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The Queen’s Head, a Hook Norton pub in Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, has been visited by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin for a discussion about the challenges facing the pub industry.
Harriett met with pub landlord John Wilsher and Hook Norton Brewery managing director James Clarke, and was accompanied by local county councillor Liz Eyre.
Harriett comments: "I always enjoy visiting the Queen's Head, which is an important part of the Sedgeberrow village community and I was eager to pop in and show my support for John and Olive. The brewing industry has benefitted from a one penny cut in duty last year which has helped beer sales enormously.
"I will take the message back to the Chancellor and to Vince Cable that breweries and pubs are grateful for the support and hope for more."
James adds: “It was great to have the opportunity to discuss the issues that affect the pub industry with Harriet. Pubs are a key part of Britain’s culture, and must be protected – we really appreciate having Harriet’s support.”
McMullen, the family brewer based in Hertford, has invested over £90,000 in an extensive refurbishment of The Steamer, a community pub occupying a prominent position on the main road through the village in the south of Old Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
The Steamer has undergone a full interior and exterior refurbishment, creating a warm and inviting yet professional atmosphere with a food and drink offer that appeals to local residents and visitors alike. Inside, the previously separate restaurant and bar areas have been opened up into one larger space, which has created seating for 30 more people. Central heating has been installed, alongside new flooring, soft furnishings, lighting and seating.
Outside, The Steamer has benefitted from new signage to attract passers-by, while patio areas have been opened up to create attractive outside dining sections. The Steamer now has an emphasis on quality ales and wines and simple traditional pub food. The new food offering consists of a breakfast menu, daytime meals with key pub favourites followed by authentic Indian cuisine served every evening
The Steamer also welcomes Dan Tubbs, who has previously managed pubs for JD Wetherspoon for nine years, as its new landlord. Dan comments: “I’m really enjoying running my own pub, particularly one that has the potential to become a true cornerstone of the community. The Steamer has been given a new lease of life thanks to its extensive refurbishments, and the feedback we’ve received from customers to date has been incredibly positive.”
Gavin Mansfield, Tenant Operations Manager at McMullen, comments: “The Steamer needed considerable renovations to give it the welcoming and comfortable feel that we wanted, and is already proving well worth the investment. Dan is a great landlord, very professional, and exactly the type of person we like to partner with at McMullen. We are always looking for talented and driven entrepreneurs, though not necessarily experienced operators, who would enjoy the rewarding challenge of running their own pub.”
Batemans, the family brewer based in Lincolnshire, is celebrating its 140th anniversary by launching new branding using the strapline ‘Craft Brewers Since 1874’, alongside a selection of exciting new product launches, including Bohemian Brews and Biscuit Barrel Beers.
The new product branding boasts a more contemporary design, with a strapline that highlights the heritage and expertise of the brewery. This is supported by new pump clip images for the core XB and XXXB beers, with ‘key-ring’ descriptions attached to inform the customer about their choice.
Furthermore, the Salem Porter beer has been rebranded under the new Salem Bridge Brewery range, which features imagery of the ancient bridge which the brewery windmill overlooks. As part of rebranding its portfolio, Batemans has extended the maturation and secondary fermentation time for its beers to give them an even more satisfying body and flavour.
Alongside the new branding, Batemans is launching a selection of new craft beers, including the Bohemian Brews range, which is infused with exciting flavours; including Mocha (winner of Sainsbury’s Great British Beer Hunt), Mocha Amaretto, Orange Barley and Hazelnut Brownie. These rich and delicious beers undertake extended maturation in the brewery cellars to ensure their quality, and are available in bottle, and for limited periods in cask.
Furthermore, Batemans presents the new Biscuit Barrel Beers, which combine all the flavours of classic biscuits with the traditional brewing recipes of cask conditioned beer. As beer and biscuits share many common raw materials; barley, oats, malt and cane sugar, this is the perfect combination, and these beers feature subtle overtones and nuances of delicious biscuit flavours.
The Biscuit Barrel Beers are brewed on a seasonal basis and represent the crispness of spring, the lightness of summer, the autumnal colours of autumn, the long dark nights of winter and the traditional fruits of Christmas. Flavours in the range include Oatmeal (springtime), Digestive Biscuit (summer), Bourbon (autumn), Chocolate Digestive (winter) and Fruit (Christmas).
In addition, Batemans has launched Golden Swallow, a fabulous golden beer with hints of passion fruit, as part of the Salem Bridge Brewery Beers range, as well as Black & White, a dark and smooth full bodied beer with a 3.6% ABV and fruity flavours and nutty undertones.
Finally, the new Black Pepper Ale from Batemans offers a completely unique beer experience; this strong pale ale is brewed with chocolate, crystal and wheat malts, and blended with spicy English Challenger, Golding and Styrian hops, creating a peppery aroma and flavour balanced by a subtle fruitiness. Drinkers can also add additional ground Asian black pepper from an attached sachet to enhance the flavour.
Stuart Bateman, Managing Director of Batemans Brewery, comments: “This year marks a momentous occasion for us, as we celebrate our 140th Anniversary! In recognition of this achievement, we’ve evolved our branding, and also introduced a range of new beers, which demonstrate the heritage and expertise of our brewery, while offering tastes and flavours that are incredibly modern. We’re extremely proud of these new beers, and hope our customers and fans enjoy them!”
Robinsons Brewery has today announced that their modern ‘Apprenticeship PLUS’ programme has signed up 50 applicants in the first 50 days – well on their way to 130 applicants by June of next year. “We’re off to an incredible start” said Beverley Ashton, Consultant Training & Development manager at Robinsons Brewery, “In just under two months we have filled almost half of our expected 130 places and the exceptional demand for the programme continues to grow.”
The apprenticeship PLUS is open to any pub, bar, hotel or restaurant in the North West. Funded through the GM Chamber of Commerce Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot (EOS), the programme has been developed with other Greater Manchester regional brewers, restaurant and pub operators to address concerns with the current offering by adding additional qualifications in customer service and wine knowledge as well as giving every apprentice their APLH (personal licence).
“What makes me really pleased about this is that we are engaging tenanted pubs initially and gaining success” explained Director of Marketing for Robinsons, David Bremner. “With a managed business arguably it would be easier to hit numbers quickly as there can be more of a “tell” approach. But we have worked with about 20 tenants so far who see the benefit of having funded training for aspiring members of staff through which they also achieve the mandatory training in health & safety and food hygiene.”
Robinsons have initially launched five apprenticeships for bar and kitchen staff, supervisors & managers and see this as the start of a programme which would allow people who want a career in hospitality to progress onto higher level apprenticeships, ultimately leading to degree equivalent qualifications. “I’ve admired what the legal profession has done in Greater Manchester, giving promising A-level students an alternative to being £50K in debt by the end of university by taking them through a similar programme and paying them instead, with the added benefit of higher staff retention” explains David.
The Greater Manchester Employer Ownership of Skills initiative is what sparked the immediate interest at the brewery. “Hats off to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce for their support in getting us to this stage” David continued. “They funded someone to work in our business and develop this: someone who really understood the red tape, jargon and political pathways. The- funding allows us to train over 24s, through current mainstream funding. They continue to support us closely and the results are here to see. Without them we couldn’t and wouldn’t have engaged in Apprenticeships. I hope we can get certainty over future funding to continue the good work.”
“Selection of a training partner was also critical” explained Beverley Ashton who drives the initiative at the brewery and across Greater Manchester. “We invited over 30 training providers to tender, shortlisted nine and interviewed three. Charnwood were the clear winners and have been fantastic in helping us to date. They have people in our pubs helping sell in the message, sign up apprentices and they are already working on the next courses with the BIIAB so we can get them accredited and fully develop this career pathway. There’s no doubt that our tenants share our conviction when it comes to investing in training. Not only does it impact positively on the standards of service and the skills of staff, but it also directly affects the quality of the customer experience."
Commenting on the initial success, Rebecca Bolger, Account Manager at Charnwood said: “It’s great that licensees are supporting the Robinsons development programme and encouraging their staff to get involved to gain accredited and relevant industry qualifications. We’re excited to see how our relationship will develop over the next few months. ”
CONSTRUCTION on a new tourism, leisure and retail attraction in Liverpool will start within a year after councillors today approved plans for the £150m development of Cains Brewery Village.
The first phase of the new one million square feet development, which will secure the city’s iconic beer brand and grade II listed brewery for generations to come, is expected to be complete by summer 2016.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson described the project as an exciting and transformational development which would breathe new life into the city’s Baltic Quarter.
City planning councillors approved the scheme and granted listed building consent at a meeting on November 19th.
Cains Brewery Village bosses are now seeking development partners and operators for the hotel and independent cinema elements of the scheme, as well as an upmarket quality supermarket operator for the food retail element.
The scheme will secure and create in the region of 800 full-time jobs and attract 2.5 million visits per annum. A net additional £25m of GVA economic benefit would be delivered to the city per year.
The plans will see the restoration of the grade II listed brewery building to its former glory, described by planning officers ‘as an outstanding example of Victorian industrial / commercial architecture and one of the finest examples of a purpose built brewery in Britain’ housing the new Cains brewery, museum and event centre with a spectacular ‘Sky Bar’ in the roof which will offer views over the city and the river Mersey.
The building will also house a 94 room boutique hotel, courtyard bistro bar & restaurants and a large open plan retail hall for artisan food producers to make and sell their produce on site.
There will also be a designer retail market for independent fashion businesses and function rooms. The existing historic Brewery Tap pub will be restored and retained.
The plans also include a four-screen independent art-house cinema, a supermarket, health / beauty and fitness centre, up to 775 high quality homes or 2,500 student bedrooms and 500-plus car parking spaces.
The independent art-house cinema is to have treated copper panels on the outside to reflect the copper vessels traditionally used as part of the brewing process.
The new Cains brewery which will be installed will enable the business to brew a full range of international craft beer styles for consumption in the UK and export around the world. It will also be an integral part of the wider destination.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The Cains Brewery Village scheme will transform one of the city’s most important historic buildings and create a new tourist destination capable of holding food, craft and cultural events which will complement the city’s existing retail and leisure offer. We’re delighted it is progressing and see it as a real boost for the Baltic Triangle area.”
Sudarghara Dusanj, Managing Director of Cains Brewery Village, said: “We are going to create a major new tourism and leisure asset for the city which will secure the future of the Cains beer brand and the grade II listed brewery for decades to come.
“We are now seeking development partners and operators for the cinema, hotel and supermarket to help take the scheme forward. We are particularly keen to speak to upmarket quality supermarket operators who want to take advantage of what is a clear gap in the city market.
“We’d like to thank the city’s planning and regeneration team for all their help in bringing this forward as well as our Baltic Triangle neighbours who have been extremely supportive and have bought into our vision.”
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “The planning permission means we will see the restoration of one of the city’s key heritage assets and the creation of a new visitor attraction for an important part of Liverpool. It’s really good news for the city.
Max Steinberg, Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, said: “These proposals are an indication of confidence in the city and its prospects. It’s an extremely exciting scheme and we’re delighted to see it being brought forward.
“Brewery Village can be a tourist anchor at the southern end of the city centre, linking into the Marina and Waterfront and helping to create a new hub of activity for visitors.”
Adam Hall, Managing Director of Falconer Chester Hall (Architects) said: “The scheme will bring together new and old to create a genuinely atmospheric and vibrant destination, with design inspiration coming from right across the world.
“The brewery building will be restored to glories not seen for a hundred years and become a landmark which the entire city can be proud of.”
Mark Worcester, Director of TURLEY ASSOCIATES (Planning and Heritage Consultants) said: “The granting of planning permission and listed building consent reflects our very careful handling of the site’s historic and architectural significance, as well as the major positive impact it can have on the city.
“We had the support of English Heritage, which said it considered the scheme to be ‘a constructive way of finding a new use for some otherwise challenging, nationally significant buildings’, as well as the overwhelming majority of the public who we consulted on the plans.
Just one week after claiming the title ‘BEER CHAMPION 2013’ at the BBPA Awards Diner in London, Robinsons have received another accolade, this time ‘FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR’.
There were a record number of nominations for this year’s event, which was once again, a sell-out. The cream of the North West’s entrepreneurial crop were all present to enjoy the 12th annual awards ceremony, organised by EN Business Awards and held at The Mere Hotel.
The calibre of entrants was extremely high but it was Robinsons Brewery who walked away with the ‘Family Business of the Year’ award (sponsored by Lancaster University Management School).
It is no secret that the Cheshire family brewers have been busy bees of late. In the past 12 months alone Robinsons have rebuilt their time-honoured Victorian brew house, combining cutting edge technology with 175 years brewing expertise; they have launched an innovative new beer and food matching concept with Simon Rimmer, and to top it all off they have enjoyed exponential success (both at home and abroad) with TROOPER, a beer created with Iron Maiden’s lead vocalist and real ale aficionado Bruce Dickinson.
Kirsty Hewitt, editor of EN Magazine, said, “Robinsons Brewery is a rare example of a business which has been run by the same family for 175 years.
“One of the UK’s biggest independent family breweries, it has gone from humble beginnings in Stockport to a multi-million pound empire boasting more than 340 pubs across the North West.
“The judges were impressed with the company’s longevity and its innovative nature. They also said they are looking forward to seeing what Robinsons will do next.”
Commenting on the award, William Robinson, Managing Director (Pubs Division) of Robinsons Brewery and member of the sixth generation of the Robinsons family, said:
“We are delighted to win this award – the timing couldn’t be more perfect for us. We’ve been working very hard to raise awareness of Robinsons, both locally and internationally, by communicating better with our customers, bolstering our brands, and boosting our local economy with high quality training courses and a new Visitor Centre. This award is testament to the dedication of each and every tenant, employee and family member here at Robinsons.”
A family tradition, and one which has grown over many years, the story of Robinsons – now one of Britain’s biggest independent family breweries – is not just about the history of a brewery but of a family which has played (and continues to play) an immensely important role in British Brewing.
One Family. One Place. One Hundred and Seventy Five Years.
Robinsons has announced plans to launch a series of apprenticeships, in partnership with Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and quality assured professional training providers Charnwood, to meet the needs of modern retailing. The Cheshire brewery has spent the last 12 months developing the offer with licensees and will aim to have 130 candidates on the programme by the middle of 2014.
“The first thing we did was ask licensees is what sort of staff development would be most useful to them,” Director of Marketing David Bremner told us, “and the response was consistent; bar staff service skills, chef development and assistant managers. We then met with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and their support has been overwhelming including them funding a consultant for 18 months to get the whole programme up and running and cost neutral. When I meet with colleagues in other regional brewers they are amazed at the support we have had and the way the rules have been adapted to meet the needs of our sector. The Bii too, could not have been more supportive and we are jointly developing plans for the next phase.”
Apprenticeship consultant Beverley Ashton has run focus groups with licensees, co-ordinated with other local pub companies and regional brewers. She has also run the tender process to narrow down the 29 training providers to Charnwood who will provide the training for those in the hospitality sector in the North West who wish to join with Robinsons.
“Charnwood’s pedigree came shining through and they have some great people ready to get started on this,” commented Beverley. “We have also bolted on some additional qualifications to add a PLUS to our apprenticeships. There is extra training on Customer Services as we all agreed this is crucial these days, as well as a wine qualification and a personal licence. We have 24 Robinsons apprentices ready to start from just 16 pubs visited so far and we are sure we are going to hit all the targets the Chamber have set us – we even have new licensees who are signing up to get themselves extra training post-induction.”
Initially Robinsons will offer two level two cooking apprenticeships, a level 2 for front of House (Bii licensed hospitality)and a level 3 for management who wish to progress. All courses are expected to take 12 months to complete and are fully funded through GM Chamber EOS (Employer Ownership of Skills) for participating licensees and candidates. Licensees will play a mentoring role with the on-site training being delivered by Charnwood via monthly visits to the pubs.
“There are so many apprenticeships it can be quite confusing,” David explained, “we have started with five to simplify things but we see this as a real career in hospitality and we hope to eventually take some apprentices through to degree level. Working with the Bii and Charnwood we will continually adapt our offering to keep it fresh and relevant. We will be running normal one day and two day courses too for other training needs but this is all part of a bigger process to really raise the bar in the North West for a pub company, brewer, restaurant, hotel or bar that is interested.”
This approach has also attracted the interest of local MPs and David has explained to them the historical difficulties in becoming involved due to the mass of red tape. “We really think we have something here which could be taken to other regions of the country and prove equally successful. Those involved love what we do – running pubs and bars and we want to see the next generation viewing this as a career decision with clear development opportunities and not just a temporary position.”
With around 340 pubs, Robinsons has a vested interest in delivering distinctive training opportunities to young people wishing to work in the hospitality industry in the North West.
“Too often hospitality is overlooked as an industry with progression possibilities,” explains David, “these new apprenticeship schemes will help young people learn skills and responsibilities that will facilitate their next step up the career ladder.”
Testimonial: “We’ve had great success investing in training for our team. We currently have 3 of our 6 chefs and 2 of our FOH team on Apprentice Training Programmes. For me, there are two major benefits for training - lower staff turnover and being attractive as an employer. Not only do we get the best members of staff, we retain them as well. As a business the most fundamental value is 'Consistently Top Notch Customer Service’ - a stable, high performing team helps us to achieve this.” Martin Barnes the George & Dragon, Holmes Chapel, bronze winner of Best Pub and Customer Service Award 2013 – Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival
Everards were crowned winners at the British Beer & Pub Association industry annual awards annual dinner on 9th October 2013, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Everards won the Pub Champion 2013 category, and were up against Daniel Thwaites, Marston’s, Punch Taverns and Star Pubs & Bars.
The BBPA said: “The judges felt that Everards did something really special. It took on the challenge of not only reopening closed pubs, but also supporting emerging small brewers to develop and expand. It is a company dedicated to pubs far beyond its own brand and invests in pub people at every opportunity.”
The British Beer & Pub Association Industry Awards recognise company and individual contributions to the sector.
Simon Godson, Operations Director of Everards said: “We are really proud to have achieved such a great award, especially being up against such fantastic competition. The judge’s comments show us that we are having a positive impact on the industry and its development. Everards will continue to work hard to make sure pubs remain a national treasure for future generations.”
Other winners scooping prizes on the night included Frederic Robinson for the Beer Champion 2013 category, Carlsberg UK for the Heart of the Community 2013 category – and a special Chairman’s Award was given to a remarkable Government Minister, Sajid Javid MP, who has championed the sector with the first cut in beer duty since the 1950s.
The British Beer & Pub Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 96 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and around half of Britain’s 50,000 pubs.
IRON MAIDEN’S PREMIUM BEER PROVES A TRIUMPH FOR BRITISH EXPORT BUSINESS
Robinsons Brewery today announced that over ONE MILLION pints of TROOPER have already been exported around the world. Given that the beer was only launched in the UK five months ago on May 9, and only made available to the USA and most other countries less than two months ago, this is a remarkable accomplishment for the Cheshire family brewers and takes the total number of TROOPER pints sold globally to over 2 million pints.
Robinsons Managing Director (Beer Division) Oliver Robinson commented: “The beer itself is fantastic in terms of quality and taste, hence repeat purchases are high, but we are astonished to reach this second millionth mark in less than six months. To add to this, we have discovered that TROOPER is driving the sales of cask ale across the board. Within our Robinsons estate beer sales of the pubs that have listed TROOPER are actually 8% ahead of those which have not. This is a beer that not only drives customers into pubs; it also drives the sales of our other brands. There are not many beers in the world that can do that. Establishing a new beer in the UK and globally is a long and difficult process but we feel we are off to a great start”
At home, Trooper now has listings in many of the major pub chains including Punch, Spirit, Coors and Wetherspoons as well as the major wholesalers. Heineken has elevated TROOPER from a temporary seasonal listing to a permanent listing to the whole of the UK for Free Trade accounts. Abroad, expansion continues in Europe with TROOPER the No.2 best selling ale in Sweden – fast chasing down Newcastle Brown Ale which is currently No.1 there. Further afield the beer is just starting to impact across the continents after having secured all necessary licenses, permits and customs clearances which can be a lengthy process; New Zealand are preparing to take their first shipment, and TROOPER has just landed in Canada for the first time. Brazil alone have ordered almost 84,000 pints since May, when the first two shipments to arrive there sold out immediately.
David Davies, Managing Director of Sovereign Beverage Company, and Robinsons’ official export partners, claims TROOPER is the most successful new beer ever launched from the UK,
“We are the largest exporter of Ales and Cider from the UK, with distribution of products in over 52 countries. In an 8 week period, distribution in 30 countries and over 1,000,000 bottles with some of the World’s leading Importers has made this product launch the most successful we have ever seen from the UK. TROOPER is simply a phenomenon!”
“With the support of the globally renowned Iron Maiden, we look forward to longevity and building a really successful brand for the future in the world of export.”
In the USA, Lanny Hoff, VP, Brand Development and Marketing Artisanal Imports, Inc commented, “TROOPER is the most dynamic beer we have ever imported. Our distributors tell us it is outselling all of their other British beer, combined! Even more exciting, it is introducing many American beer drinkers to real, handcrafted, no-compromise British ale.”
Ruth Evans MBE, CEO of Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers' Association (BFBI), Director of Brewing Technology Services Limited, and organiser of the oldest international brewing awards in the world, agrees that TROOPER is providing a great profile for British beer all around the world,
“It is great to see such a successful launch of a British beer with the Internationally famous British band Iron Maiden into the export arena. With distribution into 30 countries in 8 weeks and over 1 million bottles sold overseas in the same period, we are confident that Trooper is the most successful launch of an English Ale in recent years and will be sure to help raise the overall profile of British beers in export.”
With its focus firmly on taste and easy-drinking, TROOPER was personally designed and developed as a top quality Premium British Beer by IRON MAIDEN vocalist and real ale enthusiast Bruce Dickinson with Robinsons' Head Brewer Martyn Weeks.
TROOPER not only appeals to Iron Maiden’s legendary loyal fan-base, it is attracting new customers to the beer category who are now trying cask ale for the very first time. Keith Bott, SIBA Chairman, believes TROOPER is strengthening the British brewing industry in these times of austerity and is one to watch for future world beer competitions:
"There's no doubt that a beer like Trooper with Robinsons is great for British beer exports generally. There have been 1 millions pints sold abroad to date and the way things are going this will multiply. Because the beer is directed at Iron Maiden fans worldwide it stands to reason that we have a fair proportion trying British beers for the first time and, if they like what they taste, then that can only be good for other British brewers. In recent years new world craft beers have done increasingly well in world beer competitions and this is the sort of beer that can fight back.”
To add to this success, Robinsons Brewery was last night named BEER CHAMPION 2013 at the highly prestigious British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) trade awards dinner.
Robinsons were awarded this accolade – fighting off fierce competition from the likes of Marstons, Thwaites and Molson Coors – because they had something all the judges were incredibly impressed by – a true dedication to beer and brewing. Robinsons have a strong desire to attract new customers to thebeer category while also educating and changing the perception of British real ale. TROOPER, in addition to the investment in their brewing operations, has helped them achieve and be recognised for this.
Cask Report kicks off Cask Ale Week by revealing how discerning taste is benefiting Britain’s national drink
People are drinking less and going out less, but when they do go out, they are choosing their beers more carefully – and cask ale is a main beneficiary. So says Pete Brown, author of the Cask Report.
The launch of the Report this Thursday 26th September is timed to coincide with the start of Cask Ale Week, a countrywide celebration of Britain’s national drink. The report shows how people are turning increasingly to cask ale in the search of flavour, natural ingredients and craft production methods.
“There has been a sea-change in attitudes towards cask ale over the past few years,” says Pete, “which explains why it’s now out-performing the beer market by 6.8%.
“It’s completely lost its image as an old man’s drink and now appeals to a broad range of drinkers, male and female, young and old. 63% of licensees say it’s attracting younger customers into their pub and a similar number say that more women are drinking it. More people see it as crafted product made from natural British ingredients and like the fact that it’s available only in the pub. This is great news for all those who care about the future of the British pub since it helps guarantee a new generation of drinkers who will help keep pubs relevant - and open!”
Pete points out that over 10,000 pubs held beer festivals during 2012, encouraging people to try out cask ale and modernising its image. “With all the extra beers on offer in each of those pubs during the festivals, that’s not only a lot of sales generated; it’s also a good illustration of why the market is fragmenting and new breweries are opening.”
184 new breweries have opened during the past year, some microplants in the brewhouses of regional brewers and others in pubs or converted buildings, on industrial estates or in the heart of the countryside.
“People love the opportunity to support local breweries,” says Pete, “but aren’t looking exclusively for beers from their own region. In fact 70% of drinkers would like to try beers from different parts of the country more often. This provides a great opportunity for pubs to diversify their range – and for the country’s 1,150 breweries to sell beyond their own doorstep.”
Activities for Cask Ale Week, which runs from 27th September to 6th October, range from master classes in ale tasting to beer quizzes, meet the brewer evenings, beer festivals, sampling and free pint offers. Even the Eden Project is hosting events. The theme for the Week is The Great Big Taste Challenge.


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Two shoppers at an Atlanta-area Wal-Mart have reported being pricked by hypodermic needles hidden in clothing, prompting an investigation by Georgia sheriff's officials who are urging others to be cautious.
A third shopper found a broken syringe in the pocket of a pair of pants at the Wal-Mart in Cartersville, about 45 miles northwest of Atlanta, but was unharmed, according to Sgt. Jonathan Rogers, a spokesman for the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.
Rogers said the first incident was reported Nov. 22, when a woman bought a pair of footed pajamas at the store for her daughter. When the girl was putting on the clothes at home, she reported being stuck in her right pinky by a syringe, according to the police report.
When the officer asked whether she had been stuck in the foot area, the child said she was "unsure because I freaked out."
In another case, reported Nov. 27, a woman said that while shopping at the store two days earlier, she opened a package of bras and her finger was stuck by a needle. After telling the store manager, she was advised to seek medical attention and get checked for hepatitis and HIV.
Rogers said the sheriff’s department was reviewing store security footage for any clues in the case.
"We’re trying to identify who may have done that and why they might have done that," he said.
He said neither victim had any "medical issues that we know of," after the incidents. The syringes, which were all recovered, appear to have been unused, Rogers said.
Wal-Mart said it was working with law enforcement on the investigation, and taking extra precautions, such as adding staff in the women's apparel area.
"We're committed to getting to the bottom of it," said Dianna Gee, a Wal-Mart spokesperson. "We do believe it's an isolated situation involving this particular store."
Meanwhile, Rogers urged shoppers to be vigilant as they examine clothing.
"You naturally want to be careful putting your hands into places where you can’t see them," he said.
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K&S CorporationPUBLISHED: 11 Dec 2010 00:35:26 | UPDATED: 11 Dec 2010 00:35:26PUBLISHED: 11 Dec 2010 PRINT EDITION: 11 Dec 2010
An unexpected equity raising by transport and logistics firm K&S Corporation triggered its worst share price slump in two years last month.
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The ACS has joined 17 other trade bodies in urging caution over planned increases to the national living wage.
The trade bodies, which represent over 380,000 businesses, wrote to Greg Clark, the new secretary of state for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, to raise their concerns about increases to the national living wage in the next four years and the risk posed to employment prospects in a range of sectors.
The letter asked Clark to create a new steering group to allow businesses to feed back to the government the impact of the wage, and called for the Low Pay Commission to be handed back the power to objectively assess the impact of wage rates on businesses.
“The Low Pay Commission should regain its powers to recommend all minimum pay rates based on economic circumstances and the needs of both employers and employees, instead of having to work to targets set by politicians,” said ACS chief executive James Lowman.
“Retailers and other businesses are already delaying investment plans and having to make difficult decisions about the staff they employ as a result of the introduction of the national living wage in April.”
NFU director of policy Andrew Clark added: “The NFU is fully supportive of the principle of a living wage for all workers in the agricultural industry,”
“We are, however, concerned about how this is working in practice. Where farmers are employing lots of seasonal workers to harvest crops, we are seeing worrying impacts on how viable these businesses will be in the future and how this will affect people being able to buy British food - fruit and veg in particular.”
“The UK needs a thriving farm economy creating jobs and growth so British farmers can continue to supply high quality food to the public. Wages need to be affordable for farm businesses so employment levels aren’t affected, our self-sufficiency is able to increase in fresh produce and our horticulture sector, in particular, can grow.”
Trade bodies who signed the letter alongside the ACS were the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Care England, the Charity Finance Group, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, the Forum of Private Business, the Glass and Glazing Federation, the Mental Health Providers Forum, the National Care Forum, National Day Nurseries Association, the National Farmers’ Union, the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, the Rural Shops Alliance and the Textile Recycling Association.


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It’s a good news for those who withdraw cash from the ATMs of other banks! The Modi government has made a major announcement at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. As per the decision announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, debit card holders, who withdraw cash from any bank ATM, can do it free of charge for the next three months.
” …so you may have a debit card from a bank, a particular bank, but you will now be allowed, without additional charges, to draw cash from any other bank’s ATM for the next three months,” the Finance Minister said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
The ‘no charges for cash withdrawal from ATMs of other banks’ decision came a few hours before PM Narendra Modi announced 21-day complete lockdown for the entire India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from…


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Jan. 19, 2006 -- The FDA has approved the "black box" warning that two prescription eczema drugs will carry.
The FDA announced in March 2005 that two topical eczema drugs -- Elidel cream and Protopic ointment -- would get a "black box" warning about a possible cancer risk. A "black box" warning is the FDA's strongest warning.
An FDA committee had recommended the warning in February 2005. Now, the FDA has approved the warning's content.
The warning states that there have been rare reports of cancer (for example, skin and lymphoma) in patients who had been receiving the two drugs, says an FDA news release. However, the drugs haven't been proven to cause cancer, says the FDA.
The drugs' makers are studying cancer risk, but it could take many years for the results to come back, according to the FDA.
The new warning also states that long-term use of the drugs should be avoided and that the drugs aren't recommended for children younger than age 2.
Drugs Still Have Benefits
While the cancer studies are still being done, "there is a benefit associated with these drugs when used appropriately," states the FDA.
"For instance, they may be effective when other prescription topical medications do not work or are not advisable for the patient," the FDA says.
"The drugs are intended to be used for short periods, but if a patient requires a longer period of treatment, the treatment can be repeated after a period of time off treatment. Patients are advised to call their doctor if symptoms worsen, they develop an infection, or if symptoms do not improve within the six weeks of treatment."
Other drugs should be tried first, says the FDA.
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is one of the most common skin disorders seen in infants and children, affecting 10% to 15% of children. Its cause isn't known, but allergy or immune problems may be involved.
"It is not known exactly how the products work, but they have various effects on the body's immune system," states the FDA.
"We are taking steps to ensure that healthcare providers and patients are aware of the possible long-term risks of these products so that they will be used appropriately," says Steven Galson, MD, MPH, in the news release.
Galson directs the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
"Today's actions are aimed at making sure that healthcare providers and consumers understand the new warnings and that it is important that these products be used as recommended in the label," he continues.
Novartis makes Elidel cream and Astellas Pharma Inc. (formerly Fujisawa Healthcare) makes Protopic ointment.


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Woowa Brothers, the operator of food delivery service Baedal Minjok, said in a statement on Wednesday that it started a test-run of "Dilly Plate", a pizza serving robot, at a Pizza Hut store in western Seoul.
Dilly Plate is an autonomous robot shaped like a rook, a piece from the strategy board game of chess, which is about 100 centimeters (3.2 feet) tall and has a circular flat top so that a pizza plate can be placed on it. Dilly Plate also has sensors and wheels so that it can move around tables and customers to reach its destination.
"By using Dilly Plate, we expect our customers' satisfaction to increase as our servers can focus on their service while the robot carries food," a Pizza Hut official was quoted as saying.
The food delivery service will carry out the test-run until July 19 and use collected data to improve Dilly Plate. The company has started the development of the autonomous serving robots for restaurants and self-driving food delivery vehicles since last year. "We plan to commercialize our autonomous serving robots soon," a Woowa Brothers official said.
See URL for details : http://www.ajudaily.com/view/20180808144626344
Source : AJUDAILY


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Toyota has halted the production of cars in 14 of its Japanese plants due to computer systems malfunctioning and suppliers suspect that the disruption could have been caused because of a cyber attack of ransomware variant.
Kojima Industries Corp, that produces hybrid engines for upcoming cars such as Camry and Innova confirmed the news that the halt was because of a technical error appearing in its computer network caused by Russia, since, Japan has joined the list of countries supporting Ukraine, thus condemning Putin for waging war that resulted in bloodshed of hundreds of innocent populace.
Hino Motors and Daihatsu, the business units of Toyota, have remained silent on the details of attack. But on condition of anonymity, sources report that the disruption could have resulted from a digital invasion.
In the year 2014, a cyber attack took place on Sony Corp where hackers accessed and stole critical data related to the company and remotely blocked the operations for sometime.
Inquires made by the law enforcement agencies from United States revealed the attack as North Korea invasion done as a retaliation to a comedy broadcast made by the channel on the assassination of leader Kim Jong Un.
Note- Auto makers are already fed up with the shortage of silicon processor chip that have hindered the production of new model cars across the globe. And if companies like Toyota, considered being one of the top 3 car producers in the world, start halting the operations, then it could show a deep impact on the consumers who have booked the hybrid models- mostly.


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Gartner said on Thursday that it expects PC growth to slow this year as demand for desktops decreases in developed economies, CNET News.com reports.
Gartner predicts global growth in the PC market will slow in 2006 by nearly 5 percent to 10.7 percent, down from 15.5 percent in 2005, according to CNET News.com.
Desktop shipments to the United States and Western Europe are expected to drop nearly 9 percent, and Gartner thinks mobile PCs will play a part in this, taking a significant bite out of desktop sales, according to CNET News.com.
The popularity of laptops has kept the PC market thriving over the past few years, and this is not expected to change, with growth in notebook sales to increase by more than 31 percent, CNET News.com reports.
For related coverage, read Lenovo Offers SMB PCs and Intel Bolsters Business Desktops.
Keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage.


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KUALA LUMPUR: MMAG Holdings Bhd has proposed to acquire 5.69 million shares in M Jets International Sdn Bhd (MJETS) from JT Aerotech Solutions Sdn Bhd (JTAS) for RM21.36mil.
The shares represent 80% of equity interest in MJETS.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, MMAG said the proposed acquisition was in line with the group’s initiatives to grow and expand its supply chain management and courier and logistics business. There has been a surge in demand for e-commerce, it said. — Bernama


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Briefs: Biz Buzz October 26, 2008
For people who have had the jitters in Palisade, a new coffee shop is open. Mumzel’s Crumpets, Cups and Cones, an old-fashioned-style ice cream and coffee shop, now occupies the front portion of Arts and Antiques of Palisade, 101 Third St.
The shop serves Silver Canyon coffees out of Boulder on recommendation of the daughter of the store’s co-owner, Melinda Eastham. They also serve Meadow Gold ice cream.
The building was built in 1903 and housed a dry-goods store back then and numerous other businesses since.
Will the new coffee place have WiFi? People have pitched the idea.
“It just doesn’t quite fit into the antiques,” Eastham said.
• Pretty Things and Scentsations in Grand Junction have moved upstairs from their former lower-level locations, and now are near the owner’s pole-dancing studio in the breezeway, 634 Main St., Suite 102.
• Blink Coffee Co., 11011 U.S. Highway 65 in Mesa, is hosting a new taste from overseas. It just got in the new red tea, or Rooibos. Employees recommend the white version, called the Red Symphony.
“Rooibos is definitely new to the area, if not the state,” said Lorraine Ball, director of operations for the shop. “The tea comes from South Africa, and you can make it into lattes, cappuccinos, everything. The Red Symphony is white chocolate, rooibos tea, steamed milk, whipped cream and honey drizzled on top.” She likened it to the taste of a pumpkin pie. The damages? $3 to $4, depending on size.
• Ski Aspen for less: Aspen/Snowmass officials will be here between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. today at Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods, 445 W. Gunnison Ave., to sell this year’s discount pass. The seven-day Classic Pass gives holders access to any of four mountains, Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands or Buttermilk, for $274, with no restrictions. The price is up from last year’s $259. Youth ages 7 to 17 and college students can get the seven-day pass for $209.
The four-day Classic Pass costs $169 this year for adults, while youths and college students can get it for $139.
The passes include the buyer’s photograph and have to be purchased in person at Gene Taylor’s. For more information, call 800-525-6200, ext. 4475, or 970-923-0475.
• Tangle, which sells fine knitting yarns and hosts a variety of classes, has moved to 525 Main St. More information: 245-1088.
• Until at least mid-November, Cinema at the Avalon is hosting ladies’ night each Monday night. Women get in for $5.50. This Friday, the Cinema at the Avalon hosts its Halloween movie, “Nosferatu,” at 7 p.m., followed by a party for the public. Members get a free glass of wine or beer. More information: 242-2188 or http://www.avalontheatregj.com.
• A Front Range restaurateur has been inquiring as to the Wine Country Inn’s plans for its space, but no one’s sure yet if he’s serious. For now, the inn is focusing on its catering operations for events.
• Word is a real estate agent was recently seen showing interested parties the store vacated by Tucan Coffee House, 239 S. Main St. in Palisade.
• Nick-N-Willy’s Take-N-Bake Pizza, the Harley-Davidson H.O.G. team, the Salvation Army and the Army National Guard will put on a Turkey Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 at 683 Horizon Drive. Climbing walls and other activities will be available. The sponsors encourage people to bring a turkey and come play.
• Bank of Colorado is welcoming the public to vote on the student artwork at its location at 200 Grand Ave. from now through Nov. 7. Winners in each grade will receive savings bonds.


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You might not be familiar with HTC’s new RE action camera but the company is hoping this will become the video tool for every adventurer out there.
Now HTC is releasing a software update, coming to the Android app tomorrow, which will allow users to livestream their adventures directly to YouTube. This obviously presents lots of opportunities to those doing this professionally. As such, it’s a strong move from HTC and it appears to reaffirm the company's intentions to continue competing in the market, and that the RE camera is more than just a hobby.
The RE camera was first unveiled back in October of last year after a long series of rumors and leaks. The Taiwanese company seems to be poised to take on the market leader, GoPro, and this new update will definitely help.


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Posted: Nov 27, 2020 / 11:22 AM EST
Updated: Nov 27, 2020 / 11:22 AM EST
(WSYR-TV) — While we know Black Friday shopping is going to look physically different with no crowded stores and less lines, it’s also going to look different as far as supply and demand.
This will be the first year that demand is going to outpace supply, and that makes an impact on those huge sales that we usually expect on Black Friday.
Simon Siegel, senior retail analyst for BMO Capital Markets, said, “What that means, is don’t expect too many discounts from a consumer perspective. Inventory is light, deals are going to be light as well. From a stock perspective, I think we should all expect sales may disappoint, but margins and profitability are probably going to be better than we’ve seen in a while.”
Short supply and high demand has already made big items, like the Playstation 5, hard to find.
Another big change is the trend of buying “experiences” rather than things is going to diminish, since most people are staying home.
With increased shopping taking place online this Black Friday, Amazon could see their sales increase by 20-30% to more than $200 billion.
Small local businesses have also taken a huge hit during the pandemic, and many people are looking to show their support and shop local this holiday season. To find a list of small local businesses in Central New York, click here.


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Amazon Web Services has its roots in the needs of Amazon.com, the retailer, but that doesn't mean that all of the book seller's operations run on Web Services.
"A large part of Amazon's website runs on Amazon Web Services, but there are also pieces that are not suitable to move, mainly because of the way we built the architecture really specific for some hardware, or we have a very dedicated, highly tuned environment where just moving them over to Amazon Web Services would give no direct benefit," said Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon Web Services.
Vogels spoke on Tuesday evening at the company's new offices in Seattle during an open house. He offered a few other surprising tidbits about the Web Services operations, described how the business came about and disclosed a few problems it has faced along the way.
While many people think of surges in demand as driving the development of cloud services like those offered by Amazon, the opposite -- drops in demand -- is equally important, Vogels said.
"Scaling isn't only about scaling up," he said. "In reality, scaling down is almost as important as scaling up because that's where you get the cost benefits."
At Amazon, each year before the holiday season in past years company engineers requested additional servers in anticipation of a spike in traffic. Even before it built its Web Services platform, Amazon was good at allocating servers quickly, within hours, he said.
"However, the engineers would never release capacity," he said. After the holiday season, the engineers would always say they wanted to hang on to the added capacity for the next expected surge. In the meantime, that capacity would go unused.
"Even though we had efficient mechanisms certainly compared to traditional enterprises that would take weeks or months to get hardware, we needed to do something in the design of our compute servers such that we could radically change that behavior," he said.
Cloud computing made it easier for Amazon to provision capacity but reallocate it too, he said.
Now that Web Services is used by companies around the world, Amazon still has a good handle on the high end of capacity -- making sure that there's enough to go around. Because its customers come from such a wide variety of market segments, there aren't worldwide events that Amazon worries will create massive usage spikes that it can't handle, Vogels said.
But the drops in usage tend to set off alarms. Amazon uses order rates as a metric of the overall health of the system, he said. "So if the order rate drops, it's an indicator that there's a problem," he said.
Once, Amazon noticed that orders dropped to zero in Germany and the company scrambled to figure out what problem had cropped up. It turned out that Germany's soccer team was having an important match and the "whole country was at a standstill," he said. "It's more those events that are surprising than worldwide events."
As one of the largest data center operators around, Amazon faces some unique challenges. "At the scale of Amazon, we have to deal with every possibility as a reality," Vogels said.
For instance, the average annual failure rate of disks is 8 percent to 10 percent. If a data center has 10,000 nodes, each with four disks, that's about 10 disk failures per day. "Now imagine you have 40,000 servers and each has not four but eight disks. Then you have a whole staff doing nothing else but replacing disks all day," he said. "These are realities and we have to build software to deal with it."
The sheer size of the operation presents other challenges. Making changes that span multiple services becomes hard to coordinate, he said.
Also, because Amazon has chosen a very decentralized organization structure, sharing information among engineering teams becomes more difficult than if there were fewer, large teams, he said. Amazon addressed the issue by having more senior engineers and asking them to meet frequently to discuss issues. "Still, communication and sharing of experiences is harder in a world like that," he said.
The company has also learned some lessons the hard way, he said. "In hindsight, it always seems like you make decisions too late," he said. For instance, there have been occasions when third-party technologies weren't able to handle Amazon's scale. "It's not that I blame the vendors for not being as scalable as Amazon, but we could have made the decision earlier to build technologies ourselves," he said.
Vogels stressed that Amazon Web Services isn't just about selling Amazon.com's excess capacity but is a business itself. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, president and CEO, has said that he thinks Web Services could become as big as the company's retail business, Vogels said.
"The joke is that we're a technology company that happens to do retail," Vogels said.


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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has ruled out defects in manufacturing and product quality in a case in which a 55-year-old man was hospitalised after drinking a herbal remedy to aid indigestion.
HSA said after rigorous physical and lab testing of all the bottles of Sri Ambikkas Omum Water it had quarantined, it found no other sample with high alkalinity.
It is working with the importer to lift the quarantine and sales suspension of the product, which is made in Malaysia, it said yesterday.
Mr Gunalan Perumal had injuries and swelling in his mouth and throat on Aug 3 after drinking from a bottle of the water. He was in intensive care for three days. It was found that the omum water he had consumed had a pH level of over 13 - equivalent to levels in chlorine bleach.
HSA was alerted and it stopped all sales and import of the product.
However, it said preliminary testing suggested it was an isolated incident. No other similar adverse reports of the product have been made. It said yesterday: "Based on HSA's scientific assessment, we have ruled out product defects, which refer to issues with the manufacture of the product resulting in the product being of inadequate quality or unsafe."
When contacted, a Sri Ambikkas spokesman said the move to get the product back on the shelves is being reviewed. "We were confident from the start it's not a product problem. But nonetheless, it's welcome news from the authorities."
HSA made a police report after it concluded investigations. The police said there was no evidence to suggest foul play.


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Around the Wheel
The latest digital advertising news, trends, and best practices — from the marketing experts at Blue Wheel.
Head over to the Amazon Academy for Amazon-related thought leadership, resources, and updates.
Instagram has come a long way. What was once a simple photo-sharing app is now a multibillion-dollar entity that has helped shape social media as
It’s no secret that word of mouth is the best form of marketing. The reason why it’s so effective is because of the trust factor.
Your email list is one of the most powerful things your brand owns. It’s a list of customers or potential customers who are interested in
In the world of skincare marketing, there’s a lot of best practices for your creative. There’s so much to consider when you’re creating photo and


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By Abdul Rahman Bah
On Wednesday 20 September 2023, Statistics Sierra Leone updated the Census of Business Establishments and lunch of the consumer price index (CPI) at Corner Lodge Freetown.
Samuel Ansumana Director of Comms & PR-Stats SL in his opening said that the program is in two ways the first one is the statistics Sierra Leone update on Census establishment and the launch of the consumer price index Manual which is very important
Director Of NAESD-Mwaluma Andrew Bryma Gegbe in his statement said that in May last year and December 2022 to the first quarter of 2023 they conducted what is called the Census Business Establishments and they trained people to gather information through the enterprises information they bring out they will put it on their data. The incomplete information they will make sure that they send back the correct and completed information and that the data is clean and ready to be reported in either research or further analysis.
He further said that the launching of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Manual is a very important document and is even a requirement for ECOWAS countries that compile what is called the Consumer Price Index. He said that the Consumer Price Index is the first to be on air for Sierra Leone over 50 years and this document serves as a reference for the field staff that doing the Work or any other SS staff. Take holders like the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Finance, IMF, and the World Bank who like to know how they do their compilation. He further said on the compilation they have put all the necessary materials which they used like softer ware etc.
Andrew Bob Johnny – statistics General He said that the Census of Business Establishments is conducted in every five years and also statistics Sierra Leone conducted a Census of Business Establishments between December 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. The entire country was canvassed approximately 901 field staff to identify and register all business activities and the international industrial classification (which ISIC REV 4) was applied.
He highlighted some of the records of the establishment a total of 165,514 records about 48,299 regular business establishments (permanent non-baffles) were identified and recorded He further said that another 117,215 tiny business establishments ( non-permanent/baffles) were recorded and over 70 percent of the establishments is trade. He further said almost half (45.3%) of the business establishments are located in the western Area Nine out of every ten businesses are individually owned ( sole proprietor) and the most typical tiny establishment is trade (69.1%).
Mr Andrew further said that the number of workers per establishment in the Census of Business Establishments reported a total of 235,413 workers nearly two-thirds (64.6%) of the businesses have one or two workers.


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French shoe designer Christian Louboutin has been picked by Disney to design Cinderella’s infamous slipper to celebrate the film’s re-release.
The French shoe maverick, who is celebrating 20 years in the industry and is famous for his red-soled designs, has been hired by Walt Disney Studios to create a pair of shoes inspired by the rags-to-riches protagonist from the 1950s animation. “I have been so lucky to have crossed paths with Cinderella, an icon so emblematic to the show world as well as the dream world” remarked Louboutin.
The unique design will be unveiled in July, ahead of the global release of the Cinderella Diamond Edition on Blu-ray later this year.
What will the modern Cinderella wear??


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3k delegates mark @IT&CMA presence
The 26th IT&CMA and 21st CTW Asia-Pacific held in Bangkok, Thailand, welcomed some 3,000 delegates, from more than 50 territories from September 18-20
This year's budding programme included a record 29 networking functions and hosted activities and a solid education line up of 21 knowledge sessions helmed by over 50 industry thought-leaders from government bodies, related associations, corporate organisations, and industry professions. The exhibition and business components featured some 316 destinations and corporates.
Darren Ng, Managing Director, TTG Asia Media said, “We have an extremely robust 2018 line up for all our delegates this year. Business objectives remain the main focus of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific in providing MiCE and corporate travelcentric opportunities for all our exhibiting suppliers and buyers to achieve their goals for the region. The advocacy of knowledge-based sharing is also a key pillar at our events in advancing the intellect and innovation within our growing industry and were happy to see so many destinations and brands take up captive social functions to personally get to know their audience.”
Business objectives remained the main focus of IT&CMA
The main keynote presented by Martin Nydegger, CEO, Switzerland Tourism; Oscar Cerezales, COO, MCI AsiaPacific; Nichapa Yoswee, Senior Vice President – Business, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Daniel Chua, Vice President – Meetings & Incentives, Singapore Associations of Conventions and Exhibition Organisers (SACEOS), set the tone towards the transformation of audience engagement as the demand to stand out and being top-of-mind becomes more competitive. Another two stellar sessions - ICCA-TTG Passionate Breakfast themed 'Graceful Powers' celebrated the journey of women and diversity in the workforce, with inspiring sharings by incredible female achievers who made their mark in the industry.
Angie Stephen, Managing Director, Royal Caribbean, dived into the importance of such conferences for the region, “The popularity of cruise is just now starting to grow in the region and it is important for all of us to come together with key stakeholders to continue to fuel that growth. This is why we see major players here today to heighten that awareness.”


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As always, September has been a month of change. The evenings started to darken, the weather cooled and autumn well and truly signalled its arrival. It’s been an exciting month for vapers, with positive headlines dominating the news and there have been some real steps forward made when it comes to recognising the important role e-cigarettes play in global harm reduction.
So, let’s take a look at some of the highlights, shall we?
On the V2 Cigs Blog:
- Inspired by questions we were asked on our Facebook page, we discussed what it’s like to travel as a vaper and how you can ensure you and your e-cigarette make it to your destination without a hitch.
We took a look at the international vaping news and delved into some of this month’s biggest global headlines: everything from the Polish ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors to the upcoming Chinese Vape Expo.
Finally, we shared our top tips and tricks to help you get more out of your vaping experience, sharing insight about improving the flavour of your favourite e-liquid and helpful hints to make sure your battery stays in tip top condition.
Vaping In the News:
September started with a great piece from Planet of the Vapes about the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine’s research that discovered switching to vaping decreased the risk of contracting respiratory infections .
In a landmark report, the British Medical Journal released results of a study that suggested 18,000 people in England were helped by e-cigarettes in 2015 alone.
Should 0mg e-liquid be classed as a tobacco product ? It’s an interesting question that was discussed at length this month, with no absolute conclusion.
Linked in with the British Medical Journal report listed above, the NHS Live Well team reflects on the popularity of e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking.
What’s Next for Vapers?:
October rears its head this weekend so, of course, we’ll be treated to autumn in all its glory. Watch out for the beautiful leaves turning, pumpkin spiced everything and spooky goings on as we approach Halloween! We’re hoping to see the positivity from September continue so we’ll be keeping an eye on the headlines and the strides forward that the newly established vaping advocacy groups may make.
With all the great news surrounding e-cigarettes and October being the month to form positive habits, we want to say a big hello to any new vapers reading this post. If you have any questions at all about vaping, big or small, get in touch with us on our social media channels and we’ll make sure you get a response.
As always, we’ll be blogging every week to share the biggest headlines of the month, as well as keeping you up to date with all the latest vaping tips and tricks.


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LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks moved lower in a broad decline early Thursday, giving back some ground after a recent string of winning sessions. The Nikkei Stock Average NIK, -0.56% fell 0.5% to 10,030.71, while the Topix was down 0.6% at 868.03. Warning of a drop in quarterly operating profit from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. SSNLF, -3.07% dragged on some Japanese tech shares, with Elpida Memory Inc. JP:6665 ELPDF down 1.4%, and Renesas Electronics Corp. 6723, -3.13% RNECY, -0.52% giving up 1.1%. Meanwhile, the Nikkei business daily reported Thursday that net profit at the top seven Japanese car makers would fall for the first time in three years. This weighed on auto shares, with Honda Motor Co. 7267, -0.94% HMC, +0.15% losing 1.1%, Toyota Motor Corp. 7203, -0.96% TM, -0.30% dropping 0.9%, Nissan Motor Co. 7201, -0.50% NSAN off by 0.8%, and Mazda Motor Corp. 7261, -0.82% MZDAF, -3.42% shedding 1.4% of its value.
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» Sergur Fkipunlam Ac Id
Sergur Fkipunlam Ac Id
Sergur Fkipunlam Ac Id on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Thursday, April 24, 2014
Your comic lover and owner of an iOS device? Do not miss this one application.
Marvel Comics tried to offer around 13 thousand popular comics in an application called Marvel Unlimited.
Quoted from Slashgear, Friday (3/8), the user will be given the freedom [...]
Offered at a price of about $0.9 per download on the Apple App Store.
Game featuring one of the founders of Apple, Steve Wozniak, entitled “Danny Trejo’s Vengeance : Woz with a Coz ‘officially began circulating on the Apple App Store [...]
Seven planets in the Milky Way that have environmental conditions similar to Earth.
Search for life in outer space does not seem to need to reach planets beyond our galaxy, the Milky Way. Seven planets in the Milky Way has a huge potential to life after [...]
Good news for you gamers fans of Assassin’s Creed. The latest series of the popular game will be back for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U.
Quoted from IGN, Friday (3/1), as the publisher and developer Ubisoft game plan will reveal the details of the [...]
Computers are often problematic certainly very disturbing your busy day with work or just play using the computer.
Problems that occur on a computer is often assumed to be a problem we can not solve yourself, so you often bring the problematic computer [...]
Who says Gangnam Style fever is gone? Maybe so for some people, but not for these robots.
Quoted from ITN UK, Tuesday (11/06), in a robot competition called Chinese Intelligent Industrial Exposition and Forum Summit in Hangzhou, China, robots skill performance.
Yahoo ranked third under Hotmail.
Based on data released by comScore (a website traffic monitoring agency world) in October 2012, which is a Gmail email service owned by internet giant Google, is expressed as the number one email service in the world.
Apple reportedly ready to release a mini-version of the course will also be priced cheaper than its flagship smartphone, the iPhone.
Quoted from Techradar, Saturday (2/23), according to the report, the presence of the iPhone Mini will happen this summer.
Team University of Bangor, Wales, successfully developed a system of internet at speeds up to 20 Gbps, and can be increased up to 40 Gbps.
Some time ago, Google released a statement that surprised many observers and internet users around the world today [...]
Laptop and computer hardware manufacturers, Gigabyte, has just launched its newest product U2442 Extreme Ultrabook.
In an event held in Taiwan, Gigabyte explained that U2442 Extreme Ultrabook features graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 650M or GT 730M.
In addition, [...]
Rotation with the sun at a distance equal to the Earth’s rotation on the solar system.
An expert team of Anglo-German astronomers have discovered a new planet orbiting a nearby sun in the same distance as the Earth orbits the sun so that it has [...]


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NFTGo.io & Metaverse AI Reaches Strategic Partnership to Promote NFT & Metaverse Applications
NFTGo.io is delighted to announce that our partner, Metaverse AI, will be joining in on NFTGo.io’s brand upgrade campaign and provide support for our community testing. Metaverse AI provides Web3.0 & Internet of Things (IoT) solutions by creating hyper-realistic avatars using a proprietary virtual human engine. These blockchain-based avatars created by Metaverse AI enable users to own and maintain their unique virtual identity and grant access to the Open Metaverse. We will be joining our community efforts for NFTGo.io’s new version internal testing campaign that begins in November 2022.
About Metaverse AI
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Smarter tech Here’s a smartphone that could arguably be a load-shedding-ready phone during these ongoing power outages across South Africa. Huawei South Africa has…
There’s the better Doze mode, seamless updating and Vulkan API, but there are also quite a few other additions to the world’s most popular mobile platform.
There’s a data saver option
We already had capable data management tools in previous versions of Android, but the biggest omission was a data saving mode of sorts. This was something that Windows Phones shipped with since Windows Phone 8.
Fortunately, Android Nougat ships with a data saving mode, essentially killing the ability for background apps to access cellular data.
“When a user enables Data Saver in Settings and the device is on a metered network, the system blocks background data usage and signals apps to use less data in the foreground wherever possible. Users can whitelist specific apps to allow background metered data usage even when Data Saver is turned on,” Google wrote in the developer notes.
Hold down on a notification to silence that app
Android Nougat also focuses on notifications, such as Direct Replies and Bundled Notifications (i.e. having notifications grouped by app). But there’s also a convenient way to silence notifications in general.
Android Nougat now has a better Doze function, along with simple UI and usability tweaks
“When a notification pops up, just press and hold to toggle the settings. For instance, you can silence future alerts from an app in the notification itself,” Google notes. It’s not the first platform to implement this, with Windows 10 doing this already, but it’s still a convenient feature.
A long-overdue ‘clear-all’ button
Android skins from the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and others have long had a “clear-all-apps” option in the multitasking/overview menu. But in a rather bizarre move, stock Android has lacked this functionality. Fortunately, Android Nougat finally brings this option to the table.
“Instantly close all of your apps running in the background by tapping ‘clear all’ in Overview,” Google explained. It’s taken them long enough, but better late than never, right?
Emergency information page
Android Nougat now also delivers an Emergency Information page, in the event of any mishaps. This page lets you add details such as your name, blood type, allergies and emergency contact, being viewable by first responders via your lockscreen.
Requesting access to specific folders
Why give an app access to all your storage when you can simply give it access to one folder? That’s the thinking behind the “Scoped Folder Access” feature.
“Apps can request access to specific folders that you can allow or deny access to (just like app runtime permissions),” Google elaborated. This feature can also allow apps to request access to removable media (such as your microSD card).
Change display/icons/text size
Android Nougat also offers some display-related settings, allowing you to tweak the size of various elements.
“Not only can you change the size of the text on your device, but the size of all the display elements like icons and images,” Google wrote. Of course, they’re not the first to do something like this, as Huawei, Xiaomi and several other OEMs allow you to change the size of system text. Icon and image size, though…


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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Nov. 15, 2017) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis today announced the Memphis ReStore will temporarily close to shoppers Nov. 22 through Jan. 12 to refresh the store and conduct staff and volunteer training. The store will reopen to shoppers on Saturday, Jan. 13.
“This is all about improving the ReStore so we can raise more money to serve more families through our affordable mortgage and Aging in Place programs,” said Dwayne Spencer, president and CEO at Memphis Habitat. “The ReStore plays an integral role in the sustainability of our organization, and it’s a big part of the strategic plan we’ll launch in 2018. Next year is also our 35th anniversary, so we wanted to refresh and reopen the store as a part of our yearlong celebration.”
Ahead of the temporary closure, the ReStore will hold a special pre-holiday sale Nov. 17-21. Everything in the ReStore – from home goods to building supplies, gently used furniture, appliances and more – will be 35% off to help make room to spruce up the store and make way for additional donated inventory received over the holidays.
During this temporary closure, the Memphis ReStore will continue to accept donations of new and gently used household items, building supplies, cabinets, appliances and furniture. The ReStore’s donation services will close Nov. 22-30 and resume Dec. 1. Donations can be dropped off at the ReStore during store hours, or donors can schedule a free pickup for large items by calling 901-737-8673 or visiting www.memphisrestore.com/donate.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis partners with people in our community to help them build or improve places they can call home through new home construction, rehabilitation projects and Aging in Place accessibility and mobility modifications for seniors. Since 1983, Memphis Habitat has helped more than 480 first-time homebuyers secure affordable mortgages and completed rehabilitation and home modification projects in partnership with more than 350 local homeowners, helping them achieve the independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. For every $1 donated to Memphis Habitat, 94 cents goes directly toward Habitat’s mission and programs. To learn more, visit www.memphishabitat.com.
About the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis ReStore
Owned and operated by Memphis Habitat, the Memphis ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sells building materials, appliances, new and gently used furniture and cabinets, and home accessories at a fraction of retail price. All donations and purchases at the ReStore help support Memphis Habitat’smission and vision – that everyone in the Memphis area has a decent, affordable place to live. Since 2011, the Memphis ReStore has generated more than $6.6 million to support Memphis Habitat’s work. Located at 7130 Winchester Road, the ReStore is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.memphisrestore.com.
IN THIS SECTION


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In The News
3 Trends to Watch with Electric Vehicles Amid the Pandemic
One of my big takeaways from covering the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis the first week in March was that trucks and vans that serve the expedited trucking industry appeared to be headed toward an all-electric future.
Ford unveiled its plans for a battery-powered Transit van, expected to be available some time in 2022. And several medium- and heavy-duty truck OEMs touted their upcoming electrified models.
But then the coronavirus spread across the globe and caused most of the U.S. economy—including all automotive plants—to shut down for over two months.
So, what’s the COVID-19 fallout for electric vehicles? Will market demand for EVs take a hit? Will the OEMs put their all-electric plans on hold?
Here are three EV trends to watch.
Trend #1: Battery costs
Today, we have cheap gas amid a pandemic.
And, historically, cheap gas has put the brakes on demand for EVs.
After all, why pay a premium for an electric vehicle if gas (and diesel) prices are so low that it could take too long to recoup your investment in electric with fuel-cost savings?
But the “cheap gas vs. EV demand” correlation doesn’t appear to be as dependable today.
Well, take a look at the latest forecast from BloombergNEF (see chart) that shows battery prices, which were above $1,100 per kilowatt-hour in 2010, have fallen 87% to $156/kWh in 2019.
Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Energy
And that trend is expected to continue with average prices falling to $100/kWh by 2023.
What this means is that as battery costs continue to drop, they’re pushing EVs closer and closer to price parity with their internal combustion engine counterparts, making low oil prices less of a factor on EV demand.
Trend #2: Electricity vs. Gas Prices
As we just talked about. Gas prices are at historic lows.
But take a look at the latest fuel price chart from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Energy
Notice the electricity “fuel” price line in light green, which is relatively flat towards the bottom of the pricing chart, compared to the roller-coaster volatility of most of the other fuels, including gasoline and diesel.
The industry experts I’ve spoken with expect that electricity prices will remain flat at about a dollar per gallon of gasoline-equivalent, while gas prices will eventually swing back up, which will widen the cost advantage for electricity as a transportation fuel—and, thus, potentially contribute to stronger demand for EVs.
Trend #3: OEM Commitment
In the past year, most automakers have announced big investments in EVs, with new models expected to launch in the next few years.
Then came COVID-19, with plant shutdowns and auto sales plummeting by 50% in April.
So, what’s the pandemic’s impact on OEM commitments to electrification?
First, it has led to product delays.
Ford said that some of this year's product launches, including the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover introduced earlier this year, will be delayed, depending on how long its operations are disrupted.
Rivian, which received a several hundred-million-dollar investment from Ford to develop joint EV models, has pushed the production of its upcoming electric pickup and SUVs into the first half of 2021.
And startup, Lordstown Motors, has pushed the launch of its electric pickup from this December to January 2021.
Yet, based on these recent headlines, the OEMs appear to remain committed to their EV product roadmaps, despite COVID-19:
- COVID-19 Isn’t Derailing GM’s EV Commitment (WardsAuto.com)
- Ford Goes Big on Electrification–Showcases Eco-Friendly Approach that Will Extend to All Models Across Full Line-Up (Ford)
- Lordstown Motors Moves Forward with Motor Production Line Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Most auto plants in the U.S. have just started reopening May 18. And, that week, there were already reports of at least a couple plant shutdowns for a few hours at a time to disinfect the facilities after positive COVID cases were reported.
So, watch this space for any new developments that might arise.


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Why ban when you can recycle?
In this month’s ST Chatroom, we invited Sameer Joshi, member of CM’s Plastic Task Force, Kishori Gadre, activist in waste management, Nikhil Rathi, secretary, Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association and Harish Jalan, President of Thermocol Sajavat Sanghatana and his associates - Santosh Dahotre and Kaustubh Joshi — to discuss the various aspects related to the plastic ban . Here’s the conversation...
Is Maharashtra really sitting on the brink of an eco disaster that it had to ban plastic? Is that the only solution?
Sameer Joshi: Plastic ban has been a worldwide phenomenon but in Maharashtra, it has come as the jolt from the blue (sic). Elsewhere in the world, whenever the ban happens, they give a certain deadline - a year or two years and then the ban takes place in phases but unfortunately, here, we got only three months.
Harish Jalan: And thermocol decorators did not get a single day notice. Our season will start in Ganesh festival and we have not got even a single day to dispose of the material.
Nikhil Rathi: This ban came overnight, just like demonetisation. When you ban something, you have to come up with an alternative. Paper is being talked about as an alternative but it has its own limitations plus you are cutting down trees and increasing carbon footprints to manufacture it. It’s true that it gets dissolved in water easily but I would say, even plastic is not bad, our littering habits are. If we throw plastic on the road after use, it is bound to run down the nullahs and choke them.
Segregation is another problem. Although we are segregating dry and wet waste at home, the person who comes to collect trash, is mixing it all.
Joshi (showing one green bag and one t-shirt): This bag and t-shirt have been made by recyling six pet bottles each. So if six pet bottles had not been littered, they could have gone into making a t-shirt or a bag. Recycling, reusing, not littering - these are the things that we need to learn.
We made a Guinness World Record in January 2018 - we collected 200,000 one litre plastic bottles and made a t-shirt that measured 100 mx70 m and we used 10,000 bottles for it. Post that, we made such t-shirts and bags and distributed them among the underprivileged children. You see, someone’s waste can be someone’s wealth.
The theme for this year’s World Environment Day was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. We just added a line to it and made it ‘Beat Platstic Pollution and Let’s Find A Solution’. It’s very easy to ban things in life but having that restriction and not thowing or littering is our goal.
Jalan: But providing a proper system where we can throw the garbage or litter is also important.
Kishori Gadre: The informal sector is already collecting dry waste. If we see the size of this sector, it’s huge. The World Bank says that two per cent of the population in developing countries is involved in this informal sector which collects and recyles garbage. So this industry is growing at the rate of 15-17 per cent, but it is looked down upon as scavengers and not given any facilities. You find it at work somewhere on the city outskirts because it cannot afford the space in cities. When it operates from an unauthorised land, the land mafia comes into picture and then people start thinking about it negatively; the Pollution Control Board too does not authorise it in any way. But in reality, the people in this sector are doing a good job. Right now, they are recylcing 70 per cent of the plastic collected. If we create a system by which every bit of plastic reaches the industry, then everything will be recycled and there will be no need for the ban. If we strengthen this industry by giving it space and some facilities, and monitoring their work, it will take over the role of the corporation in garbage treatment.
Not all kinds of plastic is covered under the ban, for instance the plastic used in packaging— where is it going? All the mixed waste is now going to dumping yard. So the government is not really stopping the damage, but just making the lives of citizens miserable.
Plastic is an innovation which has helped us in every respect and we are negating this innovation just because the waste is creating a problem.
Now paper is being used as a substitute for plastic. But we started using plastic so that we don’t have to cut trees to make paper. It seems we are back to square one with the ban.
Gadre: Why paper, even the cotton bags that they are giving as an alternative to polythene bags are synthetic and not environment-friendly. If they go into nullahs, they will choke the nullahs. But it’s fashionable to criticise plastic.
Rathi: The government has introduced EPR (Extended Producer Responsibilty) policy, which implies that if I’m a manufacturer of film or laminates and I supply to companies like Haldiram or Chitale Bandhu, who use it to pack Bakarwadis, chips etc, it is their resonsibility to see that the plastic is recycled. We welcome this decision of making everyone responsible but I don’t know how it’s going to be implemented.
Also, the government has exempted laminates used in the packets of chips made by multinational companies from the ban because nobody wants to touch the big multinationals. They’ve given verbal assurance that this plastic will also be banned but when, nobody knows.
Gadre: Columbia University had done a study of major cities in India where they found that every tonne per day of recyclables collected informally saves the urban local body of Rs 25,000 and avoids emission of 721 kg of carbon dioxide per year. But we are not doing that because that is the government responsibility. Instead we are blaming people, saying they are irresponsible.
Rathi: Coming back to paper, it’s not practical. In India, there are many restrictions when it comes to cutting trees, and it is very expensive to import paper. Even when you are manufacturing paper indigenously, the scale of effluents relased by this industry is the highest.
Joshi: American Chemcial Council, one of the respected organisations has prepared a report which says that the cost to replace plastic is five times more than the normal cost.
Rathi: Glass bottles were proposed by the government to substitute plastic milk bags, but it takes five to six litres of water to clean the bottles for reuse. Contamination is another major issue. Sealing of the bottles, breakage, transport - it’s all a big challenge. It’s very easy to say that we will find a solution but it’s really tough.
At individual and household level, what measures can we take?
Gadre: There are some enthusiastic people who are doing some work individually but I don’t think this is an individual problem, it’s a societal issue. Five people doing something does not matter to the crores of people out there. It’s a system issue. If the system is right, every individual can be built into it in such a way that s/he contributes to the system. Now, 50 per cent of Pune’s population is segregating their waste but what is happening? The corporation is sending thousands of tonnes of the waste to the dumping ground. So what individual contribution can you do if the system is not in place?
Jalan: My will is to throw the garbage in the bin but if there is no bin, where do I throw it?
Don’t you think, this one time use culture, not just in case of plastic, but everything, that we have adopted, should be changed?
Gadre: I don’t think that kind of culture is there in India. People collect and re-reuse the plastic bags.
Rathi: Yes, people in India keep and reuse all the plastic containers from restaurants, adn high quality bags from shops at malls. The government has not studied the probelm properly. There problem is with the thin polythene bags that vegetable vendors give consumers. They put the vegetables in and tie it up in knots that the consumer can’t untangle when they get home. So these bags are torn and thrown in trash. And that’s where the problem was.
Gadre: These thin plastic bags can be reused in making pipes. But since there is no system currently to collect these bags, the rag picker does not give heed to it. Look at this from the financial point of view, let money be the driving point. Privatise this collection and give the waste its value, then it will have its own chain and it will go to the market.
How is the ban on thermocol going to affect the Ganesh utsav celebrations?
Santosh Dahotre: The plastic industry and thermocol industry are completely different. But since the government clubbed the two in their order on the ban, everyone from the authorities to researchers to those working at the base level, came to the conclusion that the properties of both plastic and thermocol are one and the same. The problems and challenges before the two industries are different.
The ban order said, ‘thermocol mukt Maharashtra’ - or thermocol free Maharashtra. But the notification doesn’t mention one item that comes under thermocol manufacturing. Even at this moment, there is no ban on thermocol in packaging industry but there is ban on the hand crafted thermocol products, which affects us.
Our grievances are:
a) We don’t manufacture thermocol.
b) We make decoration items out of it. Maharashtra is known for its skilled artisans. This growth has been seen in the last
100 years. Ganesh festival has employed these skilled artisans. The number is in fact much higher than what has been mentioned in the government records. This is the base level employment, which cannot be calculated.
c) All our work is hand crafted. No machinery is used, so it doesn’t lead to pollution.
d) The leftover thermocol (from the decoration) is sent back to the MIDC units.
Gadre: Thermocol is recycled. If it wasn’t, you could have seen it on the streets, in the nallahs etc. You don’t see thermocol even in dumping grounds. It is going into the market.
But in Mumbai, we see that the thermocol is thrown in the sea..
Gadre: It must be thrown when the idol is dipped for immersion. But it goes into the market. When I was in the PMC, I went and saw how a dry waste picker operated. He told me that the thermocol gets sold.
Dahotre: Even if we consider that the last user throws thermocol into garbage, it is easier to segregate thermocol from the waste/garbage. Throughout the year, except for Ganapati festival, you cannot spot any decoration made from thermocol in the waste bin. It can be treated, recycled.
We told the authorities that we will collect the thermocol from the river ghats and give it to them for recycling. Or we will send it for recycling. But the government says this is not practical and feasible. This plea was rejected by the courts. Importantly, the court gave us 30 minutes for the hearing. How is it possible to understand all the angles of this case in 30 minutes?
Jalan: The court didn’t understand the problem - we are artists, we are not from the packaging industry. The issue of thermocol first popped up in the Government Resolution (GR), especially the term, ‘decoration’. We didn’t get a single day to explain our situation. Ours is a seasonal business.
Rathi: The gazette said that whatever stock you have got has to be disposed outside Maharashtra. But can a retailer sell out of Maharashtra? Then, the authorities said that the user gets three months to dispose of. I was present for the hearing. The manufacturing of plastic was asked to shut down from March 23. Whatever stock you are not able to dispose outside the state, give it to the government.
Jalan: Our products don’t get sold outside Maharashtra. Ganesh utsav is celebrated here only, so what do we do?.
Dahotre: The not-so-privileged members of society are involved in this work.
Also, what about the products, decorative material that is already available in the market? We asked the government for a waiver...because our livelihood is dependent on this business. We did try to make decorative pieces from other material. But knowing the requirements of the market and our customers, I can tell you that there are some material which are more harmful than thermocol. If they are used as an alternative, then the cause is lost.
We used paper pulp. We couldn’t get fresh paper, so we had to make do with raddi - old newspaper, the ink used for printing would then bleed. And if that is thrown in the water during the immersion of the idol, it can’t be segregated and will add to the pollution.
Next alternative is fibre. Fibre will cause more pollution. And, so will wood. A person can get injured if the nails used for crafting the temple are thrown carelessly on the banks. I think this issue needs to be studied carefully.
In our discussions with the authorities, we were told that we could get a waiver for our products this year.
Are there any incentives given to the non-governmental units which are recycling plastic? Are we building on that infrastructure?
Gadre: Not at all.
Joshi: Just recently there came an annoucement that the government is working on a national recycling policy and incentives to such groups will come in due course. I was present for a meeting on June 18 when Pravin Pardeshi specifically gave instructions that all the banned plastic recycling units in Malegaon should be regularised. Get them into mainstream and don’t look at them as a problem.
Is installing machines to recycle plastic and giving incentives a solution?
Gadre: We have to think about our maturity level in every aspect -- whatever suits our psyche, behaviour patterns and habits. Whatever works in Mumbai may not work in Pune because the lifestyles in these two cities are totally different from each other.
— Transcribed by
Vrunda Juwale and Ambika Shaligram