with the commodity market’s volatility.
Petfood banks: an emerging industry partner —John Kane, director of the Rescue Bank, a nationwide coalition of petfood banks and pantries, provides information on how petfood companies can use the food bank model to enhance their brands, communicate nutritional awareness and dispel myths.
Consumer goods packaging trends and the importance of effective packaging communications —James Fraser and Matthew Diamond, partners with Hunter Straker, a purchase design agency in Canada, share consumer behavior insights on what does—and doesn’t—communicate effectively on packaging, as well as examples of trends.
How to arrest the ingredient cost assault on your brand value proposition —Robert Wheatley, CEO of Wheatley & Timmons, offers an antidote to stress on your brand created by pricing challenges and helps you lock into distinctions that separate your business from every other brand on the shelf.
Petfood brands and social media —Bruce Plantz, VP/director of content, and Kathleen McLaughlin, social media editor, of Watt Publishing present exclusive data and insights on how petfood brands and companies are being followed, commented on and highlighted through Twitter and other social media. They will also share best practices in using social media to gain awareness and engagement for your brand.
Impact of FSMA on regulation of petfood —Daniel McChesney, PhD, director of the Office of Surveillance & Compliance, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, provides specifics and timelines for new regulations coming from the Food Safety Modernization Act and what they mean for your company.
Validation of Salmonella reduction —Michael Hayes, director of food safety & quality for Del Monte Foods, presents research on validating the reduction of Salmonella in heat-processed, low-moisture foods.
Mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis in petfoods —Duarte E. Diaz, PhD, feed quality technical manager for Novus, provides solutions to some of the most common problems with mycotoxins, including sampling.
Panel: new safety certification or validation programs —members include the National Animal Supplement Council (Bill Bookout, president); Extru-Tech Inc.’s (Will Henry, director of technology R&D); and the American Feed Industry Association (Leah Wilkinson, director of ingredients and state legislative affairs).
New nutritional guidelines and labeling codes for petfoods in Europe —Thomas Meyer, secretary general of the European Pet Food Industry Federation, describes nutritional guidelines and a labeling code recently released by FEDIAF, plus other EU updates.
Cross-contamination prevention and controls —James V. Giranda, VP of food safety and quality systems for American Nutrition, explains cross-contamination and how to ensure safe petfood products.
Validation of extrusion temperature as a CCP in the petfood process —Galen Rokey, process manager for Wenger Manufacturing, shares results of recent studies indicating the correlation of extrusion temperature and moisture with destruction of pathogenic organisms in an inoculated petfood recipe, serving as a critical control point.
Technologies for Salmonella reduction: focus on topical treatment —Carl Knueven, corporate director of R&D for Jones-Hamilton Co., reviews new methods of reducing Salmonella in petfood and shares research on using sodium bisulfate as a topical treatment.
Petfood Workshop: New Product Development
Bookmark www.petfoodindustry.com/Workshop2012.aspx for updates.
Wednesday, April 4
12:00-2:00 pm Registration/check-in
2:00-3:00 pm Opening keynote: New research on ways to jump-start innovation and improve chances of new product success —Vicki Gardner, senior VP of product innovation for Nielsen North America, shares 12 tasks every new initiative must do well to be successful. This assessment approach to innovation, called Nielsen BASES Factors for Success, is an industry first, Nielsen says, designed to comprehensively evaluate new product initiatives against consumer adoption through the lens of success.
3:00-3:20 pm Coffee break
3:20-4:35 pm First round of breakout sessions (each an interactive workshop; attendees rotate among the four rooms):
How to set and manage timelines and expectations —Greg Aldrich, PhD, president of Pet Food Ingredients & Technology, shares tips and insights on how to get the entire new product development team on the same schedule and agreeing to the same outcomes.
Idea generation —John Adams, president of Adams Development, explains techniques for generating new product ideas from all sources, plus best practices for evaluating the ideas to consider which ones merit development.
Balancing act: trade-offs among stakeholders —David Dzanis, DVM, PhD, DACVN, CEO of Regulatory Discretion Inc., advises on how to balance the competing formulation, marketing and regulatory demands, needs and issues.
Testing to take a product to market —Angele Thompson, PhD, president of Thompson Pet Tech, provides information on the various types of tests (feeding trials; palatability, product and market tests; focus groups; etc.) necessary to successfully launch a new product.
4:40-5:55 pm Second round of breakout sessions
6:00-7:00 pm Reception
Thursday, April 5
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
8:00-9:15 am General session: Ask the experts panel —here’s your chance to ask anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to know about new product development. Panel members include George Collings, PhD, general manager of Nutrition Solutions; Micah Kohles, DVM, director of technical services for Oxbow Animal Health; Leigh Ann Sayen, president of the Peterson Co.; and Robert Stuckey, president of FoodSciProcessing. Check back as we confirm more panel members.
9:15-9:45 am Coffee break
9:45-11:00 am Third round of breakout sessions
11:05 am-12:20 pm Fourth round of breakout sessions