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Back in July I wrote a piece on our sister site about how the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission had ruled out in-game purchases as being anything to do with gambling. That was based around the simple fact that a prize needed to have either a monetary value or be real-life money in order to come under gambling legislation as the rules currently are.
That story has now taken a further development, with MPs looking into the matter declaring that in-game spending should indeed be considered as gambling.
The MPs went even further, declaring that the so-called ‘loot boxes’ should be banned altogether for children. It led to the trade body responsible for the industry in the UK saying that it would take a look at the government’s recommendations ‘with utmost seriousness’. It’s unlikely that that is going to please the MPs that have asked for them to be banned, however, with the committee accusing some of the people that gave evidence of lacking ‘honesty and transparency’.
It comes on the back of one of the companies responsible for online game RunScape admitting that people could spend as much as £5,000 per month.
Loot Boxes Are ‘Like Kinder Eggs’, Says EA Games
Video games have become monetised in recent years by giving players the chance to buy so-called ‘loot boxes’ that contain an amount of items that is not specified before the purchase but promise to enhance the game-playing experience. That is especially true when it comes to free video games, many of which have marketplaces associated with them that allow players to buy and sell the items that they’ve gained from their loot box purchases. It is this behaviour that MPs have major concerns over.
The Vice-President of EA Games, Kerry Hopkins, tried to play down these concerns, however. Speaking to the group of MPs she said that her company thinks that the boxes are ‘quite ethical and fun’ and compared loot boxes to the sorts of things you find on offer from companies like Kinder in the Kinder Eggs they sell, as well as LOL Surprises and Hatchimals.
It was a suggestion immediately dismissed by the gaming journalist Ryan Brown, who said that any gamer would say that they are ‘not happy with’ loot boxes and ‘don’t deem it as being fun; they wish it wasn’t there’.
Industry Is ‘Reluctant To Admit Responsibility’
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has been running an inquiry into the world of immersive and addictive technologies, hearing about young adults who had built up thousands of pounds of debt thanks to in-game spending. One such example included a family whose children are all under 10 and spent more than £500 trying to buy Lionel Messi in a loot box.
Whilst RunScape’s makers, Jagex, might well have admitted that players could spend up to £1,000 a week or £5,000 a month, MPs felt that the industry as a whole was fair less forthcoming.
It was felt by the committee that people representing the industry were ‘reluctant to accept responsibility’. The MPs were critical of the fact that industry representatives didn’t want to intervene when it was clear that a player was over-spending, nor were they willing to admit how much they thought was ‘too much’ to be spent by a player.
The committee declared some people from the gaming industry to ‘wilfully obtuse’ when answering questions about how the various game-play features of games worked, which was important in terms of better understanding the way in which players engage with the games that they use.
Business Model Requires People’s ‘Attention, Time & Money’
MPs found it difficult to get clear answers from members of the gaming industry that appeared before the committee, particularly in regards to what data they collect, how that data is used and the psychology behind game designs.
One MP compared it the world of social media, in which there is a battle to ‘capture people’s attention, time and money’. Mr Collins suggested that it’s down to the way the business model works, but said that they need to be ‘more responsible’ when it comes to dealing with the harm that can be caused to some users.
It was an accusation that garnered a somewhat angry response from the Chief Executive of UK Interactive Entertainment, Dr Jo Twist. She said that the video game industry has always taken the welfare of players seriously, but admitted that a majority were ‘finding balance is a problem’.
She said that he company was vocal when it came to supporting various efforts to ‘increase digital literacy’ in schools and with carers. Still, it wasn’t enough for Mr Collins, who believes that companies should be made to contribute financially to research into gaming disorders ‘based on excessive and addictive game-play’ which ‘has been recognised by the World Health Organization’.
Age Verification Is Important
At the time of the committee’s investigation into the matter, both social media platforms and games work on an ‘honesty system’ when it comes to verifying the age of users. That means that many people playing games are underage, which in turn means that young people are able to buy loot boxes and other in-game purchases when they shouldn’t be able to.
MPs feel that loot boxes in particular should be a reward for game play and not sold to children. Mr Collins said, “Loot boxes are particularly lucrative for games companies but come at a high cost, particularly for problem gamblers, while exposing children to potential harm”.
Collins put forth a ‘challenge’ to the government to explain why, exactly, loot boxes should be ‘exempt from the Gambling Act’. He said, “Buying a loot box is playing a game of chance and it is high time the gambling laws caught up”. It comes after the government in Belgium declared that they were indeed in violation of that country’s gambling laws, whilst China has put a restriction in place on the number of boxes that can be opened per day.
Republican senator Josh Hawley, meanwhile, said that he thinks loot boxes should be banned altogether in the United States of America, proposing a ‘Protecting Children from Abusive Games’ bill.


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Smartphone users love their apps. According to Nielsen, U.S. consumers access 26.7 apps and spend an average of 37.5 hours in them each month.
But a recent report from research company Gartner predicts that by 2020, nearly half of our mobile interactions will be done through virtual personal assistants, like Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) Siri, Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Cortana, and Alphabet's (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Now.
Here's what Gartner had to say:
By 2020, smart agents will facilitate 40 percent of mobile interactions, and the postapp era will begin to dominate. Smart agent technologies, in the form of virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and other agents, will monitor user content and behavior in conjunction with cloud-hosted neural networks to build and maintain data models from which the technology will draw inferences about people, content and contexts. Based on these information-gathering and model-building efforts, VPAs can predict users' needs, build trust and ultimately act autonomously on the user's behalf.
Having our phones predict the exact information that we need, when we need it, is already a theme major tech companies have implemented into smartphones to a small degree. But each is making big moves to expand their VPAs, too.
What Apple's doing
Last year, Apple made headlines when it was discovered that the company was diving further into neural networks (a type of machine learning where computers use algorithms to process information in similar ways that our brains do) to make Siri's voice recognition much smarter.
More recently, though, Apple's made a handful of acquisitions that could beef up Siri once again -- and lead to Gartner's prediction of smarter VPAs. In October, Apple purchased natural-language speech recognition company VocalIQ, which made a form of artificial intelligence (AI) that actively learns from conversations, as opposed to just listening. The technology could help boost Siri's ability to understand the meaning behind what someone is saying, instead of simply what a person is saying.
Apple also recently picked up the deep-learning company Perceptio, which built a system that allows AI to run in apps without having to collect massive amounts of user data. Perceptio was working on technology that helped AI classify photos without being told what they are. But the technology could be applied to other areas where a phone needs to learn something new without specifically being told.
Aside from its acquisitions, Apple has also made several recent hires in artificial intelligence as well, including a deep-learning expert from NVIDIA. Of course, not all of Apple's AI moves are geared toward Siri, but considering the iPhone accounts for 63% of Apple's revenue, you can bet the company is working toward ensuring its phones outsmart other VPAs.
What Alphabet's doing
Alphabet's Google already implements neural net processing in some of its apps, like Google Translate. This allows the app to translate images of a language instantaneously into another language, all without having to access the Internet for information.
Similarly, the Alphabet's Google Photos app uses a deep-learning system called TensorFlow to categorize images in the app (like pictures of beaches), so users can find images they're looking for much faster.
But Google isn't just interested in deep learning and neural networks to power Photos and Translate: The company also uses its AI systems to become the best predictor of what users want as well. Google relies heavily on all of the information from its other apps, Gmail, and online searches, and then offers up predictive information through Google Now.
As an article in SearchEngineLand recently mentioned, "Google Now is fully cloud-based. Whatever it learns on any device or in any way you interact with Google all goes into a common profile in the cloud."
So, Alphabet's Google is already using cloud-based information to power Google Now, and as the company dives into more cloud-based neural networking, you can be sure Google Now's predictions will get even better.
What Microsoft's doing
Microsoft has already tapped into neural networking with its Skype app, which can help translate different languages in real-time conversations. And Microsoft's virtual assistant, Cortana, uses natural networks for speech recognition as well.
But the company continues to expand its AI focus, and earlier this year, Microsoft Research revealed that its deep-learning system was able to identify a set of images, within 1,000 possible categories, better than humans. Microsoft's deep learning system had an error rate of 4.94%, while humans had an error rate of 5.1%.
As with Apple and Alphabet, Microsoft isn't expanding its use of neural networks and deep learning just so users can have better photo classification. Eventually, the company wants to use these systems to infer what information users want from their mobile devices.
Microsoft's Cortana uses cloud-based information to help it understand what users are asking, and pulls information from Bing searches, emails, and Web-browsing history to help it understand what users want. As more of Microsoft Research's findings are put to use with Cortana, the company will be able to expand its VPA's ability to better predict what users want.
No clear winner yet
It's hard to say which platform is expanding its neural-networking expertise better at this point. Right now, virtual personal assistants still feel a bit like a nice-to-have feature, but they aren't critical in helping users get things accomplished throughout the day. Still, if these tech companies continue to pursue neural processing, deep learning, and other AI systems, then they'll likely be one of the most important aspects of our future devices.

domain: news


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The UK IT Industry Awards 2017 were a huge success, with thousands of IT professionals celebrating the very best of the industry. With a wide variety of organisations present from every sector, the...
Twenty-year-old cyber security researcher apprehended on suspicion of involvement
MPs question legal basis for facial recognition trials conducted by police forces
Neither Apple nor Microsoft have yet issued a fix
Trump could stop JEDI cloud contract over competition concerns as bidding comes down Microsoft versus Amazon


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Vietnam issued a new Circular on the labeling of pharmaceuticals, replacing the current drug labeling regulations. Taking effect from June 1, 2018, manufacturers should take note of the new guidelines and regulations to ensure compliance.
Vietnam has issued new conditions on the establishment of retail outlets by a foreign-invested enterprise, providing a more transparent framework for investors in the retail sector. Read more to know about the growing retail industry and the changes in conditions on the establishment of retail outlets.
Vietnam has amended certain provisions in the franchising regulations to reduce administrative burdens. However, provisions on franchise registration requirements on foreign franchisors, still remain. Read more to know about the industry, changes in the regulations, and what it means for the industry.
To further align itself with international IP laws, Vietnam has amended its Intellectual Property Laws. Already in effect from January 15, 2018, patent applicants should take note of the major amendments related to application rules, patent applications, and examination procedures.
In 2017, the Vietnamese government passed numerous laws which are going to come into effect in 2018. Read more to know about the new laws primarily focusing on SMEs, trade, and sectors such as banking, agriculture, and tourism.
The Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union has been retrieved by Dezan Shira & Associates, translated into English, archived and is available for complimentary PDF download.
In the latest issue from Asia Briefing, understand Vietnam’s investment climate, its permitted corporate structures, and learn the best setup option for foreign investment in conditional sectors.
Third Party Logistics (3PL) offers a low-cost alternative to setting up a Vietnamese company. Read more for detailed analysis on 3PL service availability, structuring options, and provider evaluation.
A pharmacy decree detailing the implementation of the Law on Pharmacy was released by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health and it set to take effect in July. Read more for a detailed look at the decree’s impact on distribution rights, pharmaceutical pricing, and foreign investment within Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has rejected a bid to set price floors on air tickets as proposed by the country’s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines. Understand the decision and learn what it means for aviation within the country.


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|Robert Caruso, Manager of the new appraisal centre, and Jacques Laplante, the centre's owner.
Hamilton, Ontario -- October 13, 2014 -- CARSTAR Automotive Canada has announced the opening of the CARSTAR Casselman Appraisal Centre. The appraisal centre is located at the Laplante Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership at 632 Principale Street in Casselman, Ontario.
The dealership is owned by the Laplante family. The family also owns second dealership in Hawkesbury, where they opened CARSTAR Hawkesbury (Laplante) last year.
â€œWhen we joined CARSTAR in 2013 we were impressed by the brandâ€™s reputation,â€ says Jacques Laplante.
The appraisal centre is located in a busy retail area, with over 4,000 sq. ft. of production space in addition to providing an inviting customer reception area.
â€œThe most important thing about this location is that it is conveniently located to serve customers,â€ says Roberto Caruso, Manager of the appraisal centre. Roberto has 25 years of experience in the industry and his primary focus for the business is customer service.
When asked about the role of family and community for their business Roberto says, â€œWe are a family-owned business to begin with; Jacques and his children Stephanie and Sebastien all play a part in the dealerships. The CARSTAR identity is very much related to family and community.â€


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New Delhi: The government has notified hike in GSTcess on a range of cars from mid-size to hybrid variant to luxury ones to a maximum of 25 per cent, from earlier 15 per cent.
Following assent by President Ram Nath Kovind, the government has notified the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Ordinance, 2017. The Ordinance was last week approved by the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and was sent to the President for his approval.
It has come into force with effect from September 2 -- the date of official gazette notification. With this amendment, taxation on luxury, SUV and other vehicles would be brought at par with that prevailing pre-GST rollout.
However, the quantum of cess hike in each variety of car would be decided by the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his state counterparts, in its next meeting on September 9.
Car prices had dropped by up to Rs 3 lakh following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1 and the ordinance is being seen as an attempt to rectify the anomaly where rates of certain common use items had gone up but luxury cars were costing less under the new regime.
Large motor vehicles, SUVs, mid-segment cars, large cars, hybrid cars and hybrid motor vehicles attract a cess of 15 per cent on top of 28 per cent GST. This cess has been hiked to up to 25 per cent now.
Also a new category has been introduced in the Act where in motor vehicles which has capacity to transport up to 13 people would attract 25 per cent cess.
The highest pre-GST tax incidence on motor vehicles worked out to about 52-54.72 per cent, to which 2.5 per cent was added on account of Central Sales Tax, octroi etc.
Against this, post-GST the total tax incidence came to 43 per cent. Under GST, which replaced over a dozen central and state levies in the biggest tax reform since Independence, cars attract the top tax rate of 28 per cent.
On top of this, a cess of 1 to 25 per cent has been levied for the creation of a corpus to compensate states for any loss of revenue from implementation of the GST.
Is the `Kitna Deti Hai !’ approach logical to the battery-operated electric vehicles? In India, the focal point of the customer appraisal of an EV is range as certified by ARAI. But on the road, the actual mileage may vary depending on many other things. It is really difficult for a real customer to get a good result between the actual and estimated range ratio. The ARAI testing is highly controlled and standardized, but in real-world driving, the correlation can vary dramatically depending on the vehicle, the battery, and the charging method.


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Not likely. The signals aren't that good. It will never work. Especially in a hilly territory like the San Francisco Bay area.
Back to DVDs for me!
Digital tuner chip company Microtune has launched a new chip for in-car reception of DVB-T signals, a market expected to explode during 2009, despite the obvious luxury status of in-car TV reception. Getting a decent TV signal into a car isn't as easy as it might initially appear. Traditional analogue systems are only good up …
I'm not surprised that this'd be big in Japan. For various reasons, Japanese folks often seek to kit their cars out to an occasionally ridiculous degree, and it's not a new thing.
Japanese TV is indeed pretty bad, though if you're not used to it it's fascinating for a little while.
Biting the hand that feeds IT © 1998–2022


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International Creative Capital is proud to announce their project backing of a new “Mall of Entertainment” in Albertville, MN. Aimed at adding to the entertainment sector around the Albertville mall, the Mall of Entertainment will feature a 300,000 square foot development with a theme park based on Sony Pictures properties such as “Smurfs”, “Men in Black”, “Ghostbusters”, and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”. A 275 room Marriott hotel will sit alongside a 50,000 square foot waterpark in addition to other entertainment.
The complex will cost roughly $115 million dollars to develop, and ICC is proud to be part of the financing behind this project. Kevin Hanson, the CEO and owner of ICC, has the backing of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. ICC leadership has attended multiple trade missions with Governor Dayton to earn the trust for this project. Here is a press release on the Governor’s website about this project, quoting ICC CEO Kevin Hanson as building the relationship with the Governor over the course of several trade missions accompanying him.
Press attention has been received from all directions, including Kare 11’s reporting on the new development.
The project will be co-developed by Sony Pictures Consumer Products and a group called Black Forest LLC, which includes Los Angeles-based iP2Entertainment along with Kevin Hanson of ICC and other business partners. Kevin Hanson said International Creative Capital is the finance arm of the project.
The mall is projected to create 2,000 local jobs and has the blessing of local elected officials.
Media requests should be sent to Ben Bloch, Public Relations, email@example.com


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Wynn Resorts Ltd. said Thursday that it had formed a strategic relationship with one of the largest poker sites operating in the U.S., even though the federal government considers such activity illegal.
The casino company said it would lobby for federal legislation legalizing online poker with the Isle of Man-based Poker Stars. Then the two companies would create a new site, PokerStarsWynn.com, if such legislation passes. The company gave no indication that it would begin doing business with PokerStars before that point.
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Financial report performance highlights show that BIC recorded significant net sales growth of 15.9% at constant currencies, which was driven by a better understanding of consumer habits, a more focused sales approach on the customer and increased business efficiency in each region.
BIC’s net sales growth was largely driven by growth in all of its product categories, which include razors, lighters and stationery. These results were driven by a rebound in overall product consumption, the reopening of schools in most countries, changing consumer attitudes towards creativity and self-expression, improved in-store visibility and a more value-oriented approach.
Commenting on the company’s performance, Gonzalve Bich, Chairman and CEO of BIC, said: “We delivered solid results for 2021, exceeding our expectations, and net sales growth ranging from one to two numbers across all of our markets, focusing on turning our Horizon strategic plan into action. Our passion for bringing simplicity and joy to people around the world drives us to reinvent what’s new today and what’s tomorrow. Our teams have exceeded what they can control, such as commercial excellence and new product launches.”
Regarding the outlook for 2022, the CEO of BIC also added “We will build on the momentum of 2021 and the execution of the Horizon plan, we expect net sales growth for the year 2022 between 7% and 9% at constant exchange rates.
To mark BIC’s success over the past financial year, the company will offer its shareholders an ordinary dividend of €2.15 per share, to be paid in June 2022, subject to approval by the General Meeting. The company also launched a €40 million share buyback program in January 2022.
The company has also demonstrated resilience in the face of external headwinds through manufacturing efficiencies and sourcing initiatives fueled by BIC’s Invent the Future plan. These external headwinds were driven by rising raw materials, market prices for packaging, and disruption in global ocean freight.
For more than 75 years, BIC has continued to honor the tradition of providing consumers around the world with essential, affordable and high-quality products. BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a registered trademark worldwide thanks to this unwavering commitment. Today, BIC products are sold in over 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids™, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello®, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil®, Tipp -Ex®, Us . TM, Wite-Out®, Inkbox and more. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indices and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education.
World leader in stationery, lighters and razors, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, the company has honored the tradition of providing essential, affordable, high-quality products to consumers around the world. Thanks to this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a registered trademark worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids™, BIC FlexMTBIC BodyMarkMTcello®Djeep, Lucky Papeterie, Rocketbook, Sun®Tip Ex®We. MTwithout® and more. In 2021, BIC’s sales amounted to 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on “Euronext Paris”, is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indices and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. He received an A-Leadership score from CDP. To learn more, visit about.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, instagram, TwitterWhere Youtube.


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Strong demand and market conditions are driving Latin American growth opportunities for North American corporates in a number of industries, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. Fitch's report aggregates public comments made by 22 North American companies across five industry sectors.
Fitch forecasts 3.7% Latin America GDP growth in 2013 and 2.9% in 2014, up from forecasted growth of 2.8% in 2012. At the micro level, demand from consumers remains robust in most countries due to low unemployment levels, rising wages, modest inflation and improving consumer confidence. Inflation remains a key regional risk with several Latin American central banks having taken actions to weaken their currencies.
For companies in the natural resources sectors, aggressive oil/gas production targets by Latin American National Oil Companies (NOCs) continue to drive high levels of demand for drilling and service providers. Likewise, U.S. refiners are benefiting from robust demand for refined product imports in Latin America, matched with regional capacity constraints and select operational issues.
Latin America continues to provide a strong growth platform for agrochemical companies operating in the region with Brazil and Argentina producing large soybean crops and growing corn plantings
The full report 'Latin American Demand: What North American Corporates are Saying in Q4' is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.


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Inflation surged 8.2% year-over-year in September, and the 'food at home' index climbed 13%. Moreover, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices are expected to increase between 9% and 10% in 2022 and 2.5% to 3.5% in 2023.
On the other hand, the demand remains steady due to its non-cyclical nature. In addition, the demand for organic food is soaring amid rising health awareness. According to Statista, organic food sales in the United States amounted to $57.50 billion in 2021.
Furthermore, according to Future Market Insights, the packaged food market is expected to grow at a 5.3% CAGR from 2022 to 2032.
Given the backdrop, investors might consider buying fundamentally sound food stocks, General Mills, Inc. (GIS) and Kellogg Company (K), which could deliver stable returns.
General Mills, Inc. (GIS)
GIS is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of consumer foods globally. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; Pet; and Convenience Store & Foodservice.
On September 21, 2022, Jeff Harmening, GIS’ Chairman and CEO, said, "Given the strength of our first-quarter results and confidence in our ability to adapt to continued volatility ahead, we are increasing our full-year outlook for net sales, operating profit, and EPS growth."
GIS' net sales came in at $4.72 billion for the first quarter that ended August 28, 2022, up 3.9% year-over-year. Moreover, its net income came in at $820 million, up 30.8% year-over-year. Also, its EPS came in at $1.35, up 32.4% year-over-year.
GIS’ forward P/E of 18.24x is 5% lower than the industry average of 19.21x. Its trailing-12-month of Price/Cash Flow of 13.64x is 4.1% lower than the industry average of 14.23x.
GIS' revenue is expected to increase 2.8% year-over-year to $19.53 billion in 2023. Its EPS is expected to grow 4.1% year-over-year to $4.1 in 2023. It surpassed EPS estimates in three of four trailing quarters. Over the past year, the stock has gained 22.3% to close the last trading session at $76.67.
GIS' strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock's overall B rating indicates a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.
GIS has a B grade for Quality. In the B-rated Food Makers industry, it is ranked #27 out of 86 stocks. Click here for the additional POWR Ratings for Value, Sentiment, Growth, Momentum, and Stability for GIS.
Kellogg Company (K)
K has manufactured snacks and convenience foods in 21 countries and marketed its products in 180 countries. The Company's segments include North America; Europe; Latin America; and AMEA (Asia, Middle East Africa).
K's net sales came in at $3.86 billion for the second quarter that ended July 2, 2022, up 8.7% year-over-year. The company's total assets came in at $18.94 billion for the period ended July 2, 2022, compared to $18.19 billion for the period ended January 1, 2022.
K’s forward P/E of 18.16x is 5.5% lower than the industry average of 19.21x. Its trailing-12-month Price/Cash Flow of 13.42x is 5.7% lower than the industry average of 14.23x.
K's revenue is expected to increase 5% year-over-year to $14.89 billion in 2022. It surpassed EPS estimates in all four trailing quarters. Over the past year, the stock has gained 15.7% to close the last trading session at $71.76.
K's overall B rating equates to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has a B for Stability and Quality. K is ranked #21 in the same industry.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated K for Value, Growth, and Momentum. To see more of K’s POWR Ratings, click here.
GIS shares were trading at $76.96 per share on Friday afternoon, up $0.29 (+0.38%). Year-to-date, GIS has gained 17.57%, versus a -20.58% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
About the Author: RashmiKumari
Rashmi is passionate about capital markets, wealth management, and financial regulatory issues, which led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. With a master's degree in commerce, she aspires to make complex financial matters understandable for individual investors and help them make appropriate investment decisions.2 Food Stocks That Are Still Appetizing in 2022 appeared first on StockNews.com


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When they moved to Sonoma County from Oakland, Geneva Melby and partner Ryan Miller were excited to meet a number of winemakers from the natural wine community.
As chefs at Ramen Gaijin restaurant in Sebastopol, the two were inspired to create a space at the restaurant where they could highlight natural wines and pair them with their food. The result is the occasional pop-up market called The Redwood.
“We would never want to create something that didn’t have our food in it as well, but we really wanted to focus on the wine,” Melby said. She said she was inspired by the organic and thoughtful production of natural wines.
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The Redwood sells to-go natural wine by the bottle with food pairings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every other Sunday. The next pop-up will be held on Aug. 30.
Staples of the pop-up include sourdough bread and Mediterranean dishes such as falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and muhammara. Melby said they plan to serve different types of pickles, hot sauces and homemade jams as well.
Melby and Miller will donate 20% of the wine sales to local organizations. Recent Redwood markets have benefited the Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County, Redwood Empire Food Bank and La Luz Center.
“The whole point of this is to be this community spot. We want to lift up these small winemakers that are in this community. We want to be friends with them,” Melby said.


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Producer price index falls in April
The drop in producer prices means inflation is not likely to increase and will remain at the target of 2 percent, according to Bloomberg.
“Looking ahead, consumer prices should remain contained,” said Michelle Meyer, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in an interview with Reuters. “The Fed shouldn’t be worried about inflation.”
The drop was the biggest since October and the first in 2012, according to Reuters. A decrease in producer prices and raw materials means manufacturers will have less incentive to charge customers more.


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This time of year is gorgeous in New York state thanks to beautiful fall foliage changing colors all around us. .
So, what are the conditions across the state this week (Oct. 10-16)? Here is the latest report from the state Department of Economic Development, broken out by region.
- Franklin County: Expect it to be slightly past peak foliage this weekend, with 90-95 percent color change at Tupper Lake.
- Saranac Lake: Is approaching near-peak foliage with 85 percent color change with bold, bright and beautiful red, purple, orange and yellow leaves.
- Herkimer County: Expect peak foliage this weekend, with 90 percent color change and red, orange, gold and some yellow leaves of above average brilliance.
- Essex County: Crown Point is near-peak foliage with 60-90 percent color change. Predominating colors include lingering green in the valley, with some golden yellow, russets, reds and bright bursts of orange. Lake Placid expects peak conditions. Look for bright shades of red, purple, gold and yellow.
- Ulster County: Starting to see a real variation in spectacular color. Belleayre Mountain expected to be at midpoint with 40 percent color change.
- Jefferson County: Near-peak foliage with a full spectrum of brilliant fall color.
- St. Lawrence County: Expect 70 percent color change this weekend with average shades of yellow, orange and red leaves.
- Oswego County: Look for 50 percent color change and foliage at midpoint this weekend.
- Albany County: Look for 60-65 percent color change and midpoint to near-peak foliage.
Central New York
- Broome County: Expected to be at the midpoint of change to near-peak this weekend in Binghamton. Look for around 45 percent color change with average to bright yellow, red and green leaves.
- Madison County: Delphi Falls County Park in Cazenovia predict near-peak conditions for the weekend with 75 percent foliage change and average to bright leaves of shades of red, orange and yellow.
- Oneida County: Look for 95 percent color change with bright yellow, orange and red leaves near Utica.
- Schoharie County: 50 percent color change at the midpoint. Yellow leaves, brilliant shades of red and orange.
- Cayuga County: 50 percent color change with lots of bright shades of red, orange and yellow near Auburn, along with green.
- Chemung County: Elmira and Horseheads expect 40 percent color change with vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red rapidly emerging over the remaining green leaves.
- Monroe County: Greece and surrounding communities expect 40-45 percent color change as the area seems to be changing in pockets – there are some areas of considerable green, while other areas have high color, mainly yellow, along with small patches of orange-red.
- Seneca County: 35 percent color change, hints of red and orange leaves of average brilliance.
- Onondaga County: Syracuse is seeing 35 percent color change with yellow leaves of average brilliance and some pops of red and orange.
- Ontario County: Foliage will be at midpoint of change in Canandaigua with 45 percent color transition and increasingly brighter shades of yellow, red and gold.
- Steuben County: 75 percent color change expected with bright red, gold, yellow and orange leaves heading toward near-peak.
- Tompkins County: 70 percent color change; bright oranges and yellows, some muted and bright reds.
- Wayne County: foliage will be heading toward the midpoint of change this weekend, with 30 percent color change and bright gold leaves.
- Yates County: Just beginning color change, with greater changes in higher elevations. Yellow and brown leaves, isolated areas of orange and vibrant red.
- Wyoming County: 40-50 percent color change with average to bright shades of red, yellow and orange and conditions from beginning to midpoint.
- Orleans County:40 percent color change near Albion with average shades of increasingly gold and red.
- Genesee County: Midpoint to near-peak with 45 percent color change and leaves with bright shades of orange and red.
- Cattaraugus County: 20 percent or less color change, some yellow, red and orange emerging near Allegany State Park.
- Columbia County: Expect 45 to 55 percent color change near Hudson with yellow, gold, orange and some red leaves of average brilliance.
- Dutchess County: About 50 percent color change with average to bright red, orange and yellow leaves. The northern portion of the county will be at the midpoint, while the rest of the county will be in the early stages.
- Westchester County: Just beginning. Foliage should be about 5 percent color change by the weekend. Look for isolated patches of red and yellow leaves.
- Suffolk County: Less than 10 percent color change at Riverhead.
- Melville just 5 percent color change with some yellow and orange leaves, mixed with some red, beginning to appear over the mostly green backdrop.
- In New York City, 15 percent color change, with bright isolated areas of yellow leaves, along with some orange and red leaves.
This report is updated Wednesday afternoons through the fall foliage season.


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Eli Electric Vehicles plans to deliver the first 100 Eli Zero neighborhood vehicles in late 2018 to reservation holders. Following the Eli Zero’s debut for feedback at CES 2017, the company now casts it as the “ultimate NEV for every household.”
NEVs, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, are federally classified low-speed vehicles (LSVs) limited to 25 to 35 mph top speeds. Individual states determine legal maximum speed, road usage, licensing, and other regulations.
Whether or not you’ve heard of NEVs, the companies that make them are thinking about you. The growth of ride-sharing, car-sharing, and automotive brand subscription models foreshadows a societal shift in transportation away from single owners to shared vehicles. The demise of “the 20th-century engine of the American Dream,” as described in the Washington Post, is coming fast.
Many fingers point to millennials as the auto ownership buzz-killers. However, Digital Trends’ casual observations in U.S. cities and at airport arrival and pickup curbs tell a different story. Millennials may have led the shift to ride-sharing, but other generations followed.
Preparing for the shift toward Mobility as a Service (MaaS), companies such as Eli that already have experience manufacturing golf cars and other LSVs anticipate the shared use of neighborhood or community cars.
In a recent phone conversation, Eli CEO Marcus Li told Digital Trends that simplicity and fun were the Zero’s guiding design principles. Li said the goal was to make the Eli Zero as easy to operate as an iPad.
The Zero is not just a golf cart with doors and a roof. Standard features include heating and air conditioning, USB charging, a radio, and signature LED lights front, rear, and on the steering wheel. Bluetooth wireless supports proximity detection to turn on the temperature control and automatically unlock the Eli. The user can hop in the driver’s seat, press the start button, and take off with little fuss.
Standard-size Samsung Lithium-ion batteries power the Eli Zero. The batteries charge fully in 6 hours plugged into a household 110V outlet or 4.5 hours at Level-2 charging stations via a standard J1772 port. Thirteen battery safety measures include temperature and insulation protection, BMS fault detection, and more.
The Eli Zero’s maximum fully charged range is 85 miles, enough for short daily commutes or neighborhood convenience trips. Li’s marketing team is currently working with NEV-friendly neighborhood developments in several states. College campuses offer another potential opportunity for early adoption.
Urban centers and close cluster suburban areas developed with Mobility-as-a-Service concepts may see the greatest density of NEVs such as the Eli Zero.
While the Zero is the launch model, Li told Digital Trends greater passenger or storage capacity are possible on the same platform, depending on demand. Reservations for the Eli Zero start at less than $10,000.
- Want to see Snoop Dogg in AR? You’ll have to buy a bottle of his new wine
- You’ll be able to lease Fisker’s sub-$40,000 electric SUV through an app
- If you want Aston Martin’s newest supercar, you’ll have to buy a classic first
- The Naseka electric snowmobile is built for kids, but you’ll likely want one too
- California wants all-electric public bus fleet on its roads by 2040


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Christmas season is slowly upon us.
As the festivities are right the corner, it means families will be thinking about presents and decorations.
While it might be mid-November, it hasn't stopped one household from getting into the spirit a little early.
READ MORE: Cheapest European Christmas markets for Brits – including Berlin and Budapest
The family spent an eye-watering £2,900 on decorations but were left mortified when an inflatable Santa rocked up.
Kiel James Patrick and his family, believed to be from the US, wanted a huge Santa to stand outside their house.
But didn't realise how big he'd be when he arrived, reports Mirror.
Posting on TikTok as @kjp, Kiel said: "We bought a 40-foot Santa from Amazon to decorate our yard for Christmas.
"He ended up being bigger than we were expecting!"
The video then cuts to Santa being unwrapped from his box and being rolled out onto the grass in front of their home.
As they begin to blow up Father Christmas, they realise just how big he is next to the house.
'Hot' teacher twerks in the classroom – and students are begging for lessons
Kiel said: "My four-year-old and neighbours loved it."
He later joked on the video-sharing platform: "Need to put Santa up on Airbnb, just his right leg is bigger than my living room."
The video was hit with many comments from users chuckling at the situation.
One TikTok user said: "The way it covers the entire house" followed by laughing emojis.
Another laughed: "Your goal is being able to see your house from space, isn't it? Love it!"
A third commented: "Good luck putting that back in the box."
And a fourth chimed in: "Ended up being bigger than we expected. SIR it is a 40ft Santa."
Want all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter
- Inside one of Europe's cheapest Christmas markets that's 90 minutes from the UK
- You've been doing your Christmas tree lights wrong – easy hack prevents tangling
- Mum left in hysterics after B&M's Christmas ornament looks ruder than intended
Source: Read Full Article


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Discover 5 must-stock summer drink trends here.
The vaccination programme is underway, lockdown restrictions are easing, and optimism is rising for a summer of Covid-safe reunions between families and friends - and nothing says summer garden party like an array of the finest foods on the market.
We dive into the trends that retailers and wholesalers should take note of and stock ahead of the warmer months.
“Nothing brings people together like a good old picnic,” says Hannah McCollum, founder of dip brand ChicP. As restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic ease, sharing foods (especially options with clear health benefits) are likely to go down well with guests, so a well-stocked selection of grazing platter foods - such as quality crackers, crisps, cheese, dips and spreads, as well as seasonal fruit and vegetables - will be key.
Thanks to Covid, sharing bowls of snacks may be a thing of the past. Consumers will likely be on the hunt for options that are easy to serve and transport. “Snacks that can be popped in a picnic bag, backpack or pocket and enjoyed on the go are ideal,” says Matt Hunt, founder of olive brand OLOVES. “We’re seeing an uplift in sales for OLOVES as they come in single-serve pouches and don’t need to be kept in the fridge.”
Over the past year, data from Kantar has shown an increase in demand for quality meat as more and more Brits have visited independent retail butchers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only are more people visiting – 630,000 more households compared to the previous year – but they’re also spending nearly 50% more per shopping trip compared to other retailers when purchasing meat. The most popular options on the menu were chops, roasting joints and sausages.
This spells good news for barbecue fans. 2020 was a bumper year for garden barbecues, but 2021 could even exceed this. Chef and restaurant industry expert Mark Greenaway says, “I feel we are going to embrace BBQ far more this year than ever. The opportunity to gather and enjoy amazing weather and food with friends and loved ones is something we haven’t been able to do for so long and something personally I feel everyone will be out doing.” He believes American-style options will take off, with a focus on “long, slow smoking and cooking processes”, meaning that cheaper, lesser-used cuts could be in demand.
However, when it comes to catering for your vegetarian and vegan customers, put away the bland veggie burger and try venturing into new territory. Benedict Meade, founder of Tempeh Meades, believes his product is ready for a booming year in the plant-based food crowd.
“Tempeh is made by forming cooked soya beans into a block and adding a culture to initiate a fermentation process. The end product has a firm texture, a nutty taste and is highly valued for the protein and fibre content, as well as being packed full of vitamins and minerals. It works really well on a BBQ - simply marinade slices or chunks of tempeh for a few hours in a sauce of your choice and chuck on the BBQ,” he says. By blending health and sustainability in a comfort food-style product, retailers will be sure to please customers. “Tempeh is a great healthy alternative to a burger and tempeh ‘ribs’ are set to be the plant-based BBQ trend of summer 2021.”
The continued focus on health credentials will be another trend for retailers to watch out for. “We’ve seen a real move towards balanced, healthy food that makes people feel good when it’s served,” Mike Hardman, marketing manager at Alliance Online tells Speciality Food. “I think people are just looking for a sense of comfort and a feeling that they’re eating something nourishing, so expect them to be shopping for quality ingredients that they can easily throw together after a tough day, such as deli foods, fruits, and charcuterie,” he says.
Consumers will also be drawn to products that communicate the health advantages that they deliver, Mike says. OLOVES’ Matt agrees that health will play an important role this summer: “As we move out of lockdown and into the warmer weather, people will be keen to eat healthier and pay attention to the snacks they are choosing. Low-calorie, natural and low-fat options will make popular choices this summer.”
Functional food products will take this concept even further by showcasing ingredients that are said to boost physical as well as mental health. Functional food products can be anything from herbs and spices, like turmeric and ginger, to fortified grains or cereals. To read more about how food and drink can boost mental health and wellness, click here.
“People are now so much more aware of what they should be eating,” adds Sean Longden of Rollagranola. Shoppers today are getting in the habit of checking ingredient labels, and they’re keen to choose food products with labels they can understand – the simpler, the better.
When stocking their shelves, retailers shouldn’t forget about the most important meal of the day. Breakfast saw renewed attention during the pandemic, with more Brits having the time to prepare a real meal rather than sticking to toast on the go.
With staycationers in mind, Rollagranola’s Sean says premium ‘treating’ options will be big this year. On holiday, he says, while lunches and dinners will likely be spent in restaurants and pubs (Covid rules permitting), when it comes to breakfast “many people will want to treat themselves to something they wouldn’t normally have – this could be some nutty granola like ours or it could be a cooked breakfast and anything in between – but usually people will look to buy something as a treat on holiday and so won’t go for the budget options. This is where independent shops can really shine.” Once again, options with health benefits will be all the more welcome.
While consumers will be enjoying themselves this summer after a tough year, they will still be sticking to their high standards when it comes to sustainability credentials. “Consumers are certainly looking out to support and purchase from sustainable focused brands,” says Hannah from ChicP, which uses surplus vegetables bound for the bin for its dips.
“More people realise how important it is to be buying products that are good for the environment,” Hannah says. “With the huge threat of climate change, and food waste being one of the key contributors, now more than ever is the time for everyone to make small (and large) changes, which will all make a difference.” From choosing products that limit food waste such as frozen foods or comfort food indulgences that eschew plastic packaging, there are many routes retailers can take to empowering conscious consumers.
By keeping these six trends in mind, fine food retailers will ensure this summer is one to remember.
This article was originally published on 7th April, 2021


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When in 2007 then environment minister Malcolm Turnbull put in place a phase out of incandescent light bulbs in favour of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFCs) he was applauded by the greens and the environment lobby.
This cost many households a significant sum as they moved to expensive, mercury laden CFCs that never seemed to last as long as claimed. Meanwhile other households had halogen lights which ran very hot and had been known to cause fires. The CFCs were never that bright and took a good deal of time to reach maximum brightness.
The whole scheme has been a tragic and expensive farce. Because along comes LED lights that turn instantly on, last more than 40 years and consume 3 to 5 watts each. They come in a variety of colours and forms and run cool.
The growth of LED lights, which continue to fall in price, had nothing to do with Turnbull’s lightbulb ban. It was simply the private sector innovating a new technology which was attractive to consumers.
The ban simply caused people to throw away money, increased Commonwealth spending on administration and staffing and achieved no benefits.
Surely yet another lesson for the petty bureaucrats trying to run our lives?


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How Google's Night Sight Works, and Why It's So Good
Along with lack of quality zoom, poor low-light performance has been one of the weakest points of phone cameras. Image stacking techniques are rapidly addressing that issue. We look at how they evolved and particularly the current champion, Google's Night Sight.
The Pixel 3 Cameras Are a Showcase for Google's AI
Google builds some really cool hardware, including the Pixel 3, but it is by leveraging its expertise in AI that it hopes to set its new flagship phone cameras ahead of the competition.
It's National Camera Day: Here Are Our Staff's Personal Favorites
The increasingly capability and popularity of smartphone cameras is echoed in our staff's personal camera choices, but high-end DSLRs continue to hold their own.
We Put Phone Cameras to the Ultimate Test: An African Safari
Each year phone manufacturers push smartphone camera limits further. We took a couple of the best phones on a wildlife safari in Africa to see how well they'd make out handling such a tough photographic challenge.
Best Android Phones for Photographers in 2018
No matter how serious you are about photography, you've probably found yourself increasingly using your smartphone as a camera for certain situations. We look at some of the best Android smartphone cameras for anyone serious about their photography.


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Kylie Jenner along with her daughter, Stormi brought a burst of color to Jacquemus' show during Paris Fashion Week.
The Kylie Cosmetics founder showcased a stunning red mini dress with a flowing chiffon touch, paired with red slingback heels, a red handbag, and chic gold hoop earrings.
On the other hand, 5 year-old daughter, Stormi matched her mom in a red sweater, leather pants, and lace-up boots from Jacquemus' latest collection.
A heartwarming moment unfolded during the show, captured on social media, as the Kardashian-Jenner star and Stormi shared laughter while seated in the front row.
The viral video on social media captured a heartwarming moment during the show, featuring Kylie and Stormi sharing laughter.
Notably, the video also featured Stormi hugging kylie while seated at the front row during the show.
Taking to Instagram Stories Kylie shared series of pictures of her in stunning red mini dress exuding confidence in black icons.
On the other hand, before the show, Kylie shared a makeup-free selfie on her way, expressing excitement for her "next adventure."
Donned in a casual denim jacket, a cozy gray hoodie, and oversized black shades, Kylie radiated effortless style.
This stylish appearance follows the Kardashian-Jenners' presence at Paris Fashion Week, where Kim Kardashian posted behind-the-scenes glimpses of their time at the Maison Margiela haute couture Spring 2024 show.
Kylie, in an iridescent silver sequin dress, playfully coined the look as the "Margiela mermaid," rounding off her ensemble with sheer gloves and white heels.
Video: Anne Hathaway shares behind-the-scenes of Spirit Awards prep
Watch: Jennifer Aniston gets real about Monday struggles in workout video
'Dune: Part Two' director Denis Villeneuve reacts to Christopher Nolan comparing his film
Watch: Chrissy Teigen shares adorable moment of baby Wren's sink playtime


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Reliance acquires controlling stake in DEN, Hathway
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). has acquired a controlling stake in two broadband companies - DEN Networks and Hathway Cable and Datacom. The Mukesh Ambani led company is expected to invest Rs 5230 crore to take control of the two companies. This investment is in line with their expansion plans for JioGigaFiber to reach 50 million homes. RIL has picked up 66% stake in DEN Network for Rs 2290 crore. It has also made a primary investment of Rs. 2,940 crore through a preferential issue 51.3% stake in Hathway Cable and Datacom.
Both DEN and Hathway will hold a general meeting on 14 November to get the transaction approved from the shareholders. In a statement, a company spokesperson stated: “After having taken India to the top position in the mobile broadband space, Reliance is now committed to take India from a global rank of 135th to among the top-3 countries in the world on wireline digital connectivity.”


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A newly launched office has opened in Dublin as a result of an increase in demand since the London launch in 2010! As well as a new team of 3, this exciting expansion has created endless opportunities and further jobs later on in the year.
‘Communicate Live’ – What Clive get up to
Clive helps brands to ‘Communicate: Live’, engaging audiences through creative live events and digital communication solutions. The agency works with some of the biggest brands in the business, including Facebook, Instagram and PlayStation. Yet, the demand hasn’t stopped there, as Clive’s business has reached the Irish market. What an exciting new city! We can’t wait to hear about the next exciting events…
“We see a big opportunity in the Irish market as many of our existing clients’ European headquarters are based in Dublin. It’s their feedback – that they would love an agency like Clive operating locally. That has driven the development of our new Irish operation…
… we’ve had the opportunity to produce some of our proudest work for clients here, so we’re thrilled to be officially putting down our Irish roots and expanding the team with the opening of our Dublin office.”
– Sean Doyle, Director, Brand & Creative at Clive
Dublin will host a range of solutions including experiential activations and communications conferences. As well as pop-up events, incentive travel and location sourcing. Not forgetting talent for content creation and digital design. See more on their brand new website.
In conclusion, the Irish operation will be headed up by head of client services (Ireland), Robyn Church, a well-known and respected events professional, alongside senior account managers Robb Kennedy and Pamela Murphy.
We can’t wait to get to know them! Check out more about Clive, and what they do here.


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Spiewak have been absent from the UK for a long time. This season we see the return of Spiewak in select number of stores. Stuarts London was approached to showcase the premium label. With a history dating back to 1904 Spiewak was renowned for supplying the US army with durable clothing. The collection is about authentic as it can get, and with military trend back in number pole position it's no wonder why Spiewak has been back in demand in the UK. Expect to see the Snorkel parka, NB3 Parka, two standard colours in the all famous MA-1 jacket.
Shop online at Stuarts London USA for the latest Spiewak jacket collection.


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Foreigners’ shops looted in PE
Port Elizabeth - Several shops belonging to Somali nationals in KwaZakhele and New Brighton, near Port Elizabeth, were looted and burnt at the weekend, Eastern Cape police said on Monday.
Brigadier Marinda Mills said at least 10 shops were attacked.
“Two shops at Ntintili Street were looted and burnt and the vehicle which was parked outside the shop was set alight,” said Mills.
Several other shops were targeted on Sunday.
Police had since moved some foreign nationals out of the area.
The attacks followed the arrest of a Somali national after he allegedly shot and killed a man outside a shop on Saturday evening.
“According to a witness, there was an argument between the suspect and the victim. The police arrested the suspect and the firearm used... was recovered,” said Mills.
The man was expected to appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, police had been deployed to patrol the area. - Sapa


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CREAM Launches New Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
October 05, 2015 // Franchising.com // BERKELEY, CA – CREAM, a San Francisco-based dessert franchise that specializes in high quality ice cream sandwiches and other confections, will launch new mini ice cream sandwiches, a bite sized version of the company’s popular original ice cream sandwiches.
Starting October 6, the mini ice cream sandwiches will appear on CREAM menus at all locations for $1.99. Mini ice cream sandwiches will initially launch only using CREAM’s original Chocolate Chip cookie but all flavors of super-premium ice cream and toppings can be used to customize to a customer’s personal taste.
“We understand that our original ice cream sandwiches do not skimp on the size and rest assured, they aren’t going anywhere, but we wanted to give our customers the opportunity to create their own smaller sandwiches,” said CREAM President and COO, Jim Ryan. “It makes for a lighter dessert but also gives our customers another opportunity to mix-and-match the near endless varieties of our ice cream sandwiches.”
CREAM, which is an acronym for “Cookies Rule Everything Around Me,” offers a menu of 20 ice cream flavors and 16 cookie flavors and as many as 15 toppings that customers can mix and match, including vegan and gluten-free options. While the ice cream sandwiches are the main draw, CREAM also has milkshakes, floats, malts, scoops of ice cream and other baked goods, such as “The Cream Taco,” a waffle cone shaped like a taco loaded with ice cream and toppings.
CREAM currently has 21 locations open and operating throughout California and Las Vegas, with plans to expand its national footprint over the next several years. According to Ryan, 30-40 new CREAM stores will open in 2016.
Based in the Bay Area and named one of Buzzfeed’s “27 Ice Cream Shops You Need To Visit Before You Die,” CREAM is a rapidly-growing fast casual restaurant business that specializes in high quality ice cream sandwiches and other confections. Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2012, CREAM currently has 21 locations open and operating throughout California and Nevada, and plans to expand its national footprint over the next several years. For more information, please visit www.creamnation.com.
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- Financial & Earnings Claims
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Personnel Changes
- General Announcements
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Ubisoft has announced that Rainbow Six: Siege has been delayed until December 1st.
Originally scheduled to launch on October 13th, 2015, Rainbow Six: Siege was delayed to make adjustments and improvements based on the feedback received from E3, the Alpha test and internal tests.
“Based on the feedback we’ve received, and based on our own internal tests, we felt there are adjustments and improvements we can make, including improving the co-op experience across all game modes, weapon and gadget balancing, as well as menu and interface navigation. We’re taking a little more time to make these changes, and we think it’s the right call.”
Fortunately, for players still wanting to get their hands on the game, the closed beta test is still scheduled to launch on September 24th, 2015 for Xbox One, Playstation 4 & PC. Fans still needing access to the beta will need to pre-order the game from select retailers to receive a code.


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- Dec 17, 2013
Here's when Halo Infinite's second season goes live across the globe.
While Season 1 of Halo Infinite has proven to be a controversial launch season for 343 Industries' ambitious live service Halo title, the studio is looking to turn things around with Halo Infinite Season 2: Lone Wolves. Featuring new playable content for fans to enjoy and plenty of cosmetics to earn, Season 2 has serious potential to get Halo Infinite back on a successful track following the game's rocky start. If you're a big fan of Halo Infinite's core gameplay but have been frustrated with the game's lack of new content, the new additions coming with Season 2 will definitely appeal to you.
Full story from the WindowsCentral blog...


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About 50 demonstrations are happening across Canada today as protesters gather to support workers of Tim Hortons. About 18 of the rallies are in the Toronto area, but others are planned in cities and towns including Niagara- on- the- Lake.
This is in response to the report that some Ontario Tim Hortons franchisees had slashed workers’ benefits and breaks after the province raised its minimum wage. Jeri Horton-Joyce and Ron Joyce Jr., the children of the brand’s billionaire co-founders, rolled out the controversial measures at two Cobourg, Ont., locations they own.
Organizers behind the protest campaign, dubbed Fight for $15 and Fairness, say the demonstrations planned at specific Tim Hortons franchises today are not about the franchise owners themselves, but rather to pressure their parent company.
Said a spokesperson: “This is about the multi-billion dollar corporation and its parent company, Restaurant Brands International, who have the means to protect workers, but aren’t doing it.”
Friday’s planned national protests follow similar demonstrations earlier this month at 16 Tim Hortons restaurants in Ontario, organized in response to a few franchises that clawed back workers benefits, paid breaks and other perks as a result of the minimum wage increase in Ontario from an $11.60 hourly rate to $14 at the start of the month.
More On the Controversy
Finger pointing between the company and franchisees over who bears responsibility for the cuts has increased and there have been several lawsuits filed against each other in recent months.
Tim Hortons has said individual franchisees are responsible for setting employee wages and benefits, while complying with applicable laws. But some franchisees argue the corporation, which controls prices, should help owners grappling with the mandated wage hike by allowing them to raise prices. The franchisees want a 10 per cent price hike across the board, according to a source.
The Great White North Franchisee Association, which represents half of Canadian Tim Hortons franchisees, has said Ontario’s minimum wage hike and other changes to the province’s labour laws will cost the average franchisee $243,889 a year.
Tim Hortons has said the employee benefit cutbacks made by some franchises in Ontario “do not reflect the values of our brand, the views of our company, or the views of the overwhelming majority” of restaurant owners.
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New property search engine Zoomf has linked up with community review site TrustedPlaces to offer local information alongside its property listings.
TrustedPlaces’s reviews of local cafes, bars and restaurants will be used by Zoomf to provide background information to property hunters.
Google has announced it is shelving its social search tool Google Answers in a statement posted on its official blog.
The statement says users won’t be able to pose questions from later this week, and that Google will stop accepting answers by the end of the year.
Seasonal beers are on the horizon at next Wednesday's Lemon Studios / E-consultancy party, taking place in Central London.
Fancy coming along? You can register here (and you can invite your colleagues and friends to register too).
At the time of writing almost 500 people have signed up to attend, and with three days until the registration deadline you should too....
Ian Forrester and Matthew Cashmore of BBC Backstage, the Beeb's developer network, talked to us about the challenges and opportunities of opening up your data to third parties.
Philip Lenssen at Google Blogoscoped has an interesting / outrageous article about Digg’s use of moderators – it seems that Digg has them, but is rather coy about admitting it.
Contrary to the approach favoured by Jason Calcanis at Netscape, Digg has always prided itself on being entirely user-driven, claiming that everything on the site is submitted and managed by the community.
Yet this is not remotely accurate...
According to new figures, the number of ‘spam’ messages has tripled since June and now accounts for as many as nine out of ten emails sent worldwide.
Despite efforts by government officials and computer firms to crack down on spam, spammers are sending out more junk email than ever, finding new ways to get past filters and other security measures.
Google software engineer Matt Cutts has summed up a site review session he did at the recent PubCon in Las Vegas.
In reviewing a few sites, he gives some insight into what site mistakes a webmaster should avoid, and gives some tips on improving a site’s search engine visibility.
We've just published a Customer Engagement Report based on a survey of more than 800 companies and agencies.
The research, sponsored by cScape, covers a lot of ground (it's a huge topic and you can see some highlights below) but a key section I want to flag up is around the challenges faced by companies who want to give the best possible customer experience.
Online spending rose by 42% on ‘Black Friday' - the day after Thanksgiving in the US - according to figures from analysis group comScore.
Total US online spending for the first 24 days of November reached $8.31bn, a 23% increase over the same period in 2005. Black Friday saw a 42% increase on 2005's figures.
California-based online ad exchange AdECN is preparing to launch in the UK as part of geographical expansion plans.
The company is in talks with several of the UK’s main online ad sales houses and is expected to start operating during the early part of next year.


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2019 Mac Pro To Be Manufactured In China Unlike Its Predecessor
The current Mac Pro is produced in Austin, Texas and Apple was keen to point that out when ever possible. The computer even boasts an “Assembled in the USA” label, but that doesn’t look possible with the 2019 Mac Pro. Apple made no mention of where the new Mac Pro would be made when it was announced during WWDC, with many assuming that meant it would be built offshore. According to The Wall Street Journal, that is indeed what’s happening.
The new Mac Pro will be made by Quanta, according to the report. That’s the same company that makes some of the MacBook notebooks and because it’s cheaper to make computers in China, that’s where it’s going to happen. Many of the components that will go into the new computer are also produced in China, which means they won’t need to be shipped to the United States, too.
Apple is keen to point out that while the Mac Pro is ultimately being assembled in China, that doesn’t mean that is the only country involved in making this thing a reality.
Apple said it supports manufacturing in 30 U.S. states and spent $60 billion last year with more than 9,000 U.S. suppliers.
“Final assembly is only one part of the manufacturing process,” the spokesman said, adding that the company’s investments support two million American jobs.
Despite everyone lauding the fact that the 2013 Mac Pro is made in the United States, nobody bought one. It was also the victim of a vicious design flaw, which meant that it couldn’t be cooled well enough to pack the best processors available, making it slower than some of Apple’s more recent computers. For a machine aimed at the most demanding of users, and with a price to match, that was simply not good enough.


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Stay on Top of Enterprise Technology Trends
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In China, Baidu (NSDQ: BIDU) is the undisputed king of search, now controlling 60 percent of that market. But Credit Suisse analyst Wallace Cheung says its dominance will start to slip in the next few years, at the hands of Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and e-commerce site Taobao. In a report issued today, Cheung says Baidu’s share will drop from 59 percent in 2008 to 55 percent in 2009 and 51 percent in 2010. Meanwhile Google’s share increases from 23 percent in 2008 to 33 percent, and Taobao’s share runs from 1 percent to 11 percent.
Cheung offers a couple reasons for the changes in market share, which is after the jump.


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Jack Nikogosian took part of an interesting discussion about the future business models of 3D printing at the Danish AM Summit where the ARYZE CEO was invited to present.
Docken hosted the Danish AM Summit on a sunny and beautiful albeit windy Wednesday late in October.
The overall goal for the conference was to inspire growth, innovation and sustainable solutions. The 2018 version of the AM Summit is the largest Additive Manufacturing and 3D print conference in Scandinavia and they focus on the production of the future as well as business strategy.
ARYZE CEO Jack Nikogosian was invited by Mads Kjøller Damkjær, CEO of the Danish AM Hub, to speak about the future business models. Together with Tom Salfield, CEO of Wikifactory, and Jeremie Pierre Gay, CEO of Create it REAL, Nikogosian touched upon how the traditional way of serving markets will change and what the implications for traditional plant setups and value chains will be.
Ingeborg Rosenvinge, Head of R&D and AM at Thürmer Tools, moderated the session and she raised the question of how intellectual property law will be dealt with in the future using blockchain technology and innovative software.
Become a part of the ARYZE community now 🚀 Click here to join our Discord server today!


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Ghana: BoG commits to launching e-Cedi before 2026
Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison has affirmed that the highly anticipated e-Cedi, the digital currency of the country, will be launched by the close of 2026.
The Governor acknowledged progress made in the e-Cedi’s development, but attributed the delay in its launch to economic dislocation caused by the events of 2022.
“Probably, it could be earlier than that. As I mentioned, we have reached a point of trying to understand the commercials a little bit more,” said Dr. Addison during an interview held on the side-lines of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) 40th anniversary and Central Banking Autumn meetings in Saint Kitts and Nevis in November 2023.
Dr. Ernest Addison further elaborated that following the successful pilot phase in Sefwi Asafo, discussions on the commercial aspects of the e-Cedi were initiated. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis prompted the central bank to temporarily suspend the digitization process.
The pilot phase played a crucial role in the nation’s strategy to improve financial inclusion and advance digitalization. Despite facing setbacks due to economic challenges, the central bank maintains optimism about the future success of the e-Cedi.
In December 2023, the Bank of Ghana revealed the winners of the inaugural e-Cedi hackathon, showcasing the fervent participation of the fintech community. This competition, which drew 88 initial applicants, aimed to spur innovation and partnerships related to the central bank’s new digital currency. Out of the applicants, 10 finalists were chosen to present their e-Cedi solutions, addressing various sectors including agriculture, government payments, business transactions, taxation, and more.
Dr. Addison provided insights into the e-Cedi pilot’s status, emphasising its offline operational capacity. “The central bank did a lot of things due to favourable conditions at the end of 2019,” he explained. The pilot, conducted in some of the country’s remotest parts, featured an offline version of the digital currency to ensure usability in areas with limited connectivity infrastructure.
“The Ghanaian population is used to mobile money, so the concept of a digital currency was easily absorbed – it’s not an alien concept to people,” Dr. Addison highlighted. Positive results from the pilot, wherein participants were given a certain value to spend within their locality, demonstrated the e-Cedi’s potential success.
Despite the economic challenges in 2022 leading to a reassessment of priorities, Dr. Addison highlighted that efforts to launch the e-Cedi are still in progress. The central bank’s approach involves adopting a retail token-based Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) stored locally on various devices. This strategy aims to replicate the conventional characteristics of physical cash while integrating additional functionalities.
“The e-Cedi’s successful deployment could have a significant impact on the country, helping to augmentthe government’s digitalisation agenda and foster financial inclusion,” Dr. Addison stressed. The Bank of Ghana seeks to reinforce its role as an active regulator and facilitator of a digital economy, aligning with the nation’s evolving financial landscape.
As Ghana makes strides in its digital currency initiatives, the e-Cedi hackathon stands out as a pivotal milestone, nurturing innovation and aligning with the country’s objectives of enhancing financial access and driving digital transformation. With the Bank of Ghana’s Governor providing assurances, expectations are mounting for the official launch of the e-Cedi, anticipated to usher in transformative changes to the nation’s financial ecosystem.
The Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Kwamina Asomaning, along with several Senior Executives of the bank, convened…
Jubilee Health Insurance has announced a notable achievement, reporting a profit after tax of Ksh. 438 million for…
Mrs. Titilayo Yetunde Olusanya, Director of Finance Management and Control at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),…
In collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Diageo Bar Academy, Guinness Ghana…


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In Fort Worth's Vapor Galleria, business has only grown since the doors opened seven years ago.
"They rely on us to sell them their e-liquid, so they don't go back to cigarettes," general manager Carla Schiavoni said.
Schiavoni said though vaping was an alternative to tobacco for many, most didn't want it to taste like it.
Instead, she said 90% of Vapor Galleria's sales were generated by 100 different flavors of e-liquid, the most popular of which is dessert, fruit or menthol flavored.
That's why she was immediately worried by Wednesday's announcement from the White House about a move to ban those flavors.
"I was shocked because if this ends up going through, you're talking about putting a whole industry out of business," Schiavoni said.
The announcement came in the wake of nearly 500 reported illnesses around the country and six deaths, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked to vaping.
The latest news from around North Texas.
Fourteen of those illnesses were reported in Dallas County.
"These are previously healthy teens that are now in life, death situations," said Dallas County Health Director Dr. Philip Huang.
Huang said the department has spent the last several years concerned about the growing number of teens turning to vaping. He said he believed the ban was a good move, and said it would eliminate flavors used to market to teens.
"It's repeating history with what happened with combustible cigarettes, and that's what’s been of concern," Huang said.
But as she worries about her business, Schiavoni said she believed the vaping industry has been unfairly targeted for a problem she doesn't believe came from them.
"I don't think Trump has all the facts. And I think he really needs to look at what those kids were vaping and what was in it and where it came from," Schiavoni said.
She also said she believed a ban could encourage people to make their own e-liquid, which she said would lead to even more illnesses.
The FDA is set to release a plan for removing flavored e-cigarettes from the market in the coming weeks.


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BrightFarms expands Midwest distribution
BrightFarms, a brand of locally grown packaged salads, has partnered with Crosset Company to distribute its products into over 100 new independent retailers in the Midwest, a majority of which are based in Ohio. BrightFarms’ newest greenhouse in Wilmington, Ohio, will supply the new retailers with the company’s core portfolio of baby greens.
In Ohio, BrightFarms will be on shelves in Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton), Walt Churchills Market (Northwest Ohio), and Krieger’s Health Foods Market (Cleveland). Distribution into Jungle Jim’s International Market (Cincinnati) began earlier this year.
BrightFarms’ company Founder and President Paul Lightfoot highlighted independent retailers in Ohio as a key opportunity. “As we’ve expanded across the country, we’ve been energized by the growth potential of working with the independent market, which serves a large demographic of consumers that care about transparency in food,” said Lightfoot. “Our partnership with Crosset has been instrumental in gaining access to this valuable market.”
Independent retailers that are interested in sourcing from BrightFarms can contact Jack Holland at [email protected]
For more information, visit www.brightfarms.com.


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AWS takes a hit in Amazon’s latest round of layoffs
When Amazon announced it was laying off another 9,000 employees today, AWS employees were not exempt with Amazon CEO (and former AWS CEO) Andy Jassy announcing that the cloud division would be included in today’s round.
TechCrunch learns that about 10% of the current total comes from AWS. The company did not confirm those numbers, instead referring to Jassy’s memo to employees that was released this morning as the bulk of its statement.
According to the memo, the reason the company is making the layoffs in stages is because some managers were still evaluating their departments and weren’t ready when the first round came around. “The short answer is that not all teams completed their analyzes by late fall; and rather than rush into these assessments without proper due diligence, we have chosen to share these decisions as we made them so people have the information as soon as possible,” Jassy wrote.
Ray Wang, founder and principal analyst at Constellation Research, says Amazon had to carefully consider all aspects of the organization, and AWS was no exception. “It’s part of a larger trend of tech companies going lean again, and Amazon had been inflated for the past few years. They finally completed their analysis a few weeks ago and now AWS has cuts as well,” he said. -he declares.
In the company’s latest earnings report early last month, the cloud division’s growth rate fell to 20% from growth of more than 39% the previous year. To make matters worse, Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky telegraphed that growth was slowing even more. “Looking ahead, we expect these optimization efforts to continue to be a headwind to AWS’s growth for at least the next two quarters. So far in the first month of the year, AWS’ year-over-year revenue growth is in the mid-teens,” he said at the time.
In this context, the layoffs should come as no surprise. In fact, the cloud infrastructure market as a whole is experiencing a slowdown in growth. After years of skyrocketing numbers, cloud spend is down, and IIt’s starting to have an impact on the market. At the close of the last earnings reporting cycle, the cloud infrastructure market overall slowed at 21% growthagainst a growth of 36% the previous year.
Additionally, Amazon’s longtime rival Microsoft has been gaining market share. While Microsoft’s growth also slowed in the last quarter, the company has grown faster and is starting to slowly but steadily gain on AWS.
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The Tour de Fresh, a new cycling event to raise funds for school salad bars before the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit trade show in October in Anaheim, has launched its website.
At TourdeFresh.com, donations can be made to support riders and benefit the United Fresh Produce Association’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools campaign.
Each participant aims to raise enough money to fund one salad bar for his or her selected school. The total for the campaign is close to $120,000, according to a news release.
The event will feature 40 fresh produce industry members cycling 275 miles from Carmel, Calif., to Anaheim Oct. 13-16. The PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo is Oct. 17-19.
More information is available from Brock Nemecek at 214-444-7454 or Cindy Jewell at 831-728-1965.
“Originally we had planned for 30 riders, but we had to increase this number due to the overwhelmingly positive support,” Nemecek, account manager at DMA Solutions and a participant, said in the release.
“By providing funds for salad bars in at least 40 schools, we are encouraging these children to develop healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime,” said Jewell, director of marketing at California Giant Berry Farms.
Sponsor and rider lists are both full, but other participation remains open. Donations to individual riders can be made at the website. A training guide is also available.


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Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) warned that the salmonella turkey outbreak that started late last year is still ongoing. The CDC released updated numbers for people and states who have been affected by this outbreak which now includes 41 states, has caused illness in almost 300 people, over 100 hospitalizations, and one death right here in California.
California defective product lawyers warn that it is time to check your refrigerators and freezers again for the potentially contaminated turkey products listed and continually updated by the CDC. The contaminated turkey has been reported in different types of turkey products (including raw turkey pet food) and brands, so it is important to check all of your turkey products against the recall list.
Salmonella Safety Advice for Consumers
For turkey products that are not on the recall list, the CDC reminds consumers to use caution and care in handling turkey to prevent illness from a disease. Tips to keep in mind include:
- Always wash your hands after handling turkey because salmonella can spread from hands to surfaces and other people.
- Turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees and leftovers should be heated to the same temperature.
- Clean every surface that the raw turkey or its juices touch thoroughly including food prep areas, cutting boards, and utensils.
- It is not recommended to give raw meat products, including turkey, to pets even if it is marketed as pet food. Animals and people handling raw dog food can become ill from contaminated meat.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Salmonella poisoning symptoms can be confused with other types of illnesses. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea, fever, chills, and abdominal cramps. Salmonella complications can lead to serious conditions listed below.
- When your body is unable to replace the fluids you are losing for too long, serious dehydration may develop.
- Reactive arthritis may develop which causes significant pain in the joints and eyes.
- It can be extremely serious when salmonella enters the bloodstream, which can then infect tissues in your body.
Salmonella complications can lead to death, especially in young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
Causes Of Salmonella Contamination
Animals can carry salmonella in their intestinal tracts and spread it to people and surfaces. In unsanitary food processing facilities containing salmonella, salmonella can then contaminate the food that is being processed. Foods that can be contaminated include raw meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other types of foods.
When people suffer an illness, injuries, and damages caused by salmonella poisoning, they may have a defective product claim against the food processor and seller of the contaminated product. Depending on the facts of the case, restaurants may also be liable for serving food contaminated with salmonella.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to contaminated food or any other type of defective product, contact a California defective product attorney at Licata & Yeremenko, A Professional Law Corporation to discuss the facts of your case and resulting injuries. You deserve to be compensated when a defective product causes your injuries.


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By Karin Gelschus
The main reasons why scooters have sold in the past — gas prices and practicality — haven’t changed, but increasingly popularity is becoming part of the reason for consumers to eye such vehicles.
Despite increased popularity, scooter sales have been slightly mixed for both manufacturers and dealers this year. Of those companies seeing decreased numbers, some say it’s because of the U.S. economy. There have also been shifts in high and low displacement scooters as well as segment demographics.
The down economy hasn’t been a problem for Schwinn scooters though. Schwinn Vice President George Simone says the company has seen a 10-15 percent sales increase over last year. Although a portion of that increase can be attributed to Schwinn’s increasing dealer network, Simone believes the increasing popularity of scooters vs. a few years ago is key.
“We just happen to be taking advantage of the product increasing in popularity,” he said.
Martin Solano, president of Solano Cycle dealership in St. Augustine, Fla., said it’s “a snowball effect.”
“The more people who buy them, the more people you see on the road with them, the more other people are willing to buy them,” he said.
Even though popularity is increasing, Bruce Ramsey, vice president of sales and marketing for KYMCO USA, says scooter sales are slightly down for KYMCO and the market.
“We’re pretty much on par with the market,” Ramsey said. “Last month (September) was up, but overall the year’s been down.”
“The fact of the matter is business is off,” said Don Dressel of Moto Bravo in Atlanta, Ga. “During August and September, we probably hit two-thirds of our sales from last year.”
LS MotorSports President Mathu Solo, whose company distributes Diamo and ItalJet scooters among other powersports vehicles, has seen different results. He said scooter sales have been strong this year with double digit growth.
How much higher gas prices will impact scooter sales is also up for debate.
Schwinn’s Simone says scooters will stay popular if there continues to be high energy costs because people are going to want a more efficient mode of transportation. “I don’t think we’re going to see less expensive energy costs,” he said.
But dealers interviewed said gas prices only increase scooter sales when there’s a sudden price increase.
Bob Hedstrom, owner of Scooterville in Minneapolis, says gas prices come up in conversation but only when there’s a spike in price.
“$3 used to be the panic range, and now it’s $3.40,” he said. “[Potential customers] are trying to throw as much practically at is as possible. Before you go and shell out $2,500 for something, you have to do a little self-justification.”
Plus, Solano of Solano Cycle says sudden gas increases are too tough to anticipate and try to accommodate the sales surges.
“It’s a gamble if you do that,” Solano noted. “In the winter, we have about 60 or 70 new scooters between our two stores, so we can take a rush from customers and not run out of scooters.”
HIGHER VS. LOWER DISPLACEMENT
Traditionally, the 50cc models have been the hot sellers, and both Schwinn’s Simone and Florida dealer Solano say it’s because people don’t need a motorcycle license to drive one in most states.
“Our 150cc model does very well for us, but a lot of people don’t buy them because they need to get that endorsement,” Simone said.
Solano says the engine size depends on your type of customers.
“At the University of Florida, all they want is 50cc,” he said, “but that’s not true in St. Augustine where you have older people buying large bikes.”
Ramsey of KYMCO says the 49cc class is still his largest segment, and he doesn’t see any other segments capable of overtaking it, again because most state laws don’t require a motorcycle license for smaller displacement scooters.
Scooterville’s Hedstrom says he’s seen a push in the middle engine range.
“A lot of urban people are needing something that will go in the 35-40 mph range. We have really landed pretty solidly in the 125-150cc range,” he noted. “We’re still doing a fair amount of the moped class, but it seemed like this year there was a drop-off of the 250-500cc range. That was an area I was anticipating some growth.”
Dressel of Moto Bravo says in the past two years he’s seen an increase in middle to larger displacement bikes. However, he says it’s difficult to say exactly what’s happening because of the slow market.
“We’re definitely seeing about 25 percent increase in the number of sales for the 125cc and up in displacement scooters,” he said. “Of the people moving to bigger engines, it’s people moving up, so it’s not taking away from the smaller engine sales.”
Scooters are becoming more mainstream from college students to retirees.
The demographic isn’t what was expected from Schwinn’s Simone, who originally thought he’d be looking at a younger group.
“A lot of our initial efforts were geared toward college students and young professionals,” he said. “We have seen a more mature market. It’s more 30-, 40- and 50 year-olds riding them.”
Dressel of Moto Bravo says his dealership’s age demographic is increasing.
“The demographic is going up as far as age, but mainly for the larger-displacement units in the last year,” he said, “and that’s pushed our demographic up for our store.”
Hedstrom of Scooterville says the bulk of his demographic is 35-65 years old, but this year college students have made a bigger impression in the industry.
“When we opened up real close to campus (University of Minnesota), we thought that student purchases of scooters seemed like a natural fit; it happens a lot say in Madison, Wis. It just wasn’t really taking off for the first few years,” Hedstrom said. “What we are seeing this year, which is a differentiation from the past few, is more students.”
Solano says he’s noting the same things from his dealership close to the University of Florida. “A lot of these colleges don’t have any more space for parking, yet enrollment keeps increasing,” he said. “Scooters are a solution to that.”
In addition to college students, Simone says women are increasing Schwinn’s scooter sales. “We had always thought that would be a strong demographic for us,” he said, “but it’s actually exceeded our expectations.”
However, Hedstrom says he’s always been in the vicinity of 50/50 men and women. Whether women have been an increasing demographic, Solo says the overall demographic is widening, and it’s not just one demographic.
“What we have seen is a continued increase in sales across every demographic as scooters become more accepted and popular in the U.S.,” he said.


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- Meijer will offer discounts from $5 to $10, and 5% to 10% on select produce items for SNAP customers, according to a Wednesday press release.
- This discount will remain in effect for a year and comes after a waiver the grocer had applied for was granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The discount applies to all Meijer supercenters, neighborhood markets and Express locations.
- This benefit for SNAP customers is the newest example of grocers making efforts to make healthier options more available, reduce food insecurity and create a more inclusive shopping experience.
The Midwestern grocer’s new discount initiative will begin its first promotional period from Oct. 2-31, offering 10% off fresh fruits and vegetables. SNAP customers will also receive coupons of similar value to the discounts for future purchases of qualifying produce, the announcement stated.
Meijer will also provide coupons offering discounts on future produce purchases for SNAP shoppers.
"We are participating in this important federal initiative to help families get easier access to healthy foods, which is another way we can help reduce food insecurity,” Rick Keyes, Meijer’s president and CEO, said in the announcement.
Meijer submitted its USDA waiver earlier this year to offer these benefits to its SNAP customers. The 2018 Farm Bill allows SNAP-authorized retailers access to USDA waivers in order to offer its SNAP customers incentives, like Meijer’s newest discounts, to purchase nutritious foods like produce, low-fat dairy and whole grains, the press release noted.
Meijer’s past efforts to combat food insecurity include its Simply Give program, which started in 2008 and stocks food pantries across the Midwest. The initiative has generated over $73 million so far.
Meijer’s newest initiative follows other grocers’ efforts to better the shopping experience for its SNAP customers. Earlier this month, Walmart streamlined its online grocery ordering to exclusively list SNAP and EBT-eligible items, making these products more accessible and easy to identify. And in July, Albertsons launched SNAP online purchasing capabilities across five of its banners.


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Samsung’s Galaxy S III mini smartphone, the smaller flavor of the company’s flagship Android-based device, is expected to become available for purchase in the UK before the end of this week, and the price tag for it has been officially confirmed as well.
The handset will be released in the country through The Carphone Warehouse featuring a price tag of £25 per month with the signing of a contract agreement, the retailer has announced. Users looking to upgrade will receive it at the same price.
Moreover, the company will make the smartphone available for purchase SIM-free, with a cost of £300 ($480 / €375) attached to it, just as previously rumored.
Although a smaller flavor of the Galaxy S III, the new device comes with powerful features packed inside, being capable of delivering great performance levels to all users.
“Smart stay was a feature that many were intrigued with; stare at the screen, and the S III Mini will recognize your face, keeping the screen bright until you look away,” a press release from The Carphone Warehouse reads.
“The trick is pulled off thanks to some clever software that’s coupled with the front facing camera. It actually recognises your eyes and tracks them, enabling it to determine when you’re reading, and when you’re done.”
The smartphone comes with battery saving capabilities, while also packing popular features inside, such as Popup play, S Voice, and all the enhancements that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been pushed out with.
Samsung Galaxy S III mini was made official with a 4-inch touchscreen display, a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, and a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of external storage.
The handset also sports a 5-megapixel camera on the back, a 1500 mAh battery, EDGE/GPRS/HSPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA, NFC, and built-in GPS receiver.