text:
|Nigeria||Bloc acquires Orchestrate. Bloc, a Nigerian-based banking-as-a-service provider, has acquired Orchestrate for an undisclosed fee. Orchestrate started off as Getwallets, a wallets infrastructure provider but has now pivoted into payment aggregation for businesses. The acquisition allows bloc to focus on core banking products while allowing Orchestrate to drive its payments and other fintech efforts. Disrupt Africa|
|Africa||Union54 pauses USD Virtual card service. Union54, a financial infrastructure provider, has paused its dollar (USD) virtual card issuing services to African fintechs. Consequently, several companies that rely on Union54's infrastructure have also suspended their virtual card programs. The suspension is set to last for a couple of weeks and is reportedly due to increased fraud and chargeback reports from Mastercard, their card issuing partner. TechCrunch|
|South Africa||Nomanini partners with Baobab Group for supply chain financing. Nomanini, a retail and fintech solutions company, has partnered with Baobab group to offer retailers supply chain financing. The credit will be offered to retailers via StockNow, a new app that allows retailers to buy inventory directly from manufacturers and FMCGs. TechCabal|
|Global||Regulating Crypto. In this report, S&P Global presents an exhaustive overview and framework for regulating cryptocurrency activities. S&P Global|
|Africa||The state of financial inclusion in Africa. In the 2021 Global Findex Report, the World Bank shares interesting insights into the progress of digital financial services in Africa. World Bank|
|Africa||Not all markets are created equal. In this Twitter thread, Ido Sum (@ido_sum) reflects deeply on how to think about the total addressable market (TAM) in Africa. Twitter|
|Africa||Zazuu raises $2 million in a new fundraising round. Zazuu, a marketplace for cross-border remittance services, has raised $2 million in funding. The new round included Launch Africa, the HOAQ club, and other investors. TechCrunch|
|Nigeria||Swipe raises $500k in pre-seed funding Nigeria's Swipe, a Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) and credit infrastructure fintech, has raised $500k in pre-seed funding. Investors were not disclosed but the new funding will be used for product development and deepening penetration in Nigeria. Tech Trends|
Share a tip
Do you have an announcement, event, or job posting you'd like to share, or have you come across an interesting bit of African fintech news recently? Hit reply
and let me know! I might be able to include it in next week's newsletter.
Know someone who'd enjoy Decode Fintech?


text:
The hairstylist, also known for his eponymous prestige hair care brand, is opening a new salon in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 12. The space will consist of 14 chairs and is nearly 3,000 square feet.
Though it’s a new territory for Farel, he said the move has been in the works for a while. “We’ve been looking to Florida for quite some time, even pre-COVID[-19],” Farel told WWD. “I was coming back all the time to my clients, and in the meantime, I was looking for spaces.”
Replicating the experience of his New York salons has required the most legwork. “I have to retrain everyone in the Farel protocol. It has to be identical to the New York experience,” he said. “We have been working so hard to get people to feel like it’s a home away from home.”
Farel’s business is firing off on all cylinders. Not only has salon traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels, he’s also refocusing on new product launches. “We are now only working on products that are clinically proven to improve hair health,” he said. “Now we actually have to do something different… my next phase is going to be working on finding a distribution partner.”
Hair products are still the fastest-growing category in prestige beauty. According to data from the NPD Group, it grew 24 percent in the second quarter, and boasted consumer retention rates of 96 percent.

domain: news


text:
• Ag Logic, a subsidiary of Maximum Economic Yield (MEY), has applied to the EPA for label clearance on a Temik-like product and expects the final answer by Oct. 23.
• The product will not be Temik, it will be an aldicarb compound that is very similar to Temik.
The big news at a recent Virginia field day was some information that Ames Herbert, state IPM leader, shared about a North Carolina company’s efforts to bring a Temik-like product to the market in 2012.
Ag Logic, a subsidiary of Maximum Economic Yield (MEY), has applied to the EPA for label clearance and expects the final answer by Oct. 23. The product will not be Temik, it will be an aldicarb compound that is very similar to Temik.
Rumored trade names for the new product include Mimik, because it would be very similar or mimic Temik and Nemik, because of its nematicidal activity that will be similar to that of Temik.
According to Antoine Puech, president and CEO of MEY, the company is highly optimistic the EPA will grant a label to Ag Logic. The drop dead date appears to be Oct. 23, 2011. If the company gets the label, they will have it for as long as they choose to manufacture and sell the product.
“We have had a tremendous response from farmers, grower associations, and the overall farm industry in our efforts to get a label for aldicarb for the 2012 season.
“Temik has been an outstanding product for nearly 40 years and it is clear from our surveys that virtually all farmers want a product with the same characteristics in the marketplace,” Peuch says.
If the EPA denies the company a Federal label, the deal is off and growers will have to continue to look for replacement products to manage early season diseases and nematodes.
Regardless of how the EPA rules, there is a clear answer to the question of whether Temik is coming back to the marketplace. That answer is no!
Bayer CropScience has made it clear the company is working with the EPA and plans to move forward with its plans to first cancel use of Temik on potatoes and citrus. This will be followed by a gradual phase out of the product on all crops in all U.S. markets by 2014.
According to the agreement with the EPA, farmers may continue to use existing stocks of Temik on citrus and potatoes until Dec. 31, 2011, allowing inventories to clear the channel of trade.


text:
AMD has gone a long way to offer extraordinary practicality with a real bang for your buck, and today at Computex 2016, the company has unveiled its latest 7th-generation AMD A-Series chips. Stating that the chips will deliver "hands-down super performance at every price point," there are some lofty claims being made here. But also some extremely impressive ones.
AMD asserts that the new 7th-generation A-Series APUs are actually 56 percent faster than 2014 hardware when it comes to performance. That's extremely impressive when compared to Intel, which has only moved upward about 25% over the last couple of years.
The A series features the FX, A12, and A10 lines, which will feature some of the best integrated graphics AMD can offer. They're meant mainly for use by laptops, which is great news for on-the-go gaming and performance. AMD also made it clear that most of the hardware will come bundled with a video game (A6 and E2 chips excluded.)
There's no pricing information or release dates for the new processors just yet, but that should all be coming soon. It's an exciting time for PC gamers to be sure.


text:
If you think of search, names like Google, Amazon, and Yelp probably come to mind moreso than Taco Bell. But the California fast-food chain’s app is ultimately all about search and it is responsible for much of its success.
“[Consumers use the app to] search for stores, they search for products, they search for ingredients,” explains David Garcia, manager of media and brand partnerships at Taco Bell.
To draw attention to the app’s relaunch in October, Taco Bell blacked out all of its social media accounts. The content was deleted off the brand’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+ pages, which simply said, “TACO BELL ISN’T ON [platform]. IT’S #ONLYINTHEAPP.”
It worked – from somewhere in the thousands in the iOS App Store, the app’s position skyrocketed to the top 15 within a day. Since the relaunch, the app has amassed roughly 2 million downloads.
“We had great results – we weren’t just driving people to the landing page; we’re driving you to learn more about Taco Bell and give you the opportunity to download the app,” Garcia says. “We saw the uptick in installs with this strategy, but we now want to focus on driving quality installs measured by usage and order value.”
After the blackout, Taco Bell analyzed its success, in order to learn which factors drove the best install rates and optimize the brand’s media in the future. Paid search was key. The installs driven from paid search – Taco Bell and mobile app terms – have generated five times stronger purchase rates and nearly 10 percent higher average order values compared with other digital marketing tactics, such as social direct-response, paid social, video, and mobile display ads.
The impact of search is unsurprising, given Taco Bell’s calendar-centric marketing strategy. For a set period, different menu items are highlighted – the Triple Steak Stack is currently the primary one – so focusing on keywords, as well as expanding that list with retargeting, allows the chain to further promote its brand terms.
Taco Bell has recently adopted a mobile-first approach to its marketing, so the desktop version of the company’s website also drives installs. The page features the typical buttons linking to Taco Bell’s social media profiles, as well as iOS and Android logos directing users to their respective app stores.
“[Mobile has] allowed us to go from our advertising driving awareness of products to being more of a direct-response marketer,” Garcia says, adding that approaching search from a mobile-first perspective will continue to be a priority throughout 2015. “It’s going to continue to evolve. We’re going to continue to test and learn; I think we’re barely scratching the surface.”
Garcia calls the app buttons on Taco Bell’s desktop site “low-hanging fruit,” adding that similar calls-to-action will be added to desktop search ads later this year.
This article was originally published on http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2396831/why-search-was-instrumental-in-the-growth-of-taco-bells-app.
How can you create content marketing which works for search, right from the start? Many of us probably think of SEO as ... read more
As you’re no doubt aware, Google finally rolled out its Google 4.0 algorithm update at the end of last week. Penguin is ... read more
All restauranteurs have plenty to learn from a gastronomic tour of top chef’s mobile sites.
Programmatic is taking over the digital advertising world, and at an even faster rate than expected, according to eMarketer, which raised its forecast for programmatic ad spending in the U.S. on the back of growth in mobile and video programmatic buys.


text:
When, last month, Behringer announced the Pro VS synth - a compact reboot of the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS, which was released in 1986 - we were assured that development was complete and it was only the well-publicised chip shortage that was stopping it from going into production.
Well, we now have conclusive proof that this is true, as YouTuber Clemens Wenners has used the Pro VS to create a suitably ‘80s-style synth jam.
This gives us a pretty good indication of what this 4-voice hybrid vector instrument will sound like, and to our ears, it sounds pretty good. The Pro VS is responsible for everything you’ll hear in the video above apart from drums.
Offering 127 wavetables, 32 presets, a sequencer, an arpeggiator and a display with oscilloscope, the Pro VS is set to cost just $99. Bear in mind that the design you see in the video isn’t final, but we reckon that the sound alone will be enough to get plenty of people interested.
In other Pro VS news, Behringer has also confirmed that a Eurorack module version of the Pro VS is in development, possibly paving the way for more of the company's recently announced mini synths - the likes of the JP-4000, Saturn, and Model D Soul - to be released in this format.


text:
Mobile searching has just gotten way, way cooler with the new Google Goggles visual search tool for Android, bringing a high-tech twist to accessing information on the go.
When Google first announced its Chrome OS project, many commentators assumed that the Internet giant was challenging the dominance of Microsoft Windows. The truth is, Chrome is not a threat to Windows, OS X, or any distribution of Linux--nor is it me...
Misconceptions and misinformation have surrounded the Chrome OS almost since the day it was announced. This week's press conference at Google's Mountain View, Calif., campus helped to clear the air, but uncertainty about what the search giant's new O...
Google's mantra is "Don't be evil." Let's hope it the tech giant means it, because if Chrome OS succeeds in replacing Windows at the world's dominant operating system, Google's sway over the computing world could be exponentially higher than it is t...
Thursday Google opened its doors to the press to show off its hotly anticipated Chrome operating system. In a small auditorium in Mountain View, California, Google VP of Product Development Sundar Pichai took to the stage to give us a demonstration o...
Tomorrow's hot ticket is for the Chrome OS event at Google HQ down in Mountain View. Chrome OS has already caught many imaginations, as something exciting often does, especially before the real world interrupts the fantasy.
Google Chome OS, which Google is expected to preview this Thursday, has been the subject of much speculation and rumors since its announcement last summer, when Google made public its plans to develop a lightweight, open-source Linux-based OS aimed p...
When you add up this week's top Google news, it paints a picture of a gargantuan, but immature, effort to make the Web faster.
Given undistinguished history of Microsoft's late and unlamented Live Search engine, the predecessor to Bing, it's easy to dismiss Redmond as a hapless also-ran in the search market. But given the vast sums of money and resources that Microsoft is in...
How many people really use Google Apps and how many of them are paying customers? That's a question Google has never quite answered, having touted a "20 million users" and "2 million companies" figure that is almost meaningless.
Google grew both its revenue and profit in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, registering results its CEO called "strong" and that exceeded Wall Street expectations.
In the past few days many of T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and G1 handset customers were sent a serving of Donut, the newest version of Google's Android operating system for mobile phones. While a glance at the home screen of Android 1.6 doesn't reflect much...
YouTube is celebrating the third anniversary of its acquisition by Google by showing off an awful lot of O's.
"Google Wave [is] a highly interactive communication environment," intones the official Wave Extension Design Principles document. "As such, it provides both rewards and challenges to programmers wishing to extend its functionality."
Google's Android operating system, native to T-Mobile's G1 and myTouch smartphones and due out soon in a number of new phones and even netbooks, is an impressively open and versatile platform. As with rival smartphone platforms -- Apple's iPhone OS, ...
Linksys AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router
Microsoft L5V-00027 Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Desktop
Samsung portable 1TB T3 drive
Lexar® JumpDrive® S57 USB 3.0 flash drive
Everki ContemPRO Roll Top Laptop Backpack
Smart LED Bulb LB130
Epson WorkForce ET-4550
UE Boom 2 Bluetooth speaker
Epson EcoTank Expression ET-2500
Epson WorkForce DS-360W
Acer Swift 7
Logitech G403 Prodigy mouse
Google Daydream VR headset
Huawei Mate 9
Lexar® Portable SSD
3SIXT Ultra HD Sports Action Camera
Belkin MIXIT Metallic Lightning to USB Cable
Lexar® JumpDrive® S45 USB 3.0 flash drive
HD Pan/Tilt Wi-Fi Camera with Night Vision NC450
Garmin Fenix Chronos smartwatch
Blade 28 backpack by Arc’teryx
Lexar® Professional 1800x microSDHC™/microSDXC™ UHS-II cards
Surface Pro 4
Lexar® JumpDrive® C20c USB Type-C flash drive
HP Pavilion x360 13”
Dell XPS 13 laptop
Dell Inspiron 5000 series 2-in-1
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC70 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Star Wars Death Star Bluetooth levitating rotating speaker review
- 2 Finally! LG OLED TV 2016 range review
- 3 Fetch TV Mighty review: Better than Foxtel
- 4 Fetch TV Mini review: Make your TV a smart TV
- 5 Panasonic Viera DX900U UHD 4K smart TV review
Join the Good Gear Guide newsletter!
Latest News Articles
- Zenimax wants to block Oculus Rift headset sales, Gear VR games
- Cerise Circular review: This Mac Pro wannabe gets sidetracked by gaming
- Panasonic Blu-ray recorder PVR set-top box review
- Google's new AI aims to end abusive online comments using 'Perspective'
- 5G will help autonomous cars cruise streets safely
PCW Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
- Horizon Zero Dawn review
- How to quit Pokemon Go (or to start enjoying it again)
- Japan's pop culture, anime-friendly, J-Pop shrine, Kanda Myojin
- Which flagship TV is best? Sony 4K HDR Bravia 2016 versus LG 4K HDR OLED 2016
- 10 Blu-ray movies / Best looking Blu-ray movies
- TPInsights ManagerWA
- CCService ManagerACT
- CCSenior Project Manager - ApplicationsNSW
- FTSecurity Solutions Architect - Consultancy - Permanent - Sydney CBDNSW
- TPDigital Project ManagerVIC
- FTMicrosoft ProgrammerSA
- FTJunior ITIL Service AnalystVIC
- TPAEM DeveloperNSW
- CCDesktop Engineer l WollongongNSW
- CCPMO ManagerNSW
- FTChange Manager - Large Transition ProjectNSW
- TPAgile Project Manager. Sharepoint / PeoplesoftNSW
- CCData Engineer (Java/ Data/ Big Data Developer)VIC
- TPTechnical Report EditorQLD
- FTDigital Sales Account Manager - Global BrandNSW
- FTJunior Software Engineer - Adelaide Based (PV, NV2 or NV1 required)VIC
- FTSupport Analyst / Production Support - InformaticaNSW
- TPJava DeveloperVIC
- CCSalesforce - Functional Analyst (BA)NSW
- CCMidrange ProvisioningNSW
- FTBusiness Intelligence Analyst / DeveloperNSW
- CCSystem EngineerSA
- TPDigital Strategist - Newcastle BasedNSW
- CCBusiness Project ManagerNSW
- FTJunior / Entry Level IT role - Recent IT TAFE GraduateNSW


text:
Michael Andre (60) is retiring at the end of 2018. The news comes after five years with Kenda Rubber Industrial, where he has been marketing and sales manager automotive Europe responsible for the European passenger car tyre business of the Taiwanese tyre manufacturer. In this role Andrew has led the phased introduction of the Kenda brand to the German and other key European markets.
The performance of the Kenda Emera A1 in a summer tyre test conducted by Finland’s Test World is viewed by the manufacturer as a confirmation of the tyre’s competitiveness and validation of its aim to produce premium tyres for the European market. Test World evaluated 18 size 205/55 R16 tyres in March; Kenda states its satisfaction with the Emera A1’s ranking in the “upper midfield” of test results.
Kenda will exhibit new products specially designed for the European market to underpin its commitment to quality, the manufacturer states. Each of its latest products “use European requirements as a benchmark,” it added, “and have a clear focus on safety.” Its most important exhibit will be the latest Kenda ultra-high performance Emera A1summer tyre, which is designed to produce excellent handling on dry and wet roads with outstanding braking performance. The manufacturer will also shine a spotlight on its latest winter tyres; the Komendo Winter for vans and the Wintergen 2 for cars. Each of these new-generation products has been developed with the intention of achieving “a breakthrough into Europe’s quality segment by offering products for the European market,” Kenda stated.
Taiwanese manufacturer Kenda has sold products into European markets for some time, but Reifen 2014 is seen as an opportunity to enhance and solidify its position. This rejuvenation of Kenda’s European business is inspired by the establishment of a new European headquarters in Oldenburg, Germany, and two key appointments.
Taiwanese tyre maker Kenda intends to strengthen its passenger car tyre business in Europe, and has named the German market as a particular focus. To support its efforts, the company has opened a European headquarters in northern Germany and as of 1 September 2013 employed former GITI Tire passenger car tyre marketing director Michael Andre as its marketing and sales manager for automotive tyres.


text:
On July 1, a self-proclaimed aspiring tech evangelist from California released Glass Tesla
, an application for Google
(NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass that allows Tesla
(NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S drivers to control and analyze their vehicles.
Sahas Katta’s app can manage the climate of the Model S, lock and unlock doors, open the sunroof, locate and track the vehicle, start and stop charging, and display gas mileage.
There were 62 users of Glass Tesla as of July 11, and Katta, 24, tells Minyanville that several Google execs are taking advantage of his latest project.
Take a look at the app in action and you'll understand why Google’s higher-ups are keeping an eye on the young developer:
In the video, Katta refers to his app as a weekend project, but in fairness, it was more like a long weekend.
“I had an opportunity to get my hands on Google Glass about two months ago and happened to know someone who had a Tesla Model S. The idea popped into my head over a month ago. I finally got around to building the app. It took about three and a half days,” Katta told Minyanville via email.
Speedy craftsmanship aside, the benefits of such an application are immediately apparent.
On a hot or cold day, app users can can start adjusting the car's temperature long before even reaching for the keys. Doors mistakenly left unlocked will be a thing of the past. Forgetting where the car is parked and worrying over teens arriving safely at their destination will happen no more. Additionally, Katta notes that drivers can use Glass Tesla to find the cheapest times to charge their cars. Since charging costs differ throughout the day, careful managem
ent could result in savings on energy costs.
It should be noted that Tesla offers a very similar app for Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL) and Android devices, though the Android model is in beta. This, of course, raises the question, what, if any, advantages does Glass offer that smartphones can’t?
“I'm very much convinced that driving with Glass is significantly safer than touching a smartphone,” says Katta, “You can reply with your voice without having to lift a finger. You'll never have to take your hands off the wheel, move your head, or take your eyes off the road.”
The question of safety when driving with Glass is still up for debate. For now it remains legal, but last month West Virginia Legislature Republican Gary G. Howell proposed a bill
to ban the use of Google’s eyewear while driving.
When not at the wheel, however, Glass still offers users the ability to keep an eye on a primary task at hand, rather than a hold a device in their hands.
Katta says there are nearly 100 apps already available for Glass and he expects several hundred to be available at launch. Glass's app offerings will be far more robust at launch than that of Apple's iPhone, as Apple lacked an App Store until the launch of the second-gen iPhone 3G in 2008. Google Glass may be made available at a somewhat reasonable price, no less.
"The price is likely going to be under $500 from what I hear," says Katta, and almost every analyst agrees that the retail price of Glass will fall under the $1,500 price tag on the beta version, though few specific estimates are available. (One group has suggested
a price tag of $299.) Adds Katta, "Just imagine being able to go about your everyday life with access to unlimited information without ever having to fully divert your attention for simple tasks."
No positions in stocks mentioned.


text:
Retailers looking for post-Christmas rush on manufactured goods
U.S. manufacturers, who may have been hoping for pre-Christmas rush at the end of the retail year, will be turning their focus to shoppers looking for holiday season discounts.
According to Manufacturing.net, the American public opted for a more cautious approach to shopping this year, with retailers reporting that the expected rush of last-minute purchases failed to materialize, increasing the feeling that lean manufacturing will remain prevalent in 2013.
A report released by Mastercard showed that spending slowed at the end of the year, with economists believing that uncertainty over the fiscal cliff and bad weather in the days preceding the start of the holiday season may have contributed to the apparent drop in the sales of manufactured goods.
Electronics, clothing, home goods and jewelry retailers all revealed modest growth, with industry analysts posting a 0.7 percent rise in the two months prior to Christmas. This was in marked contrast to the predicted 3 to 4 percent rise that had been predicted, and it led to the worst year-over-year figures since 2008, with many shoppers reportedly making their gift selections some months before.
"A lot of the Christmas spirit was left behind way back in Black Friday weekend," said Marshal Cohen, an industry analyst at NPD Inc. "We had one reason after another for consumers to say, 'I'm going to stick to my list and not go beyond it.'"
Companies who maintain a commitment to quality management in manufacturing will still feel that there is cause to be optimistic in the coming months. Although there is a reported slowdown in the amount of purchases being made physically, online retail and e-commerce continues to be popular.
According to Reuters, companies such as Amazon reported an increase in the amount of goods being purchased over the internet for the eighth straight year. While there is still no word from lawmakers in Washington D.C. that the fiscal cliff can be avoided, recent surveys have shown that U.S. companies are expecting revenue from manufactured goods to increase in 2013.
Hurricane Sandy has been cited by some economists as a reason for the apparent downturn in retail, with sales dropping in regions affected by the storm. However, this ensured that online shopping benefited, with 10 percent of all holiday sales expected to come from virtual shoppers.
"Retailers still have time to make up lost ground," said Michael McNamara, vice president for research and analysis at MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse. "The final week of December accounts for about 15 percent of the month's sales."


text:
Mahindra Satyam, previously named Satyam Computers, was created following a major stake bought by Tech Mahindra in 2009. This venture occurred due to Mahindra Satyam being involved in one of India’s biggest accounting frauds. Since then, Satyam Computers, renamed Mahindra Satyam, has been trying to rebuild its company and the merger is seen as a […]
Monthly Archives: March 2012
As previously reported, the Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa route will come to an end on 6th April 2012. On this visa, students are able to work in the UK for up to 2 years after they graduate. Following this closure, the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa will be in its place, however, a […]
Since the rollout began in November 2008 the UKBA have issued around 650,000 biometric residence permits, containing fingerprints and photograph on a secure chip. Biometric residence permits are an important step in fighting immigration abuse and illegal working and make it easier for employers to verify a foreign national’s right to work in the UK. […]
Internet giant Google has re-launched its online store in an attempt to take on Apple’s iTunes. Google’s previous Android Market online store has not been as popular as anticipated.


text:
The most recent build of Pavlov Shack, the free down-scaled version of the popular Counter-Strike-esque shooter Pavlov for PC VR, is now available to install on the Oculus Quest via SideQuest.
SideQuest is an application that easily facilitates installing software that falls outside the official Oculus Store selection and is not officially approved by Facebook. If you’re new to sideloading and SideQuest, you can read our how-to guide here.
Despite now being available on SideQuest, the game is still not fully released. Initially scheduled for a December 2019 release, Pavlov Shack was delayed to early 2020 due to “core party/friend support” problems on Android which couldn’t be fixed in time. So while the current build of the game can now be easily installed via SideQuest, this is still not the final release.
It still remains unclear whether Pavlov Shack will release on SideQuest or officially on the Oculus Store. We reached out to developer Dave Villz back in October to clarify the release platform, but never received a response. The Oculus Quest version of the game will be free to play, unlike the PC VR version, which is a paid experience.
However, Pavlov Shack is not the only VR FPS coming to the Quest. Pavlov’s closest competitor Onward is also coming to the Quest, announced back in June last year, however we do not have a release date just yet.
Are you going to try out Pavlov Shack now that it’s easily installable via SideQuest? Or have you tried it out already? Let us know what you thought in the comments below.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Those looking for a used car or truck, big rig, or computer equipment will want to take advantage of Hidalgo County’s surplus auction, scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 at the Rod Robertson Auto Auction facilities.
Auction day registration begins at 8 a.m. and the auction, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will be simulcast live and online at http://auction.robertsonauto.com
Pre-registration and an opportunity to view the vehicles and merchandise will be held Monday, June 6 and Tuesdau, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rod Robertson Auto Auction, LLC, 1003 E. FM 490 in Edinburg.
The auctioned items are sold “as is.” All sales are final; cash or cashier checks will be accepted up to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 8. Wire transfers will be accepted until 1 p.m. Thursday, June 9. All funds must be verified before vehicles are released.
For more information contact the Hidalgo County Purchasing Department Fixed Assets Division at 956-318-2626 or Rod Robertson Auto Auction at 956-383-8822.
This event is open to the general public.


text:
How e-commerce is shaping the future of the trucking industry?
The ability to shop online has been a game changer for modern society, allowing us to buy anything, anytime, with the click of a button. While E-commerce represents convenience and choice for consumers, it has also revolutionized businesses tasked with shipping and delivering goods. The e-commerce trucking industry moves everything from groceries to furniture, utilizing ground transport networks to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Since e-commerce first emerged as a viable means for goods to be purchased, businesses and shoppers both have welcomed its convenience and utility, with demand growing at a rapid rate. A 2021 report from e-commerce software provider Oberlo indicates that nearly a quarter of the world’s population (2.14 billion people) were e-shopping, up from 1.32 billion in 2014. This phenomenon has been propelled even further during the pandemic era by necessity, with social distancing requirements giving online retailers an added boost in exposure.
Now e-commerce looks poised to dominate consumer behavior moving forward, forcing even traditional brick-and-mortar stores to shift their focus toward e-commerce design and e-commerce marketing ways. Trucking Logistics companies have also scrambled to adjust rapidly in response to the surge in delivery needs, taking up e-commerce trucking models as they facilitate accessible and relatively speedy service across borders.
And looking ahead into the future of e-commerce trends, all signs point toward increased reliance on tech innovation coupled with advanced data integration capabilities that simultaneously streamline global buying habits while continuing to improve customer experience standards overall. All these together suggest that e-commerce will remain a powerful force for many years to come.
As e-commerce sales have spiked due to pandemic-related lockdowns and social distancing measures, the e-commerce trucking industry is facing pressures like never before; more and more goods need to be moved safely and efficiently on an ever-tightening timeline. Companies must now invest heavily in technology such as route optimization software to stay ahead of the competition.
E-commerce has changed much about how we purchase items, from how companies market themselves to how these items will arrive at our doorsteps. When it comes to shipping, fulfillment, and supply chain operations, the growth of e-commerce has created several issues (and solutions).
Here’s what you need to know about how e-commerce trends in demand and fulfillment
The Trucking Industry, Logistics, and E-commerce
According to the American Trucking Association’s U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast for 2022, freight tonnage will spike 24 percent in 2022, resulting in a 66 percent revenue increase in the industry. A large portion of the rise for 2022, and even for the next decade, is dominated by the trucking segment.
Logistics is the backbone of e-commerce if delivery, whether by courier or another method of fulfilling an online transaction, is the final stage in the process. Although you might not be aware of it, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment require an almost endless number of procedures to keep things going smoothly. Merchandise needs to be offered for purchase and stocked in a warehouse or other type of fulfillment center before a buyer puts in an order.
A user-friendly platform for placing orders and cargo trucking company’s transparency is also important for streamlining the order fulfillment process. Throughout the procedures, freight vehicles are used, keeping warehouses stocked and facilitating quick fulfillment of customer orders. Depending on their size, businesses may decide to employ their vehicles or third-party trucking services like Four Sons Logistics to ship their products.
Trends in Trucking Technology
Trucking companies in San Diego like Four Sons Logistics have already adjusted, utilizing new technologies, to stay on top of e-commerce trends and the enduring popularity of online shopping. Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous vehicles are two examples of cutting-edge technology that will continue to influence the e-commerce trucking industry for years to come.
The way we travel and the routes we take have also altered as a result of AI technology. In our busy modern environment, GPS systems are crucial for navigation and are now more sophisticated than ever. Modern GPS systems are far more than simply navigating aids; they may also give lane-keeping assistance and identify accidents and other road dangers. Fleet management businesses can use AI to track data on driving hours, fuel usage, and other factors, as well as to monitor driver performance and speed.
At Four Sons Logistics, we can help your e-commerce business grow!
The trucking industry has seen huge changes in the past decade, especially concerning e-commerce trends. Four sons logistics technology continues to evolve, with advancements. Additionally, tracking devices enable real-time monitoring of every vehicle within a fleet and help identify potential safety risks.
Four sons logistics is also implementing safety protocols designed to optimize inventory management and increase shipment accuracy. This helps reduce the unnecessary use of fuel and mitigate traffic accidents caused by incorrect loading or shipping practices. As long as Four sons logistics updates its technological platform, it can help drive growth for the trucking industry.
Moreover, four sons Logistics will continue to be a leader in the effort to combine innovation with safety protocols and procedures to ensure compliance at every level of interstate commerce and deliver timely shipments more efficiently than ever before. As e-commerce remains a part of daily life, Four sons Logistics will continue shaping not only the services they offer but how those services are delivered.
Thus, Four Sons Logistics is constantly adapting its technology to remain on top of emerging technologies for enhanced delivery performance across all sectors. If e-commerce continues growing, so does four sons logistics – creating more efficient solutions that benefit all parties involved from the factory floor up through the final delivery destination.
For businesses seeking support from a trucking company in San Diego that has mastered e-commerce trends within their sector, look no further than Four Sons Logistics! That’s why four sons logistics will remain an integral player amidst changes towards ever-improving logistics solutions driven by evolving e-commerce trends now and into the near future!


text:
The quiz that tells you if you have your head in the sand when it comes to bills and finances
Failure to switch to a different utility supplier or bank is costing the UK £7.6billion a year, according to a new report.
Data from the University of Sheffield and comparethemarket.com found that almost a quarter of Brits worry about their finances on a weekly basis, yet 53 per cent of people admit they've never switched their utility provider or bank, even though it could save them money.
The report was compiled to mark the launch of the first Institute of Inertia - a joint initiative by the University of Sheffield and comparethemarket.com - which aims to shed light on why we do things that can make us time, health and money poor, as well as offering practical advice to help make us better off.
To help people understand how they can improve the way they deal with household bills, the institute has also launched a short online test.
Have you got your head in the clouds or in the sand? Failure to switch to a different utility supplier or bank is costing British households up to £7.6billion a year, according to a new report
Whether a person has their 'Head in the Clouds', 'Head in the Sand', or makes decisions that are 'Heart over Head', the test provides tips based on an individual's results.
The Institute of Inertia's Dr. Thomas Webb, Social Psychologist at The University of Sheffield, said: 'The fact that people could save money is widely documented, but we know less about what causes people to spend more than they need to.
'We suspect that one reason could be "psychological inertia" – this is the idea that people can be resistant to change and so keep doing things (or not doing things) even if they are not in their best interests. There is the potential for this to contribute to the UK's financial hardship.'
Paul Galligan, Managing Director at comparethemarket.com commented: ' We have identified that consumers face real issues when it comes to managing their finances and there is a need to give consumers the help and tools that they need to be able to have better control over their money.
Manage your household bills: To help people understand how they can improve the way they deal with household bills, the institute has also launched a short online test
'Our ambition is for the Institute to develop real, achievable and simple ways to tackle behavioural barriers and inspire people into action. This is a long-term commitment, bringing a range of experts together to see how we can best help consumers to make better financial gains over time.'
According to the report, just 30 per cent said they had a budget which they were 'good at sticking to', whilst a similar number of people said they 'shop around for the best deals'.
In the last five years, around 52 per cent of people will have changed their hair style, favourite supermarket (50 per cent) or favourite drink (66 per cent), while just over a quarter of people have changed their current account.
Most watched Money videos
- Door comes off Volkswagen Sharan during Euro NCAP safety tests
- How to find shares with growing dividends
- Durability of Tesla Model X examined in Euro NCAP clip
- Introducing the new Ford Puma with fuel-saving powertrain technology
- Wireless charging network will be installed in Britain from 2020
- Euro NCAP safety tests of new Porsche Taycan shown in clip
- How a biotech trust invests in the future of medicine
- Will the Bank of England cut interest rates?
- What will 2020 hold for investors and the UK stock market?
- Health Secretary: Risk of coronavirus to UK public remains low
- Hyundai Uber concept flying taxi shown off in promo vid
- Sarah Willingham explains what makes an 'investable business'


text:
Foie gras off Amazon.com's menu in California after settlementReuters | Updated: 08-12-2018 06:11 IST | Created: 08-12-2018 06:11 IST
The lawsuit filed by prosecutors in Los Angeles, Monterey and Santa Clara counties accused the world's largest online retailer of violating a 2004 state law banning sales of the fatty duck and goose liver if it was produced by force-feeding poultry.
A judge approved the settlement on Thursday between Amazon and the three prosecutors, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement.
Amazon declined comment.
To produce foie gras, ducks and geese are force-fed over a period of days by having metal pipes pushed down their throats so grain and fat can be pumped into their stomachs. Prosecutors said the process was cruel and painful.
Prosecutors contacted Amazon several years ago regarding their concerns and the company took step to stop foie gras sales. As the parties were in negotiations, the foie gras industry launched a lawsuit against California's ban and a U.S. court blocked it in 2015.
A federal appeals court overturned that ruling in 2017 and said the state was free to enforce it. North American foie gras producers have now asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up their case. (Reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Bill Tarrant and G Crosse)
- READ MORE ON:
- amazon books
- amazon music
- amazon echo
- sales contest
- sales tax
- ferrari california
- california roll
- united states secretary of state
- united states department of state
- israeli settlement
- straits settlements
- los angeles county district attorney
- foie gras


text:
WASHINGTON (FNS) -- While Americans are eating less fat, they're not all eating their vegetables, according to data from a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. economics, commenting on preliminary data from the first year of the three-year survey. However, Stauber added, "the data show that American diets are changing in content, variety and where the foods are bought and eaten." The study showed that consumers in 1994 got 33% of their calories from fat, compared with 40% in the ...
REGISTER TO VIEW THIS ARTICLE - Register for a Free Account
Registering for content on Supermarket News will give youINSTANTaccess to invaluable articles and media content that industry professionals rely on. You will have access to our special reports, feature articles, and industry analysis. It’sFREE, easy and quick. What are you waiting for!In addition you will also receive complimentary access to the SN salary survey data tables.
Attention Paid Print Subscribers: While you have already been grantedfreeaccess to SNwe ask that youregister now.We promise it will only take a few minutes! Or visit your profile and add your print magazine account number and zip code.


text:
A cruise agency has almost entirely removed cruise jargon from its website and made its national TV debut without images of ships in a bid to attract new-to-cruise customers.
Cruise Nation has removed “about 80% of cruise language” from the package section of its website, which accounts for 96% of its traffic.
Its 30-second ad features excursion destinations and beaches, onboard food, drink, activities and entertainment, but does not include any bow-to-stern pictures of ships.
The word ‘cruise’ is mentioned only in company names.
On its site, the agency uses the term ‘floating resort’ rather than ship, accommodation instead of cabin and, in many instances, holiday rather than cruise.
Owner and managing director Phil Evans said the Norwegian Cruise Line-backed ad, which has the tagline ‘Not All Holidays Are Equal’, is aimed at new-to-cruise customers. It launched on January 23 on ITV, Channel 5 and some Sky channels.
Evans said: “We are removing the cruise speak, which I believe is a major barrier to someone who has never cruised before.
“We are trying to tap into the holiday and new-to-cruise market.
“We are getting people to compare past holidays with [the ad],” said Evans, adding that he wanted to capitalise on the trend for all-inclusive breaks with NCL’s all-inclusive packages.
The decision was prompted by a Cruise Nation survey into the holiday habits and use of language of 5,000 customers and members of the public last month.
NCL has also backed an advert for Scottish agency Barrhead Travel – which will feature ships – to be aired this week.
This is a community-moderated forum.
All post are the individual views of the respective commenter and are not the expressed views of Travel Weekly.
By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms & Conditions.


text:
The review, published in The Cochrane Library, concludes that supplementation with vitamin D does not improve bone density in the general population of children, but may have benefits for those with very low vitamin D status.
"Vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effects on bone density at any site in healthy children. There was, however, some indication that children who had low levels of vitamin D in their blood might benefit from supplementation," said study leader Dr Tania Winzenberg, of the Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania.
Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissues, leading to high bone fragility and an increased risk of fracture.
Low bone mineral density is a major risk factor for osteoporosis. Previous studies have suggested that up to 90 per cent of bone mass is built during childhood, and increasing bone mass in childhood is seen as a potential way to reduce the impact of osteoporosis
“It is estimated that a 10 per cent increase in peak bone mass reduces the risk of an osteoporotic fracture in adult life by 50 per cent,” stated the researchers.
Vitamin D is known to improve calcium deposition in bones, and previous research has suggested children with vitamin D deficiency have reduced bone density.
“By measuring bone density, you can assess how well an intervention such as vitamin D supplementation improves bone health,” said Dr Winzenberg.
The new Cochrane review assessed the results of six high quality trails looking at vitamin D supplementation and bone density in children, investigating
The authors reported vitamin D supplementation to have no statistically significant effects on, hip bone, forearm, or whole body bone mineral density. However, a small but statistically insignificant trend was found lumbar spine bone mineral density.
Researchers also found “a trend towards a larger effect with low vitamin D for total body bone mineral concentration”, indicating that low vitamin D status trails reported significant effects on total body bone density and lumbar spine bone density from vitamin D supplementation.
Talking to NutraIngredients, Dr Winzenberg outlined two key findings to take from the review. “Firstly, there is reasonable evidence that giving vitamin D supplements to a general population does very little in terms of bone density.”
“But secondly, if we look at a specific group like deficient children, then the indications are that groups with lower status could see some benefits. But as it stands, the evidence is not good enough to make firm conclusions.”
Commenting independently on the review, Dr. Ailsa Welch, from the University of East Anglia told NutraIngredients.com that the effects of vitamin D hinge on the baseline status: “If your status is already adequate, then the authors found no effect. But there needs to be more work done to determine the effects in low status children.”
Welch added that she believed the research was “very useful”, and said that the work “points to the need for further research in children.”
Andrew Shao, Ph.D, Senior Vice President of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) highlighted that the authors “had very little data to work with, because there are very few studies in children.”
“Right from the start the researchers are restricted in terms of participants – there just aren’t enough studies in children to give a conclusive answer on the subject,” added Shao.
Shao also pointed out the “many other health benefits associated with vitamin D”, and stated that the findings of any study on vitamin D “should not overlook the fact that a lot of people – including children – have inadequate vitamin D status, or are fully deficient.”
Dr Winzenberg confirmed that the evidence is “pretty strong […]to suggest that research with deficient children is a promising area,” but added that “there is no suggestion that supplementing the entire population would be a good idea.”
Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Issue 10, Article Number: CD006944, doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006944.pub2.
“Vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children”
Authors: T.M. Winzenberg, S. Powell, K.A. Shaw, G. Jones


text:
Inpress Poets at the Durham Book Festival
Three of our favourite northern poets are taking part in an event at the Durham Book Festival, hooray! Smokestack poet Jo Coley, Smith|Doorstop's Christy Ducker and Cynthia Fuller, most recently published by Red Squirrel Press will be reading from their respective latest collections. See you down the front!
Book tickets here.


text:
Samsung unveiled its latest affordable handsets including Galaxy Core 2, Ace 4 And Young 2 just a couple of days ago. However, till now, the South Korean smartphone maker did not reveal the pricing of the devices.
The update is that if the formal pricing mentioned at the Samsung Netherlands website is to be believed, the Samsung Galaxy Core 2 would cost around €179 in Europe and if it was to be translated into Indian currency, it would be Rs. 14,627. But the handset's price could vary depending on the market it would be launched.
Specs-wise, Samsung Galaxy Core 2 comes with a 4.5-inch display and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core chip and a 2000mAh battery. Other specs include: Android 4.4 KitKat, TouchWiz Essence UI, 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED flash, 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front-facing camera, dual SIM support, 3G HSPA+ connectivity, 768MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage.
Prices of the other three phones have also been revealed. Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 is reportedly said to be priced at €219, which translates to Rs. 17,905. And the Galaxy Young 2 is expected to be priced at €99 (approx. Rs. 8,094). The price of the Galaxy Star 2 is the only one which has not been estimated so far.
All these Samsung devices are pretty affordable compared to other Android devices, which come powered by Android KitKat OS. There are slim chances of these devices getting launched in India.
But even if it lands in the Indian market, these smartphones will have to face a hard-hitting rivals from domestic vendors like Micromax, Karbonn, Lava and Xolo as these companies are continuously delivering KitKat flavored smartphones to the domestic customers.


text:
Employees at an Apple shop in Towson, Maryland, have formed a union and petitioned for a formal union election. Following shops in Manhattan and Atlanta, this is the third Apple retail site in recent weeks to take substantial steps toward becoming the first fully recognized Apple union. The union, known as AppleCORE (Coalition of Organized Retail Employees), claims to have the backing of the majority of the store’s employees and is backed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
AppleCORE’s letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook states, “We have come together as a union out of a profound love of our job as workers inside the firm and out of concern for the company itself.” “To be clear, the decision to create a union is about us as workers having access to rights we don’t have now.” AppleCORE hasn’t made any particular demands to Apple yet. Retail workers at Apple have been denied a decent wage, cost of living increases, and equitable stock options, according to workers at the Atlanta shop, who are represented by the Communications Workers of America.
The Grand Central Terminal store’s union, Fruit Stand Workers United, is demanding a minimum wage of $30 per hour, as well as more comprehensive benefits such as greater tuition reimbursement, longer vacation time, and better retirement alternatives such as larger 401(k) matching. Apple retail rates currently range from $20 to $30 per hour, plus some Apple stock. Apple retail employees are also eligible for health insurance and tuition assistance.
These unions must get more than 50% of the vote in an election organized by the National Labor Relations Board in order to achieve legal recognition (NLRB). The Atlanta store might be the first to unionize, with voting set to begin on June 2. Over 70 percent of the more than 100 employees at the Atlanta business had shown support for the union as of the announcement to register for an election.
According to a copy of the specified election agreement acquired by The Verge, Apple Store employees in Atlanta have struck an agreement with the firm to hold a union election on June 2nd. The announcement represents a significant step forward in the worker-led push to join the Communications Workers of America. The Cumberland Mall outlet will be the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States if the push is successful. It was the first Apple retail outlet in the United States to register for a union election in April. Workers at the Grand Central Terminal shop in New York, as well as those at the Towson Town Center store in Maryland, have started a union push.


text:
Lloydspharmacy will roll out its new store design to 70 UK shops, as its parent company reveals a drop in first-quarter earnings.
Lloydspharmacy owner Celesio said the UK market – the most important for the company – showed a “positive operational development” in the first quarter to December 2012, driven by the new group structure and operational excellence programme.
But it said Government measures regarding prescription payments and a weak British pound had a “negative effect” on Lloydspharmacy’s earnings growth.
Last year, Lloydspharmacy trialled a new store design in two shops, focusing on pain and skin medication. It is now set to roll the design out across the country.
UK managing director Cormac Tobin told Retail Week that Lloydspharmacy has now introduced click-and-collect in some stores and will be driving a more digitally-led strategy going forward.
It restructured its management team this year as it appointed Cormac Tobin as UK managing director, replacing Mark James. He is the retailer’s fourth managing director since 2010.
Celesio revealed group adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was down 10.4% to €126.6m. Group sales declined 5% to €5.3m. Celesio chief executive Markus Pinger said the group anticipates second-quarter performance will improve.


text:
Pollo Tropical chicken chain suffers massive Dallas-Fort Worth closures
Sad news if you liked Pollo Tropical, the chicken restaurant chain. Fiesta Restaurant Group, its Addison-based owner, abruptly closed all locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Nashville, Tennessee, on April 24.
The company, which also owns the Taco Cabana chain, will continue to operate 19 Pollo Tropical restaurants, including 13 in Atlanta and six in south Texas, in which to work through strategies for future Pollo Tropical expansion beyond Florida. Up to five closed restaurants may be rebranded as Taco Cabanas. Where possible, employees impacted by restaurant closures will be offered positions at nearby restaurants.
Fiesta president and CEO Richard Stockinger says in a release that they've done a comprehensive review of all aspects of the business.
"Fiesta's recent growth initiatives diverted resources from our core markets, and some amount of renewal is required to restore momentum in these markets," he says. "While the decision to close restaurants is never easy, we believe it is vital to focus the company's resources and efforts on markets and locations that have proven successful for our brands."
But he still has faith in the Pollo Tropical brand.
"Prior disappointing expansion results in the Northeast and Texas notwithstanding, we believe the Pollo Tropical brand, featuring its fire-grilled marinated chicken, will serve as a platform for regional translation and substantial long-term growth," Stockinger says.
The company plans to relaunch the Pollo Tropical brand in September, and to relaunch the Taco Cabana brand later in the year.
That will involve tasks such as improving the quality and freshness of ingredients, addressing deferred maintenance needs to bring restaurants up to a high-quality standard, and reducing costs.
It also plans to curtail new restaurant development and remodeling until it finishes the revitalization.


text:
Hyundai has used this week’s Detroit Auto Show to unveil the Santa Cruz concept, its vision of the off-roading pickup that ‘Millennials’ have been waiting for.
Speaking in Detroit, Hyundai America’s Mark Dipko said that young buyers, particularly the ‘Urban Adventurer’ set, are looking for capable and stylish options in the pickup market - and they're coming up short.
“This new crossover allows them all the expandable utility they need throughout their active week, from work-life professionalism, to social interests, to a whole variety of outdoor pursuits, without the typical compromises they have come to expect from the industry’s current product offerings,” he said.
Despite the absence of a player in the hugely competitive pickup segment, the carmaker has made great strides in Australia’s sales race, holding down fourth position overall and recently passing 100,000 sales for the first time.
A pickup that can take on Toyota’s dominant HiLux, Ford’s Ranger and the incoming new Nissan Navara could be the ticket to Hyundai stealing third place from Holden (only 7000 units ahead of Hyundai at the end of 2014).
The Santa Cruz isn’t that model, however: although specific dimensions have not been revealed, Hyundai says its concept is around the same size as a small crossover - a deliberate move that highlights its focus on recreation rather than commercial work.
The Santa Cruz appears more than ready for hauling duties in other ways, however, with power provided by a 141kW and 406Nm 2.0 litre turbodiesel engine matched to Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system.
Hyundai has offered no word on putting the Santa Cruz into production, but this may yet be our first look at things to come.
Watch this space.
- Interested in buying HYUNDAI ? Visit our HYUNDAI showroom for more information.


text:
After 83 years, Oregon Fruit Products relocates, grows into expanded Salem plant
Chris Sarles, chief executive officer of Oregon Fruit Products, says the decades-old business could double revenues over the next five years after it finishes moving from West Salem to a renovated, more efficient plant on the city's southeast side.
Sarles sees the 165,000 square-foot site at 3180 22nd St. SE as a place that allows workers and equipment to run more efficiently, laying out lines as optimally as possible and foregoing the need for, say, multiple forklifts to get a job done when one will do.
The approximately $13 million relocation is a strong reminder of how far the company has come since its 1935 founding by Max Gehlar, who, the story goes, had been searching for a more financially viable alternative to growing fruit.
Nowadays, Oregon Fruit Products is spread across a host of industries. While retaining its legacy export business — which sees products ship to some 15 countries — the company has increasingly invested in the food service industry and selling products for the craft beverage business, which includes distilling and brewing.
Oregon Fruit Products officials are trying to preserve the company's legacy while helping it evolve for the times. "I just think that any healthy business has multiple legs to its stool," Sarles said, talking business strategy this month inside one of the company's new conference rooms.
Sarles, an energetic Oregon State University graduate and beverage industry alum, took the helm at Oregon Fruit Products in 2014.
He came aboard after Oregon Fruit Products changed ownership in 2011 from the Gehlar family to former Columbia Distributing board member Ed Maletis.
"The ability to diversify the business — and continually diversify the business — is what helps ensure a higher probability of long-term sustainability and success," Sarles said.
Still, Oregon Fruit Products hasn't abandoned its roots, continuing to support its export business. "It's part of who we are," Sarles said. "But yet when you look at the dollar invested versus the dollar returned, it's a more expensive area to go to explore versus the return you'll get."
In an homage to the past, one of the building's rooms is named for the Gehlar family. Another is dedicated to Patti Law, a lifer who joined the company while still in college in 1979. She has ascended the ranks to general manager.
Yuletide cheer:17 places to cut your own Christmas trees in and near Salem
Back when she started, the company focused on canning. Its retail cans were everywhere, Law said. But toward the late 1980s and early 1990s, can sales were falling off and company officials needed to diversify.
The company began its shift toward selling food service products and aseptic purees.
Aseptic purees, like fruit juice boxes, are packaged in a sterile container inside a sterile environment, meaning they don't have to be frozen or refrigerated, Law said.
That shift spurred a recent, big investment: The company spent more than $1 million on "a state of the art aseptic system" as part of some $5 million in new equipment and renovation investments for the relocation, said company spokeswoman Heather Jones.
Oregon Fruit Products obtained $300,000 in grant money from Salem's Urban Renewal Agency, using the money to help prep the site for occupancy, Jones said. And NORPAC Foods sold the site for $8 million in January, Marion County property records show.
Turning the page at a modern plant doesn't mean company officials have completely forgotten their old West Salem home. Sarles said he'll miss "the direct connection to where it all began."
Email email@example.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.
Support our journalism: Become a Salem Statesman Journal subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one.


text:
Dell confirmed on Thursday evening that users of its Dell Streak tablet who purchased the device through AT&T will have to wait until next year to receive an update to Android 2.2 (Froyo). In a post on the company’s Direct2Dell blog, Dell states that Streaks SIM-locked to AT&T’s network will not be updated to Froyo until some time in January. Dell began updating the European version of the Streak to Android 2.2 last month, and stated at that time that AT&T devices would receive the update in December. Dell did not specify a reason for this new delay, stating only that it would continue to work with AT&T to release the Froyo update. AT&T’s version of the Dell Streak currently runs Android 1.6.
If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.


text:
South Bend adult store robbed at gunpoint
SOUTH BEND — Police say a man robbed a South Bend adult entertainment store at gunpoint earlier this week.
Police responded at 6:30 p.m. Monday to the Little Denmark shop at 3002 Western Ave., where a cashier said a man walked in with a handgun and demanded money.
The robber got an undisclosed amount of cash, left the store and ran south-southwest, a city police spokesman said. The man appeared to be in his 20s and was wearing a dark hooded jacket or sweatshirt.


text:
Built-in Google Cast comes to VIZIO’s more affordable TVs
By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
April 19, 2016
Not content to restrict cool features to the ultra high-end, VIZIO has announced that it is bringing Google Cast to two of its lower-cost TV lineups. Rolling out to retailers soon, the new M-Series and E-Series lineups will pack VIZIO's SmartCast, which is powered by the same Google Cast technology behind Chromecast.
To read this entire article, please click here.


text:
Circle Internet Financial Inc., a Boston startup founded by Brightcove Inc. chairman Jeremy Allaire, said it has raised $9 million in Series A financing as it looks to bring payment acceptance tools to merchants that use digital currency.
Investors include Jim Breyer, Accel Partners, and General Catalyst Partners.
Breyer, a partner at Accel Partners, is also investing as an individual. Breyer will join Circle’s board of directors.
Allaire’s previous company, Brightcove, is a Boston-based online video platform.
“Bitcoin and digital currency represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the future of the Internet and global commerce,” Allaire, who is also chief executive of Circle Internet Financial, said in a statement. “There’s a tremendous opportunity to make payments easier, more secure and less costly for consumers and businesses. Digital currency can dramatically reduce the friction and costs currently experienced in the world by merchants and consumers.”


text:
Vertiginous Golf Release Trailer
Vertiginous Golf, a dystopian steam punk mini golf game, will be available on May 6.
Videos You May Enjoy
Articles You May Enjoy
- Infinite Crisis – Batman Champion Profile!
- The Dark Knight returns with an in-depth look at the new Batman Champion Profile video for Infinite Crisis!
- Crowfall Discusses Changes to Armor System
- Crowfall's latest developer blog reveals that the team is taking a new approach to the game's armor system.
- Rusty Hearts launches Requiem Update
- Today, a new update arrives in Rusty Hearts, along with a new playable avatar.


text:
After achieving strong, double-digit bottomline growth in CY21, Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PSX: PMPK) is off to a solid start in CY22. As per the company’s latest financials posted to the bourse for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the second-ranked cigarette manufacturer expanded its topline by a fifth, which, in addition with operational efficiencies, yielded net profit gain of 60 percent year-on-year.
These are good times, as it is rare for PMPK to score double-digit growth in sales. Since the retail price increments have been difficult to implement in this price-conscious, inflation-fatigued market, it appears that the major reason for the 20 percent yearly increase in net turnover is the uptick in cigarette volumes sold in the market. Government’s LSM data also point towards higher cigarette output in recent months. (Market leader, Pakistan Tobacco, had a lower, 9% net turnover growth in 1QCY22. Read more here).
Despite topline gains, the increase in gross profit (8% YoY) was on the lower side. This was due to the ‘cost of sales’ growing out-of-proportion (32% YoY) to consume 57 percent of net turnover during 1QCY22, which was higher than 52 percent of the same ratio seen during the same period last year. Just as rest of the industries, the tobacco manufacturing industry has also been reeling under the weight of significantly higher input prices and rising cost of utilities, logistics services.
Thankfully for PMPK, the management’s grip on non-production costs seemed to further tighten during 1QCY22, thereby providing significant cost savings to return 50 percent yearly growth in operating profit. The distribution and marketing expenses, administrative expenses and other expenses all declined in double digits. Together, these three expense heads exhausted 17 percent of net turnover in 1QCY22, which was much lower than 30 percent of the same ratio witnessed in the same period last year.
In the end, thanks to topline growth and cost savings in non-manufacturing domains, PMPK closed the first quarter of the ongoing year with net profits of Rs1.15 billion, growing significantly by 60 percent year-on-year. If it is rare for this firm to achieve double-digit topline growth, it is also unique that PMPK booked over a billion rupees as net profits in a single quarter. At this pace, the firm is on track to beat Rs2.3 billion net profits that it had booked last year.
But can this momentum be sustained? The market leader, whose topline has grown strongly in double-digits in recent years, has witnessed revenue growth slowdown in 1QCY22. A lot is riding on how the upcoming federal budget impacts the tobacco industry. If the cash-starved government ignored the formal industry’s arguments and raised the FED rate on cigarette sales, it would likely depress volumetric growth in upcoming quarters. Whether or not there will be a rate hike will become known in a month’s time.


text:
You are here
This is the beginning of a new era — one that’s shaded green — at Price Chopper Supermarkets, the regional chain operated by Golub Corp., based in Schenectady, N.Y. The company has expressed its plans to be an environmental leader, and its efforts so far certainly point to even greener days ahead.
Price Chopper Supermarkets Econofrost night curtains are used in Price Chopper stores to reduce energy consumption by 36 percent.
Price Chopper Supermarkets Price Chopper uses auto-dimming ballasts with high-efficiency T5 fluorescent fixtures to reduce lighting when not needed. Lighting fixtures are indivually controlled to allow for fine-tuning of the lighting system.
Price Chopper Supermarkets New reach-in dairy cases are 45 percent more efficient than older models. Protective film applied to the case doors prevents fogging, eliminating the need for heaters.
Price Chopper Supermarkets


text:
Wall Street analysts predict that Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KOP) will announce $309.00 million in sales for the current quarter, Zacks reports. Two analysts have made estimates for Koppers’ earnings. The highest sales estimate is $318.70 million and the lowest is $299.30 million. Koppers reported sales of $313.20 million in the same quarter last year, which indicates a negative year over year growth rate of 1.3%. The business is scheduled to issue its next quarterly earnings report on Thursday, February 22nd.
According to Zacks, analysts expect that Koppers will report full year sales of $309.00 million for the current financial year, with estimates ranging from $1.41 billion to $1.45 billion. For the next year, analysts expect that the business will report sales of $1.45 billion per share, with estimates ranging from $1.44 billion to $1.47 billion. Zacks Investment Research’s sales calculations are a mean average based on a survey of analysts that cover Koppers.
Koppers (NYSE:KOP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.55. The firm had revenue of $384.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $363.00 million. Koppers had a return on equity of 119.06% and a net margin of 3.54%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.99 earnings per share.
Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Koppers during the 4th quarter valued at $141,000. LS Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Koppers by 314.0% during the 4th quarter. LS Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,902 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 2,201 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. acquired a new stake in Koppers during the 3rd quarter valued at $166,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Koppers in the third quarter worth $195,000. Finally, Virtu KCG Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Koppers in the second quarter worth $201,000. 88.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Shares of Koppers (KOP) opened at $39.65 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $822.56, a P/E ratio of 17.16 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.08, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Koppers has a 52-week low of $33.90 and a 52-week high of $51.80.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: This piece was originally published by Community Financial News and is owned by of Community Financial News. If you are accessing this piece on another site, it was stolen and reposted in violation of United States and international trademark & copyright legislation. The correct version of this piece can be accessed at https://www.com-unik.info/2018/02/12/309-00-million-in-sales-expected-for-koppers-holdings-inc-kop-this-quarter.html.
Koppers Holdings Inc is a global integrated provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds. The Company operates through three segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) and Performance Chemicals (PC). The RUPS business sells treated and untreated wood products, rail joint bars and services primarily to the railroad markets.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
Receive News & Ratings for Koppers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koppers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


text:
|By Whisky Live Staff||19-02-2017|
International Beverage, producer of some of the global drinks industry’s most acclaimed premium spirits, is celebrating a momentous win in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Scotland 2017 awards, after being crowned Whisky Distiller of the Year.
It caps a phenomenal year for the business in which its whisky brands have scooped over 80 medals in international competitions. At the World Whiskies Awards earlier this year, Old Pulteney 1989 was named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ and anCnoc 18 Year Old ‘World’s Best Whisky’ in the Highland 13 – 20 year old category, whilst Balblair Vintage 1990 won the IWSC Trophy for a single malt Scotch whisky over 15 years old. And last month, Speyburn was named Speyside Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition as well as its 10 year old expression being awarded a silver medal.
Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky invites the industry elite to nominate the finest companies and individuals throughout the whisky world. From these entries the Whisky Magazine editorial panel then choose the winners. The lavish Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards ceremony took place on the 2nd December at Surgeons Hall in Edinburgh, and was attended by leaders of the Scottish whisky world.
The International Beverage team is thrilled to have been recognised in such a prestigious competition, amongst so many of their industry peers. There were further celebrations for the business with Gordon Bruce, Distillery Manager at Knockdhu taking second place and an honourable mention in the Scotch Distillery Manager of the Year category.


text:
Tango Gameworks has released a new gameplay trailer for The Evil Within as PAX East rolls around and we get a fairly good look at some of the enemies within, which includes a lethal killer with a box for a head, a heavily scarred robed man with superhuman strength, monsters that crawl on all six legs and much more. Check it out above.
The Evil Within is the product of horror veteran Shinji Mikami and centers on detective Sebastien Castellanos as he enters a demented world after investigating a mass murder with his officers. How and why he got there – along with the force that killed his colleagues – is yet to be revealed but there is all manner of insanity happening and Sebastien must find a way to survive.
The Evil Within releases on August 26th in North America and August 29th in Europe for PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC.
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)


text:
By Michael Baxter, Fresh Business Thinking For it to flourish sooner rather than later, sustainable fashion needs engagement with the consumer which in turns requires trust and transparency with collaboration. At least that seems to have been the consensus at a recent webinar co-hosted by haysmacintyre and the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. “Sustainability is […]
Posted on 21st August 2020 .
Great British Entrepreneur Awards founder, Francesca James, has been talking to a number of entrepreneurs recently about how they have pivoted or adopted a ‘plan b’ during these challenging times. Snag tights founder Brie says that pre-pandemic her business was doing £2 million a month revenue and sales were growing month on month. And then […]
Posted on 10th July 2020 in Great British Entrepreneurs.
It’s easy to start feeling more than a little overwhelmed with the bad news right now which is why The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are on a mission to highlight the good; the entrepreneurs & businesses who are doing amazing things, who have achieved so much (before and during the Covid-19 pandemic), who may have […]


text:
• Opto 22 announced Oct. 24 a new version of its groov edge appliance that directly embeds key IIoT technologies, including MQTT and OPC-UA drivers. Added to the groov View software for web and mobile visualization, and its open-source Node-RED development environment, the new release offers engineers, technicians and developers a comprehensive set of tools for edge deployment in industrial environments. These new embedded capabilities were made possible by forging close partnerships with technology providers Inductive Automation and Cirrus Link Solutions and are part of Inductive's Ignition Edge Onboard program.
• Advantech reported Nov. 6 that it's partnered with Mitsubishi Electric, Omron, NEC, IBM Japan and Oracle Japan to establish the Edgecross Consortium on Nov. 29 to overcome boundaries between companies and industries to realize collaboration between factory automation and IT. The group reports that it allows easy realization of factory automation and IT collaboration through its open Edgecross software platform that's based on edge computing. By residing on the edge layer, this platform facilitates connectivity between factory shop floors and value chains, while enabling the rapid acquisition, analysis, and utilization of data essential to smart manufacturing.
Related: more industry expansions and contractions:
• Endress+Hauser reported Nov. 8 that it's expanding its portfolio of products, solutions and services in the field of process analytical measurement by acquiring Blue Ocean Nova AG, a manufacturer of innovative inline spectrometers for monitoring quality-relevant process parameters. The company will operate under the umbrella of Endress+Hauser’s center of competence for liquid analysis.
• Emerson and exida released Oct. 31 the DeltaV safety instrumented system (SIS) configurator, which is an exida exSILentia tool that automatically generates DeltaV SIS configurations. By pairing built-in DeltaV functionality with exida’s comprehensive software tools for functional safety, users can develop safety logic configurations much faster and in fewer steps.


text:
Security Researchers Worry About Worm Activation; Best Practices to Avoiding the Worm
IT security experts are fearfully awaiting the activation of an Internet worm believed to have infected over 1 million computers worldwide, according to USA Today.
IT security experts are fearfully awaiting the activation of an Internet worm believed to have infected over 1 million computers worldwide, according to USA Today .
The worm, known as "Conficker" or "Downadup," searches for and infects computers that run Microsoft Windows operating systems and failed to download a vulnerability patch released by the company in October .
The worm first appeared on Jan. 7. Tech security researchers say it probed for and implanted itself on any unpatched Windows PC. It then scanned for, broke into and infected all nearby computer servers. It also implanted itself onto any portable device plugged into the PCs' USB inputs, such as a thumb drive storage stick, an iPod or a digital camera. When the corrupted device was plugged into another computer, that machine became infected — and began searching for other PCs to infect.
Once activated, security experts worry the worm could steal massive amounts of personal information or coordinate an enormous spam blast.
Another problem is that the majority of infected computers are in China, Russia, and Brazil where pirating of Microsoft products are most pervasive, reports the Telegraph . People running pirated copies of Microsoft Windows do not have access to the security patch, and thus will continue to carry and spread the worm.
But there are things companies and individuals can do to protect themselves.
USA Today reports US-CERT's National Cyber Alert System recommends corporations disable the "autorun" feature within Windows. Microsoft has also issued a cleanup tool, but the worm blocks any Internet traffic to the tool.
"Computer users," reports the Telegraph, "are advised to ensure their antivirus software, operating system and firewall is up to date, and that they have installed a Microsoft patch designed to combat the problem, MS08-067 , which is available from the Microsoft site."


text:
FinTech has suddenly been getting a lot of attention recently. This is the second in a series of three articles seeking to expose its true nature.
The first article was an overview of the FinTech industry in Japan and abroad, using actual data and case studies.
This second article will focus on the individuals behind FinTech to further delve into the background of its progress.
■ The human network behind the rise of FinTech
As argued in the final section of the previous article, the government, major corporations, and venture capital funds must cooperate for Japan’s FinTech industry to thrive.
The FinTech industry outside Japan, particularly in the U.S., is characterized by a close relationship between the government, major corporations, and venture capital firms. Innovations that emerge from FinTech startups have been successfully incorporated into the financial system as social infrastructure.
What is behind this success?
The chart above shows some of the connections in the U.S. FinTech industry.
Actually, behind the industry’s success is a vast network of shareholders that cuts across various sectors.
Let’s see how these personal ties have contributed to the rise of FinTech.
■ “PayPal Mafia” is everywhere
Former PayPal executives often play a leading role in the establishment of revolutionary services that are transforming the world. These people include Elon Musk, founder of Tesla Motors and Space X; Reid Garrett Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn; and Chad Harry, one of the founders of YouTube.
Even though they may not receive much attention in Japan, former PayPal executives are also active in the FinTech industry.
・It seems obvious that these people would exert a strong influence on FinTech, as PayPal is a prototype of the FinTech business.
Bill Harris, CEO of Personal Capital and introduced in a previous article, also comes from PayPal.
Harris has previously served as CEO of PayPal and as CEO of Intuit, a developer of accounting systems, although this is not well known in Japan. In fact, Harris is a leader of the FinTech world.
Harris founded Personal Capital after 25 years of experience and preparation in the FinTech industry.
・Personal Capital, which ranked 17th in Disruptor 50, provides investment management and advisory services for wealthy clients.
・For reference: Clip showing Bill Harris talking about his experience at PayPal and Intuit
And don’t forget Max Levchin, who was once known as a “consigliere” (an adviser to the Mafia).
Max Levchin is a co-founder and former CTO of PayPal. He is also known as the founder and CEO of Slide, which was acquired by Google for $182 million.
Levchin, after selling Slide, established Affirm, an online settlement solution company.
・Affirm is a FinTech startup known for its mobile services that allow users to settle payments with two clicks. The company wants to build a next-generation payment settlement network.
・For reference：Article based on an interview with Max Levchin about Affirm
Google Wallet once made a stir by entering the mobile payment business. However, not many people know that former PayPal officials were behind Google Wallet. Osama Bedier and Stephanie Tilenius, who developed Google Wallet, are former PayPal directors. They were in a position to know PayPal’s mobile strategy, and that’s how they created Google Wallet’s strategy.
Stripe, discussed in the previous article, is an online-settlement service startup seeking to replace PayPal.
What is surprising is that the PayPal Mafia is also deeply involved in this startup.
Unlike Personal Capital or Affirm, the company’s management and board members do not seem to have any relationship with PayPal. However, shareholders include Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.
Therefore, it may not be a coincidence that the company’s investors include Sequoia Capital in Round B, and Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures in Round C.
・Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm at which Roelof Botha, former PayPal CFO, is a partner.
・Founders Fund is a venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel.
・Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm at which Keith Rabois is a partner. Rabois,who served as a senior executive at PayPal, became COO at Square, a smartphone settlement service provider.
In this way, the influence of the PayPal Mafia as investors and advisers cannot be ignored.
Perhaps Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, is the most famous member of the PayPal Mafia who succeeded as an investor.
Hoffman, often called the most successful investor of the past 10 years, also invested in Facebook when the company was starting out. He is also an ardent investor in the FinTech field.
Among the FinTech operations, Hoffman is particularly interested in settlement services. He has invested in Cardspring, which was acquired by Twitter, and Xapo, a Bitcoin settlement firm.
・For reference：Article based on an interview with Reid Hoffman concerning credit card settlement services
・For reference：Article based on an interview with Reid Hoffman concerning Bitcoin
Founders Fund, a venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel, the Mafia boss, has also invested in a number of FinTech startups in addition to Stripe, including Oscar (43th on the Disruptor 50 list), an online platform for health insurance; BitPay, a Bitcon settlement system; and Mint, a household budget and asset-management service.
These are just a handful of examples.
It should be clear by now that PayPal has produced a number of people who exert strong influence on the FinTech industry.
■ Human network includes established players
Of course, the human network goes beyond startups in the FinTech industry, such as PayPal. It goes without saying that individuals who previously worked for major banks or related entities contributed significantly to the development of the industry.
Motif Investing, an online investment broker that ranked No. 1 on Disruptor 50, is one such company.
Advisers to the firm include a former CMO, COO and president of E*Trade, the world’s biggest online brokerage; a former CEO of GETCO (now KCG), a well-known market maker; and a former CTO of Intuit, a major accounting system firm.
Most executives of Betterment, an online investment advisory service, come from investment banks or major financial institutions, including CEO Jonathan Stein.
Likewise, Wealthfront, an online investment advisory firm ranked 20th in Disruptor 50, has Burton Malkiel, author of “A Random Walk Down Wall Street,” as its CIO. Malkiel served as chairman of the Economics Department of Princeton University and a member of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers.
Certainly, it may obvious that the FinTech industry has many people from the financial industry. Even so, the extent of the connections is quite unusual.
In recent years, the FinTech industry has seen a number of cases in which established companies supply human resources.
These companies send executives as board members to firms in which they have invested, and establish incubation programs to provide human support.
Of course, the market environment was not always this way.
Prior to the global financial crisis, established companies did not show any interest in FinTech startups.
Major banks considered the business scale of FinTech startups too small.
However, the inefficiency and inconsistency of the financial system came to light after the financial crisis. Growing distrust of the system led to a loss of customers.
Banks had to act swiftly in response, but they could not transform on their own. Not only were they too weak, they were simply too big to change.
As a result, they turned to the FinTech industry.
At the same time, FinTech startups were attracting many customers, who had begun to distrust and be disappointed with established players. These startups were being accepted as providers of new financial solution services.
That did not mean, however, that everything was smooth sailing for FinTech startups. Although they were attracting many customers, the size of their operations still paled in comparison with that of established companies.
They lacked enough capital and customer trust necessary to create a financial system that could serve as social infrastructure. There were also many regulatory hurdles.
Thus, FinTech startups turned to established companies for help.
The final section of the previous article stated that the U.S. FinTech industry arose as a result of a joint effort between venture-capital companies, the government, and major corporations. This was made possible because of a vast human network, including people in major corporations.
■ The continually expanding human network
The human network in the FinTech industry is also expanding outside the financial sector.
Tien Tzuo, Zuora CEO and co-founder, comes from the Saas industry.
・Zuora is a startup that offers payment software and solutions for providers of subscription services. The company ranked 11th on Disruptor 50.
Tien Tzuo is the 11th employee of Salesforce.com, which is No. 1 in the Saas industry. At Salesforce.com, he served as chief marketing officer and chief strategy officer.
In addition, the CEO of Coinbase, a Bitcoin settlement company, comes from Airbnb, while the CEO of investment advisory service Wealthfront worked for LinkedIn and eBay.
The FinTech industry could serve as a financial platform for all businesses. The human network that extends beyond the financial industry is one factor behind the rapid spread of FinTech startup services.
We have discussed the people involved in the FinTech industry. We hope that this article provides a useful analysis of (one of) the factors behind the recent rise of the FinTech industry overseas.
In recent years, even in Japan, those who hail from the financial industry have established FinTech startups. Financial institutions are investing in such startups and providing human resources, and it seems like a human network is being formed. However, the depth and breadth of connections are still far short of what they should be.
In Japan, the creation of a new financial system centered on the FinTech industry will require the participation of the government, major corporations, and venture-capital firms. The process must begin with the formation of a human network.
Shunsuke Hayashi, Business Producer
Joined DI after graduating from Tokyo University, majoring in economics, specializing in finance.
At DI, he is involved in constructing growth strategies and the medium-term management plan, planning overseas strategy development, and developing new businesses in various fields, such as finance, communication, environment and energy, trading, medical, and consumer products. Recently, he has also been focusing on venture capital businesses, and has experience providing investment advice, strategy-making, and execution support in areas such as finance, digital media, environment and energy in Japan and abroad.
From Shanghai, China.


text:
PARSIPPANY, NJ. — B&G Foods is launching Cinnamon Toast Crunch creamy cinnamon spread, giving consumers a new way to enjoy the flavor of the General Mills cereal.
The spread may be used on bread or fruit, as an ingredient in baked foods, as a dessert topping or eaten with a spoon straight from the jar, according to the company. It follows the 2020 launch of Cinnadust, a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored seasoning blend. Featuring cinnamon and sugar paired with sweet notes of vanilla, caramel and graham, Cinnadust is used to add flavor to baked foods, toast, coffee, desserts, ice cream and more.
“The successful introduction of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust seasoning blend showed us that consumers are eager to find new and innovative ways to enjoy their favorite foods and flavors,” said Jordan Greenberg, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at B&G Foods. “Cinnamon Toast Crunch creamy cinnamon spread will offer consumers new opportunities to enjoy the flavors of the iconic cereal well beyond breakfast.”
The company created recipe ideas including dessert puffs, cookies, pizza, grilled cheese and more on its dedicated product site for consumer inspiration. The new spread will be available nationwide in March.“Bringing Cinnamon Toast Crunch to fans in this spreadable form felt like a completely new idea,” said Astrid Perez Martin, senior brand manager for Cinnamon Toast Crunch at General Mills. “We're excited for consumers to experience this new innovation firsthand.”


text:
If you happen to be a Samsung fan living in Los Angeles, Houston or on Long Island, New York, then you'll finally be able to buy Samsung products in their new stores directly. Samsung promises to launch more pop-up stores in other malls beginning next month.
Although Samsung partnered with Best Buy in 2016 to offer a store-within-a-store, the company wants to have stores that closer resemble Apple Stores. There won't be a "cash register" area but rather employees floating around the store that could finalize your purchase.
The new stores will offer walk-in repair service like Apple's Genius Bar that will include assistance while providing in-store presentations covering their various products.
C/Net further revealed that "You'll be able to interact with 4D VR experiences like virtual Titanic rides and play games with friends in Samsung's 4K gaming lounge. Samsung also will display its newest 8K TVs and help you build your own AR Emoji for its smartphones."
YH Eom, the new president and CEO of Samsung Electronics America: "We want to build a 'playground' for Samsung fans -- a place to learn about and try out all of the amazing new products we have to offer."
You'd think that with Samsung launching their new Galaxy S10 at an event in San Francisco next Wednesday, that they'd announce a new store for San Francisco at the same time to add to the excitement for local fans. Obviously their marketing team dropped the ball on this one.
About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.