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Valve has made a lot of changes to Steam this week, which point to either CSGO Source 2, or a full-blown Counter-Strike 2 release date. While it seems clear that something is going on with the seminal multiplayer FPS game – owing to new files and executables appearing online named ‘CS2’ – we still don’t know precisely what the Counter-Strike team has up its special forces sleeves. A new conspiracy theory however, based on Steam sales, the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC), and, um, The Office, makes a startling kind of sense.
So we’ve already seen Valve add new files to the CSGO backend that signal the arrival of at least something new, be it a conversion of Global Offensive to Source 2, or a complete Counter-Strike 2. There is also the possibility that CSGO Source 2 will simply be rebranded to CS2.
One theory however seems adamant that whatever Valve is cooking up, it will be released or revealed on either March 23 or 24. Posting via its official Twitter account, Counter-Strike skins site CSMoney observes a few interesting – or at least, very entertaining – patterns.
First of all, the CSGO Twitter account has recently replied to three tweets from either fans or Counter-Strike streamers who have referenced Source 2. In each of these replies, the CSGO account simply shares a GIF from the American version of The Office.
Seems harmless enough, right? Well, a quick look on Wikipedia suggests that the very first episode of The Office was broadcast on March 24, 2005. Have you got your tin-foil hat on nice and secure? Good, then we’ll continue.
CSMoney then observes that the original launch date for the famous CSGO map ‘de_office’ was March 23, 2012. The site also points to the fact that the Source 2 engine was first announced at GDC – this year’s GDC just so happens to start next week, and concludes on, you guessed it, March 24.
So we have Valve sharing GIFs from a show called The Office, which launched on March 24. CSGO itself features a map named after an office, which was released March 23.
Source 2 meanwhile was unveiled at a show which this year will conclude on March 24. And it all ties up with the end of the Steam sale on March 23. Coincidence? Mere chance? Yes. Maybe. But who knows? Valve works in mysterious ways. We’ll just have to keep watching the skies, at least until the end of next week.
Whatever happens, you’ll want the best CSGO crosshairs. You can also plug away at those CSGO ranks thanks to our complete guide, or maybe remind yourself of all the CSGO console commands, before CS2 arrives in full.


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Impossible Foods is a food operation that makes plant-based products. The company just announced that it has come to a partnership agreement with the food processing company OSI Group. OSI is known in the foodservice industry for its long history of supplying food wholesale services to countless different restaurant and retail businesses. It is also well-known as the company that has supplied meat products to the world-famous McDonalds chain for the last six decades. The deal that has been struck between OSI Group and Impossible Foods will represent an effort to pump up the production of one of Impossible Foods’ most popular food products. This product is called the Impossible Burger. The plant-based burger has already landed on the menu at Burger King and the demand for the product has surpassed what Impossible Foods can handle in terms of processing strength. Sheetal Shal, an executive officer from Impossible Foods, has pointed out that the firm knew it was time to find a production partner for this plant-based product that has become so popular. Shah has also noted that Impossible Foods might soon come to an agreement with McDonalds about this great product.
OSI Group is known for having an extensive global reach. The company currently operates production plants in seventeen different international regions. The food processor is also known for its significant processing capacity. Another thing that OSI is known for is a dedication to food quality and service. These were big factors in helping the Impossible Foods leadership to decide that OSI would be the best food processor to team up with in getting the production of the plant-based Impossible Burger increased.
The team at Impossible Foods admits that they did not initially anticipate having a supply/demand issue but they are thrilled that their Impossible Burger has garnered such a strong demand. It is a real testament to the dedication that their team has put into making such a great food item. They now look forward to a valuable and profitable partnership with OSI as the two firms will now combine their processing strengths to meet the growing demand for this plant-based product.

domain: news


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Zesty Paws, an award-winning pet supplement brand, continues to expand its international retail presence, bringing five of its best-selling products to Walmart stores in Canada after seeing success in US locations.
Just last year, Zesty Paws launched in Walmart stores across the US with Advanced Calming Bites™ for Dogs, 8-in-1 Bites™ for Dogs, Aller-Immune Bites™ for Dogs and Calming Bites™ and Hairball Bites™ for Cats, as well as Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for both cats and dogs. This year, the brand will increase the number of products available in US stores to 16, with the addition of products such as Puppy Bites, Pill Wrap Probiotic Paste and the Senior Advanced Mobility Bites, as well as expanding the number of online offerings at the mass retailer.
Additionally, Zesty Paws is growing internationally into more than 250 Walmart Canada stores, where pet parents can purchase products like the Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil 8oz, Immune Chews™, Omega Chews™ and more, all available in 60 count pouches.
“Zesty Paws has experienced incredible growth in the last year, and we are thrilled to continue our omnichannel expansion with Walmart to offer our products wherever pet parents want to shop for them. The strength of our brand lies in our successful omni-channel expansion, including internationally, in the Canadian market with Walmart as our retail partner,” said Brian Cole, Vice President of Retail Sales for Zesty Paws.
For more information about Zesty Paws and where you can purchase products, visit ZestyPaws.com.


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Combine grilled cheese with QR Codes and what do you get? A fast-food chain with plans for national expansion that features the gooey cheese meets bread sandwich as its headliner, and mobile payments as its preferred method of purchase.
That’s quite a mouthful to put in one sentence, but it’s the spark behind The Melt, a small, but rising San Francisco, California fast-food chain founded by Jonathan Kaplan. You may recognize him as the founder of Pure Digital Technologies, maker of the Flip HD video camera, which he sold in 2009 for $530 million.
This begs the question, what’s a guy who created a hugely popular video technology doing making grill cheese sandwiches? For Kaplan, The Melt is more about a concept – combining mobile payments with fast-food service – than about the food itself.
“It’s not just about grilled-cheese sandwiches, but a technology platform that can be used for selling anything,” says Patrick Moorhead, principal at Moor Insights & Strategy (as reported in USA Today). “In a sense, it is a Trojan horse that could change the way all food services and pick-up (services) are done.”
According to USA Today, customers who prepay online or via their smartphone receive a QR code. “When they walk into any of The Melt’s locations, they can skip the line and scan their order at a kiosk near the cash register,” said the article.
That’s not to downplay the quality of the food. Aside from Kaplan’s passion to make mobile payments an industry standard, he is equally passionate about the perfect grilled cheese, which, in his case is a combination of sharp cheddar, brie or Gruyère on fresh-baked sourdough, garlic or artisan wheat bread.
While Kaplan’s concept for the use of mobile payments certainly appeals to the Bay area’s early adopter tech crowd, considering his plans for nationwide expansion, will it play in Peoria? I think so, particularly among the burgeoning SoLoMo customer group – those technology astute, smartphone obsessed consumers who value the convenience provided by mobile payment options as much as the taste of good food.
Personally, I love the juxtaposition of what may appear to be two completely divergent ethics: the old-fashioned nostalgia epitomized by the most quintessential of all comfort foods, mixed with state of the art mobile technology. It’s that seemingly strange combination that Kaplan is counting on to be the key to The Melt’s growth well beyond Silicon Valley.


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A San Francisco company credited with shaking up the extended-warranty business is getting a significant capital infusion.
SquareTrade Inc., which sells warranties for electronics products directly to consumers over the Web, said it is raising $238 million from affiliates of the private-equity firm Bain Capital LLC.
The company said it will use the funds to boost marketing so it can further compete against brick-and-mortar retailers that sell extended warranties to customers at their stores. Best Buy Co., for example, offers warranties and repairs through its Geek Squad business.
Extended warranties are a $30 billion-a-year business, including warranties for autos, homes, appliances and electronics, estimated Eric Arnum, editor of the trade publication Warranty Week. SquareTrade has been a disruptive force, he said, because of its online sales model, pricing and the information it provides about failure rates of products.
SquareTrade sells warranties on its website as well as through Amazon.com Inc. and other online retailers. It also sells them through brick-and-mortar partners such as Costco Wholesale Corp. The company has generated free publicity through videos on YouTube.com that show SquareTrade employees dropping expensive gadgets to show how fragile they are.
SquareTrade was founded in 1999 by Chief Executive Steve Abernethy as a website that mediated disputes between eBay Inc. buyers and sellers. It began its extended-warranty business five years ago.
Mr. Arnum said SquareTrade is able to offer lower prices and better service than the competition, in part because it has slightly lower costs. Many brick-and-mortar retailers sell warranties on behalf of third-party repair outlets, and the retailers collect a commission on those sales. SquareTrade, which also outsources its repairs, doesn't have to include the price of the commission in its offers because it sells directly to consumers.
For example, a two-year warranty for an iPhone 4S typically starts at $125 with SquareTrade, compared with $230 on Best Buy's website.
"It's a significant higher level of customer service than you would get from a typical warranty provider, from a fair or lower cost," said Mike Krupka, a Bain Capital Ventures managing director.
Mr. Arnum, of Warranty Week, said SquareTrade's growth might be capped because it lacks an in-store sales force on the scale of a company such as Best Buy. "For it to be successful, you really need to be someone there convincing you" to buy a warranty, he said. "The extended warranty isn't an intellectual purchase. It's an emotional purchase."
SquareTrade's CEO said the company hasn't raised money since it collected $15 million in early funding a decade ago. He said SquareTrade is profitable but wanted to raise the money to increase marketing, invest in technology and return money to early investors. He added that SquareTrade's revenue nearly tripled last year and was on pace to triple this year, but he declined to cite specific figures.
Write to Stu Woo at Stu.Woo@wsj.com


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Americans' favorite Easter candies and Passover foods revealed: Instacart survey
The hottest Easter 2023 candies and Passover foods have been revealed, according to recent Instacart data. Hint: Americans apparently love their peanut butter and chocolate.
Ben & Jerry's returns 'Free Cone Day' for first time since COVID pandemic
Ben & Jerrys has revived their Free Cone Day after 4 years. The Vermont-based company's tradition took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, but will offer free cones on April 3.
Once humble Tokyo cafe now turning tourists away after its pudding goes viral on TikTok
A Japanese coffee shop has become famous on TikTok. Owenr Shizuo Mori, who doesn’t use social media, now sells out of his pudding to the lines of tourists that wait outside his door.
Costco's 5-pound peanut butter chocolate pie goes viral, shoppers scramble to find the bakery item
Laura Lamb, the creator and owner of the Costco Hot Finds fan page, has made Costco Wholesale's near-five-pound peanut butter chocolate pie go viral on social media.
Coors Light Coors-icles launch as a March Madness treat: 'Moment of chill'
Coors Light Coors-icles are limited-edition, beer-flavored ice pops meant for adults of drinking age. The treat will be available during March Madness.
Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream made by Van Leeuwen to sell exclusively at Walmart
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Hidden Valley Ranch are bringing a ranch-inspired ice cream flavor to Walmart stores starting on March 20 — National Ranch Day.
Home food delivery’s questionable value, for consumers and investors
HelloFresh dominates the market for cook-at-home ingredient packages, where it competes with Home Chef, owned by Kroger and Blue Apron, while shipping costs worry investors.
Hershey jumps on plant-based craze with new Reese's Cups recipe
The Hershey Co. on Tuesday announced new plant-based chocolate candies will be sold nationally this spring, giving customers a dairy-free and vegan option for their chocolate fix.
Spritz Society launches collaboration with The Skinny Confidential: Here's the new flavor
Spritz Society and The Skinny Confidential are teaming up for a new flavor of the beloved, canned wine-based cocktail for a limited-edition only.
Jet carrying 335 forced to turn back after missing destination airport's closing time by 10 minutes
A Japan Airplanes plane flying from Tokyo was refused at Fukuoka Airport after the plane arrived 10 minutes after the regional airport's 10 p.m. curfew time.
Starbucks putting out olive oil-infused coffee drinks
Coffee and olive oil will combine in a new line of drinks that Starbucks said Tuesday it will be rolling out soon in Italy. The line is called Oleato.
Family forced to cancel vacation after venti-sized tipping error at Starbucks
A man in Oklahoma says a trip to a Starbucks for two cups of coffee ended up costing him $4,500, which forced him to cancel his family's upcoming vacation.
Oldest cheese shop in America to close after over a century in business
The oldest cheese shop in the United States is set to close after over a century in business following a dispute with a landlord and the results of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in New York City.
Texas and Oregon cafés reportedly sell out of $150-per-cup coffee: 'That was fast'
An Australian coffee brand has reportedly sold out of $150 per cup of coffee it made from an award-winning coffee bean lot in Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon.
Whale meat vending machines open in Japan to promote sales after years of controversy
Japanese whaling operator Kyodo Senpaku Co. has launched a handful of whale meat vending machines in hopes of increasing sales across the country after years of controversy.
Toyota president Akio Toyoda to step aside in leadership shakeup
Toyota's president and CEO Akio Toyoda will step aside to become chairman, while Koji Sato, who has been leading the Lexus luxury division and Toyota motor racing, will take over.
Are you storing your wine properly? Here’s what it can cost—and save—you
Cellar's market How much will proper wine storage cost you? The answer depends on your collection, your drinking habits and a few factors you might not have considered.
Coinbase halting operations in Japan a week after laying off hundreds of employees
Coinbase will stop its operations in Japan due to market conditions after announcing the company would layoff 950 employees to reduce operating expenses.
Starbucks CEO mandates corporate employees return to the office at least three days a week
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is mandating that employees return to the office at least three days a week starting Jan. 31, according to a new memo.
Girl Scout cookies are back: What to know about the new cookie flavor for 2023 and how to order
Girl Scouts of the USA has launched its national Girl Scout Cookie Program. The newest flavor for 2023 is Raspberry Rally. Here's where you can find the new cookie and fan favorites.


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Giant Eagle, Bottom Dollar in battle for value shoppers
John and Tina Swanson of Gibsonia receive help from their sons, from left, Josh, Jeff and Josiah with unloading a shopping cart at Good Cents on McKnight Road in Ross Township. “The family usually grocery shops in Gibsonia,” John Swanson said. “We saw the prices were really good. With a family a five, these guys eat.”
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“We have seen such a rise in grocery costs,” she said. “To have such competition among retailers in Pittsburgh is great for the consumer.”
Alexander was impressed with the large selection of name brand products at Good Cents.
“The goal is for Good Cents to be a one-stop shop discount store,” she said. “They want to attract people just looking for good deals that don’t need the ambiance or experience of stores like Giant Eagle or the Market District.”
Bottom Dollar Food spokeswoman Tenisha Waldo said the company does not comment on direct competitors, but since the company opened the McKnight Road location in August, they have been pleased with the local reaction.
Stern said a new store would always face the biggest challenge over the established competitor. However, he said, this situation is unique because both stores essentially are new.
“Bottom Dollar has not been in the market that long,” he said. “They are still working to build a customer base and identity.”
Assuming there is enough grocery dollars in the area, Stern said both of these stores could do well.
Bottom Dollar is still standing by and promoting its “We Won’t Be Beat,” guarantee, where the store will beat any competitor’s printed or advertised price by a penny for all items in the store.
While pricing strategies are confidential, Waldo said Bottom Dollar managers make local decisions on a case-by-case basis to beat prices by a penny. Both Bottom Dollar and Good Cents accept manufacturers coupons at face value.
Justine Coyne covers manufacturing and higher education.
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Only 45 percent of restaurateurs are very confident they will stay in business for the next 12 months, and they need financial relief and clear, consistent standards to successfully reopen, according to “Restaurant Reopening: Challenges, Needs and the Keys to Getting it Right,” a new study from The Coca-Cola Company.
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Flipkart turns itself into a private firm ahead of Walmart deal
07 May 2018
Indian ecommerce major Flipkart Ltd has turned into a private company from a holding firm, ostensibly for a strategic buyout soon by the world's largest retail giant Walmart Inc, according to documents it filed for regulatory approvals.
"Documents filed by Flipkart with the Singapore's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) indicate that the holding company has become a private firm — Flipkart Pte Ltd — in Singapore where it is registered," business intelligence platform Paper.vc Founder Vivek Durai told IANS on Friday.
Meanwhile, another report in the Mint says SoftBank Group Corp is considering ways to sell its stake in Flipkart without attracting a hefty tax liability, as Flipkart nears a deal to sell a majority stake to Walmart.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report says SoftBank is expected to decide on its stake sale over the next week after consulting with tax experts. It still hasn’t decided how much of its 20-21 per cent holding in Singapore-registered Flipkart it will sell and when. SoftBank may retain the whole of its stake for at least one year more to avoid paying a large tax, the Mint’s sources said.
In a regulatory filing with ACRA on Thursday, Bengaluru-based Flipkart said it concluded a second buyback of shares from a set of its investors for $350.46 million in a transaction that closed on 27 April.
"The buyback and the subsequent conversion to private company status appear to be part of a series of steps aimed at easing a proposed acquisition by Walmart," Durai told IANS in Chennai.
Though the buyback was on 27 April, Flipkart filed the documents on 3 May. It has obviously paid from the $2.5-billion funds it raised from Soft Bank Vision Fund, Microsoft, eBay and other investors last year.
Flipkart purchased 1,895,574 redeemable preference shares and 174,319 non-redeemable preference shares for $350.46 million from a set of investors in a transaction that closed on 27 April.
The decade-old firm's first buyback of shares was on 7 December, 2017 when it spent $869.15 million to buy 72,83,175 redeemable preference shares and 23,01,456 non-redeemable preference shares at $85.3 per share.
"As the company needs to have 50 shareholders to become a private entity, 94 of the 144 shareholders would have exited in the twin buyback rounds, while the remaining would have partially (15-50 per cent) sold their equity stake," said Durai.
According to another analyst who declined to be named, Flipkart has converted into a private firm so that Walmart could come on board as a strategic investor for controlling stake after the exit of so many institutional and individual investors, says the IANS report.
"Flipkart, which raised $6.11 billion in 18 rounds of funding since 2009 and bought back over 26 lakh shares worth $1,320 million ($1.32 billion) places its valuation at $17.69 billion," said Durai.
The valuation is based on the buyback price the holding firm paid to investors, including premium. With institutional investors holding majority of the combined stake, ranging between 20.79 percent (highest) by SoftBank and 6.11 per cent by eBay (lowest), the share of co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal is 5.5 per cent and 5.25 per cent.
According to the filings, the company also bought shares from its present and former employees on 13 December 2017 for $100 million that were given as stock options. Of the major institutional investors and venture partners, besides Soft Bank, Tiger Global has 20.55 per cent stake, Nasper 12.83 per cent, Accel Partners 6.44 per cent and Tencent 5.69 per cent, with others holding the rest.


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A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Best Buy Inc. CEO Hubert Joly has sold $1.19 million worth of shares of common stock of the company.
Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Sears Canada has filed a Registration Statement on Form 20-F with the U.S. SEC in connection with the company’s previously announced plan to spin-off a portion of its interest in Sears Canada.
Canada’s Jean Coutu Group has sold 56 million of its approximately 234.4 million shares in Rite Aid, the company said Friday.
Dunkin’ Brands Group is seeking to raise as much as $460.6 million in its initial public offering, 15% more than the company planned in May, Bloomberg reported.
Party City Holdings, parent company of Amscan Holdings, has filed an initial public offering of $350 million of common stock as it raises funds to pay down debt.


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Walmart is stepping up their price-matching policy, allowing consumers to compare the price of in-store merchandise to not just Amazon’s lowest price, but other online retailers as well. The Consumerist reports that after many Walmart store managers began matching prices on a case-by-case basis, the company informed the management this week that the policy is now officially in place at every Walmart store across the nation.
That means shoppers can walk in to a Walmart store to buy a TV, use their smartphone to check for the lowest price on Amazon or another online retailer, and request to have the price matched. If a shopper finds that the price is lower (or the same) online (even on Walmart’s online site), it may prompt them to make the purchase right away while they are in the store. That’s a win for the world’s largest retailer and a big deal for price-conscious holiday shoppers.
“We are expanding our Ad Match policy to be the most progressive in the industry. Through our Online Price Match policy, customers will be able to request the list price at Walmart.com or any online competitor. Store management has the authority to take care of the customer and match any online competitor to ensure a positive, hassle-free customer experience.”
The New York Times reports that Walmart’s latest quarterly report showed an “upturn in comparable-store sales for the first time in almost two years.” Price-matching can only help strengthen the retailer, especially ahead of what many are saying will be a very competitive holiday season.
With Black Friday just two weeks away, it’s already apparent that big-box stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are fighting for the business of holiday shoppers. The Walmart price matching policy will undoubtedly draw even more business to their 5,000-plus stores during the Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales, especially if consumers do their homework before they set out to do their holiday shopping.
Armed with a smartphone filled with apps for online retailers like Amazon, savvy consumers will be able to score the best deals on the items they want without having to spend hours driving store-to-store.
Do brick-and-mortar retailers other than Walmart have a price-matching policy in place? Many stores do, but the rules vary. Target states that they will not match another retailer’s clearance price and will not price-match if a shopper finds a lower price at another Target store. Best Buy has been price-matching for quite some time, but will only match the price of select retailers, including Amazon, Crutchfield, and Tiger Direct.
[Images: MissXPose, Interaction Design]


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‘Robust’ performance in third quarter put sales well ahead of the previous year
Strong retail demand has driven the latest quarter’s festive period trading for one of the leading food producers in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Investments by Cranswick in a new meat processing facility and sustainability, however, have not significantly eased the crisis experienced in the nation’s pork sector.
With performance described as “robust” in its third-quarter report, Cranswick PLC has announced sales well ahead of the previous year. This is despite the long-lasting challenges on labor and the supply chain arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In contrast to its positive performance on the domestic market, Cranswick reports the continued suspension of the China export license of its primary pork processing facility. As a result, its overall exports to Asia were down year over year.
Investments, sustainability initiatives
As forecast, Cranswick’s net debt rose during the October-December period in 2021. This reflects a seasonal increase in working capital, as well as the company’s ongoing capital investment program.
Among its current projects is a GBP31 million (US$42 million) facility for breaded poultry meat products. Located in Hull in eastern England, the plant is scheduled to be commissioned during the first half of this year.
Addressing sustainability issues, the firm says it is transitioning to 100% certified deforestation-free soy. It also has several ongoing projects to reduce water use. Among these are an effluent treatment plant for wastewater recycling at its Watton site, and at Eye, a reverse osmosis system for potable water.
Pork sector challenges
In the U.K., the supply of pigs continues to exceed demand at times, according to Cranswick.
As a result, the country’s pig meat producers are facing commercial and operational challenges. To reduce the backlog of pigs on farm, the company reports increasing its intake of pigs for slaughter and processing. Working with the wider farming community, it has been urging the government to provide more support for the sector. Among the key measures would be the reinstatement of export licenses for China, and addressing the acute shortage of skilled butchers.
Just last week, the U.K. farming minister agreed to a summit to discuss the country’s worsening pig crisis.
Industry body the National Pig Association (NPA) has long been calling for high-level industrywide discussions to address the ongoing crisis. Last week, Minister Victoria Prentice agreed to meet representatives of producers, processors and retailers.
For the NPA, key objectives are what measures can be agreed at the meeting, and the urgency and effectiveness with which they are implemented.
If major changes are not made soon, NPA chairman Rob Mutimer said, the backlog will not ease until early summer.
“That, I’m afraid, will simply be too late for many pig farmers,” he said.
More on Cranswick PLC
According to the firm’s website, Cranswick PLC is a leading supplier of premium, fresh and added-value food products. Its workforce numbers more than 13,000.
Founded as an animal feed manufacturer by farmers in East Yorkshire in the 1970s, Cranswick has since diversified. Its other products include a range of high quality, predominantly fresh food, including fresh pork, poultry, convenience and gourmet products. The company supplies the major grocery multiples as well as the growing premium and discounter retail channels. It also has a strong presence in the “food-to-go” sector, as well as a substantial export business.
Last week, Cranswick announced it has acquired Grove Pet Foods Ltd., a dry dog food manufacturer in the U.K.


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Big Beach Brewing Company prepares for opening October 13th, 2016
Long-awaited local brewery, Big Beach Brewing Company has announced that they will open their doors to the public for the first time on Thursday, October 13th 2016. After over a year in planning, the ten barrel brewhouse is excited to reveal its 4000 square foot taproom to friends and neighbors along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Big Beach is located in Gulf Shores’ Waterway Village just off of the junction of Highway 180 and Canal Road. The brewery will feature a courtyard with games, an observation deck, a small stage for live music, and a bike rack for smart commuters. All along, the owners have themed the brewery after the small beach community that we know and love, and their beer names reflect the local culture. Rod Murray, head brewer, and Jim & Julie Shamburger, owners, plan on debuting several different beers for opening weekend, including flagships 100 Daze IPA, Rod’s Reel Cream Ale, Irish “Roadtrip” Red Ale, and Small Town Brown Ale.
“We anticipate our first few days with our doors open to be big, but our Grand Opening at the end of October is when we really expect to blow it out of the water, “ said Jim Shamburger, co-owner of Big Beach Brewing Company. Jim and wife Julie have been residents of the Alabama Gulf Coast area for twenty years now and “This brewery was just a pipe dream until now,” said Julie. The couple has traveled across the United States looking for high quality craft beer and started brewing at home for themselves. After years of beer in the bathtub, they decided that the need for craft beer in their local community was far overdue.
Big Beach Brewing Company is licensed as a brewery, meaning you can look forward to exclusively original, in-house brewed beer. Packaged foods from local restaurants and food purveyors will eventually be available for purchase, but for now, Big Beach encourages their taproom visitors to order food for delivery to the taproom from local restaurants. Visit their website, www.bigbeachbrewing.com for more information on taproom hours, upcoming events, grand opening details, and more.


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Adobe today launched Photoshop Elements 7 and Premiere Elements 7 for
Windows as two new more affordable ways to edit pictures and videos
with a touch of Photoshop and Premiere. But the real news is that Adobe
is ready to get consumers used to the fact that buying a software is
only half the story. What you really want is to buy a service and renew
it every year. The question is: Will you bite?
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 is due within a few days and
will not only bring bug fixes, but a range of new security features
that are likely to lift the browser above Firefox, but also represents
a new level of complexity how the security of a browser has to be
managed by a user. At the core of Microsoft’s security ideas is the
term “InPrivate”, which is designed to either block an
“over-the-shoulder-view” when browsing or reveal what is happening in
DivX is joining the high-definition era: Following its first H.264
decoder, the company today announced the alpha version of its first
H.264 encoder. The software is part of what eventually will become Divx
7 and beta testers are invited to try out what the company has come up
with so far.
Opinion – Microsoft has a tough time these days. First we complain that
they don’t react to Apple’s mean and insulting Mac vs. Vista
commercials and then nobody appears to like Microsoft’s choice for a
spokesperson, Jerry Seinfeld (we do agree that this is a strange
choice.) But we do not want to simply criticize Microsoft – criticism
always should offer solutions and this is exactly what we wanted to do.
Here are our top 10 choices for Microsoft’s anti-Apple campaign.
Nvidia today released the second generation of CUDA, the company’s
C-based programming environment that enables developers to tap into
GPUs to accelerate their applications. There are several new features
included, most interestingly a Photoshop plug-in example that provides
guidelines how to design plug-ins that run on the GPU.
Photosynth has been one of Microsoft most creative consumer projects in
some time. Developed by the company in collaboration with scientists
from the Graphics and Imaging Lab (GRAIL) at the University of
Washington, the technology – previously also known “Photo Tourism” -
uses a number of pictures to create a sketch of a three-dimensional
landscape filled with high-resolution images: Upload your pictures and
you could end up with a dramatic 3D world. Conceivably, Photosynth
could easily be imagined to be one evolutionary step above Google’s
Street View Maps feature.
If you think about it, it is somewhat surprising that Apple has not yet
managed to add the good old copy and paste feature to its iPhone
software. Help comes from the developer community with a free framework
that provides copy and paste features on a system-wide level. At least
three developers are already implementing the feature in their
applications, one of them being a WordPress blogging tool, and several
others are apparently in the queue.
Apple today said it will give away two additional months of free
MobileMe service to both paid and free trial account users, on top of
previously announced free service extensions. Users who had to deal
with MobileMe’s rocky launch and its service outages are compensated
with a total of 90 days of free service worth $24.75.
Opinion – Ok, so we adjusted our hopes that Windows 7 will not become
that revolutionary operating system we hoped it would be. But the
ongoing flow of news suggests that we should downgrade our expectations
even further, as Microsoft’s recently updated server roadmap indicates
that there will not be a Windows 7 server, suggesting that Windows 7
indeed will not be what Microsoft would call a major operating system
release. Sounds to me like Windows 98 SE all over again.
Ray-tracing is one of the big topics gamers and graphics enthusiasts
should pay special attention to these days. AMD already demonstrated
Transformers and Ruby Ray-traced demos using pre-rendered and real-time
rendered voxels, Intel is busy working on its own ray-tracer, and now
we are seeing much more obvious ray-tracing material from Nvidia as
There is no denying that the initial news about Windows 7, Vista’s
successor, weren’t especially great for Microsoft. Vista is by far not
as successful as Microsoft would have hoped and Windows 7 will have to
carry the company until a completely new operating system, speculated
to be code-named Midori, will be available. So, will Windows 7 be
another Vista? Will it lag behind OS X Snow Leopard? Is multi-touch UI
really as great as Microsoft claims it will be?
David Gosen, vice president of strategic marketing for the Xbox and
Xbox Live in Europe, threw a big one over the crowd that was listening
to his speech at Microsoft UK Gamefest developer event: "There is no
question digital will overtake physical. It happened in music and it
will happen to our industry."
Yahoo introduced a new open location-based services (LBS) platform
called Fire Eagle that helps users publish their current location to
the Web, while giving them the ability to control how and where their
location data is shared. Geodata are shared with authorized
applications on the Internet, mobile and desktop applications. It is
easily the best LBS approach we have seen so, and easily the front door
to a privacy nightmare scenario for people who do not fully understand
the concept of online privacy and its implications.
Google's online translation service is one of the most valuable free
translation tools available today. However, it did not work very well
on mobile platforms until recently, forcing travelers to bring their
pocket translators along. That scenario, however, could change with a
Google Translate version that is optimized for the iPhone.
This one does not come unexpected. An application that poked fun at the
fact how much money people are shelling out for their iPhone and the
wealth that the AppStore has created for some developers was yanked by
Apple early Thursday: The $1000 “I am Rich” application that got
famous through thousands of media articles published around the web is
no longer available.
Considering the big news coming out of Intel this week (Larrabee) and
the expected big News from Nvidia within the next two weeks (x86 CUDA),
AMD is under pressure to match its rivals: AMD is making substantial
changes to its GPGPU software strategy and announced at its GPG CTO
Technology Day that it will ditch its Close-To-Metal platform and switch
IBM prepares a big rollout of its Lotus Symphony office suite and what
better marketing to support the launch than an anti-Microsoft pitch?
IBM said it has “joined forces” with big Linux distribution providers,
such as Canonical and Novell, to deliver “Microsoft-free personal
computing choices“ by 2009. There are always reasons why you should
love to hate Microsoft, apparently.
Apple has begun to more aggressively update its Mac OS X operating
system and is now patching the operating system with regular minor
security updates and incremental updates pretty much one a month. The
fifth update for Leopard was handed to developers last week and will be
making its way as Mac OS X 10.5.5 to end-users soon.


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Some of the most innovative product and marketing work in functional drinks and in energy and sports drinks has been carried out by independent brands. What are some of the leading independents launching now and how do they see the current scene?
LUSH sugar-free flavours are the key to Boost’s success, according to sales director Al Gunn.
He says that moving-annual-total figures show Boost’s sugar-free sales growing at 32%, as several different types of consumer try to eat and drink less sugar.
“To date, barriers to further growth have been calories and taste,” he said. “As a result, Boost has invested considerable time and money developing Sugar Free Pink Lemonade. This drink has a fresh, fruity taste and the re-sealable PET bottled drink has just under 10 calories. The 250ml can has just five calories in the 250ml.”
Alongside Sugar Free Pink Lemonade, Boost has two other new flavours, also exclusively for the independent sector. Citrus Zing and Exotic Fruits are available in 500ml PET bottles at RRP 79p and 250ml cans at 49p.
Gunn said: “Following extensive research, we are confident that our three new flavours will be very popular with consumers, especially given the fantastic prices and the fact that we have such a great tasting sugar-free offer.
“These products will not be available in supermarkets as Boost remains committed to being a champion of the independents.”
• Emerge also sees c-stores as a crucial marketplace. Calli O’Brien, brand manager, said: “Our consumer research shows customers buy energy drinks for instant, on-the-go consumption before work and throughout the day. This buying behaviour would suggest that functional energy is very much an impulse purchase and independent and symbol stores are well-placed to be serving this market.
‘Look for well-supported brands with promotions or PMPs to drive impulse sales’
“Small pack sizes tend to work well in c-stores, for example the flagship 250ml regular Emerge can. Our latest product, Emerge Zero, which launched earlier this year and offers full flavour with no sugar, is also available in this format. Take-home packs do work well in c-stores, albeit at a smaller size to those available in supermarkets, which is why we recently launched 4x250ml multipacks.”
The brand has not forgotten the health-conscious consumer, with the development of Emerge Zero Sugar. This, O’Brien said: “conveys the lifestyle image that our consumers are seeking, without any sugar.”
And while sports drinks remain static, O’Brien tips functional water drinks as a segment to watch. “Fortified waters are still seeing huge growth within the market. This is something I can see functional energy moving towards in the coming year or so.”
The brand has extended the deadline for entries to its Emerge Space Programme, following what it calls “unprecedented levels of consumer engagement with the campaign”.
Nominations can now be made until 31 July. On-pack promotion of the campaign has also been extended.
• Vimto Soft Drinks marketing manager, Emma Hunt, thinks that lifestyle changes are key to understanding the energy drinks market.
“Consumers are always on the lookout for the next big thing within the category and energy drinks are increasingly becoming part of their everyday lives. More drinking occasions for energy and sports drinks are emerging all the time and it is important that independent retailers are on the front foot to capitalise on the opportunities this presents.
“There has also been a significant rise in 18-34 year olds participating in extreme sports, more than any other group of outdoor sports. Therefore, there has been a rise in demand for sports drinks from this audience.”
Vimto Soft Drinks was awarded the licence to produce sports and energy drinks under the Extreme brand a year ago. Describing itself as “an established and influential brand with a global presence,” Extreme has a TV channel, called Extreme Sports, which it claims reaches 26.1m consumers each month.
“Research has found 66% of the new drink’s target audience currently watch the TV channel,” said Hunt.
“Extreme sports have evolved into an alternative lifestyle fed by sports, music, art and fashion.
“Extreme is the first range of functional drinks that meets the needs of this entire lifestyle and the millions of people who aspire to lead this kind of exciting lifestyle.
“The potential market for the range is huge, given an estimated 140m people in the 15–34 age group participate in the top four sports of surf, ski, skate, and snowboarding in Europe alone.”
Extreme Energy and Extreme Sport, available as 500ml RTDs, were launched in the convenience channel in July 2013, and Vimto Soft Drinks says Nielsen has measured sales growth of 5% on Extreme over the intervening year.
This summer Extreme is sponsoring one of the biggest indoor skateparks in the UK, Ramp1 Skatepark Warrington, which has seven ramp areas and averages close to 3,000 visitors a week.
Product sampling will also take place at a number of key extreme sporting events and festivals through the year.


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CBP seize counterfeit iPhones at Pembina Port of Entry
PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA – March 1, 2019, 2019 (LSN) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations officers working at the Pembina Port of Entry targeted a shipment arriving from Canada destined to the United States. In January, CBP officers inspected the shipment in Pembina and discovered merchandise in violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) regulations.
The merchandise consisted of 39 cellular phones bearing the Apple trademark. Examination revealed the phones were counterfeit. As a result, CBP seized those items. The counterfeit merchandise has an aggregate manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $31,200.
“Our officers and import specialists do an excellent job targeting shipments and identifying counterfeit items,” said Barbara Hassler, Pembina Area Assistant Port Director - Trade. “Counterfeit merchandise is often made of inferior materials, and can potentially threaten the health and safety of consumers.”
Stopping the flow of illicit goods is a priority trade issue for CBP. The importation of counterfeit merchandise can damage the U.S. economy and threaten the health and safety of the American people. For more information on CBP’s IPR priority trade issue visit: CBP Trade and IPR.
With the growth of foreign trade, unscrupulous companies have profited billions of dollars from the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods. To combat the illicit trade of merchandise violating laws relating to IPR, trademark and copyright holders may register with CBP through an online system. Such registration assists CBP officers and import specialists in identifying merchandise that violate U.S. law.
CBP’s IPR enforcement strategy is multi-layered and includes seizing illegal merchandise at our borders, pushing the border “outward” through audits of suspect importers, cooperating with our international trading partners, and collaborating with industry and governmental agencies to enhance these efforts.


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ANZ has announced the closure of all retail products and services in Laos following the sale of its retail and wealth businesses across the region.
The bank will officially close all retail accounts and cease offering retail services as of March 30 this year.
Citing a review of its business, ANZ Laos says it wishes to ensure it is aligned with the bank’s global strategy to focus resources on its institutional business in the Asia Pacific region, supporting customers with regional trade and capital flow movements, and connecting them with business opportunities within Laos and across its global network.
The announcement follows the sale of the bank’s retail and wealth businesses in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and the closure of its retail business in the Philippines.
Retail customers will be given until March 30 to close accounts, and the bank will waive any early termination fees for term deposits.
In its letters to retail account-holders, ANZ Laos has provided an option for its retail customers to open accounts with Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL), saying it can connect retail customers with representatives at the state-owned bank, where former ANZ retail customers will be offered some discounts.


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No expense has been spared with the remake of Tesco's blockbuster Clubcard. But will the gamble on a double-points loyalty card prove an expensive flop? Sarah Butler reports
The movie-style billboard campaign for Clubcard 2 'Coming to a Supermarket Near You' hinted at a big-budget sequel to Tesco's groundbreaking loyalty scheme. It didn't disappoint, with a headline-grabbing move to offer loyalty card holders two points for every pound spent, twice as many as previously awarded.
Is this a big deal? One rival CEO is in no doubt as to the power of Tesco's Clubcard. "Tesco understands that even when customers walk away, as they have been doing recently, it can get them back because it knows who they are. It's easy to kiss and make up especially if you double the kisses."
Tesco first unrolled the double points offer in May, but it was limited to certain categories including clothing. One loyalty card expert described the move as a shock tactic designed as a "litmus test in the market to see what the programme can do".
Looking to attract a million more customers to the Clubcard scheme, so far half a million more shoppers have joined, enough for Tesco to declare itself pleased with the results. But what emerged from consumer feedback was that customers wanted double points right across the range.
Tesco has obliged and believes the double points offer will simultaneously prevent existing Clubcard holders from moonlighting with rival retailers.
"Clubcard has been a strong part of our trading proposition since 1995 and our view is that the market has been destabilised by the recession and the huge amount of trade moving around," says Tesco UK marketing manager Carolyn Bradley.
"Promotional promiscuity is running at a level that is not sustainable and this is a strategic move in the opposite direction."
But opinion is divided as to whether the giveaway is a case of Tesco playing its trump card in a bid to move away from direct price competition, or a desperate and expensive attempt to grab back the promotional initiative from rivals.
Some analysts argue that Tesco's double points offer is self-defeating. Research from Mintel shows only 6% of adults switch supermarkets because of a better loyalty card scheme, suggesting simply increasing rewards is a blunt instrument.
"With a headline promotion like this you give away a lot of money to people who you don't need to, and once you've done it there is no going back," says one analyst.
He calculates that the double-points Clubcard will cost Tesco between 1% and 1.2% of sales. The cost could be higher, but points can only be accrued on goods accounting for about 80% of total sales, while 25% of Tesco's sales are carried out without a Clubcard and only about 90% of the points awarded are ever redeemed.
Bradley says the additional costs, estimated at £200m on top of the cost of the old-style Clubcard, will be offset by savings elsewhere and will also be countered by an increase in customer spend.
And rival Nectar's managing director Jan-Pieter Lips believes the changes introduced with Clubcard 2 could make it a more potent strategic weapon for Tesco.
"It is a unique way for them to offer more value to the customer. They have seen customers are very responsive to the loyalty programme and if they give more value they believe customers will spend more."
In the current climate it is essential that loyalty schemes such as Clubcard improve the actual offers and deals that can be gained when redeeming points to suit customers' more straitened circumstances, says Stuart Evans, general manager of ICLP, an international loyalty card advisory agency.
"It used to be about treats, now it is about saving everyone money. They need to make the end benefit better so people can use their points and see the use in the programme." On the evidence so far, they will.


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Barons is celebrating its 20th anniversary at its Autumn Classic sale at Sandown Park race course on October 27th and, in a twist on tradition, the ‘birthday boy’ is the one giving out the gifts.
The auction house is offering free standard entry for cars consigned to the sale (usual price £120), while, for this sale alone, it is waiving the £15 catalogue charge, allowing bidders to attend for free.
Barons’ Auction Manager Tim Gascoigne said, “After 20 years, the Barons depth of knowledge of the classic car world and enthusiasm for classic and collectors’ cars remains unchanged, as does our desire to deliver an efficient service and good value for money. We are very much looking forward to our anniversary sale on October 27th.”
The early days....
Barons first sale was held on September 28th 1998 and was opened by TV presenter and racing driver Tiff Needell, with a charity lot sold on behalf of the automotive industry’s charity, BEN.
Over the past 20 years Barons has ridden out the highs and lows of the classic car market and the global financial situation, continually adapting to the changing demands as fashions and tastes come and go, but always maintaining its core standards. The company was established to offer the classic car owner and would-be owner a better, more cost-effective service, an ethos Barons adheres to this day. The Barons team were innovators – for example, Barons was the first auction house to offer online entry forms - and set up a secure, ring-fenced, client account from the outset.
A history of strong results
Barons has held 163 sales to date, and it all began on that day in September 1998, when the very first car Barons ever sold was a Rover. The auction house has consistently achieved strong results for British marques over the two decades. For example, in 2010, a ‘lost’ 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII drophead rolling restoration sold for over £206,000 – more than twice its top estimate – at Barons at Sandown Park. Originally the property of former Aston Martin owner David Brown, it had spent the previous 30 years hidden beneath a tarpaulin and interest in the car came from around the world.
In 2015 an extremely rare 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback ‘barn find’ restoration project went under the Barons hammer. The owner had hoped to achieve around £100,000, but, recognising its rarity and potential, Barons set a £250,000-£300,000 guide price and the car attracted frenzied bidding before it was finally secured by its new owner for £726,000, the highest price Barons had ever achieved for a car at that time.
That record was eclipsed just two sales later, when an ultra-rare, unrestored and highly original 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mk 1 Volante Vantage set what remains the current record for Barons when it sold for £781,000 at Sandown Park.
Jaguars have been another strong feature of Barons’ sales, the company having held an annual Jaguar Heritage auction every year since 2000. Barons was founded by a Jaguar expert and directors Tony Cavell and Peter Gascoigne - who have been with the team since 2005 - also have huge experience of and love for the marque. Consequently it’s not surprising that several Jaguar records have fallen as a result of cars going under the Barons hammer. Barons has also sold Jaguars with fascinating histories, including ‘WAG 7’, the ex-Wilkie Wilkinson 1961 S1 E-type FHC. This was sold on behalf of the estate of the world-famous bodybuilder Charles 'Wag' Bennett. Bennett is perhaps best known for discovering Arnold Schwarzenegger - who would, in later years, refer to him as his ‘British father’.
However, it’s not all British cars that do well at Barons sales. Virtually every make and nationality of car has passed through the Barons saleroom and the company has sold a number of celebrity cars including ones once owned by Britt Ekland, Peter Sellers, Frank Sinatra and Stanley Kubrick. Motorcycles, automobilia and registration numbers have also gone under the hammer at Barons.
Impressive sale venue
Barons’ main venue throughout the past two decades has been Sandown Park race course, though it has also held sales in venues as diverse at Donington Park, Tattersalls at Newmarket and Burghley House and also overseas.
However, Sandown Park remains the location of choice. Why? It’s simple: location, location, location, plus the outstanding facilities. Barons has buyers coming from all over the world, and they can land at Heathrow and be at Sandown Park very quickly, and it’s also very convenient for UK buyers to reach. It’s an impressive venue where the cars are displayed to good effect. In recent years the company has also started holding sales at Kempton Park - not a million miles from Sandown Park and another excellent and easy-to-reach venue.
The anniversary sale
To take advantage of the celebratory free standard car entry and consign a vehicle to the anniversary sale on October 27th or for further information about Barons’ services, please see the website.


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Brace for change as Estero development explodes
By Laura J. Cummings, Cheryl Mandell and Hunter Dail
As Estero’s development office worked nonstop to expedite permits related to storm damage in the weeks following Hurricane Ian, developers continued to press for meetings to move their projects forward – new apartment complexes, office buildings, gas stations, retail centers and more.
“I feel like I have to remind them we had a hurricane,” said Village of Estero Development Director Mary Gibbs.
While questions remain about impacts to regional tourism, Estero’s economy shows no signs of slowing down. The community’s location midway between Naples and Fort Myers has always been a boon. As massive new developments are built out in Naples, the Gateway area in Lee County and along Corkscrew Road east of I-75, Estero’s centrality will become even more attractive to people looking to shorten commutes—and developers wanting to capitalize on the entire Southwest Florida market.
Village Manager Steve Sarkozy calls Estero “the sweet spot for development.” The community has been experiencing a growth rate of 30% in recent years.
“People call me and say, ‘Steve, I’ve got $2 million—where should I put it?’ Well, why are they calling me? Because there’s only one way to get north and south, and that’s through Estero. They want to capture the market,” he said.
Welcome to Village Center
Estero is in for big changes in the next few years.
In 2023, plans for two of the largest developments in Estero’s history will be revealed. They bookend the area near Coconut Point designated as “Village Center.” Woodfield Development recently purchased about 43 acres at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road from Lee Health for $32 million — more than $700,000 per acre. Plans call for a mixed-use development including retail businesses, offices, restaurants and luxury apartments. A hotel and entertainment venue were also once part of Lee Health’s vision.
An even bigger development is in the works along U.S. 41 north of the Hertz headquarters. For years, people have wondered what’s in store for this 100-acre property owned by HCA Healthcare, known as the Northpoint property. Detailed plans have not been announced, but it will also be a mixed-use development with retail, offices and apartments or condos, Gibbs said.
Combined, the two developments may bring as many as 5,000 new multifamily housing units, estimates Sarkozy.
“We’re going to have to do something to try to brand Village Center and give it an identity there,” he said. Discussions include sculptures, clock towers and entrance archways over the roadway.
‘This Place is Going to Change’
While these new developments will help define “downtown” Estero, they will inevitably bring increased traffic on U.S. 41. Things won’t be better on Corkscrew Road—the village’s other major thoroughfare—as new residential developments approved by Lee County add 25,000 or more new homes east of Estero’s boundaries.
Many of these new communities have expressed interest in being annexed by Estero, which offers a lower tax rate. If that happens, Estero could rapidly double in size.
Estero Fire Rescue will soon open a new fire station to service this area. New cell towers are going up at Bella Terra and at the Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge on Coconut Road to handle the increased demand for telecommunications.
South of Estero, Collier County has approved three massive residential developments that will effectively double the size of that county – and impact traffic upstream.
“All of Estero is going to change,” Sarkozy said. “People can’t zip across town in 10 minutes and get to Naples in 20.”
Other developments coming to Estero include Corkscrew Crossing, being built west of I-75 off Corkscrew Road near Lowe’s. It will include 306 luxury apartments, plus retail shops, restaurants, a fitness facility and medical offices.
A Wawa gas station is coming to the Lowe’s plaza, and another gas station/convenience store, plus a self-storage facility, is planned near the Stoneybrook community east of I-75.
The Coconut Point area will get a Culver’s restaurant along with other restaurants and retail businesses. And the southwest corner of Corkscrew and Via Coconut will see a new multifamily-unit complex with a community garden and dog park in the plans.
What little land is left in Estero to be developed will be highly prized.
“They’re selling backlot for $500,000 an acre,” Sarkozy noted.
When the Village of Estero purchased prime real estate at the corner of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road in 2017, the city paid $393,000 an acre. Five years later, the Village was offered $1.5 million per acre by a developer, Sarkozy said. Village Council turned the offer down, opting to hold the land along the Estero River for community enjoyment and natural preservation. Phase 1 of a trail system is expected to open this year.
What’s in Store for Local Businesses?
Sharon Van Rite, chair of the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said Estero businesses were “enjoying a healthy growth spurt” before Hurricane Ian. Estero’s quality of life has not changed and will continue to attract new business, she said.
In five years, Estero will be more prosperous and diversified than ever, say Florida Gulf Coast University economists Chris Westley and Amir Neto. Over the next few months, however, the outlook is more unpredictable.
FGCU’s Regional Economic Research Institute conducts quarterly surveys of executives to determine the current business climate. The fourth quarter 2022 Executive Business Climate Survey found that 60% of surveyed executives view Lee County’s economy as worse off today compared to 12 months ago.
However, local executives are more optimistic when it comes to economic projections for the next 12 months. Despite rising interest rates nationally and the local impacts of Hurricane Ian – including temporary shutdowns and staffing shortages – many of the surveyed executives plan to invest and expand their businesses in 2023.
“Smart business owners think outside of the box,” Van Rite said. “At a Chamber luncheon that we held right after the hurricane, one of the attendees said that her business was at a standstill due to the hurricane. Instead of laying off her employees, she ‘leased’ them out to a business who was thriving and desperate for help. She was able to keep them on the payroll and continue to provide them with all of their benefits. And when her business gets back up and running, she will be fully staffed immediately. Brilliant!”
As business continues to grow and diversify in the region, Westley sees this region becoming more like Tampa.
Pre-hurricane, Lee County Economic Development Director John Talmage projected 125,000 jobs – many along the Alico corridor – coming to this area over the next 5-to-10 years.
While Southwest Florida will lose tourism revenue this season, the regional economy will benefit from reconstruction revenue, said Neto, assistant professor of economics.
Growing Pains Inevitable
Change was already in the works before Ian came raging. To some, Estero is losing its charm.
“People remember the old way — and for Estero, the ‘old way’ wasn’t that long ago,” Sarkozy said. “This character issue is going to be gut-wrenching for the community.”
While no one wants to downplay Hurricane Ian’s devastating impacts, the reality is that most Estero homeowners and businesses were unaffected.
“People still will want to live and move here,” Westley said.
Those who can’t afford to rebuild in areas along the region’s waterways may find attractive offers from developers eager to build upscale communities where working-class neighborhoods formerly stood.
“Regionally and locally, there’s a demand but also a wonder – how expensive will it be after reconstruction?” Neto said. “Who is able to pay and be here? That’s the question mark.”
People will continue to relocate to Southwest Florida for the sunshine and the lifestyle. And Estero is at the center of it all.
“You cannot tell people not to move here. It’s going to happen,” Sarkozy said. “So, is it going to change the character of the community? It cannot not change the community.”


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The National Business Travel Association’s Financial Forum held on March 30 was a one-day event filled with some useful information, but perhaps the most interesting discussions were the Luncheon featuring Frederic Mishkin, Professor of Banking and Financial Institutions at the Graduate School of Business, Columbia University and the Hotel Forecast featuring Jan Freitag, vice president of Smith Travel Research and Adam Weissenberg, US Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure leader for Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Everyone is fixated on what’s next for this economy and economist Mishkin said that he “never imagined” a crisis like this, but once the credit market loosens up then the economy will begin to rebound. Although Mishkin was among many economists that day, he seemed to be the most realistic. Mishkin noted that despite the glitz and glam of the stimulus package, the United States has to watch out because the economy could eventually mimic that of Japan, where stimulus package after package results in an extremely weak economic environment.
Attributing most of the country’s decline to a lack of “political will,” Mishkin said that if President Barack Obama holds the AIG executives of the world responsible for their actions, the population will begin to restore confidence in the government and could be pulled out of the recession faster than anticipated. Mishkin said that he expects the recession could result in one of two scenarios: 1. The economic problems go unresolved and the U.S. becomes similar to Japan, where there is very slow economic growth or 2. There is government intervention and more regulation of the market and the recovery is quicker.
On the hotel forecast front, Weissenberg contested that the hotels will continue to suffer as long as the airlines do, but will bounce back by the end of 2010. Weissenberg said he is seeing many hotel developers and operators trying to get rid of some debt by selling or shutting down properties and by halting new builds. As a result of extensive cuts to hotel staff, service levels have begun to deteriorate, he said. Also, as for the 33 new brands that have been introduced into the market, Weissenberg attests that this is overkill for the current economic environment because customers may no longer be brand loyal, but more cost conscious.
Continuing the discussion, Freitag and Weissenberg agreed that the lodging decline has yet to bottom out, but now hoteliers are panicking and slashing rates without thinking it through. “If you take down the rate you cannot make it up in occupancy. From a hotel perspective the way to maximize your revenue is to leave you rate as is and to just close your eyes and not look at the empty rooms and just live with a 30 percent occupancy rate. There is no body who has the stamina to do that because they can't in the negotiation with the owner, that's what they should do, but are they doing it? No," Freitag said.


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Report: Shopping moves offline and into stores
Remember showrooming, the trend in which shoppers browsed in stores, then compared prices and bought online?
That is so 2014.
Now consumers are doing their research online before heading to brick-and-mortar stores to try on shoes, touch cashmere sweaters and determine whether those marsala towels truly are a perfect match for the new bathroom, according to the annual survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, titled Total Retail: Retailers and the Age of Disruption.
In fact, nearly three of four shoppers — 73 percent — say they have looked for merchandise online but headed to the store when it was time to buy. Only about one in four — 27 percent — buys something online on a weekly basis.
The majority — 65 percent — said they didn’t want to pay for shipping and handling; 61 percent said they like the immediacy of buying in a store rather than waiting for a delivery; 61 percent also said they wanted to see the goods up close or try things on to ensure a comfortable fit.
All this is good news for us. Looking forward, PwC predicts stores will develop ways to become increasingly in touch with customers, using mobile devices and social media to customize the retail experience to the needs of individual shoppers.
Now open: Forever 21, long a destination for mall shoppers, has opened its first freestanding location in Philly at 1708 Chestnut St. Fans of the fashion-forward, super-affordable retailer will find 18,055 square feet of apparel and accessories. In addition to cheap, chic clothes for young women, the store carries the retailer’s other brands, including Forever 21 Men, Forever 21+, F21 Contemporary, basics, denim, and shoes.
A history lesson: In celebration of Black History Month, Barnes & Noble will host a story time at 11 a.m. Saturday featuring titles chronicling the accomplishments of two notable figures in the Civil Rights movement, “I am Rosa Parks” and “I am Jackie Robinson,” at stores at Towne Place at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, the Court at Deptford II in Deptford, Route 70 in Marlton and East Gate in Moorestown.
Big screen couch potatoes: Soon, you will be able to sprawl in a recliner at the movies, just like at home. Regal Cinemas at Moorestown Mall is replacing its seating with luxurious king-size recliners. Lights! Camera! Inaction! You don’t have to wait for the curtain to go up to take the recliner for a test drive. Prototypes are on display now in the mall lobby.
Bridal fair: Plan It Expo and Deptford Mall are tying the knot, hosting the third annual Bridal, Beauty and Health Expo from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 7 in Center Court. More than 40 vendors will show goods and services ranging from flowers to music to photography. Expect dessert samples, music and door prizes, including custom art work and vacation honeymoons. Admission is free. To register, call (800) 770-2743 or go www.planitexpo.com.
Beat the meter: Parking is free in downtown Collingswood every Sunday through the end of March. But please, don’t be greedy. The offer is restricted to three hours or less.
Shop Til You Drop appears Wednesday in the Courier-Post. Reach Eileen Smith at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Facebook reminded investors in its latest quarterly report that whereas it expects to launch its Libra digital currency in 2020, a number of things could keep that from happening.
In the risk factors section of the report, Facebook said it acknowledges the importance of the pushback that’s come from lawmakers and regulators since the project was proclaimed in June.
“Libra has drawn vital scrutiny from governments and regulators in multiple jurisdictions and we expect that scrutiny to continue,” Facebook said in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, market acceptance of such currency is subject to important uncertainty. As such, there may be no assurance that Libra or our associated merchandise and services will be made accessible in a timely manner, or at all. We don’t have significant prior experience with digital currency or blockchain technology, which can adversely have an effect on our ability to with success develop and market these merchandise and services.
David Marcus, who is spearheading the development of Libra and also the Calibra digital wallet project at Facebook, has said the currency will be “a more economical, low-priced and secure alternative” payment tool for those who can’t afford to transfer cash using traditional ways.
Since revealing plans for Libra and Calibra last month, the corporate has faced criticism from public officials within the U.S.A. and abroad.
Earlier this month, Marcus testified before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the House financial Services Committee and was grilled by lawmakers during both sessions.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell have also voiced their issues with Libra, and similar reservations have been raised by French minister of finance Bruno Le Maire and European central bank executive board member Benoit Coeure.
In a statement to CNBC on Monday, a Facebook representative said that between now and the product’s launch the corporate will be operating openly with all of the concerned parties.
“We know that the journey to launching Libra will be an extended one and that we cannot do this alone,” the representative wrote. “Engaging with regulators, policymakers, and specialists is essential to Libra’s success. This was the total reason that Facebook alongside other members of the Libra Association shared our plans early.”
Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg made similar comments on a decision with analysts on Wednesday. A few years ago, the corporate “would have most likely just showed up and tried to unleash a product on our own,” he said.
“Now the approach on all of those fronts is to outline the concepts and the values that we think an ultimate service ought to have, leave open a period of how long it takes to deal with regulators and different specialists and constituents’ questions about this and so find out what the most effective way to move forward is,” Zuckerberg said.


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Cheese lovers, this is something to tease your taste buds.
Shopping chain CostCo is offering a wheel of cheese for sale on its website.
It’s a 72-pound wheel of of Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano with a price tag of around $900. But CostCo says it’s worth every penny because it’s aged 24 months and “extravagant.”
To read the rest of the story, please go to: CNN


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Christmas Turns Orange!
Soroptmist International of Wolverhampton showed their support for the ‘Orange Wolverhampton’ campaign by turning their Christmas festivities orange at their December dinner meeting. They all wore orange sashes, ribbons or clothing and even their Christmas gifts followed this theme as they all received a chocolate orange. ‘Orange Wolverhampton’ is a local awareness-raising campaign that is part of the United Nations’ international 16 Days of Action to end violence against women and girls. Club members also wore orange ribbons during the 16 days which ran from 25th November to 10th December, 2017 which is Human Rights Day.


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TRAVERSE CITY — The Michigan apply industry set new shipment records in October, and that’s no surprise to northern Michigan apple farmers.
John Kilcherman of Christmas Cove Farms in Northport said he had a very successful yield for apples this growing season. There were so many apples, he said, that getting them all processed was a challenge. A down apple growing year in 2012 left the trees especially strong and productive this growing season, he said.
“A lot of apples,” Kilcherman said, noting processing challenges thanks to heavy volume caused him to “find another home for some at a lower price.”
Apple farmer Jim Bardenhagen of Bardenhagen Farms said he had similar strong results at his Leelanau County acreage.
“A big crop of apples,” Bardenhagen said. “It’s about the best we’ve had, I’d say, as far as yields go in a long while.”
Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, said the industry set new shipping records for two consecutive weeks in October. The industry set its first record the week of Oct. 5 when it shipped 411,973 boxes of apples. The following week another record was set with the shipment of 414,702 boxes. For comparison, the industry’s prior shipping record for the second week of October was at 378,933.
“Based on our storage figures, it’s one of the largest crops we’ve ever had in the state,” Smith said. “The last largest was 1995; it’s definitely one of the largest we’ve ever seen. Our estimate is 30 million bushels.”
The state has 9.2 million apple trees in commercial production on 36,500 acres. Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the United States, distributing apples to 26 states and 18 countries. It’s estimated apples have an annual economic impact of $700 to $900 million on the state’s economy.


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Nov 18, 2022
Compliance, regulation, and licensing have been the topics of
many conversations lately related to embedded finance programs. The
OCC recently put its foot down on Blue Ridge Bank and demanded more
compliance procedures/oversite for its fintech partners.
It’s never been more important to understand the compliance...
Sep 12, 2022
This episode originally aired on the Omni Talk Retail Podcast. Our CEO, Yuval Brisker goes into depth about the different ways embedded financial tools can be woven into consumer retail brands. This is a MUST LISTEN for consumer brands trying to better understand how in-network payments, brand bank accounts,...
Aug 24, 2022
In this episode, Joe Rosales, Alviere's Head of Credit and Lending, joins the podcast to talk about Alviere's new credit product and how embedded finance technology gives companies additional data points beyond debit to income ratio and FICO score to determine someones credit worthiness.
Jul 28, 2022
In this episode, Alviere's CEO, Yuval Brisker, CTO, Pedro Silva, and Head of Blockchain and Crypto Strategy, Aaron Kruse, join us to discuss how companies that are looking at crypto and NFT adoption should digest the volatility in the crypto markets.
Apr 5, 2022
Alviere CEO, Yuval Brisker, alongside COO, Pedro Silva, explore the dynamics of Alviere’s emerging global partnership with Coinbase under the Coinbase Prime program by discussing the vision for collaboration moving forward.


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Now, it's the revenge of the smaller retailers.
Walmart is being forced to focus on "defensive investments" as it seeks to counter the popularity of online retailers such as Amazon (AMZN), as well as smaller chains such as dollar stores and drugstores. That's according to a new report from Goldman Sachs (GS), which downgraded its investment rating on the retail giant.
Walmart is creating its own smaller stores through its Neighborhood Market and Express brands. But it may be tough for these operations to "move the needle" for Walmart, Goldman wrote in the Tuesday report.
"The firm contends that Neighborhood Markets offers competitive returns, but the jury is still out on its Express stores, as well as on the concept of tethering these boxes to supercenters for inventory, labor, and management," the Goldman analysts noted.
Walmart may generate only 2.8 percent of revenue off its total 2013 revenue base from these smaller stores, the report adds.
Yet with Walmart reporting fiscal second-quarter earnings on Aug. 14, Goldman said it doesn't see an "unusual 2Q earnings risk."
In an emailed statement, Walmart said its investments in new stores and e-commerce will strengthen its market share position. "Walmart has opportunities to continue serving customers in ways that only Walmart can...through both our different types of stores and growing e-commerce," the company said. "We're making investments in technology and our multi-format portfolio that will give our customers the resources to shop with us on their terms. We're focused on further growing sales by delivering an enjoyable customer shopping experience across all channels."
Both Walmart and Target have had tough years. Walmart recently said it's replacing Bill Simon, its U.S. chief, shaking up its management after several quarters of declining same-store sales. As for Target, it announced a new chief executive Thursday. Pepsi (PEP) executive Brian Cornell replaces the interim CEO hired in May following Target's data-breach debacle, which may have affected as many as 110 million customers and caused some people to shun the store.
On top of that, competitive pressure on big-box retailers may become more intense, given the recently announced $8.5 billion deal for Dollar Tree to buy Family Dollar. The combined ultra-discount retailers will have more than 13,000 locations -- more outlets than Walmart.
As consumers' pocketbooks grow more strained -- thanks to flatlining household income and higher prices for consumer items -- they're seeking out bargains at smaller stores, such as dollar stores, and at online retailers, such as Amazon.
Amazon, Goldman noted, "clearly lurks as the biggest external competitive threat" to Walmart.
for more features.


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ABERGAVENNY’S Morrisons store has brought more benefits to the town than were expected – despite leading to losses in car parking income – it has been claimed.
Free parking at the store contributed to the council losing £275,000 in the last financial year, with the loss in potential parking income estimated at £2,000 each week.
The two hours free parking offered is undercutting the council’s pay and display car parks in Abergavenny.
Council bosses have also blamed the shortfall on the closure of two car parks in Abergavenny and Monmouth, both of which have since reopened.
An increase in parking charges was also not introduced until July, meaning a full year of higher fees were not recouped.
But Councillor Bob Greenland, cabinet member for Innovation, Enterprise and Leisure, said losses in parking income were always expected when the supermarket opened in March of last year.
Councillor Greenland told cabinet colleagues on Wednesday the council recognised “from the outset” that people would opt to use Morrisons over existing local authority owned car parks which charge.
“It was anticipated from the very beginning that we would get a drop off in car parking when Morrisons moved in,” he said.
However, Councillor Greenland claimed the benefits of the new store have outweighed any costs – and exceeded expectations.
The supermarket is said to have created more than its original estimate of 150 jobs due to “over trading” in the area.
And against expectations, Councillor Greenland said footfall has increased and the number of vacant units has gone down in the town since the store opening.
“When you put all of these into the mix we’ve got a very good investment for a possible reduction in car parking revenue,” he added.
However, Councillor Frances Taylor, leader of the council’s Independent group, questioned what the net gain is against a “significant deficit” in losses to parking income.
Conservative councillor Jane Pratt said time was needed to evaluate the issue though, as figures could change with the council taking over parking enforcement.
“I think people are going to be using the car parks a lot more because of the civil parking enforcement,” she added.
During negotiations Morrisons had initially been asked to apply the council’s charges for its 223-space car park.
But this requirement was removed in favour of a larger payment for the land, with the final deal being struck for £13.75 million up front and £4 million spread over 25 years.


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“The shifting plans underscore the challenges Apple faces in pushing into a new industry. The company is betting that AR and VR devices could be a major moneymaker, but the technical challenges of producing a consumer-friendly product have bedevilled much of the tech world,” said the report.
Apple planning two AR-VR headsets
Trademark filings reveal Apple is working on two AR-VR headsets, with the documents revealing the monikers “Reality Pro” and “Reality One.” The Pro would likely be the initial, more expensive model, while One could be the cheaper version. There also is a filing for “Reality Processor,” which is probably the dedicated chip for the headset.
The original, more expensive AR-VR headset, probably the Reality Pro, is likely to be unveiled at the company’s Spring event this year. The device might cost $3,000 (around Rs 2.45 lakh). The heavy price tag comes at a cost as it uses advanced and high-resolution displays, more than 10 cameras, sensors to determine where a user is looking, an M2 processor and a dedicated chip for handling AR and VR visuals, says the Bloomberg report.
Apple is said to reduce the price for the cheaper Reality One headset by using chips on par with iPhone rather than components found in the higher-end Mac computers. The mixed reality headset from Apple will compete with Meta’s VR headset that debuted in 2022 with a much cheaper price tag of $1,500 (around Rs 1.22 lakh).
With the AR glasses, Apple plans to replace the iPhone by moving the smartphone’s main functions to a wearer’s field of view on the AR glasses. The device will let users see incoming notifications, get map directions, make and take phone calls, or snap photos right from their face.


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On April 29, NS&I released new issues of index-linked bonds which pay 1 per cent above inflation as measured by the retail price index. But advisers say consumers may believe they will get higher returns as they may think the Treasury-backed certificates are based on the Government’s target measure, the consumer price index. The CPI stood at 2.9 per cent in March while the retail price index was -0.4 per cent.
Chelsea Financial Services head of investment products Matthew Woodbridge says: “It is confusing. People may think they are going to get 2.9 per cent plus 1 per cent.”
AWD Chase de Vere Julie Smith head of protection and structured product research says: “What could be considered as misleading is though NS&I clearly states it index-links against RPI, the Government uses the CPI as a measure of inflation.”
Lowes Financial Management managing director Ian Lowes says: “This is evidence that those with the best intentions can fall into the trap where they could be accused of potentially misleading marketing.”
A NS&I spokeswoman says: “The RPI is a recognised measure of inflation and the one we use. We have always been very exp- licit in the past and now in ens- uring that savers, our customers and IFAs are aware that the certificates are linked to RPI.”


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(CTN News) – Meta, the parent company of Facebook, lost $2.81 billion on $452 million in revenue from its virtual reality division, Reality Labs, during the quarter ending in June, as it forecast declining revenue for a second straight quarter.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Meta continue to spend heavily to develop virtual reality and augmented reality products and the so-called “metaverse.”
For a company that earned $8.36 billion in operating income on $28.82 billion in total sales during the quarter, it is a substantial but manageable expense.
To compete with Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other companies eying the market, Zuckerberg and other Meta leaders are willing to spend heavily on technologies that might be years out and prototypes that aren’t ready to be released, as well as a substantial staff of technical experts.
Despite the small market size, Meta’s Quest 2 headset is currently the most popular VR headset. It was announced earlier this week that Meta will raise the price from $299 to $399.
Later this year, Meta will release more advanced goggles using front-facing cameras to pass through the real world to the user.
Meta has also invested in VR companies and startups developing core headset technologies.
The FTC, however, sued them on Wednesday to prevent it from buying the maker of the popular VR app Supernatural, suggesting that any future acquisitions would be subject to significant scrutiny.
Related CTN News:


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The dairy checkoff-led Fuel Up to Play 60 program and the Gen YOUth Foundation co-hosted a childhood obesity summit with The Washington Post on Feb. 15.
The “Weighing In on America’s Future: Childhood Obesity Summit” highlighted successful approaches and programs, including Fuel Up to Play 60 and Gen YOUth, that are helping America’s children become healthier.
More than 160 leading national decision-makers, health and nutrition professionals, academia, media and business leaders provided insight on childhood obesity through panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions and a live on-site poll. Dairy producers representing the checkoff-funded National Dairy Council (NDC) also attended.
The event was one piece of a larger, long-term, multi-pronged dairy checkoff strategy to grow sales of healthy dairy products and ingredients, build lifelong dairy values among the next generations of consumers and protect dairy’s right to operate.
Panel sessions focused on the role of government in childhood health and wellness, impact on health, and the role of schools and the community.
“The dairy industry and the many respected participants of this summit are helping to make a positive impact on the lives of our nation’s children,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “While we can’t solve the problem alone, we are finding that collaboration and common goals can get us much closer to making a change. And what’s good for childhood nutrition is good for dairy.”
Following the panel discussions, Chef Carla Hall (Gen YOUth board member and Top Chef All-Star) served a lunch school-cafeteria style that showcased how a healthy meal can meet dietary guidelines, including low-fat dairy, within a school budget.
White House Chef and Policy Advisor Sam Kass spoke about nationwide initiatives, including Let’s Move! and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, and grassroots programs working to improve childhood nutrition.
The summit generated an ongoing conversation on social media, particularly Twitter and Facebook. NDC social media activities (Fuel Up to Play 60 Facebook page, NDC Facebook page, Gen YOUth and NDC Twitterfeeds) and efforts byThe Washington Post helped encourage participation to watch a live stream of the summit.
More information and video highlights of the summit can be found at http://washingtonpostlive.com/conferences/obesity
For more information about the checkoff, visit www.dairycheckoff.com
Source: Dairy Management Inc.


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Gardeners jump in on Canada's blossoming cannabis industry.
It's gardening season for a lot of Canadians and this year, for the first time, it's legal to grow cannabis alongside your flowers and herbs. Most households will be allowed to grow up to four plants, indoors or outdoors. It's given rise to yet another new sector of Canada's blos...
[Place of publication not identified] :
CBC - Business,


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DP World Americas COO Morten Johansen explores how port operators are investing in sustainable operations in the push to decarbonize
Submitted by DP World
Nearly all – 90% – of global trade is seaborne, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), underscoring the significant environmental impact of ports and shipping. With shipping contributing nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and maritime trade volumes expected to triple by 2050, the industry is at a tipping point, writes Morten Johansen, COO for DP World Americas in a recent article published in Forbes.
“These environmental costs can no longer be ignored, especially considering that due to growing demand for global freight,” Johansen writes in his article, “Pioneering a Sustainable Future in Port Operations.”
Johansen underscores the urgency of decarbonizing maritime port operations due to the significant environmental impact of shipping. He notes that as one of the world’s leading port operators, DP World has a shared responsibility in reducing emissions and championing cleaner and more sustainable practices. This collective obligation extends to every stakeholder in the value chain, including terminal operators, OEMs, port authorities, government entities, and shipping line operators.
Johansen looks to his experience at DP World to illustrate strategies that fellow port operators can use to help reduce carbon emissions. This includes electrifying port equipment, investing in renewable energy, and exploring alternative fuels and technologies. He references specific examples as follows:
Johansen notes that DP World's efforts in decarbonization are not just about meeting its own goals, but also about setting a benchmark for the maritime industry. As such, he highlights incremental progress and adapting strategies to regional needs as key to successful decarbonization.
This article is a compelling read for port operators and stakeholders in the maritime industry, offering actionable insights for a sustainable future in global trade. Read the full article here: Pioneering a Sustainable Future in Port Operations.
Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.
With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 103,000 employees spanning 75 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.
We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.
What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.
WE MAKE TRADE FLOW TO CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
More from DP World


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On September 14-16, St. Augustine Fashion Week presents "MODA Alcazar" at the historic Lightner Museum, formerly known as the Hotel Alcazar. Combining fashion and fine art in one of St. Augustine's most unique buildings, 18 small-brand designers will share their Spring/Summer 2017 Collections.
The fashion event was inspired by the incredibly talented small-brand designers in the Northeast Florida area. Many of the local designers were growing and thriving in the fashion world, but without the marketing aspect, very few were getting the attention they deserved. Without a credible platform, small designers struggled to sell their products.
President and founder of St. Augustine Fashion Week Brittany Alphonso is the designer of Banana Bread Baby, which has been in production for seven years. "We have small brands that are producing full collections here in the North Florida area that deserve a proper platform to share their work and take their business to the next level," she says. "Connecting them with wholesale buyers and consumers will be of great importance as they continue to make their brand known."


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Canadian stocks may struggle to sustain recent gains at open Friday as commodities faltered after faster than expected inflation data from China raised demand concerns from the commodity hungry nation.
Meanwhile, Japan approved a fresh round of stimulus spending worth 10.3 trillion yen to jump-start the flagging economy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the measures would include spending on public works, disaster prevention and financial aid for small firms. He said the new measures would add 2 percentage points to the gross domestic product and create about 600,000 jobs.
U.S. stock futures were pointing to a flat open
On Thursday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index extended gains for a third sessions, adding 77.50 points or 0.62 percent to 12,599.74.
The price of crude oil was moving lower Friday morning after inflation data from China raised demand concerns from the commodity hungry nation. The consumer price index in China rose 2.5 percent year-on-year in December, the fastest pace since May. Economists expected the rate of inflation to increase to a more modest 2.3 percent. The freezing weather and the approaching 'Spring Festival' stoked prices of fresh food.
Crude for February shed $0.47 to $93.35 a barrel
The price of gold was paring recent gains Friday morning as traders preferred to book profits amid a generally steady US dollar. Gold for February was down $4.10 to $1,673.90 an ounce.
In corporate news from Canada, Leucadia National Corp. (LUK) announced that it would intend to tender the common shares of Inmet Mining Corp.(IMN.TO) to the take-over bid that has been made by First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO). Leucadia said it own 11.04 million or approximately 15.92 percent of the outstanding common shares of Inmet
In economic news, Statistics Canada said merchandise imports rose 2.7 percent in November, while exports decreased 0.9 percent. As a result, Canada's trade deficit with the world widened from $552 million in October to $2.0 billion in November. Economists were expecting $0.60 billion deficit.
From the U.S., the Commerce Department said that the trade deficit widened to $48.7 billion in November from a revised $42.1 billion in October. The wider deficit surprised economists, who had expected the deficit to narrow to $41.1 billion from the $42.2 billion deficit originally reported for the previous month.
From the euro zone, U.K. industrial production recovered in November, underpinned by robust mining output, the Office for National Statistics showed. Industrial output rose 0.3 percent month-on-month, reversing last month's 0.9 percent fall. Nonetheless, the rate of growth was smaller than the 0.8 percent rise forecast by economists.
Meanwhile, Switzerland's consumer prices slipped 0.4 percent year-on-year in December, the same rate of fall as seen in November, the Federal Statistical Office showed. Prices were forecast to ease 0.3 percent.
by RTT Staff Writer
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