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17 Jul Slim Chickens new Rogers location now open
ROGERS, Ark.– Fayetteville-based restaurant chain Slim Chickens relocated their Rogers store to a brand new building this week.
Contact: Greg Smart
Phone: (479) 879-5825
The restaurant moved from Walnut Avenue to 2002 S. Promenade Boulevard in Rogers, across from Starbucks in Pinnacle Hills on Monday, July 15.
“We have some great customers in Rogers, and we really wanted to reinvest in this community,” said Slim Chickens CEO Tom Gordon. “We think folks are going to love our new store.”
The 2,500 square-foot restaurant also includes an 800 square-foot patio, and will showcase a bit of a new look for the restaurant chain. HGTV star, and Springdale native Daniel Faires and his wife Dasha helped to design the interior of the new building.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Dan and Dasha on the design,” said Slim’s Chief Marketing Officer Greg Smart. “From improved lighting and new textures to some beautiful farmhouse tables, we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”
Slim Chickens opened originally in Rogers in 2005. The restaurant focuses on fresh, made-to-order chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, and wraps, along with dipping sauces made from scratch in house.
The new store will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
For more information, contact Greg Smart at email@example.com.
About Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas with a focus on serving fresh chicken
tenders and wings cooked to order and served with handmade dipping sauces made from
scratch. Since then, the restaurant has expanded to include nine stores in Arkansas and
Oklahoma, with scheduled openings of four additional locations in Arkansas and Texas in 2013.
For more information, visit slimchickens.com, or for franchise opportunities call 479-935-4444.


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News tagged ‘iH8sn0w’
Luca Todesco has successfully jailbroken iOS 10. Below you can take a look at the video showing the process of jailbreak as well as the iPad running the latest iOS 10 beta and Cydia. The tool used to hack the device is called yaluX and is compatible with 64-bit devices i.e. those with the A7 processor or newer on board.
The Pangu team has recently demonstrated the untethered jailbreak of iOS 10. Unlike iH8Sn0w, who teased the jailbreak compatible only with older devices like the iPhone 5, the Chinese developers showed their jailbreak on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s that both feature new hardware. This means that the hackers used the exploits that are different from those utilized by iH8Sn0w earlier this year.
A well-known hacker nicknamed iH8sn0w has successfully jailbroken iOS 10 beta that was released to developers last Monday. This means that Apple hasn’t patched all exploits that could be used to hack the devices running the latest version of company’s mobile operating system. Below you can take a look at the video showing a jailbroken iPhone 5 running iOS 10.
Even though Apple has patched a number of vulnerabilities used for untethered jailbreak of iOS 8.4, looks like there's still a lot of work to be done about the security of iOS 9 that is expected to be released to public next week. As shown in the video that has been posted by a well-known hacker nicknamed iH8sn0w, iOS 9 is jailbreakable. The developer and author of such tools as sn0wbreeze and iFaith has perfectly demonstrated his jailbreak, which means we may soon see a new tool for hacking iOS 9. The video proving the aforementioned rumor is available below.
Good news for all the users of jailbroken iOS-devices, who don't want to lose their jailbreak after upgrading to iOS 8.1.1. iH8Sn0w and XanderKitteh have recently successfully jailbroken iOS 8.1.1 and posted the video of the process to YouTube. In a short video you may see an iPad running Cydia with untethered jailbreak.
UPDATE: It works on iOS 7.1.2 as well!
Today a team of Chinese hackers have released an untethered jailbreak of iOS 7.1.1. The utility is called Pangu.
Currently a jailbreak utility is only available for Windows users.
The team credits famous hacker i0n1c, who introduced the infoleak bug during his training. By the way i0n1c has said, "if pangu team releases a public jailbreak with vulnerabilities disclosed to them during my training I consider this in no way okay."
Like every Sunday, I’ve come up with a list of most interesting stories of the last 7 days. Without wasting time, let’s take a look at these posts.
I’ve got some good news for those iPhone 4s users, who plan to jailbreak their iPhones running iOS 7.1. It is possible to hack the older models of Apple’s smartphones. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should upgrade to the latest version of iOS right now. And here’s why.
Good news for all iPhone 3G and iPod touch 4G owners - a jailbreak tool called p0sixspwn has been updated to support the recently released iOS 6.1.6. Using this small utility, you can perform an untethered jailbreak effortless.
The company from Cupertino will release the final version of its iOS 7.1 to the public no sooner than in March. Apart from the new mobile operating system, Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation Apple TV.
Looks like Apple has found a way to prevent people from jailbreaking their iOS devices. According to iH8sn0w, iOS 7.1 beta 5, released on Tuesday, patches two exploits used to jailbreak Apple’s smartphones and tablets. Keep in mind that the fourth beta patched another vulnerability used by evasi0n7. It appears that beginning from iOS 7.1, it would be impossible to hack your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. And that is definitely not good.
Looks like it is possible to make any A5(X) device jailbreakable once and forever. Well, at least this is what iH8sn0w tweeted yesterday. What this all means is that your iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad mini, Apple TV 3G, and iPod touch 5G can be jailbroken literally for life.
Do not expect iOS 7.1 jailbreak soon. Apple has reportedly blocked the kernel exploit used by the evasi0n 7 jailbreak utility. According to iH8sn0w the exploit was blocked in the recent iOS 7.1b4 firmware:
So the code sign bug that evasi0n7 uses still exists in 7.1b4. Kernel exploit looks patched though
meaning… Don’t expect an evasi0n7 update for 7.1b4+ support.
According to iH8sn0w, iOS 7.1 beta 3 doesn’t patch evasi0n7 untethered jailbreak. The hacker, however, thinks that in the next beta Apple will surely patch the exploits.
The p0sixspwn untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3 - 6.1.5 was updated on January 5th to version 1.0.5. The updated jailbreak tool is available for both Macs and Windows-based computers. It features OS X Snow Leopard support, several bugfixes and a number of other improvements. The update was announced by one of the hackers that created p0sixspwn - iH8Sn0w - on Twitter:

domain: news


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ANA Avatar Travel
We already have robots working in retail and robots involved in law enforcement. The roads are already serving self driving trucks as people wonder why they can’t sell their data to Big Tech and make a profit. Are robot avatars replacing the need to travel a logical next step?
Japan’s largest airline, a stakeholder with plenty to lose if travel is less necessary in the future, is indeed betting that robot avatars can replace some need to travel. ANA Holdings plans to roll out massive shipments of its robot avatar in 2020. The device is designed to take advantage of virtual reality to place you into a scene as if you were right there visiting loved ones or at a live event like a concert or sporting event. It’s not that unlike a virtual reality headset, but looks more like an iPad stuck on a stick that is kind of like a robot.


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Contactless payment limit to rise
It has now been confirmed that the contactless payment limit, which allows consumers to pay for goods and services without the need to enter their pin, will increase from the current level of £45, to £100 from 15th October.
UK Finance, who represent around 300 firms in the banking and finance industry, have said it will take some time for the new limit to apply across all retailers due to the number of terminals which will need to be updated.
In the meantime, you can already pay with secure systems such as Apple Pay using a watch, smartphone or similar, usually without limit in the UK when authenticated with biometric technologies such as fingerprint or facial recognition.
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Please refer to our Legal Declarations page.


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Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, is positive about the future: “Starting in June, the Frankfurt exhibition grounds will be hosting trade fairs once again. First up is ‘Indoor-Air’, a trade fair for ventilation and air quality, and work on the content and organisation of this September's Automechanika, our leading trade fair brand, is also in full swing. Thanks to our hygiene and safety concept, everything is in place to ensure safe events for everyone involved.”
The primary focus is on face-to-face business encounters. And to ensure that customers who are still unable to travel to their normal extent in September will be able to take part, the organisers are planning a hybrid format. Michael Johannes, Brand Manager of Automechanika: “We want to bring industry players from different countries and continents together – be it live in Frankfurt or virtually from afar – to satisfy their need to network. Based on the good experience we've had over the past six months providing digital services for our customers not only in German-speaking countries, but also in Russia, Dubai, Shanghai and beyond, we have decided to hold Automechanika Frankfurt as a hybrid event.” ACMA Automechanika New Delhi, one of 15 Automechanika trade fairs worldwide, has also opted for the hybrid format when it takes place next month. Johannes: “Our entire international brand family works together closely, and we have gained valuable experience and expertise from each of our trade fair teams’ activities in their home countries.”
New digital features
Automechanika Frankfurt is taking place as a physical event on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds in accordance with all applicable hygiene and protection measures. To ensure that networking will also be possible for those international visitors who are not able to travel to Frankfurt, exhibitors can take advantage of new digital features.
Olaf Mußhoff, Director of Automechanika Frankfurt: “Thanks to a digital matchmaking and scheduling tool and facilities for live chats and 1:1 video calls, exhibitors will be able to communicate directly with their customers and generate new leads. We are making these services available free of charge this year to the approx. 2,000 exhibitors who have already confirmed that they are taking part.” Exhibitors’ product information and company profiles will also remain online even after the event has finished. Mußhoff: “This lets us give all participating companies greater reach.”
Exhibitors can also present their product innovations via live stream. Michael Johannes explained: “We have used these months to invest in our employees’ technical skills and establish our own web studio for our customers here on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. I am already looking forward to the videos and live streams that our exhibitors will be creating to supplement the supporting programme.”
Events: in person in Frankfurt and as live streams online
For everyone who is unable to travel to Frankfurt due to the coronavirus, Automechanika Frankfurt will be offering some of the supporting programme digitally as well. This means that people can take part in a select online programme that includes ‘Collision talk’, the Automechanika Innovation Awards, Automechanika Academy – an event focusing on themes that are important to the future – and a special programme for workshops. Most of the content will also be available online in the media centre afterwards.
Press information and photographic material:
Automechanika @Social Media #AMF21:
Phone: +49 69 75 75-5255
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
60327 Frankfurt am Main
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. The Messe Frankfurt Group employs around 2,500* people in a total of 30 subsidiaries. The company generated annual sales of approximately €250* million in 2020, following sales of €738 million in 2019. Even in difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are globally networked with our industry sectors. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are expanding our digital expertise with new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
* preliminary figures 2020


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Back in 2001, Andy Wilson and Sheng Yang were working at a Washington, D.C., print shop frequented by law firms, banks, and real-estate firms.
They specialized in helping lawyers with what legal types call "discovery," or the process of sifting through emails and documents to find things relevant to the case at hand.
At that point, discovery was done by literally printing out every potentially relevant email for attorneys to sift through.
That print shop got tapped to print the emails for the landmark 2001 Microsoft antitrust case.
Wilson recalls printing out piles and piles of Bill Gates' and Steve Ballmer's emails, boxing them up, putting them on trucks, and delivering them to the courthouse, where as many as 300 attorneys would be searching them for anything relevant to the case.
"This is ridiculous," Wilson recalls saying to Yang not long after. "Let's start a company."
The result was Logikcull, which is trying to make electronic discovery (eDiscovery) cheaper and available to smaller firms.
It seems to be a smart move. Law is a $400 billion industry in the US alone, according to some estimates.
Right now, eDiscovery can account for as much as 70% of the cost of any legal action or lawsuit — for a lawsuit that costs a litigant $2.5 million, as much as $1.75 million of that can go toward discovery. Law firms often spend as much as $100,000 a month on eDiscovery, and one analyst in 2012 found the average cost was about $18,000 per gigabyte.
"EDiscovery sucks," Wilson says. "It's an insanely inefficient process that would drive any normal human insane."
The way you pay for eDiscovery software from legacy vendors like HP Autonomy and Symantec involves a lot of nickel-and-diming, Wilson said.
First you pay for the eDiscovery software itself. Then you pay to have your data processed. Then you pay to keep your files in the system until the case is resolved — which can take years.
Even once those documents are in the eDiscovery software, it usually goes into "really s----y databases," Wilson says. You can search by keyword, or by column heading, but you can't do a lot of deep searching. And usually you could access the database only from a Windows computer running an outdated version of Internet Explorer, if you could get to it from the browser at all.
Logikcull pricing starts at a flat $2,000 monthly fee for four cases, with 50 gigabytes of uploading per month included and $30/GB after that.
That may seem expensive, but remember that it's still a lot less than that $18,000-per-gigabyte average from other vendors. Wilson says it can save law firms as much as 80% on their litigation costs. And the emails themselves get tagged and categorized automatically by things like date or topic so attorneys can find what they're looking for much faster.
The idea, Wilson says, is that lower eDiscovery costs bring down the total cost of litigation, meaning smaller firms can afford to take bigger cases. It evens the scales a little bit, Wilson says.
A 2nd crack at the problem
Logikcull got its start as Logik.com, which launched in 2004. Being based in Washington, D.C., Logik.com found itself tapped for cases ranging from the subprime-mortgage crisis to white-collar crime.
Charging $2,500 a gigabyte, Logik.com took in $4.5 million in revenue and $3 million in profit every year between 2004 and 2009 — with only seven employees.
When the Great Recession hit, Logik.com found that a lot of its business dried up. And so Wilson and team reinvested most of that profit in a second version of the product, without the need for venture financing: Logikcull, released in 2013.
Even without outside investment, Logikcull was able to hire the experts it needed to develop a browser-based, computer-plus-smartphone software solution and was able to build its own data center to support it.
Two months ago, in March, Logikcull took in its first round of venture-capital financing, a $4.5 million seed round led by Storm Ventures. Logikcull was making money, Wilson says, but wanted the investment so it could afford to take more risks with the business. Today Logikcull has just over 20 employees.
"You go from survivor mode to growth mode," Wilson says.


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A levy of 10 pence per drink added to the price of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) sold in Jamie’s Italian restaurants across the United Kingdom likely contributed to a significant decline in SSB sales at those locations, according to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
After adjusting for general trends in sales, the researchers found that the levy charged in the 37 restaurants studied, combined with redesigned menus, new lower-sugar drinks, and related publicity, led to an 11% decline in sales of SSBs per customer 12 weeks after it was introduced. Also, a 9.3% decline in sales per customer was observed 6 months after the levy’s introduction.
The researchers noted that reductions were greatest in the restaurants with higher SSB sales per customer, though they suggest further research with a longer follow-up is necessary to see if this decline can be sustained.
According to the researchers, adults in the United Kingdom consume an average of 50 calories per day from SSBs. The Local Government Association (LGA) also reports that 40% of 11- to 15-year-olds drink at least one SSB each day.
SSB consumption is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and tooth decay, which is a particular problem in the United Kingdom. For example, the LGA notes that 40,800 tooth extractions were performed on children and teenagers in 2015 and 2016.
Jamie’s Italian, a chain of restaurants founded by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, added the 10-pence levy to the price of its non-alcoholic SSBs. The chain also reorganized its non-alcoholic beverage menu into two sections: SSBs and other beverages, which included fresh fruit juices, fruit spritzers (juice mixed with water), bottled waters, and diet cola.
The menu also explained the decision to implement the levy and that proceeds would go directly to a fund that supports children’s health initiatives. Using sales data from 37 restaurant locations, the study explored the effects of these changes on SSB sales.
“Our study showed that a combination of the levy, menu changes, and clearly explaining to customers why it was introduced and that the proceeds would go directly to a worthy cause looks to have had a relatively large effect on consumer behavior given the small size of the levy,” said Steven Cummins, BSc, MSc, PhD, professor of population health and study leader.
There also was a general decrease in the numbers of non-alcoholic beverages sold per customer, with the exception of fruit juice, which increased by 22% after six months. Sales of diet cola and bottled waters also declined.
“A possible reason for this decline could be that more people were choosing tap water, but data on tap water orders was not available as it was not recorded on the restaurant’s sales system,” said Cummins.
“Overall, our study suggests that a small levy on SSBs sold in restaurants, coupled with complementary activities, may have the potential to change consumer behavior and reduce the consumption of these drinks, which are associated with major health risks,” Cummins said.
“The study raises interesting questions about how fiscal interventions may work beyond the effect of the price increase. For example, how big a role did the menu change or the text introducing the levy play?” said Laura Cornelsen, MSc, PhD, assistant professor in public health economics, MRC Career Development Fellow, and co-leader of the study.
“Taxes and levies on SSBs are regularly framed as health-related measures, and such framing might be having an effect on its own, including both on the quantity and the range of beverages sold,” said Cornelsen.
“This is an important piece of research that explored how a fiscal intervention and associated publicity affected consumer choices in a national restaurant chain,” said Martin White, director of the National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research Program and an author of the study.
“Further research is needed to work out how such levies can best be used in different settings and circumstances,” said White, “Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and tooth decay are serious conditions that have a huge impact on health, Population interventions of this sort could be vital in combatting them.”
The authors acknowledge the limitations of the study. For example, by taking advantage of a change that was already happening, they could only directly observe the changes that occurred, not necessarily the causes. Also, the study was undertaken in just one chain of restaurants.
The study, “Change in Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sales Following a 10-Pence Levy on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Within a National Chain of Restaurants in the UK: Interrupted Time Series Analysis of a Natural Experiment,” was published by the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.


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About four years ago, master blender A.J. Fernandez consolidated his factory operations which were scattered across the city of Esteli to the new, massive Tabcaelera Fernandez. Since then, Fernandez has continued to grow and expanded his operation. This led Fernandez to acquire a new factory located about 50 miles north of Esteli just outside the Totogalpa and Ocotel area. The factory is called the San Lotano factory. While many know San Lotano as A.J. Fernandez’s popular brand, it is actually also the name of the brand his grandfather started in San Luis Cuba. The new San Lotano factory is now in operation, and this past February 20th, I had an opportunity to visit the new facility
Prior to the Fernandez acquisition, the San Lotano factory was known as the San Rafael factory. It was owned by Fidel Olivas. This factory was best known for producing lines for J.C. Newman Cigar Company such as El Baton and Brick House.
2016 was a huge year for A.J. Fernandez Cigars and Tabacalera Fernandez. In addition to continuing to experience growth with its own brands, the company has taken on projects for companies such as General Cigar, Altadis USA, and La Palina Cigars. The company has also continued to work on smaller production and smaller batch projects such as Foundation Cigar Company, Boutique Blends, and Southern Draw Cigars. As a result, the increased demand on production led Fernandez to acquire the San Rafael factory last year.
There is another client that A.J. Fernandez has now taken on – that being Espinosa Cigars. While on a smaller scale, Espinosa has also had a challenge of increased demand from his La Zona factory. Late last year, a decision was made to move production of Espinosa’s 601 line to the new San Lotano factory. I managed to spend time with both Espinosa and Fernandez on my recent trip to Nicaragua – and I saw how the two cigar makers connected. I can see why the two decided to work together.
At the time of my February 20th visit, the factory was only operational for a couple of weeks. Right now, there is much training going on as the company has hired new workers. While not at full capacity yet, Espinosa told me that plans are to produce eight million cigars per year here.
The decision for the new Fernandez facility to be located some 50 miles and an hour outside of Esteli might seem unusual, but there is a reason for this. Espinosa and Fernandez both explained that it is getting very difficult to find loyal workers in Esteli. It is not uncommon for a factory worker to defect to a competitor’s factory. With the San Lotano factory, this problem is somewhat mitigated with the distance away from Esteli. I was also told that the reason why there is training going on in the San Lotano factory is to train workers in the “A.J. Fernandez way” of making cigars.
At press time, Espinosa’s production had not commenced at the factory, but he is expecting so in the upcoming weeks. Erik Espinosa informed Cigar Coop his brands will be rolled in a separate area within the factory – sort of creating the “factory within a factory” concept. Espinosa also told Cigar Coop that he is looking forward to leveraging some of the loyal, skilled workers he is expecting to have from this region of Nicaragua.
As for the facility, there was a real charm to it – whether it was walking through the building or outside on the grounds.
Finally, if you are convinced if there is going to be a complete slow-down in the cigar industry because of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deeming Rules, you might want to think again. Based on what I’m seeing from both A.J. Fernandez and Espinosa Cigars – especially with this new factory, it appears full steam ahead.
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Excellent article Coop.
No mention of the fabled fire and the Cubariqueño Fire Dept?


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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Metropolis officials have created it no solution they want a new grocery shop on the southeast aspect.
And they now have a design they want to emulate.
Fort Wayne officers system to use Industry on the Green – a non-profit, comprehensive-services grocery keep – positioned in Toledo, Ohio, as the basis for 1 here.
Established by ProMedica, a main healthcare service provider with hospitals throughout Ohio and into Michigan, Market place on the Green serves a specified foodstuff desert in downtown Toledo, in accordance to its web-site.
City officials will possibly use some of the additional than $50 million of American Rescue Strategy Act resources the city is established to receive to make a equivalent grocery shop take place below.
“We recognized the need to have for a grocery store on the southeast facet that had fresh new food stuff and convenience, and we began wanting for a product,” said Nancy Townsend, Fort Wayne’s Director of Neighborhood Enhancement. “We identified a single nearby.”
Market place on the Green presents every little thing from refreshing develop to meats, wine and beer and domestic cleansing products as effectively as overall health and attractiveness products. It gives curbside pickup as well as shipping and delivery.
In addition, it has a mobile marketplace that brings make, meat, dairy and other groceries to a range of housing spots in Toledo.
“ProMedica became conscious of wellness considerations in the local community they have been serving in Toledo, and acknowledged nourishment could be a contributor to some of the health fears they had been seeing,” Townsend stated.
A new southeast facet grocery store has been bandied about for several years.
Even though the southeast has a Kroger at Southgate and places like Utopian Group Grocery on Oxford Street, officers have repeatedly floated the plan for a new grocery keep that could serve far more individuals who are living in food stuff deserts.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture defines foodstuff deserts as lower money spots that also have reduced access to nutritious foods. In accordance to the most modern info, several south and southeast Fort Wayne neighborhoods are regarded food stuff desert territory.
Mayor Tom Henry brought up the need for a new grocery through his condition of the city handle previous month, and metropolis officers stated it as just one of the principal tasks to be designed using the American Rescue Approach cash.
“Access to a neighborhood sector can have a positive effect on wellness problems, work options, and effectively getting of the community,” city officers wrote in their use of American Rescue Prepare Act money proposal.
Townsend additional that the need for the grocery shop is there.
“We’ve been functioning with the local community and we have excellent partnerships in just the southeast group,” Townsend mentioned. “The southeast side desires this, and we have a demonstrated product.”
Officials with ProMedica have been unavailable for remark this 7 days, but Townsend said the overall health community is helping Fort Wayne in location up its have version of Sector on the Eco-friendly. When that will take place and in which it will be situated is even now up in the air.
But for Townsend, its no more time a make a difference of “if” this will come about.
“I truly feel passionate about this. I feel this will be prosperous,” she claimed.


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Munich, Germany, September 08, 2022: IFCO, the world’s leading provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) for fresh grocery products, was awarded the "Reusable Innovation Prize 2022" ("Mehrweg Innovationspreis 2022") in Germany for its new reusable flower bucket, and the "Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award 2022" in the United States for its collapsible dairy and egg crate aptly named "Gregg".
These recent awards are the latest of many recognitions and reflect IFCO’s commitment to solving real-world challenges such as mindful resource management and waste reduction through sustainable innovation and close collaboration with key customers across the supply chain.
IFCO and pioneering European industry partners have cooperatively developed a dedicated reusable solution for cut flowers, which until now were primarily transported and displayed at retailers in single-use buckets. This new sustainable container allows a time-honored supply chain to enter the circular economy by implementing a reusable solution that substantially reduces CO2 emissions and packaging waste.
The "Mehrweg Innovationspreis 2022" granted by the Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (DUH) and Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM), with support from a jury of industry experts, awards pioneering initiatives that promote reusability and contribute to reduced environmental impact. In recognition of innovation and resource-saving processes, IFCO received the only award given to reusable products other than bottles and will accept this prestigious award on September 9th in Berlin. IFCO is the first pooling company offering a reusable packaging solution for cut flowers which can be shared by retailers in a circular pooling system.; The IFCO flower bucket will be available soon in the European market.
The 11th annual "Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award", recognizes companies that have developed and implemented innovative products and impactful reuse systems in their supply chain. For its inventive solution dedicated to dairy and eggs, the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) has selected IFCO and its supply chain partners as the award winners of the "Excellence in Reusable Packaging System" category. This innovative collapsible dairy and egg crate, named Gregg, is the result of close collaboration between IFCO, NestFresh, and a leading U.S. grocery retailer.
The partnership aimed at delivering the delicate extra care necessary for egg storage and transport without additional costs and received this award by demonstrating quantifiable results in both the environmental and economic impacts of this new RPC. IFCO will accept the Reusable Packaging Association award in late October during the Pack Expo event in Chicago, IL.
“Sustainability and customer-led innovation have always been fundamental at IFCO”
"We are very proud of those two prestigious international awards that further highlight our pioneering and innovative spirit. This recognition is proof that a strong and trustworthy collaborative relationship with key industry partners makes a sustainable fresh grocery supply chain possible."
Striving to continuously understand industry needs and incorporate real-world insights into their latest products, IFCO drives purposeful innovation through close customer relationships and hands-on collaboration with market leaders in the fresh grocery supply chain. IFCO’s customer-centric approach ensures innovation remains an important area of focus and helps to maintain its leadership role in reusable packaging solutions.**
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Three million Brits who vape risk a prison sentence of up to 10 years if they take their e-cig to a host of holiday hotspots.
Recent months as families plan summer getaways India and the Philippines have joined Vietnam in introducing jail sentences simply for packing a vape kit.
There has been a 50% increase in e-cigarette users in four years with many of the UK’s 2.8 million vapers using them to quit more harmful tobacco smoking.
Hundreds of thousands of vapers will travel abroad this summer, potentially unaware of the draconian laws.
Parts of India have effectively banned vaping and in one case a man was jailed for three years, based on a 78-year-old law.
Vapers in the Philippines could face up to four months in jail due to a new ban on vaping in public spaces.
Lebanon, Cambodia and Vietnam have followed suit by recently banning e-cigs, however the potential penalties for breaking the law are much more unclear.
Thailand, which welcomes more than one million Brits every year, has issued prison sentences of up to 10 years for bringing e-cigarettes or refills into the country.
James Dunworth, chairman of E-Cigarette Direct, said: “As millions of people gear up for their summer holiday it is easy to forget that foreign laws are different to those in the UK.
"Don’t let a nice get-away turn into a get-locked-away, and check before you travel.
"Vaping, which is completely legal and mainstream here and in most countries, is illegal in some popular destinations with penalties ranging from confiscation or fine to 10 years in prison."
Vaping is banned in the United Arab Emirates - Dubai Airport is well known for confiscating e-cigarettes and vape kits. Complete bans on e-cigarettes are also in force in Singapore, Indonesia, Jordan, Oman and Egypt.
South Africa, Malaysia and the Australian states of Queensland and the Northern Territories have banned the use of e-cigarettes that contain nicotine.
Mr Dunworth added: "Another popular misconception is that you can vape on planes. While most airlines will tell you before takeoff that vaping is banned, some may not.
"It’s better to be safe than sorry so keep the kit packed away and wait until you know it’s legal to use."
The countries you need to watch out for
Potential jail time
Australia (Queensland and Northern Territories)


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One of the things that Nintendo has consistently failed to do so far is to make owners of its previous-generation Wii game console to buy its new-generation Wii U system. Apparently, Sony Computer Entertainment thinks that it can persuade customers of its rival to get its PlayStation 4 instead of anything else. In order to attract their attention the company is even willing to revive some of its older franchises or just re-master certain previous-gen titles.
Nintendo Wii was the best-selling game console of the previous generation video game systems. Nintendo has sold over 100 million units of Wii, which means that there are over a hundred of million of gamers, who may be interested in trying something new, a big opportunity for console developers.
“Our big opportunity is to welcome back an audience much earlier in the lifecycle that possibly bought into the Wii previously,” said Andrew House, the president of Sony Computer Entertainment, in an interview with Eurogamer.
Unfortunately, the problem for Sony or Microsoft Corp. (if it also wants to address owners of Nintendo Wii) here is that those gamers (who got Wii in 2006 – 2012) are not core gamers, who buy the latest and greatest systems, but casual gamers, who just want simple games, great entertainment and moderate prices. The head of SCE believes that thanks to the fact that the PlayStation 4 is a universal gaming and entertainment machine, it can be purchased by the Wii audience.
“Whether it’s based on this is a really good all-round entertainment device for a family in addition to having great games, our consumer data suggests some of those people are already coming in now and that’s what’s contributing to the really great sales we’ve had,” said Mr. House.
The president of SCE believes that there are also PlayStation gamers who skipped the PS3 and did not play the games designed for it because they purchased Nintendo’s Wii. He thinks that re-mastering those titles or offering new versions of good-old franchises will help to bring those people back to the PlayStation.
“I hesitate to say this because I know committed gamers may roll their eyes about it, but there’s an opportunity with some of the re-mastering or re-imagining from PS3 franchises that will potentially find an audience that hasn’t played them in the previous generation because they skipped that generation,” said Mr. House. “We’re starting to see signs of that. That bodes well for us as a platform, but it bodes well for developers and publishers as well. I’ve always looked with envy at the movie industry about what a great job they’re able to do with taking content and making it work. Disney is the best example of this, right, of taking classic content and reintroducing it to audiences over time.”
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: While the movie industry does bring old content back quite often, it does not mean that all the re-makes become successful. For example, Warner Bros. could-not re-launch the Superman franchise in the mid-2000s.


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39-year-old Denise Anak Julie from Sarawak was recently handed the keys to a brand-new Proton X70. The SUV is currently still not yet in the market and the handover was the grand prize from the Lelong.my “Shop and Win” contest. Run from 13 August to 16 September; the contest offered customers a chance to win prizes with a minimum spend of as low as RM60 on the Lelong website or mobile app.
“It has been a rewarding journey for us at Lelong.my these 20 years as the pioneering e-commerce marketplace in Malaysia. We are so grateful for all the continuous support from our partners and customers over the years. They are the ones that continue to drive us forward today, and these prizes are but a small gesture to thank them and show our gratitude,” said Richard Tan, co-founder and managing director of Interbase Resources Sdn. Bhd. that owns Lelong.my.
Held at the Lelong.my Education Centre at Puchong Financial Corporate Centre, the lively prize-giving event also saw many lucky participants from the “Shop and Win” contest rewarded with attractive prizes, including vacation getaway deals up to RM10,000.
Another 55 winners also won themselves prizes including Lelong.my’s exclusive 20th Anniversary Party Box, RM200 vouchers, Fujifilm Mini Instax 9, Mini Drones and TGV Indulge experience from social media contests that ran during the 20th anniversary campaign.
“The high number of responses reflects Lelong.my’s well-loved legacy as a homegrown brand. With our time-proven experience and expertise, we are still pushing forward; innovating our solutions to best meet the modern needs of business owners and consumers, for the next 20 years and more,” added Richard.
Watch the Preview of the Proton X70 SUV


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It’s been a big season for boating, as folks in the Bay region turned to the water for safe summer fun. More people are looking to invest in their first boat, or upgrade. But with the iconic Annapolis Boat Shows canceled, what’s a boat shopper to do?
Starting this weekend, a group of Annapolis-area sailboat and powerboat dealers are putting on a scaled-down, appointment-only event to allow prospective buyers to compare models, with COVID-19 safety in mind.
Walk the Docks in Annapolis, running Sept. 24–27, shows off nearly 20 boat brands ranging from 26-60 feet. Only one appointment at a time will be allowed and boats will be sanitized after each tour.
“It’s wonderful that the powerboat and sailboat dealers in Annapolis agreed to come together and host a multi-dealer open house that will allow customers to shop for boats and feel safe about it,” says Ken Comerford, Owner and President of North Point Yacht Sales. “It’s imperative that we take this pandemic seriously, and this will allow a customer to compare models at a safe distance.”
Anyone who wants to make an appointment should call the boat dealer directly. Dealers taking part include:
- North Point Yacht Sales featuring MJM Yachts, Hanse Yachts, Dehler, Tiara Yachts, and Caymas – (410) 280-2038
- Annapolis Yachts Sales featuring Beneteau, Lagoon, Edgewater, and Cruisers Yachts – (410) 267-8181
- Crusader Yacht Sales featuring Jeanneau, Tartan, Legacy, and Excess – (410) 269-0939
- Atlantic Cruising Yachts featuring Fountaine Pajot and Dufour – (844) 567-3087
- Sail Annapolis featuring Catalina Yachts & True North – (410) 280-8878
- S&J Yachts featuring Southerly Yachts – (410) 639-2777
Boat services are also getting involved in the Walk the Docks concept. A Walk the Docks- Explore the Yard event will take place on the same days as the boat open houses, Sept. 24–27 from 10am–5pm at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard. Bay Shore Marine, Electronic Marine Annapolis, and Annapolis Rigging will be displaying parts and equipment, offering fall discounts, and answering questions about boaters’ rigging, electronic and engine needs.
For both events, visitors must wear masks and follow pandemic directives.
-Meg Walburn Viviano


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Home Tags Pollenizer
The selected group, SmallStash, takes aim at financial education for kids, assisting parents to better educate their children on money and savings.
The Prime Minister's Office is partnering with Pollenizer to deliver DataStart – an open data initiative to support data‐driven innovation in Australia
Mondelēz International, the maker of iconic brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk and Philadelphia cream cheese, recently announced the Australian launch of its breakthrough mobile...
“This latest round of capital shows Australian investors are beginning to realise what global investors have known for some time, that Australian technology startups offer high investment value,” said Pollenizer CEO Phil Morle.
The Sydney company plans to pick 3-4 developers and designers for a five-month program with a lot of goodies thrown in. Each of the successful entrant will receive a $50,000 investment, mentorship from more than 25 successful founders, legal advice and a two-month trip to Silicon Valley. At the conclusion of the program, participants will be offered the additional opportunity to pitch to early-stage investors at two demo days – one in Sydney and another in Silicon Valley.
But Pygg’s market opportunity arises largely because banks are, well, banks. Even though most banks offer a variety of mobile transactions, they are hardly easy to use. A maze of links, codes and authentication, and sometimes having to remember a friend’s phone number etc., riddle the user. And then there is the cost a well.
Retailers now have a much lower cost way to engage with and acquire the customers they want. At the same time, customers love receiving sponsored and group gift cards from their friends to spend on items they actually want. Put the two together and you get some thing interesting.
The folks at Pollenizer know a thing or two about launching successful businesses – they’ve co-founded more than 25 to date. So, when they advise entrepreneurs to embrace failure in order to learn – or ‘#flearn’ – then it pays to listen.
Mi9’s Product Innovation team would drive this partnership and has the “remit to grow the group’s ventures portfolio.” Part of this process would involve sifting through Pollenizer’s startups and accelerating those with new digital products. Mi9 also will have the option to invest in these new digital businesses.
Pygg’s stock is rising. The Australian-born Twitter payment pioneer has banked $600,000 in new angel capital. Pollenizer, the startup incubator, raised most of the amount from a bunch of new and previous investors.
Ninefold launches the Cloud Booster Program and announces partnerships with Pollenizer, Startmate, Innovation Bay...
The Cloud Booster Program has just been launched. The program, which was created by Ninefold, is designed to accelerate the growth of Australian start-ups. The cloud computing company also announced Pollenizer and Startmate as the program’s first partners, which were soon joined by Innovation Bay and AngelCube.
A group of experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors are rolling out a seed fund and incubator aimed at early stage startups in the Melbourne area. The venture, called AngelCube, is the first of its kind for Melbourne in recent memory.
Earlier this week, Australian company Dealised, which peddles group-buying platforms, pocketed a cool $5 million in funding from global big-wig SingTel Innov8 and Perth-based venture capital firm Yuuwa Capital LP to assist with its development and international expansion. We've said it before and we'll say it again: In the event of a gold rush, don't start digging. Start selling shovels!
Australia could always use more angel investors, says Dean McEvoy, co-founder of the wildly successful group-buying site Spreets. "Doing a startup in Australia is kind of like growing a plant in a dark cupboard. It's really bloody hard," McEvoy said in a talk presented at VIVID Creative Sydney.
In a six-minute, whirling-dervish, evangelical talk at VIVID Creative Sydney, Pollenizer co-founder Mick Liubinskas lets us all know why he believes that Australia's entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and well.
We’re big fans of the new video project by 9x9 Web Thinkers. Not only does is look the business, it’s also got the smarts to back it up. If there is one fault we have with the concept, it is that the HTML5, while eye-popping and cool, is inherently unsharable. We would have liked to have shared a snippet with you here -- a teaser to whet your appetite -- but nay.
This morning, it was confirmed that Yahoo!7 has acquired Australian group-buying business Spreets for $40 million. The deal is the first of what is expected to become a consolidation of the Australian group-buying market. However, what's truly remarkable about this announcement is the short time-frame between Spreets' launch and its sale, after only 10 months on the Australian market.
Pollenizer provides all the services a business needs to create an online presence. Well and good. Australia is stuffed with companies that do that. Where Pollenizer sets itself apart is that it serves as a web-business' co-founder. In their own words, "we will be there from idea inception to launch and forward, with our team helping every step of the way." The organisation has 18 portfolio companies, 125 employees worldwide, $10 million raised and $50 million in valuation. And we did it in less than three years with only $1,000.
The following clip takes the job application process to another level. The work of a Monash student and aspiring Junior Project Manager, it was submitted to Pollenizer and posted for all to see on YouTube. It was soon after spotted by MitchelLake and posted on the recruitment outfit's homepage. What's the moral of the story?
Our friends at Pollenizer, which has emerged as the fertile hub of Sydney's happening web startup scene, have launched a great new initiative to showcase the hive of activity that is Pollenizer HQ in Surrey Hills. On Fridays (starting two weeks ago), Mick Liubinskas thrusts his Flip camera in the face of colleagues and connected entrepreneurs, inviting them to share a little about the projects they're working on.
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WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — If you’re looking to get a head start on your holiday decorating, there’s a hidden gem in Wilkes-Barre that has everything you need.
“Christmasland” is now open at Main Hardware on South Main Street, located on the second floor of the store.
From wreaths and trees to lights and ornaments, Christmasland is bringing holiday cheer to the Diamond City.
The owner of Main Hardware says he expects the holiday store to be its busiest this weekend. Main Hardware is open seven days a week.


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The rate of expansion in Germany's services sector slowed in May, hit by a deterioration in business expectations and firms' worries about rising input costs.
NTC Research's business activity index for German services firms fell to 53.8 from 54.9 in April, holding above the 50 mark separating expansion from contraction for the fourth month running but weighed down by concern about the business outlook.
The figure was marginally above the flash estimate of 53.7.
"May's PMI data point to further solid growth of activity in the German service economy, notwithstanding the ongoing underperformance of the Financial Intermediation sector," said Tim Moore, economist at NTC Economics, which compiles the data. However, the overall business outlook deteriorated in May amid weaker gains in new work and the steepest fall in backlogs for five years."
The business expectations component fell to 48.0 from 51.2 in April, registering the most pessimistic reading since November 2007. This deterioration partly reflected the sharpest decline in work in hand in almost five years, NTC said.
The deterioration in the services sector growth outlook is in harmony with other recent economic indicators from Germany which have suggested that Europe's largest economy is now slowing significantly after a reasonably dynamic first quarter.
Retail sales fell sharply for a second straight month in April and unemployment rose in May for the first time in more than two years. The fall in retail sales raised questions about Germany's ability to cope with soaring fuel and food prices. High fuel and food prices sparked an acceleration in German inflation in May to 3.0 percent from 2.4 percent in April.
The services PMI prices charged component edged up to 53.5 from 53.3 in April. Another on input prices registered 61.7, slowing from 62.7 but holding well above the 50 level separating expansion from contraction.
"Average input cost inflation remained at an elevated level in May," NTC said. "Anecdotal evidence overwhelmingly suggested that sharply rising fuel prices, as well as robust wage inflation, had driven up costs at (panel members') units in May," it added.


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Inflation has weighed on budgets, and that's especially true for grocery stores as prices for essentials, from cereal to sugar, have skyrocketed. This sticker shock motivates struggling consumers to shun their favorite brands in favor of cheaper generics – often made by
TreeHouse (stock exchange symbol: THS) is the only major publicly traded company dedicated exclusively to private label grocery, an area that was expanding before the pandemic and since then has been bolstered by price increases, economic turmoil and stores' desire to sell exclusive products gaining momentum. That hasn't helped the stock, which, due in part to high costs and supply chain issues, is up just 3.3% over the past three years while the S&P 500 is up 39%.
Today's TreeHouse – a key player for retailers, including
(AMZN), Aldi and Trader Joe's – looks very different from 10 months ago. Through a combination of management changes and asset sales, the company has slimmed down and focused more on what it does best: developing great products for companies looking to increase their off-label grocery sales. And that's why JANA Partners, even two years after first investing in the company, is still optimistic about the company's ability to leverage its strengths.
“TreeHouse is one of the few ways to invest [in] two of the strongest underlying megatrends in food,” says Scott Ostfeld, managing partner and portfolio co-manager at JANA, who sits on TreeHouse's board of directors. “The first focus is on the expansion of private label at the expense of national brands by major American retailers, as private label market penetration is far below that in other countries. And second, consumers are about the search for value and affordability.”
It wasn't easy for TreeHouse to get to this point. The company struggled as rapid commodity inflation squeezed already razor-thin margins and supply chain issues impacted operations. The company was also weighed down by poor acquisition integration — mistakes inevitably happen in a business built from dozens of deals — and an underperforming food preparation business, which included products like pasta and syrups. This division has accounted for about 60% of sales over the past several years, but narrow margins and operational woes mean earnings growth hasn't been consistent.
“It's been a very long and difficult road, but after the restructuring, the company is finally in a good position,” says Benjamin Nahum, portfolio manager at the Neuberger Berman Intrinsic Value Fund, which has owned the shares since 2017. “TreeHouse has been tested and the result is a leaner, more profitable company.”
The bigger change may have been selling its meal prep division to a private equity firm for $950 million — or a whopping 14 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. That's a higher multiple than the stock is currently asking for at 11.8. The move strengthened TreeHouse's balance sheet and left a promising snack and beverage portfolio. Analysts now expect the company's earnings per share to more than double in 2023, to $2.62, on revenue growth of nearly 7%.
“We think it was a great offer, period,” says Nahum. “It was a great transaction that simplified the business.” Ostfeld agrees. “TreeHouse is now a higher growth, higher margin company that should trade at a premium compared to what it has traded historically,” he says.
That hasn't happened yet. TreeHouse stock trades at 17.5 times forward earnings, below its five-year average of 18.7 and that of peers
(POST), at 19.4x. Even a better-than-expected earnings report last month failed to give the stock a boost as poor second-quarter sales forecasts, likely the result of improvements in supply chain that caused orders to be shifted from second to first quarter, weighed on the shares. “This has been a great start to the year for TreeHouse. [which] That included private label growth that exceeded 2019 levels,” writes Bill Chappell, an analyst at Truist Securities, who has a price target of $60 on the stock, up 20% from Friday's close of $49 .84 US dollars.
The next step up could come at TreeHouse's Investor Day on June 13. CEO Steve Oakland says the company plans to give investors a “deeper understanding” of its strategy and its improved capital structure — which made the purchase possible
‘ (FARM) $100 million coffee processing plant and mail order business, announced last week.
The move comes at a time when retailers are looking to elevate their brands with high quality private label products. Though consumers were once skeptical of these no-name options, much of the stigma surrounding them has faded thanks to cult favorites like Costco's Kirkland brand and offerings from Trader Joe's.
(TGT) and Amazon have also continuously built their own brands that are less subject to competition and price comparisons.
The biggest risk could be that a slowdown in inflation and lower prices could result in fewer consumers trading with lower prices. Still, major food deflation is unlikely to materialize, especially as national brands seek to protect their margins amid higher packaging and transportation costs. Meanwhile, consumers still face higher bills for things like housing and childcare than they did a few years ago.
And if the economy continues to weaken, TreeHouse would likely benefit as well. “At least TreeHouse is a place to hide out in an uncertain market,” said Chris Terry, portfolio manager at Hodges Capital, which owns the shares.
Talk about comfort food.
write to Teresa Rivas at [email protected]


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AIT Canada Receives Business Excellence Award 2012
The Greater Langley (British Columbia) Chamber of Commerce recognized AIT Canada with their Business Excellence Award 2012 - Large Business of the Year. These special awards are given to local businesses that demonstrate outstanding contributions to the community, customer service, innovation, growth and ethics.
“The Business Excellence Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate Langley businesses that have made a significant contribution to community spirit, service and quality of life by demonstrating outstanding business leadership, innovation and success,” says Langley Chamber of Commerce president, Denni Bonetti.
AIT Canada manager Steven Taylor-Lewis and Lazo Turanjanin were present to receive this award on behalf of the proud company.


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Sleeping next to a charging your iphone can result in fire, electric shock, injury, and property damage, according to Apple. In addition to ensuring that their phones are charged in well-ventilated areas, they advise users not to put them under blankets or pillows while connected to a power source.
Sleeping near a charging phone can pose a danger, according to a warning issued by Apple. The company emphasizes the importance of proper phone charging and highlights the risks associated with sleeping alongside a charging cable-connected device in a service announcement.
To avoid these hazards, Apple strongly advises users to charge their phones in an area with good ventilation while connected to the cable to avoid fire, electric shock, injuries, and damage to the phone and property.
Apple is very clear in its warning: do not sleep on any device, power adapter, or wireless charger and keep them out of contact with blankets, pillows, or your body when connected to a source of power. Ventilation should be considered when using or charging iPhones, their adapters and chargers. Additionally, Apple cautions against using third-party chargers that lack the safety standards Apple adheres to; it is best practice to invest in “Made for iPhone” cables that follow international safety regulations.
While third-party cables and power adapters that meet USB 2.0 or later standards and comply with relevant safety regulations can be used to charge an iPhone, other adapters may not meet these standards, posing a risk of harm or even death. There are more risks associated with sleeping while charging than just sleeping.
Apple heavily encourages users to fulfill safety measures related to their devices, such as not charging the iPhone near liquids or water, and discarding damaged cables or chargers immediately. Failure to do so can lead to hazardous incidents, including fires, electric shocks, injuries, and damage to both the iPhone and other properties. To sum up, Apple strongly advises all users to take precautions when handling their devices in order to protect themselves and their environment.
- Apple iPhone 14 Production Shifts to India, Breaking its Reliance on China!
- India’s Ban on Laptops and Tablets Imports: Everything You Need to Know
- Save Big on Apple Products: Check Out the Latest Discounts for Students on MacBooks, iPads, and More
- In order to build the Vision Pro headset, Apple heavily relies on China
- Analysts predict Apple share price will continue to rise as a result of another monster sales cycle for the iPhone 15


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Sony fans got all sorts of good news at the company’s Gamescom press conference. Not only did they learn when the system will be releasing – November 15 in the U.S., November 29 in European markets – but they also got word about a nice little surprise that’s in the box.
The company has confirmed that every PlayStation 4 system will come with a code for a 14-day trial for PlayStation Plus, the company’s premium online membership. With it comes access to an Instant Game Collection, which will not only include a special edition of the company’s driving game, DriveClub, but also the latest from the Super Stardust developers at Housemarque, an extraordinary side-scrolling shooter called Resogun.
Users simply need to log in online and enter the code to redeem the membership. Following the trial period, they’ll have the option to extend it.
In addition, Sony announced that anyone who signs up for a new year membership for the service between now and the end of next month will get a 90-day extension, free of charge. Nothing beats getting some extra months!
To paraphrase LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, launching a career is a little bit like leaping off a cliff, building an airplane on the way down, and taking flight before you reach the bottom. Here are three professionals’ success stories we can all take a page from via Fast Company.
This week’s [a]list jobs:
[a]list daily is now your source for the hottest job openings for senior management and marketing in games, entertainment and social media. Check here every Wednesday for the latest openings. To see last week’s [a]list jobs click here.
Total War: Rome 2 is looking like a swell simulation, a game that will engulf players for hours on end as they learn tactics and overtake checkpoints like a true soldier would. Today, The Creative Assembly revealed a new trailer for the game, one that talks about how important it is to master naval warfare. As you proceed, you’ll strategize to make the most of your attacks, having long distance units strike with arrows while up-close vehicles do damage by ramming.
Total War: Rome 2 launches on September 3 for Windows PC.
Sony’s Puppeteer, which was initially unveiled last year, is moving right along in development. To show how it’s been progressing – and get you excited for its digital release this fall – Sony has released a new trailer for it. Though it’s mostly in Japanese, it’s easy to make out what’s happening, with the scissors-based cutting gameplay and the beautiful world that Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio has created. You can watch the video below.
The game doesn’t have a U.S. release date yet, but should arrive later this year.
With Gamescom kicking off in Cologne, Germany this week, many game publishers are bringing their A-game with big hit titles. Electronic Arts is no exception, as the company has teased it will bring Battlefield 4 to the show. In a new trailer, we see bits and pieces of new footage, and also get introduced to a 74-year-old man named Heiner, who has logged an impressive 8,000+ hours with the series thus far.
Battlefield 4 releases on October 29 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and later in the year for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Capcom’s Dead Rising 3 has been building up an incredible amount of hype since its initial unveiling at E3 – and today, the company just added another major push. A new four-minute cinematic trailer for the game has appeared online, featuring the main hero, Nick Ramos, fighting against zombies in dramatic fashion, whether he’s using a makeshift weapon or going all out with a combination motorcycle/steamroller vehicle.
Perhaps you were wondering just how far advertising might travel in order to reach you. One graphic designer, Ryan Teo, has put forth a vision of a smaller ad venue that might carry a real sting. These ads aren’t real, but they may inspire some creative marketing. Branded monsters in games… “This level boss brought to you by Pepsi.”
Coke adds life… creepy, crawly life.
Nike lets you run faster… or makes you want to run.
Do you want fries with that
The latest in ladies’ handbugs
Some developers have expressed their dismay over certain features with the Wii U, such as not being able to buy content within their games unless visiting the eShop outside of the app. However, that could very well be a thing of the past, thanks to a new Web Framework program.
First talked about back in March at the Game Developers Conference, the program now appears to be up and running. During GDC Europe this week, Martin Buchholz, manager of developer relations for Nintendo, confirmed that the framework now has an update, one that will allow eCommerce support. This means developers can now add DLC purchases directly into the apps, rather than requiring users to take the “outside route” to make their buys.
It’s still not an entirely smooth process, but this improvement to the service could attract more indie developers to the system – which would work to Nintendo’s benefit by increasing the number of games available.
With business slow for Sony’s PlayStation Vita game system, some might think that a price drop may be in order. Meanwhile, some retailers are clearing out PS Vita inventory with a sale price. This could be merely a way to get rid of slow-moving product, or possibly it’s preparation in advance of newly priced PS Vita inventory.
Target and Best Buy have begun selling both the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the Vita for $199.99, which is roughly about a $50 drop from what the system usually sells for ($100 in the case of the 3G model). Though the quantities are limited online, customers can go into stores and do a price match if they’re able to find it there.
Considering Sony is looking to make big waves at Gamescom this week — and its PS Vita line-up will pick up again next month with the release of Killzone: Mercenary — an official price drop wouldn’t be out of the question. The company’s press conference will be taking place this morning, so we should know more official news soon.


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Stocks dropped last week, with both the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) falling by about 1%. The declines left the major indexes straddling around breakeven for the year.
The week ahead is shortened by the July 4 holiday, but still includes a few big-name earnings reports that could move individual stocks. Below, we'll preview what investors will be focusing on with these announcements from Herman Miller (NASDAQ: MLHR), Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI), and PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT).
Herman Miller's outlook
Herman Miller will announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday. The interior-furnishings specialist had mixed news for investors during its last update. Sales grew by double digits in Q3. And the company made progress on a few important strategic objectives, like boosting profitability in its consumer segment and building out its e-commerce sales channel.
Yet CEO Brian Walker and his team were disappointed to see furniture order rates taper off, especially in the closing weeks of the quarter. That negative trend, plus continued pricing and cost pressures in the industry, led management to issue a conservative forecast of 4% sales growth in the fourth quarter, and adjusted earnings per share between $0.56 and $0.60.
Investors will be studying this upcoming report for signs that order volume might be picking up. But they'll likely be more interested in how the latest demand trends play into Herman Miller's forecast for the upcoming fiscal year.
Acuity Brands' profit margin
Investors weren't happy with lighting specialist Acuity Brands' most recent quarterly report, which raises the stakes around its fiscal third-quarter earnings announcement on Tuesday. In early April, the company posted modest sales gains that executives believed translated into market share growth, thanks mainly to its Atrius lighting platform. However, adjusted operating profit fell to $104 million, or 12.5% of sales, from $124 million, or 15.4% of sales in the prior year. "We were disappointed in our second quarter profitability measures," executives said at the time, noting that margins were hurt by "unfavorable changes in product prices" as well as rising expenses.
Acuity Brands promised to accelerate its cost-cutting programs, and so investors will be looking for signs of progress in ending the profitability slide. The more worrying concern is that demand shifts toward cheaper lighting products could erode the company's pricing power over time. Acuity Brands' best defense against that scenario is to continue introducing innovative lighting solutions that keep it on the leading edge of the industry.
PriceSmart's membership trends
PriceSmart announces its results on Thursday afternoon, and investors have a few good reasons to be optimistic about what that report will show. The international warehouse retailer logged its fastest growth pace in over a year in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, thanks to improving selling conditions in a few of its biggest markets, including Colombia, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic.
Shareholders will be looking for the retailer to show more progress in building sales momentum, but the past few monthly updates suggest revenue growth has slowed slightly while remaining above 2%.
PriceSmart's membership metrics will be important to watch, too, since most of its profit comes from those predictable subscriber fees. As a result, investors will want to see healthy renewal rates, solid growth in the membership base, and rising subscriber income during the quarter.
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World’s third largest financial services firm to be headquartered in London
The world’s third largest financial services firm is set to be based in London. This is following the successful merger of financial software company Misys, and payments and lending technology provider D+H. The new merger has been named Finastra.
Finastra aims to provide the largest set of banking, lending, and capital markets software to businesses globally.
The new firm was formed after Vista Equity Partners - owner of Misys, acquired D+H. Though based in London; Finastra will maintain another HQ in Toronto, Canada.
The fintech company has 10,000 employees and provides software solutions to 9,000 consumers, including 48 of the world’s top 50 banks.
Finastra aims to provide innovative, next-generation financial software, enabling financial services companies to provide digital services on location or via the cloud. Previous innovative services of the company include: AI in robo-trading, crowd lending, and faster real-time payments.
The company will focus on serving businesses of all sizes internationally, including: community and global banks, credit unions, and corporations.
Commenting on the merger, Vista Equity Partners Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Robert Smith said: “We firmly believe that Finastra is greater than the sum of its parts. The combination of scale, efficiency, and market leading services and technology will create a powerhouse in the fintech sector and uniquely position the company to meet the demands of its global customers and their clients.”
After months of uncertainty and political wrangling, a Brexit deal was finally announced on Christmas Eve 2020. The deal includes…
The first step to building or expanding a business is creating a concrete business development plan. Entrepreneurs will find plenty…
Every business operates with the goal of growth, but only a few manage to beat the competition at every curve.…


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Personalized marketing is more powerful when it targets the community a person is a member of, according to Sai Koppala, CMO of SheerID, which deploys technology that enables companies to run marketing campaigns aimed at specific segments -- professional or otherwise. It promises to reach consumers who voluntarily provide information about themselves in exchange for a unique offer on a particular product or service.
SheerId was founded nine years ago by entrepreneurs who saw that while ecommerce was taking off, few vendors were providing targeted deals -- like to military and students -- as was the case in the offline world. The founders set out to create a way to target communities in a frictionless way. The goal: to enable brands to make emotional connections through the identity of a person and a group they might belong to in the interest of more loyalty and higher conversion.
The trick, of course, is to verify that people are who they say they are -- and that's where SheerID comes in. If a cruise line is providing a special offer to military personnel, that can be accomplished through asking a few questions on the line’s website. While that interaction provides explicit consent, said Koppala, SheerID does not store the data. It can only be accessed on behalf of the consumer.
Also, in collecting data from “communities,” the company walks a line, said Koppala. For instance, it will not ask for Social Security numbers and in general does not ask for details that can be compromised.
With increasing privacy concerns and large technology platforms like Apple and Google taking steps to stop tracking people, “we are in a great time as far as building direct relationships with consumers,” said Koppala. Those kinds of relationships provide richer, first-party details that are verifiable, he added.
One of SheerID’s clients is CheapCaribbean, a travel seller that made a series of exclusive offers to nurses and used SheerID technology to ratify their status as members of that profession. And once that information was in hand, the company was able to engage them on an ongoing basis. One campaign brought 8,000 nurses into CheapCaribbean’ s Travel Club.
Community is a powerful identifier, said Koppala. For instance, research has found that teachers who are mothers often identify as teachers first, attaching a lot of emotion to that identity. Similarly, members of the military frequently identify more with that affiliation than with their religion. That enables brands to message and engage in a consent-driven way -- and not in the kind of “creepy” way that can come with third-party data. All of this happens in real time while the consumer is on a website or using an app.
Since its founding with the emphasis on military and students, SheerID has added more consumer communities, and has gone global as well. In addition, the company does not focus only on discounts or customer verification. It provides, said Koppala, “marketing in a box.” For instance, as a result of a partnership with the PGA tour, the company can arrange to have members of the military meet professional golfers. “We always ask the client how we can provide a red carpet for their customers.”
The power of this kind of segmented marketing is that it magnifies a potentially massive word-of mouth-effect within the particular community, said Koppala. A recent back-to-school campaign by Target for teachers, for instance, went viral and was posted on school boards.
In a 2019 survey conducted by SheerId and Military Times, 96% of respondents said they would share a personalized military offer with others in that community. Similar research with teachers showed comparable results.
While personalization is often thought of as a one-to-one tool, it’s wise to reconsider it as targeting well-defined groups as well.


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Disney has been rumored to acquire multi-channel YouTube network Maker Studios, and today confirmed the deal, worth a reported minimum of $500 million.
The media company will also pay out an additional $450 million based on performance, and if certain goals are met.
Maker Studios features over 55,000 YouTube channels with a combined 380 million subscribers, and 5.5 billion views per month.
The network will keep its headquarters in California, and report directly to Disney CFO Jay Rasulo.
From Disney CEO Robert A. Iger:
“Short-form online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the center of this dynamic industry with an unmatched combination of advanced technology and programming expertise and capabilities.”
Maker CEO Ynon Kreiz says that Disney “is the ideal partner for us,” and will allow the network to further its dominant position.
“By acquiring Maker Studios, Disney will gain advanced technology and business intelligence capability regarding consumers’ discovery and interaction with short-form online videos, including Disney content.”
The acquisition still requires federal approval, and Disney expects the deal to close by Q3 2014.


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Taking ‘Eyes-Off’ the ADAS Future
Automakers and Tier 1 AV suppliers shift their automated-driving ambitions to “eyes-off/hands-off” technology that ushers in SAE Level 3 capability for personal vehicles.
So-called “hands-off” driver-assistance systems are now ubiquitous enough that they scarcely merit particular attention — or explanation. They’re no longer exclusive to luxury brands, either; GM and Ford have migrated their respective Super/Ultra Cruise and Blue Cruise technologies to their mainstream models. But these systems’ one vexing tie to ADAS functionalities, as opposed to higher-level SAE Level 3 or Level 4 driving automation, is the requirement that the driver’s attention needs to remain fixed on the road ahead.
The vital next iteration of driving automation are “eyes-off/hands-off” systems that cut the cord with the harassing driver-monitoring camera that ensures drivers’ eyes are on the road when their hands are off the wheel — because their eyes no longer have to be on the road. Mercedes-Benz, the first OEM to market an eyes-off/hands-off system in the U.S. with its Drive Pilot, encouraged drivers at the media launch to play games on the test vehicles’ center touchscreen while Drive Pilot was engaged with navigating hardscrabble Los Angeles traffic. Principal suppliers and developers of eyes-off/hands-off technology agree that this is the realistic next phase in driving automation.
Bridging the SAE levels
If quickly-advancing sensor and computational innovations caused many developers to call expanded ADAS capabilities SAE Level 2 “plus,” then it’s tempting to consider eyes-off/hands-off tech as SAE Level 3-plus, some sources say. For a key developer like Mobileye, which is putting considerable effort into its eyes-off/hands-off “Chauffer” technology, the next step up from its Supervision “eyes-on” system seems to be leaning toward almost pure SAE Level 4 functionality.
In mid-2023, SAE Media spoke with Nimrod Nehushtan, Mobileye’s SVP of business development and strategy and co-manager of REM, the company’s Road Experience Management. REM is the “crowdsourced” high-definition digital map that Mobileye couples with its EyeQ 6H automation system-on-chip (SoC), as many as 11 surround cameras and some combination of lidar and radar sensors. Nehushtan said the constantly updated REM mapping is the difference-maker that Mobileye believes enables eyes-off/hands-off confidence with fewer conditional guardrails. Mobileye presents Chauffer as a graduated level of technology that progresses from a highway operational design domain (ODD) to secondary/rural roads and then to urban environments, which he said promise to be the most demanding.
It’s an almost staggering concept. REM maps are updated with information gleaned from what cameras in Mobileye-equipped vehicles are seeing on every road — all over the globe. “Of course this is a complicated exercise to do — and this is what we have been perfecting in the last five-plus years working on this technology,” Nehustan said.
In 2022, he said, the number of vehicles that potentially could contribute to REM mapping – i.e. those equipped with an EyeQ chip — was some 33 million around the world, or 40% of vehicles sold. He added that in the last decade, there have been some 135 million EyeQ-toting vehicles sold. “And this number is increasing year-over-year in double-digit percentage, so the growth is still significant,” Nehustan added.
“In terms of capability, all cars are capable [of feeding into the REM system] today, because what you need is an EyeQ chip with cellular communication, which is today common in all new cars,” Nehushtan said. However, “There is a commercial aspect into creating the acceptance with our OEM partners to upload data from their cars, because we don't own the fleets. The OEMs have the fleet and the OEMs are engaging with the end user directly. So in order to make this a win-win situation, there is a commercial arrangement that we have in place.”
He conceded that the capability to contribute to the swarm-sourced REM maps isn’t yet directly related to the number of vehicles in the global vehicle parc that have an EyeQ chip. As of mid-2023, he said “we have around three million cars uploading data. In the U.S. alone we have more than a million. We have vehicles in Europe, China, Japan, Korea, all the different places in the world.”
In the REM environment, vehicles send anonymized “localized” data to the map database in modestly-sized data packets of around 10 kb per kilometer, the company said. The REM map has no other sources of data. The “Mobileye Roadbook” map generates a dynamic history of how drivers are operating on a particular piece of road and doesn’t rely on any other map or information outside of the REM database.
In late August, 2023, Polestar confirmed its intent to use Chauffer for its Polestar 4 sometime after the EV’s global launch in 2024. “Mobileye Chauffeur will offer consumers a safer, accessible way to enjoy autonomous vehicles as the next revolution in personal transportation,” Mobileye president and CEO Amnon Shashua said as part of the Polestar announcement. “It’s the pinnacle of two decades of our experience applying AI in more than 150 million vehicles worldwide.”
Next Step for Ford, too
The eyes-off/hands-off environment is also in Ford’s crosshairs for the next phase of its well-received Blue Cruise hands-off ADAS. The company sees it as a logical progression in terms of revenue potential because it sees the Level 2 capability of today’s Blue Cruise as becoming commoditized technology for which customers may eventually resist paying premium subscription fees. And statements from Ford executives at its Capital Markets Day in May 2023 seem to indicate that many in the industry likely now equate eyes-off/hands-off capability as a prime differentiator between SAE Level 3 driving automation and Level 2 driver-assistance — although other conditions come into play.
“We want [SAE Level 3 functionality] to work everywhere BlueCruise works, and BlueCruise is going to expand where it works between now and when L3 arrives,” said Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer, at the Capital Day gathering. “The key use cases that we
see are stop-and-go traffic, which is really tedious and actually a cause of a lot of accidents because people take their mind off of what's going on. And then steady-state cruise long trips in which the same thing you can tend to get bored or sleepy.
“So we want to start by being able to do that and now take your eyes off and then gradually, once we deliver that, start expanding [eyes-off/hands-off] into more and more and more areas. Downtown operation with pedestrians and stop signs and double-parked cars. That is the hardest possible place to get L3 up and going. And so that'll come last, but the reality is, it's not the most valuable place we can give customers autonomy.”
Ford is leveraging a collaborative approach to create an in-house eyes-off/hands-off system, employing its Blue Cruise development unit as well as resources from Latitude AI, the approximately 550-employee subsidiary Ford created when it absorbed elements of automated-driving startup Argo AI after that company shut down in October 2022. A Latitude spokesperson said the chief “product” the company is currently developing is an eyes-off/hands-off system. Sammy Omari, CEO of Latitude AI, also is executive director of ADAS Technologies for Ford. “There is a lot of close collaboration with the [SAE] Level 2 team at Ford,” the spokesperson said.
Field’s Capital Markets Day talk didn’t set a definitive timeline for eyes-off/hands-off production-vehicle readiness, however, saying only that it will be available on the company’s “Gen 2” EV platform sometime after it launches. “The evolution of autonomy is a journey,” he said. “There's not some gigantic breakthrough where all of a sudden you can turn on [Level 3 capabilities].”
What about the regs?
BMW announced in November, 2023 that it too will have a production model with eyes-off/hands-off capability when it launches its BMW Personal Pilot L3 for the 2025 7-Series that will be available in spring of 2024 — although exclusively in Germany at first. This brings up a central issue with SAE Level 3 systems: how they fit into the patchy global regulatory framework. The Volkswagen Group’s Audi brand was the first to run afoul of regulatory concerns when it launched its Level 3 Traffic Jam Assist in 2017.
Because there is no comprehensive regulation dealing with eyes-off vehicle operation, Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot was set for sale in only two states, California and Nevada, that permit SAE Level 3 capability for personal vehicles on public roads. The company expects approval from more states, but there’s little clarity about how the progression can or will happen.
“This is why when Audi launched the 8, the current generation of A8, and talked about Traffic Jam Pilot, they ultimately abandoned it because there was no regulatory landscape,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst, eMobilty, at Guidehouse Insights. He said the situation is similar in Europe — although there is “a UNECE regulation that covers so-called Level 3 systems, There are something like 60 member countries that use the UNECE regulations. They each have to implement those regulations individually, and then get type approval. So, right now, Germany is the first one to grant type approval,” for Level 3-type eyes-off/hands-off capabilities.
There also remain concerns about the control “handoff” from automated-driving system back to the driver in situations when the system cannot operate – a crucial point that some critics still contend makes Level 3 systems unacceptably risky. But Abuelsamid and others point to deployment schemes that are shaping up to make the 2025 timeframe an inflection point for eyes-off/hands-off systems in a variety of production models.


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Coinzone, a leading Bitcoin payment solution provider dedicated to making it easy for European merchants and consumers to use and accept digital currencies, is poised to launch a new web-based ‘wallet’ that will let users send, receive, buy and sell Bitcoin.
Universally available wherever users have a web browser, Android and iOS apps will enable users to manage and authorise their Bitcoin transactions while on the move.
Available this summer, the Coinzone Wallet eliminates the complexities of transacting in Bitcoin, making it simple for a growing community of European consumers.
The fully-featured personal wallet will support country-specific local currencies for bank deposits and withdrawals, transfers and instant payments, and has been specifically developed to address privacy and legal frameworks in operation across the region.
“Growing European demand for Bitcoin means more and more consumers want a simple and secure way to transact”, says Manuel Heilmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Coinzone. “We’ve developed Coinzone Wallet in response to an overwhelming demand from users seeking a wallet that stores their sensitive information locally in Europe.”
Made in Europe, for Europe, Coinzone offers a deep understanding of the European regulatory landscape – specifically EU privacy, secure payment and data protection laws. All data will be securely hosted in European data centre locations, giving Coinzone Wallet users the assurance of protection under European privacy laws.
Offering a simple yet highly secure way for consumers to buy and sell Bitcoin using their bank account, the Coinzone Wallet will feature all the multi-layer verifications European consumers expect to encounter when undertaking secure online or mobile transactions, thanks to Coinzone’s strict adherence to EU payment services guidelines.
“Our aim is to make it easy for European consumers to do more with Bitcoin,” continues Manuel Heilmann. “From peer-to-peer payments to spending Bitcoins with businesses, we’ve designed a hassle-free wallet solution that allows users to transact with confidence, utilising the local language, currency and payment instruments that are relevant to where they live.”
“The Coinzone Wallet is an important milestone for Coinzone towards a full-stack Bitcoin solution,” concludes Heilmann. “It is set to literally get Bitcoin into the hands of consumers so they can transact as and when they wish – and we’ve been inundated by requests from people who have requested to join the wait list for the service in the run up to launch.”
Anyone wanting a simple and secure way to use Bitcoin that has been tailored to European users are encouraged to sign up for early access here


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This blog post is the second in a series about the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the first piece, click here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed practically every aspect of our lives, and the food service industry is no exception. We all know that COVID has affected the restaurant industry, but how? What trends can be directly traced to the pandemic, and are these changes permanent?
This summer, we’re looking back on the pandemic’s effects on the food world. It has been 2 years since most restaurants began reopening, and those two years have seen countless changes—closures, supply chain disruptions, the rise of ghost kitchens and delivery apps, just to name a few.
With all these changes in mind, how can we prepare for the future of food service, and what can we expect to see in the coming years?
What Work-From-Home Means for Restaurants
At the start of the pandemic, millions of Americans shifted to working from home. This change did not directly affect most people in food service—after all, you can’t exactly run a restaurant through Slack and Zoom. Certain administrative tasks can be done remotely, but preparing and serving food requires kitchen workers to be “in-office.”
But the rise in work-from-home has affected restaurants. People who once visited restaurants on their commutes or during lunch breaks were eating at home. Even after most businesses reopened, many workers continue to do their jobs remotely. Nearly 60% of workers whose jobs can be done remotely now work from home some or all of the time.
QSR Magazine suggests that restaurants will see more traffic at breakfast and lunch than they did at the height of the pandemic, but it will probably never return to pre-pandemic numbers.
The Shift to Delivery and Curbside Pick-Up
When lockdowns prevented people from gathering in restaurants to eat, many restaurant owners began offering curbside pick-up and delivery services. For weeks or months, delivery and curbside pick-up might have been your restaurant’s only way to serve customers.
What started as a temporary lifeline during lockdown has become a way of life for many. Workers, both at home and in the office, are more likely to order lunch than they were before. Customers acquired a taste for delivery, and they don’t want to stop. According to a JD Power survey, 71% of customers plan on using food delivery as much or more often than during the height of the pandemic.
Some restaurants have made permanent changes to the rise in delivery and to-go orders, such as rearranging their kitchens to accommodate Doordash drivers, creating a more delivery-friendly menu, and even closing indoor dining permanently.
Technology in Restaurants
QR codes instead of printed menus. Reservations and orders made through apps or online. “Ghost kitchens,” so-called because they only exist as digital brands for delivery, not dine-in. These are just some of the ways that restaurants have utilized technology to adapt to COVID restrictions and reduce the transmission of germs.
And though they aren’t a common sight (yet), robots could join ghost kitchens and QR code menus as post-COVID restaurant technology.
Robots delivering and even preparing food would do more than reduce the transmission of germs. In a landscape where finding and keeping well-trained staff members is difficult, robots could pick up the slack left by staffing shortages.
The pandemic has brought many flawed systems to the public’s attention, such as the fragile supply chain, stagnant wages despite inflation, and the ever-growing difficulty of owning a small business.
Consumers are more aware than ever of the economic and environmental impacts their food choices have. They know that it’s vital to support local restaurants and food sources—but in an uncertain economy, many consumers can’t afford to make choices based on ethics alone.
Fortunately, there is hope for systemic change. The USDA has announced a new framework for the food supply chain, using lessons learned from the pandemic to create a stabler, fairer food system.
As we collectively continue to recover from the pandemic, we can hope that more systemic changes and technological advancements will allow us all to make wiser, more sustainable food choices.


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Rise and Shine – What to expect at VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show 2017
From celebrity meet-and-greets to four days of luxury catwalk shows, the region’s biggest jewellery and gem exhibition has something for everyone.
With just a few days to go until the UAE’s biggest jewellery extravaganza hits Dubai, VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show’s organisers are busy prepping for numerous catwalk shows, trend presentations, influencer talks and more that will keep Dubai’s most stylish consumers entertained over the course of the four-day event.
Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 15-18 November and merging the emirate’s two leading showcases – the trade-centric VICENZAORO Dubai and the consumer-friendly Dubai International Jewellery Week – here’s what you can expect from this spectacular new and truly original jewellery exhibition.
Peruse more than 500 regional and international luxury brands
Following a successful three-month pre-promotional roadshow headed up by Show Director Luca Veronesi, a top delegation from the exhibition has amassed an impressive curation of the world’s leading jewellery brands that Dubai has ever seen. Consumers can feast their eyes on the newest collections from top international brands hailing from China, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, the US and beyond, who will be introducing brand new product lines, collections and special bespoke pieces in gold and diamond. Local brands include Dhamani, Mahallati, La Marquise, Malabar Gold and Diamond, Amwaj, Renee Jewellers and more, while representing the global arena are the likes of Nsouli, Itan, Leading Italian Jewels, Superoro, Chiampesan, Luca Carati, Ferrari Firenze, Garavelli and many others.
Aside from checking out stunning jewellery and diamond collections, visitors can also enjoy daily fashion shows featuring international models showcasing the latest trends. The opening day’s gold-themed catwalk ‘Extreme Sophistication’ will put a shine on the runway, while ‘The Master’s Archive’ diamonds show and ‘Fauvist Fantasy’ coloured stones catwalk are scheduled for days two and three, respectively. Aiming to foster young and local talent by creating career opportunities for regional designers, the Jawhara Heritage Awards will also be held on the closing day, November 18th.
Meet the Influencers
To complement the catwalk shows, visitors and fans alike can attend daily talks with some of the region’s biggest influencers and celebrities, while getting up close and personal with the favourite style heroes.
Fashion Meets Jewellery
This season, the best of fashion and jewellery unite as VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show has teamed up with Arab Fashion Week to bring the most impressive curation of luxury jewellery and ready couture fashion collections to the well-heeled of Dubai’s glamorous society. With both events taking place across the same four days, the exhibitions have partnered up to host a series of seminars and presentations at each other’ venues, with the goal of drawing like-minded customers to both events.
Follow the Trends
Not content with being just the region’s biggest jewellery and gem exhibition, VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show also serves as an indispensable tool for fashion magpies wanting to keep on top of the industry’s key trends. Both the key 2017 and 2018 jewellery and gem trends will be discussed during the TRENDVISION seminars, which are open to anyone. Conducted by Italian luxury trends forecaster Paola De Luca, these are discussions you won’t want to miss.
VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show is open to both retail and trade visitors. The show is open 2pm-10pm from November 15, 16 and 18, and 3pm-10pm on November 17.
Entry is free. For more information please click here.