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Data on inflation based on the wholesale price index for January on Thursday, 14 February 2013. The rate of growth of WPI inflation is expected to ease at 7.1% in January 2013 from 7.18% in December 2012, according to the median estimates of a poll of economists carried out.
11.05 PM Feb 8th 2013
Source:The Hindu BusinessLine - The benign turn in the macro economy in recent months has provided policy space for the RBI to cut rates, as was widely expected. After recording 8.1 per cent in September 2012, the WPI inflation had started to trend down and reached 7.18 per cent by December 2012
11.49 AM Jan 30th 2013
RBI lowers Mar`13 inflation forecast to 6.8% from 7.5%:- The Reserve Bank of India reduced the baseline WPI inflation projection for March 2013 from 7.5% set out in the second quarter review to 6.8% on the back of expected moderation in non-food manufactured products inflation, domestic supply
1.59 PM Jan 29th 2013
People are getting excited when there is a rate cut fundamentally nothing has changed WPI inflation eased a bit but CPI still high and it is increasing CPI will further increase cos of Deisel price hike and Global crude . CAD is widening. Market is due for a correction be prepared.
11.58 AM Jan 29th 2013
The build-up of strong hope (and expectation) of 25-50 bps rate cut on 29th January post weak November IIP data, good December WPI inflation print and Governments’ aggressive stance on fiscal consolidation triggered strong gains in all asset classes
11.42 AM Jan 23rd 2013
Source:Business Standard - The Reserve Bank of India is likely to lower key interest rates by 0.75% next year with a strong possibility of a 0.50% cut during the January-March quarter itself, according to Citigroup. According to a report, the positive surprises in the recent WPI inflation data
2.32 PM Dec 26th 2012
Source:Business Standard - Inflation may moderate in the new year on easing of supply constraints after remaining stubbornly high for the whole of 2012 despite efforts by the government and the Reserve Bank to check rising prices of food items. The wholesale price-based (WPI) inflation hovered over
1.29 PM Dec 26th 2012
Copyright © e-Eighteen.com Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of news articles, photos, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of moneycontrol.com is prohibited.


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The story mentions that Fox News personalities are not exactly known for their green take on life and business. Many of them deny global warming. But News Corp. is forging on, even encouraging writers for Fox TV programming to include environmental topics.
Other companies are delving into greenness, too. Enterprise Rent-a-Car has pledged to plant 50 million trees, with TV ads touting their program.
But so does SC Johnson, the manufacturer of Pledge, Windex and many other brands. I find it extremely difficult to believe SC Johnson is “Doing what’s right for the environment” when the company specializes in manufacturing chemical-laden, disposable cleaning products to clog our landfills.
One good point on the SC Johnson Web site, however, is that sanitizing products can help prevent disease in the developing world. The problem seems to be that — especially through advertising — we are told in the United States that everything must be sanitized, all the time. TV ads make us think “God forbid my child should eat something that has touched an unsanitary surface!”
In fact, for normal, healthy people, a bit of dirt can help boost our immune systems and keep people (including children) healthier.
When sickness or disaster strike, we are indeed very fortunate to be able to sanitize our environment. I have had either one killer sickness or a series of four illnesses this past week — so I’ll confess that on Saturday, I broke out my little-used disinfecting wipes (purchased before I started this whole green kick) and wiped down the knobs and handles in my bathroom to try to protect the rest of my family. But we aren’t going overboard — our main defenses are hand washing and not sharing cups, utensils or food.
Balance is the key. And we can all start watching for it on Fox.

domain: news


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Dan Miller, 46, has been named manager of the Dearborn engine and fuel tank plant in Ford's Rouge manufacturing complex. The plant produces the 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine for the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer and makes all of Ford's steel fuel tanks used in North America.
Miller was manager of the Essex aluminum plant in Windsor, Ontario.
Dan Miller replaces Linda Miller, 44, who has been appointed director of supplier technical assistance for the Ford Automotive Operations quality office.
The office combines all previous supplier quality organizations worldwide into one group, with emphasis on advanced quality planning and resolution of technical issues.
George Pfeil, 50, has been named manager of the Sterling plant in Sterling Heights. The plant produces axles, driveshafts and I-beams. Pfeil was manager of the Romeo engine plant.
He replaces Rich Tepper, 59, who was named senior technical adviser, chassis operations and engineering, Ford Powertrain Operations. He will help establish a global strategy for product sourcing, design and manufacturing processes.
Replacing Pfeil at the Romeo engine plant is Harvey Byrne, 47, who was manager of Ford's Dagenham engine plant in Great Britain.
The Romeo plant produces the single-overhead-cam 4.6-liter V-8 engine used in the Lincoln Town Car, the Mercury Grand Marquis and Cougar XR7 and the Ford Crown Victoria and Thunderbird. Romeo also produces a high-performance double-overhead-cam 4.6-liter V-8 used in the Lincoln Mark VIII and the new 1995 Lincoln Continental.
GM - ACG - Mark Weber has been named group director of human resource management for the General Motors Automotive Components Group Worldwide. He succeeds Michael Tierney, who will retire Jan. 1 after 40 years with GM.
Weber, 46, has been general director of personnel and public affairs at Inland Fisher Guide Division since 1990.
He joined GM in 1966 and was director of industrial relations for the former Chevrolet-Pontiac-Canada Group before going to Inland Fisher Guide.
Tierney joined Chevrolet in 1955. He served with several supplier divisions before becoming personnel director for the Lansing Automotive Division in 1984. He was named group director of human resources management for ACG Worldwide in 1988.
JAGUAR CARS - Gerald Frick has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing for Jaguar Cars in Mahwah, N.J. He was executive assistant for dealer relations at Ford Division.
He replaces Richard Beattie, who had held the Jaguar post since 1993. Beattie has been named executive director of Ford Motor Co.'s rental distribution and business operations.
Ford Motor Co. owns Jaguar.
Frick joined Ford in 1970. He has served in field posts for Ford Division, as director of commercial vehicle marketing for Ford of Europe and as owner relations manager for Ford Parts and Service Division.
KIA MOTORS AMERICA - Kia Motors America has named Bill Camp director of finance and has appointed John Draheim regional manager for the Western United States.
Camp, 44, was vice president of finance for Hyundai Motor Finance Co. Draheim, 36, was Northwest regional manager for Volkswagen.
MERCEDES-BENZ - Mercedes-Benz of North America has named Carol Goll regional communications manager for its newly opened New York regional office.
Before joining Mercedes-Benz, Goll worked in the corporate news and environmental and safety public affairs department at Ford Motor Co.
J. WALTER THOMPSON - Michael Priebe, creative director for the Ford Division account, has been named a senior vice president of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. He has been with the company since 1979.
Also named senior vice presidents were Carole Gall, executive producer for diversified accounts, and Stephen Kuehn, director of financial services. All three are in the agency's Detroit office.
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES INC. - David Beall has joined Automotive Industries Inc. as vice president of the Diversified Group. He was vice president and general manager at Preferred Technical Group in Rochester Hills, Mich.
Automotive Industries of Rochester Hills makes interior trim and under-hood systems and components.
BORG-WARNER AUTOMOTIVE - John Fiedler, president of Borg-Warner Automotive Inc., will add the duties of chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed J. Gordon Amedee, 69, who will remain chairman of the company.
Fiedler, 56, was named president, chief operating officer and a director of Borg-Warner Automotive in June 1994. Before joining the company, he was executive vice president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he was responsible for North American tires. He was with Goodyear 29 years.
Amedee began his career with Borg-Warner (Australia) Limited in 1942 as an engineering apprentice and was chief executive of the Australian unit when he retired in 1983. He came out of retirement to head Borg-Warner Automotive in 1993.
DELCO REMY AMERICA INC. - David Harbert has joined Delco Remy America Inc. in Anderson, Ind., as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He has worked for GenCorp., Tenneco Automotive, System Software and Applied Power.
Terry Pahls has been named director of manufacturing engineering. He was PG260 starter motor program manager.
Delco Remy America makes starter motors and generators and powder metal forge products such as connecting rods. The company is made up of former General Motors operations and plants.
EAGLE-PICHER AUTOMOTIVE - Wayne Wickens has been elected senior vice president of Eagle-Picher Industries Inc. and will be responsible for the company's eight automotive divisions.
He replaces Andries Ruijssenaars, who has been named president and chief operating officer of Eagle-Picher Industries.
Wickens was president of Hillsdale Tool Division in Hillsdale, Mich, one of Eagle-Picher's automotive divisions.
FAYETTE TUBULAR PRODUCTS - George Mach has been promoted to president of Fayette Tubular Products Inc. of Troy, Mich., a maker of automotive air conditioner components.
Mach joined Fayette in 1989 as vice president of sales and marketing in 1989. Before that, he was vice president of sales and marketing with Rockwell international Suspension Systems Co., a joint venture between Rockwell International and Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing of Japan.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORP. - Michael Schultz has been named marketing vice president, Worldwide Aftermarket Operation, for Federal-Mogul Corp., effective Jan. 1.
He joined Federal-Mogul in 1992 as sales manager, East, and retail director of automotive sales. Prior to that he was as vice president of sales for TRW's automotive aftermarket business, which Federal-Mogul acquired in late 1992.
Headquartered in Southfield, Mich., Federal-Mogul makes precision parts for cars and trucks for the original-equipment market and the aftermarket.
FOAMEX INTERNATIONAL - Veronica P. Forster Cornejo, 31, has been named to the newly established position of president of Foamex de Mexico SA de CV.
She will oversee all of the company's businesses in Mexico, including Transformacion de Espumas Y Fieltros SA de CV, a subsidiary, and Industrias Enjema SA de CV, a joint venture between Foamex's JPS Automotive LP subsidiary and local partners.
Forster has been an independent marketing consultant for Foamex for 18 months. She also did Mexican market analysis for other American companies. Earlier, she was director of the 1992 U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Conference and director of the Mexican Manufacturers Association.
Foamex makes flexible polyurethane foams for auto trim and accessories. It also makes automotive textiles through JPS Automotive LP.


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The cold winter in the smartphone market continues…
Since 2022, the overall domestic electronic product industry has been in a downturn, the shipments of the domestic smartphone market have continued to decline, and the market performance has been quite weak.
Recently, the latest data released by Canalys shows that global smartphone shipments in the third quarter of 2022 fell by 9% year-on-year to 298 million units. It was also the lowest third quarter for sales since 2014.
In terms of the specific manufacturer’s proportion, although Samsung has maintained its leading position, it shipped 64.1 million units in the third quarter, but it paled slightly compared to the 69.4 million units in the same period last year, down 8% year-on-year.
The three major domestic manufacturers, Xiaomi (01810.HK), OPPO and vivo, occupy the third to fifth positions in the industry with market shares of 14%, 12% and 11% respectively. However, the annual growth rate was also less than satisfactory, falling by 8%, 22% and 20% respectively.
In contrast to the above-mentioned manufacturers, driven by strong demand, Apple (AAPL.US) is the only manufacturer to achieve positive growth, with an increase of 8% year-on-year and shipments of 53 million units, ranking second in the industry.
In this regard, Canalys research analyst Runar Bjørhovde said: ” The performance of the high-end market was the only bright spot in the quarter . Driven by the iPhone 13 and the newly launched iPhone 14 series, Apple’s market share reached an unprecedented height in the third quarter. In particular, the popular iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will bring Apple higher ASP (average selling price) and stable revenue.
At the same time, Canalys research analyst Amber Liu pointed out that consumer demand has a strong impact on the performance of the smartphone market, manufacturers are quickly adjusting to adapt to the severe business environment, and the top priority is to reduce inventory backlog amid deteriorating market demand risks of.
In fact, from “new smartphones must be replaced” to “not changing for many years”, the consumer-end pattern has changed dramatically. Although 6.18, “Double 11” and other promotional festivals attract consumers with larger discounts, such as direct price cuts and gift vouchers, etc. It has also achieved certain results, but it is difficult to fundamentally save the phenomenon of sluggish market consumption, which eventually leads to a decline in smartphone shipments.
From the perspective of industry insiders, the key to breaking the game is whether manufacturers can improve the user experience through innovation and stimulate consumption. For example, the application of AR and VR components, smart wearable devices, and various equipment required for smart driving may be the innovation points that lead the next wave of consumer electronics industry boom.
Wang Ying, engineer of the National Engineering Information Security Development Research Center, believes that consumer electronics companies should make full use of digital technology to carry out all-round, multi-angle, and full-chain transformation and application of production, operation, management, marketing and other links, which is to improve business efficiency. , Fast track to enable product sales.
Looking ahead, Canalys analyst Zhu Jiatao said: “Entering the fourth quarter, continued global shocks are hindering the performance of manufacturers across the entire ecosystem portfolio. The upstream supply chain entered a long winter earlier than expected, and OEMs’ order targets were A large number of cuts. At the same time, slow inventory turnover and poor economic data have also affected the confidence of the channel, and the market focus has fallen back to the core products of the head brand, thinking that the upcoming sales season will attract traffic. Manufacturers are entering the fourth quarter with a cautious strategy , to deal with ongoing difficulties. Managing the outlook for the bleakest fourth quarter in more than a decade will show which vendors are poised for the long-term.”
Text: Hong Xiaodou


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ALOR STAR, May 27 – It’s the first day of Ramadan, and the price of chicken here has increased to RM8.50 per kg, up from the previous RM7.80. A survey at the Alor Star Market found that most traders had no choice but to raise the price saying it was due to an increase in ex-farm prices in the last three days.
A poultry trader, Mohd Lutfi Abdul Ghani, 57, said that he had reduced his daily stockpile of chicken from 100 to 70, for fear they could not be sold. He said there are consumers who complain, but some of them understand as well. He also said that they as traders cannot do anything, because the price of chicken at the farm has also gone up, before, the farm price was 5.90 and it has now gone up to RM6.40.
He also added that the breeders justify the increase due to rising feed prices as well as the increase in prices for petrol and diesel, leading to higher transportation costs. Another trader, Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Ramli, 46, said the rise in price for chicken at the market was also due to heightened demand from consumers following a price increase for the kembong fish. — Bernama


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Pumpkart to start working capital-cum- credit facility for retailers: Pumpkart a renowned B2B E Commerce platform has drawn up the blueprint to extend credit facility to retailers for ease of doing business on its portal.
Pumpkart will be the first E commerce company to provide lending to retailers in the online space. The idea behind the initiative is to start a credit flow to retailers to buy product stocks using the recently launched Pumpkart app. The app was unveiled by Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Commerce), Punjab.
“We have developed a unique model which will provide an interest free credit for 25-30 days and post that a nominal charge of 1.25% -1.50% pm will be charged. This will be offered to retailers on Pumpkart platform through mobile wallet or card. After the Pumpkart app launch in May’19, the acceptability of Pumpkart in the market is good and response from retailers is really exciting thus good numbers of orders are being generated. Currently the conversion rate which is 10-12% which is expected to grow up-to 70%, after the lending facility goes live.” Said K S Bhatia, Co Founder, Pumpkart.
It is noteworthy that Pumpkart is a B2B Online Marketplace dealing with retailers, wholesalers, corporates & industry in multiple categories like kitchen & home appliances, electronics & electrical goods etc.
“We are also going to launch LED TVs in the market. Since the market size for LED TV is Rs 30-35 thousand crore annually, thus Pumpkart has planned to launch its own brand in TV panels.” Bhatia added.
Bhatia further said that that the facility for retailers will come into force from August 2019. The B2B Platform has a product catalog of Appliances, Electrical, Electronics and Industrial Supply. The platform plans to add 25000 retailers by the year end.


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Darwin's on 4th, the downtown brewpub, has been open for almost a month, but they were waiting on their license to begin serving their own beer.
Brewmaster Jared Barnes said in an email that they have the license and he started brewing last week. He said he expects the beer to be ready in three to four weeks.
He writes: "Just had to wait for ingredients to come through and get some equipment changes finalized. Now we are ready to rock."
Check out Darwin on 4th's latest video, featuring the brewpub's brewing setup:


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posted better-than-expected earnings -- although quarterly profit was significantly reduced by charges related to the value of its trademark.
During the quarter, the maker of Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes saw earnings plunge to $8 million, or 3 cents a share, from $505 million, or $1.71 a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding charges, earnings were $1 a share, beating analysts' forecast of 95 cents.
Reynolds said it saw a 10.5% decrease in its shipment volume to 18.7 billion cigarettes, hurt by tobacco retailers and wholesalers cutting their orders ahead of a one-time federal tax on inventory.
Tobacco sellers slashed orders when they were forced to pay a "floor" tax of 62 cents per pack on any stocked product when the retail-sales tax went into effect April 1. Sales dropped 7% to $1.92 billion from $2.06 billion.
The company expects full-year earnings in the range of $4.15 to $4.45 a share.
Reynolds, like most cigarette companies, is trying to find new ways of selling tobacco, as cigarette demand has fallen in the wake of smoking bans, health concerns and increased social pressure. The industry is focusing more on cigars and smokeless products, such as moist snuff, chewing tobacco and snus.
, which makes Newport cigarettes, said it missed analysts' first-quarter profit expectations, while
posted diminished first-quarter profit due to the increased tax.
Copyright 2009 TheStreet.com Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ryan Gibson
Charlottesville company named one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing companies
Charlottesville, Virginia, Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
The Rimm-Kaufman Group, a Charlottesville-based search marketing agency, has been named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the Top 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. This prestigious list, which has been published annually since 1982, is a leading index of the manufacturers, service providers, and entrepreneurs that fuel our nation’s economy. RKG appears on the list at #315, and is ranked 24th in the Advertising & Marketing segment.
"We're beaming that RKG made the Inc500, though I am still a little surprised," said Alan Rimm-Kaufman, RKG founder and president. "We've bootstrapped the company, placing our emphasis on creating a great place to work and on providing great value to our clients. Rapid growth wasn't our objective. Online advertising has boomed, and we've grown along with the channel. I am tremendously proud of what our team has accomplished."
Inc. Magazine based its rankings on percentage revenue growth over the 2004-2007 time periods. The list is comprised exclusively of privately held, independent companies headquartered in the U.S. Pay-per-click search marketing — sponsored links on Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other engines — has grown into a $10 billion a year industry. Many large advertisers rely on specialized search marketing agencies like RKG to manage their search campaigns. Over the past three years RKG has grown nearly 900% and currently manages search advertising programs for more than 100 clients, from internet start-ups to online retail titans.
“To me, the greatest joy has been in the manner of growth, not the amount of growth,” said George Michie, RKG co-founder and current Principal of Search Marketing. “We’ve grown on revenues; not VC funding, not loans, not acquisitions, but rather from providing great service to a growing pool of clients. Moreover, we’re doing it in a way that generates quality jobs and career options in my home town without grinding our employees into the ground. People work hard here, but its 40 hours a week, not 60. That’s important to us.”
"We're looking ahead to continued steady growth," Rimm-Kaufman added. "We're actively hiring, especially software developers." # # # About The Rimm-Kaufman Group (RKG) Based in Charlottesville, Virginia RKG was founded in 2003 by Alan Rimm-Kaufman and George Michie. RKG manages nearly $100 million in online search advertising and employs more than 40 people. For more on The Rimm-Kaufman Group please see www.rimmkaufman.com For more on the Inc. 500 please see www.inc.com


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The Indian economy will be integrated into a single market once the goods and services tax, aimed at dismantling inter-state barriers to trade, becomes a reality. One effect of this shift will be the creation of national supply chains to replace the fragmented production structure currently in place thanks to complicated state taxes.
National supply chains can work only if there is a good logistics network to seamlessly move stuff around. Such networks require hubs—or centres where goods are redirected to other parts of the country. It is worth speculating which cities are best placed to emerge as hubs in the coming years. The cities of central India such as Nagpur, Indore and Hyderabad have a natural advantage here.
India’s economic geography is such that its coastal regions have benefited more from globalization than the interiors. That is why it needs better infrastructure to link landlocked states to growing consumer markets. The new logistics hubs could act as catalysts for this important transition.
Source : Economic geography
Courtesy : Mint – Opinions


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Jun 30, 2020
India bans Tik Tok and 58 other Chinese Apps, no more unlimited data as data caps return today, and Reddit bans 2000 subreddits including r/The_Donald.
Jun 29, 2020
It turns out dozens of apps are still snooping around your clipboard data, Mark Zuckerberg is a little bit poorer now, and Amazon warehouse workers in Germany are planning to strike today.
Jun 26, 2020
Amazon buys the naming rights to Seattle’s KeyArena and changes the name to Climate Pledge Arena, Olympus quits the camera business after 84 years, and Collision from Home wraps up.
Jun 25, 2020
Collision From Home continues, the U.S. says it will suspend foreign work visas until the end of the year, and Facebook boycotts continue.
Jun 24, 2020
Collision from home 2020, Andrew Yang says big tech should pay for user data, and Ontario’s new math curriculum will feature coding and more.


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MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT » ECOMMERCE
EcommerceJun 03, 2015 11:14 AM By Tim Parry
Platform enhancements help brands and retailers optimize engagement experiences for mobile devices, generate more reviews and produce better insights.
EcommerceMay 29, 2015 3:52 PM By Mike O'Brien
Not to be outdone by Walmart, Amazon announced it will make 1 million items available for free same-day shipping to Prime members in 14 metro markets.
EcommerceMay 29, 2015 1:47 PM By Daniela Forte
This week I found out that former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has an ecommerce site, which debuted on her official website, HillaryClinton.com. And what can you buy on it?
EcommerceMay 29, 2015 1:33 PM By Tim Parry
Say good-bye to Google Wallet, and hello to Android Pay. Here’s a look at how Google plans to capture mobile wallet users both in the store and in the online world with its “Buy with Android Pay” button.
EcommerceMay 28, 2015 11:18 AM By Daniela Forte
Footwear retailer Skechers was looking for a way to offer a high-quality customer experience through its various channels by answering customer questions with a social tool on its website. See how Skechers improved the customer experience.
EcommerceMay 28, 2015 11:10 AM By Daniela Forte
Customers love to know what other customers think of a product when it comes to making a purchase. See why ratings and reviews are an integral part of the online experience.
EcommerceMay 28, 2015 7:52 AM By MCM Staff
kate spade new york and True Fit announced a partnership to provide personalized fit and size recommendations for kate spade new york branded apparel and footwear on katespade.com.
EcommerceMay 27, 2015 2:57 PM By Daniela Forte
The shopping cart closes the deal, this is why it is important that the user experience is an easy one. See shy it is an integral part of the shopping experience for your customers.
EcommerceMay 26, 2015 5:12 PM By Daniela Forte
Nasty Gal saw explosive growth in a short period of time allowing it to attract millions of new customers due to its brand, loyal social following and online engagement. See what type of results Nasty Gal saw.
EcommerceMay 26, 2015 2:16 PM By Daniela Forte
Ratings and reviews not only provide credibility for your business but make the purchase decision an easier one for your customer. See how you can properly leverage your ratings and reviews.
by David Fish
Posted 3 days ago
by Curt Barry
Posted 4 days ago


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By Moses Ebosele –
Interswitch Group has honoured First Bank of Nigeria Limited as the first financial institution in the country to achieve sustained transaction volumes of 100 million transactions.
The development was first recorded in December 2015 and again in May 2016, indicating that “This re-enactment consolidates FirstBank’s position as an industry leader in electronic transactions”.
The record transaction volumes represent the total transactions processed by FirstBank’s Front End Processor running on the Interswitch transaction switching platform “which seamlessly links all financial institutions in Nigeria to facilitate better and quicker transactions across all platforms”.
A statement issued by First Bank said: “As Nigeria’s leading financial institution with over 12 million customers’ accounts, this achievement by FirstBank clearly aligns with its strategic intent to promote financial inclusion, support the cashless policy drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria and boost economic growth via e-payments across Nigeria and the African continent”.
According to the Bank’s Group Head, e-business, Chuma Ezirim, FirstBank remains committed to lead the drive to move the Nigerian economy away from traditional cash and other generic payment means to modern technological varieties in e-Payment”.
Reacting to the development, Divisional CEO, Switching and Processing, Interswitch, Akeem Lawal said: “It really says something about the strength and development of electronic transactions in Nigeria that a single banking partner can record 100 million transactions in a single month. When you add this figure to that of our other partners, then you can begin to have an idea of the sheer size and demand for electronic financial services in Nigeria.”
The MD/CEO of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, noted that the bank will continue to employ novel approaches in providing secure and convenient banking services to its customers and promised to drive innovation and extend its leadership of the financial sector services with specialized and technology-driven products and services.
He said: “FirstBank’s investment in e-business reflects our commitment to promoting financial inclusion which is widely regarded as a lever for sustainable economic growth and development as well as enhancing entrepreneurship. Our passion to serve and extend financial services to the unbanked has since inspired several innovations and we thank our esteemed customers for their continued patronage and trust in our services whilst dedicating the recognition to them”.
*Contact Editor through firstname.lastname@example.org
L- R: Mr. Charles Ifedi, Divisional CEO, Consumer Segments, Interswitch Limited; Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, GMD/CEO, Interswitch Limited; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries; Mrs. Folashade Femi-Lawal, Head, Digital Banking, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; and Mr. Seyi Oyefeso; Group Executive, Commercial Banking, First Bank of Nigeria Limited at the official recognition of FirstBank’s 100 million monthly transactions milestone at FirstBank Headquarters in Lagos.


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Google’s latest move will take a few years to fully roll out, but there’s an essential lesson for all of us—online business identity is important.
Google, the world’s largest search engine, has just announced that all advertisers must prove their legal identity if they want to run ads on Google. What’s more, this identity information will be displayed publicly to Google users so they can see who is running ads and where they’re located.
In a blog announcement last week, Google said they are making it obligatory for advertisers to verify their business/personal identity and outlined what the process will look like. This is not the first time Google has made a move to require identity verification. In 2018, Google made identity verification compulsory for political advertisers. Now, their policy has been extended to all advertisers.
What does this mean for Google advertisers and the internet as a whole?
Let’s hash it out.
How This Will Help Detect Online Scams
This move by Google hardly comes as a surprise as we’ve seen many phishing scams being run on Google ads to dupe users. In these scams, fraudsters set up fake websites that look genuine, but ultimately they’re used to sell fake products and/or steal sensitive information from users. With the new policy in place, all advertisers – whether individuals or companies – won’t be able to run ads without submitting legal identity documents and getting approval from Google.
On the user’s side, they will be able to check the identity and location of the advertiser behind a particular ad. Here’s how it will look to users:
(Look familiar? Yes, it looks very similar to Google Chrome’s EV SSL display…more on that in a bit!)
Why Is Google Doing This?
Apart from the obvious advantage of security against phishing scams, there are many reasons why Google may be prioritizing business identity verification. The simple truth is that online anonymity isn’t always a good thing—research has shown over and over that people and organizations are more likely to engage in bad behavior if they have some level of anonymity. Here are a few of the possible reasons why Google has introduced business identity verification:
- To Lock Down Policy Violators: One of the most probable reasons why Google made this move is to make it harder for banned advertisers to keep opening new accounts after violating their policies. Right now, if your account gets suspended, all you have to do is to create a new account. But with identity verification in place, you’ll have to be authenticated by Google. And you know what that means—Google will be able to immediately identify if you have previous policy violations.
- More Data & Insights (for Google): If your organization completes identity verification from Google, you’re giving your company’s information to Google. And if there’s one thing that Google loves, its data. It’ll help them more accurately identify which companies are spending on ads and that could give a lot of valuable insights to Google.
- To Help Customers Make Informed Decisions: When it comes to online shopping, customers want to verify a company’s credibility before making a purchase. Many studies have shown that having more information helps customers make better decisions. By introducing business identity verification, Google has taken a positive step in that direction.
- To Help Customers Do Business Where They Want: For example, customers may prefer to purchase services directly from a company in their local area. But in many cases, they’re not aware of the company’s actual location and they might end up buying via a company in a different location that just has local sub-contractors. This verification will empower customers by giving them the company’s location information.
How Will the Process Work for Companies and Individuals?
As we just saw, all advertisers – whether individuals or agencies/companies – will have to undergo this vetting process. To scale this endeavor, Google has decided to do this process in phases. In the initial stage, Google will select certain advertisers in the United States and notify them about this verification process through email and an in-account notification. Eventually, this process will be required for all advertisers.
The verification process is divided into two steps. The first step is completing the form included in the verification email to submit requested information and documentation. The second step will be in-account identity check, wherein you’ll be asked to provide all required information and documentation, including ID for the authorized representative.
The verification process will differ for individuals, organizations, and agencies. Here’s how:
- Organizations: Identity verification must be completed by an authorized representative. Organizations will be required to submit legal documents such as a W9 or an IRS document showing the organization name, organization address, and EIN.
- Individuals: If you’re managing an individual account (you can check your Google Ads account to see your account type), you’ll be required to submit a US Government-issued photo ID as part of the verification program. Acceptable documents include a passport, national/state ID card, driver’s license, or residence permit.
- Agencies Managing Multiple Accounts: If you’re an agency/representative that manages multiple ad accounts, then you must complete verification for each account. Google will verify the legal name of each advertiser independently. Note that the advertiser name must be the legal name of the organization that’s running the ads, not your agency name.
All advertisers will have a 30-day window to submit their documents for verification. Once submitted, Google will review your application and send you an email notification within 3-5 days. If you fail to submit within 30 days, then you will no longer be able to run ads on Google. Not only –if you’re not able to meet Google’s identity requirements even after submitting within 30 days, you won’t be able to run ads.
Worried? Don’t Be!
If all of this sounds too complicated and too much work to you, then you don’t need to worry about it (yet). That’s because the process will take “a few years” to complete, according to Google. Right now, this process will be run only in the US, and only for some advertisers. So you can consider this to be in the pilot phase. Right now, nothing will change unless Google asks you to complete the verification process.
Important Lesson: Business Identity Verification Is Important
Do you notice the similarity between these two images?
Yes, you’re absolutely right. Both of these images show the company name and location as a popup next to the website URL. The image on the left clearly tells us that Google takes business identity quite seriously, because it’s beneficial to customers from many angles.
EV SSL = Verified Business Identity Everywhere
If you’re a business owner, this has an important message for you: business identity verification is valuable. The good news is, you’ve got another tool at your fingertips that can display your website’s verified business identity whether you’re advertising on Google or not. Of course, I’m talking about an EV SSL certificate – as shown in the image above on the right. EV SSL certificates enable all major browsers (including Google Chrome) to display your verified business identity to users.
A Final Word on Business Identity
Making business identity verification mandatory is – without a shadow of a doubt – a significant step towards a secure web. Although it’ll take time for it to become a standard practice across the globe, this move from Google teaches a critical lesson: it shows that customers want and need verified information about the real-world organizations behind websites. This change, once again, emphasizes the importance of business identity solutions such as extended validation (EV) SSL certificates. Remember, it’s your job to give every reason to your customers to trust you!


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National Institute of Animal Agriculture announces “Future of Global Protein” webinars
The National Institute of Animal Agriculture is launching a new webinar series centering around the Future of Global Protein.
The webinar series begins Thursday, April 9 and will run every Thursday until May 28 (except for April 30 and May 7). Each webinar begins at 2 p.m. CT.
The goal is to help participants understand where animal protein is heading including how global population shifts affect protein requirements and what changes are occurring in protein production and will leave with the tools to more effectively engage.
Here is the speaker lineup:
• Jack Britt, Jack Britt Consulting presenting:
How can we ensure a leading role for USA animal protein in the world of the future?
• Michael Uetz, Midan Marketing presenting:
Keeping it real for tomorrow’s consumers: How can the U.S. animal agriculture industry support retailers, restaurants and e-commerce companies to keep meat on the consumers’ plate?
• Kerryann Kocher, Rock Road Consulting presenting:
How to bring “Sexy” back to animal ag innovation; adoption matters
• Sasha Gennet, The Nature Conservancy
• Raja Ramachandran, RIPE.IO
• Don Close, Rabo AgriFinance
For more, click here.


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This post is adapted from analysis written by Jon Swallen, Chief Research Officer, Kantar Media Ad Intelligence.
Access the full analysis.
Placed and Kantar once again partnered to deliver the definitive Black Friday study measuring the impact of television advertising on driving customers into stores. The findings highlight the importance of pre-Thanksgiving advertising spend on generating foot traffic during this critical weekend.
As in any contest, some competitors do better than others. The results of this year’s study are no exception as mega-retailer Walmart used their massive scale to both outspend and outdraw its rivals. Spending north of $70 million, Walmart not only drew a 38% share of in-store shoppers but did so at the lowest cost per share of any retailer in the study.
By contrast, Target spent nearly as much as Walmart but drew nearly 2/3 less visitors over the 4 day period (a 13% share). It wasn’t all bad news for Target, however, as store traffic was up nearly 22% vs. the week prior.
Download the full report here.


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Workday Q1 Results Beat Street View
(RTTNews) - Cloud application provider Workday Inc. (WDAY), on Wednesday posted first-quarter net loss of $46.5 million or $0.19 per share, lower than net loss of $158.4 million or $0.68 per share in the year-ago quarter. Excluding certain items, the company reported a profit of $226.4 million or $0.87 per share, compared to $108.7 million or $0.44 per share in the same period last year. On average, 26 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.73 per share in the quarter. Analysts' estimates, usually exclude, one-time items. Total revenues climbed 15.4 percent to $1.18 billion in the first quarter from 1.02 billion in the prior-year period. On average, 23 analysts expected the company to post revenues of $1.16 billion in the quarter.
Looking ahead, the company raised its fiscal 2022 guidance for subscription revenue to between $4.43 billion and $4.44 billion, a 17 percent growth. The company also expects a 18 percent growth in subscription revenue to between $1.095 billion to $1.097 billion in the second quarter.


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Warner Bros.’ ‘Gotham Knights’ video game blasts open doors for diversity in voice acting
A new video game based on the DC Comics Batman series will put voice actors behind the fictional heroes, but they won’t be playing villains.
“There is definitely a place for voice acting in the world of games, and Gotham Knights is a game that puts voice actors in an interesting position,” developer Insomniac Games creative director Ryan Payton told The Huffington Post.
“We’re not trying to put the voices of villains in the game; we’re just trying to put in the voices of characters that we’re all familiar with.”
Payton says voice actors will be able to play characters in the game, but just because they have a particular role it doesn’t mean they will necessarily have to look like the character.
“We’re going to have a small group of voice actors from the team that are doing the game on hand in case we want to use their voices, but in the main it’s pretty much straight from the source material,” Payton said. “Voice actors are able to be a very creative type. Some of them have very distinct voices. It’s just a matter of taking their voices and trying to find the emotion and intent with which they’re putting it in.”
In the game, voice actors will be able to take the traditional roles of Batman, Robin, Commissioner Gordon or Catwoman.
The game, which will launch later this year for the PS3 and Xbox 360, is based on the popular television series Gotham and the recent film Batman: The Dark Knight, and is being developed by Insomniac Games.
“We wanted to expand the world of Batman beyond the camp of the TV series and into a bigger, more epic universe, so Gotham Knights is a game about the rise and fall of Bruce Wayne,” Payton said.
“What we didn’t want to do is make another Batman game. You’d run into the same problems. You already have the DC movies, then you have all these different games based on that. We want to give you an opportunity to have a game that isn’t necessarily based on one of DC’s most popular characters.”


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E-cigarette use could lower the number of cigarettes smoked, but smoking only one to four cigarettes daily significantly increases the risk of heart problems compared to not smoking. The extent to which reducing cigarette smoking with vaping results in quitting is unknown. Randomized managed trials have not shown that vaping is efficient for quitting smoking. A 2016 meta-evaluation based on 20 totally different studies discovered that people who smoke who used e-cigarettes were 28% much less prone to stop than those who had not tried e-cigarettes.
Around half of e-cigarette company websites have a minimal age discover that prohibited underage people from coming into. The revised EU Tobacco Products Directive came into impact in May 2016, offering stricter regulations for e-cigarettes. It limits e-cigarette advertising in print, on tv and radio, along with decreasing the extent of nicotine in liquids and lowering the flavors used. It requires the purchaser for e-cigarettes to be a minimum of 18 and does not allow shopping for them for anyone less than 18 years of age.
Why Choose Vaporfi Digital Cigarettes?
E-cigarette ads are additionally in magazines, newspapers, online, and in retail shops. Between 2010 and 2014, e-cigarettes have been second solely to cigarettes as the top marketed product in magazines. As cigarette corporations have acquired the biggest e-cigarette brands, they at present profit from a dual market of smokers and e-cigarette users whereas concurrently presenting themselves as agents of hurt discount. This raises issues concerning the appropriateness of endorsing a product that directly earnings the tobacco business. There is not any evidence that the cigarette manufacturers are promoting e-cigarettes as a part of a plan to part out conventional cigarettes, regardless of some stating to wish to cooperate in “hurt discount”. E-cigarette advertising for utilizing e-cigarettes as a quitting device have been seen in the US, UK, and China, which have not been supported by regulatory bodies.
In 2019, a vaping industry organization launched a report stating that a possible US ban on e-cigarettes flavors can doubtlessly effect larger than a hundred and fifty,000 jobs around the US. While promoting of tobacco merchandise is banned in most international locations, tv and radio e-cigarette promoting in a number of countries could also be indirectly encouraging traditional cigarette use.
The updated Tobacco Products Directive has been disputed by tobacco lobbyists whose companies might be impacted by these revisions. As of eight August 2016, the US FDA extended its regulatory energy to incorporate e-cigarettes, e-liquid and all associated merchandise. Under this ruling the FDA will evaluate sure issues, together with ingredients, product features and health risks, as well their appeal to minors and non-customers. A picture ID is now required to purchase e-cigarettes, and their sale in all-ages merchandising machines isn’t permitted within the US. E-cigarette and tobacco firms have recruited lobbyists in an effort to stop the US FDA from evaluating e-cigarette merchandise or banning current products already in the marketplace. Studies pertaining to their potential impression on smoking discount are very restricted.
“We saw the market’s sudden recognition that the cigarette industry appears to be in deep trouble, disrupted by the rise of vaping,” Mad Money’s Jim Cramer stated April 2018. “Over the course of three short days, the tobacco shares had been bent, they had been spindled and so they had been mutilated by the realization that digital cigarettes have turn into a serious threat to the old-faculty cigarette makers,” he added.
- Some have advocated bans on e-cigarette sales and others have suggested that e-cigarettes Vape may be regulated as tobacco merchandise but with much less nicotine content or be regulated as a medicinal product.
- A 2016 World Health Organization report found that the scientific proof for the effectiveness of vaping for quitting smoking is “scant and of low certainty”.
- Some healthcare teams and policy makers have hesitated to recommend e-cigarettes for quitting smoking, due to restricted proof of effectiveness and security.
In the US, six massive e-cigarette companies spent $59.three million on promoting e-cigarettes in 2013. In the US and Canada, over $2 million is spent yearly on selling e-cigarettes online. E-cigarette websites usually made unscientific health statements in 2012. The ease to get past the age verification system at e-cigarette firm websites allows underage individuals to access and be exposed to marketing.


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World Bank forecasts Vietnam's GDP to grow 4.8% this year
Vietnam's GDP is forecast to reach around 4.8% in 2021 and recover to a growth rate of 6.5-7% from 2022 onwards.
The report published by the World Bank on September 28 maintains the forecast one month ago for Vietnam's GDP growth in 2021. This calculation is based on the assumption that Vietnam would control the Covid-19 by the end of the third quarter for the economy to bounce back in the fourth quarter; the global economy maintains its recovery momentum, ensuring strong demand for Vietnamese exports in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China.
World Bank's forecast is more optimistic than ADB's when it is 1 percentage point higher. Currently, several domestic organizations also see that the Vietnamese economy has completely achieved the full-year growth target of 3.5-4% despite many difficulties, even if the third quarter GDP may be negative due to the negative impact of Covid-19.
In addition, the World Bank believes that the recovery process will also be supported by a large-scale vaccination campaign that will get 70% of the adult population vaccinated by mid-2022, helping to prevent new severe outbreaks. However, the organization noted, forecasts are dependent on risks including prolonged outbreaks, disruptions to economic activities.
The World Bank commented that, for the rest of 2021, monetary policy is expected to continue to loosen and allow businesses to extend the repayment period. Fiscal policy will be more supportive by accelerating the implementation of public investment projects, especially after the lifting of travel restrictions.
On the other hand, given the fiscal space available, the Government should continue to use resources to mitigate adverse social impacts and hedge against negative growth risks, especially if such risks increase. In the coming time, Vietnam needs to pursue green growth and digitalization to improve the resilience and sustainability of the economy.
In addition, Vietnam needs to increase the level of support and improve the implementation of monetary assistance programs to reach more households, informal sector workers, and those affected but not listed in the current social assistance databases. The second support package for households has now added affected groups of workers and the amount of support for individuals is also higher, but the frequency of monetary support is now limited to one-time support instead of multi-month support like April 2020.
- WB: Vietnam's 2022 GDP is estimated at 7.5% thanks to strong service recovery
- Exports of Vietnam’s goods to the EU reached USD 83 billion
- Export of timber and wood products reached nearly USD 10 billion over 7 months
- Vietnam's export turnover has exceeded USD 200 billion
- Import-export activities between Vietnam and Australia continue to maintain strong growth momentum
- Positive signs for exports to China
- The EVFTA Agreement increases the opportunity to export Vietnamese goods to the Danish market
- Exporting to CPTPP market earns USD 19.5 billion
- Export turnover of Vietnam’s goods to Japan increased by nearly 13%
- HSBC raises Vietnam growth forecast


text: On October 22, 2013 Apple released a new operating system for the Mac. It is called OS X Mavericks and it is a free operating system. The new operating system now includes Maps and iBooks. These are the two most obvious changes and I noticed them right away when I updated my iMac. It seems like Apple is trying to make one operating system for their tablets, phones and computers. This is similar to what Microsoft did when they released Windows 8. The new operating system also includes finder tags and finder tabs, which makes organizing your data a lot easier. It also includes a new version of Safari and more interactive notifications. Everything seems very snappy and is still familiar. I like the new update so far and can’t wait to see what Apple has planned for the future. In order to update your Mac just open the App Store and click download where it says OS X Mavericks.


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Lettuce prices rose sharply in the last 10 days of October as Salinas, Calif., grower-shippers battled weather-related shortages of iceberg and romaine with their transitions to desert growing regions still a few weeks away.
BELLE GLADE, Fla. — TKM Bengard Farms LLC, one of the East Coast’s biggest fresh-cut lettuce suppliers, is increasing its presence in the fresh market.
Will the Salinas Valley vegetable deal go out with a bang or a whimper?
ANAHEIM, Calif. — As the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit drew to a close, Coastline Family Farms representatives had already hit the road for Atlanta and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. It ran Oct. 19-22.
State Garden Co. Inc., is expanding its salads line.More Packer Stories for Romaine
Market Scope - Lettuce, romaine — F.o.b.s as of Oct. 27
ALL CALIFORNIA DISTRICTS — Shipments (365-357-362) —
SALINAS-WATSONVILLE, CALIF. — Movement expected to decrease seasonally below the 320 units shipped the week of Oct. 20. Trading early moderate, late active. Available supplies fairly light. Prices higher. Cartons 24s mostly $18.35-20.56; hearts in 12 3-count packages mostly $18.61-19.95, film-lined 48s mostly $19.61-20.95. Quality variable. Many present shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments at lower prices.
SANTA MARIA, CALIF. — Movement expected about the same as the 31 units shipped the week of Oct. 20. Trading early fairly active, late active. Prices higher. Cartons 24s mostly $17.50-19.35. Quality variable.
OXNARD DISTRICT, CALIF. — Movement expected about the same as the 6 units shipped the week of Oct. 20. Trading early fairly active, late active. Prices higher. Cartons 24s mostly $17.75-18.95. Quality variable.
CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIF. — Movement expected to increase seasonally above the 5 units shipped the week of Oct. 20. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first f.o.b. report was expected to be issued the week of Nov. 3. Supplies will be in few hands.
WESTERN ARIZONA — Harvest began by one shipper Oct. 27. Additional shippers are expected to begin the week of Nov. 3, with most shippers expected to be underway by the week of Nov. 17. Quality generally good. Warm temperatures and favorable market conditions have advanced the start of the season by one to two weeks. FIRST REPORT.


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Here are some of the new and increased taxes on business and regulations benefiting workers implemented in Seattle in the last three years.
Here are some of the new and increased taxes on business and regulations benefiting workers implemented in Seattle in the past three years:
- Seattle’s business and occupation tax rates increased 2 percent in 2017 and 1.2 percent this year after a 2016 City Council vote – the first such increase since 1992 – to raise funding for the police department.
- The fee for a business license in Seattle doubled in 2018 to $2,000 for businesses with annual taxable revenue of $5 million or more. It’s scheduled to increase next year from $480 to $500 for businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more.
- The city’s sweetened beverage tax of $.0175 per ounce took effect Jan. 1, 2018, adding costs to grocers, restaurants and others selling sweetened drinks in Seattle. The tax is designed to be passed on to consumers to discourage consumption.
- Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance took effect in April 1, 2015, increasing this year to $15.45 an hour for employers with at least 501 employees that don’t offer health insurance and $15 an hour for those that do. Smaller employers must pay $14 an hour or $11.50 an hour depending on whether employees earn tips and/or receive at least $2.50 an hour to pay for health insurance. Wage minimums increase Jan. 1 to $15 for smaller employers and $16 for large ones, doing away with the second pay tier for employers that offer insurance.
- Seattle’s secure scheduling ordinance took effect July 1, 2017, requiring retailers and restaurant chains with at least 500 employees and 40 full-service locations worldwide to provide a good-faith estimate of work hours for the year ahead; schedules posted 14 days in advance; a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts; and other requirements.


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Everything has already been said about Uber. Or has it? Both fascinating and repulsive, closely watched by the media and politicians, the Californian unicorn’s growth model hasn’t been spared any sort of criticism.
And yet, valued at $68 billion, the firm mesmerizes VCs as never seen before and inspires every week countless articles, op-eds, infographics and columns – not including numerous bills… It’s because, just like the whole digital revolution, Uber questions every habit, system, model and belief.
In order to go beyond these debates, FABERNOVEL offers an analysis devoid of any political or ideological consideration, a study to understand Uber’s growth model – that we see as viral – and to delve as much as possible into its success factors.
If you’re interested in our work and you wish to organize a presentation for your team, just send us a message.
Uber, 3 counterintuitive revolutions
1. While the digital economy had so far focused on the online world as the ultimate market for growth, Uber has tackled a tangible market, the transportation sector, with cars and drivers involved. And the company managed to reach a $50 billion valuation in just 5 years, when Facebook had needed 7.
2. Uber distributes unique services, providing a remarkable and identical user experience everywhere in the world (more than 470 cities) but it also adapts to local ecosystems. In India for instance, users can pay with cash. 50% standardization, 50% adaptation.
3. Contrary to what is often said, Uber’s market is not limited to private passenger transportation. Uber also deals with last-mile logistics, occupies transport time (Spotify partnership) and will turn into a powerful marketing tool for brands (through subsidized rides bringing consumers to shops).
Uber, 5 steps for an exponential growth model
At a rate of a new launch every 5 days since 2010, Uber has been through an extremely fast growth trajectory. A viral one. In 5 steps:
SYNTHESIZE IT: Uber solved the incompatibility triangle that defines the taxi market: no solution had been able to offer a reliable service, a low price and an excellent user experience at the same time. This solution leverages a platform matching drivers and passengers in real time. With no need for a middle management layer nor a sizable operational support – if Uber had the same phone operators to drivers ratio as a taxi company, that would take 5 times their current global staff.
SEED GERMS: Uber looks for the best environments to incubate its service. In every city, after hiring a tightly knit team able to launch in less than 2 months (with a record in less than 5 days), the firm doesn’t spare any expense, so as to build in a record time both supply (up to $500 offered to drivers coming from competing ride-sharing platforms) and demand.
BECOME CONTAGIOUS: once Uber has reached a critical mass in a given market, network effects start to kick in for both supply and demand – and Uber also makes use of financial incentives (referrals) to accelerate its virality. That explains why 95% of its riders heard about Uber from other riders.
MUTATE FAST: Uber has never stopped pivoting. This is obvious when considering the evolution of its mission statement, from “Everyone’s private driver” in 2010 to “Moving bits and atoms” today. First a black car service (UberCab), then tapping into privately-owned idle cars (UberX), collective transportation (UberPOOL) and even logistics (UberEATS) since… Uber has morphed into a transport infrastructure, a real alternative to car ownership for individuals. Amounting to 3 million rides every day.
DEFEND: even if Uber strives to convince public opinions and administrations of its positive impact, both on its riders and its drivers (called “partners”), a bunch of initiatives could challenge its model: head-on competition from its direct rivals, exemplified by the alliance between Lyft in the USA and DiDi and its 11m daily rides in China; differentiation through other transportation models, such as ride-sharing services (e.g. BlaBlaCar) or carmakers’ connected vehicles; finally, more integrated partnerships, in the way Lyft and GM are contemplating a network of autonomous GM cars managed by Lyft.
5 rules to act like a virus
- Forget about CAPEX. Networks are the new asset.
- Forget about first mover advantage. It’s all about first settler.
- Forget about marketing. Users are the new media.
- Forget about cash cows. Perpetual innovation is the only path to success.
- Forget about direct competition. Differentiate or partner up to remain in the race.
The virality of Uber is undeniably critical to its success, in conjunction with a strong execution. Large incumbents are left with two choices: becoming viruses themselves, or developing their own antiviral drugs. Never forgetting that, beyond matters of competitive strategy, the best user experience will make the difference.
That being said, if the network structure combined with a viral growth model is so powerful, it’s not impossible that a newcomer – a strain even more resistant as well as a champion of the network economy – could overtake Uber. What if the real threat for Uber was Google or Baidu and their networks of autonomous cars?


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PepsiCo to give out more than 10 million cans of Sierra Mist Natural at Walmart this weekendBy AP
Thursday, October 7, 2010
PepsiCo, Walmart to give out Sierra Mist Natural
NEW YORK — PepsiCo Inc. is giving away at least 10 million free cans of Sierra Mist Natural this weekend at Wal-Mart stores to introduce its new version of the lemon-lime soda, which now includes sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
The company announced last month it was remaking the drink by also removing preservatives. It added “Natural” to the name to cater to shoppers’ desire to avoid artificial ingredients and launched a major marketing campaign, spending what it normally spends in a year to market the billion-dollar brand in the last quarter.
On Saturday, the company will give out the millions of cans at 2,800 Walmart supercenters, spending at least $3 million on the giveaway alone.
PepsiCo also removed high fructose corn syrup from Gatorade this year.
People are concerned that high fructose corn syrup is more harmful or more likely to cause obesity than sugar, perceptions for which there is little scientific evidence.
The shift has caused a slump in soft drink sales and a rise in sales of juices and teas, which are perceived as healthier than soda. The nation’s makers of high fructose corn syrup are even asking the government if they can start referring to the sweetener as “corn sugar” to change perceptions.
Now PepsiCo is going after people who are no longer drinking soft drinks or people who switched to competitors, said Kristina Mangelsdorf, vice president of natural and flavored sodas at PepsiCo, which is based in Purchase, N.Y.
“They’re saying I want a soda that has nothing artificial,” she said.
The diet version of the drink will still have artificial sweeteners.
The emphasis of nature in the new marketing is strong. A new television ad has talking boulders who dream of having mouths so they can drink Sierra Mist Natural. The new tagline? “The soda nature would drink, if nature drank soda.” PepsiCo also lightened up the labels on the drinks, changing them from blue to white and making pictures of lemon and lime more prominent.
Mangelsdorf said the company was able to bring the new drink to market in just six months, about half the time it would typically take to develop a new product because PepsiCo now owns its bottlers. The company bought its two largest North American bottlers this year so it could be quicker to market with new products and control distribution.
Tags: New York, North America, Products And Services, United States


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Shares of Keysight Technologies experienced a decline after the company released a less-than-optimistic outlook for the current quarter. The stock dropped 7.4% in after-hours trading, compounding a 16% decrease over the past 12 months.
During a recent conference call with analysts, Chief Executive Satish Dhanasekaran pointed out that Keysight Technologies is facing challenges in its Electronic Industrial Solutions Group and the Asian region. The semiconductor and manufacturing sectors in these areas are particularly affected.
Dhanasekaran explained that demand for wafer-test solutions has slowed down in the quarter. However, there is still high demand for silicon photonics tests and proprietary interferometer systems due to a customer focus on artificial intelligence. He anticipates that these trends will persist in the upcoming quarters.
Despite reporting flat sales for the fiscal third quarter ending July 31, Keysight Technologies managed to exceed analysts' expectations for adjusted earnings. However, overall profit declined.
Looking ahead to the fiscal fourth quarter, Keysight Technologies is aiming for adjusted earnings between $1.83 and $1.89 per share, with expected revenue ranging from $1.29 billion to $1.31 billion.
Five9, a cloud services provider for contact centers, reports impressive Q3 results with increased revenue and adjusted profit. CEO emphasizes AI and automation...
GM is set to report Q3 earnings amidst an escalating auto workers strike, with market attention focused on guidance and labor turmoil's influence.


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EJ Manuel is one of the promising young quarterbacks in the NFL, and now Panini has locked up the star to an exclusive autograph and memorabilia agreement.
The next Goldin Auctions sale doesn’t end until Feb. 7, but news is already making headlines as the company offers the best Jackie Robinson bat to date as part of the Walter Blount Collection.
Memory Lane closes out 2013 with an impressive lineup of high-grade cards, complete sets, signed beauties and even a 1956 Topps uncut sheet. Ring in the New Year with some treasures.
Heritage Auctions will offer the second part of the Sam Snead Collection. The first sale brought $1.1 million in August, with this round featuring Snead’s 1949 Masters Championship Trophy and 1951 Ryder’s Cup Captain’s Trophy.
Grey Flannel Auctions’ current sale, ending Dec. 11, offers another amazing selection of game-used material, from Michael Jordan’s shoes form the “flu” game in the 1997 Finals to game-used jerseys from every sport and seemingly every star.
The Toronto Expo keep s bringing in fans north of the border, thanks to an ever-growing list of impressive signers. But the behind-the-scenes cooperation between the NHL, manufacturers and dealers has led to greater sales in the hobby as well.
Topps has featured Mark McGwire on its baseball cards before. However, a recent deal has led to the first McGwire-signed cards in Topps history.
A T206 Walter Johnson (Portrait), graded PSA 9 netted $77,625 to lead the finest I Own It Now sale conducted by Memory Lane to date. Other highlights included a A206 Ty Cobb ($20,700) and 1954 Topps Al Kaline rookie ($15,812).
The Harlan Werner Muhammad Ali Collection, along with the official Baltimore Orioles lineup card from Game No. 1 of Cal Ripken Jr’s historic 2,632 consecutive playing streak are amongst selections being offered in Julien’s Auctions one-day sale to be held Dec. 6 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Additional highlights for the sports fan include Don Newcombe’s game-worn 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers home flannel jersey and game-worn and personally owned memorabilia from Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzky, Pele and Usain Bolt.
Collect Auctions’ December sale is led by a 1975 Topps Baseball cello case and signatures from baseball’s elite. Bidding is live now and ends Dec. 5


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Yes Financial products organized pay day that is costly for several consumers just as opposition to your gifts these people were initially requesting about and misled other individuals into thought it was loans company rather than a credit specialist, any office of fair-trading (OFT) realized.
The corporation emphasised they to keep spending through any is attractive method so it experiencedn’t strength out and explained the license allowed.
Buyer groups received the OFTs option, with Sarah Brooks, manager of monetary alternatives at buyer emphasis, exclaiming it resulted in long late .
She alleged: we have to not just withstand corporations exactly who make use of deceptive goods revenue systems to leech more money from cash-strapped clients.
The OFT have been examining sure financial loans during a period of time duration of years together with the businesses formerly switched some its tips because of this, like no a lot longer prices which can be requesting.
However the watchdog reported that the ideas of longer involvement in deceitful and company this is oppressive, in addition to the continued appeal with the number of associated with the workers to blame for run the providers, ways these are usually unfit to position a loan permit upwards.
Certainly money, one of many primary agencies regarding the form for the UK, made use of pressure this is certainly lotion that ishigh goods revenue ways to convince clients to provide their own card information about the bogus principle that this model contemporary website that were there already been needed for safeguards assessments, the OFT stated.
They deducted broker spending without that makes it evident that an expense was in truth payable and incredibly frequently achieved this georgia pay day loans near me without associates permission.
Sarah shares, of Plymouth, informed the BBC she have already been charged a management costs while to discover that funding getting a vehicle, despite no best funding being discovered.
She specified she was able to safe a payment several months which have been a few but bundled that this chick was impressed to hear towards OFTs behavior.
The company are shelling out are a broker as soon as you look at the field since 2003 and describes itself as a well-known finance definitely unsecured in the UK , processing around 50,000 solutions four weeks.
The OFT offers driven that two firms that are associated Blue Sky personal Finance and money fears brief, are often unfit to position right up a credit history license. They shall has 28 hours to allure your very own choice.
The businesses released a testimony this is joint stated: just about everybody has worked well inexhaustibly to make by using immense and basic improvements towards your corporations.
Our company is unhappy that, despite identifying this, the OFT makes the choice to revoke the permits of three businesses that are long-standing which provide a financing stock-broker and also other specific monetary solutions to most more and more delighted buyers.
Our very own corporation happens to be using assistance with reference to lodging a navigate to this web-site charm immune to the decision.
No jobs may be found in possibility within your organizations nervous, regardless of upshot of each and every charm.
Now and along any appeals method, our personal licences stay legit and invite us in order to keep to swap.
A lot more than 300 associate are used within combined couple of agencies positioned in Cwmbran, west Wales.
A BBC analysis several years in the past unearthed that indeed finance was actually certainly managed with customers called Keith Chorlton and that has previously been recently prohibited from getting really an organization administrator that is ongoing.
A spokesman for affirmative financing asserted that Mr Chorlton became truly being employed as a specialist and simply started to be an administrator soon after a ban received complete.
The man stated that Mr Chorlton experienced not too long ago passed away in conjunction with perhaps not been confused in continued business inside many months prior to their own demise.
this course on procedure furthermore helps truly clear because belatedly startup this is actually changing whenever using the chance of enforcement action mainly because of the OFT will not make a business enterprise fit to put up a credit licence.
Before this a panel of MPs warned that the different parts of the credit business was nontransparent and improperly regulated and called for more difficult motion week.
Buyer minister Norman meat said: Let this be looked at a worry as well as other corporations who operated the possibility of losing his or her permits as soon as they always breach proper requirements and treat subject visitors unfairly.


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Danish model Josephine Skriver has become the latest beauty to join the Victoria's Secret Angels.
The 22-year-old has been linked to the lingerie company for years and walked the runway in last year's (15) Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Josephine has just landed the cover of the new VS Swim catalogue, and now Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer of Victoria’s Secret, has announced she's one of the elite.
"Josephine Skriver is a stunning young woman and a delightful person," he said. "She is so special and we are enormously happy to welcome her to the most exclusive club in the history of modelling, The Victoria’s Secret Angels."
Thrilled by her new title, Josephine posted a shot of her screaming on Instagram on Friday (19Feb16) and added, "It's has happened!! (sic). I'm literally living my dream right now!
"Can't believe I get to share with you today that I'm #NewestAngel for @victoriassecret thanks to everyone that has helped to get me here! So humble and proud to be a part of such an amazing legacy!! THAAAAANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone who believed in me!! (sic)"
Skriver joins the likes of veteran Victoria's Secret Angels Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio as company spokesmodels.
"So overwhelmed with every happy emotion right now!" she continued. "I don't even know how to be in my own body! It still feels so insane the day is finally here!"
The Scandinavian stunner was born an IVF baby to gay parents and her boyfriend, Alexander DeLeon, is the frontman of Las Vegas rockers The Cab.


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Alvarion Ltd., and its strategic partner Beijing International Switching System Corporation Ltd., a joint venture between Siemens AG and Chinese enterprises, recently announced that the Alvarion/BISC 3.5GHz Broadband Wireless solution has been chosen by China Netcom for a multi-city deployment.
The first advanced WALKair networks are being deployed in 8 cities in the Sichuan province, as well as Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and in Ningpo, Zhejiang province.
Norbert Muhrer, President and CEO of BISC, said, "We are proud that China Netcom, a major Chinese operator and one of our most important customers, has selected the BISC/Alvarion offering. China Netcom appreciate the technology and market competitiveness of Alvarion's WALKair line of products. The BISC/Alvarion BWA solution lets them expand their business with sensitive investment steps."
Zvi Slonimsky, CEO of Alvarion, added, "We are very pleased that our solution has been chosen by another prestigious Chinese operator. Networks based on our WALKair product are being deployed in an additional 10 locations within just a few months from the awarding of spectrum licenses. Although the initial deployments are small, our selection positions us to benefit from the future potential of this important market."


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When pandemic inflation took off last year, it was seen as more likely to stick around in the US -- where stimulus was much bigger and consumer demand stronger -- than in Europe. But the energy crisis has upended that picture.
Euro-area price increases have now outpaced the US for two straight months. The gap likely widened in September, when Europe-wide inflation hit 10% while in Germany it accelerated to 10.9%. US numbers aren’t due out for another 10 days.


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VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) has adopted DisplayPort version 1.1 as the new standard for high-definition PC content. This could spell doom for those who backed the consumer standard HDMI interface that has been making its way into HD products in the consumer realm for some time. VESA says that DisplayPort 1.1 is the next generation interface that will replace the LVDS, DVI, and VGA standards.
VESA claims that it already has support for the DisplayPort standard from AMD, NVIDIA, HP, Intel, Lenovo, and Samsung. Each of these manufacturers has already pledged its support for the standard, although some of them are currently supporting HDMI as well.
Those that are not directly supporting the DisplayPort 1.1 standard claim that HDMI can already do everything that DisplayPort 1.1 can do, and more. This sounds like trouble for the consumer. But if you are thinking of buying a new LCD and want to make sure that you can play HD content in the future, you might want to ensure that you have full HDCP support. “Over which standard?” is the real question.
Many consumers could be left out in the cold because their LCD does not support the right standard moving forward; and since no DisplayPort 1.1 devices are out yet, it seems logical that consumers should continue to look for HDMI compatibility. In the meantime it will be interesting to see how this one shakes out.


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Watch this forum live on October 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City will host a forum in partnership with the Aspen Institute's Economic Opportunities Program that will explore strategies for improving the quality of lower wage workers' jobs in addition to creating opportunities for career advancement.
The forum is part of the Aspen's Institute's Working in America series on the changing nature of work.
A good job has long been the foundation for both financial stability and economic mobility. However, labor markets are changing. Of the 30 occupations expected to have the largest growth in the next decade, 23 will require a high school diploma or less. In addition to lower wages, these jobs, in industries such as home healthcare, retail sales, food preparation and service, often have irregular hours, limited benefits and limited opportunities for advancement.
Panelists will discuss the importance and advantages to both workers and employers for shifting employment and workforce strategies to focus on "building ladders and raising the floor."
- Lisa Falcone, Director, Working Bridges Project, United Way of Northwest Vermont
- Adrienne Smith, Chief Executive Officer, New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition
- Walter Smith, Vice President, Human Resources, QuikTrip
- Jon Willis, Vice President and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (moderator)


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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady Studios confirmed what we all feared: the video game based on the famous DC Comics Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewill officially delay its launch until 2023.
The delay of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rumors began several weeks ago about a possible delay in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Recently, Rocksteady Studios confirmed that the release of the video game it won’t come this yearbut will have to wait until 2023. This was announced by the director of the company, Sefton Hillvia his official Twitter account:
“We have made the difficult decision to delay Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League until Spring 2023. I know the delay is frustrating, but this time will be used to make the best game possible. I can’t wait to wreak havoc in the metropolis together.” . Thank you for your patience”.
Games Warner Bros.the official distributor of the upcoming Suicide Squad video game, has a full schedule of projects like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which will launch next month. In addition, the company will also be responsible for Gotham Knightsthe new Batman title which will be released in October of this year, and Hogwarts Legacythe long-awaited video game based on the Harry Potter saga which will be available on Christmas 2022.
For all this, the delay of the release of Suicide Squad it is not a surprise For no one. In this way, WB Games has decided to dedicate 2022 to the first of these three long-awaited titles while giving Rocksteady more time to work on its next video game, which will be available for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox.
I am Bhumi Shah, a highly skilled digital marketer with over 11 years of experience in digital marketing and content writing in the tech industry.


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Music streaming is becoming an unwieldily crowded field. While Spotify still stands as the world’s number-one streaming service, others are trying their best to topple its reign; Deezer, Google Play, Tidal, Pandora, Rhapsody, SoundCloud, and even the giant Amazon are among those currently scrambling for market share.
And let’s certainly not forget about Apple Music, which announced 10 million subscribers last month after launching last June, hitting a milestone that took Spotify six whole years to reach. Now the nascent service is threatening its nine-year-old competitor in a whole new way: expansion.
Following the launch of Apple Music in Turkey and Taiwan last week, Music Business Worldwide took a look at the availability of the service around the world as it compares to Spotify. It found Apple Music is available in 113 countries; Spotify, in just 59.
Significant, too, are some of the specific markets in which Apple Music has an exclusive hold—China, India, Japan, Russia, and a solid chunk of Africa. These are big areas, bursting with music listeners.
Of course, Apple Music’s backing by one of the wealthiest companies on the planet makes it much easier for it to expand internationally than its smaller and not-yet-public rival, but it’s nonetheless important that the service has managed to balloon so rapidly in such a short period of time.
For streaming services, growth and popularity are the two main metrics of success. So if Apple Music already has one of these locked down, Spotify better hope it isn’t able to take over the other as well.


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JuE Wong became CEO of Olaplex in January 2020, two months before the COVID-19 crisis hit the U.S. Fast-forward six months, and the brand is having its best year ever. Here, JuE shares with Beauty News the elements of Olaplex’s success, and why stewardship is more important than leadership.
Moroccanoil Co-founder, Carmen Tal, and JuE Wong, Chief Executive Officer, talked to CEW Beauty Insider about overcoming market shifts, moving to omni-channel distribution and advice for entrepreneurs.
Elizabeth Arden brand President, JuE Wong, is set to keynote a session at the upcoming Asian American Business Roundtable [AABR] in Las Vegas, sharing her insights and experiences for how high-achieving Asian women are contributing to the creation of idea-building environments, and successfully changing the business landscape.
StriVectin, a company often credited with starting the clinical cosmeceutical skin care category and one of the largest prestige skin care companies not owned by a multi-national firm, is aiming to be on every consumer’s skin care go-to list.
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Gitex is one of the world’s most dynamic and influential ICT exhibitions and the platform for international professionals to do business across the Middle East, African, Indian and South Asian markets. Vision Solutions will be …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Monday, October 11 - 2010 @ 15:19
Located at stand TA-101 in Sheikh Saeed Hall, Vision Solutions will also be demonstrating its forthcoming Virtual Recovery Appliance solution for the first time in the Middle East.
The forthcoming Double-Take Virtual Recovery Appliance is designed …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Saturday, October 01 - 2011 @ 10:15
At MEFTEC 2012, the world’s premier financial technology event for emerging markets, Vision Solutions is showcasing its universal Virtual Recovery Appliance (uVRA) solution, which includes the latest version of Double-Take Availability, which is designed to …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, April 26 - 2012 @ 13:50
Lamprell’s three primary facilities are in Port Khalid and the Hamriyah Free Zone, both of which are in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, in …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Monday, October 18 - 2010 @ 12:32
Under the terms of the agreement, Metra will distribute and provide technical support to Vision Solutions’ Double-Take products in the Middle East. The new partnership is expected to spark innovation by maximizing the product development …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, August 14 - 2013 @ 16:13
The enhancements to the suite make it easier for users to migrate, protect and recover their systems running in a range of environments – especially those where virtualisation is enabled. These enhancements also add extensive …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, October 21 - 2010 @ 13:00
Double-Take 6.0 helps companies protect profitability and reputation by providing affordable real-time asynchronous data replication, enabling immediate recovery from any system outage. Six critical attributes make Double-Take 6.0 a best-in-class solution setting new industry …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Monday, June 11 - 2012 @ 11:33
Communicating the innovative nature and easy to use products, first hand daily presentations, individual consultations and live demonstrations will be available at the stand 702 in Hall 7 of World Trade Centre.
“Gitex is the ideal …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, October 03 - 2013 @ 00:00
Solutions on display at the show will include the latest versions of the company’s Double-Take Availability, RecoverNow and Move solutions for business continuity, disaster recovery and migration of IT workloads.
Updates in the products include …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, May 26 - 2011 @ 15:02
The new solution, based on the company’s trusted Double-Take and MIMIX products, enables cloud service providers to accelerate their cloud businesses by offering their customers Recovery-as-a-Service (RaaS), while taking advantage of the simplicity of pay-per-use …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, February 19 - 2013 @ 13:05


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Ocean News & Technology
Ocean News & Technology - ON&T has been the trusted source of essential intelligence for the ocean industries for almost four decades. Executive decision makers and influencers choose ON&T for the latest industry forecasts, technology, product launches, data, and project news. ON&T’s thought-leading editorial focus includes Offshore Energy, Subsea Intervention and Survey, Maritime Communications, Subsea Cables, and Defense, and is guided by the magazine’s Editorial Board, populated by leaders in the ocean industries community. The magazine publishes 10 editions a year, with both print and digital versions available. ON&T also publishes two exclusive Buyers’ Guides a year, released in July and December.


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(Reuters) – Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) surprisingly strong quarterly results and forecast pushed the iPhone maker’s shares to a record high, putting the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI on track to breach the 22,000 mark when the market opens.
Apple’s shares were up 5.5 percent at $158.33 in premarket trading, and were set to add another $43 billion to the market capitalization of the world’s most valuable company.
The stock has gained nearly 30 percent this year and closed at $150.05 on Tuesday.
“The Appleverse is expanding with all segments growing,” UBS analyst Steven Milunovich said.
At least three brokerages raised their price targets on the stock, with Barclays making the most bullish move by raising its price target by $23 to $146.
The median price target on the stock is $165. The company’s shares closed at $150.05 on Tuesday.
“There is no reason for opportunistic investors to trek to the sidelines given the June-quarter print and Sept-quarter guide,” Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz wrote in a client note.
Apple on Tuesday reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and indicated that its upcoming 10th-anniversary phone lineup was on schedule.
The phone is expected to launch in September.
Sales of iPad made a surprise comeback in the quarter and were up 15 percent from a year earlier. The company also hit a milestone of 1.2 billion iPhones sold.
Revenue from emerging markets, excluding China, rose 18 percent and remained a bright spot.
Greater China, however, reported its sixth straight decline in revenue, hurt by customers switching to locally made phones.
While analysts agreed that increasing competition in China and a fast saturating smartphone market could lead to slowing growth in the long term, they remained optimistic about the stock’s potential.
“Apple has a sticky ecosystem and large cash balance … providing decent downside support for long-term investors,” Barclays’ Moskowitz said.
Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty


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The UK based confectionery giant is the dominant player in the Indian chocolate market and Anand Kripalu, managing director of Cadbury India, said that the company expects the energy glucose variant of its popular Perk brand to be singularly responsible for adding five per cent annually to the size of the company’s market share.
The Indian chocolate market is estimated at US$400 million and growing at 18 per cent per annum. Cadbury has over 70 per cent share in this market, and recorded a turnover of over US$37m in 2008.
Kripalu said that the reformulated Perk is the first energy glucose containing brand in that market, and is targeted at the 14-18 year old youth segment, that traditionally have a high rate of snack consumption.
"We also want chocolate consumption occasions to be regular amongst non users and thus expand the category. The added energy benefits gives consumers another reason to purchase the brand."
He explained that the glucose formulation was developed by the Cadbury India science and technology team and took three years to come to fruition.
Cadbury's Boost brand, sold in the UK and Ireland, is also a glucose based product.
According to a recent industry trend report, the next big confectionery trend will be for healthier products with growing demand for health benefits and better-for-you-ingredients.
Consumers are already choosing portion-control sized treats and there is increasing evidence of potential heart health benefits of higher cacao content in chocolate.
The National Confectioners Association's (NCA) Confectionery Industry Trend Report 2009 featured insight from 40 industry experts including top manufacturers, market researchers, award-winning chocolatiers and nutritionists, focused on chocolate trends, health benefits, flavour fusions and international influences.
The majority of the experts surveyed said confectionery product ranges featuring new flavours, flexibility and variety will help manufacturers grow consumer purchases over the next five years despite economic uncertainty.
Global influences and flavour pairings will become more important, according to the survey. Forty-three per cent of experts predicted that consumers will become more open to chocolate and flavour infusions that include spices, salts, herbs and floral flavours.
“We'll start to see ethnic flavours emerge in popularity with herbs being incorporated into chocolate dishes. Consumers can also expect to see sweet and savoury combinations like chocolate and bacon, as well as chocolate and cheese duos appear in stores and on the menus,” said the report.