text:
The New Melle Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Overstock Outlet in Lake St. Louis, celebrating the business' expansion and move to 8621 State Hwy. N in August. Despite the rain there was a good turn out and members enjoyed a nice, casual gathering as they perused the new store. Overstock Outlet is an independent, family-owned business that started in Wentzville in 2015. The store brings in truckloads of merchandise and sells at a cost less than other retailers. There are name brand products and a wide variety of merchandise, including clothing, bedding, housewares, small toys, collectibles/decor, industrial chemicals, paint supplies, tools, metal signs and much more. New merchandise is stocked daily so there is always something new to see!!! Hours are M-F 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 636-265-3000
. Follow the business on Facebook or visit their online auction site: www.overstockoutletauctions.com
Members of the New Melle Chamber of Commerce held for a Ribbon Cutting Oct. 10, 2019 at Overstock Outlet, 8621 State Hwy. N, Lake St. Louis, MO.
The Chamber provided a plaque congratulating the business owners on their expansion and relocation. (L-R) Lori West – owner, Kyle Shell – chamber president, Ben Waggoner – chamber president-elect, and Richard West – owner.


text:
HAYWARD — An East Bay candy company hopes its popularity in Mexico might be a sign that it could take a bigger bite of the growing Latino market in California.
Hayward-based Annabelle Candy — maker of the classic Rocky Road and Big Hunk candy bars — is printing new packaging in Spanish. The company also is expanding distribution into Latino supermarkets and pledging to play a greater role in Latino organizations to help raise brand awareness.
“We want to grow in a market that hasn’t been adequately addressed in our community,” said Susan Karl, president and chief executive officer of the company founded in 1950 by her grandfather. “We don’t think there has been enough focus on it.”
The company reports annual growth of about 6 percent in Mexico over the past five years, selling more than 3 million candy bars at Costco and other locations in Mexico through a distributor in Southern California. The company has sold its products in Mexico for 25 years, but Karl wanted to do more to draw Latino customers.
“Ultimately, I felt it was really important not only to continue selling in Mexico but to make people in California feel we want them to try our products,” she said. “We want them to know the ingredients and communicate directly with them.”
The company sells its eight candy bars at Safeway, CVS and other large supermarkets or drug chains, mostly on the West Coast, with Big Hunk and Rocky Road tying for the most popular. The company is working with brokers to increase its presence in smaller Latino markets, but it does not have any plans to create new candies specifically formulated for Latino customers.
An annual Hispanic Market Trends Survey conducted by the Orci advertising firm in Los Angeles indicates that Annabelle’s promotional steps are rare.
The Latino population in California has grown 28 percent since 2000, according to 2010 census figures. Yet, according to a survey of 9,300 marketing and advertising executives nationwide in February 2010, 82 percent said they had no plans to increase Latino outreach.
More than a third said they didn’t think an increase in marketing to Latinos would pay off, and half said they do no promotions in Spanish at all.
Ed Basaldua, owner of Park One Properties in Walnut Creek and president of the Contra Costa County chapter of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, agreed that Annabelle’s effort is an anomaly of sorts, but for a different reason. Typically, he said companies try to gain a foothold in the Latino market here before expanding to Mexico, rather than the other way around.
Still, Basaldua said companies may not permeate the market until they raise their profiles within Latino circles, by joining business groups like his and participating in charitable organizations serving Latino families.
“We are finding more and more that people who want to break into the Latino market have to do more on a cultural level than on a language level,” he said. “We are finding people can be very effective just by embracing and being part of the community.”
Karl, 55, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor and former judge in Malibu, said the company has encouraged its 50 employees — 80 percent of whom are Latino — to share ideas on how to support the community. A front office worker led the effort to find new distributors, while another worker recommended adding “Made in the U.S.A.” to packaging because he said Mexican families often desire products made here.
The making of Annabelle Candy is itself part of the “American dream” narrative woven by a generation of immigrants.
Karl’s grandfather, Russian immigrant Sam Altshuler, started the company in 1950, naming it after his daughter, Karl’s mother. After Altshuler’s death in the early 1970s, Annabelle Block ran the company for a number of years, acquiring other candymakers and taking over the manufacturing of brands of candy bars such as U-No and Abba Zaba, before passing the company on to her son and later to Karl, who has been in charge since 1997.

domain: news


text:
France: Latest beverage news & analysis
Has it happened? Has China's Cognac market finally bottomed out?
In a trading update today, Remy Cointreau posted an 8% lift in reported sales for the nine months to the end of December. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the company's sales performance by brand in the year-to-date.
Whether you're a brewer, a distiller or a winemaker, the watchword for results announcements this season is: strategic plan.
Remy Cointreau will issue its full first-half results on Thursday (23 July). Last month, in a trading update, the group reported a near-6% fall in organic sales in the six months to the end of September, with the second quarter performing better than the first.
It has been more than a year since Cognac makers such as Pernod Ricard stopped estimating how long it will be before their China markets turn around. The downturn has lasted far longer than these companies expected, and yesterday Pernod's CFO Gilles Bogaert risked little when he predicted that this fiscal year in the country is likely to be similar to the previous one.
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has seen its sales fall in the first three months of this year, although the group maintains its target of "significant" profit growth in 2016.
The French unit of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has exited its 'continuation plan' in the country, following the clearance of an unspecified amount of debt.
Alsace-based wine company Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) is to launch a range of wines following the purchase of Château Belles Eaux in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
Spanish road tankers carrying bulk shipments of wine from the country have been attacked by French growers from the Languedoc region, protesting against what they claim are "cheap imports" from counterparts in both Spain and Italy.
Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has partnered with Spain's Grupo Diego Zamora to create a joint venture, which will handle their combined portfolios in France.
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits' Moncigale wine subsidiary has reached agreement in its legal disagreement with the liquidators of French wine group Chamarré.
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits is set to take another step along its road to recovery, as it completes an early debt repayment in its domestic market.
The organisers of the Tour de France have met with wine growers in the country who are unhappy at the race's sponsorship deal with Concha y Toro's Chilean wine brand, Cono Sur.
LVMH's wines & spirits unit, Moet Hennessy, has posted a healthy leap in full-year profits as sales in China rebounded in the second half of last year.
In a further step to merge its back office operations, Pernod Ricard will consolidate its Ricard and Pernod human resources divisions in France from 1 April.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week at the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Exhibition. Here's the first part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
- The category today - Scotch Whisky I
- Today's Market Trends - Scotch Whisky II
- Key Brands Performance - Scotch Whisky IV
- Tomorrow's Market Trends - Scotch Whisky III
- Category Trends - Scotch Whisky V
- Beam Suntory names CFO, makes structural changes
- Diageo to accept US$1m South Korea fine
- Analysts clash over AB InBev SAB Brexit impact
- Brown-Forman shuffles director pack
- Pernod switches Travel Retail Europe op's director
- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global RTD insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Soft Drinks Global Overview: Growth Opportunities Between Category Lines
- Consumer and Market Insights: Wine Market in China
- Global travel retail insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends


text:
It may seem rather unusual to state that pub companies could present buying opportunities just when England exit the World Cup. Indeed, it has been estimated that pub takings will be significantly lower in the short run, with as many as 43% less people watching England’s final group game this week for example.
However, while takings may be lower than expected in the short run, shares in these three pub companies could be strong long-term performers and, in addition, could now be more attractively priced as a result of short-term sales disappointment resulting from England’s exit from the World Cup.
J D Wetherspoon
Shares in J D Wetherspoon (LSE: JDW) were making strong progress in 2014, but over the last week that has been reversed as they have fallen by 9% — at least partly owing to England’s exit from the World Cup. This means that they are now more attractively priced and trade on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.2. This may not sound hugely impressive, but when you consider that J D Wetherspoon is forecast to increase earnings per share (EPS) by 16% next year, it means that shares in the company trade on a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1. This is the sweet-spot for the PEG ratio and shows that J D Wetherspoon could be a winning pub play.
As with J D Wetherspoon, shares in Greene King (LSE: GNK) have fallen over the last couple of weeks. Indeed, now that they are 4.5% lower they trade on a P/E of just 13. This is below the FTSE 100 P/E of 14.1 and shows that there is good value in the pub sector — even more so now that shares have pulled back following England’s early exit. In addition, Greene King is expected to deliver a healthy level of bottom-line growth, with EPS expected to increase by 4% in its current year and by 11% next year. Although lower than that of sector peer, J D Wetherspoon, the lower P/E ratio still makes Greene King attractive at current levels.
Trading on a P/E of just 11.7, Marston’s (LSE: MARS) looks good value at current levels. Although it is forecast to deliver a fall in EPS of 3% this year, it is set to bounce back next year with growth of 11% — in-line with its two previously mentioned sector peers. As with those peers, shares in Marston’s have experienced short term weakness as the market expects fewer sales during the World Cup than had previously been priced in. However, for medium to long-term investors, Marston’s could prove to be a strong performer, while its yield of 4.8% easily beats its two peers, which yield 1.7% (J D Wetherspoon) and 3.7% (Greene King).
Of course, the pub sector could prove to be a great place to invest. However, it’s not the only sector that could boost your portfolio returns, which is why The Motley Fool has written a free and without obligation guide to where we think the smart money is heading in 2014.
The guide is simple, straightforward and you can put it into use right away. It could help you toast to your portfolio’s success just that little bit earlier.
Click here to take a look.
Peter does not own any of the above shares.


text:
In an announcement last week, the Brewers Association shared its annual report on exports from organization-defined craft brewers, highlighting 482,309 barrels sold around the world in 2017, valued at $125.4 million U.S. Both are impressive numbers, putting the total volume on par with annual outputs from breweries like Bell’s or Oskar Blues.
Last year’s numbers only highlight half of the story, however, as the overall export growth slowed to 3.6% year-to-year, a precipitous drop from five years ago, when 2013’s volume grew by almost 50%. The situation for craft beer abroad is settling into a situation that parallels home: overall numbers are still growing, they’re just slowing. When comparing total U.S. export numbers reported by the Beer Institute, BA-defined craft beer remained up between 8.4% and 8.8% from 2014 to 2016, falling slightly to 8.2% of reported exports in 2017.
Part of the change is due to the drop off of some of the largest BA-defined “craft” options as businesses like Goose Island and Lagunitas have expanded their international presence in recent years following acquisitions by Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken, respectively. But the overall volume is still buoyed by Brooklyn Brewery, which says it exports about 150,000 BBLs/year, roughly a third of the Brewers Association’s count.
Still, what is happening reflects overall changes in the industry, where out-of-market exposure—that is, outside a home city, state, or country—is becoming more calculated. It’s a strange monster created by American craft beer’s own success. Where foreign markets once yearned for and learned from U.S. beer, inspiration has turned to practice, and homegrown industries have thrived.
WHY IT MATTERS
Whereas exporting may have once seemed a viable long term goal, the beer world has shrunk in terms of possibilities for awareness, with websites and message boards spreading the word of small breweries around the globe. In Iceland, a small brewery from Herndon, Virginia can gain traction, and in the UK, American hops have set a new level of interest for a brewery from, of all places, Wyoming.
At the same time, UK breweries are setting down roots, expanding into London to not just to claim market share, but take advantage of own-premise business practices learned from U.S. breweries. In Australia, where just under 4% of U.S. craft beer exports are shipped, 2017 ended with 420 breweries, up 14 fold from a decade prior. Even China’s growing middle class has helped shift that country's potential for craft beer, with the number of craft breweries tripling from 50 in 2015 to 150 in 2016. Goose Island, no longer defined as Brewers Association "craft," is cashing in on the latter.
All around the world, just like back at home, opportunities have to be more thoughtful and strategic to foreign exposure. If you’re not Goose or Lagunitas with tons of money to expand international presence, or Stone Brewing with a production facility in Europe, it can be about building hype and keeping a business’ name in front of enthusiasts. But diving in now seems like less of a sure bet than it was in recent years.
Last year, the Maine Brewer’s Guild rallied 50 in-state members to participate in the “Maine Beer Box,” a custom-made shipping container full of Maine beer with 78 taps sent to Reykjavik, Iceland. A one-time deal, the effort became a media success as much as a practical one, highlighting excitement that can take place when U.S. beer arrives on another country’s shore.
More recently, Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Co. and Wyoming’s Melvin Brewing announced partnerships to send occasional shipments to the UK, to fulfill a need for the “audacity of hop character produced in the U.S.”
“We always try to import something unique and exclusive for our accounts, and working closely with Half Acre is a great opportunity to highlight that, done right, short-shelf life American beers can make it over to the UK and be drunk as fresh as intended,” Kent-based distributor Cave Direct Neil Kitching told GBH at the time.
Steve Parr, the Brewers Association export development program manager, says that maximizing opportunities for U.S. beer is important and can lead to more attention for American craft beer, even if it’s just for brief moments in time. Diversifying sales opportunities abroad increases potential for growing a business at home, no matter how small.
Among one of the benefits offered through the BA’s export program is a vetted list of foreign importers and distributors who meet standards for cold chain shipping, retail partners, staffing to focus on new brands, and more.
“It shouldn’t be a beer dump because there’s some extra beer laying around,” Parr says. “It’s not just throwing a couple pallets of beer on a tanker and sending them to China.”
Interest in U.S. beer and its influence around the world has perhaps never been so high, but that popularity has come with its own drawbacks. Craft fans at home in the U.S.—even in a slowing beer category—are still showing plenty of interest while their beer-loving peers are now doing the same for native brands created in the UK, Asia, and other locales.
Not only has this change been presented in the numbers surrounding craft exports, but aesthetically, too. For years, the Brewers Association has included a map with its annual release touting export success, but something was different for 2017. Countries used to be labeled with percentages of growth by volume, giant numbers stamped over continents to show U.S. craft’s success around the world, sometimes three digits long, showing increases in the hundreds of percent.
This time, it was labeled simply, showing overall percentage of exports by country. A large “3.6%” hanging over the Atlantic Ocean, representing the slowing growth that was once so prominently displayed.
For more insight on the changing nature of American exports, see Matthew Curtis’ 2017 Critical Drinking piece, “First We Came For Their Culture — American Craft Brewing’s British Offensive.”


text:
Microsoft‘s Macintosh Business Unit today announced some details of its next version of Microsoft Office for the Mac—and the big surprise is that Microsoft is committing to shipping a version of Outlook for the Macintosh. The Mac version of Outlook will replace the existing Entourage email and communication application that’s been part of Microsoft Office for several years; although Entourage has long features some Exchange capability, it’s always been a second-class citizen in the Exchange world—and it’s often unreliable monolithic database won it few friends even among Mac Office users. The new version of Outlook promises to make the Mac an equal player alongside its Windows counterparts—and it will be an entirely new Cocoa application, built using Mac OS X’s base technologies and featuring a new database system.
“Outlook for Mac will bring features our customers have long requested—such as Information Rights Management—that make working across platforms even easier,” said MacBU’s general manager Eric Wilfrid, in a statement. “I think people will see that this move to Outlook for Mac is more than just a name change.”
Microsoft didn’t name a date for when it plans to ship the next version of Mac Office, but said the product should be on shelves in time for the 2010 holiday season. That’s well over a year away; in the meantime, Apple is introducing improved support for Exchange in its own default Mail application with Mac OS X 10.6 “Snow Leopard,” which will be on shelves in a few weeks. Although Snow Leopard won’t support every feature of Exchange. Nonetheless, building a full-fledged version of Outlook into Mac Office will no doubt help the Redmond company sell Mac Office to enterprises, governments, and organizations who buy large volumes of software licenses—and, of course, full-fledged Outlook clients for both Mac and Windows gives those organizations more reason to standardize on Exchange for communications needs.
Microsoft also announced a new $399.99 Business Edition of Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh, slimming the Mac Office offerings to Home and Student Edition and the new Business Edition. TheBusiness Edition includes Entourage 2008 for Mac Web Services Edition, Microsoft Document Connection for Mac (for hitting Sharepoint and Microsoft Office Live Workspace), as well as new clip art andtraining materials from lynda.com.
Microsoft also said it had nothing to say about the possibility of developing mobile versions of Office applications for the Apple iPhone; yesterday, Microsoft announced a new partnership with Nokia to bring Office applications to Nokia devices.


text:
Specialty grocer Aldi has filed plans to build a store in Middleburg.
The plans are currently being reviewed, the Florida Times-Union reports, and the grocer has also applied for a 17,000-square-foot store at 1702 Blanding Blvd.
The Business Journal first reported in January 2013 that Aldi was scouting Northeast Florida for locations.
The grocer may also be targeting St. Augustine for a store, as a site plan found in September 2013 showed a space for a proposed 16,800-square-foot Aldi store for Seabridge Square, a shopping center off of U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.
Aldi is the sister company of Trader Joe’s, which plans to open in Jacksonville Beach this year. Those stores are joined by another specialty grocer, Earth Fare, and real estate sources have told the Business Journal Sprouts is looking for sites in the area as well.
So what’s driving specialty grocers into Northeast Florida?
“The conventional box, plain vanilla grocery store — that’s a thing of the past,” David J. Livingston of Wisconsin-based DJL Research told the Business Journal in September. “That’s being replaced by specialty grocery.”
And there’s plenty of room for new grocery concepts in Northeast Florida.
“With the implosion of Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo — they’re just not doing well at all,” Livingston said. “Maybe financially they’re showing some good profit numbers, but sales-wise they’re deteoriating, and their market share is up for grabs.”


text:
NEW YORK — When a young customer returned to Mary Arnold Toys a few days after an Easter egg decorating event, store owner Judy Ishayik asked the child, “How is your egg?”
The little girl responded with a big smile, and her mother thanked Ishayik, telling her, “That’s so special.”
Mary Arnold, a nearly 90-year-old store in Manhattan, is thriving along with many other small and independent toy stores — even as Toys R Us is going out of business and more consumers shop online. These store owners know what they’re up against and focus on toys that customers can’t find at chains like Target and Walmart, and provide families with events, service, expertise and emotional experiences that internet retailers can’t match.
At Mary Arnold, some customers come in every week. It doesn’t take long to tell which toys a child will like.
“I know your kid, so if you need a birthday present, I can help you find something in a particular theme or something new,” Ishayik says.
Many indie toy retailers carry international and niche brands — items a shopper isn’t likely to find on the shelf of a big discount chain, or at the Toys R Us stores now closing. Small stores are less likely to carry big brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, or movie-related action figures. At Mary Arnold, the offerings include German brands Bruder, a line of trucks, and Haba, preschool toys, and Tegu blocks, made in Honduras.
The independents may pick up some sales from former Toys R Us shoppers, but they’re not likely to see a windfall — partly because the small stores don’t tend to carry the big brands.
“I don’t necessarily think that people who are shopping for toys at big box stores are looking to shop at stores like ours,” says Scott Friedland, owner of Timeless Toys in Chicago.
Some of the brands the indies showcase are sold online, but store owners say they aren’t fazed by the competition even though nearly 14 percent of toy sales were made online in 2016. That’s more than twice the sales of five years ago, according to the research company GlobalData Retail. Indie owners say those sales aren’t usually items that overlap with what they sell.
The number of very small toy stores in the U.S., those with under 20 employees, dropped 4 percent to about 4,300 from 2012 to 2015, according to the most recent Census Bureau figures. Meanwhile, the number of department stores also fell almost 4 percent to 7,885. As part of its liquidation, Toys R Us plans to close more than 700 stores.
Whitney and Joe Novak opened Kazoo in Atlanta five years ago, knowing that Amazon and other online retailers would be among their biggest rivals. They recognized the need for unique merchandise, because as they were starting their family they couldn’t find the kind of toys they wanted, Whitney Novak says.
“We were wondering, where are the local toy stores? Where are we going to find something for our new baby to play with?” she says.
The variety of lesser-known brands at indie stores is part of their appeal, says Richard Gottlieb, owner of Global Toy Experts, a consulting group. Parents, grandparents and other shoppers spy a doll, game or construction set they’ve never seen before, and buy it.
“In a great retail store, there’s the excitement of stumbling on something,” Gottlieb says. “If you have a really fascinating selection of merchandise that changes frequently, I’m going to go there.”
There’s also the wow factor; stores are jammed with toys and games, many of which are in smaller displays than in a typical Toys R Us or discount store. Many owners allow children to take them out of the boxes and try them out.
“When kids walk into a toy store it should be a magical place,” says Jim Silver, CEO of TTPM, a toy industry review website.
Indies can also thrive because staffers do more than point parents to a section of the store. Silver says parents with questions — how does a toy work, is it right for a particular child’s age and interest — may be more likely to get answers in a smaller store.
“In a big box store, I had to chase salespeople down and sometimes they don’t know the difference between one toy and another,” says Heath Fradkoff, who shops for his son at two indie stores in Brooklyn, New York. “In a smaller store, sales people show you the different features in a toy and explain why some people buy it over others.”
Employees at some independent stores have taught preschool or elementary school. They understand childhood development, how children play and the types of toys that are appropriate for different ages and interests, Friedland says.
“It’s important for us to have those conversations with parents. It’s not what the most popular toy is, it’s the toy that’s right for the child you’re shopping for,” he says.
When small store owners hire, they are looking for people who love children and can be patient with them and their parents. Being able to answer parents’ questions is “a full-time job for all of us,” says Carol Staley, owner of Tomfoolery Toys in Houston.
Sometimes parents are looking for Barbie or Star Wars toy. Mary Arnold carries some national brands including Barbie because customers want them, but many indies don’t. Staley says if a customer wants a name brand she doesn’t offer, she recommends a nearby Target and doesn’t worry about losing a sale.
“If I don’t have it, I’m doing a service by helping them find it,” she says.
Toy stores have a critical advantage in another area — the last-minute rush. Gifts for birthday parties are a big part of the business, with parents often coming in on their way to a party, needing to find a present quickly and have it wrapped.
“Saturday morning from 10 to 12:30 is the busiest time of the week,” Novak says. “Online isn’t going to help when it’s the morning of the party and you didn’t get anything yet.”


text:
Kogan and BenQ launching the Agora 4G for $229
The mid-range sector of the smartphone market is the way to go these days, and everyone is getting in on the game including BenQ and Koga. The two have just teamed up to deliver a new budget device called the Agora 4G, and it’s an interesting device with a very nice price.
Australian e-tailer Kogan has partnered with BenQ to produce a new 4G handset with the Agora. It’s priced to compete with other 4G mid-rangers like the Moto G from Motorola, a device which the Agora 4G beat in AnTuTu benchmarks according to the team at Kogan.
The Kogan Agora 4G may be mid-range, but it offers a lot of value for just $229. The handset has a 5-inch 1280 x 720 IPS display which translates to around 294ppi. Under the glass, you’ll find a quad-core Cortex A7 clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and a 2520mAh battery. The device also comes with an 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing snapper and it even has a microSD slot that lets you expand the storage up to 64GB.
The specs are impressive for the price, and even more so once you factor in 4G and the fact that it runs KitKat 4.4 out of the box. The Kogan Agora 4G is up for pre-order on Kogan’s official site, and the first units are expected to ship out on August 5th.
Does the $229 price tag make the Kogan Agora 4G enticing?


text:
KAI RYSSDAL: Well, you knew this one was coming. Microsoft has decided it wants in on the world of digital music. The software company's reported to be developing its own music and video player to compete with Apple's iPod. Microsoft's already in the consumer electronics business. Its Xbox game console's a best seller. But Annie Baxter reports today's news is about more than what you hold in your hands.
ANNIE BAXTER: Microsoft is dismissing the buzz as rumors. But music industry analyst Aram Sinnreich of Radar Research says it's basically inevitable. But he says Microsoft isn't following in Apple's footsteps exactly.
ARAM SINNREICH: Apple is selling music because they make money from selling iPods. Microsoft doesn't really care about selling devices. What Microsoft really wants to do is make its software the dominant software in the marketplace.
That would be its copy protection software that would be bundled with the new gadgets. Sinnreich doubts Microsoft will actually have much success in this venture. He says Microsoft lacks the marketing and design zest for hardware that Apple has demonstrated with its sleekly designed iMacs and iPods.
But Wall Street Journal personal technology columnist Walt Mossberg says Microsoft might be able to tackle those problems by cultivating what Mossberg calls Microsoft's own "little apple."
WALTER MOSSBERG: It's the X-Box group, which makes the X-Box 360 game console, and which makes that product very much the way Apple makes its Macintosh computers and iPods. They make the software, they make the operating system, they make the hardware, and they make the Web service that goes along with it.
Mossberg says it's unclear whether Microsoft can indeed knock the iPod off its throne. But he says it's only a matter of time before Apple, which has well over 70% of the music device market, will have to give up some portion of its pie.
I'm Annie Baxter for Marketplace.


text:
The fashion world is at her finger tips, and Kylie Jenner has been dressing a little more age-appropriate these days.
At a recent event, the 14-year-old took after the no-drama, sophisticated country songstress Taylor Swift as she opted for the same boat neck, gold Contrarian dress previously worn by the ?You Belong With Me? singer back in October
In related news, Kylie and sister Kendall are planning to launch their very own jewelry line with the help of designer Pascal Mouawad.
Of the reasonable price collection, the sassy sisters said in a statement, ?We love accessories and it?s amazing that we?re going to have our own line to be able to wear every day?and for our friends to wear, too!?


text:
Over the last few years, Mercedes has told us to expect the new AMG GT Black Series in 2020. We don’t know if the coronavirus has upended Mercedes’ timeline, though we do know development continues for the long-awaited model. A new video shows the AMG GT Black Series back in its natural habitat at the Nürburgring. The aggressive front-end aerodynamics and high wing have all the hallmarks of a potent AMG model – and the exhaust note to back it up, too.
We don’t know many details about the AMG GT Black Series, though. The latest report suggests the model will arrive with a revised twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that produces 711 horsepower (530 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque. That’d make the Black Series 134 hp (100 kW) and 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) more powerful than the AMG GT R. Power will allegedly route through a dual-clutch automatic gearbox to the rear wheels.
Those numbers translate into some impressive real-world results. A sprint to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) will allegedly happen in less than three seconds. It will have a top speed of over 200 mph (320 kph). The new Black Series should see a weight reduction over the GT R, too, helping improve its performance, though there are likely several other upgrades over the GT R that eke out every bit of power and performance.
Gallery: 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series new spy photos
When the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series arrives, it’ll have distinct aerodynamics, and have little in common with the GT R that slots below it in Mercedes’ potent performance lineup. Mercedes won’t make many, and customers should expect the price tag to eclipse the GT R Pro’s starting price of $200,645. It sounds like the new AMG GT Black Series will pack a punch – and that doesn’t come cheap.


text:
Winter Edition energy drink made for Canadians
Red Bull launched its Winter Edition energy drink exclusively in Canada on Dec. 1.
In anticipation of a Canadian winter to remember, and in appreciation for the special role that winter plays in the Canadian identity, Red Bull is limiting the North American release of the Red Bull Winter Edition to Canada only, the company said in a press release.
The company is betting on adventurous Canadians seeing the coming harsh weather as a chance to ski, skate, snowboard and sled even harder than usual.
Red Bull Winter Edition is the latest entry in the Red Bull Editions series. Its flavour profile is described by the company as plum twist with the taste of cinnamon.
The limited-edition drink will be available across Canada in retail outlets as of Dec. 1 with an MSRP of two for $6.
Health Canada to consult on front-of-package symbol to identify foods high in sodium, sugars, or saturated fatOttawa – Health Canada will launch consultations on regulations for…
Costa Rica to lift ban on planting Robusta coffeeCosta Rica – Costa Rica will lift a 30-year ban…
Apriva and OTI partner on user-friendly payment systemOn Track Innovations and Apriva together have launched a user-friendly…
Students may buy morning-after pill from vending machine using UCSD campus cardSan Diego, CA – Students at UC San Diego will…
The NAMA Show
March 21-23, 2018


text:
IRELAND – Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers of spirits and beers, has plans to build a €200million (US$200.74M) new state-of-the-art brewery near Newbridge in Kildare, Ireland.
The plan is still subject to planning approvals by the Kildare County Council with an application due to be made by the end of the year.
The company said it will use the facility to produce lagers and ales, freeing up capacity at its main facility at St James’s Gate in Dublin to allow it to produce more stout for global markets.
The brewery, which will be the second largest in the country, will be capable of producing 2 million hectolitres of beer a year, once operations start in 2024.
The plant will also be completely powered by renewable energy and will use the latest technology to reduce its water and energy consumption as much as possible, Diageo noted.
The multinational beverage alcohol company estimates that this will enable it to avoid carbon emissions of up to 15,000 metric tonnes yearly.
Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny, and Carlsberg are among the named brands to be produced in the new facility.
Colin O’Brien, Category Head – Global Beer Supply, Diageo said: “Our plans for a new, state-of-the-art brewery in Kildare, and the developments at St James’s Gate, will enable growth in overall beer exports from Ireland.”
“We are fully committed to embedding sustainability across our business from grain to glass.”
He added that this announcement represents the next step in the integrated approach toward achieving one of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress commitments by becoming carbon neutral in our direct operations.
The unveiling of the expansion project is occurring at a time when Ireland has returned the highest organic net sales and the largest increase in Guinness consumption in all of Europe in the latter half of 2021, according to new figures released by Diageo.
Net sales of Guinness grew by over 76%, benefitting from the partial recovery of the on-trade as Irish Government restrictions eased during the first half of Diageo’s financial year.
This growth was also driven by resilient consumer demand in the off-trade channel “where Diageo continued to gain market share”, the beer giant said.
Net sales of beer grew 44%, driven by a strong increase in Guinness with the continuing easement of on-trade restrictions, reported the company.
With strong organic growth that was up by 20%, partially offset by an adverse foreign exchange impact, Diageo was able to deliver strong net sales growth across all regions with reported net sales up 16% to £8 billion (US$8.03B)
The global brewer and distiller reported an Operating Profit of £2.7 billion for H1, up 22.5% or up 24.7% organically.
Sustainability partnership for grain supplies
Meanwhile, Diageo has strengthened its sustainability efforts after entering into a partnership with the Teagasc Signpost program, Heineken Ireland, Irish Distillers, William Grant & Sons, and drinks Ireland.
The partnership will focus on further reducing the environmental footprint of grain production, which is key to underpinning the future sustainability needs of Ireland’s drinks industry.
The partnership is also intended to lead and support the transition toward climate-smart cropping systems that advance reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while maximizing carbon sequestration.
Some of the indicators of success set will include; establishing ground cover for spring cereal production, and exploiting all appropriate IPM measures available to reduce pesticide use on farms.
It also extends to developing a plan to improve fertilizer use efficiency while replacing chemical fertilizers by up to 20% with organic manure as well as implementing a soil C enhancement program.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.


text:
Table of Contents: Alex Reid and his team at Wealthpin Pro have launched a new promotional campaign for a special report featuring a stock primed to skyrocket in value in the future Fuel revolution. According to Wealthpin Pro’s “Ride the Future Fuel Revolution for Life-Changing Gains,” one stock is best positioned to benefit in the […]
It could soon power everything — from trucks, ships, and planes… to entire industries like steelmaking and chemicals production… and even our homes.
We’ve talked a lot about renewables and energy over the years around here. We’ve brought a lot of that to you. However, our coverage — while I stand by it — leaves a whole lot we haven’t discussed. Sure, we talk a lot about transportation and how battery power fails to scale well to heavy […]
A few years ago, Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) was the king of the hill when it came to the electric vehicle market. But by the end of this year, Volkswagen (OTC: VWAGY) – with its ID.3 and ID.4 models – may take over as the largest EV maker. Competitors in the EV market are certainly becoming […]


text:
Netflix has turned to a major tech giant for help in implementing ads on its service.
Earlier this year, Netflix announced plans to introduce a lower-cost subscription, in exchange for adverts playing before or during the movie or show you’ve selected to watch.
Now, it appears those plans are one step closer to reality as the streamer has named Microsoft as its partner to help power its first ad-supported subscription offering.
A statement on Microsoft’s website says that the long-term goal for Netflix is “more choice” for its customers. Netflix’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Peters has just confirmed the move, saying:
“In April we announced that we will introduce a new lower-priced ad-supported subscription plan for consumers, in addition to our existing ads-free basic, standard, and premium plans.
“Today we are pleased to announce that we have selected Microsoft as our global advertising technology and sales partner.
“It’s very early days and we have much to work through. But our long-term goal is clear: more choice for consumers and a premium, better-than-linear TV brand experience for advertisers.
“We’re excited to work with Microsoft as we bring this new service to life.”
Plans for Netflix’s new ad-supported streaming tier come following the streaming service’s tough start to 2022.
Recently, the service announced it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year.


text:
An insulin pump fabricated by Johnson & Johnson has a cyber vulnerability that a hacker could take advantage of, overdosing diabetic patients with insulin, has stated the company.
This is the first time a manufacturer has warned its patients about a security vulnerability, according to medical experts. This announcement follows last month’s controversy regarding bugs in defibrillators and pacemakers.
So far, there has not been any hacking attempt to the J&J Animas OneTouch Ping insulin pump, as stated by J&J executives. However, the company felt it was “safer” to warn its customers and giving counseling.
“The probability of unauthorized access to the OneTouch Ping system is extremely low. It would require technical expertise, sophisticated equipment and proximity to the pump, as the OneTouch Ping system is not connected to the internet or to any external network,” claimed J&J on hundreds of thousands of letters sent on Monday to doctors and patients in the United States and Canada.
The insulin pump was released six years ago and is sold with a wireless remote control that makes pumping the dose of insulin a more manageable task, since the device is won under clothing and can be unconformable or awkward to reach, especially in public.
Jay Radcliffe, a researcher with cyber security firm Rapid7 Inc. and a person who has diabetes himself, discovered the pump’s vulnerable spot. According to him, a hack could “spoof” the communication between the device and the remote control, forcing the latter to deliver insulin injections without the user noticing.
For Radcliffe, the main problem is that the communications are not scrambled or encrypted, which makes it relatively easy to intervene for an experienced hacker. The researcher reported the security issue to J&J back in April and on Tuesday published the information on his blog.
Overdosing on insulin
If a patient takes more than the prescribed dose of insulin, the body could react by causing low blood sugar, better known as hypoglycemia, something that can be life-threatening as claimed by Brian Levy, chief medical officer with J&J’s diabetes unit.
Technicians from the company replicated Radcliffe’s claims and confirmed that a hacker could intervene the communications and order the pump to dose insulin from a distance of up to 25 feet, or seven meters and a half.
Advice from Johnson & Johnson
The company maintains that a hacking incident would be very improbable since it would require a hacker with sophisticated equipment and specialized technical expertise. J&J still believes that their pumps are “safe and reliable” and urged their users not to change the product.
J&J also gave recommendations to doctors and patients, claiming they can program the pump to limit the maximum insulin dose per day, and can stop using the wireless remote and accessing the device directly.
Radcliffe backed up the company’s claims and said that would be enough to give “peace of mind” to users of the pump.


text:
Christopher Burch has found a new partner for C. Wonder — and it’s willing to pay big bucks to go along for the ride.
Boston-based investment giant Fidelity has taken a 10 percent stake in the budding chain, according to sources. One person familiar with the matter said the hedge fund paid $35 million, which would give C. Wonder a lofty $350 million valuation.
C. Wonder is still relatively small, but Burch has laid out ambitious plans for the chain.
A spokeswoman for C. Wonder declined to comment on the private company’s investors, but Burch did confirm that a new investor has come on board.
“This investment underscores that C. Wonder is resonating not only with our customer but with the financial and retail community,” said Burch, who is chief executive officer of Burch Creative Capital. “I am immensely proud of the work that Amy Shecter, president of C. Wonder, and her team have done in the last 16 months since we opened the first C. Wonder in SoHo in October 2011.” RELATED STORY: WWD CEO Summit, J. Christopher Burch >>
Since that start in New York City, the brand has since grown to 10 stores plus pop-up locations.
Burch plans to expand C. Wonder to 50 to 100 stores by the end of 2014, including 20 to 30 doors abroad in markets such as Japan, Germany and Dubai. Ultimately, Burch has said he sees an opportunity to open about 110 stores in the U.S., with a total global footprint of 300 to 350 doors.
In its short life, the brightly colored C. Wonder, which sells apparel and home goods, has garnered more than its share of controversy.
C. Wonder became a point of intense friction between Burch and his ex-wife Tory Burch, who viewed the brand’s stores as aesthetically too similar to her own.
Rumors of a lawsuit swirled for months, but eventually it was Christopher Burch who sued in October, alleging his ex-wife and her employees interfered with his ability to develop C. Wonder. Tory Burch countersued, alleging that her ex-husband used his role as a director at her company to make “copycat” products for C. Wonder.
The awkward affair was ultimately settled late last year when Christopher Burch sold off some of his 28.3 percent stake in the Tory Burch business and the legal tussle was dropped.
That has cleared the way for C. Wonder to press on.
Investors are keen to tap into the potential of brands in the fashion sphere. Kors, which went public in December 2011, is now valued at nearly $11 billion and Tory Burch is now said to be valued at $2.5 billion or more.
Clearly, Fidelity wants to get in on the ground floor with C. Wonder — a somewhat surprising investment for the firm, which is known as one of the largest mutual fund operators in the world, serving more than 20 million people and institutions.
It is not known how often Fidelity invests in small companies such as C. Wonder. The firm’s FMR unit, however, is well known in fashion investment circles. FMR has $5.61 billion invested in apparel and accessories firms, including a $1.08 billion stake in Lululemon Athletica Inc., $948.2 million worth of PVH Corp. stock and a $774.2 million chunk of Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.
C. Wonder hasn’t reached the level of those businesses yet, but it has caught the attention of the industry. Burch had a number of retail brands in the works, but in November said he would focus on C. Wonder and Monika Chiang.
He seems to have a knack with shoppers.
“The only skills I really have are creativity and intuition,” he said at the WWD CEO Summit last month. “That intuition has allowed me to kind of link to the consumer.”
Burch puts the shopper at the center of the retail experience.
“All we care about is our customer,” he said. “Other speakers [at the summit] talked about how important fashion is and the product. I actually think the [store] environment and voices of the customer are more important. When you have no rules or regulations, you can tell your sales staff, ‘You can do anything you want to make them [customers] happy.’”
@zacposen's go-to holiday gift? Cookies! "I'll usually bake cookies and send them as a gift," said the designer, who recently released his cookbook "Cooking With Zac: Recipes from Rustic to Refined." Get the recipe for his Brown Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies via link in bio 🍪🍪🍪 #wwdeye #cookingwithzac
For @monsemaison’s pre-fall 2018 collection, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim honed in on the brand’s many signatures — men’s wear, which was tweaked and feminized through deconstruction, proportion play and lots of bare shoulders. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
On Friday night, @yohjiyamamotoofficial received the Design for Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong. The 75-year-old designer has been celebrated for many years and is best known for his dark and avant-garde tailoring. “In my long career, in design, architecture, [I’ve been to] so many parties, this is the very first time that I have such a warm feeling, I really appreciate this,” Yamamoto said. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)
Discovery is collaborating with British pop artist @philipcolbert on a new line of clothing and accessories called Discovery Shark. The collection, which will launch next summer for Shark Week’s 30th anniversary, features a whimsical line of women’s and men’s bomber jackets, sweatshirts, bags and more. #wwdfashion
“I’m always a big champion of a female rapper, and I’m glad to see a new voice that feels unique and authentic that’s coming up, and I think we’re going to see more great things from her,” said @itsjeremyscott about @iamcardib, who performed at @moschino’s Art Basel Miami Beach party last night. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
@janellemonae’s “What’s Your Frequency?” room in @refinery29's #29Rooms made its debut this week at the opening of the Los Angeles art exhibit. “It’s about the ongoing conversation around mass surveillance, the weaponization of technology and cultural uniformity. My space was created so that we can come together and talk about the complexities of our humanity,” said Monáe. #wwdeye (📷: @bucknerphoto)
@pantone announced their Color of the Year 2018: Ultra Violet. Nearly 20 months after the musician Prince’s death, fashion is having a purple moment. Varying shades of purple appeared on spring or fall runways, from @christopherkane to @calvinklein. @gucci’s Alessandro Michele bathed his fall runway in ultra violet-colored light at one point. Pantone 18-3838 is meant to “push the boundaries of what inspires us to look upward and outward to the future.” #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)


text:
Blog: Rose rises to executive chair
Leonie Barrie | 11 March 2008
While news of the shake-up at M&S had a negligible effect on share price yesterday, it does at least clear up one of the biggest issues the retailer had been facing: what happens beyond 2009, when boss Sir Stuart Rose was due to step down.
Well now we know that he’s going to be around for another two years after this date, albeit stepping up to the role of executive chairman.
Whether this is the end of the matter, though, is unlikely. Rose's move defies the Combined Code on corporate governance, which recommends companies avoid promoting a chief executive to the post of chairman.
And it has already raised concerns at the retailer’s second-largest shareholder, Legal & General, which admits it is worried about the decision to put too much power in one man's hands.
But what it does do is give M&S some much needed breathing space. It not only builds in another three years to find a successor to Sir Stuart, but also gives him more time to get the business back on track and ensure M&S’ big push overseas is well underway.
After making substantial progress to revitalise the retailer since his appointment in 2004, growth has slowed in the last few months, with Rose warning that tough trading conditions are likely to persist in 2008. There’s no doubt he’d like to go out on a high and this goal is now back within reach.
Fashion retailer H&M and UK based glove and leather manufacturer Pittards both say they are monitoring the situation in Ethiopia closely after the country's government declared a state of emergency af...
Increasing competition for garment sourcing contracts is seeing China not only being challenged by other countries in Asia, but by sub-Saharan African and even Russian suppliers too. And it is pushing...
The monthly minimum wage for workers in Cambodia's textile, garment and footwear sector is set to rise to $153 from January next year, following a vote on the issue last week. The increase marks a ris...
The results of two highly-anticipated initiatives in the sportswear sphere were revealed last week: the launch of Under Armour’s new UAS lifestyle brand and the first pair of running shoes created at ...
- Fashion fit for the future – strategies for speed
- Digitisation to drive new apparel-making models
- Will new Vietnam wage hinder competitiveness?
- Under Armour Lighthouse will disrupt production
- Pakistan industry seeks help to kickstart exports
- Child refugees found in Turkey apparel factories
- Chinese manufacturer invests $20m in US facility
- US Q3 in brief - Under Armour, VF Corp, Skechers
- Reebok Liquid Factory reinvents shoe production
- Managing change in the move to new tech tools
- Africa-Med strategic sourcing review – comparing East Africa, North Africa and Turkey
- REPORT BUNDLE: Africa-Med, Southeast Asia and Central America strategic sourcing pack
- Southeast Asia strategic sourcing review – a focus on Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar
- Apparel (GLOBAL) - Industry Report
- Global Sports and Fitness Wear Market 2016-2020


text:
Madi Edwards may live Down Under, but the model still knows how to follow the fashion rules of an American cult classic movie.
The Instagram model shared a picture of herself on Wednesday wearing a pink minidress. The caption noted that she was abiding by the rules laid out in the movie Mean Girls, where the leader of the popular girl clique at high school says “on Wednesdays, we wear pink.”
Madi’s Instagram shot was a huge hit with her fans, garnering thousands of likes and supportive comments.
“Gorgeous angel,” one person commented.
“This dress looks so stunning on you,” another wrote.
The dress was actually part of Madi’s online modeling work, as she regularly shares pictures showing off top fashion and swimwear brands. The pink dress came from the brand SportsGirl, which also shared another shot of Madi on its own Instagram page wearing a different form-fitting dress. While it’s not clear how much Edwards makes from her work, social media experts say the pay rate for Instagram models is generally $1,000 for every 100,000 followers — and that is for a single post.
That means that Madi is making more than $5,000 for every post she shares. The Australian model has been steadily building her following on Instagram, now with close to 700,000 followers. As she continues to build her follower base, Madi has attracted attention from celebrity news sites and fashion magazines. A recent feature from Esquire named her among the top 29 Instagram models who could be the potential heir apparent to Instagram superstar Emily Ratajkowski.
The sudden rise to fame has had both its ups and downs for Madi, who said in a recent interview that she sometimes gets fans who are a little too overzealous.
“I get a lot of Instagram DMs asking me to send them my used socks,” she recently told Maxim via The Daily Mail.
“I get these in my Instagram DMs all the time. The worst one I’ve received would have to be, ‘The boys and I discussed you are a nine out of 10. I’m the perfect one for you — with us together we could be the perfect 10.’ Literally word for word. As if!”
Nonetheless, Madi’s Instagram page shows that her fans — or at least those motivated enough to leave comments — are mostly of the supportive variety. They help to gain some viral attention for the photos, giving thousands and often tens of thousands of likes.


text:
More Info About Wacom’s HD Mobile Tablet Surfaces: Two Cameras, Programmable Gestures
Wacom still hasn't called it a "Cintiq" yet, but the drawing and graphics tablet company has revealed plenty of new details about its mystery mobile tablet. Still set for an August 20 debut, the unnamed HD tablet sporting Wacom's usual pressure-sensetive pen tech will also include two cameras (presumably front and rear-facing options). Additionally, the multi-touch tablet will let users set their own programmable gestures. As far as the tablet's appearance? If these drawings are any indication, it's going to look and work a whole lot like the Cintiq 13HD - right down to its adjustable stand.
This news comes in the form of Wacom Europe's latest "The Innovation Spy" comic strip by the artist known as Millus. In this week's strip investigative reporter Ed Narrato infiltrates a testing lab to take photos of the new mobile tablet as engineers converse about its various features and... zap it with lasers and attempt to copy the schtick of YouTube sensation "Will It Blend."
It still hasn't been confirmed whether the device -- which will come in versions running Nvidia Tegra 4 and Intel i7 processors, respectively -- will be interface with computers the way traditional Wacom devices do, or if their supposed Android and Windows 8 OS guts will render them solely standalone devices like the Surface Pro. Pricing's still a mystery, too.
Until the next teaser-filled comic, those seeking a standalone Cintiq remain as curious as poor Ed.


text:
What’s the secret to a successful downtown Dallas bagel shop launch? For Starship Bagel, the latest addition to the Dallas’ bagel shops, it’s about having all the right ingredients: a prime location and perfect bagels.
Salomon opened the second outpost of Starship Bagel, his Lewisville-based shop, in downtown Dallas in January. As if to challenge side-eye skeptics, it is situated across from The Joule, under the watchful gaze of the giant eyeball sculpture.
In the first month of his new downtown Dallas location, dozens lined up every weekend for his New York-style bagels and a healthy dollop of fermented jalapeño schmear. Salomon says he was shocked to find that demand for bagels in downtown was sky high, because up until a few years ago, he says a decent bagel was hard to find in Dallas.
Six years ago, Salomon learned to make bagels for himself and his friends, but then those friends started paying him to make them out of his tiny home kitchen. He later ran a pop-up, Oren’s Bagels, out of a church kitchen for about six months from 2017 to 2018, selling Montreal-style bagels to the community.
Montreal-style bagels are denser and sweeter than New York-style bagels, thanks to the honey used in the bread. They also are significantly thinner and smaller at about two ounces, in comparison to a four- to six-ounce New York-style bagel. In Montreal, bagels are likely to be ripped apart and dunked into cream cheese.
For two years, Salomon worked in commercial real estate after being told that the restaurant industry would be too tough to break into. But making bagels was the one thing he felt he was good at, he says.
“It was the thing that made me happier than anything else I’d ever done,” he says. “And there’s just something about feeding people that’s so rewarding to me.”
Salomon left his job in 2019 and staged at Boichik Bagels in Berkeley, California, where he perfected the boil and bake for crunchy, glossy New York-style bagels with thick, chewy interiors. He decided to jump into the restaurant industry with Starship Bagel in Lewisville in 2020. The shop took off, and he hasn’t looked back.
At Starship, the seasonings, whether it’s everything, poppyseed, Italian, or onion, are packed on both sides of the bagel, so there isn’t a bad side or a bad bite. One of the most popular schmears is that fermented jalapeño, a sweet, sour, and spicy cream cheese that spreads perfectly over a slice. Try to snag a tub when you can, because the schmear develops deeper and more complex flavors as the jalapeños continue to ferment.
In addition to schmears, Starship has bagel sandwiches with lox, cucumber, or avocado. Both Starship Bagel locations are completely kosher, so you won’t find a bacon, egg, and cheese option here—those can be found about a block away at Parterre, which uses Starship bagels for their breakfast sandwiches.
But Salomon is confident that his bagels are delicious all on their own.
“That’s why the bagel in our name is singular instead of being Starship Bagels,” he says. “We think the bagel is already perfect as is. It doesn’t really need anything to modify it.”
The Lewisville location has places to sit down and enjoy your bagel, while Starship in downtown Dallas serves bagels like a real New York shop: to-go and untoasted. (You can ask to have your bagel warmed up.) Starship closes at 1 p.m. because Salomon says bagels are a breakfast food, but customers run over to gather until then on any given day to grab a bite.
Oftentimes Salomon says he spot two people chatting in front of the bagel stand as they wait for orders. He notices, slowly but surely, that there was a need for a place in downtown Dallas like Starship.
“It’s just magical to observe,” he says. “I’m really happy that these people are lining up for my product, but I’m even more happy that the community gets something like this because it really wanted it.”
This story originally appeared in the April issue of D Magazine with the headline, “Schmear Campaign.” Write to [email protected].


text:
Welcome back to the third installment of The Streaming Geek, a weekly article series about the latest news, trends and major changes happening in streaming television. I’m part of a Pilot Group that is helping LinkedIn launch a new Series feature. Subscribe to the weekly series by clicking the blue button on the top right corner of this page and you’ll receive a notification of the new article being posted every week. Let’s deep dive into the future of tv together – as always, you can find me at www.streamingeek.com.
It’s a crowd, not a party.
2019 is going to be a very interesting year in streaming television. Disney, Apple, AT&T have announced their own direct-to-consumer services (DTC) coming to the market – in some cases through carefully orchestrated hype and ridiculously long wait -, bringing also some superstar power to the streaming content (Oprah Winfrey has signed a multiyear engagement with Apple). The presence of multiple players in what already looks like a maze poses multiple questions:
- Will this be an advantage for the consumers (unlikely, but could the competition lower the average price for end customers)?
- What is going to happen to content? Will the maze become even more complicated and the abundance of offerings trigger a “my-content-only-on-my-platform” type of situation? Disney has already announced it will pull its content from Netflix once their current licensing agreement expires in 2019.
- How will that content vacuum be filled? Will the average Joe end up subscribing to 4-5 video streaming platforms? Right now families subscribe mostly to Netflix (see recent data here) and one or two other platforms, usually Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. The data becomes even more skewed if examined by age groups.
- What will happen to entertainment spending when recession hits? Leisure is one of the first cuts people usually make when struggling financially and, while $10/month don’t necessarily break the bank, $50/month definitely do for average families (think in terms of Netflix+Hulu Live, respectively at $10 and $40 each). Who will make the cut?
Netflix will make the cut, and there will be only one spot left.
Netflix enjoys the first mover advantage, the largest catalog of originals, the loyalty of “cord nevers” (as the users who never signed up for cable and have totally embraced the Netflix model, mostly the 18-34 age group), and the “innovator” label as the company that trained us on binge watching without ads, binge release (no more waiting one week to see what happens in the next episode) and easiness of navigation through an Apple-like design approach. Expecting users to give up on this is not a possibility.
What is much more likely instead is that Netflix, crippled by its enormous spending for original content – was supposed to be $8 billion in 2018 and it rapidly became $12-13 billion – , will start slowly introducing AVOD (advertising video on demand) as layers of membership to ease the impact of spending for original shows and foreign language productions (just this year Netflix produced 80 foreign shows, some of which received wide critical acclaim). In doing so, Netflix will follow Hulu’s lead of different pricing tiers with different amount of ads. Those experiments with limited ads might not necessarily happen in the US, given the large customer base the company has in the States. That should help offset the losses of original programming and, in the meantime, let’s not forget that Netflix is keeping up the momentum on original content by signing up the Obamas to executive produce original shows. It’s such an ambitious plan that you can’t help being curious about it.
Will Apple and Disney just sit and watch?
Apple is pulling a serious stardom effort for its original programming. In addition to Oprah, the company has already enlisted a wide group of actors (Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston) and directors (M. Knight Shyamalan, Damien Chazelle) to produce what appears to be a wide range of high quality content (more details here). However, considering how long Netflix has been in the streaming business and the effort it undertook to become the leader, it might still take time for Apple to catch up on video streaming. As it learned when it missed the boat on music streaming, catching up is a much harder business.
Disney+, the streaming service coming to the market late 2019, should be more interesting. Disney has obviously the advantage of already having studios, talent, and a marketing army trained on producing and advertising movies and television content. As Disney has announced it will pull its content from Netflix, it seems that Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix, feels many studios and companies will still engage with Netflix even as they launch their own services, as they may find that Netflix will give them a better return on investment for some content. I believe he’s right. My prediction is that the latest and greatest releases will go on Disney+ but the rest will still stream on multiple platforms. The market is too big for these companies not to take advantage of each other.
Are we at “peak streaming” yet?
The short answer: not at all (and we’re drowning already). Since the launch of House of Cards on Netflix as the first original by a streaming service in 2013 things have grown so dramatically that we are out of control. Best ways to find a new show to watch now are social media, as browsing content has become just too time consuming. We are entering what is called “the choice paradox” commonly studied in behavioral finance: paralyzed by a plethora of options available, the user goes for what he/she knows best (familiar content) or just gives up altogether. The comfort of “not having to choose” is a strength that linear TV has, unlike streaming: viewers can still switch channel and not come back, but some audience gives real value to being surprised by the channel schedule and discovering a new show or movie. In a not-so-paradoxically way, this is what still keeps the audience attached to linear TV (and live TV conveyed through the internet).
For streaming companies, it’s even worse. If the user has the “first world problem” of figuring out what show to watch, companies have a serious challenge in keeping up with their own success. New stories, new talent, new narratives must be continuously cycled in and out to keep the momentum going. The creative community has seen production velocity and compensation levels unheard of before – but it won’t last. I will tackle the specific topic of how content is produced and distributed in two weeks so stay tuned!
Surrounded by a massive amount of options, consumers started cutting the bundle and cobbling things together as they feel appropriate to their needs and taste. ‘Skinny bundles’ like DirecTV and Sling TV – with a reduced number of channels – have been successful.. until they started raising their prices and the licensing wars affected their lineup. Bundles have hit a wall and seem now to be “cratering”, according to analysts. And to understand the impact of the licensing wars when too many players have the same goal, let’s close with this: a few weeks ago HBO channels were yanked off Dish and Sling TV by AT&T, the new HBO owner and also owner of Dish’s largest competitor, DirectTV. Each party blamed the other for what happened pointing at issues during the negotiation, but in the end it’s the consumer who loses: more than 2 million Dish customers now have to pay the same for fewer options. This is what licensing wars can cause, making it a zero sum game.
- For more reading on peak streaming, check out this insightful interview with John Landgraf, CEO of FX, here.
- For a great (and free) tool to figure out what type of content we can combine by breaking the bundle check out this website founded by Virginia Juliano at www.cobblecord.com.
The Streaming Geek will be back next week with a piece on ad tech and why it matters so much to companies and consumers. Thanks for reading!
Leave a Reply


text:
You'll be forgiven for wondering why LG is bothering with the Eigen, aka the GM730, since its competitor, Samsung, seems to have already been-there-done-that with the original Omnia. Still, we're more than happy to see LG finally jump head-first into the Windows Mobile pool after spending so long dipping their Prada-loving toes in the shallow end. What's that? You want the specs instead of a history of LG's relationship with WM and our thoughts on the future of said relationship? Fine.
- Windows Mobile 6.1.4 Professional
- Touch Screen
- WiFi, GPS, FM Radio
- G Sensor
- 5 mp Camera
- 528MHZ msm7201A from Qualcomm
- 256ROM/128 RAM
- 200x400 screen
ETA and price are, of course, completely unknown, though the press release points to the second half of the year. Two more views and the press release after the break. (You can get more at http://mwc.lge.com/. Careful, it was giving Firefox fits.)
LG Electronics (LG), a worldwide technology and design leader in mobile communications, today announced LG-GM730, its newest handset in LG’s smartphone line-up, which makes advanced smartphone features easy to use. This, the first smartphone to use new version of Windows Mobile OS integrated with LG’s advanced 3D S-Class User Interface, will be on display at the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona from February 16-19.
LG Electronics steps forward to the smartphone market making statement that users don’t have to outsmart to their smartphone.
The LG-GM730 is the newest phone among LG’s easy-to-use smartphones line-up to come. The company has recently signed a special contract with Microsoft, allowing them to be the first manufacturer of a phone with the new version of Windows Mobile. On top of Windows Mobile, the LG-GM730 will provide LG’s dynamic, direct and intuitive S-Class User Interface.
“The combination of Windows Mobile and our new 3D S-Class User Interface will make the LG-GM730 the most functional and easiest to use smartphone ever created,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “This phone is a springboard for us. We will launch a number of smartphones this year; most of them will follow this same winning formula.”
Built-around a 3D cube layout, S-Class User Interface provides four customizable home screens. The simple flick of a finger instantly turns the cube from one side to the next. S-Class User Interface eliminates nested menus wherever possible, providing more direct access to features and applications. Even setup for e-mail is simplified, requiring just one click. Internet Explorer 6.0 enhances the web experience.
The LG-GM730 also incorporates LG’s signature style, with a slim, seamless profile and smooth, stylish rounded edges. At just 11.9 mm it is the perfect on-the-go. Despite its small size, it still manages to pack in all the essential productivity software, with room to spare.
More technical specifications will be announced soon and the LG-GM730 will be available for purchase in the first half of 2009.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Phil is the father of two beautiful girls and is the Dad behind Modern Dad. Before that he spent seven years at the helm of Android Central. Before that he spent a decade in a newsroom of a two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist newspaper. Before that — well, we don't talk much about those days. Subscribe to the Modern Dad newsletter!


text:
On Friday, the beer companies faced harsh penalties amounting to humongous Rs. 873 crore from CCI. The countries that were penalized were namely Carlsberg India, United Breweries Ltd, and also All India Brewers’ Association (AIBA). This also had included 11 other individuals who were penalized for cartelization. According to the reports, the beer cartelization was carried out in the supply and sale of the beer.
The most prominent companies that were caught in the probe by the CCI were United Breweries Ltd, AB InBev, SABMiller India Ltd, and Carlsberg India Private Ltd.
However, it is to be noted here that all the entities had attracted penalties, Ab InBev was given 100 percent concession on its penalties and was thus emphatically exempted from paying its due diligence. Thus, one can effectively state that the regulator, CCI, did not impose any fine or fee on Ab InBev. This was done even after fines were imposed on various other aforementioned companies.
UBL and Carlsberg India, the prominent defaulters in the case have stated that they are reviewing the order.
The reason for beer cartelization
According to the sleuthing that was carried out by the CCI, it was effectively found that the aforementioned companies were indulging in various anti-competitive activities that were harming the welfare of the consumers in markets across various states.
According to the report it was emphatically found that the companies in association with other entities have been found to be indulging in beer cartelization by restricting the supply in the market and changing the prices trying to increase the same and incurring more profits.
This pattern was found in various States and Union Territories in India. What was shocking was the fact that such discrepancies and felonies were being committed through the platform of the All India Brewers’ Association, which too was penalized.
According to the findings during the investigation, it was discovered that AIBA was significantly involved in strategically facilitating such cartelization. Thus, the Competition Commission of India has also held it to be contravening the competition law.
Reduction in penalty
All the companies that have been penalized have submitted a request with the CCI to effectively reduce the penalty. In response to which 100 percent compensation was provided to AB InBev and its individuals, similarly, a 40 percent reduction in penalty was granted to UBL and its individuals.
The least was provided to CIPL as it was granted a reduction in penalty by 20 percent. This was mainly granted due to the cooperation that was shown during the process of investigation.
To break down the structure of the penalty, UBL, and Carlsberg India was fined nearly ₹752 crores and ₹121 crores, respectively. Additionally, a fine of Rs. 6.25 lakh was imposed on AIBA and various other individuals that were involved.
Why was Ab Inv being exempt from paying penalties by CCI?
With the aforementioned information, it might make one wonder what made CCI exempt Ab inv from paying its penalties?
It is to be noted that this was done due to the fact that the company had strategically and effectively had explained the nature of the cartel fixing to the CCI and had emphatically submitted strategic and important evidence of email communications for investigation. Thus, Ab Inv was exempted fork paying any penalties and was given a 100 percent reduction compared to other companies.
The period of cartelization, during the investigations, was found out to be from 2009 to 2018. In which CIPL had joined the detestable agenda in 2012. Talking about AIBA, it had been serving as a platform for the facilitation of such cartel formation since 2013. It mainly played the role of speeding up the process for getting approval for a suggested price increase from the state governments and adding much weight to the argument of the companies.
It is to be noted that based on various shreds of evidence that were discovered of regular communications between the parties, it was found that the executives of the company had indulged in price coordination and supply restrictions to increase the prices and to incur high profits in the market.
According to the CCI, it was the violation of competition norms that decreased competition in the market and thus decreased consumer welfare through such unfair means.
The rationale behind such unfair means
With the cartel fixing, leading the companies in frenzy and humiliation, one cannot help but think about what actually led to such actions? The main reason that was provided by the companies for indulging in such unfair activities was the Government’s draconian laws that made its authority and interference crippling for their business.
In order to get a price approved, companies have to wait for the approval of the state government which usually takes just three meetings throughout the year. This leads to crippling effects on the business and is what leads the companies to form cartel fixing and incur high profits. Thus, the main reason for the commitment was such discrepancy was effectively government red-handedness on the part of the government, as per the companies.
Now, what interesting turn will this episode of cartel fixing take is something we’ll have to wait and watch.
Edited by Sanjana Simlai.


text:
FedEx Corp.’s profit more than doubled during its fiscal third quarter, fueled by record holiday package shipping, higher profit for the company’s ground shipping unit and reduced losses at FedEx Freight.
“FedEx results were driven by improving yields, record holiday package shipping and exceptional performance at FedEx Ground,” said Fred Smith, FedEx chairman, president and CEO. “We expect our solid performance to continue in our fourth quarter, capping off a strong fiscal year.”
FedEx posted net income of $521 million, up 126 percent from a year earlier, as revenue rose 9 percent to $10.56 billion.
The company’s express unit had operating income of $349 million, up 96 percent, as revenue rose 8 percent to $6.54 billion.
FedEx Ground operating income rose 43 percent to $465 million on a 14 percent rise in revenue to $2.48 billion.
The company’s FedEx Freight segment narrowed its operating loss to $1 million from $110 million a year ago as revenue rose 10 percent to $1.23 billion.
Less-than-truckload yield rose 6 percent because of higher fuel charges and improved base yields. LTL average daily shipments rose 2 percent, aided by favorable weather.


text:
Ford Motor Company is piloting new software from Siemens that facilitates virtual navigation within its assembly plants. The goal is to help Ford improve global collaboration and better share best-practices across its global plants.
The tool, called IntoSite, was developed by Siemens using Google Earth infrastructure. It’s a cloud-based Web application that allows users to share information within Ford’s virtual plants. Expected benefits include improvements in communication, efficiency, globalization, and standardization.
IntoSite holds a 3D version of assembly plants and allows users to navigate virtually through the plants -- down to the workstations -- obtaining a better understanding of global processes. IntoSite was developed by Siemens's PLM software business unit.
At any virtual location, engineers or other team members can add pins –- just as they would in Google Maps –- and upload content such as videos, documents, and images to these pins. This is designed to create a private virtual space where users can save and share materials, and better communicate within plants and around the world.
IntoSite adds on to a wide range of 3D design software from Siemens. “We do a lot with 3D product data, building and simulating the processes,” Al Hufstetler, vice president of product management for the manufacturing engineering software company Tecnomatix, which is owned by Siemens, told Design News. “The 3D factory is not new to us. What IntoSite does is the opposite of our approach to 3D product software. With IntoSite, we go from the enterprise down into the plant.”
IntoSite can be customized to allow the user to see just what’s pertinent to that particular user. “We can drill down to the envelope in the facility, and you can see all of the components. I can go into one or two layers, and I can see the info that is provided for me to see,” Hufstetler told us.
Hufstetler noted that IntoSite is also easy to use, just like Google Earth. “The key message is I don’t have to go through a week of training, and I don’t have to use it 80 percent of my life to understand it. I can just go to the link and see what’s available to see. I could see how my Brazilian plant does it as compared to my plant.”
Siemens expects that the comparison plant-to-plant will be one of the big benefits of IntoSite. “You can see how they did it in the German plant,” said Hufstetler. “You can also see who owns that machine and see who the maintenance engineer is. It’s a faster, easier way to share.”
Siemens developed IntoSite as a way to help manufacturing professionals virtually fly into any factory location around the globe, and explore, align, collaborate, and share knowledge. IntoSite provides manufacturers virtual access to plants for manufacturing planning, issue resolution, and sharing best-practices globally without the need for costly plant visits.
Siemens is working to develop IntoSite with a number of manufacturing customers. “We have customers who are piloting it now. We’ve also done a lot of development in our own company,” said Hufstetler. “We think it has appeal for the aerospace market. Suppliers who are building significant parts and assemblies -– they can meld it with their processes. It’s going to be used by larger OEM customers as well as by OEM customers with their suppliers.
The IntoSite pilot program is initially being studied at Ford’s assembly plant in Wayne, Mich.


text:
Apple's proposed App Store changes rejected one more time The tech giant was ordered by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to change its App Store policies so that dating app developers could use third-party payment systems to process in-app purchases by users. But the proposed changes have once again failed to convince the Dutch regulator which has continued to levy million-dollar fines against Apple, according to 9to5Mac. AA platform brings first public sector lender onboard As per a TOI report, the Union Bank of India has become the first public sector lender to join the account aggregator (AA) framework — a financial data sharing mechanism regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). What does this mean for Union Bank customers? Being part of the AA framework means that financial information users (FIUs) can request and obtain information about a customer, after obtaining their consent, for disbursing loans. Its use cases could also include healthcare and disseminating financial advisory to clients. Occupied Ukraine's web traffic now passes through Russia After purportedly taking control of Kherson, Russia has rerouted the internet traffic flowing out of the Ukrainian region to pass through the former's communications infrastructure, Reuters reported. The internet was briefly suspended and restored in Kherson, following which, NetBlocks (which tracks internet service disruptions) noticed that various metrics showed traffic was now going through Russia. Number of unicorns in India hits 100 mark A neobanking platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) called Open has emerged as India's 100th unicorn after raising…
- Jade Lyngdoh on Content Moderation in Non-English Languages | Meta India Tech Scholars 2021-22 February 1, 2023
- Why is a global approach to crypto regulation needed, according to India’s Economic Survey? February 1, 2023
- Budget 2023: Top Tech Policy Takeaways from Nirmala Sitharaman’s Speech February 1, 2023
- Everything You Need to Know About the India-US Critical and Emerging Technology Initiative February 1, 2023
- RS Sharma, key person for Aadhaar and Co-WIN projects, steps down as Chief of National Health Authority of India February 1, 2023
MediaNama’s mission is to help build a digital ecosystem which is open, fair, global and competitive.
India's smartphone operating system BharOS has received much buzz in the media lately, but does it really merit this attention?
After using the Mapples app as his default navigation app for a week, Sarvesh draws a comparison between Google Maps and Mapples
The regulatory ambivalence around an instrument so essential to facilitate data exchange – the CM framework – is disconcerting for several reasons.
The provisions around grievance redressal in the Data Protection Bill "stands to be dangerously sparse and nugatory on various counts."
Please subscribe to MediaNama. Don't share prints and PDFs.
You May Also Like
Google has released a Google Travel Trends Report which states that branded budget hotel search queries grew 179% year over year (YOY) in India, in...
135 job openings in over 60 companies are listed at our free Digital and Mobile Job Board: If you’re looking for a job, or...
Twitter takes down tweets from MP, MLA, editor criticising handling of pandemic upon government request
By Aroon Deep and Aditya Chunduru You’re reading it here first: Twitter has complied with government requests to censor 52 tweets that mostly criticised...


text:
The long-awaited casino study bill was pushed back again on Monday as the ruling coalition remains divided on the measure.
Amaya Gaming Group has agreed to sell its Cadillac Jack subsidiary to an affiliate of private equity firm Apollo Global Management for US$ 375m.
The five finalists have been unveiled for the highly anticipated GiGse Totally Gaming Start-Up LaunchPad competition, in partnership with GamCrowd.
GSN Games acquires San Francisco-based social casino game developer Idle Gaming, the studio responsible for Fresh Deck Poker and Slots of Fun.
Scientific Games has signed an agreement to provide El San Juan Resort & Casino in Puerto Rico with a host of Bally systems and games products.
Bellagio® Las Vegas announces the installation of a vibrant conservatory display and art installation by renowned sculptor Masatoshi Izumi.
Table Mountain Casino is recognised for its advertising with six Gold ADDY awards and one Silver ADDY at the 2015 American Advertising Awards.
The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention. More than $28bn of purchasing power will gather this week in San Diego, California.
Aristocrat Technologies and VGT will take it to the Next Level at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (NIGA) in San Diego this week.
JCM Global has worked with tribal operators since Indian gaming’s inception and is now bringing transaction technology solutions to NIGA 2015.


text:
As many South Africans brace themselves for the annual – and typically lengthy – drive to their end-of-year holiday destinations they’d do well to remember to stay well hydrated whether in the car en route as well as when on the beach, hiking in the mountains or game viewing.
This is the message from South African National Bottled Water Association CEO, Charlotte Metcalf, who pointed out that water — in all its forms — is a vital component of the human diet. And, particularly when temperatures reach their summer highs, South Africans should make certain they are never far away from a tap, a fridge containing a jug of water, a water cooler or a bottle of water.
“Sensible travellers and holiday makers will ensure their suitcases contain sun screens and hats to protect them and their families from the summer sun, and water to slake their thirst and fend off dehydration,” she said.
“And, when if they can’t get to a tap – as many travellers and holidaymakers can’t when they’re enjoying their December break – bottled water is the best packaged beverage option for the environment, as it has the lightest environmental footprint of all packaged beverages.”
Metcalf said bottled water does not compete against tap water for share of mouth in South Africa but is offered as a healthy beverage alternative. It competes against other beverages such as cold drinks and flavoured milks on the shelves of supermarkets, forecourt convenience stores and cafés, she said.
She added that, if this December, your water comes packaged as bottled water and not in a re-usable container, SANBWA urges you to recycle as the bottle’s impact on the environment can be reduced immediately by 25% when you do so.
SANBWA’s recycling tips include:
Set up a holding area for your recyclables in your car – it could be a packet or a box in your boot.
Bring it home.
When you’re out and about and empty a plastic container (water, iced tea, colddrink, sunscreen etc), bring it home for recycling if there are no recycling options around you.
If there is a recycling bin nearby, make certain it is for plastic, and not glass or paper. And make certain that you deposit the container securely in the bin.
Keep the cap on. Make sure to not throw the cap in separately as it may get lost in the transportation process and become litter.
Visit http://www.petco.co.za/ag3nt/system/recycling_06_drop.php to find a collection depot near you.


text:
Biden Urges Detroit Automakers, UAW to Reach Labor Deal
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
President Joe Biden urged the United Auto Workers union and Detroit’s Big Three automakers to come to a “fair agreement,” weighing in on tense contract talks with major implications for the U.S. economy.
Significant differences between the union and car companies on pay, benefits and transitioning to electric vehicles have raised concerns about a work stoppage when the current contract expires Sept. 14.
“I’m asking all sides to work together to forge a fair agreement,” Biden said in a statement Aug. 14. “The need to transition to a clean energy economy should provide a win‑win opportunity for auto companies and unionized workers.”
Biden called on General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis NV to “take every possible step to avoid painful plant closings” and when job transitions are necessary, ensure they “are fair and look to retool, reboot and rehire in the same factories and communities at comparable wages, while giving existing workers the first shot to fill those jobs.”
Host Michael Freeze clarifies the differences between predictive and preventive maintenance. He gives fresh commentary on everything from how enhanced connectivity boosts your preventive maintenance plans to what predictive possibilities AI can offer your shop. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
The president’s decision to speak publicly about the talks underscores concern inside the administration about the possibility of a strike or lockout. Biden has spent the summer seeking to turn around Americans’ dim views of his economic stewardship, and a work stoppage at U.S. auto plants could halt positive momentum for the economy.
In the last several months, Biden avoided supply chain-crippling labor disputes on freight railroads, at West Coast ports and between UPS Inc. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. But the auto talks could be the most contentious yet.
The UAW is looking to boost wages, restore pensions for new hires, secure cost-of-living increases and cut hours. Those demands would add more than $80 billion to each of the Big Three’s labor costs, according to people familiar with the companies’ estimates.
The union has said they are looking to recover lost pay from the pandemic and ensure organized labor has strongholds in new electric vehicle and battery plants.
Fain by Emily Elconin/Bloomberg News
By backing some of the UAW’s core demands, Biden could generate goodwill with the union. The UAW has not endorsed Biden’s re-election, after backing him in 2020, amid their concerns with the move toward electric vehicles.
U.S. automakers are investing tens of billions in designing and building EVs and are looking to increase profits from conventional vehicle manufacturing to pay for the transition. UAW President Shawn Fain has accused the companies of engaging in a “race to the bottom” with EV and battery factories that will employ fewer workers making lower wages.
Biden has tapped senior adviser Gene Sperling to liaise with the union and auto companies during the negotiations. The president also met last month with Fain when UAW leaders were at the White House to brief senior staff on their positions in the talks, according to a White House official.
— With assistance from Keith Naughton, David Welch and Gabrielle Coppola.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:


text:
New York Times tech columnist and Mac pundit David Pogue turns his attention to Friday’s forthcoming release of Mac OS X v10.3, “Panther,” in a new article entitled
Apple’s Latest 0.1 Adds a Lot.
Microsoft Windows’ perennial virus and worm problems serves as an introduction to Panther for Pogue’s readers. He notes that “Mac OS X, is so far 100 percent virus-free” thanks to a lot “less of its plumbing exposed to the Internet than Windows.” With regards to Panther’s changes, Pogue said, “That decimal-point increase (from version 10.2 to 10.3) doesn’t give the upgrade’s 150 new features enough credit.”
He lists off many of the new version’s key security enhancements like FileVault, a new file encryption scheme, and something that casual Panther researchers might have missed the first time around — a feature called Secure Empty Trash, which overwrites the space left behind by deleted files to more securely get rid of them. Pogue also notes that Mail’s anti-spam measures have been improved.
After recounting some of the much-ballyhooed features of Panther — like the new Finder Sidebar, the window switching capability called Exposé, and Fast User Switching, Pogue also notes that TextEdit can open, edit and create Microsoft Word documents, while Safari and Preview also get improvements. “Apple’s homegrown versions of important programs like Internet Explorer and Acrobat Reader seem aimed at addressing a common criticism: “Boy, if [insert software company here] ever stops making a Mac version of [insert popular program here], Apple will go out of business,” said Pogue.
Pogue analyzes the US$129 price tag for the operating system upgrade. While he said that Microsoft at least “has the decency to wait a few years between upgrades,” he offers some justifications — including the $30 price tag for iChat AV that Jaguar users will soon have to pay, and “value in using an operating system that, well, isn’t Windows.” He also touts Mac OS X’s absence of “Activation,” pop-up messages and the like.
“When you use Mac OS X, you feel like it’s yours; when you use Windows, you feel as though you’re using someone else’s toys, and Mrs. Microsoft keeps peeking in on you,” he said.
“In Panther, Apple has taken an already sparkling, super-stable operating system and made it faster, better equipped and more secure,” Pogue concluded.