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Stylish, prototype electric cars get a charge out of this North Jersey strip mall
Electric cars are slow, ugly, boring golf carts. Driving one might kill you because it will run out of power and leave you stranded on the New Jersey Turnpike.
If you still believe these two sentences are true, you haven’t hung out lately at Tom Moloughney’s strip mall.
There you might see the Porsche Taycan, an electric car that launches from a dead stop to 60 mph in less than four seconds, and which resembles some glossy amalgam of an iPhone and a puma.
There, in front of the QuickChek convenience store, you might see the e-tron Quattro, a prototype of Audi’s all-electric SUV, still wrapped in a disorienting camouflage of red and black swirls to prevent us plebeians from observing its final design.
Before anyone else in America, you might spot a foursome of Jaguar I-PACEs, each packing the power of a race car into a five-passenger luxury electric cruiser.
“I get to see these cars before the general public does,” said Moloughney, 51, a Chester resident who owns the shopping plaza in question. “It’s pretty cool.”
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The strip mall has no name. But if you’re a car nut you can find it, along with some of the sexiest new shapes on four wheels, at the corner of Valley Road and Van Vleck Street in Montclair.
If you stand there long enough, you might see the future crashing silently into the present.
The newest in new
There are two reasons some of Europe’s largest luxury car manufacturers send their still-secret prototypes to a random strip mall in Montclair.
First, their North American headquarters are located close by. Jaguar USA and Land Rover are both located in Mahwah. Mini and its parent company, BMW, are in Woodcliff Lake. There’s Volvo USA in Rockleigh and Ferrari in Englewood Cliffs. Mercedes-Benz moved to Georgia in 2015, but the company maintains offices in Montvale.
“North Jersey is a hotbed for vehicle manufacturers’ headquarters,” Moloughney said, “So when they get their prototypes, they always seem to come here.”
Second, Moloughney’s strip mall is uniquely commodious place for cutting edge cars. A few years ago he installed a public charging station in the parking lot of Nauna’s Bella Casa, an Italian restaurant he owned. It offers 25 miles of range for every hour a car is plugged in. Later he installed 480-volt charger, which crams in 100 miles’ worth of range per hour.
Moloughney’s different chargers make his parking lot the best place around to torture cars. Test drivers are instructed to plug a prototype into the small charger, wait a few minutes, unplug it, fire up the car, move it to the other charger, plug it in again, and see if the onboard computers explode.
“When they test these cars,” he said, “they beat the hell out of them.”
The further away a car is from its official release date, the more secretive its manufacturer behaves. Jaguar plans to release the I-PACE “in the second half of 2018,” according to the company’s website. So when Moloughney spotted four of them in his parking lot in April, he walked outside and started taking pictures.
“They were super friendly, the people from Jaguar,” said Moloughney, who regularly posts photos and stories of upcoming electric cars on InsideEVs.com, a news site dedicated to electric vehicles. “They moved them around and parked them in positions that I wanted.”
A month ago Moloughney saw a Porsche Taycan, which isn’t expected in showrooms until the end of next year.
“They were not happy,” he said. “As soon as they saw us taking pictures they unplugged and drove away. And the car still had all the camouflage on it.”
Afficianadoes of cutting-edge military airplanes flock to the Mojave Desert, where test pilots fly top-secret aircraft. Car magazines employ freelance paparazzi to hide in the bushes near Ferrari’s Fiorano Circuit in Italy or the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan, to snap pictures of future cars.
Moloughney simply drives to Montclair, orders pasta and looks out the window.
A car guy convert
Moloughney is a red-blooded American car guy. When he got his driver’s license at age 17, his uncle gave him a DeLorean, a poorly-made but gorgeous car with aluminum skin and gullwing doors.
“I was a 17-year-old driving around in a freaking DeLorean,” he said. “It was better than a Lamborghini because it just looked like a spaceship.”
When the DeLorean died, Moloughney bought a Honda and added a nitrous oxide kit, which helps cars go faster.
“I used to drive around and challenge five-liter Mustangs and Camaro Z28s at street lights,” he said. “They couldn’t touch me.”
Ten years ago, Moloughney learned Mini planned to build 450 Mini Coopers with electric engines instead of gasoline, and offer the cars to consumers as a test. He applied, and was accepted.
Expectations were low.
“I didn’t know if it would go up a big steep hill,” said Moloughney, who owned a Porsche Boxster sports car at the time. “I was sure it would be this slow little wimpy thing. Like a golf cart.”
His first drive was a life-changing experience. With instant torque, and no transmission or moving parts to slow it down, the Mini drove “like a rocket,” he said. “I had the biggest grin on my face.”
Soon Moloughney sold the Porsche, and started blogging about electric car ownership. He installed a solar panel on his house to charge his own car. Later he placed the chargers at the strip mall, charging users for the electricity.
In 2017 he sold the restaurant and created Charging Ahead Consulting, which advises manufacturers and municipalities about the electric car market. (He maintained ownership of the strip mall.)
For most of those years, electric cars remained a kind of joke.
“In the early days, the cars really weren’t that good,” he said. “People won’t buy these cars as medicine. They won’t.”
Now the prototypes he sees genuinely excite him.
“With a modern electric car, when you mash the throttle, the thing takes off like all hell,” said Moloughney, who now drives a black i3s, the sporty version of BMW’s boxy electric SUV. “It’s sexy. It’s powerful. It’s fun to drive.”
From his little strip mall, Moloughney thinks he is watching the future roll in.
“Now I’m seeing all these great prototypes pull up to my property,” he said. “So I feel like, yeah, it’s finally happening.”


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Entries in 'Development' (228)
Magnus "Gordon" Gardebäck, co-founder of Swedish indie studio Simogo, will speak at this year’s NASSCOM Game Developers Conference, the trade body has announced.
Making a next-gen console time takes four times the development resources than a current-gen game, Sony studio Guerrilla has claimed.
A game based on the upcoming Bollywood superhero flick Krrish 3 has been announced for Windows devices.
Rockstar North has revealed a team of 1,000+ developers worked on Grand Theft Auto V.
While the EB EXPO is kicking off at the Sydney Showgrounds, some big changes are afoot in the Australian industry.
Xbox One locks away around ten per cent of its GPU power from developers… for now.
An undoubtedly completely innocent tech mishap has seemingly named a number of Valve developers currently working on Half-Life 3.
Ubisoft is set to invest $373 million into its Quebec operations over the next seven years, a move that will generate 500 additional jobs in the province.
Development of sword fighting game Clang has been put on hold, despite the game successfully hitting its Kickstarter target last year.
A lot has been written about PlayStation’s remarkable journey over the last few years.
In what is perhaps the first Indian game to be named after a celebrity, Hungama and Gameshastra have just released John Abraham: Drag Racer for iOS and Android.
Gameloft has attributed around €1.1 million in expenses to restructuring of operations in India and the Philippines.
A group from the UK games industry has today established Dev Union, which hopes to encourage debate around the establishment of a UK trade union for those in the games ...
PS3 racer Gran Turismo 6 is due out on December 6th. And it’s about 80 per cent completed.
Gregg Barnett, creator of Commodore 64 classic VS fighting game The Way of the Exploding Fists, will speak at this year’s NASSCOM Game Developer Conference.
175 jobs have today been lost following the sad news that UK development stalwart Blitz Games has ceased trading.
The creator of Gun Monkeys and Ben There Dan That has put development of what was to be his next project on hold.
If the numbers coming from Nintendo are to be believed, indie development interest in Wii U is at astronomic levels.
UTV Indiagames today releases Fighter Lukkha, a free-to-play action-strategy game for feature phones.
The Awesome Game Studio’s arcade-styled educational puzzle game Alphaman is out now for iOS and Android.
It may be too late to convince third parties to support Wii U, claims Bethesda’s VP of PR and marketing Pete Hines.
New Zealand bans software patents this week, we talk to Five Star Games after a year of business, and look at trends in Aussie ad spending.
Rami Ismail, one half of influential indie developer Vlambeer, will speak at this year’s NASSCOM Game Developer Conference.
This week we learned that Saint's Row IV will have to go head-to-head with GTA V, and that a new game criticism publishing label has formed.
The CEO of Skylanders: Giants and Swap Force co-developer N-Space has said that his studio currently has no Nintendo games in development for the first time in a decade.

domain: news


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The publisher studied Korean history in Seoul and business administration in the United Kingdom. He has 15 year-plus experiences in the media business. Kim can be reached at email@example.com or 82-2-6956-6698.
We focus on the Korean economy and private businesses of the country. Korean finance and business sectors have not received the voice that they truly deserved. The Korea News Plus will be dedicated to expressing the voice for our readers locally and globally.


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Apple succeeds on its own terms, suggests Box CEO
Apple must be Apple
For so many years, Apple analysis has focused on new markets, new products and the need to invest/acquire new businesses.
Apple, we are told, must enter this category, purchase that company, or introduce this new thing in order to compete. Ridiculing this approach is actually part of the genesis of this site, as the earliest of 2,000+ stories published here show.
Apple tends to follow its own drum, and while it may respond to external pressures in many ways, it has a habit of doing so while following its own unique path.
A path which is usually proven correct.
What Aaron Levie thinks
Levie recognizes this, too, as this year-old Tweet shows:
The “conventional wisdom” on Apple for the past decade is that they needed to enter completely new markets to grow. As the world’s first $2T company, it turns out continuing to build better and better products and services works just fine.
— Aaron Levie (@levie) August 19, 2020
So, what does Levie say about this in his interview (which I urge you to read)?
“If you remember the past 10 years or so, there was always this commentary of “Apple has to get into cars. They have to buy Tesla, they have to buy Disney, they have to buy Time Warner. These are the only ways that they’re going to be able to continue to grow,” he states.
“I think what Apple has proven out is, actually, continuing to build amazing products, build ecosystems around those products, whether those are in payments or media or just new underlying features in the OS.
“And they’ve been able to prove out that there’s a very, very large scale—in fact, the largest company in the world—a viable business model in just continuing to hone, continuing to optimize, build around adjacencies, without having to do what a lot of analysts were thinking they had to do, which is you have to enter a hundred billion-dollar market categories if you’re going to continue to scale and survive.”
I’ve taken the liberty of using these comments verbatim, but once again urge that you read it in its original.
Apple builds foundations, each one a new beginning.
Consider iTunes and how the software helped propel Apple’s moves into mobility, not just iPods, but iPhones, iPads and portable Macs alongside a dizzying range of services. Each unique, and each based on what has happened before.
This approach has empowered Apple’s march to become the world’s biggest company by market cap, and it still has upside today.
You can see the company moving in the same direction now, as it slowly builds out new services that inexorably will be seen as supporting future announcements.
The company knows that so long as it keeps its customers happy, it will continue to grow its business to the benefit of everyone within its ecosystem.
Anything that tarnishes that customer experience is destructive to the platforms, which is why Apple will replace, revise, or revoke it.
It’s really that simple.


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Leon's Furniture Q1 profit down from year ago; harsh weather shares blame
TORONTO - Leon's Furniture Ltd. (TSX:LNF) says harsh winter weather was partly to blame for a drop in first-quarter profits.
The retailer said Tuesday it earned $818,000 or a penny per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, down from a profit of $5.4 million or seven cents per diluted share a year ago.
The drop came as same-store sales fell 3.8 per cent compared with a year ago.
"The profit decrease in the quarter was related to lower same-store sales, partially due to the extreme weather conditions across Canada," the company said in a statement.
"Further, gross margin dollars could have been higher had we reacted more quickly to the decline in the Canadian dollar. Finally, finance costs and non-cash purchase price adjustments related to the acquisition of The Brick further lowered profit."
Revenue totalled $426 million, up from $162 million, boosted by the acquisition of The Brick chain of stores that closed near the end of March last year.
Total system-wide sales were $508.4 million, including $82.4 million of franchise sales in the quarter, up from $203.6 million, including $41.1 million in the first three months of 2013.
Leon's has more than 300 corporate and franchise stores across Canada under several banners including Leon's, The Brick, Appliance Canada and United Furniture Warehouse.
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A group representing retailers said yesterday’s budget was “deeply disappointing” and that the government missed an easy opportunity to cut the deficit because overseas-based websites still do not have to pay GST and duty.
Retail NZ said forcing offshore businesses to charge GST and duty could halve the $684 million deficit delivered by the budget.
“The government is moving to introduce new taxes at the border, but is ignoring an existing loophole that is costing the country between $200 and $500 million in lost tax revenue,” said Retail NZ general manager of Public Affairs, Greg Harford.
“The current loophole means foreign firms selling to New Zealanders don’t have to pay the same taxes and duties that Kiwi firms do. This means that foreign websites have an unfair advantage over Kiwi firms, which are forced to collect GST and pay it to the government.”
In addition, Kiwis selling goods to customers in other countries are usually called on to pay taxes and fees before the recipients get their deliveries.
“GST pushes up the costs of goods and services purchased here by 15 per cent, providing about 17 per cent of the Crown’s total annual revenue but driving New Zealand firms out of business and costing jobs,” added Harford.
“This issue can be resolved reasonably simply, and we are deeply disappointed that the government has not acted in this year’s budget to close the loophole.
“If overseas retailers will not or cannot collect GST, Retail NZ wants all goods worth more than $25 stopped at the border rather than the current $400 threshold, until someone pays up.
“New Zealand has the second highest low value threshold in the world after Australia, and both our countries are seriously out of step with most other jurisdictions. Its $400 threshold compares to $20 in Canada and $15 in the UK.
“It’s time for government to commit to a time frame for action.
“We’ll redouble our efforts to work with the government on this issue.”
Budget documents do however acknowledge retailers’ “legitimate concerns” and repeat the government’s commitment to ensuring New Zealand receives a fair share of revenue from consumption occurring within its borders.
This is underscored by PwC partner and GST specialist Eugen Trombitas. He said the budget signals that New Zealand is looking at following Australia’s recent lead in taxing services purchased online from offshore sellers. Low value goods purchased online will also receive due attention.
The Australian Government in its budget earlier this month went some of the way by announcing a Netflix tax on imported digital products and services, but left goods out in the cold.
“New Zealand can’t ignore this issue any longer so it’s encouraging to see that budget 2015 confirms this is a key focus area on the tax policy work program as the digital economy has a profound impact on GST,” pointed out Trombitas.
“Making up around 30 per cent of the government’s tax take, GST is a tax on consumption and when this consumption is taking place in New Zealand, GST should be charged. New Zealand retailers and businesses have been insisting on a level playing field and there’s a danger we could fall behind the international pace and best practice if nothing is done soon.
“Another key consideration is there needs to be a specific solution for goods and another specific solution for services.”


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Verizon’s QR Code Login by their Universal Identity Services enables healthcare providers to help address strict HIPAA compliance mandates.
We’ve all heard time and again that passwords are a nightmare and we need strong multifactor authentication solutions to help reduce HIPAA violated security breaches. Today, Verizon has announced a new type of login enabled by their Universal Identity Services that will eliminate usernames and passwords. The Universal ID grants to access to provider portals or other types of online healthcare sites and also enables healthcare providers to help address strict HIPAA compliance mandates. According to the “Verizon 2014 Data Breach Investigations Report,” two out of three data breaches are attributable to lost or stolen user names and passwords, or both — and based on recent news reports, things aren’t getting better. “Lost and stolen passwords remain the No. 1 way that systems are compromised,” said Tracy Hulver, chief identity strategist for Verizon. “We continue to see user names and passwords fail as a secure way to log in, no matter how complex the password. With Verizon’s QR code login, we are making progress in protecting users without increasing the hassle, headache or expense for the user and the enterprise.” A new feature of Verizon’s Universal Identity Services portfolio, the QR code login is ideal for healthcare to help reduce fraud, phishing attacks and can even reduce unnecessary expenses associated with help desk support and password resets. How the QR Code Works Users will be able to enroll for a Verizon Universal ID directly from a participating Web page. After registering, users can download to their smartphone a mobile app that scans a dynamically generated QR code on the login page. Once the user’s identity is confirmed, he or she is authenticated to the website. The QR code login can be used alone, as a “scan and go”, or combined with a PIN number or password for healthcare transactions that require stronger security. “The beauty of the QR code is its flexibility,” added Hulver. “It can be used alone or with other stronger measures to give enterprises and their users just the right level of security simply and easily.” Making security stronger and affordable Verizon’s Universal Identity Services provide multifactor authentication that is delivered from the cloud enabling faster, simpler, secure user access—anytime from virtually anywhere and any device. Universal Identity Services offers three levels of identity strength, from a basic identity to a very strong identity. For example, to simply access an online account a consumer can use a basic strength identity, but to perform a financial transaction or access sensitive records, a stronger ID can be established that requires the user to provide additional data for identity verification. Since the entire service is enabled by Verizon’s secure cloud, enterprises do not need to invest in a new infrastructure. Plus, there are no hard tokens to buy or replace.


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Farm Aid 2001
The 16th Anniversary Farm Aid benefit was held September 29th at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. Farm Aid concerts have been held since 1985 to raise money for America's struggling family farmers. As in past years, the show featured performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp; also included this year was a special solo performance by Dave Matthews.
Farm Aid is more than a concert. The music becomes more poignant, the message more important, if you know the stories told beyond the gates. Farmers work together under the stress and financial loss of taking time away from their farms to add to the weekend in ways that most never see.
There is a lot of gray hair in the group. Family farmers, those who have survived, are getting up there in age. Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and long-time supporter Arlo Guthrie are getting pretty gray too. But Willie announced that they have added Dave Matthews to the Farm Aid board -- a good move, for he has the right spirit and is very popular with young people. If today's young adults don't start supporting family farmers with their letters as well as their choices in the marketplace, there won't be any young farmers for Farm Aid to help.
At the media tent, the stars as well as family farmers tell their stories. It is no celebration. It can, if you stay there to listen, bring tears to your eyes. You can't listen without realizing how many hats these farmers wear. Most are active members of their communities and farm organizations: presidents, board members and volunteers. Some have off-farm jobs, necessary to keep the farm from bankruptcy. Many have diversified, become entrepreneurs, expanded beyond what grandpa's farm looked like in order to offset base crop market prices that are lower than they have been since grandpa sold his corn or soybeans.
At the beginning of the 21st century, most family farmers are past "retirement" age. They are in debt, and their futures are uncertain. They do not have the benefits that other jobs offer. Retirement is not an option without a younger generation to take over. But they are there because they still have faith, and because for them this is a vocation that has been in their family's blood for as long as they remember.
We need to think of these folks and their contribution when we purchase our food. Until the minds of the largest segment of agriculture -- consumers -- are changed, there is little hope. National farm policy will not change the way people choose what they eat. This can be done only through greater consumer awareness.
Farmer activists have been saying for years, "If only there was a label that told you a product was grown by U.S. family farmers. Then people would know how to support them." Neil Young, long a supporter of organic food, said, "In a supermarket you see a bunch of food, but you don't know where it came from. Now you can go into a store and buy organic, and it's almost always from a family farmer. We need labeling. We need to know where our food comes from."
The organic label tells us more about the source and method of production than other food labels, but it alone is not enough. International trade, NAFTA, the WTO, corporate agriculture and factory farming have impacted even organic agriculture. Farm gate prices for organic commodities have dropped -- in several cases by 50% since 1994. Some organic farmers are being squeezed out of business by corporate "farms," and organic farmers have reason to be just as concerned about their futures. We do need a label that tells us more. The challenge is to find ways to save what may be one of our most endangered species -- the American family farmer -- to elevate him or her from the downtrodden to a national treasure. That challenge is directly before this publication's readers. Tell your customers, your friends, your families to think about how powerful is each plate of food they eat. From the producer to international policy-makers, the choices on that plate can literally change the world.
For more information on Farm Aid: 1-800-FARM AID or http://www.farmaid.org


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Although delaying Nexus prime in deference to the recent death of Steve Jobs, and it’s obvious give up in the Australian frontage Samsung persist to go subsequent to Apple wherever they live - no actually! Three months after promises cute lil 'tablet to 5 inches, they have finally delivered the delightful guy, an innovative galaxy tab that is basically an extended Smartphone without phone capabilities. Galaxy pod call touch, or something that does not risk another lawsuit for infringement of Apple.
The 5-inch device is sold in the UK for £ 162 (about $ 262.99) and will soon be followed by a sale of devices even smaller than 3 inches for £ 146 (approx. $ 227.50). Equally lil Cuties 'running Android 2. 3 (Gingerbread), crafted with a 1 GHz processor, support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and allows the optional storage of 8 and 16 GB, but the 5-nch has a better camera to go along with their larger screen.
With Galaxy Wi-Fi that we have produced a device that allows customers all the freedom and fun of our Android Galaxy devices. Customers can desire from thousands of interesting applications and converse with friends utilizing the Social Hub or even services like Skype. Different size options means there's something for everyone, said Samsung‘s Simon Stanford.
The latest galaxy seems like a winner, although the price will have to drop down a bit in the States if they are to stay competitive with the iPod touch which has declined recently. If that happens, the odds are 500 to 1 that his lawful battle with Apple will soon release another front.


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Craigslist TV Series On YouTube Has Gone Live
That online Craigslist-based reality show we told you about recently went live on YouTube. The 14-episode first season follows the lives of five Angelenos who used the bulletin-board site to find fashion models, soul mates and more.
The star so far seems to be Michael Mullen, a 28-year-old fashion designer who goes on a quest to get Sandra Bullock to wear a gown he designed to the Oscars. (He posted an ad on CL looking for Sandra Bullock lookalikes to model the gown and help him with sizing). The series also features:
-Charity Cabico, a woman who posted a "casting call" for a her husband.
-Trista and Tara, young women who looked via Craigslist for the male "sex machine" they spotted at Starbucks.
UCLA Bruins Women's Basketball vs. Arizona Wildcats Womens Basketball
TicketsSun., Jan. 29, 2:00pm
Anaheim Ducks v. Colorado Avalanche
TicketsTue., Jan. 31, 7:00pm
Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets - Verified Resale Tickets
TicketsTue., Jan. 31, 7:30pm
CSUN Men?s Basketball vs. Long Beach State Men's Basketball
TicketsWed., Feb. 1, 7:00pm
-Jaysin Paul, a rapper who posted an ad searching for a "hype man" in the vein of Flavor Flav (His episodes haven't been posted yet).
The series is so far L.A.-based, although a representative of Craigslist TV tells the Weekly that producers plan to tape in other cities in the future.
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We start the series with Carillion, exploring what led to the company’s fall from grace and what lessons can be learnt when it comes to protecting smaller scale businesses in to the future.
The demise of Carillion has had a wide ranging impact on thousands of people comprised of previous employees who now face redundancy, but also many small and medium sized businesses in the UK who are owed late payments from the company. Carillion’s fall saw a flurry of industry figures reiterating the need for more robust protections. Britain’s’ Federation of Small Businesses has long fought for better use of the Protection Payment Code, and the Carillion case has only added fuel to their fire.
In the words of John Gildersleeve, chairman of property developers British Land and deputy chairman of telecoms company Talk Talk, late payments is a problem that has “infected British business forever”.
In the wake of Carillion’s collapse, it was discovered that the group had been paying subcontractors with a 120 day wait, and these delayed payments forced many smaller size companies to turn to bank financing at high costs, simply to remain in business. Others were, more seriously, forced to close down completely.
The UK business secretary Greg Clark appeared in front of an MP-led inquiry in to the collapse of the contractor in February. He attempted to reassure the business community that the UK government is planning to make “urgent” updates and changes to its procurement policies, however political progress and policy change can be slow. That’s why invoice insurance is increasingly in the limelight as an easy, practical way for businesses to protect themselves from protracted default and client insolvency.
It was during this inquiry that the ineffectiveness of the current Prompt Payment Code was brought to light, as Carillion had in fact subscribed to the code but still had payment terms of 120 days. The business secretary admitted that this was too long. It’s clear that more needs to be done on the side of the government but Clark evaded giving businesses a precise time frame, saying “I don’t have a specific timetable but you have my assurance that this is a priority and it needs to be urgent”.
What, therefore, can small and medium enterprises do in the meanwhile?
It also helps to make informed and confident choices for a bright future, safeguarding your company with tailored client insights from our credit specialist team. With a wave of high profile folds having a domino effect on those lower down the food chain, it’s high time that dynamic businesses begin to adapt and invest in invoice insurance cover.
We’d be delighted if you get an invoice insurance quote for by clicking the link below – it’s a simple process and won’t take long.


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BRAZIL: CBD plans 500 new stores in 2013
CBD targets 2013 growth
Brazilian retail giant CBD plans to open 500 new stores in 2013.
Speaking during an interview published by the company, CBD president and chief executive Eneas Pestana revealed that CBD - also known as Grupo Pao de Acucar - would create around 30,000 jobs through the move.
Pestana said the new store openings would bring CBD's retail formats to areas where Brazil's largest retailer is "not present".
In 2013, Pestana indicated that "the emphasis" will be placed on "accelerating" store openings under its Assaí and Extra Mini Market formats. He added that CBD expects to deliver organic growth in all formats.
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- Shopper trends: Some confidence but promos popular
- Sustainability Watch: WhiteWave Foods
- Burton's "eyeing" United Biscuits merger
- Premier Foods revamp creates three divisions
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In a new national campaign targeting abusive debt-collection practices, the Federal Trade Commission emphasized working with its state partners to combat illicit debt collection practices such as harassing phone calls and false threats of litigation. Federal regulators have shut down four debt collection companies in the past month and have brought 30 new law-enforcement actions with state regulators since October 1, 2015.
Two of the four targeted debt collectors that received court orders to halt operations were BAM Financial of California and Delaware Solutions of New York. While BAM’s actions regarding the order are currently unknown, Delaware Solutions is in the process of litigation. The other two companies have settled with the FTC and state Attorney General. These companies include K.I.P LLC, and National Check Registry of New York.
The order against BAM alleged that the company “extracted payments from consumers through intimidation, lies and other unlawful tactics.” According to the FTC’s complaint, BAM bought consumer debts and collected payment on its own behalf by threatening consumers with lawsuits, wage garnishment and arrest, and by impersonating attorneys or process servers. BAM also allegedly disclosed debts to or harassed third parties regarding consumers’ debts. In one specific instance, BAM told a consumer that if she did not pay, she would not be allowed to see her children, her wages would be garnished, and she would be reported to the IRS.
The FTC has accused Delaware Solutions of “attempting to collect on debts they knew were bogus.” Delaware Solutions allegedly bought payday loans supposedly owed to a company that repeatedly told Deleware Solutions to stop collection efforts because the debts were invalid. Evidence that the consumers had never authorized a payday loan was also ignored. According to the FTC’s complaint, Delaware Solutions failed to identify themselves to consumers as debt collectors, falsely portrayed themselves as process servers or attorneys, and falsely threatened consumers with arrest or litigation.
K.I.P., LLC’s settlement with the FTC and Illinois Attorney General requires K.I.P to pay $6.4 million and the company is currently banned from working in any debt collection business. K.I.P was charged in April 2015 with threatening and intimidating consumers to pay payday loan debts they either did not owe, or did not owe to this company. According to the complaint, the defendants used a host of business names to target consumers who obtained or applied for payday or other short-term loans. Due to the threats or a desire to end the harassment, many consumers paid even though they may have not owed the debts.
National Check Registry of New York’s settlement with the FTC and the New York Attorney General prohibits the company from misrepresenting material facts about any financially-related product or service, including loans, credit repair, debt relief, and mortgage assistance. Additionally, one of the defendants, Joseph Bella, has been ordered to pay $112,000 and surrender certain bank accounts, two cars, and two boats. It has been alleged that National Check Registry used lies and false threats to collect millions of dollars from consumers.
These cases come in the midst of an expanding effort to address the consumer finance complaints that are prevalent throughout the nation. Since the financial crisis of 2008 exposed troublesome practices within the debt collection field, federal regulators have attempted to correct such issues with viable remedies such as the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In a news conference addressing the new federal efforts, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez stated, “What we are trying to… is build a national coalition that includes federal partners, state partners, and local partners. We believe enforcement has a crucial role as well as educating both consumers and businesses.”
For more about this story, click here.


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U.S. government selling its shares in Chrysler to Fiat
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Word came late Thursday that Fiat will soon pay $500 million to buy out the U.S. government-owned shares of Chrysler.
Here’s the story:
DETROIT — Chrysler Group, newly profitable and confident in its revamped products, will soon sever its ties with the U.S. government.
Italian automaker Fiat agreed late Thursday to buy the U.S. Treasury’s 6% interest in Chrysler for $500 million. Once the deal closes, the government will no longer hold a stake in the auto company. Treasury officials said it could take up to three months to make sure the agreement meets regulatory approvals, but it probably will close more quickly than that.
President Obama is expected to announce the agreement Friday during a trip to a Chrysler facility in Toledo, Ohio.
The deal means the U.S. government won’t get back the full $12.5 billion in bailout loans it gave Chrysler from the end of 2008 through Chrysler’s bankruptcy in the summer of 2009. The Treasury Department said Thursday that Chrysler has repaid $11.2 billion, but it is unlikely to recover $1.3 billion. But government officials have long said that they didn’t expect to recover the full amount they lent to Chrysler and General Motors Co. during the auto industry downturn, and that their top priority was saving thousands of auto jobs.
“We didn’t do this to maximize return. We did it to save jobs,” Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said during a trip to Detroit in April.
Fiat also agreed to pay $75 million for the right to purchase the Chrysler shares held by a trust for retired autoworkers. The Treasury will receive 80% of those proceeds, or $60 million, while the government of Canada will get $15 million.
The deal will give Fiat a majority 52% stake in the automaker just two years after it agreed to manage Chrysler after its bankruptcy.
Chrysler has made a remarkable turnaround. Before entering bankruptcy proceedings, the automaker was nearly out of cash and needed U.S. government money to survive. The company made a first-quarter profit of $116 million and is forecasting 2011 earnings of $200 million to $500 million. Under the leadership of Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne, the company has cut costs and revived its sales by refurbishing most of its lineup of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee were nearly three times higher in May than in the same month a year earlier.
Fiat’s stake is likely to rise to 57% before the end of the year, when Chrysler meets another milestone set by the U.S. government: Producing a 40-mpg small car in the U.S. All told, Fiat has the right to purchase more than 70% of Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Chrysler.
-- Associated Press


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It seems to be all but confirmed that Apple is launching an iWatch, and probably this year. With rumors of a new Apple TV on the horizon, a larger iPhone(s?) and a new Healthbook app for iOS 8, many are probably wondering when Apple will announce these new devices.
From 2009-2011 Apple used to hold at least one Keynote in the beginning half of the year, but for the past two years, we haven’t seen anything from Apple before the WWDC. It should still be a given that Apple will wait to launch the new iPads until October, and will also launch OS 10.11 and iOS 8 at the WWDC. The only questions are the iPhone and iWatch.
The iPhone 4S, 5, 5s, and 5c were all announced in September/October. The new iWatch is reportedly going to go hand and hand with the new Healthbook app which is rumored to be part of iOS 8. I would hope Apple would give the iWatch its own event, as it is a completely new product category. One possibility is that Apple would hold an event in March to announce the new Apple TV, iOS 7.1, and the iWatch, but not launch the iWatch until the WWDC, or maybe even September. The way I see it, this is the only scenario were the iWatch could have it’s own event, although obviously this date would cause problems. First, if the Health aspect of the device needs, or is severely impaired without Healthbook, iOS 8 would still have to wait until June. There could be a sliver of hope in the fact that Apple could, in theory, launch Healthbook with 7.1, similar to how they launched iOS 4.1 with the original iPad.
If Apple did go this route the device would likely not launch for at least a couple months, as is standard for new product categories at Apple. They do this for a number of reasons, but mainly to avoid leaks and to have extra manufacturing times for a new device.
Another way Apple could handle it is launch it with the iPhone 6 in September. As it seems the iWatch will use the new Healthbook app, and iOS 8 would likely launch at this event, it would seem like an opportune time to launch the iWatch. The only reason not to do this would be the fact that the iWatch will likely cost around $300-$400, and that’s a lot of money for people to pay at one time.
Anyways, this is all speculation and should be taken with a grain of salt. Let me know when you think Apple will launch the iWatch in the comments.


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Visa and Planeta said on Monday (Feb. 25) that they have launched new technology that speeds contactless payments for mass transit and lowers the cost for transit organizations and operators to offer that payment option.
In a press release, the companies said the Visa Secure Access Module (SAM) helps those enterprises facilitate contactless payments through contactless cards, phones and wearable devices.
Visa noted that it has, over the past year, helped launch contactless transit solutions in 20 cities in 12 countries, with 150 projects currently ongoing.
Visa and Planeta Informatica said they have partnered with Ingenico Group to implement Visa SAM, with an eye on launching contactless transit with Metro Rio in late April, building on Ingenico’s existing contactless terminals.
The card giant said that for operators that have invested in turnstiles and terminal readers, Visa SAM can improve the customer experience, reduce ticket overheads and increase ridership. Visa SAM is available to all Visa Ready partners, is based on secure EMV contactless technology and does not require additional hardware, as it can be installed directly into existing systems.
Visa said, too, that according to “The Future of Transportation: Mobility in the Age of the Megacity,” commuters said the average use of mass transit would increase by as much as 27 percent if it was easier to pay.
“This is a transformational development for public transit operators that want to improve their customers’ journeys and reduce their operational costs by removing the need for tickets or topping up fare cards,” said Nick Mackie, global head of urban mobility for Visa, in a statement on Monday. “Through our work with Planeta Informatica, we have pioneered a way to accelerate the shift to contactless transit that is scalable and highly secure, while generating time and cost savings for transit operators by removing the hurdles of replacing potentially thousands of transit readers across the transport system.”


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After released the concept of 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at Los Angeles Auto Show in 2007, today Dodge was give the full review of this brand new sport cars. They say this 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR bringing what would essentially be the last model presented before a whole new breed of Viper comes out in 2012. With 600 hp street-legal Viper engineered, this 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR dominate on the race track and also provide for an exciting trip back home. Like 2012 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Supercar Limited Edition which become a brand new supercar from lamborghini.
After old schools BMW 3-Series when the day of announcement it was 25 years ago. This 2014 BMW M3 was appeared on four different generations and evolved from a 2.3 liter inline-four cylinder engine with 200 HP to an impressive V8 hitting 420 HP. 2014 BMW M3 maybe not the best sport cars out there, but it have the most needed functions as sport cars such as extraordinary look, great performance, the best class handling, and a luxurious interior. The brand new 2014 BMW M3 concept was continuity from 2013 models which the sports car’s history will move on to its next chapter as BMW will be set to reveal the new generation M3.
From the best NASCAR cars Dodge Charger RT which driven by Kurt Busch the American NASCAR and NHRA driver has a lot more to offer then just being the leader in several races in the past few years. This Dodge Charger RT is third-generation race car driver is also head of the Kurt Busch Foundation. This Dodge Charger RT is currently raffling off a one off 2011 Charger R/T. Without any ordinary of Dodge Charger, This special edition is covered in a distinctive Redline Red color with door scoops inspired right from the 1970 Charger R/T.
On New York 2011 auto show, Dodge was revealed the new 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T. The 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T models will be distinguished by the rest of the Avenger type of Dodge cars. 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T will show its future sporty design with a sportier look that includes a unique body-color grille with the Dodge badge, menacing black headlamp background, the war paint motif R/T decal on the front quarter panel, a rear spoiler, the R/T badge, and a new set of 18 inch aluminum wheels. Like Dark Blue 2011 302 Ford Mustang Unveiled by SMS Supercars, this car show the latest sporty style to its fans.
The new sequel of The Fast & The Furious movie began featuring all brand new 2011 cars but we will show you what kind of cars that used before this movie. There is the top 10 The Fast & Furious movie cars we will show on you. The top 10 the fast & the furious movie cars is based on few world branded cars, such as nissan, volkswagen, honda, mazda and more. Top 10 the fast and the furious movie cars is most intresting things must we know before watching the latest sequel fast five. And if you think that we’re talking about resident leading men, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, guess again. This list has very little to do with them, or their other co-stars for that matter, but more so about what they were driving during the first four movies. Yes, dear friends.
Related Auto Show & Car Showoff for how much does a 2014 dodge viper cost at AutoCarShowOff.com
Lexus LX570 which tuned by Wald was turn the ordinary SUV into Black Bison Edition. Tuning an SUV is something often left to become more capable off-road specially on Lexus LX570. Some platforms luxury SUV like the Land Rover, being treated ultra-luxury, but you’ve seen a Lexus LX570 SUV makeover of a renowned tuner? Wald [...]
Unveiling their old 326 series car which has been modernism to 2011 BMW 328 Hommage and got the best looking sport car concept make BMW so proud of it. The systematic design of this BMW 328 Hommage was make its successful at the world of sport car. The BMW 328 Hommage success was given by [...]
Lamborghini was introducing their brand new supercar limited edition named 2012 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento which bring cool side of sportcar in mens color. 2012 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento reported will be arrive in October 2011, they will produce this supercar only 20 units and each carrying a price tag of 1.9 million euro, or about $2.8 [...]
The famous cars with the latest tuning program for the luxury sports saloon from Porsche comes courtesy of Vorsteiner. This 2011 Porsche Panamera comes with German tuning firm which released their new V-PT body kit for the Panamera, one that includes a plethora of materials made using carbon fiber and finished in multiple layers of [...]
Xplore has coming with the latest family pieces, the Jeep Xplore Grand Cherokee from the Xplore FJ Cruiser at SEMA and Xplore Wrangler in Moab. Some people said this Jeep Xplore Grand Cherokee is a Trail Rated car. The official spesification of this Jeep Xplore Grand Cherokee is not yet published but the past Xplore [...]
Most people searching the official pricing of 2012 Audi TT RS in U.S. And now it finally come with official price from Audi which finally released U.S. pricing on the company’s 2012 TT RS. This 2012 Audi TT RS which powered by 360-horsepower coupe engine has planning on handing over $56,850*(*plus any applicable destination charges). [...]
Whatever Murcielago is not the future of Lamborghini anymore, but it certainly doesn’t mean that we’ve seen the last of this highly popular supercar. Lamborghini Murcielago can be sure tuned by tuning companies like Wheelsandmore which are still around. This 2011 Lamborghini Murcielago LP720-4 Final Edition is pretty sick projects in the past have outdone [...]
After released the concept of 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at Los Angeles Auto Show in 2007, today Dodge was give the full review of this brand new sport cars. They say this 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR bringing what would essentially be the last model presented before a whole new breed of Viper comes [...]
After last year of Peugeot RCZ Asphalt and this year with the new 2011 Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE, and what the differents of both of it? This brand new car is only limited into 75 units for right hand drive at UK and the goal is 500 unit at end of this year. The price [...]
Today without being noticed by many people in the world, Suzuki was design a concept of their new mid-size sedan, Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge they named it. The Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge was adapted eco green concept which will be a future technologies. Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge was featured in Suzuki’s first-ever Super Bowl ad, a modified version [...]


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Southern fast-food restaurant Bojangles is expected to open its first shop in Texas in Euless in spring 2023, a company spokesperson confirms.
The second Bojangles in the area is expected to open in north Frisco, near U.S. 380 and 423, in late spring or summer 2023.
Bojangles’ 800 fast-food restaurants are known in the Deep South for selling fried chicken, Cajun chicken biscuits, sweet tea and Bo-Berry Biscuits for dessert.
Although the company announced in 2021 that Bojangles’ first three restaurants in North Texas would be in Garland, Richardson and Mesquite, that plan appears to have changed. A press release from early 2023 says construction has started on restaurants in Euless and Lancaster. Construction begins Feb. 13, 2023 in Frisco.
Another Frisco restaurant at 2821 Eldorado Parkway is also in the works, as confirmed by state records.
A fifth Bojangles in Texas, according to state record, will be in San Antonio.
The company started in North Carolina in 1977. It’s now a franchise, with more than 100 stores each in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and dozens in Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia.
About 50 Bojangles are planned across Texas “in the coming years,” says the company statement.
It’s yet another iconic, out-of-town food brand that’s making a splash in North Texas. Portillo’s, a hot dog and Italian beef sandwich shop that started in Chicago some 60 years ago, is another example. Portillo’s has made plans to open at least five restaurants in North Texas so far.
California burger joint In-N-Out, too, made a strong investment in Texas. After it arrived in 2011, the company has opened more than 40 In-N-Outs in the Lone Star State.
Bojangles will have plenty of deep-fried competition in Dallas-Fort Worth. As reported in a 2021 story: “Raising Cane’s has an operations office in Plano that runs its 550+ restaurants. Golden Chick’s headquarters is in Richardson, and its highest concentration of restaurants is in D-FW. Popeyes, Chick-fil-A and KFC have strong presences in North Texas. And the hottest fried-chicken trend in Texas right now, Nashville hot chicken, has spawned more than two dozen new restaurant concepts.”
Bojangles has signed leases for at least four addresses in Dallas-Fort Worth: Highway 183 and Main Street, Euless; near U.S. 380 and 423, Frisco; 2821 Eldorado Parkway, Frisco; and 790 N. I-35E, Lancaster.


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Tag Archives: YELLOW
Koshi Inaba has just released his latest digital exclusive single 「YELLOW」 through digital music channels such as iTunes Japan, Mora and Dwango. The release comes after the song was announced in March, to be featured in the latest line of KOSE sun protection commercials. Ever since, the song has been reworked and has now been released in its current form.
Alongside the release of the single a stylish music video featuring Koshi in vectored out form from various live shows has been uploaded to the band’s official YouTube channel. We have embedded the video for your viewing pleasure below!
Koshi is currently in Nashville, working on his new solo record with Stevie Salas. The solo record is expected to release in the Fall. A potential solo tour is planned for early 2017.
Koshi Inaba has announced today that his new song 「YELLOW」 will be featured in KOSE’s new line of “Sports Beauty” commercials that advertise sun protection. The commercial (seen above) will be broadcasted nationwide in Japan from March 19th.
A release date for 「YELLOW」 has yet to be announced.


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Sometimes the best new item for decorating your home is a piece with a little age on it – or something made by an artist whose work makes a statement.
That’s the idea behind Vintage Charlotte, a company started two years ago by transplant Amy Herman. The company rents vintage table decor for weddings and other events. Vintage Charlotte also presents pop-up markets where visitors can buy repurposed and handmade items.
The third pop-up Summer Market will be June 14 at The Fillmore, at NC Music Factory. (www.vintage-charlotte.com)
“I hope to just be an alternative local, sustainable option, whether it’s for the rental side or the pop-up markets,” said Herman.
More than 50 vendors will participate, selling housewares, furniture, decor, clothing, jewelry and other goods. A few will sell food and drinks.
About 1,600 people attended the last Summer Market, and about 2,200 turned out for a Holiday Market.
People are interested in vintage items, Herman said, because they often cost less than new products and they tend to be well-made. “They’ve already been around for 20 years,” she said.
Buying handmade items at the market gives shoppers the chance to talk to the artist and learn about a product’s value, Herman said.
Admission to the market is free beginning at 11 a.m. Get in at 10 a.m. with an early-bird admission fee of $5.
Karen’s blog: http://homelifeclt.blog<code_dp>spot.com; on Twitter @sullivan_kms


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News came last week that Verizon is selling Tumblr to Automattic, the people behind WordPress. The sale figure is at a ludicrously low, fire sale-esque amount, reportedly less than $3 million. Yahoo, of
The latest step in the Yahoo saga continues, as Verizon finalizes its acquisition. Verizon’s announced on Monday that it plans to fold both Yahoo and AOL under the newly minted name
Yet another security breach has happened, and this time, the victim’s Yahoo. Yahoo’s reported that a security breach has led to a whopping 500 million users’ information stolen.
For a long time, Yahoo’s fortunes have dwindled, with lots of wondering what will become of the 90s Internet giant. Now, it’s official: the company is being sold to
News came today that mobile service giant Verizon will be buying one-time online giant AOL for $4.4 billion. Apparently, the company’s interested in AOL as part of shoring up its
Google’s own Wallet smartphone payment service hasn’t been getting as much traction as Google’s hoped. Despite the temper-tantrum thrown by a few stores over Apple Pay a
This Sunday, February 3, brings the annual airing of the US’ most-watched television program of the year, the Super Bowl (XLVII to be exact). This year, the big game is between the
In the tech news here this week is the announcement that US telecom giant AT&T is buying smaller mobile carrier T-Mobile, which will reduce the number of nationwide major carriers to


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ENGINEERS are a step closer to developing safer, low-pressure fuel tanks for the next generation of electric cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. They have developed a new material that locks hydrogen gas into cage-like molecules at room temperature, but releases it easily when the fuel is needed. Better still, the material could be customised to store vast amounts of hydrogen safely.
Hydrogen-powered electric vehicles could cut pollution, but a host of problems will have to be overcome before they become commonplace. One of the biggest challenges – apart from making the hydrogen without creating greenhouse gases – is working out how to store the gas.
Today, most vehicles that run on fuel cells store their hydrogen in heavy cylinders at more than 300 times atmospheric pressure. To make them safe they need to be made of layers of carbon fibre, aluminium and steel, and the cylinders weigh between 7 and 20


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Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Government announces details of new review to protect the future of radio
Media Minister John Whittingdale has announced the scope of the Digital Radio and Audio Review that will examine the issues facing radio in the next decade as the digital revolution continues at pace.
- Terms of reference published for the digital radio and audio review
- Part of a commitment to ensure a sustainable, vibrant radio and audio sector for the UK in the long term
- Review will support decisions about the future of radio in light of rapid changes in radio and audio consumption particularly amongst young people
Previously, radio’s future was seen in terms of a transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. But with the growth of smart speakers in homes and online audio platforms, the UK audio market is rapidly changing and there is no longer simply a binary choice between analogue and digital audio broadcast (DAB) platforms.
The digital radio and audio review will examine future trends and consider how radio should adapt to the growing challenges and opportunities from the latest audio technologies, as well as the impact of new consumer behaviours such as streaming.
Its terms of reference, as agreed with industry partners, focus on how to ensure radio remains fit for the future, assessing potential future listener trends and making recommendations to strengthen the UK radio audio industry and promote innovation.
John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Media and Data yesterday said:
Ever since Chelmsford in Essex became the birthplace of radio in 1920, Radio has demonstrated its ability to adapt and compete with new technologies.
I’m very pleased to bring together key partners so that we can collectively look ahead to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for the UK’s cherished radio and audio sector.
Will Harding, Chair of Digital Radio UK and Global’s Chief Strategy Officer, yesterday said:
Global launched no less than 7 new digital stations last year and we are investing heavily in digital platforms through Global Player and DAX. We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Government and industry colleagues to help ensure the sector reaches its full potential in the digital age.
Travis Baxter, Content and External Affairs Director, Bauer Media, yesterday said:
Digital innovation is delivering great opportunities for the radio industry and digital listening continues to grow apace. Now is the time to ensure we work together to assess and understand the wider future landscape and harness the full potential of existing and new technologies for a vibrant UK radio and audio sector.
Matthew Evans, Director, Markets, techUK, yesterday said:
We are looking forward to working withGovernment and broadcasters, alongside other key stakeholders from the supply chain on this. We must address the challenges and explore the opportunities of the ever-diversifying audio delivery and devices landscape on behalf of our members.
Radio remains a thriving media sector for audiences across the UK, adapting to the challenges and embracing the opportunities of digital and online listening. Listeners on average consume over 20 hours of radio a week and 87% of the adult (15+) population listen to live audio each week (Source: RAJAR Q4 2019).
But given the pace of change, the government and key industry organisations have come together to steer the review, including the BBC, Bauer Media, Global, Arqiva, Radiocentre, tech UK and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders amongst others. The review will be published in March 2021.
Notes to Editors:
- The Government has previously supported the need for a formal review of the progress on digital radio when:
- the majority of all radio listening were on a digital platform: on DAB, TV or via the internet - (the “digital listening” criterion of 50% of all radio listening);
- national and local DAB network coverage substantially matched equivalent analogue coverage for the BBC and for national and local commercial radio - (the “DAB coverage” criterion)
- The listening criteria were reached in May 2018 and the Government announced its intention to launch a review in May 2019. Digital radio listening has subsequently risen to 58.5% of all radio listening. 95% of new cars have DAB digital radio installed as standard and 44.5% of all listening in cars is now digital (up from virtually nil in 2010). [Source: CAP/SMMT Q4 2019 and RAJAR Q4 2019]
Digital Radio and Audio Review – Terms of Reference
A joint Government/Industry review to:
- assess future scenarios for the consumption of UK radio and audio content on all radio and online platforms and assess the impact of these scenarios on access to UK radio services
- assess the impact of likely models of future listener trends on current and future distribution strategies for UK radio groups and industry
- make recommendations on further measures and collaborative actions to strengthen UK radio audio and industry for the benefit of all listener groups and to promote innovation
Approach: Joint industry work groups under the direction of a cross Govt/Industry steering board with expert independent input. Secretariat –DCMS supported by resources from DRUK and industry.
Outputs: Written report or reports setting out sector commitment and options for future Government support linked to level of ambition and assessed benefit. The Government will need to consider recommendations for future Government action
The report with actions will be supported by published evidence. To be completed by March 2021.
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Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
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Team GB benefits from funding package of £342 million.
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Prime Minister announces £50 million investment in grassroots football pitches19/07/2021 12:10:00
£50 million investment to build and improve grassroots football pitches across the UK.
Government sets out action to stop online racist abuse in football16/07/2021 15:12:00
Change in the law announced to extend Football Banning Orders to those who are abusive in connection with football on social media.
£700k investment to boost cyber growth across the UK13/07/2021 14:20:00
UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration established to support tech firms across the country.


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Pressure sensitive screens are yet to take off, but this may be about to change.
There have been a few smartphones here and there that have pressure sensitivity built-in, but nobody has created a significant use for it. According to a new report, chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo and, Vivo are gearing up for a pressure sensitive screen revolution. Believe it or not, a rumor has begun spreading that an upcoming HTC made Nexus will feature the tech, meaning it will be adopted natively in Android N. This may be the mysterious HTC Nexus device that surfaced a while back.
Android N, currently nameless, will be Google’s next iteration of their mobile OS. Apple has already adopted pressure sensitivity into their mobile OS, iOS. Those at Google may have ideas in mind that take better advantage of the technology. Rumor is that Google will include it in Android N, which is due out in May. If this happens, all Android manufacturers will have to include the technology in future handsets in order to add this function. Hopefully Google will open up an API so that developers can build apps that implement the new technology as well. This will all have to fall into place if Google wants the new tech to be crowned useful and not just a gimmick. We’ll see what we get in a few months.


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This year, InterContinental Bali Resort enters its 30th year. To welcome this impressive milestone, InterContinental Bali Resort orchestrated a sacred purification ceremony in the idyllic resort area on 18 June 2023. The ceremony, led by Balinese priest, is intended to show gratitude to Sang Hyang Widhi (Almighty God), as for three decades, the Resort has provided the best hospitalityin Jimbaran, Bali and continues to present a memorable stay experience for its esteemed guests.
The ceremony is also a celebration of the ending of the Covid-19 pandemic, as stated by the World
Health Organization (WHO) last month. At InterContinental Bali Resort, the pandemic made people give their best effort to keep the property running while delivering the best hospitality despite all the challenges. And with the end of the pandemic, the whole team came back with a new spirit. This spirit will preserve the status of InterContinental Bali Resort as one of the finest 5-star resorts on the island.
Amidst the challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic, InterContinental Bali Resort also successfully
launched Jimbaran Convention Center (JCC), the largest indoor convention Jimbaran. Jimbaran
Convention Center has multipurpose event venues, ranging from grandeur ballrooms to function rooms to outdoor spaces. Since its launching in October 2022, Jimbaran Convention Center has become the choice for event organizers to hold an event, including the G20 Summit and the upcoming Art Moments Bali on 23 June 2023. Art Moments Bali is the first art fair in the island and set to be the destination for artists and art enthusiasts.
“The last couple of years have been challenging yet exciting. As we proudly celebrate three decades of standing tall in the hospitality industry, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and remain ever optimistic about the future that lies ahead. InterContinental Bali Resort strives to be the one of the best resorts in the island, delivering modern experiences through Balinese hospitality,” said Christoph Pouls, Resort Manager of InterContinental Bali Resort.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, InterContinental Bali Resort has also prepared a series of exciting programs that will be happening in the upcoming months, and continues to prioritize delivering exceptional hospitality, excellent services, and creating memorable experiences to the guests. For more information, visit here, and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram .


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HTC has came out fighting claiming that its new duel-core handset does not suffer the death grip issue that plagued Iphone 4.
There have been repports the smart looking aluminium body of the phone will interfere with wireless communications such as signal, Bluetooth and WIFI, when the device is held in a certain way.
There are videos that seem to back this claim up however they also show that the device is being held in a pretty strange way, and this has been backed up by HTC.
“No. Every phone experiences a slight variation in signal strength when the antenna is covered in its entirety by a palm or fingers, however under normal circumstances this does not affect the performance of the phone,” a spokesperson told TechRadar.
So what is holding I phone normally, the position we hold a phone may vary for example using the internet in bed using a WIFI stream, or receiving a file through Bluetooth, however personal experience on the phone did not seem to have any issues with any connectivity loss when using the device ( and I have quite large hands! )
And the WIFI signal seemed to trump that of the Samsung galaxy s 2.


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40 rupees increase in price of sugar per kg during four days
After dollar and gold per tola, sugar also became rare in the country.
In Quetta, the price of sugar per kg increased by Rs 15, after which sugar per kg increased from Rs 205 to a record level of Rs 220.
Wholesalers say that sugar is also being sold at Rs 230 per kg in the outskirts of the city.
On the other hand, prices of various food items including sugar have increased further in Chaman, sugar has increased by Rs 15 to Rs 230 per kg.


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Aldi is auctioning off limited edition summer-themed Kevin the Carrot toys to celebrate ‘Junemas’
All of the proceeds will be going to the supermarket's charity partner - Teenage Cancer Trust.
It’s not quite Kevin the Carrot’s season just yet, but it’s half way there.
In case you hadn’t realised, today is ‘Junemas Day’ which means it’s exactly six months to the day until Christmas Day.
So, to celebrate this unofficial holiday, budget supermarket retailer Aldi has announced the return of everyone’s favourite carrot-shaped plush toy for a limited time only.
Only this time round, he’s had a summer-themed makeover by donning a floral shirt and has rebranded himself as ‘Malibu Kev’.
It’s no secret that shoppers go mad for Kevin the Carrot every time he makes an appearance during the festive season, with replica toys often flying off the shelves and being sold-out in no time at all – but with these summer-themed ‘Junemas’ Kevins, there’s a slight catch.
You won’t actually be able to get hold of them in stores at all.
Instead, loyal Kevin fans will have to bid on the cuddly root vegetable toys over on eBay.
There will be 300 Malibu Kevins up for grabs, and shoppers will have the chance to bid over five days for the special summer-themed toy, with all of the proceeds going to the supermarket’s charity partner – Teenage Cancer Trust.
Speaking on Kevin the Carrot’s highly-anticipated summertime appearance, Julie Ashfield – Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK – said: “Since we announced our Junemas range, there has been huge excitement from our customers, and we’ve had many asking if Kevin the Carrot is due to make an appearance.
“It really wouldn’t be a festive celebration without him, so we’re delighted to confirm that he will indeed be returning.
“Proceeds of all sales will go to Teenage Cancer Trust.
“[So] however you plan to celebrate, be it a garden party or even taking inspiration from our friends ‘Down Under’ with a barbeque, we wish you a very Merry Junemas.”
‘Malibu Kev’ will be available to bid on eBay until 30 June, and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – Aldi UK


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The adoption of thermal cameras in mainstream security has increased considerably over the last decade, and Oregon-based FLIR Systems has been a leading innovator in the industry.
The largest device market in the world will no longer be smartphones, according to Gartner’s November 2015 study. In fact, by 2020, 28.1 billion devices, will offer connectivity and data, from smartphones and vehicles to embedded microcomputers and security devices according to an IDC forecast. This is the Internet of Things.
Security is the perfect business discipline. It’s infused with technology, innovation and multifaceted applications that cross managerial, sector and international borders.
At the peak of Chris Lanier’s security career, he vowed that if he could return home to East Texas (Jasper), and make a living, he was going to make that happen
Although poultry farming has been considered by many to be a relatively lowtech operation, management of Prestage Farms has instead embraced technology as a means of ensuring the highest quality products possible, and they approached Clinton, North Carolina-based security integrator Star Communications for help.
That proxy card or smartphone you are using is probably one of the most insecure devices on the planet. The question most frequently asked is if this technology can be secured.
In today’s high-tech world, communication and its intended meaning is often lost or convoluted as it passes through different channels and mediums.
Universities across the nation are making safety for their students a top priority.
Cost-saving measures during a security installation usually focus on steps that minimize waste on the job site: reducing packing, speeding deployment and decreasing go-backs. But there’s one area that can help eliminate waste on the job site before the purchase orders have even been finalized.
The Port of Houston exemplifies how vital ports are to the local, state and national economy.
As technology in every industry grows by leaps and bounds, there will always be something new to talk about. However, the Internet of Things seems to cross all boundaries, and within an industry IoT becomes the building automation tool to make it all work.
Companies operating in high-risk, remote locations must take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their employees, assets and infrastructure.
Because the city recently adopted the 2013 Edition of NFPA 72 and the IBC 2012/IFC 2012, it was necessary to upgrade the voice system and notification devices in addition to the fire alarm control panel.
Healthcare systems represent one of the most challenging environments to secure. The need to balance an appropriate level of security while providing a welcoming environment geared towards patient care is essential.
Davenport Hotels has relied on an analog video surveillance system for the existing hotel facilities and structures. For the new Davenport Grand Hotel, hotel management wanted to ensure the safety and security of its guests, employees, and visitors while helping to prevent theft and other loss.
After revolving doors emerged on the architectural scene in the late 19th century, they were very much in vogue and favored as a way to provide building access stylishly.
When you think about the security industry, what is the first technology that often comes to mind? If you said video, you are correct. Video surveillance has been the market’s bread and butter for years, and it is only growing stronger.
Security is still number one in driving mass-market adoption, with nine out of 10 consumers noting security remains one of the top reasons to purchase and use a smart home system.
When it comes to picking the right strategy, the right partners and the right products, you want to make sure the odds are stacked in your favor.
Out of a vast number of proposals, Montevideo’s leadership ultimately selected the one submitted by SONDA, one of the leading systems integrators in Latin America.


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The commercial industrial gases market in Singapore is estimated to have generated revenues of $756 million in 2015. This is up from $356 million in 2005, indicating an average annual growth rate of 8.5% for the decade.
Between 2005 and 2015 GDP grew by an average of 8.7% p.a., or 6.4% p.a. when adjusted for inflation. One slight concern is that export demand since the global financial crisis of 2008-9 has remained somewhat sluggish. In 2015 there was a decline in the economy for 2015, with a decline of -4.5%.
Report Data: 2015


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From over-fishing to radiation and mercury contamination, here are 4 reasons more people are turning away from canned tuna.
Most of the almonds sold in the U.S. have been fumigated with propylene oxide, a chemical that even the CDC has admitted causes cancer.
Numerous studies have found that honey could be a solution to the continuing problem of unstoppable bacteria that can’t be beaten by antibiotics.
New research has uncovered at least one mechanism behind resveratrol’s medicinal properties, showing how it can help with numerous ailments.
Research has once again confirmed that eating organic foods will lower intake of toxic pesticides sprayed on our food supply.
Researchers find that coffee contains a myriad of serious health benefits, and contains a large amount of antioxidant polyphenols.
The consumption of junk food has been found to override the natural ‘kill’ switch that regulates the calories we consume, causing people to eat more.
A new video reveals how eating dark chocolate can actually boost health through the deliverance of various disease-fighting compounds.
A new study has shown once again how turmeric and its active compound curcumin can inhibit inflammation – a major factor for disease development.
A recent study has found that a compound within green tea is capable of destroying oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells completely unharmed.
Many food products have silently been reformulated to include various gum ingredients instead of fats, and they are causing some health issues.
From helping to boost total immunity to detoxing the body, here are 12 reasons why probiotic-rich, fermented kefir may be right for you.
Chronic inflammation is said to fuel all disease, so it must be tamed. Here are 4 foods that are must-haves for reducing inflammation naturally.
A new study has identified a compound in beer known as xanthohumol, which has been shown to improve cognitive function and help slow dementia.
Independent testing has verified that 100 percent of the corn in Kellogg’s Froot Loops is genetically modified and doused with pesticides.
A new report has found that many popular cereals contain alarming amounts of sugar – even as much as 8 or even 10 teaspoons.
Want to boost immunity? Here is how to Increase production of mannose-binding lectins, which help identify and fight against bacteria, viruses, and more.


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Pictures and comments from last week’s virtual Excellence in Housewares Awards.
Top buyers reveal what they want to see when they judge the Excellence in Housewa
“Most important year” to enter products say leading retailers; suppliers now have extended deadline
Home ranges are available as selected online sales restart for Next and Fenwick.
Housewares stockists shut shop while some hardware stores remain open and online varies.
Retailers react to coronavirus crisis with closures and reassurances.
Major retailers confirmed – and more to come – in trade association’s upcoming programme
Sustainability, knives retailing, closing doors and centenary celebrations: HousewaresNews.net reflects on the industry year.
Know your top sellers and share the joy, says Retail Employee of the Year finalist.


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Three more Apple iPhone 12 new color mobile phone cases revealed. According to the tipster who revealed the colors of the four iPhone 12 protective cases, the second source has confirmed these colors and showed three other colors.
The new color is red, plus a cyan or light blue, and a warm yellow. Unlike previous leaks, this ‘MajinBu’ did not quote Apple’s names for different colors.
Apple has not declared the new iPhone case colors for the spring series, and it is expected to be announced at an event on April 21. Last year Apple released a similarly revised series of mobile phone cases for the iPhone 11 in March.


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Ahold Delhaize Inaugurates AI For Retail Lab In Delft
Ahold Delhaize held a three-day inaugural event for its AI for Retail (AIR) Lab in Delft in the Netherlands.
The lab is an extension of the company's AIR Lab in Amsterdam, which was created in partnership with Delft University.
The new research facility will focus on the future of robotics and develop state-of-the-art technology for the retail industry.
The team in the lab has already started work towards developing prototypes and solutions in all the lab’s lines of research, the retailer said in its statement.
The inaugural event was marked by the presence of scientists in robotics and AI, operational employees, students, and sponsors of the lab.
The event kicked off with a keynote presentation by AI and robotics expert, Pieter Abbeel, who is also the director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab and co-director of the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Lab.
His presentation, 'Deep Learning to Learn' focused on research about the difference between how robots and humans learn by imitation, and how scientists are working to enable robots to acquire new skills more quickly.
On the second day, the lab's store group invited employees to events aimed at building enthusiasm about technology among young people.
Participants also went on a tour of the AIR lab, the botanical gardens and the science centre.
A morning meet-up was held on the third day to introduce new members of the lab, who started working on projects in September of this year.
The researchers also gave short pitches of their projects, the retail giant added.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.


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Suchel Jovel, a company belonging to the Suchel Union of the Ministry of Light Industry, is one of the Cuban companies participating in the First International ExpoSur 2023 Fair, which is being held at the Pasacaballos Hotel in Cienfuegos until tomorrow, September 17th.
This Unified Socialist State Enterprise stands out for its sustained economic stability and the quality of the products and services it offers and is attending this important business event to showcase its industrial potential and wide range of products for personal hygiene, domestic hygiene and industrial uses.
The event is a propitious space to promote the presence of international exhibitors, foreign trade business and foreign investment intentions and Cienfuegos as a tourist destination.
Hence, during these days and under the slogan Doing more, for Cuba, Cienfuegos is the venue of a multisectoral platform where the Socialist State Enterprise, Local Development Projects (PDL) and new actors of the economy converge, as well as guest countries in search of business opportunities.
Suchel, a Jovellanos company, will also promote exchanges with new economic actors and strengthen productive linkages with the rest of the national and foreign business community.
This event is a space for the development of theoretical events, launching of goods and services, business meetings, legal and commercial advice from the competent entities, among other activities.
The ExpoSur 2023 International Fair will be held in the hybrid modality in its on-site venue, located at the Fairs and Exhibitions Center of the Pasacaballos Hotel, and the virtual one at the Cuban platform FEVEXPO.
Written by Yosier Argueso Miranda.


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Business account manager for professional products at BRITA Water Filter Systems, Les Pearce, will be retiring early in June after six years at the company.
Les, who has worked in the vending industry for 31 years, helped Brita build the vending side of the business, forming good partnerships with customers and colleagues alike.
Les said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic working for Brita and in the industry for 31 years. This is a very close-knit industry and I have met some wonderful people over the years. I am so passionate about vending and it’s the kind of industry that once you get into it, you stay in it for a very long time.
Les, who is moving to Anglesey with his wife, will miss the industry and colleagues, but believes “vending is going in a positive direction”.
Steve Buckmaster, director of sales, professional products, said Les would be missed but the company wished him the best on the next phase of his life.
BRITA is in the process of appointing a new business account manager for the vending sector.


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Where indeed, says Good Food Institute policy director Nicole Negowetti, who says the one thing all sides can agree upon is that there has been a frustrating lack of clarity from the FDA as to its position on non-dairy ‘milk,’ which plant-based brands say leaves them vulnerable to lawsuits, and dairy milk producers (who believe plant ‘milk’ brands are openly flouting the law), find infuriating.
“There is significant regulatory uncertainty regarding these products,” says Negowetti.
But if there's uncertainty over milk, wait until you look at labeling conventions around cheese, says Matthew Sade, CEO of cultured nut-based brand Kite Hill, who says standards of identity for several dairy products are in urgent need of an overhaul.
"I sell 'artisan almond milk products.' I don't even know what that means, and I'm making them. You need to be able to readily communicate to the consumer at a glance what your product is and how to use it, so not being able to call it by the name that most readily defines it, flies in the face of what regulations are all about, which is to keep consumers safe and not to mislead them."
We just want to be able to use terms that consumers understand
And in the absence of intervention from the FDA on the plant-based cheese issue, he said, states have developed their own rules, which has created an uneven playing field and led to a plethora of descriptors from ‘cultured nut product’ to ‘Treenut cheese.'
When standards of identity were originally conceived, adulteration was rife, and consumers were being duped by cheap knock-offs purporting to be dairy products, he said. But modern plant-based food brands such as Kite Hill are not 'purporting' to be dairy products, he says. They just want to be able to use terms that consumers understand.
While some commentators believe that the FDA's apparent lack of interest in enforcing such "antiquated" standards should be taken as a sign that it's OK to start using terms such as 'vegan cheese,' or 'almond ice cream,' plaintiff's attorneys and state lawmakers may beg to differ, he says. In other words, the FDA needs to clarify its position, not just assume that its silence speaks volumes.
"While there is some legal precedent on plant based milks [in which judges concluded terms such as 'soy milk' were NOT misleading], we don't have precedents in the world of cheese and yogurt. The federal government needs to step in and recognize that the world has changed."
"I sell 'artisan almond milk products.' I don't even know what that means, and I'm making them..."
Matthew Sade, CEO, Lyrical Foods (Kite Hill)
If it looks, tastes and smells like milk…
And it’s not as if the issue is going away, points out Negowetti at the Good Food Institute. New plant-based alternatives to dairy cheese, yogurt, butter and meat are hitting shelves weekly, while new technology is also enabling firms such as Perfect Day and Memphis Meats to produce products that precisely replicate their animal-based counterparts, she says.
And this could open up a whole new regulatory can of worms. (If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck…)
The big question, according to the GFI (which filed a lawsuit last summer to force the FDA to clarify its position on ‘soy milk’), is whether the FDA – already pondering the meaning of ‘healthy’ and ‘natural’ – has the energy or resources to wade into another food labeling minefield that could potentially prompt a far wider debate over standards of identity.
“We’re still waiting for them to send over documents we requested in the lawsuit and once we get them, we’ll look at all our options," says Negowetti. "A petition [to ask the FDA to draft additional standards of identity for plant-based milks or to ask it to revise the existing SOI for ‘milk’] is one option, but right now we are trying to figure out what the most effective strategy will be.”
Perfect Day talks animal-free milk at reThink Food 2016: ‘One of the huge questions is what do we call it?’
The GFI’s lawsuit (The Good Food Institute v the FDA 1:16-cv-1052), for example, notes that the Soyfoods Association of America had petitioned FDA to formally recognize ‘soy milk’ as the common or usual name for soy beverages in 1997 and is still waiting for an answer.
That said, some commentators believe that it was citizen's petitions that finally prompted the FDA to weigh into the 'natural' debate, she says.
Where does the FDA stand?
The FDA, she adds, has fluctuated unhelpfully on this issue, querying the term ‘soy milk’ in warning letters to manufacturers Lifesoy in 2008 and Fong Kee Tofu in 2012, but thereafter maintaining radio silence on the topic despite repeated requests from the National Milk Producers Federation (representing dairy farmers) and the Good Food Institute (representing plant-based milk, egg, dairy and meat companies) to clarify its position once and for all.
The agency also raised eyebrows last year by telling Hampton Creek it could keep its ‘Just Mayo’ brand name for its egg-free spread (which does not comply with the egg-based standard of identity for mayonnaise), albeit with minor tweaks to the label, just weeks after accusing it of violating said standard.
So what can plant-based brands take away from the Hampton Creek saga?
Was the FDA effectively saying that as long as you include a disclaimer (egg-free/dairy-free) prominently on the label (just as Muscle Milk ‘contains no milk’ and is 'non-dairy') and employ other tactics (words, imagery etc) to ensure that shoppers could be under no illusions about what you’re selling (eg. you’re not being false and misleading), you are OK?
Civil litigation over plant-based ‘milk’
This certainly appears to be how federal judges handling civil lawsuits over plant ‘milk’ vs White Wave Foods and Trader Joe’s (click HERE) appeared to interpret the law, with US district judge Vince Chhabria noting that the word ‘soy’ before ‘milk’ cleared up any confusion as to the contents of the package in question.
The fact that the federal standard of identity for ‘milk’ limits it to lacteal secretions from cows “does not categorically preclude a company from giving any food product a name that includes the word milk,” he added. (Peanut butter, for example, is not subject to the standard of identity for ‘butter.’)
“The standardization of ‘milk’ simply means that a company cannot pass off a product as ‘milk’ if it does not meet the regulatory definition of milk,” he pointed out. “Trader Joe's has not, by calling its products ‘soymilk,’ attempted to pass off those products as the food that the FDA has standardized (that is, milk).”
In other words, if Trader Joe’s had simply called its soy-based product ‘milk,’ it might have a case to answer, said the judge, who added: “The reasonable consumer, indeed, even the least sophisticated consumer, does not think soymilk comes from a cow.”
“The reasonable consumer, indeed, even the least sophisticated consumer, does not think soymilk comes from a cow.” US district judge Vince Chhabria
From a commercial perspective meanwhile, with meat and dairy companies such as Tyson Foods and Danone buying or investing in plant-based brands, it may not be as clear as it was where some major consumer brands stand on this issue either.
Good Karma Foods: Plant based food consumers are label readers
But what about the argument made by National Milk Producers Federation communications chief Chris Galen that “some consumers think that use of the term ‘milk’ on an imitator’s package means that the product has the same protein, vitamins, calcium and other minerals that real milk does”?
Doug Radi, CEO of flaxmilk-fueled brand Good Karma Foods, is not convinced, given that “plant based food consumers are label readers.”
As for purchase motivations, he says, “Consumers are selecting plant based milks over dairy milks for many reasons, from lactose intolerance, dairy allergies, environmental concerns, vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and for overall health and balance as consumers continue to trade out animal based calories for plant based calories.”
Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Food Association, also reckons the nutrition issue is “a red herring,” given that there is no legal reason why plant based milks should be nutritionally equivalent to dairy milk, and that this may not even be desirable for all consumers (most Americans aren’t short of protein while some consumers might choose to avoid saturated fat, for example).
As for the lawmakers' claims that failure to crack down on plant milk labels is harming the dairy industry, she says, non-dairy products are still growing at the expense of dairy milk in markets where firms are not allowed to use the term ‘milk,’ so even in countries where there are apparently no grounds for confusion, consumers are still choosing to buy less dairy milk, for whatever reason.
If it were the case that plant-based brands were trying to undercut the dairy industry with cheap imitations, the ‘harm’ argument might carry more weight, she adds, “but plant-based ‘milks’ are generally more, not less, expensive [than their dairy-based counterparts].”
By not acting, the FDA is basically saying, we don’t think this is a priority
And while other countries prefer terms such as ‘soy drink’ or ‘soy beverage,’ that doesn’t mean that the FDA – which is primarily concerned with whether foods are safe and labels are not false and misleading – should follow suit, she says. “Drink’ or ‘beverage’ mean different things to ‘milk.’
“In our house, almond milk is something we pour over cereal, and companies that want to use the term should be allowed, providing there is not a safety issue and consumers are not being misled, and there is absolutely no evidence that they are, which might explain why the FDA hasn’t responded to the dairy industry on this.
“By not acting, they are basically saying, we don’t think this is a priority.”
NMPF: Letter from lawmakers will up the ante
While Galen at the NMPF agrees that the FDA has not prioritized the plant milk issue, however, he says the fact that lawmakers have demanded a response from the agency gives him hope.
“You are certainly correct that NMPF has raised similar concerns in the past, but what is different (and better) now is that this has the attention of members of Congress, so it’s not just a complaint from a dairy industry organization. This hopefully will make the issue less ‘safe’ to ignore.”
He also rejects the assertion that nutritional differences between plant- and dairy-milks aren’t a big issue, arguing that many consumers are laboring under the misapprehension that milk alternatives are not just equivalent to, but superior to, dairy milk in the nutrition stakes, and represent a ‘healthier’ option.
Goat and sheep ‘milk’?
But what about goat or sheep milk? If ‘milk’ must be limited to the lacteal secretions of cows, aren’t these products also breaking the law?
No, argues Galen. “Regarding goat milk (or sheep), NMPF fully recognizes the suitability of a qualifier such as “goat” or “sheep” being used to distinguish among various types of mammalian lacteal secretions.
“However, it is disingenuous to link the name of an animal‐based standardized food with a plant‐based descriptor. A goat actually produces milk; a bean or seed doesn’t.”


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TORONTO — Buoyed by a year of solid financial results while other large book chains have suffered and shut down, Indigo Books and Music is focused on the “phygital” future, says chief executive Heather Reisman.
The buzzword is one of the company’s top strategic priorities to embed into its corporate culture, along with expanding the business and rolling out its new large-scale store model, combining the words physical and digital.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“It’s just understanding how the customer is moving between doing something in the digital environment and completing it in a physical environment,” or vice-versa, Reisman said Wednesday after the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders.
Examples include digital art installations in the retailer’s bricks and mortar stores, using technology to help shop in store, or buying books and gifts online and picking the items up in a store.


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Get in the Ring 2013 Underway in 30 Countries
Erin Wiley (GEW global) @wileyea
Jul 31, 2013
Startups in 30 countries are pitching their way to the Netherlands for a shot at up to €1,000,000 in the global finals of Get in the Ring during Global Entrepreneurship Week this November.
They will be hoping to score a knockout punch similar to Risparmio Super, a web-based startup that compares grocery store prices all over Italy, who was crowned the champion in 2012. The Italian startup defeated challengers from sixteen countries. This year, the number of participating countries has almost doubled as promising startups in 30 countries began competing in July for their national finals.
One of those new countries is the United States. The Kauffman Foundation is hosting the national finals in Kansas City. Another country new to the competition in 2013 is Indonesia where the national finals will be broadcast on national television.
Winners from each of the 30 national finals will submit a video pitch to be reviewed by a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Eight will be selected to travel to Rotterdam for the global finals on November 22. Applications from interested startups are still being accepted by the global organizers at the Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship.
The full list of participating countries includes:
- Cape Verde
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- The Netherlands
- United States
Several more countries will be officially confirmed in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates on those countries, national winners and more.