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Consumers have been turning to the sweet taste of brioche as they have hunkered down at home, coping with lockdowns, travel restrictions and all the other widespread effects of Covid 19.
“A soon as the first lockdown was announced there was an unprecedented demand for our Brioche Rolls and PITCH products,” says Brioche Pasquier Retail Sales Manager Charlotte Hulbert. “The bakery has been at full capacity throughout the year as we have worked hard to support retailers and keep supermarket shelves across the country stocked with these products”.
Brioche Pasquier are the country’s favourite brioche brand, with 23% of market share*. They are also the market leaders in the growing Viennoiserie category, also with a 23% share of the market.
Sales of their PITCH brioche snack products are up 23.95% in volume this year. These PITCH Chocolate Filled and PITCH Choc Chip individually wrapped products are very popular with children and come in handy packs of four or six that will keep fresh for up to three weeks.
Brioche Pasquier brioche is very good for including in home bakes, and with families spending more time at home, baking has become more creative. Interest in the company’s online recipe page has increased by 23% over the last six months with breakfast recipes particularly popular.
“There are several reasons why we believe that consumers have turned to Brioche Pasquier during this difficult year,” explains Charlotte. “Firstly, in a time of uncertainty, the comfort of a familiar, well-established brand has proved to be powerful. People recognise our distinctive blue and yellow packaging on the shelves and know they can trust it.
“Longevity without preservatives is another crucial factor. Our brioche products keep fresh for up to 21 days without the addition of any artificial preservatives. The long life is down to the unique starter dough or ‘levain’ which was introduced by our founder over 80 years ago, it is entirely natural and adds a unique taste to our products.
“This longevity helps retailers keep a consistent supply in the bakery department, and also means that consumers can stock the store cupboard with confidence knowing that the products will remain fresh for a long time, thus reducing waste.
“And thirdly, our products are baked from natural, wholesome products like fresh butter and eggs so they taste very good indeed. They are free of preservatives, palm oil, artificial flavours and hydrogenated fats.”
The team at the company’s Milton Keynes bakery has worked extremely hard to meet demand from retailers and to contribute to the local community. Any surplus product has been donated to the local Northamptonshire FareShare scheme. From February to September Brioche Pasquier donated 2.9 tons of brioche which converted into 6905 meals for families in need.
* Kantar WorldPanel, w/c 12th July 2020
Tel: 01908 266700


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Artificial food dyes are used to color many foods, snacks, sweets, and beverages in the United States and around the world. Nutritionists advise a plate of food to resemble a rainbow, with fruits and vegetables of different colors filling the plate and stomach. In recent decades, artificial dyes have given the illusion of this being achieved. In the last 50 years, the amount of synthetic dye used in foods has increased by 500%. But is this “artificial rainbow” safe for consumption? According to data pouring in that shatters the illusion, no.
Issues with artificial food coloring aren’t new, but the science to back up the concerns continues to flood in. To name a couple, about two years ago, Forbes reported on the “potential dangers” of artificial dyes and just this year Purdue University released a report detailing the risks many children face if they consume more than the “safe” level of 30 mg of dye.
Potential health risks
While there are no definitive findings on the effects of artificial dyes on children and adults, excessive consumption has been linked to certain health problems. These include:
- ADHD in children; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a 41% increase in ADHD diagnoses of high school-aged boys that may be linked to the increased level of usage of artificial dyes in the past decade;
- Cancer, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) stating that chemicals used to create these artificial dyes can cause mutations or damage to chromosomes in eukaryotic cells; and
- Allergic reactions, according to CSPI
- Organ damage, according to CSPI
More studies are underway, but so far it appears that small levels of artificial dye don’t adversely affect human health. However, many children’s food products contain such a mixture of dyes that kids are consuming far more than the recommended “safe” levels of dye. Artificial dyes are most notably found in beverages and sweets, but make no mistake – you can find them where you least expect them.
For example, cheese can be naturally yellow- but the infamous golden yellow of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is really 17.6 mg of artificial dye (per serving). Cereals are another popular hangout for artificial dyes, with Trix containing 36.4 mg of a combo of Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Red 40. Even the proverbially “healthy” Cheerios has 31 mg of food dyes. It seems that all the foods kids love are teeming with these artificial dyes!
Imagine kids eating these meals made up of their favorite foods:
1 glass of Sunny D Orange Strawberry (41.5 mg of artificial dye)
Cap’n Crunch Oops! All Berries Cereal (41.0 mg)
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (17.6 mg)
1 glass of Orange Crush (33.6 mg)
1 Target Mini Green Cupcake (55.3 mg)
Total by lunch: 189 mg of artificial dye!
Before dinner, your child has already consumed a scary amount of artificial food dye, since behavioral tests found that as little as 30 mg of artificial dye can cause adverse effects. Moms and dads alike should make sure their picky eater is getting enough of the nutrients they need and not just settling for foods that they know their kids will happily consume every day. As you can see from the breakfast and lunch breakdown above, if you give in to their tantrum of wanting Mac n’ Cheese for lunch daily, there can be serious health consequences.
A Purdue study concluded that children are consuming 5x the 30 mg amount of artificial food dye deemed safe for use. In 2011, the FDA stated that a high dosage of artificial dyes in a child’s diet could be associated with behavioral problems.
The lesson here is informed moderation. Once upon a time, manufacturers were not required to include dyes as ingredients. Although many food companies do, not every company does. It is the responsibility of retailers and producers to clearly label artificial dyes and reduce their proliferation. Similarly, it is the responsibility of consumers to know which foods are unsafe to consume large quantities of.
To help your child have a healthy and balanced diet, limit the processed foods you give them and provide more natural options instead.
What else can you do to limit your intake? Substitute food that only has natural dyes.
Alternatives to artificial dyes include:
- Beetroot extract
- Paprika extract
- Indian madder
- Red cabbage
- Cochineal bug (gross, but very natural)
And the best part? They’re all found in nature so they can only do wonders for you and your loved ones.
They give off just as much color naturally and your body will thank you for making the switch!
Share this post on Twitter!
— Safer Chemicals (@SaferChemicals) March 5, 2015

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Bike back better after lockdown
Contact JRtB on twitter @justridethebike
Love to Ride are back with #bikemonth. Join Bike Month to help the UK recover from the coronavirus crisis, support Bikes for Key Workers initiatives, have some fun and win prizes.
The coronavirus crisis has brought all sorts of societal problems into sharper focus than ever, not least the way we move around. For the first time, the Government has been explicitly asking people to cycle. This has had an immediate effect, with bike shops reporting record sales and many more people on bikes across the country. As we emerge from lockdown and the economy reopens, cycling will play a central role in getting people moving again without having to run the risk of cramming into overcrowded public transport.
Love to Ride, who have engaged over 500,000 people in their cycling behaviour change programmes, are launching a new national campaign to help make cycling the default mode of transport for the ‘new normal’. Bike Month UK will run throughout June and has the sole aim of getting more people on bikes.
Love to Ride’s Director, Sam Robinson, said, “Last year we had almost 20,000 people log a ride for our Bike Week campaign in June. This year we hope to welcome many more as people rediscover riding and switch to cycling for transport. We’ve surveyed 10,000 people about how they intend to change their travel behaviour after this crisis and more than half of them intend to cycle more. Bike Month will help them to do just that.”
Anyone can take part in Bike Month. It doesn’t matter if you ride every day or if you haven’t been on a bike in years. It takes thirty seconds to register at lovetoride.net and you can access guidance – written by qualified instructors – to help you ride in traffic. Love to Ride are also launching Urban Cycling Skills webinars to give people who are new to cycling the confidence they need to ride in traffic.
Love to Ride have been supporting Bikes for Key Workers initiatives across the UK and for Bike Month they are offering four prizes of a £500 donation to the winner’s local scheme. There are also two brand new bikes up for grabs and spot prizes to be won every day. To enter the prize draws, you just need to register on the Love to Ride website and enter your rides manually or by linking a cycling app (Strava, MapMyRide or Endomondo).
As well as helping to reopen the economy, riding a bike has huge benefits for individuals. It boosts your immune system, reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease by 45%, is great for mood and mental health and provides a cheap, green way to get from A to B, exercise and explore your surroundings. As well as helping to solve the nation’s transport problems, Bike Month has the simpler aim of helping people to enjoy the outdoors and rediscover the fun and freedom of riding a bike.
Whether you want to contribute to a cleaner, greener, happier and healthier new normal – or just to enjoy a bike ride with your family – why not join in for this new event and help spread the joy of cycling.
Find out more and register at lovetoride.net
*See BMJ for research into cycling, cancer and heart disease https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1456
Contact Andrew Brown on 07795 547069
for further information or comment
Love to Ride get more people cycling using their online platform, local promotion and good ol’ human interaction


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Jun 02, 2017 01:17 PM EDT
Qualcomm launched new Quick Charge 4+ charging protocol, which promises improvements over Quick Charge 4.0 that was announced back last year in November. Qualcomm also confirmed that the first device which will feature Quick Charge 4+ was announced by Nubia.
Qualcomm has been constantly getting better its Quick Charge technology for smartphones and claims that the latest version brings three major improvements over the previous Quick Charge 4.0. Chipset maker has confirmed that the all-new Quick Charge 4+ includes all the features of Quick Charge 4, and also adds three new enhancements, as reported by NDTV.
Latest Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ is having Dual Charge, which is a feature already available in previous versions, with some upgrades as it will include a second power management IC in the device. This feature is expected to manage lower thermal dissipation and reduction in charging time.
The second feature is Intelligent Thermal Balancing that has been developed to get rid of hot spots for optimized power delivery. Finally, the Quick Charge 4+ brings improvements to the already existing built-in safety protocols. Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ has been intended to monitor both the case and connector temperature levels simultaneously. This means that the new Quick Charge version can help against overheating and short-circuit or damage to the Type-C connector.
According to Android Police, apart from these features, the new Quick Charge 4+ has the capability to charge up to 15 percent faster or up to 30 percent more efficiently as compared to Quick Charge 4. Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ chargers, USB hubs, and battery banks will have backward compatibility with QC 3.0 and 2.0.
According to Qualcomm, the first smartphone to feature new Quick Charge 4.0+ technology is the Nubia Z17 that was unveiled earlier this week. The handset is coming with a 3,200 mAh battery, a Snapdragon 835 processor, as well as 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
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SHANGHAI — The plastics industry in China is growing at a faster rate than its gross domestic product, and BASF SE officials believe there is growing consumer demand for sustainable products.
With the April 23-26 Chinaplas trade show approaching, BASF introduced some of the innovations it will highlight there at an April 10 news conference in Shanghai.
Frithjof Netzer, senior vice president for performance chemicals in the Asia-Pacific, gave a broad trend forecast. He said some new products reflected the company's intensified R&D activities in the region.
Netzer said Ludwigshafen, Germany-based company's growth plans require it to answer the needs of Asia Pacific that may be different from in other markets.
Zheng Daqing, senior vice president business and market development for Greater China, said changing consumer needs in China especially are creating challenges for consumers in energy use, consumer product safety and waste management.
“With the latest plastics solutions, we are collaborating with our customers on innovations to address these challenges that are developed in Asia Pacific, for Asia Pacific and the world,” he said.
BASF's product announcements spanned a wide range of applications, from polyurethane systems for shoe soles to antioxidants for linear low density polyethylene film.
The automotive market is important in China. At Chinaplas, BASF will showcase a new lightweight car seat concept developed with AP Solutions, an Incheon, South Korea, design and engineering firm.
Andy Postlethwaite, senior vice president performance materials for the Asia Pacific, said slim foam polyurethane can achieve a weight reduction of 20 percent compared to a standard car seat, and space reduction of about 20 millimeters.
“The entire automotive industry is under pressure regarding emission and fuel consumption,” he said. “One way to deal with that is to reduce the weight of the vehicle parts. And the more advanced we get, with plastics, the more parts we can replace.”
Two of the technologies that BASF showcased, coextruded PVC-polybutylene terephthalate window profiles with Ultradur and anti-run hosiery made with Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethane, were developed specifically for the Asia Pacific market at BASF's year-old innovation campus in Shanghai. The company recently announced that it will make an additional investment in R&D in the region, with a commitment to increase R&D by 3,500 jobs by 2020.
Other new products included flame retardants for electronics and light stabilizers for agricultural film. Netzer said the company is driven by customer demand.
“We will do whatever our partners in the markets, what they require us to do in terms of further growth and bigger success,” he said.
He added: “They tell me they need ideas that bring down costs in their plants and they tell me they need ideas that increase success in selling products in the marketplace.”
Reporters pressed executives to talk about growing concerns among Chinese consumers about the chemical industry's environmental and health record, but Zheng deflected the questions by stating that BASF is acting in accordance with local regulations and according to safety standards.
“We encourage enhanced understanding and dialogue. We think it shows people are more interested in the chemical industry and this is a good thing,” he said.


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L&W Supply has announced that Raul Moya has been named branch manager of its Bakersfield, California, location.
Moya joined L&W Supply in 2007 as an inside sales associate and has held several roles over the years. Most recently, Moya held the role of delivery service manager at the Sun Valley, California, location. He graduated from L&W’s Branch Manager Training Program in 2020 as part of the transition to his new role.
“Raul’s dedication to his team and customers is unwavering,” said Southern California District Manager Don Wolf. “We are excited to see him and his team provide exceptional service and products to their customers.”
As branch manager, Moya will be responsible for managing daily branch operations, cultivating customer relationships, guiding associates and executing branch growth and profitability.


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Turns out customers who bought their Essential Phone and stuck it with Sprint are just now getting the latest and greatest features... but at least it's all at once.
The Google security patches are in place faster than plenty of Pixel phones. Plus, Bluetooth 5 spec improvements are finally here!
The chipmaker says that this feature is proprietary to items incorporating aptX HD codec and the Snapdragon 845 platform.
The standard-bearer iPhones get new Retina Displays, new cameras and new price tags. And all of them are on the upside of things.
We cast shade, doubt, fear and undying hope that the numbers we see on this very suspect spec list for the Galaxy S8 be true.
iOS 10 and Apple Watch BETA wrap up, we talk Net Neutrality's defense in the courts, and what's new in Bluetooth 5? Pocketnow Weekly Podcast episode 205!
Along with double the speed and quadruple the range, Bluetooth 5 will expand its data capacity by eightfold, the special interest group backing it said.


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Big. Huge. Gargantuan.
Another name for what's coming: Target.
In the largest retail invasion ever in the mid-Atlantic region, Target is about to flood Maryland and Virginia with 21 cavernous discount stores over the span of eight months, creating thousands of jobs, tens of millions of dollars in construction investment and, not to be overlooked, an alternative for that perspicacious bargain-hunter.
Target Stores, a Minneapolis-based juggernaut of toothpaste, tube socks and other general merchandise, tiptoed into the market in March, opening its first two stores in Virginia's Fredericksburg and Woodbridge.
But the long-anticipated stampede will officially arrive July 28, when Target is expected to rock the natural order of retail things by simultaneously opening 13 stores in the region, nine in Maryland and four in Virginia.
"Demographically, it's our guest, it's our customer," said Tom Sands, Target's regional senior vice president for the East Coast. "We think that it's a good fit. This is really the last of the markets where Wal-Mart and Kmart are not competing with us."
Target welcomes the challenge: The chain has devised a successful high-volume, low-margin formula to ratchet up the competition in its relentless expansion, a retail version of manifest destiny.
Touting itself as an "upscale discounter," the retailer has managed to make sense of an oxymoron, offering merchandise of finer ilk than the typical off-price merchant, but selling it inexpensively -- a few cents more on the average than for those items found at Wal-Mart, the acknowledged low-price leader.
"Speed is life" is Target's mantra. "Fast, fun and friendly" -- so goes the retailer's motto.
Applied, it means that the company uses state-of-the-art technology. A "radio frequency locator system" pinpoints the location of merchandise in every store. A computerized "replenishment system" gets merchandise in stores quickly, ordered at the store-level, not from headquarters. Micro-marketing is employed to suit the tastes of each local environment, such as specific high school apparel, or for the Baltimore baseball fanatic, Orioles merchandise.
But that's merely prologue. Target, the nation's third largest discount retailer behind Wal-Mart and Kmart, is prepared to pull the trigger on six more stores in October, three each in Maryland and Virginia. Beyond that, the discounter plans to unleash another 40 to 60 stores in the region over the next two or three years.
"That's a complete penetration and domination of the market," said Mark A. Millman, president of Millman Search Group Inc., a leading retail consulting firm in Lutherville. "This is the largest domination I've ever seen of a 'category killer' completely dominating two major markets within a relatively short period of time. Even Wal-Mart didn't do that. Nobody's come in with that kind of punch. They're coming in to completely dominate every geographical region in this market."
There is no comparison. Kmart, the area's first discount behemoth, settled in Virginia in 1964 with three stores, and then in Maryland in 1972 with two stores. Wal-Mart moved into Washington in 1991, Baltimore a year later, opening stores one at a time.
Of more recent vintage, Best Buy, the consumer electronics retailer, entered the Baltimore-Washington market with eight stores in 1994. And a year later, Dick's Clothing & Sporting Goods opened three local stores.
By contrast, Target will hold sway over as many as 80 mid-Atlantic stores by 1999. Unprecedented expansion for a major retailer here -- but this much is known: The discounter's impact is expected to be atomic, generating millions in tax revenue, advertising and charitable contributions.
The first 21 stores in the region are expected to create more than:
Three thousand jobs and as many as 4,200. Each store employs about 150 to 200 workers, most hired locally, most as part-time sales clerks averaging 30 to 35 hours per week on an hourly wage that varies by region.
One hundred million dollars in the construction of all new stores, each costing from $5 million to $10 million to build, depending on size. In addition, the company expects to spend $200,000 a year per store on contractor services ranging from snow removal and floor cleaning to landscaping and maintenance.
Two million square feet of retail space -- equivalent to about seven Baltimore skyscrapers -- based on stores ranging from 96,000 to 126,000 square feet.
"They've never been afraid to go against competition, but I've never seen them go in like this," said Rene Daniel, president of the Daniel Group, a Baltimore-based shopping center consultant. They're going in with both barrels blazing."
Indeed, never before has Target entered a major market on such a grand scale. And it is doubtful that the retailer will do so again.


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Bringing over 500 major suppliers together under one roof
What happened in 2019
Automechanika Birmingham is the leading trade
exhibition for the automotive industry targeting
trade visitors from the UK
8-10 June 2021, NEC Birmingham
£26,000+ worth of BIG giveaways show deals and competition prizes for visitors – limited availability. The biggest savings on tools and garage equipment from over 500 exhibitors will be exclusively available at next month’s Automechanika Birmingham 2019.
Automechanika is holding the first international Body & Paint competition in the exhibition’s history in association with DeBeer Refinish, Octoral and SATA. Bodyshop professionals will be competing against one another at six Automechanika shows worldwide.
Automechanika Birmingham is enhancing their visitor and exhibitor show experience again this year by offering a meetings programme for attendees of Automechanika Birmingham 2019.
Automechanika Birmingham 2019 is giving independent garages a boost by announcing the launch of its new Big UK Garage Event at this summer’s show, providing more benefits to thousands of garages planning to visit.
Automechanika Birmingham’s ‘Garage of the Year’ will be crowned at an awards dinner on 5th June, after the middle day of the trade show. The event will once again be run in partnership with Garage Wire.
Automechanika Birmingham’s 2019 visitor campaign is off to a record start with pre-registrations up thanks to a raft of new features and initiatives designed to offer the very best visitor and exhibitor experience.


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OK, so what’s on the table for Google’s Monday event? We’re expecting the Nexus 4, the Nexus 10, and a 32GB Nexus 7. While the new storage capacity has dominated Nexus 7 news lately, there have also been rumbling about the tablet getting an option for a cellular radio. It’s seeming more and more likely that such a tablet might join the rest of those devices on Monday, upon a 3G-enabled Nexus 7 passing through the FCC.
We already saw signs of a 3G Nexus 7 hit Taiwan’s version of the FCC a week ago. This tablet carries the same model number as that one did, ME370TG. That has us wondering, though, if the tablet will really be sold in the US, or if it’s just getting its FCC certification in case some users want to import them.
The problem is with its frequency support. Releasing a mobile device for the US market without at least some sort of LTE feels like a non-starter in this day and age. Could there be another cell-enabled Nexus 7 with better US band coverage that we’ll be seeing hit the FCC in a day or two?


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Apple plans to include AirPods in the box of new iPhones
According to a source called DigiTimes, Apple is considering sending 2020 iPhone models with AirPods instead of wired EarPods. Apple and Samsung will be accompanied by Xiaomi.
Many companies participated in the TWS (full wireless) headset trend that began with Apple AirPods. We are constantly hearing new wireless headset models from Chinese companies. Apple continues with the AirPods Pro and AirPods 2. According to a source called DigiTimes, Apple plans to include AirPods in the box of 2020 iPhone models.
Other companies will accompany
According to DigiTimes, companies such as Samsung and Xiaomi will also offer wireless headsets with their smartphones. But the most remarkable thing here is the Apple side. Because AirPods models are quite expensive compared to other companies, they already make the company smile. Both AirPods and AirPods Pro are very ambitious in terms of sales figures.
However, the possibility of replacing the wired EarPods with AirPods does not make sense. However, the company may be planning to make this important move to modernize the contents of the box.
- What is expected from E3 2020, the biggest game fair of the year?
- Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL Models ‘Live Caption’ Feature
- Apple, New Pen Patent will be discussed in the future!
- Xiaomi 7 has designed a new camera with sensors!
- Xiaomi Mi 10 was viewed! Here is the design
For now, although not going beyond rumors Apple’s move before other companies are likely to see similar steps. Only the high-end iPhone 12 Pro is also available with AirPods. However, due to the successful sale of AirPods, the leak should be considered very suspicious.


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The naturally aspirated engine has always been a cornerstone of Honda’s engineering philosophy, but the company looks set to abandon that in the near future, with a move to turbocharged engines happening by the end of the decade.
Mainstream applications will see a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine and both a 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, with the 2.0L variant making as much as 280 horsepower. The big-bore application will be debuting in the next-generation Civic Type-R, and all three engines will incorporate VTEC variable valve timing. North American applications have yet to be confirmed.
The 1.5L engine will be a go for North America, in vehicles like the Acura ILX, Honda Civic and even the Accord. Honda envisions the 1.5L unit as a replacement for naturally aspirated 1.8L units, delivering 15 percent gains in fuel economy while besting it in torque by as much as 45 percent.
A new 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox will debut alongside the 7-speed unit Honda has developed, though according to Automotive News, the 8-speed unit will be mated to a torque converter to help increase smoothness. Dual clutch gearboxes will be prominent in vehicles with engine sizes ranging from 2.0 to 3.0L, while CVTs will be the main gearbox in smaller vehicles, even replacing manual transmissions. On larger vehicles like the Odyssey minivan, the automatic transmission will remain.
Perhaps the most exciting news is that of the NSX and its future powertrain. Honda will be going with a longitudinal layout (rather than the old NSXs transverse layout) for its V6 engine, which will now pack twin turbochargers. Honda hasn’t announced displacement figures for the V6, only saying that it may not be larger than the RLX’s 3.5L unit. With a similar Sport-Hybrid All-Wheel Drive setup, the RLX is good for 370 horsepower while getting 30 mpg combined. With turbocharging and perhaps a more aggressive hybrid setup, the NSX could easily top 500 horsepower, while being substantially lighter.


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Here are today's top 10 stories from Tech News Today for August 15, 2013:
- Facebook wants to control another little piece of your life, payments. AllThingsD reports Facebook confirmed they will test a service allowing anyone who has given credit card information to use their Facebook account to make purchases on mobile apps. JackThreads is the pilot partner. Read more at allthingsd.com.
- Lenovo announced that its mobile device sales have overtaken its PC sales thanks to growth in China. Lenovo has a staggering 42% of the Chinese market and reported its shipments of phones and tablets are up 41% year over year. Lenovo has been itching to get into the U.S. phone market. CEO Yang Yuanqing told the WSJ that "If a target or deal is consistent with Lenovo's strategy, we would take the opportunity." BlackBerry deal, anyone? Read more at theverge.com.
- Ubi Interactive, part of Microsoft's Kinect Accelerator program has created an app that combined with a projector and a Kinect for Windows, can turn any surface into a virtual touchscreen. For $149 the software supports a 45-inch display size. The pro version for $379 and business version for $799 both can go to 100 inches. The basic version supports one touch point and the business version supports two. If you want 20 touch points you'll need the $1499 enterprise edition. The app works on Windows 8 and Ubi is taking orders now at ubi-interactive.com. Read more at theverge.com.
- Activision released multiplayer details about "Call of Duty: Ghosts." The multiplayer mode will allow players to customize their characters via the Create-A-Soldier feature. You'll be able to choose weapon loadouts and alter your character's appearance. You'll also be able to create up to 10 soldiers who can compete in the new Squads mode, which features co-op, competitive and solo options. Ghosts launches November 5th. Read more at usatoday.com.
- The FBI has cracked encryption on two Western Digital My Book Essential external hard drives in a case against Jeffrey Feldman of Wisconsin, accused of three counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. Feldman has declined to give up his passwords, causing a legal battle about self-incrimination. FBI agent Chadwick Elgersma said in court documents that 7 more drives remain encrypted. The Feds did not reveal what kind of encryption was used on the drives. Read more at wired.com.
- Remember that Android OS flaw that led to a whole bunch of wallet apps to be insecure? Well, Google has issued a patch that fixes a flaw in the pseudo-random number generator. The bug in the number generator made it possible to steal Bitcoins from Bitcoin wallets that generated keys from an Android app. There was at least one reported theft with $5,700 worth of Bitcoins stolen. Read more at gigaom.com.
- Apple will supposedly announce a new iPhone September 10. ABI Research and KGI Securities say Apple will include a fingerprint reader on the new phone. Apple bought a fingerprint-sensor maker AuthenTec last year. Still don't believe it? Well the stock market does. Analysts believe a race for biometric devices will kick off with the announcement and biometric companies are getting a boost. Bloomberg reports shares of Precise Biometrics have doubled since Apple's AuthenTec deal and added 12 percent to the stock price yesterday. Fingerprint Cards AB has risen 10 times since AuthenTec and surged 14% yesterday. Read more at bloomberg.com.
- Who is the king of the streaming set-top-boxes? If you guessed Apple, you'd be dead wrong. According to new data from Parks Associates, the number one streamer is Roku. 37% of the 10,000 people polled used a Roku box to stream media. 24% used an Apple TV. Parks Associates says that the media streamers have a bright future with consumers because consumers are reluctant to replace "big-ticket items solely for smart upgrades." Read more at pcmag.com.
- Wireless devices that don't need a battery? Scientists are on it! Researchers at the University of Washington have developed prototypes that use "ambient backscatter" to draw power from RF signals like radio and TV broadcasts. The devices communicate by absorbing or reflecting the ambient signals. The devices could be used for structural sensors or embedded in things like keys so your couch can text you if your keys fall between he cushions. Read more at engadget.com.
- Tired of going to the Internet, downloading Skype, then installing it? So much work! Well, lazy people, your life is about to get easier. Microsoft will be shipping Skype with Windows 8.1 and the app will be "front-and-center" on the updated OS. When you log in to your MS account, you'll be ready to Skype with all the Skype-y people. Enjoy! Read more at thenextweb.com.
For insight, analysis, and discussion of these topics and more, check out Tech News Today for August 15, 2013.


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IDFA commends pro-growth focus of 2007 budget.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) commended President Bush last month for his pro-growth budget that emphasizes targeted spending to help meet the most pressing challenges facing America’s agricultural sector and the economy as a whole. “We applaud the president’s leadership in calling for more restrained spending on dairy subsidy programs while managing for better results, investing in efforts to safeguard America’s food supply and providing full funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which serves the nutritional requirements of our neediest citizens,” says Chip Kunde, IDFA senior vice president for legislative affairs and economic policy.
As outlined in the president’s 2007 budget proposal, agricultural spending would be focused on protecting the food supply, preventing bioterrorism, strengthening conservation and maintaining feeding programs while saving $8.9 billion over 10 years. Payments made through commodity programs would be reduced by 5 percent, including payments under the recently renewed Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. The proposal also improves budgetary restraint in the operation of the Dairy Price Support Program (DPSP) and directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase surplus cheese, butter and powder only when reported prices fall below the support rate.
“Better fiscal management of the DPSP was proposed in the president’s FY 2006 budget, but not enacted by Congress. The resurrection of the MILC program earlier this year makes the efficient operation of the DPSP even more critical to the health of the dairy sector,” Kunde says.
Both USDA’s 2004 dairy report and the Office of Management and Budget’s recent program assessment agree that the MILC program and DPSP are countervailing programs. The president’s budget includes a small assessment on dairy producers to help pay for the administration of the multiple dairy subsidy programs. The proposal also calls for a sugar marketing assessment to be paid by sugar processors, since U.S. sugar growers do not receive direct subsidies but rely on trade quota protections.
“The president’s budget fine-tunes dairy programs by simply making the current dairy safety net scheme more fiscally responsible,” Kunde says.
Product and promotion news
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) unveiled the details of one of its largest teen programs ever, “Body by Milk,” during a special session at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) SmartMarketing conference this month in Las Vegas. Body by Milk is a back-to-school marketing program that will include in-school merchandising, a contest to find the school with the healthiest students, advertising in teen publications, retail point-of-sale materials and a feature incentive program. The program will encourage teens to use milk UPC codes as currency at an online auction where they can purchase items such as sportswear, electronics and jeans. “Body by Milk is shaping up to be one of our best ever programs for teens,” says Julie Buric, IDFA’s senior director of promotions. “We’re very excited that we’ll be able to reach teens online, at schools, through mass media as well as at retailers through their moms.” For more information about the Body by Milk program, visit www.milkpep.org.
Plymouth, Wis.-based Sargento Foods Inc., maker of the official cheese of the Green Bay Packers, rang in the new year by donating $50,000 through its Touchdowns for Charity program. The program is a partnership between Sargento and the Hunger Task Force designed to help feed Wisconsin families in need. Since its inception, the company has contributed $167,000 to the Hunger Task Force. Through Touchdowns for Charity, Sargento donates $1,000 to the task force for every Green Bay Packers touchdown scored during the season. In the program’s third year, the company exceeded its commitment with its $50,000 donation for the 2005-06 football season. “Sargento is committed to the Wisconsin community,” says Sargento chairman Lou Gentine. “We’re proud to do our part in helping to feed the thousands of people in Wisconsin who rely on the Hunger Task Force for support.”
The Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award presented at the annual National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Cheese Contest, was presented to Davenport, Iowa-based Swiss Valley Farms for its Regular Swiss. The winning cheese was produced at the company’s Luana, Iowa, plant and received a score of 99.85 out of 100 possible points. Also in the Swiss cheese category, Swiss Valley Farms was awarded a second-place accolade with its Platteville, Wis., Regular Swiss and third-place honors for its Baby Swiss, also produced at the company’s Luana plant. Other awards won by Swiss Valley Farms in the NMPF contest were first place in Open Class for its Cream Cheese made in Luana, and first place in the Reduced Fat category for its Neufchatel. This year, 11 NMPF member cooperatives took part in the Annual NMPF Cheese Contest in San Francisco. The participating cooperatives submitted 105 samples, totaling 2,420 pounds of cheese.
Uncle Matt’s Organic Inc., Clermont, Fla., has introduced a new gourmet look for its organic orange juice line with a unique 59-ounce carafe-style bottle. Made from clear PET #1 plastic, the new bottle offers an upscale, trendy look while guaranteeing great juice quality and taste. “We feel this packaging is more in line with the quality of our products,” says Matt McLean, president of Uncle Matt’s Organic. “We offer premium organic orange juice with that fresh squeezed taste reminiscent of a Florida roadside stand. This is OJ the way it’s meant to be.” Using a unique family recipe developed more than four generations ago, Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice is a delicious blend of organic Hamlin and Valencia oranges. Each piece of fruit is “soft squeezed” using a premium juice extractor that simultaneously separates the juice from the peel during pressing thus reducing the potential for any bitterness from the peel. The juice is all natural with no added flavors, peel oil, additives or preservatives.$OMN_arttitle="Leadership Support";?>


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Apple has apologised for letting down customers after it was revealed the company was throttling the performance of older iPhones to maintain performance with an ageing battery.
In response to the feedback, Apple today issued a message to its customers about how it communicated this process and to clarify the misunderstandings about the issue.
“We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologise,” Apple’s message read.
The tech giant also announced plans to address customer concerns and regain the trust of anyone who doubted the company’s intentions by reducing the price of iPhone battery replacements by $80 to just $39.
In early 2018, Apple will also issue an IOS software update which will provide a clearer view of the health of their iPhone’s battery.
There had been a backlash from customers with some accusing Apple of slowing down their iPhones in an attempt to push users into upgrading their devices.
“We have never – and would never – do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades,” Apple said in its message today.
“Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.”
Part of Apple’s communication today was to also explain how batteries age and how that affects their performance.
Apple went on to explain that batteries chemically age and their ability to hold the charge diminishes.
It was these ageing batteries which couldn’t match the peak performance of the device that were causing unexpected iPhone shutdowns.
Apple’s decision to slightly reduce the processor speed to avoid these shutdowns and provide the best possible experience on older iPhones is where the controversy started.
“We’ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible,” Apple’s statement said.
“We’re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors’ devices.”
Replacing an older iPhone’s battery will return the devices performance to normal.
As a result, Apple has now reduced the price of out of warranty t iPhone battery replacements.
In Australia, a battery replacement usually priced at $119 is now $80 cheaper at $39 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later.
From this we can assume this service will not be offered on the iPhone 5S and older products.
The company says its team will be working on ways to make the user experience even better including improving how iPhone performance is managed
Apple has also published a support article detailing the iPhone’s battery and performance.
It has also provided tips on maximising the daily battery life and the battery’s complete life span.
These tips include updating to the latest software, avoiding extreme ambient temperatures and removing certain cases during charging.


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Another Broken Egg Cafe is unveiling its newest cafe redesign on October 4, 2021 in Panama City Beach, Fla. The Panama City Beach cafe is one of latest locations adopting the brands “New South” design and will host a celebration week of daily giveaways to thank loyal fans and show off the new look. In addition to the “New South” reimaging, the award-winning cafe is one of the fastest-growing, national breakfast and brunch concepts with a full bar producing hand-crafted cocktails.
After the reopening, the cafe will host a celebration week starting Monday, October 4 to Friday, October 8. Guests can win prizes and merchandise among other giveaways while experiencing the fresh design. Each day will feature a new special promotion, like free breakfast for a year for a limited number of guests. This event will help celebrate the restaurant’s “new south” reimaging while giving back to loyal fans as a thank you for their support.
Another Broken Egg Cafe recently introduced its “New South” design which encapsulates a reimagined brunch experience. Many cafes are in the reimaging process, and new cafes will feature this light, bright, modern design that honors the brand’s southern-inspired heritage while appealing to all who enjoy breakfast and brunch. Most importantly, the New South design significantly highlights the brand’s full bar, driving visibility and ultimately incremental sales of Another Broken Egg Cafe’s signature, hand-crafted cocktails – now a must-have for many brunch consumers. Additionally, the design doubles the cafe’s bar seating by providing bar access to patio diners.


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R4 cart sales banned in Japan
A Japanese court has decided that the R4 cart is illegal and can't be sold in Japan. The DS cart allows users to duplicate games onto SD cards which can then be played via the "R4 Revolution" cart.
The Tokyo District Court ruled against the Chinese made cart, granting an injunction backed by Nintendo, Square Enix and Capcom. The court agreed that the cart was indeed a a violation of local laws.
Apparently, most Japanese retailers have already halted sale of the R4 gizmo, following pressure from games makers and the lawsuit itself, and now the cart has been officially deemed illegal.
- Valve's Chet Faliszek has been confirmed as the first developer session for EGX Rezzed 2015
- One area from Zelda Wii U is as big as the entirety of Skyward Sword
- Telltale's new collaboration is with Mojang, on a Minecraft story game
- Franklin voice actor indicates GTA V story DLC is on the way
- Red Dead Redemption, LA Noire and Bully sequels will come when the time is right says Rockstar
- Telltale teases another collaboration with another game developer
- New Company Of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault trailer recognizes the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
- New Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare trailer focuses on character customization
- Splash Damage's free-to-play shooter Dirty Bomb coming to Steam in the new year


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Japanese company Kyocera is targeting the German market for home solar storage systems due to a change in that country’s pricing for home-generated solar power. Previously, the feed-in tariff, which determines how much a homeowner will be paid for the power she or he contributes to the grid, was much higher but has recently been reduced to approximately what the consumer pays to buy electricity from the grid.
With the economic incentive to produce electricity and sell it to the grid virtually eliminated, Kyocera believes the most sensible thing for solar customers to do is add a battery storage unit to their system and consume the energy they produce themselves, since the power they create costs about 1/3 of what they pay the local utility.
The shift in economics was explained to PV Tech recently by Dr Eicke Weber, director of the German energy storage association BVES, at an energy storage conference in Duesseldorf.
“In Germany in the past we had a very attractive feed-in tariff (FiT) and we didn’t have to worry about what to do with it, but now the FiT is so close to the cost to produce a kilowatt hour of solar electricity that it’s no longer an incentive,” Weber said. “On the other hand the cost of a kWh of solar electricity is a fraction, about one third of the ‘wall plug’ cost of electricity. Therefore the issue of self-consumption, that’s a central issue. And of course if you now add a battery storage system to your system, you can easily boost up the self-consumption to 60%, maybe if you change your habits, even to 70% or 80%.”
The Kyocera system will be available in 4.8kWh and 7.2kWh sizes. The company says its multi-inverter incorporates the functions of both solar inverter and battery inverter. The battery box and inverter are housed separately.
Kyocera has been involved in home energy storage systems in Japan since 2012. “The company is enhancing sales of residential solar power generating systems in Japan,” its general manager for solar energy marketing, Ichiro Ikeda, told PV Tech recently. “Furthermore, we expect that the industry will shift to a market in which self-consumption of power is possible with less dependence on the electricity grid. Based on this expectation, we are further focusing on combined sales of solar power generating systems and storage batteries.”
Home energy storage is projected to become a thriving new segment of the home solar market in coming years, with companies like Tesla and its corporate cousin, SolarCity, set to become involved. Within a few years, having a storage battery in the basement may become as common has having a furnace or a hot water heater. Kyocera wants to be ready for this next revolution in solar power.
Photo via Kyocera


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European sports brands such as FIFA, the Tour de France and Manchester United are taking a focused yet wide reaching approach to licensing strategies.
After losing her crown to Disney’s Frozen characters in 2014, Barbie is back at No. 1 on the National Retail Federation’s Top Toys list for the 2015 holiday season.
Although nearly 60 percent of holiday shoppers have already begun their seasonal shopping, millions more are holding out for the biggest holiday shopping weekend of the year.
Toy sales are on the rise worldwide heading into the fourth quarter, according of to The NPD Group, with an increase of 7 percent reported across 11 global markets.
Holiday shoppers are wasting no time getting started this year, with 56.6 percent of those celebrating the holidays already started, up from 54.4 percent last year.
According to the National Retail Federation’s Holiday Consumer Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, shoppers are likely to spend more this year than ever before on food, decorations, gifts and more.
More than 157 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, according to National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Characters from Minions and Star Wars will be top costume choices this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey.
Classic character Garfield is traveling the globe with new promotions and merchandise in China, Japan, Brazil and a host of other regions around the world.
The average family with children in grades K-12 has completed just half (50.4 percent) of their back-to-school shopping, according to the National Retail Federation.
A recent study by the NPD Group found that Hispanic Americans have unique shopping habits and make distinct purchases.
Early holiday promotions, the continued growth of online shopping and an improving economy changed the way millions of people approached Black Friday.
Brick-and-mortars are alive and well, but for a number of different reasons.
Holiday shoppers took advantage of deep discounting and early sales causing a lift in retail spending in November.
Overall holiday retail sales reached their highest level since 2011 last November and December, increasing 4 percent from 2013 to $616.1 billion.
Retail sales of toys in the U.S. generated $18.08 billion in 2014 compared to $17.46 billion in 2013, an increase of 4 percent, according to the NPD Group.
©2015 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Some days you wake up ready to run, and that's what is happening on Wall Street Tuesday as healthy company earnings give investors extra energy.
Here's what investors are talking about:
1. Stocks march ahead: It's hard to keep this market down. The S&P 500 hit another all time high Tuesday before pulling back slightly. The Dow rose around 60 points and is now roughly 25 points away from its record close, which occurred last week. The Nasdaq moved higher as well.
2. Hungry for some earnings: Food and beverage stocks were on the move as some major restaurant chains released second quarter results.
Shares of Chipotle skyrocketed 13% after the burrito maker posted earnings late Monday that surged from the year earlier despite higher menu prices.
But McDonald's sank after the fast food giant reported second quarter revenue and profit that fell short of expectations due to lower sales in the U.S. and Europe.
Domino's stock delivered for Wall Street after the pizza delivery service said that earnings grew 17.5%, driven by strong same store sales domestically and internationally.
Investors also got earnings from Coca-Cola Tuesday to wash down all those restaurant results. But the stock fizzled after saying its earnings for the full year are expected to suffer from unfavorable exchange rates.
3. Major media movers: The internet is king for Comcast, which said in its second quarter earnings report Tuesday that a 15% increase in high speed internet users offset losses from so-called "cord cutters" who are dropping cable TV subscriptions. The stock moved higher on the news. So did shares of Time Warner Cable, which Comcast has an agreement to buy.
Part of the reason consumers are ditching traditional cable is due to companies like Netflix, which now boasts over 50 million members. Still, the stock dipped over 5% Tuesday since the company said in its earnings report that U.S. streaming subscriptions were lower compared to the year earlier.
Verizon also experienced an earnings bump, driven by strong revenues from its wireless and Fios segments. Shares were up modestly Tuesday.
Investors will get more insight into the intersection of business and tech Tuesday when Apple and Microsoft announce quarterly results after the bell.
4. Bikes and diet supplements: Shares of Herbalife jumped 16% even though a major hedge fund manager held a press conference revealing what he found after a nearly two-year probe into the company's nutrition clubs.
Pershing Square's Bill Ackman has repeatedly called the company a pyramid scheme. The stock has fallen around 22% this year, but it's still up big since Ackman's short selling campaign against the firm began in December 2012.
Meanwhile Harley Davidson shares downshifted after the iconic motorcycle company beat earnings forecasts for the quarter but lowered its full year guidance for bike shipments.
5. Tensions ease over Ukraine: European markets ended higher as tensions in Ukraine appeared to ease slightly.
After delays and setbacks, a train carrying the bodies of most of those who died in the MH17 plane crash began moving out of eastern Ukraine.
Still, EU officials are meeting Tuesday to discuss further sanctions against Russia in a bid to end its support for separatist rebels in Ukraine. Western leaders say the bulk of evidence suggests the rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines plane. Russia's stock market, the MICEX, was up Tuesday, but is still down over 4.5% for the month.


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Duxes is pleased to announce that the 7th Dairy Asia Pacific Summit (DairyAP) 2020 will take place in Singapore from October 29-30. The event is the leading annual platform for professionals engaged in the growing Asia Pacific dairy market and will offer a wide range of in-depth talks and discussions from industry experts, major companies, ingredients innovators and government regulators.
According to The Human Development Report, Asia and the Pacific will have nearly 5 billion people by 2050; meanwhile, the population in the region has tripled over the past 65 years. Changing diets, demographic shifts and rapid advances in technology have led to the proliferation of different types of dairy products, prompting Asian consumers in both traditional and non-traditional milk-consuming countries to include more milk in their diets.
Against this background, the summit will gather distinguished experts as well as business leaders to provide thorough analysis of the latest regulatory dynamics and regional consumer and market trends. The in-depth event will provide an effective platform for attendees to share their valued experiences and opinions on the many challenges and opportunities within the Asia-Pacific dairy industry.
The two-day Summit will address numerous key industry issues that deserve attention, including: market access, regulatory updates and official policies, analysis of the latest innovations in liquid milk, infant formula, fermented milk, functional dairy, and special ingredients like probiotics. Successful commercialization case studies will be discussed alongside further topics such as sustainability, new packaging materials, latest farming approaches, the developments of plant-based food and opportunities in emerging dairy alternatives.
The event will gather experts and other stakeholders from China, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and other jurisdictions to share the latest research findings, policy developments and viable business models. Past contributors have included the Singapore Food Agency; the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association; Vietnam Dairy Association; Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; and, representatives from companies such as Yili, Nestle, Fonterra, a2, Mengniu, FrieslandCampina, Arla Foods, and more.
The 7th Dairy Asia Pacific Summit (DairyAP) 2020 furthers Duxes’ decade-long commitment to assisting companies in the region in expanding their presence in the fast-paced dairy industry, exploring market entry strategies, and facilitating exchange between businesses and local regulators. DairyAP is the leading platform in the region, organized to give participants the most relevant and authoritative insights into this growing area of the food and beverage sector. Professionals working in dairy production, imports and exports, ingredients and packaging suppliers, or in related fields, are invited to attend.
1.In-depth interpretation of market access, regulatory updates and other latest policies for the dairy industry and dairy-related industries in China, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and other jurisdictions.
2.Information on understanding the major consumer and market trends of the dairy industry in the region.
3.Insights into dairy international giants’ experience of operations in Asia Pacific.
4.Analysis of the latest innovations in liquid milk, infant formula, fermented milk, functional dairy, and special ingredients like probiotics used in dairy.
5.Detailed look at developments of plant-based food and other dairy alternatives.
6.Discussion of sustainability in dairy packaging, new packaging materials and technologies used in dairy processing.
7.Knowledge on discovering local distributors, e-commerce retailers and new sales channels.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Cindy CUI
Tel.: + 86 21 5258 8005 ext. 8253
Email: [email protected]


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A new rule brought in by the Committees of Advertising Practice following a review of gender stereotyping in ads carried out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will see all harmful stereotypes in broadcast and non-broadcast media banned.
The ASA review found evidence suggesting that these can restrict the aspirations, opportunities and choices of children, young people and adults, and that advertising can reinforce certain stereotypes, which contributes towards unequal gender outcomes.
It’s worth noting, however, that gender stereotypes have not been banned outright since the evidence didn’t show that their use is always problematic. The rule has been brought in to help identify specific issues that should be prevented.
Problematic scenarios include an ad showing a man with his feet up, relatives creating a mess at home and a woman the only person responsible for cleaning up.
Chief executive of the ASA Guy Parker commented: “Our evidence shows how harmful gender stereotypes in ads can contribute to inequality in society, with costs for all of us. Put simply, we found that some portrayals in ads can, over time, play a part in limiting people’s potential.
“It’s in the interests of women and men, our economy and society that advertisers steer clear of these outdated portrayals, and we’re pleased with how the industry has already begun to respond.”
Detailed advertising guidance has been written following extensive public consultations on this topic, setting out what is likely to fall foul of the rule change where depictions of gender stereotypes are concerned.
To find out more about TV lighting hire, get in touch with us today.


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A nine-year-old from Colorado has reached millions with her stunning original fashion creations that she shared on TikTok. Kaia Aragon, who is studying in the third grade, has hundreds of thousands of fans on the social media platform.
Kaia has been fond of designing and sewing clothes since she was just 4 years old. According to a report in Daily Mail, her mother, Tony got her a sewing machine a year ago, and since then, she has been sewing and stitching dresses for herself.
At the age of 9, Kaia decided to become a fashion designer and own a fashion company. @middle.mom, TikTok account of Kaia’s original designs, are handled by her mom and has 582.9K followers and 22.6M likes.
Kaia’s mother Tonya posts the dresses made by her daughter on Tiktok, which is liked by millions of netizens. Moreover, users not only praise the girl for her talent but also show interest in buying these clothes. Her mother wants to keep them as her daughter’s hobby for the time being.
Impressed with the young fashionista, famous adult fashion icon Vera Wang has even sent Kaia a handwritten note. Currently, Kaia’s hands have been so much on the machine that as her first project, she put together cat bed. It didn’t take her much time to start sewing her outfits then.
The little girl knows very well where what things to add. In many of her dresses, the combination of contrasting colours is surprising. Kaia is clear even about the smallest details on the dresses.
Tonya shares videos of her baby girl working on the dresses and showing how she prepares them beautifully. Not only does Kaia get love on social media but also handwritten notes from people wishing her a bright future.
Read all minute-by-minute news updates for Uttar Pradesh election results 2022, Punjab election results 2022, Uttarakhand election results 2022, Manipur election results 2022, and Goa election results 2022.
Click here for seat-wise LIVE result updates.


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Facebook parent company Meta is not wavering on its ambitious metaverse plans after a report from the Financial Times indicated that the firm is in talks with augmented reality (AR) startup Magic Leap over a multi-year partnership.
Magic Leap taps into AR to build high-tech lenses and software that are compatible with metaverse technology. Back in 2021, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) purchased a $450m 50% stake in the company and has since garnered a controlling stake.
Meta was initially in talks with Magic Leap in 2020 over a potential stake acquisition but fizzled out, although it may have become the catalyst for Mark Zuckeberg’s company’s interest in working with the AR company.
Two former employees of Magic Leap stated to The Financial Times that the firm’s biggest asset is the “sophistication of its waveguides” – which enables enhanced images for a viewer by technology passing through thin glass lenses.
The report did note that neither company would confirm the partnership talks, but Magic Leap did state that partnerships within their field are becoming a “significant line of business and growing opportunity for Magic Leap”.
Meta is reportedly interested in working with Magic Leap so that the multi-billion dollar company can access both its intellectual property licensing and other technologies to help build a more refined metaverse product that they are already working on.
The tech giant has struggled to get its metaverse projects off the ground over the last several years since rebranding from Facebook to Meta in 2019.
Its metaverse research and development division, Reality Labs, whilst receiving multi-billions in funding has failed to turnover and profitability, losing over $13bn in the company’s 2022 annual financial results.
Investors have also grown wary of Meta’s perceived insistence of pouring multiple billions of dollars into the metaverse, with one investor – Brad Gerstner – stating in an open letter that heavy spending could lead the company down an “unknown future”.
Whilst the past year has been a struggle for Zuckerberg’s company, not helped by intensifying macroeconomic conditions leading to up to 20,000 employees laid off, the news of Apple’s interest into the metaverse may have signalled that partnerships with firms such as Magic Leap may bolster their own offering.
Apple is set to launch its first virtual reality headset next month and could prove to become a game-changer within the VR space as Meta have seemingly become the leading Big Tech firm in the field.


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Wendy Lewis and her husband, Randy Ray, began Jeunesse Global in 2009 after discovering the possibilities of stem cell research and the possible effects it could have on anti-aging products. They both had experience as entrepreneurs prior to beginning their health and wellness company where they gained expertise in direct marketing and the benefits of network marketing.
Their knowledge paid off because they recently won 24 awards for the Communicator Awards in Florida in 2019. BusinessWire recently published an article called “Jeunesse Global Honored with 24 Awards in 25th Annual Communicator Competition.” The article reveals how the successful company was honored with 11 awards of Excellence (the highest honor available from the awards) and 13 awards of distinction. They won many awards for their excellence in their digital and traditional marketing.
Though the company has been a big winner for the past four years at the award show, they recently improved their marketing game with new tools and branding that helped reveal the unique Jeunesse Global story. They also focused on highlighting the incredible benefits of their products, including the benefits of their APT-200, developed by physician Nathan Newman. Their brand has also improved their content marketing strategy with the release of “We Live Jeunesse,” a digital magazine that also functions as a product catalog. They provide engaging content that allows more interaction between the consumers and the brand, establishing more trust and brand awareness. The magazine won eight different awards for the company, including six awards of excellence for the design, visual appeal, and writing.
Are YOU a Jeunesse Super Fan? If your super power is cheering loudly, you’re attending EXPO NEXT 2019, you like VIP seating, and love all things #JeunesseGlobal – YOU could be a “Super Fan”!
— Jeunesse Global (@JeunesseHQ) August 5, 2019
The company also released two new product lines that gathered a lot of attention at the awards. The RVL Advanced Hair Care System won seven awards for Jeunesse including awards of Excellence for the videos and brochures for the product. The product line was also awarded the 2019 Winner for the Global Awards in Beauty. It was designed to provide an at-home hair care system that was equal to the salon. The luxury system is infused with a polypeptide technology called HPT-6 that was designed to help revitalize the appearance of the scalp and hair.


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One more post on the issue and then I’ll let it go. The OnePlus business model is a breath of fresh air in an industry that sells devices with incredible premiums, but it might be all for naught.
OnePlus has had a rocky go of it since launching their affordable powerhouse, the OnePlus One. The phone was subject to manufacturing problems, RMA requests were met with strange responses and policies, forum posts were censored, and invites to actually purchase the phone were sparse.
Now, let’s start with a disclaimer – the authenticity of the following e-mail is still in question and is likely fake, but I have reached out to OnePlus for a response. However, considering the manufacturing problems OnePlus has had and their less-than-savory methods of handling those problems, I decided to post the information on the offhand chance it’s real. Moreover, more attention should be given to OnePlus’ treatment of defective phones.
By all accounts the phone is fantastic when not afflicted with yellow-screen fever; OnePlus should address the issue more transparently for the good of their future. With a swift response, the future of OnePlus is bright. With no response, the nascent OnePlus brand continues to take a hit – could their reputation take that hit and be successful? Unlikely, unless they hire LeBron James.
Anyway, earlier today, leaker @tktechnews posted a curious tweet with a screenshot of an e-mail:
The e-mail in question, according to TK, offered a bribe to take down a recent negative video about OnePlus. Among the concerns TK brought up in the video forum censorship on the OnePlus site, as well as seemingly ignored RMA requests for the yellow tint display problem. These issues are also explored in a post on TK’s site shortly after the incident today.
TK also sent the full contents of the e-mail to me, take a look:
Okay, so it looks fake, right? The grammar is terrible, their own brand isn’t even capitalized, and no heade… yeah, it’s fake. Someone seems to be having a little fun with our friend. Regardless, the rest of the issues TK harps on ring true.
OnePlus certainly doesn’t need the negative press as invites continue to be issued, but maybe it would be beneficial to the consumer. The manufacturing issues plaguing the OnePlus need to be fully acknowledged and addressed, and customers need to be afforded the opportunity to trade-in devices dealing with the issue free of charge.


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UAE-based dining, catering and restaurant management firm Tawasy Group will open it’s first-ever restaurant, Tawasy Restaurant and Grill, in Dubai Festival City.
The company plans to open 10 more Tawasy Restaurant and Grill outlets, which will serve authentic Arabic and Mediterranean cuisines, in the UAE in the next four years and expand across the GCC through franchising programmes.
“The UAE’s urban population is forecasted to grow to 7.9 million by 2020 at an average annual growth of 2.3% in a decade with city dwellers, who eats out more often than others, accounting for 86.7% of the country’s population. With such attractive numbers, opening a restaurant is a next step towards strengthening our position in the UAE’s F&B industry. Moreover, F&B outlets are expected take over a fifth of the mall space in the next 10 years, establishing our presence in the dining segment is a strategic business move,” says Rami Wardeh, CEO, Tawasy Group.
“Consumers in Dubai are very discerning and look out for new dining concepts to make their eating out experience unique and through our new outlet; we aim to address their demand. Tawasy Restaurant and Grill will carve for itself a niche by serving award-winning traditional homemade recipes from Arabian and Mediterranean regions, prepared in certified modern kitchen using only the freshest and carefully selected authentic ingredients. We aim to set a benchmark in not just the quality of our food but also through our excellent service,” Wardeh addss.
Established in 2009, Tawasy Group is an experienced player in Dubai’s F&B market. Its Arabic grilled outlets – Mashawi2Go and Manqeesh2Go – are delivery and takeaway concepts, while Tawasy Express is a catering service.
Words by Farimah Moeini, Snapchat Head of Industry – Retail and Travel TheJuly 5, 2021 | By RetailME Bureau
Snapchat has been betting big on Augmented Reality’s (AR) retail future consideringJune 22, 2021 | By Jibran Chouguley
Nando’s has revealed their revamped Sheikh Zayed Road outlet where newcomers and
UAE-based Al Maya Group announced that it will be boosting import of
UAE-based grocery retail chain, Grandiose has opened its first hypermarket in Abu
UAE-based Carrefour announced its theme and plans for Ramadan 2021. The brand
Locally owned supermarket Spinneys celebrates 60 years of doing business in the
UAE-based Carrefour will become the first retailer in the region to offer new levels
The Organic Farmers’ Market is back in Bay Avenue for its 12th
UAE-based Lulu Group recently inaugurated its first-ever all-female staff store in Jeddah,
Jones the Grocer, the gourmet grocer and cheese retailer launches the Jones
UAE-based Al Maya Supermarkets is hosting a two-week food festival at select
Locally-owned supermarket Spinneys has launched its ‘Power of Plants’ initiative in the
British retailer Marks & Spencer has brought its pop-up store experience to Dubai
Deliveroo, the on-demand food delivery service in the UAE, has unveiled its
Extravagant, conceptual, great food and views are some of the ways that
Al Qana, the waterfront social dining and entertainment destination in Abu Dhabi,
Abu Dhabi’s state investment company ADQ is in talks to invest about $500 million
Food trucks may have seemed like a good idea at the time,
British retailer Marks & Spencer, operated by the Al-Futtaim Group has announced
The once powerful department stores that anchored malls and streets around the
Who isn’t a sucker for discounts? Customers today are spoiled for choice
The various e-commerce and virtual retail stores that cater to different product
A private helicopter carrying the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group,
Dubai-based Thai street food and tea bar restaurant, Cafe Isan is launching


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The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) has confirmed that Tokyo Game Show 2022 will take place from September 15 to 18, and in honor of this event, the official promo poster of the event, accompanied by the slogan Nothing Stops Gaming, was released.
Designed by Kukka, the poster aims to highlight the love and passion for video games, an ever-evolving medium that is always capable of delivering big surprises to the public. To date, more than 465 companies have confirmed their participation in TGS, 299 from Japan and 166 from other countries, with a total of more than 1900 booths, significantly more than the 1500 originally planned by the organization.
Instead, the Tokyo Game Show 2022 Indie Game Area will feature the best independent titles from around the world, with a total of 81 confirmed games selected from over 580 titles. This year’s Tokyo Game Show is sponsored by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo and Kodansha Game Creators Lab, as well as indie game incubator iGi and event tech partners ELSA Japan and BenQ Japan.
Tokyo Game Show 2022 will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba as a three-day event, conference and live demo. The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association expects the show to attract 150,000 visitors this year.


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Featured StoryNewsPCPS4Xbox One
Sonic Mania officially sells over 1 million copies
Sonic Mania was released last August, and the hype for the game hasn’t stopped since, with a physical version coming out this summer. In a recent article by Famitsu, it was revealed that Sonic Mania had officially sold over 1 millions copies.
Sonic Mania has become one of the highest rated Sonic games in the past two decades, so it’s good to see the game finally hitting the 1 million mark. With that said, the sales will definitely increase once Sonic Mania Plus comes out this summer.


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MILAN — “Go beyond” is a mantra for Moncler chairman and chief executive officer Remo Ruffini, one that has inspired the group’s latest communication campaign, and in releasing first-half results on Wednesday, the performance went beyond even management expectations. “I’m convinced that our capacity to go beyond — to explore new frontiers and break new ground — is what steers and guides Moncler, quarter after quarter, toward new heights that I, for one, find exceptional,” Ruffini said. “The results we are releasing today once again, not only beat market expectations, but even our own estimates.”
All channels and markets helped boost the strong performance of Moncler in the first half of the year. In the first six months ended June 30, net profit climbed 47 percent to 61.6 million euros, compared with 41.8 million euros in the same period last year.
Sales rose 21 percent to 493.5 million euros, compared with 407.6 million euros in the first half of 2017. At constant exchange rates, they grew 27 percent.
According to the Thomson Reuters consensus, analysts expected sales of 483 million euros and profits of 57 million euros.
Ruffini said “numbers always need to be read in context, looking past the mere digits. And that’s what makes me even more confident today about our future. The launch of the first Moncler Genius collection has been acclaimed a success in all markets and in all channels we operate in, and the company managed to meet all the given deadlines. We’re working to strengthen the brand and our entire value chain further, and we are pushing ahead with major projects, which I trust will enable us to live up to the motto of our campaign — beyond limits, expectations and generations.”
During a conference call with analysts after trading hours in Milan, where the company is publicly listed, Ruffini said he was “very proud of the energy generated inside and outside” the company and “these exceptional results,” praising his team for the successful launch of the 7 Moncler Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara, the first drop of the Moncler Genius project, which registered strong results across all distribution channels. In the second quarter, revenues rose by 26 percent at constant exchange rates, benefiting also from this launch.
Ruffini said all markets, including Italy, showed a performance “above expectations” and that he was impressed by China and Japan’s double-digit growth.
He struck a cautious note regarding the second half of the year, as he said “we are all aware of how challenging the base of comparison is, but we must remain confident.” This confidence is also boosted by the “many important projects” ahead, including the drop of the second Genius project, Noir by Kei Ninomiya, rolled out on July 24 at Ginza’s Dover Street Market.
Moncler set the brand’s refresh button during Milan Fashion Week in February with a major installation at Palazzo delle Scintille, introducing its “Genius” series of collaborations with a slew of different designers — with pieces trickling out each month. This followed the end of Moncler’s seasonal partnerships with Thom Browne and Giambattista Valli on its Gamme Bleu and Gamme Rouge runway lines.
Ruffini also emphasized Moncler’s retail projects. During the call, Roberto Eggs, chief marketing and operating officer, said more than 15 directly operated stores are expected to open in the full year, and some 15 expansions and relocations planned, including important projects like units in New York in SoHo and in London on Sloane Street.
Asked to comment about the Fragment launch, Eggs said the increase of traffic in stores was 10 percent upon the roll out and 20 percent after two weeks, it had reached more than 50 percent of volumes in the first week and that it was also “positive on non-outerwear categories.” He also said that, while the collection was expected to target men, 50 percent of sales was made by women. “It was a surprise,” he said, adding that 45 percent of customers were not regular Moncler clients. “The impact of Fragment was 10 percent of sales in the period,” he remarked. Eggs reiterated the relevance of the Genius project in terms of communication of the values of the brand and its strength in “talking to a different clientele. We knew that Fragment would be one of the most successful commercially,” while other drops will be “more couture,” underscoring that Moncler is “not planning big volumes” but expecting they will “drive traffic in stores.”
Of current trading in general, Eggs said the first two weeks in July were in the line with the second quarter, although there has been “a slight slowdown of tourists in Europe but a slight increase of Chinese in nearby Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.”
In the first half, revenues in Italy rose 9 percent to 63.3 million euros representing 12.8 percent of total sales, mainly driven by the strong growth of the retail channel.
In the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, revenues grew 15 percent to 147 million euros, accounting for 29.8 percent of total. The company said France, the U.K. and Germany in particular recorded very good performances.
In Asia and the Rest of the World, revenues increased 32 percent to 210.4 million euros, or 42.6 percent of total. At constant exchange, they rose 42 percent. In particular, Japan significantly accelerated in the second quarter also thanks to the successful launch of 7 Moncler Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara.
Moncler continued to register very good performances in China, driven by double-digit organic growth. Following the Chinese government decision to reduce import duties, since the beginning of July Moncler reduced its prices in China by 3.5 percent on average, similarly to some of its peers, such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Hermès and Gucci. Revenues in South Korea recorded a solid increase, with an acceleration in the second quarter, mainly due to the organic growth of the existing stores’ network. Eggs spoke of launching Moncler online in South Korea by the first half of 2019. Also, he pegged the launch of pop-ups in China following the arrival of Genius on Tmall. In general, he said the online channel starting last year accelerated, growing at twice the pace of the growth of the retail channel and that, in a couple of year, it could reach 15 percent of sales from the current 8 to 9 percent.” The company is integrating the database of Yoox Net-a-porter and in the second half of 2019, it will “assess if it is better to go alone in 2020 or to continue with YNAP. It is a decision that we have not taken yet,” Eggs said.
In the Americas, revenues grew 17 percent to 72.8 million euros, accounting for 14.8 percent of total. At constant exchange rates, they climbed 29 percent, with a double-digit growth also in the second quarter.
In the first half of 2018, retail revenues grew 26 percent to 376.8 million euros thanks to a robust organic growth and to a further development of its directly operated stores.
Like-for-like sales grew 27 percent.
The wholesale channel was up 8 percent to 116.7 million euros driven by good results, in particular, in North America and Asia-Pacific.
As of June 30, Moncler counted 209 directly operated stores, an increase of eight units compared to the end of December 2017, and 65 wholesale shops-in-shop, an increase of six units compared to the end of last year.
Advertising expenses were 36.3 million euros, representing 7.3 percent of revenues, stable compared to the first half of last year.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose to 123.9 million euros, compared to 97 million euros in the first six months of 2017, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 25.1 percent compared to 23.8 percent in the first half of 2017. The increase is mainly linked to the improvement of the gross margin and the good control on retail selling costs.
Operating profit increased 35 percent to 85.7 million euros.
As of June 30, the net financial position was positive and equal to 243.9 million euros compared to 130.2 million euros at the end of June last year.
Capital expenditure totaled 34.5 million euros in the first six months of 2018, in line with the investments made in the same period of 2017. Luciano Santel, chief corporate and supply officer, said retail investments equalled 18.5 million euros, compared to 27.5 million euros in the first half and that corporate investments totaled 14.1 million euros compared to 5.5 million euros last year, including expenses to reinforce Moncler’s logistics hub in Piacenza, the acquisition of the industrial building in Romania, and the reinforcement of the IT and omnichannel platforms. The hub in Piacenza is a three-year project, he said, with a budget of a total of 15 million euros by 2020. “It’s the extension of the logistics hub, we are growing the top line and we need more space and capacity to support the business growth, which is higher than planned,” he explained. A second building has already been erected, he said. “We are investing in automation to respond faster and faster to market demand and in view of an eventual online business after [South] Korea’s first [project]. We must act now to be ready in 2020, it’s very important.”
Santel expressed satisfaction on the pricing and hedging policies, which protected gross margins.
Cash flow in the first half of 2018 was positive and equal to 66.3 million euros, compared to 39.6 million euros in the same period of 2017. Asked about the potential use of this cash, Ruffini said it was one of his “biggest dreams to have a healthy company, a strong brand and reputation, with a very solid financial situation.” He said he could see channelling funds “if there is an opportunity to invest in the industrial part for the supply chain and a stronger brand. If we make more cash we could improve the payout or if we see an opportunity on the market,” that could also make sense for Moncler, which “needs a lot of energy” to build up in the luxury sector.
In the first half of 2018, Moncler distributed 70.5 million euros of dividends compared to 45.5 million euros in the same period of 2017. In the same period, the group completed a share buy-back program for 73.4 million euros. As a consequence, net cash flow in the first half of 2018 was negative and equal to 61 million euros, compared to a positive cash flow in the same period last year of 24.4 million euros.
Moncler is forecasting a scenario of further growth in 2018, based on strengthening the brand, focusing on customers, globally developing and consolidating key markets, selectively expanding product categories and through sustainable business development. Asked to elaborate, Eggs said Moncler benefited from “a year of exceptional weather that started early in September and ran until the end of March.”


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Telefónica (O2) Germany has announced it will launch its NFC-enabled O2 Wallet in mid-February, beginning as a “friendly user test” on two Android smartphones that will enable users to tap to make purchases with the telco’s own payments service, mpass.
Austrian mobile operator A1 has pulled the plug on its plans to introduce its own payment brand at the physical point of sale, disclosing it would end an eight-month “trial” of the service by the end of the year.
Telefónica Germany has announced it is moving forward with its planned expansion of the telco-owned e-commerce payment scheme mpass to the physical point of sale, but has apparently dropped plans to introduce its own brand.
Deutsche Telekom intends to make its move into the payments market at the physical point of sale in direct competition with banks, with an NFC payments commercial launch planned in Poland this year, before later expanding to Germany and other European countries.
MasterCard Worldwide and Germany-based Deutsche Telekom group have signed a partnership agreement that will help the telco launch a prepaid PayPass application for its planned NFC mobile wallet, NFC Times has learned.
German mobile operators Telekom Deutschland, Vodafone Germany and Telefónica Germany today announced an agreement to form a joint venture to expand their mpass mobile payment service to the physical point of sale using NFC technology.
Three major German mobile operators plan to launch their own payment scheme, seeking to expand their small Internet payment service, mpass, to shops and restaurants using NFC phones, a source told NFC Times.
As the Hungarian Mobile Wallet Association prepares to enable its members to commercially launch NFC mobile payments, it has released the results of its 12-month NFC payments and loyalty pilot along with a survey of users.
France-based telco Orange and Air France, along with airline industry and information technology services provider SITA have launched a trial of an NFC boarding pass application for the airline’s route from Toulouse to Paris, and SITA is also piloting Bluetooth low energy beacons at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
NFC Times Exclusive: Both Visa and MasterCard plan to offer their own HCE services to banks and other issuers to help the financial institutions launch host-card emulation, as the payment networks continue to try to expedite the rollout of HCE technology for NFC mobile payments, NFC Times has learned.
NFC Times Exclusive: Host-card emulation represents an “inflection point” for driving the rollout of NFC mobile payments and could also help the SIM-based NFC ecosystem to become more efficient and less costly, the head of payments innovation for major Spanish bank BBVA told NFC Times.
NFC Times Exclusive: With its high rate of smartphone ownership, strong contactless-payment infrastructure and well-developed NFC ecosystem, Canada is increasingly seen as a market to watch for NFC commercial deployments.
Spanish bank BBVA is claiming to be the first bank to commercially launch payments with host-card emulation, announcing today an upgrade of its Android mobile-wallet app incorporating Visa’s HCE specifications.
France’s mobile-operator-led NFC association, AFSCM, has dropped its long-held NFC logo and touchpoint symbol for nonpayment services, Cityzi, in favor of on logo based on EMVCo’s contactless-payment acceptance mark.


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In recent weeks, Applegate has been reflecting on what we can do, as a company, to improve racial equity and make a meaningful, lasting impact both inside our company and externally. Today, we’re ready to start the work we hope will make a difference.
When the reality of the coronavirus hit home in March, Americans rushed to the grocery store. They bought toilet paper and flour, meat and canned fruits and vegetables. But just as revealing as what they did buy was what they didn’t. Even when the store shelves were at their most empty, it was still pretty easy to get a plant-based burger.
Since 1987, Applegate has been on a mission: Changing The Meat We Eat.® With the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), putting unprecedented demands on the food system, that mission is more important now than ever. Applegate is paying close attention to the situation, and we’re working with partners – from farmers to warehouse distributors – to take extra measures that put safety first during this challenging time. Our team is working around the clock on precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and minimize disruptions in getting you the high-quality natural and organic meats you expect from Applegate.
Change doesn’t just happen. It requires great leadership. That’s why Applegate®, the nation’s leading natural and organic meat brand, is proud to have added three experienced and progressive leaders to our team.
In June 2015, we removed GMO ingredients from all of our products. In 2016, we went a step further: promising to take GMOs out of our entire supply chain and seeking third-party verification for all of our products.
Pardon the play on words, but the headline on this blog is pretty dead on regarding the latest action, (or should I say inaction?) at the United States Department of Agriculture regarding animal welfare rules for Organic.


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First US state-run online lottery affiliate program to be powered by the Income Access platform
Montreal, QC. 8th January 2018 – Michigan Lottery, has launched an affiliate program with Income Access, Paysafe’s marketing technology and services provider. The affiliate program is the first of its kind for a US lottery, and will be powered through Income Access’ tracking and analytics platform.Michigan Lottery is a strong and well-established brand. Since 1972, the Michigan Lottery has provided more than $21 billion to support public education, including more than $900 million in the 2017 fiscal year. As a state agency that generates nearly $3 billion a year, they are well-positioned to offer robust CRM and player retention programs.
In 2014, Michigan Lottery expanded their traditional sales to online game offerings. Players have the chance to win millions of dollars in prizes each week online playing both draw and instant win games including Mega Millions, Powerball, Instant Keno, Cashword, Queen of Diamonds and more. With monthly iLottery net gaming revenue figures currently at approximately $7 million, Michigan Lottery is the fastest growing iLottery program of its kind in the US.
Through the Income Access platform integration integration, members of the Michigan Lottery affiliate program can promote one of the US’ most successful iLottery brands. Winner of eGaming Review’s B2B ‘Affiliate Software’ award four times since 2013, the Income Access platform features state-of-the-art ad targeting capabilities based on geo-location and other criteria.
Through a combination of dedicated affiliate manager support, an in-house creative team charged with maintaining a consistent flow of new and custom assets, and strong player incentives, affiliates are provided with key resources to successfully promote the brand. One such example is a 50% bonus credit on first time deposits up to $100 free, which would reward a $200 purchase with a $100 bonus.
The affiliate program will cap at 20% revenue share, based on 20+ player acquisitions per month.
Amanda Perkins, Digital Marketing & Analytics Manager at Michigan Lottery, said: “Michigan Lottery is the most successful online lottery program in the United States and growth potential is significant with only about 8% of eligible players in Michigan registered to play online. We have partnered with Income Access to launch our affiliate program given the company’s excellent reputation in the affiliate marketing space. We expect this affiliate program to open a new pathway to acquiring players and play a key role in the Lottery’s overall player acquisition strategy.”
Lorenzo Pellegrino, CEO of Income Access and Digital Wallets at Paysafe, said: “Michigan Lottery is an important partnership as we look to extend our influence in the iLottery vertical beyond Europe. The brand’s stature and long history of success provide a unique opening for affiliates looking to broaden their player base.”
For more information about the partnership and program launch, please contact Michigan Lottery.
About Michigan Lottery
Michigan Lottery has proven to be the most successful iLottery launch in North America. In combination with robust responsible gaming tools and resources, Michigan Lottery has introduced a successful portfolio of over 50 online Instant games since their August 2014 launch, and rolled out four draw based games in early 2016 followed by the introduction of innovative payment and promotion solutions that incorporate the important retail base with the digital business. Michigan is very proud of the data driven culture that has been created to support their online program and it’s the dedication of the staff and their commitment to delivering a great digital experience to Michigan Lottery players that keeps the digital business growing.
About Income Access
Founded in 2002, Income Access is a technology company, affiliate network and digital marketing agency servicing the global gaming market, including regulated iGaming, social gaming, land-based casinos and online financial trading (forex, binary options). Through its award-winning marketing software and a partnership-centric approach, Income Access delivers comprehensive data and strategic insight on marketing campaigns across all digital and offline channels.
In September 2016, Income Access was acquired by Paysafe Group, the company behind the digital wallet brands NETELLER and Skrill. Income Access is partnered with over 300 gaming brands worldwide. These include: Betfred, Bet Victor, BGO Group, Caesars Interactive, Coral, Gala Interactive, IGT’s Lottomatica, Jackpotjoy, Lottoland, Pinnacle, PMU, Sportingbet, Stan James, and TwinSpires.
Paysafe is a leading global provider of end-to-end payment solutions. Our core purpose is to enable businesses and consumers to connect and transact seamlessly through our industry-leading capabilities in payment processing, digital wallets and online cash solutions. Delivered through an integrated platform, our solutions are geared towards mobile-initiated transactions, real-time analytics and the convergence between bricks-and-mortar and online payments. With over 20 years of online payment experience, a combined transactional volume of US$48 billion in 2016 and over 2,300 staff located in 12 global locations, Paysafe connects businesses and consumers across 200 payment types in over 40 currencies around the world. For more information, visit: www.paysafe.com.
Jaime Guerra - Affiliate Program Manager
Digital Marketing & Analytics Manager
+1-517-580-6010Email: email@example.com Website: https://www.michiganlottery.com Affiliate Page: http://playonline.michiganlottery.com/affiliate/ Affiliate Registration Page: https://affiliates.michiganlottery.com/registration.asp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganLotteryTwitter: https://twitter.com/MILottery
Income Access, Paysafe