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Microsoft is making headlines today, not for its next-gen consoles or any new PC’s but for what might someday power them. It’s no secret that Apple’s new Macs powrred by Apple’s new M1 chip has shaken the industry in a profound way. Microsoft is often seen as Apple’s counterpoint in the industry and when Apple’s three M1-powered Macs vastly outperformed Microsoft’s own Surface Pro X powered by Microsoft’s SQ2 chip made jointly with Qualcomm, Microsoft likely took notice. When a few resourceful tinkerers managed to boot Microsoft’s own Windows 10 on ARM onto the M1-powered MacBook’s under emulation and the Macs were still faster than Surface Pro X, Microsoft likely had choice words for Qualcomm.
Qualcomm’s first ARM PC chip was the Snapdragon 8cx (Compute Extreme). Microsoft’s Surface Pro X SQ1 was based off this chip but with a number of notable modifications. Microsoft’s SQ1 features higher clocked CPU and GPU cores with a TDP of 7W. The 8cx CPU is clocked at 2.84GHz while SQ1 is clocked at a full 3GHz. The integrated Andreno 685 GPU found in the SQ1 is a higher clocked Andreno 680 found in the 8cx. The SQ1’s Adreno 685 clocks at 2 TFlops versus the 1.8 TFlops of the Snapdragon 8cx integrated Andreno 680. The chip is said to be passively cooled and should not need to be throttled under constant load. The Geekbench benchmark below shows the performance of the SQ1-powered Surface Pro X.
Just like how the SQ1 was based on Qualcomm’s 8cx, the SQ2 is based on Qualcomm’s 8cx Gen2 5G, just without the 5G. Having to redesign the Surface Pro X’s antenna system is a heavy investment considering the design is only a year old for a technology that is still very new and lacks coverage in many areas still. Both chips are essentially the same except the SQ2 has a 9W TDP, the CPU is clocked even higher at 3.15GHz. As you can see from the Geekbench benchmark below, there is only a slight performance improvement from the SQ1 to the SQ2.
Microsoft has used ARM chips in PC’s in an on-again off-again story, the first Surface powered by ARM was announced all the way back in October of 2012 as an answer to Apple’s iPad. Apple’s iPad delivered a simpler tablet experience with all day battery life. The first ARM-powered Surface would make it to Gen2 but no further.
Windows 10 on Arm
In the fall of 2017, the announcement of Windows 10 on Arm marked Microsoft’s return to ARM chips with a Latptop from Asus and a 2in1 tablet from HP running on the Snapdragon 835. Subsequent chip device releases would see chips like the Snapdragon 855 until the first purpose-built ARM PC chip built by Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8cx.
Microsoft has been solely reliant on Qualcomm for its Windows 10 on Arm ambitions and any stumble on Qualcomm’s part could severely impede Microsoft’s momentum with its fledgling platform. When Microsoft looked to Qualcomm to deliver a significant performance boost to its second-generation Surface Pro X, Qualcomm stumbled. Qualcomm’s only ARM PC chip in hindsight today is a major failure during a year when Apple would shake the industry with the first Apple Silicon chip designed for its Macs.
Microsoft once again is relying on a chip vendor for their own success, something Apple no longer subjects itself to. Apple’s chips perform well beyond most Intel and AMD PC chips, absolutely wipes the floor with the Surface Pro X’s SQ2.
Today’s news comes via Bloomberg, the report details how Microsoft will be using its own in-house designed ARM in its data centers and “exploring using another chip that would power some of its Surface line of personal computers.” This move would mark another significant shift for Microsoft on its ARM journey that started with its first ARM-powered Surface using Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, to Microsoft-branded Qualcomm chips and on to chips designed entirely by Microsoft. The report points out how Amazon is “already well down the road with similar efforts. They’ve argued their chips are better suited to some of their needs, bringing cost and performance advantages over off-the-shelf silicon primarily provided by Intel.”
The report also goes onto suggest that “Microsoft’s efforts are more likely to result in a server chip than one for its Surface devices, though the latter is possible, said one of the people. The company’s chip design unit reports to Jason Zander, head of the Azure cloud business, rather than Panos Panay, who oversees Surface products. Representatives of Microsoft and Arm declined to comment on whether Microsoft is working on server and PC processors.”
Microsoft recognizes the importance of integrated software and hardware. Microsoft’s spokesman Frank Shaw said ““Because silicon is a foundational building block for technology, we’re continuing to invest in our own capabilities in areas like design, manufacturing and tools, while also fostering and strengthening partnerships with a wide range of chip providers.”
Much like mobile PC’s, battery efficiency is paramount, one major reason for Microsoft’s interest in ARM-based servers is driven by many of the same concerns. It’s no secret that data centers are power hungry, ARM-based servers could help that situation. ARM chips are doing many new things that they are especially good at like AI. Microsoft recently rolled out the ‘Eye-contact’ feature to the Surface Pro X because of its unique ARM-powered AI capabilities that can literally keep you’re the image of your eyes focused on the built-in webcam during video calls.
Surface devices of tomorrow
Along with the ARM-powered Surface Pro X, Microsoft may be interested in delivering its Surface Neo dual-screen PC with Microsoft Silicon. Surface Neo was slated to be released this year but the economic slowdown caused by some states locking down made Microsoft shift its priorities with the device a bit. Surface Neo was meant to ship with a new variant of Windows called, Windows 10X. It would be light, fast, touch friendly and designed (at least initially) for dual screened PC’s like Surface Neo. Earlier this year Panos Panay came out and stated that Surface Neo would be delayed and Windows 10X would first find its home on single screen devices to compete with iPadOS and Chrome OS. A couple of recent Surface devices added to the lineup include a couple of prime candidates for not only Windows 10X but Microsoft Silicon as well, Surface Go and Surface Laptop Go.
The marriage of Windows 10X powered by a potent Microsoft Silicon chip would certainly compete well with offering from platform owners such as Apple’s iPadOS and Google’s Chrome OS. For PCs such as Surface Laptop Microsoft Silicon could be paired with Windows 10 to compete directly with Apple’s new M1-powered MacBook laptops.
One thing is for sure, after Qualcomm failed to deliver a substantially better Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G and the arrival of Apple’s M1-powered Macs, Microsoft can no longer rely on other for their own success.


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NOW happily ensconced in Manhattan with a holiday house in the Hamptons, banker Laurence Holyoake and his food-blogger wife Heather Cox no longer have a need for their Ian Moore-designed masterpiece in Woollahra.
They’d been using the three-bedroom home at 35 Ocean St as a Sydney bolthole since buying it for $3.35 million in 2009.
It’s now up for auction on July 1 with a price guide of $3.6 million through Ben Collier of The Agency, which sounds conservative.
Homehunters at the weekend inspection were heard to remark on Mr Moore’s “timeless” design.
The project was completed a decade ago by then owners Eric Fink, the former Australian managing director of Hugo Boss and his wife, Jacqui, who created the Little Dandelion fashion brand.
It was innovative because of the bridge linking the heritage-listed sandstone cottage with a new master suite above a double garage.
“Woollahra Council didn’t like it, but the Land and Environment Court commissioner thought it was a fantastic idea to make use of a very small worker’s cottage that couldn’t be developed,” Mr Moore said.
Only the brick facade remained after the renovation that cost about $750,000 — everything else was brand new.
Meanwhile, the six-bedroom Beresford Rd, Rose Bay home of academic and board director John Niland and his wife, Carmel, the first female president of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, is turning heads.
The six-bedroom house, was built in the 20s to the 30s of brick and shingle in the American Hamptons style and the addition at the front of dorma windows were in keeping with that style.
It’s been the Niland home for 42 years.
They’d paid $95,000 in 1975.
It’s up for auction on June 14 through Richardson and Wrench Double Bay agents Kate Zuppich and James Dunn with a $5.8 million to $6.3 million price guide.

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TSM FTX: THE LARGEST DEAL IN ESPORTS HISTORY
One of the biggest Esports Organization TSM has secured a 10 year, $210M USD naming deal with FTX. FTX is basically a cryptocurrency exchange company.
There is no doubt about it that is is the biggest deal any Esports organization ever signed. FTX will spent $21M every year for TSM for next 10 years. The deal will cover all competitive TSM rosters, renaming them to TSM FTX.
As per the latest report, the money from this partnership will be used to fund TSM’s global expansion strategy as well as its push into mobile gaming. The company plans to purchase $1M FTX token for the players and employees of TSM.
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One of 2017’s biggest disappointments
Last spring, when the Ghost Recon: Wildlands beta hit consoles, we had some of the most memorable online experiences with friends this gaming generation. Unfortunately, the retail game was limited to solo and co-operative play with friends, leaving out online player-vs-player battles.
While the title has shockingly gone on to become the year’s best-selling video game, we opted to not purchase the title until online play was added; but our stance might change with a price drop.
Ubisoft has now confirmed that an official beta for the shooter will arrive to platforms later this summer – in the new expansion game Ghost War. The 4 vs. 4 mode is set to include new gameplay mechanics, such as sound marker and suppressing fire. While no official release date was given, Ghost War will be free for owners of Wildlands this fall. Take a look at the detailed trailer below.


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The Italian health food market is booming – 80% of Italians consume food supplements or functional foods – but regulation threatens a sector comprised of 1800 firms, a congress has been told.
French legislation voted in yesterday will require supermarkets to donate all unsold, edible food to charity in a bid to cut food waste.
Market analyst Euromonitor International dissects recent NutraIngredients Awards winners to provide category perspective from sustainable omega-3 to healthy ageing in this guest article.
To sell insects to Western consumers, food manufacturers must create products that align ethical motivations with sensory expectations – meaning cricket flour cookies will fare better than chocolate-coated crickets.
Mandatory labelling for dairy could push up production costs by nearly 50% and limit consumer freedom of choice - the current status quo is the most suitable option, say two Commission reports that have been welcomed by the food industry.


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A bipartisan group of lawmakers says recalled products that have been linked to more than 100 infant deaths are still being sold on the online Meta Market.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, Ranking Members Frank Pallone Jr., D-Fla., Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Jan Schakovsky, D-Illinois, wrote a letter to Meta that criticized CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was still listing banned and recalled products for sale on the Facebook Marketplace even after receiving “thousands of takedown requests” from safety regulators. Meta is the parent company of Facebook.
The products in question include the Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play, an infant sleep reclining device that has been linked to nearly 100 infant deaths and recalls since 2019. Lawmakers also noted the Boppy Newborn Lounger, which was recalled in 2021 and linked to eight infant deaths , was also for sale.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the recalled Fisher-Price vehicle is now linked to nearly 100 deaths.
“The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is mandated to keep the public safe from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of injury or death,” the lawmakers said in the letter. “In addition to its own work, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) relies on online marketplaces, such as Meta, to keep consumers safe by preventing the posting of products known to be dangerous for sale.”
Philips is recalling nearly 13,000 baby monitors due to risks related to overheating of the batteries
The lawmakers claimed that Mita “did not fulfill this mission.”
“Like other platforms where people can buy and sell merchandise, there are instances of people knowingly or unintentionally selling recalled merchandise on Marketplace,” a Meta spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. “We take this issue very seriously and when we find listings that violate our rules, we remove them.”
|meta||Meta Platforms Inc||287.60||-2.30||-0.79%|
The lawmakers noted that the CPSC has “formally requested an average of about a thousand takedown requests per month” to the Meta regarding the Boppy Newborn Lounger, but the product is still available for sale on the Facebook Marketplace.
The letter added that the volume of takedown requests remained the same, but that the CPSC “is not aware of any proactive measures to prevent these postings in the future.”
“When companies like yours fail to prevent the sale of recalled products, users and their children are put at risk of purchasing and using a product that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has found to pose a serious risk of injury and potential death,” the lawmakers wrote.
And lawmakers asked Meta to answer a series of safety questions by Aug. 31.
In part, lawmakers have asked Meta to clarify the systems it has in place to ensure that products that have been pulled and deemed unsafe are not posted on Facebook’s marketplace.
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Lawmakers also want to know whether Meta has a compliance team dedicated to consumer product safety issues as well as what actions it takes to monitor CPSC recalls. They also want to know what is being done to ensure that Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play, Boppy Newborn Lounger, products of a similar design or other recalled products are no longer available for purchase.
Other markets that have received similar messages include Amazon, Walmart and Target, as well as Etsy and social media giant TikTok. Meta was only accused of continuing to sell the recalled products.
CPSC President Alex Hoehn-Saric said consumers should not be held responsible for discarding illegal products online.
“With the vast resources and access to these markets, there’s no good reason they can’t keep offending and recalled products off their sites,” Hoehn-Saric said, adding that the CPSC “is pushing platforms to prioritize consumer product safety.”
Representatives for Walmart, Target, Amazon, Etsy and TikTok did not respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.


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HBC confirms negotiations with Signa but refutes rumors of a binding agreement
Canadian retail group Hudson’s Bay Co. (HBC) responded to reports that it had agreed to sell half of its European business to Austria’s Signa Holding GmbH on Friday, confirming that the two companies were in talks but denying that a definitive agreement had been reached.
“While HBC does not generally comment publicly on market speculation or rumors, in light of recent media reports, HBC believes it is prudent to advise stakeholders that it is in discussions with SIGNA Holding GmbH and has signed a non-binding letter of intent with respect to the exploration of a potential joint venture,” the statement clarified, emphasizing that no binding agreement to sell part of HBC’s European business had been signed.
The statement went on to highlight that any future deal would be subject to further analysis and the approval of the company’s Board of Directors, as well as a number of conditions beyond the group’s control, including consent from third parties and due diligence.
Rumors of a proposed joint venture between the two companies, which would bring together two major German department stores, namely HBC’s Kaufhof and Signa-owned Karstadt, first came to light at the end of last month, and on Wednesday, July 4, reports surfaced that a definitive agreement had been signed.
At the time, the Wall Street Journal stated that Signa would pay 1.1 billion euros to acquire around half of HBC’s European business and would also assume some 750 million euros in debt as part of the agreement.
Signa previously made an unsolicited bid to acquire Kaufhof towards the end of last year, an offer which was rejected by Hudson’s Bay.
HBC stated that it would not be making any further comments on industry speculation unless required to do so by law.
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It may not enjoy quite the same level of buzz that the likes of Spotify
have been basking in lately, but Microsoft's Zune
service is still kicking, and the company's now working to make it a bit more appealing and more widely available. For folks in the US, the big change today is a new $10 per month Zune Music Pass, which is identical to the existing $15 service with the notable exception that you no longer get to keep ten free MP3s each month (that $15 option remains available to existing subscribers, though). Elsewhere, Microsoft has also now finally brought the Zune Marketplace and Zune Pass to Canada -- it opens up on October 3rd, with the Zune Pass running the same $10/month (or $100 for a year of service).
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]


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To Avoid Controversy, 'Realtime' Microblogging In China Now Delayed By 7 Days
from the not-so-realtime dept
Despite increasing competition around the world, China remains the leader when it comes to finding ways to censor the online world. A few months ago, the site Tech in Asia listed no less than eight ways in which users of Sina Weibo, China's hugely-popular homegrown microblog service, can be penalized for "inappropriate" tweets. Now it seems it has come up with a ninth:
Users of Sina Weibo that mention things somewhat more controversial than cats or food might find their posts being delayed -- by seven whole days. The Twitter-like Sina Weibo is supposed to be a real-time social platform, but that no longer applies to posts that mention 'sensitive' terms such as the names of China's top leaders.
That's a worrying escalation, since it makes tweeting even uncontroversial stuff about contemporary politics, say, pretty pointless: who wants to read what somebody thought a week ago? If the Chinese authorities decided to increase their control of online postings even more, an obvious way would be to encourage all user-generated services to adopt this system. Pity that would pretty much be the death of real-time social media in China.


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The hits just keep coming for NVIDIA. First their Fermi line was six months late to the market, and now they have to push back the launch of the GTS 450. However, it’s a different story altogether for ATI, as not only has the 5000 series been very successful, but they are now on the verge of launching an entirely new line of graphics cards.
Up until now the news regarding the new 6000 series (Southern Island) has not specified an exact time frame for release. We can put the speculation to rest now, as AMD is rumored to announce the new graphics cards in October, and partners should be shipping them to the public in November. So, this gives us just three short months before the 6000 series will be in hand.
While details on the new line are still vague, there are reports coming out the new series will use the current 40nm fabrication process and not the 32nm originally intended. This is due to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) advancing to 28nm and skipping the 32nm process all together. So, AMD had to make the adjustment back to 40nm in order to prevent delays to the new series.
Additional news: AMD plans to cut prices of the 5000 series prior to the 6000 launch. There is not an exact date specified for the price reduction, but it should be happening within the next month or two.


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India’s Start-Up Ecosystem Sees Exciting Times Ahead
The Indian software product industry is growing exponentially in terms of both revenue and talent. The growth of the software product industry in recent years has signaled a transformation in India. India is fast gaining popularity as a ‘breeding ground’ for product innovation and start-ups.
Speaking at a recent Nasscom conclave, Ravi Gururaj, Chairman, Nasscom Product Council said, “It’s a great time to be a product entrepreneur in India with the increasing buzz in domestic markets, rising interest in Indian start-ups by overseas investors and improvement in the overall available infrastructure. India has become an attractive ground to breed start-ups and the industry is adding value at various stages to emerging technology startups.”
Nasscom recently organized a conference that served as an exciting platform for knowledge sharing, networking and setting the context for the future of the Indian product industry.
The association also organized a product showcase by companies on the sidelines of the conclave to encourage entrepreneurs in the region to create unique product solutions for its customers. The Pune edition of NPC, witnessed a turnout of over 400 delegates encouraging companies located in the region to participate and interact with some of the super achievers in the Indian Products arena.
The Pune edition of the conclave addressed the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, provided insights into the operations of product business and opportunities that will help them expand their market and build successful businesses. The conclave showcased the most promising and innovative growth stage product companies emerging in the cloud space. These cloud product companies, in a short span of time have created landmark products catering to a globally growing customer base and are now set to ramp up for the next phase of growth.
- Oracle To Showcase Its SaaS Innovation With AI In India
- IT Veteran Shyam Ramamurthy Joins Goals101 As Chief Product Officer
- Damson Technologies Launches Its India Operations
- Rapid Innovation Puts Customer Experience At Risk: Study
- How Cisco Is Speeding Up Network Innovation
- Using Cloud To Empower SMB Innovation
- Using AI, Big Data To Design The Right Curriculum
- RJio To Connect 1100 Cities; Set For Next Level Of Disruption
- Here's What Businesses Without HTTPS Should Know This July
- The Digital Messiah: Inside Accenture's Innovation Hub


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After a lengthy review period, the European Union has decided to implement new tariffs on electric bicycles imported from China in an effort to clamp down on e-bike dumping in Europe.
The amount of duty being levied is determined for each company specifically, and ranges from 21.8% to as high as 83.6%, though most will receive a duty of 37%.
Electric bicycle manufacturers in Europe have long complained about unfair business practices occurring in China, where companies take advantage of the incredibly low-cost of labor, subsidized materials and razor-thin profit margins in order to export e-bikes to Europe at rock-bottom prices.
The volume of Chinese electric bicycle exports to the EU has increased threefold from 2014 to 2017 with market share increasing to 35%.
These cheap e-bikes severely undercut the competition and make it difficult for local electric bicycle manufacturers in Europe to compete.
In order to determine the proper course of action and the extent of the new tariffs to be created, the European Commission visited a number of large electric bicycle manufacturers in China, including companies like Giant, Bodo, Jinhua Vision and Suzhou Rununion.
Those businesses all received company-specific tariff levels as high as 83.6%.
The entirety of the new regulations and the company-specific tariffs can be found in the official European Commission report.
It comes as no surprise that the electric bicycle industry is split regarding support of the new tariffs. The European Bicycle Manufacturers Association has come out in favor of the new regulations, which they believe will help bolster local companies and encourage local innovation in the electric bicycle industry.
On the other hand, the EU Light Electric Vehicle Association has already filed a lawsuit against the EU for what it claims are “procedural absurdities” that have taken place during the review process leading up to these new tariffs.
According to Annick Roetynck, LEVA-EU Manager:
The situation for importers is intolerable. Some importers have shipments waiting at sea. If they cannot be unloaded and sold, the importers lose their investments. If the Commission decides to collect duties retroactively, importers may lose their entire business. This is already punishment before a verdict was reached. The chaos and uncertainty created by this baseless procedure pose an existential threat to small businesses and the growing e-bike market in Europe.
The new tariffs come at a time when the United States is also preparing its own potential electric bicycle tariffs against Chinese e-bike exports, which could dramatically increase the price of electric bicycles in the US.
The last thing anybody wants is a trade war, but the commission did determine that many Chinese e-bike companies are taking advantage of their ability to absorb little or no profits for years in order to become dominant players in the global e-bike market, which can kill local e-bike manufacturers in the West.
In the US, imported electric bicycles are already even less expensive than in Europe. Take the best-selling electric bicycle on Amazon for example, which is just $370. And that’s not for some crappy off-brand bike either – it’s an Ancheer folding e-bike with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating. We’ve previously reviewed Ancheer e-bikes and found them to be inexpensive but surprisingly good for such a low price.
So not only are these inexpensive e-bikes flooding Western markets, but they are succeeding. They are becoming quite popular and their quality is seemingly above what most people would expect for the price.
While this is great for consumers and bodes well for the future of light electric vehicle adoption in the West, I can definitely still see why governments want to balance the benefits with the potential detriments to local industry. If there aren’t any US or European e-bikes left for China to compete against, what will force them to keep the quality up and the price down over the next few years when e-bikes become even more popular on our city streets and bike paths?
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It’s assembled more than 20 Hispanic publishers (including Orange-owned starMedia, 20minutos.es, elMundo.es, Marca.com and Peru.com), with a claimed US/LatAm monthly audience of 21 million uniques, for whom it will sell ads.
The move is surprising since – apart from Orange operating mobile and broadband in Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, and France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) offering U.S. enterprise services and Starmedia – FT doesn’t really have an Americas footprint.
Didn’t know Orange had an ad network… ?
The network grew out of Orange’s business making and selling ads on its own properties for French clients like Air France and EDF.
Orange beefed up it up in France earlier this year, selling ads on the “three screens” (Orange’s favourite term for its strategy) of mobile, web and IPTV. Then it bought UK digital ads agency Unanimis this summer before striking a deal that effectively brings former ad-funded MVNO Blyk aboard to form a joint ad sales operation.
Orange reckons its network now reaches 55 percent of European internet users (comScore (NSDQ: SCOR) data).


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When the dust settled on the 41st annual SCORE International Baja 500, a Beta Motorcycles dealer-sponsored team won the series' premier Open Pro Motorcycle class on a Beta 450 RR.
In Baja's extreme terrain and weather conditions, where the temperature reached more than 100 degrees, Threat Racing's near-stock 450 RR ran flawlessly. In 432 grueling miles, the bike needed just an air filter and a rear tire throughout nine hours and 33 minutes of punishment.
With this victory, the ultra-versatile Beta 450 RR has now gained international acclaim from the Baja Peninsula to the woods of Finland, where Mirko Gritti recently rode to a podium finish in the FIM World Enduro Championship series.
The Threat Racing team consisted of Baja veteran Craig Smith, 35, and teenage brothers Cameron, 18, and Kyle Corfman, who is just 16 years old. Kyle was flabbergasted with the trio's results. "At first," he said, "I didn't believe that we won. Then, a billion text messages came in and my phone started ringing."
Smith, who started racing long before either of his teammates was born, also won the Baja 500 in 1995. His latest south-of-the-border adventure went according to plan. "Other than staring down a cow in the middle of a fireroad at 50 mph, things went real smooth," said the alfalfa farmer from Brawley, Calif.
American Beta's 2008 Dealer of the Year, Threat Racing is a family-owned shop doing business for more than a decade in the desert community of El Centro, Calif., just 10 miles from the Mexican border. Shop owner Chip Corfman took on Beta last year as the dealership's first motorcycle franchise. His rationale was simple: "We used to compete on other bikes, but I didn't like it when we'd race on Sunday, do well and prospective customers would go buy a bike somewhere else on Monday."
Tim Pilg, American Beta's founder, stressed that it was Beta dealers' personalized, old-school service that sets the company apart from other brands: "My experience in motorcycle dealerships taught me that American distributors focused on how many units they could sell instead of ways to improve customer service. While we also concentrate on sales, we are ultimately focused on giving our customers the personalized attention that keeps them coming back.
"We're proud of Threat Racing's Baja 500 performance and look forward to more success in competition and on the showroom floor."


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The Warehouse Group has launched a new e-commerce marketplace called TheMarket in New-Zealand, an online shopping platform that brings local, international and niche brands together in one place, offering Kiwis greater a new way to access and choice when shopping online. The new platform has launched with 1,500+ brands and more than one million products, including local brands like Karen Walker, WORLD, Father Rabbit, Citta and Barkers, and Australian and international brands PE Nation, Cue, Billabong, Cotton On and The Nile, and many more. Key categories include fashion, footwear, kids and baby, toys, health and beauty, home, garden, electronics, sports and outdoor.
According to The Warehouse Group Chief Executive Nick Grayston, The Market has been kept operationally separate from The Warehouse Group. Grayston says the launch of TheMarket is a part of delivering on its strategy of investing in the digital future. TheMarket launches as a sixth consumer brand for the Group, joining The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, 1-Day.co.nz and Torpedo7. ‘We have completed a number of Group projects to improve our digital reach for the future, including building a better supply chain, increasing our shared services competency, and improving our systems and data capability,’ says Grayston. ‘Together with TheMarket, these elements have built the foundation for our customer-facing eco-system for all Kiwis’ that will help Kiwis live their lives better.
‘Online shopping is growing exponentially every year, but New Zealanders are often compromised in terms of range, access, and ease of delivery,’ states Grayston. ‘Our brand-first proposition from TheMarket will enable capture of a greater share of this e-commerce growth.’ New Zealanders spent $4.2 billion online last year, and that figure is expected to get bigger. Currently, online spendings are about nine per cent of total retail spending, compared to the UK who are at 18 per cent. ‘There are some big opportunities here,’ highlights Grayston.
Justus Wilde, CEO TheMarketJustus Wilde, CEO of TheMarket claims that TheMarket is different to other sites. ‘It’s much more content-focused with great design and discoverability, integrated with social, and brands selected on their desirability. It’s a contemporary, brand-driven e-commerce experience that incorporates the latest trends and insights. We’ve launched TheMarket as a tactical trading platform initially, but we will be continuing to develop the site by innovating the customer experience. For example, looking at how we can improve delivery, using data to drive personalisation, and encouraging loyalty through unique member offers.’ For now, TheMarket provides all prices in New Zealand dollars, buy-now, pay-later options, tracked shipping and free returns. Customers are able to use local customer service no matter where in the world they buy from the platform.
As TheMarket is a subsidiary of The Warehouse Group, the Group will use its extensive store footprint to support TheMarket’s business model. ‘Most New Zealanders live within 30 minutes’ drive of a local Group store, so the existing omnichannel and distribution structure is a significant advantage, and might also help drive cross-brand foot traffic and sales for the Group,’ said Justus Wilde. TheMarket also partnered with Fonterra Farm Source to create MarketPoints at ten Farm Source stores. That way shoppers in rural areas can also take advantage of the site’s convenience, with more MarketPoints to be added over time.


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With a target of adding 20 to 25 new multi-unit franchise groups to the system in 2016, Dairy Queen is bringing its 75-year-old brand into the future.
Since the first Dairy Queen® location opened in Joliet, Ill. in 1940, the chain’s signature treats have been rooted in tradition and nostalgia for kids and adults alike. Many decades later, that same sentiment remains. The chain celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2015 on solid footing, thanks to a sharpened focus and steady growth of the DQ Grill & Chill® concept, the brand’s innovative quick service restaurant (QSR) model that launched in 2002. With the success seen by 84 new DQ Grill & Chill locations that opened in 2015, hundreds of the traditional locations also converted to the DQ Grill & Chill model this past year. The Dairy Queen system has seen strong financial performance from the restaurants that showcase a modern, warm design reminiscent of your family room, complete with a fireplace and flat screen TVs. The dining room offers the look of a high-scale restaurant with dark colors and stacked stone, and guests can see the kitchen from the counter, where hot and delicious food items are prepared. A dedicated frozen treat section features a freezer near the counter, positioned as a comforting backdrop to the restaurant and includes DQ Cakes and Dilly® Bars that all fans of the brand will recognize.
In the U.S., there are currently more than 1,560 DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in 46 states. The Dairy Queen corporate team is eyeing 85-plus new store openings in 2016, shifting a focus to the QSR model with nearly 95 percent of projected new locations being DQ Grill & Chill restaurants and almost 100 percent of domestic growth will be in the DQ Grill & Chill model.
“Almost everyone will tell you a story of how they rode their bike to the local Dairy Queen location when they were kids. People are driven by the emotional connection—it’s very strong and powerful, and that nostalgia extends beyond just the product and into the brand itself,” said Jim Kerr, vice president of franchise development at American Dairy Queen Corporate (ADQ). “We like that we’re a historic brand but over the decades, we realized that we have to stay relevant to keep up with changing consumer behavior. As the QSR landscape evolves, we realized the need to do the same. We’re excited to continue introducing our DQ Grill & Chill concept to more towns across the country—it’s our answer for people who want to treat their families to a nice meal at a reasonable price in a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
Dairy Queen restaurants are franchised by ADQ, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ). IDQ is owned by Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: NRK.A and BRK.B) and there are currently more than 6,700 locations in 30 countries worldwide. The DQ Grill & Chill concept now makes up about 23 percent of the U.S. franchise system and boasts more variety on its menu, with dozens of core items, including a variety of burgers and chicken sandwiches, alongside the heritage treat side of the business. The brand also incorporated the DQ $5 Buck Lunch deal and DQ Bakes!® Artisan-style Sandwiches, Snack Melts, and Hot Desserts à la Mode to their offerings.
“The DQ Grill & Chill restaurants have improved our economic model because the menu addresses more day parts than most other brands in our space,” said Mike Mettler, director of national franchise sales at ADQ.
ADQ now has its sights set on continuing the expansion of its DQ Grill & Chill restaurant footprint in the years to come. Backed by a strong culture and a management team built on integrity, the brand is looking for franchisees who can emulate that same value.
“We have been bringing on multi-unit franchisees who have experience with other quick-service brands that are looking to expand their portfolios,” Mettler said. “We are continuing to evolve the menu to add revenue to our franchisees’ locations and keep our offerings competitive and different from the industry norm.”
With a target of adding 20 to 25 new multi-unit franchise groups to the system in 2016, ADQ is laying plans to develop DQ Grill & Chill locations in markets such as New England, the Carolinas, California, New Orleans, Houston and Kansas City.
“As we move forward, the most important thing is to lay the groundwork for future years, and this means increasing awareness of our concept as an investment vehicle for franchise growth. There are still large pockets throughout the U.S. where people really don’t know who we are and what a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant is,” Kerr said. “With the help of our sophisticated franchisees, our strong work culture and our commitment to legacy, we’re excited to see what this reinvention holds for the future of our brand. This is the DQ ice cream shop that you remember as a kid and so much more!”
The investment range to open a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant ranges from $1,077,225 to $1,833,125.


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Friday, May 12, 2006
Parvus Joins Windows Partner Program
Salt Lake City, Utah-based Parvus, a developer of ruggidized equipment for the military and other industries, said yesterday that it has joined a partner program from Microsoft. The firm said that it has joined Microsoft's Windows Embedded Partner Program (WEP). The program provides the company with access to support and business opportunities. Parvus provides single board computers and I/O cards that run Windows XP Embedded and Windows CE, along with other products.


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A Sydney business is under fire this week over their trademarking of the name The Bali 7, for the intended use as a t-shirt design. The term “Bali 7” is connected to the group of Australian drug traffickers the Bali 9 who were caught smuggling heroin out of Bali and were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 20 years to the death penalty.
The trademark request came from a company called D-Train Promotions, based in Lidcombe NSW, an employee of the company spoke to The (un)Australian about the trademarking, “Look when we heard they were going to execute 2 of the Bali 9 we figured the Bali 7 has a nice ring to it and would look wicked on a t-shirt.”
The controversial slogan has caused outrage from various groups such as anti-death campaigners, friends and family of the soon to be executed men and surprisingly the fashion industry.
Claire Hoyton-Smythe editor of Australians 51st leading Fashion Blog, Clothes and Expensive stuff told The (un)Australian, “It’s appalling, I mean the Bali 7, everyone knows that odd numbers were so last year why couldn’t they have gone with the Bali 6? Or Bali 4? Surely they could knock off another one of the smugglers.”
The t-shirts will be available at your leading Etsy site.


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DANVILLE, Ill., Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Once rivals in the highly competitive LED electronic display industry, today Watchfire Signs and YESCO are collaborating on a number of high profile digital sign projects, including two high resolution digital billboards in St. George, Utah. Click to Tweet.
YESCO recently selected Watchfire Signs to manufacture two 16mm, 14’ x 48’ digital billboards located on Interstate 15 near the Dixie Center, a premier convention destination in St. George. The billboards, installed in August and September 2017, feature ads from local businesses and are nearly sold out.
YESCO previously operated an electronic sign business that competed directly with Watchfire. YESCO sold its electronic display manufacturing business in 2015. A project such as this would have been inconceivable when YESCO and Watchfire were competitors. Now that YESCO no longer manufactures electronic displays, Watchfire has become a key part of YESCO’s strategy to be the premiere electronic display integrator.
“As YESCO transitioned from manufacturing electronic displays to purely integration, we were excited to explore new options and our first move was to contact Watchfire Signs,” said Rod Wardle, vice president/electronics at YESCO. “Watchfire has a magnificent reputation for manufacturing highly reliable displays, and we have been really happy with the new relationship.”
In addition to the two billboards, YESCO enlisted Watchfire for a new display for Security National, a financial services company, in Salt Lake City. The 12’6” x 21’6’’, 16mm display delivers crisp, clear images in this high traffic location.
“YESCO is one of the biggest names in the sign and lighting industry. There isn’t a better qualified and insightful LED display buyer. Their decision to buy from us is very flattering,” said Darrin Friskney, vice president at Watchfire Signs. “Rod and I joked about how unlikely this partnership would have felt just a few years ago, but we’re delighted that they’ve put their trust in us for both the billboard and on-premise businesses. We’re looking forward to a long relationship with YESCO.”
Watchfire Signs and YESCO share a similar culture, according to Wardle. “YESCO is family-owned and Watchfire started as a family business. We both have employees with decades of tenure, so there’s good continuity in relationships and projects,” said Wardle.
About Watchfire Signs
Watchfire Signs designs, engineers and manufactures the best looking, most durable outdoor LED signs and digital billboards to help businesses and organizations increase visibility and drive growth. Headquartered in Danville, Ill., Watchfire has manufactured outdoor electric signs since 1932 and LED signs since 1996. The company has more than 50,000 Watchfire LED signs in operation and more digital billboard customers in the U.S. than any other manufacturer. For information, go to www.watchfiresigns.com.
In 1920 Thomas Young founded Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) in Ogden, Utah. The company operates a full service custom sign manufacturing business offering creative design, engineering, leasing, financing and maintenance agreements. YESCO owns and operates its own network of digital billboards, as well as 1,800 traditional billboard faces in the Western United States. YESCO operates a sign and lighting service franchise network throughout North America. For more information about YESCO click here.


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A third (32%) of the UK’s top retailers don’t have a mobile shopping app, reveals the new State of Digital Commerce report launched today by Episerver, which examines the retail and ecommerce trends set to shape 2017.
The report analyses the mobile presence of 100 top UK retail brands and draws on research with 1,200 consumers and 100 marketing professionals. It highlights that nearly a third of top retailers fail to provide a mobile application across either iPhone or Android devices.
In addition, 66% of marketing professionals no longer include mobile apps within their mobile marketing campaigns. Instead, the majority (56%) are choosing a responsive mobile presence, with 80% of the top retail brands opting for a responsive ecommerce site.
Commenting on this finding David Bowen, Head of Product of Episerver, says: “In 2017 mobile is going to play a bigger role than ever before in both marketing and retail. Our research shows that smartphones have reached near-complete adoption in the UK, with ownership of tablet devices also now pushing 70%. Yet while mobile commerce is going to be hugely important for today’s retailers, mobile apps are going out of style.
“This switch from mobile apps to in-browser experiences is largely being driven by the surge of mobile search and traffic, consumers have grown accustomed to managing their lives through a web browser. As such, the idea of manually installing and launching a different app for each brand experience seems like an unnecessary hassle.”
This is backed up to some degree by a recent Google and PayPal study that finds that speed to get to what they are looking for is key to most shoppers. So long as they can easily find what they are looking for then they aren’t so bothered about how they get there.
What is interesting is that the Google-PayPal study encourages retailers in the UK to get on messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, as this is increasingly where their customers are to be found – especially if they have a problem and want to communicate with the retailer.


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Mumbai: DRI seizes psychotropic drugs worth Rs 57 lakh from Mira Road
A special team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 16 lakh tablets containing psychotropic substances, valued at approximate Rs 57 lakh, in Mira Road
A special team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 16 lakh tablets containing psychotropic substances, valued at approximate Rs 57 lakh, in Mira Road. The raid was conducted after information was received that the substances, in tablet form, were being exported by a group based at Mira Road.
According to a report in India Today, raids were held at Mira Road premises of Allied Air Express and two other premises. The report added that orders for the drugs were received from United States and United Kingdom at three call centres based in different parts of the country. This information was then passed on to the company, which received the content from suppliers at Sangli, Ludhiana and Delhi.
"The tablets were then packed by the company in courier covers and sent to Delhi from where they were sent abroad by speed post as medical samples,” an official informed India Today.
As per the report, eight people have been held thus far.
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Following reports of an Apple media event to take place on September 12, at which they are expected to announce the new iPhone (and possibly other products, such as the “iPad mini), iMore now reports that the company is also planning to update their entire line of iOS devices to support the rumored smaller dock connector.
iMore has learned that Apple intends to update their entire lineup of iOS device products to support the new, miniaturized Dock connector, and to do it as early the rumored September 12 special event this fall. This would include the newiPhone 5, the the new iPod nano and iPod touch, the rumored 7-inch iPad mini, and an updated version of the current 9.7-inch iPad.
iMore previously reported on Apple’s plans for a new, smaller dock connector to be used on the next-gen iPhone and the 7.85-inch iPad, with today’s report adding new information to their previous claims. Apple will also reportedly be releasing an adapter to make new iOS devices work with the older 30-pin dock connector.
Rumors that Apple might release a slightly tweaked version of the current 3rd-generation iPad have surfaced before, although it would mark the first time Apple has broken away from their yearly cycle of iPad updates – although it may just be a minor, silent update with few changes.
It makes sense for Apple to update the dock connector across all their devices, as it would provide users a more consistent experience. Those purchasing a new iPad and a new iPhone or iPod touch at the same time wouldn’t have to worry about using adapters, for instance.


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MADE Heads To LA With Jeremy Scott And Tyler, The Creator
Prepare yourself for a fashion rebirth. MADE, Milk’s fashion week bestie, is known for putting on the sickest fashion shows in NYC, and now they’re taking a little field trip to Los Angeles. On June 10th and 11th, MADE is holding an L.A.-based fashion show with Jeremy Scott and Tyler, The Creator at L.A. Live’s Event Deck. Dubbed MADE L.A., this will mark MADE’s first venture into fashion events that are consumer-based, rather than the traditional fashion shows they’re known for. Stay tuned for info on how to get passes soon.
Jenné Lombardo, co-founder of MADE, is pumped for the event. “LA is just culturally so inspiring right now,” she told us. “There’s so many designers and artists and musicians that reside there, it’s really at this peak from an artistic perspective. We have such an affinity for it, and we really wanted to do something different. At MADE, we don’t typically follow in the footsteps of everyone else. We break rules, and we test out new challenges. And our parent company, WME-IMG, is based out of LA, so we thought it would be good to do something in their backyard, to celebrate that partnership.”
“MADE has been a creative force in the fashion world for the past seven years,” as Barnett Zitron, Managing Director at MADE, said in a press release. “As we looked to expand the brand in new markets, Los Angeles—as a city undergoing a cultural renaissance at the intersection of art, design, food, fashion and entertainment—was a natural fit. Together with AEG and our partners, we are excited to create an experience that celebrates the city’s vital creative community.”
Moschino will be kicks off the event, showing both their men’s S/S ’17 and their women’s Resort ’17 collections. Following the Moschino show will be a presentation by Tyler’s fashion line, Golf Wang, on June 11th is also popping a cherry (bomb) with its first season of clothing that will be readily available to the public after the show. Both days of MADE LA will also feature “The Stores,” a market-like setup that will feature work from at least 30 fashion designers and artists. We smell some fashion history in the making.
“As I show my own show in NYC and Moschino in Milan and London for the men’s, I’ve never had the luxury of doing a show in the city I live in and getting to sleep in my own bed that night!” Jeremy Scott told Vogue while partying at Coachella. “It’s always fun to change it up and do something new and unexpected! I’ve been feeling very colorful and excited about mixing patterns and prints unexpectedly together.”
As a longtime MADE designer, Jeremy Scott holds a special place in our hearts. Milk New York was home to his wild fashion shows for several seasons, and it’s exciting to see him bringing Moschino into the fold.
As for Tyler, he saw MADE L.A. as the perfect opportunity to widen his reach and diversify his customers. “I just figured, Why not? Why not do something different?” he said. “Not everybody in the upper fashion world is wearing all-black Saint Laurent pieces and is super pretentious. I want to show them a different world.”
GOLF "FASHION SHOW" JUNE 11TH. WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED. TRUST ME, THIS IS GONNA BE SICK.
— Tyler, The Creator (@fucktyler) April 19, 2016
Tyler is set to perform after his label’s fashion show to finish off the action-packed weekend. Get ready, LA.
Images shot exclusively for Milk by Koury Angelo. Additional image via Golf Wang.
Stay tuned to Milk for more MADE LA coverage.


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HONG KONG — For a few heady months in 2016, Pokémon Go transformed the morning commute for millions of people into a critter-hunting safari, populating the ordinary world with a reality-augmented menagerie of Pikachus, Charmanders and Eevies.
Now its creators hope to do the same to the nightly snooze.
Pokémon’s chief executive, Tsunekazu Ishihara, said Wednesday that the Japanese franchise planned to release a new game called Pokémon Sleep in 2020 aimed at nothing less than taking the world of video games into dreamland.
“The concept of this game is for players to look forward to waking up every morning,” Mr. Ishihara announced at a news conference in Tokyo.
Or as another game executive said, Pokémon Sleep would find ways to “reward good sleep habits.”
Pokémon Go was one of the first games to use augmented-reality technology when it was introduced in July 2016. Before long, 28.5 million users were roaming the streets at odd hours, eyes glued to their smartphones, even stumbling into unexpected places.
Pokémon Sleep, by contrast, will track sleep patterns and change the game based on how long the user sleeps, and what time he or she wakes up. The game will be developed with Niantic, the maker of Pokémon Go, and the game design firm Select Button.
Part of the motivation behind the new game is the need for a good night’s sleep, said John Hanke, the chief executive of Niantic.
“We love exploring the world on foot, and that can’t happen unless we have the energy to embark on these adventures,” he said.
The companies involved in making the game released few details of how exactly sleep would be rewarded. Nintendo America, which owns part of the Pokémon franchise, will produce a separate sleep-tracking device called the Pokémon Go Plus+. When tucked beneath the user’s pillow, it would send sleep data to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
Pokémon Go created a worldwide obsession when it was introduced three years ago, but within five months the app had lost more than 80 percent of its active users, according to comScore, an American company that tracks media analytics.
Pokémon wants to captivate users again, awake or otherwise.
“Everyone spends a large part of their lives sleeping, and turning that into entertainment is our next challenge,” Mr. Ishihara said at the news conference.
Not everyone was thrilled with Pokémon’s plans to reach into dreamland.
“‘Making sleep fun’ is a concept that could only exist today, when nothing is considered enjoyable or even valid unless it contributes to some secondary economy,” Ian Bogost, a video game designer and the author of the book “Play Anything,” wrote on Twitter. He added that people would eventually need such games “to make fun-making more fun.”
Some made joking comparisons with “Monsters Inc.,” a Pixar film about furry creatures scaring children in nightmares and harnessing their screams into renewable energy. Others saw the game as a wholesome incentive to get a reasonable amount of sleep, especially since gaming is so often associated with late-night habits.
Kenny Liew, a Singapore-based analyst at Fitch Solutions, said that while he expected Pokémon Sleep to become a hit, most users would probably lose interest eventually, as they did with Pokémon Go.
“Many fitness trackers, smartwatches and even smartphones already track sleep patterns, and most at an even more sophisticated level than what Pokémon Sleep seems to be doing,” he said by email. He added that users might be turned off by having to buy the external sleep-tracking device for additional features.


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Pepperidge Farm opens new innovation centre in US
Pepperidge Farm, a provider of bakery products and frozen foods, has opened a $30m innovation centre at its headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut, US.
The 34,000ft² innovation centre features a pilot plant with product development and testing lines; culinary kitchens; scientific labs; and meeting rooms.
The centre is environmentally friendly, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and uses a range of energy efficiency, water conservation and daylight harvesting techniques, the company said.
Campbell Soup, the parent company of Pepperidge Farm, noted that the project is part of its plan to boost growth and innovation in its Global Baking and Snacking portfolio - its second-largest reporting segment.
The Global Baking and Snacking segment, which includes Pepperidge Farm in the US and Arnott's Biscuits in Australia, reported a 2% increase in sales to $2.193bn in fiscal 2012.
Campbell Soup president and chief executive officer Denise Morrison said the company is committed to generating profitable net sales growth through consumer-focused innovation.
"Our investment in the new Pepperidge Farm innovation centre will help accelerate the rate of new product development across our Baking and Snacking portfolio," Morrison added.
The innovation centre, which has been designed by The Dennis Group of Massachusetts and Perkins Eastman of Connecticut, is an extension of Pepperidge Farm's headquarters and connects to the primary building through a glass enclosed walkway.
The overall project includes a further extensive upgrade of Pepperidge Farm's headquarters, following which it will feature approximately 115,000ft² of office and research and development space.
Pepperidge Farm offers bakery products, cookies, crackers and frozen foods, and its leading brands include Sausalito and Milano cookies, Goldfish and Baked Naturals crackers, and Pepperidge Farm Swirl baked breads, among others.
Image: Pepperidge Farm expects the innovation centre to accelerate the rate of new product development. Photo: courtesy of Pepperidge Farm.


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Analyst Katherine Egbert at C. E. Unterberg raised her price target on Symantec SYMC, -0.29% to $69 from $66 and her fiscal 2004 and 2005 earnings and revenue estimates on the belief the Internet security software company's fiscal second quarter was ahead of plan. She believes the company will benefit "exponentially" from evidence of increased consumer and business adoption of anti-virus software following recent virus attacks. The company is slated to reveal second-quarter results on Oct. 22, with analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expecting earnings of 45 cents a share and revenue of $400.7 million, on average. The stock edged up 19 cents to $65.14.
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(Reuters) – Total said on Friday it had started operations at a new lubricant oil plant in Singapore, the French energy company’s largest such facility in the world, as it seeks to double volumes in Asia over the next 10 years.
The 310,000 tonnes per year plant in Tuas will consolidate Total’s production in the country’s western industrial region to save on operational costs, the company said in a statement, without elaborating on the cost of investment.
The new facility, which blends base oil with additives to produce lubricants that are used in vehicles, ships and industries, will replace by year-end two existing plants with a total capacity of 180,000 tpy in Singapore, it said.
Lubricants demand in Asia is growing at 1.7 percent per year, or close to 300,000 tonnes, Pai Kok Tan, the company’s vice president of lubricants marketing and services in Asia-Pacific told reporters during the plant opening.
“For Total, …, we want to double our volume from the current half a million tonnes per year or more, so this will double our market share by 2025,” he said.
The world consumes 40 million tpy of lubricant oil, of which Total has 5 percent market share, making it one of the top five suppliers worldwide, said Philippe Charleux, vice president of Total’s global lubricants business.
Still, the new unit starts operations at a time when global lubricant oil demand growth has slowed in line with the world economy.
“We think that the (lubricant) oil demand will grow at 0.6-0.7 percent for the next 10 years … which is less than what we anticipated before,” Charleux said, adding the company had previously expected growth to be in the range of 2 percent.
“So we are less optimistic for the time being even though the market is still growing.” (Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)


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…provides an opportunity to create relevant networks, galvanize existing relationships, and acquire new relevant corporate and personal business relations with major players in the France-Nigeria business and investment eco-system.
A non-profit organization in France, Friends of Nigeria [FON] will on the 4th and 5th October 2018 gather Companies, business leaders, investors and public sector leaders from France and Nigeria in Paris, France, for the third edition of the Spotlight Nigeria Investment Forum tagged Partnership that Works.
The Forum seeks to offer a formidable platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange between French and Nigerian business leaders and investors, hence, business opportunities will be explored as well as valuable information exchanged with the sole aim of increasing business partnerships and bilateral relations between companies from both countries.
To hold at Mariott Rive Gauche Hotel And Convention Centre, Paris -17, Boulevard Saint-Jacques, Paris 75014 France, the gathering offers an opportunity to access relevant opportunities and stakeholders with respect to investing in Nigeria.
According to FON’s Vice-President / Director of Partnerships, Europe, Mr.Abiodun Dominic Odunuga, the forum will be featuring not less than 300 participants comprising of high government officials from Nigeria, CEOs, Senior Managers of organisations, French investors, trade agencies, and owners of SMEs, media companies and a host of other critical stakeholders.
“This year’s event is happening at an auspicious moment in the history of the Franco-Nigeria bilateral relationship. France President Emmanuel Macron recently made a historic visit to Nigeria to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss mutually benefiting engagements that would foster the relationship between both countries. The French President also attended to some engagements and meetings that would focus on sectors such as tourism, culture, youth entrepreneurship and international trade,” Odunuga reveals to journalists.”
Odunuga further disclosed that: “the event offers a formidable platform for participants to access concrete investment opportunities in Nigeria, meet potential partners and sign deals. The B2B meetings will feature match-making between French and Nigerian Companies and seeks to provide an opportunity for one-to-one discussions between companies participating. This is an opportunities for companies participating from Nigeria to discuss and explore business and project opportunities with French Companies operating in similar sectors and industries.
“The Conference and Plenary Sessions will be centered on investment opportunites across key sectors of the Nigerian economy. There will be a number of case studies presented of successful partnerships between French Companies and Nigerian Companies on concrete projects presented by the companies themselves.
“There will also be a session that Spotlights on Nigerian entrepreneurs running successful businesses in France; businesses turning over several millions of euros annually and creating employment opportunities here in France and contributing positively to the French economy.
Spotlight Nigeria 2018 will offer participants an opportunity to network together, build business contacts, sign deals and increase knowledge about opportunities presently existing for investments across Nigeria, across Key sectors of the economy. It also provides an opportunity to create relevant networks, galvanize existing relationships, and acquire new relevant corporate and personal business relations with major players in the France-Nigeria business and investment eco-system.
In line with this, interested delegates have been advised to visit the event website


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Compulsive online shopping is an addiction that should be classified as a mental disorder, study says
Listen up, shopaholics. Being addicted to online shopping is a real problem and should in fact be considered a mental disorder, according to a paper published in Comprehensive Psychiatry. That may come as a surprise to a lot a people, but it really shouldn’t. Buying-Shopping Disorder, or BDS, has been regarded by the mental health community as a serious psychological problem for decades. But the disorder has evolved and taken on a different complexion in the digital age.
The study defines traditional BDS as follows:
“Buying-shopping disorder (BSD) is characterized by extreme preoccupations with and craving for buying/shopping and by irresistible and identity-seeking urges to possess consumer goods. Patients with BSD buy more consumer goods than they can afford, and those are neither needed nor frequently used. The excessive purchasing is primarily used to regulate emotions, e.g. to get pleasure, relief from negative feelings, or coping with self-discrepancy.”
The potential consequences are no joke:
“In the long run, the recurrent breakdown in self-control leads to extreme distress, psychiatric comorbidity, familial discord, clutter due to pathological hoarding of goods, indebtedness and in many cases even in deception and embezzlement in order to continue overspending despite growing financial problems.”
Researchers worked with 122 people suffering from online shopping addictions and discovered that they higher than average levels of depression and anxiety.
Here is the study’s summarized conclusion:
“This study is among the first to investigate online BSD in a clinical sample. The preliminary findings suggest that probable online BSD is prevalent among treatment-seeking patients with BSD, which may encourage future studies addressing phenomenological characteristics, underlying features, associated comorbidity, and clinical relevance of this subtype of BSD.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr. Astrid Müller said it’s time BDS was recognized as a specific mental disorder and that more research is needed into the effects that online shopping has on mental health.
“We hope that our results showing that the prevalence of addictive online shopping among treatment-seeking patients with BSD will encourage future research addressing the distinct phenomenological characteristics, underlying features, associated comorbidity, and specific treatment concepts,” Dr. Müller said.


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On Tuesday 17th January, the BFC Foundation Patrons came down to support an intimate screening of ‘Fashion Reimagined’; a film which follows fashion designer Amy Powney of cult label Mother of Pearl on her pioneering three-year journey to create a sustainable collection from field to finished garment and transform the way we engage with fashion.
The fashion industry is a major, underreported and ever-accelerating contributor to climate change, labour exploitation, ocean micro-plastic, animal abuse, deforestation and landfills. Whilst clever marketing would have us believe otherwise, the industry is not reforming at a pace that will meaningfully combat climate change by 2030. Amy, and Film Director, Becky Hutner’s exploration into fabric certifications, supply chain transparency and carbon emissions highlighted the extent of the problems the industry faces however, they strongly believe the fashion industry has the expertise and creative potential to reduce its environmental impact and drive radical change around the climate crisis.
A special thank you to Miquita Oliver for joining us and hosting the panel discussion with Amy and Becky.
For more information, please visit the Fashion Reimagined website.
To get involved in the British Fashion Council’s sustainability agenda, come join us at out Institute of Positive Fashion Forum, on 20th April 2023. The IPF Forum is an annual, actions-based conference which brings together designers, brands, investors, innovators, academia, economists, consultants and disruptors. It is focused on accelerating a Circular Fashion Ecosystem by 2030.
Through a series of short hacks led by thought provoking panel discussions from industry leaders, visionary keynotes, and a glimpse of the future of fashion through the Innovation Showcase and Student Fabric Initiative, the day will be an inspiring and actions-oriented event where peers across industry will collaborate for collective outcomes.


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California-based craft brewer Green Flash Brewing Company has revealed its plans to expand within its 45,000ft? Mira Mesa facility in San Diego, where it began operations six months ago.
With an increase in sales volume in the past six months, the brewer has decided to boost its current capacity of 45,000 barrels per year, BeerAdvocate reported.
The expansion, which is scheduled to begin in spring 2012, will increase the company’s capacity to approximately 67,000 barrels per year by June 2012. Green Flash expanded its capacity from 14,000 to 45,000 barrels per year after moving from its Vista location in summer 2011.
Green Flash Brewing Co owner and CEO Mike Hinkley the company has earmarked space in the facility for several phases of growth that it thought would begin in 2013.
In the second phase of the expansion, the company will continue to concentrate on meeting the demand for its existing products, creating new beer varieties and opening distribution in some small markets by the middle to end of 2012.
Once the entire expansion is complete, the company’s Mira Mesa brewery will be able to produce 100,000 barrels per year by the end of 2013, according to Hinkley.
Green Flash Brewing Co’s beer lineup includes West Coast IPA, Hop Head Red, Double Stout Black Ale, Imperial, Trippel, Le Freak and Barleywine Style Ale, among others.


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Auto China 2012 officially saw the severing of the genetic ties between SAIC Motor’s faux-UK brand and the Rover products it formerly based its cars upon. The impressive new car that headed up Roewe’s motor show hoopla was the 950, which is based closely on the Buick LaCrosse/Saab 9-5, nestling atop a GM Epsilon II platform. The new car looks Asian-generic and comes with a petrol-only engine line-up but, as the Roewe marque looks set to remain China-only, that is not a problem for us.
Stephen Harper also confirms that SAIC Motor’s intention to create a ‘British’ style brand out of Roewe has been abandoned completely, with MG now being the sole point of focus for this interesting way of marketing cars. The car itself is an impressive looking machine, although the 75-style ‘cigar shape’ that the Chinese management spoke of at its launch in Beijing seem a tad fanciful. The 950’s arrival also underlines just why SAIC Motor’s Joint Venture partner, General Motors, did not want to see Saab 9-5 technology (namely the Epsilon II platform) going to a potentially rival Chinese company.
The arrival of the 950 does not mean the 750 is going out of production. The older Rover 75-based car remains on the new car lists and will do so as long as there is a demand for it. Indeed, a pair of hybrid models were shown in Beijing, alongside a new hybrid derivative, this time based on the 550. SAIC Motor is strongly backing the petrol hybrid as its next big development, but is also investing heavily in electric power. A spokesman said that the E1 is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to electric vehicle development within SAIC Motor.
In 2011, the company built a total of over four million cars around the world, and is looking to beat this figure handsomely in 2012.


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Honda Motor’s US division confirmed recently that a defective airbag inflator produced by Japan’s Takata Corp. had ruptured in an accident involving a Honda model in Florida last month, with the driver injured.
The third largest Japanese automaker confirmed earlier police and hospital record reports that one of its vehicles was involve din a Florida crash and the car’s airbag exploded with a piece of metal debris from the airbag hitting the driver’s neck. The 2003 model Honda Civic that crashed was among the cars included in a safety campaign concerning the passenger’s front airbag inflator, according to a statement coming from the American unit of the automaker. The defective Takata airbags have been linked to at least six fatalities – all occurring in Honda produced models – the carmaker is the Japanese auto safety parts supplier’s largest client. Honda added the notice surrounding the recall was sent twice to the owner before the crash, the first time being in September – though the driver’s attorney claimed he only received the notice after the accident happened.
The defective Takata airbags have been on recalls as far back as 2008 and turned into a potential major global disaster in the past couple of years when ten carmakers needed to recall millions of cars because the airbag inflator exploded with too much force, spraying the car’s interior with metal debris and shards flying at high velocity. The recalls initially surrounded high humidity regions, believed to augment the wear and tear, but subsequent calls from safety regulators have led the automakers to expand the safety campaigns.


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At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…read more
Pan Pacific Masters Games set for another record-breaking event
Entries for the 9th biennial Pan Pacific Masters Games to be held from 1st to 9th November 2014 on the Gold Coast opened this week with a record-breaking number of participants expected to register in over 40 sports.
More than 12,500 masters athletes, aged 30 and above, from Queensland, interstate and overseas are expected to converge on the Gold Coast this year to compete and socialise at the world’s biggest biennial masters games.
Events Management Queensland Chief Executive Cameron Hart said the Pan Pacific Masters Games continues to cement its position as Australia’s premier multi-sport event and is set to break participation figures for the fourth consecutive time since 2006.
Hart explained “the Pan Pacific Masters Games which first began in 1998 has grown to become such an integral event on the biennial sporting calendar for the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia.
“The previous edition attracted 12,259 athletes and their supporters with more than half coming from interstate and overseas resulting in a massive boost for Queensland in both the tourism and sport industries.
“It was estimated that the event generated more than 80,000 bed nights on the Gold Coast in 2012 and we can expect to see a similar, if not greater figure, at this year’s games.”
Hart said the Pan Pacific Masters Games is on par in terms of participation levels with some of the biggest sporting occasions in the world such as the Summer Olympic Games, adding “our event has more participants than some of the world’s most famous multi-sport events including the Summer Olympic Games which averages 10,000 competitors.
“Add the number of competitors with a nightly entertainment program at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and you start to realise the sheer size of this event.”
1984 Olympic Games and 1982 Commonwealth Games heptathlon gold medalist Glynis Nunn-Cearns will make her return to the Pan Pacific Masters Games this year after playing a major role as an ambassador and an athletics participant in 2012.
Backing the event, Nunn-Cearns stated “the Pan Pacific Masters Games is one of the hallmark sporting events on the Gold Coast and I’m thrilled to be a part of it once again this year.
"I’ve already started to plan my training for the event after suffering an ankle injury recently but I’m confident I’ll be able to compete once again and hopefully win another gold medal.
“But, to be honest, I’m most looking forward to hanging out with thousands of masters-aged athletes at the Games Village and sharing in the camaraderie the event is renowned.”
This year’s sport program lists 42 sports including three new sports (trivia, fitness challenge and equestrian – dressage) and three returning sports (sailing, diving and indoor cricket).
To enter or for more information visit www.mastersgames.com.au.
24th March 2012 - NEW ZEALAND TO HOST 2017 WORLD MASTERS GAMES
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Cass County farmer Kathy Keylor reaches pickled beet converts as far as Florida and Arizona from her Virginia farm. Her success story started in the Illinois State Fair’s culinary contest.
Capturing blue ribbons for sweet pickles and pickled beets launched Kathy’s Kitchen. “That’s all it took for me to get hooked,” Keylor said with a chuckle.
Today, Kathy’s Kitchen produces and sells about 100 food products. With help from husband, Daryl, and daughter, Paula, Keylor raises cucumbers, bell peppers and asparagus on 10 acres. “Everything goes back into the jar,” she stressed.
But her value-added reach extends beyond Cass County. She buys and processes pumpkins from a Mason County farmer and apples from Apple Barn Orchard in Sangamon County and Liberty Apple Orchard in Madison County.
Keylor, a Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau member, also operates as a small-scale cold packer and makes barbecue sauces for one business based in Clinton and another in Jacksonville.
“Kathy’s Kitchen is a prime example of a thriving, diversified small business that has far-reaching impact, from rural Cass County to regions throughout Illinois and the country,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told FarmWeek. “I have loved traveling to communities in every region of our state, visiting small businesses and farms. I’ve seen firsthand how agriculture connects us all, through food that we share with loved ones, to all the various components that make up the supply chain.”
Steve Miller, co-owner of Apple Liberty Orchard, said his family appreciates its working relationship with Keylor, whose apple butter “has a very distinct apple taste.” Miller, a Madison County Farm Bureau member, noted Keylor also produces other products from his family’s apples.
But it’s Keylor’s pickled beets that satisfy taste buds nearly from coast to coast.
A north-central Illinois food distributor annually sells 800 to 900 cases of Kathy’s Kitchen pickled beets to stores and farmers’ market clients as far as Florida, Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, as well as Illinois. Even Keylor admitted, “That’s a lot of pickled beets.”
“People who don’t even like beets, I tell them to try ‘em and eat ‘em, and that’s all it takes. She does such a quality job. It’s like eating homemade,” said the farmer/distributor, who declined to give his name for business proprietary reasons.
While Keylor processes many Illinois-grown fruits and vegetables, she must buy some produce, such as Vidalia onions, from other states.
Since 1994, Keylor stayed current with consumers’ changing tastes, adding new products to meet customers’ demands. “People were always asking for salsa so we developed three flavors,” she said. Customers continued asking for different new salsas, including peach and raspberry. Kathy’s Kitchen obliged.
“You have to change to what people want,” Keylor said.
Her north-central distributor praised Keylor’s business acumen as well as her culinary talent: “Kathy is a great example of what a person can do with a small business and a creative mind. And it’s all done in small batches. There’s no mass production. That’s how she maintains her quality.”
Keylor sells her jam, jelly, pickled and salsa products under her own label, while other products she makes are sold under private label. She sells online at KathysKitchenStore.com and became one of the first existing online businesses to link to Food MarketMaker’s new e-commerce pilot project.
Lt. Gov. Stratton highlighted the value of broadband and e-commerce to small businesses.
“Statewide initiatives like Connect Illinois, which allocates $420 million to broadband expansion, will help allow other small businesses to participate in e-commerce, positively impacting their families and communities,” she said.


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Both Gearbox and Embracer keep growing
Thoughjust has been launched, it appears that even more is in the Gearbox pipeline. Gearbox has nine games that it calls AAA.
This is the latest issue in Embracer Groups'' financial report, which covers the fourth quarter and the entire year from April 2021 to March 2022. This is a fairly comprehensive report, covering a lot of companies due to the fact that Embracer is at this point.
According to a new study, the company intends to continue growing, with nine AAA games currently in development.
At this point, Gearbox is composed of several different studios. There is Gearbox Studio Quebec, Montreal, Cryptic Studios, and the recently acquired Lost Boys Interactive.
Gears are turning
Gearbox is making a series of games available at the moment, includingand. However, what these projects might be nebulous. AAA is a generic concept, which means it may honestly range all over the place. Gearbox has announced that a new game is on the way, which is a possibility.
It is not the only recent release in other Gearbox areas. It was developed not too long ago, and the excellent roguelike survival shooteralso released itsexpansion. With Lost Boys now under the umbrella, it appears like a lot is in the works for Gearbox.
Embracer has expanded its business, as well. Square Enix recently acquired several studios, bringing Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal into the Embracer fold. According to the reports, it intends to utilize the properties obtained through the deal; Embracer is skeptical that the deal will last forever between July and September.


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Scott Jagow: There’s really no reason to get too worked up about inflation — yet. This morning, the government said there was a sizeable increase in retail prices last month. But again, as much as I hate repeating this, it’s still all about food and gasoline. Marketplace’s Janet Babin reports from North Carolina Public Radio.
Janet Babin: Prices for crude oil hit record levels in May. Food costs could compete in the Olympic high jump. So it’s no surprise that consumer prices rose six-tenths of a percent last month.
Richard DeKaser: Does this mean that the inflationary genie is out of the bottle? I don’t think so.
That’s Richard DeKaser, Chief Economist at National City Corporation. He says it’s the core inflation numbers that make him so calm. Core excludes food and energy, and it rose just two-tenths of a percent last month.
DeKaser says core numbers and labor costs are a better measure of true inflation.
DeKaser: So while we have unambiguously suffered an intense price shock for commodities, and especially energy, labor costs remain remarkably benign — over the past year up less than 1 percent.
The threat of inflation remains, but at least some economists, like DeKaser, think that threat is overstated.
I’m Janet Babin for Marketplace.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.


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Last updated on December 5th, 2022 at 01:38 pm
LastPass, a popular password management service, suffered a data breach that resulted in threat actors gaining unauthorized access to a certain number of customer information.
The data breach targeting LastPass and its subsidiary, GoTo, is known to have been carried out using information obtained in the August 2022 security breach. There are no details about the breach, but the statement made by LastPass officials stated that the unauthorized parties only gained access to some aspects of the customers with the said data breach attempt.
LastPass has launched a comprehensive investigation into the breach through the well-known security firm Mandiant and law enforcement. LastPass reported that its Zero-Knowledge architecture securely encrypts and stores customers’ passwords and that LastPass products and services continue to be available. Therefore, there is no action for customers to take.


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Campbell Soup Company is set to acquire US natural and organic food pioneer Pacific Foods of Oregon for US$700 million in cash. The deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions that have strengthened Campbell’s offer in the high-performing natural and organic grocery space.
Founded in 1987, Pacific Foods is a leading producer of organic broth and soup, and also produces shelf-stable plant-based beverages and other meals and sides. Pacific Foods has a sustained track record of growth, and generated $218 million in net sales in 2016.
The acquisition gives Campbell’s more access to America’s natural and organic customers and channels. The company is particularly keen to benefit from the strongly growing US organic food market, worth $11 billion in 2016.
Denise Morrison, Campbell’s president and chief executive officer, said: “Pacific is an authentic brand with a loyal consumer following. The acquisition allows us to expand into faster-growing spaces such as organic and functional food. Moreover, Pacific Foods is an excellent fit with Campbell — strategically, culturally and philosophically. It advances our strategic imperatives around real food, transparency, sustainability and health and well-being. Culturally, Campbell and Pacific Foods share similar values and a commitment to a purpose-driven approach. Philosophically, both companies believe in making food that we are proud to serve at our own tables using simple, recognizable ingredients.”
“Philosophically, both companies believe in making food that we are proud to serve at our own tables using simple, recognizable ingredients”
Founded in 1987, Pacific Foods has around 540 employees and operates a certified organic plant where it produces its namesake products. Campbell plans to continue to operate Pacific Foods out of Tualatin. The company will maintain its farm-to-table approach with CEO and co-founder Chuck Eggert staying on as a supplier of key ingredients through his family farms.
Eggert said, “We’ve spent the past 30 years focused on making nourishing foods with an emphasis on simple, organic ingredients and authentic, rich flavors. Looking ahead, a future with Campbell means we can maintain what we value while accelerating growth of the brand in a way that we couldn’t do alone, reaching more people while increasing our impact on sustainable agriculture.”
This is Campbell’s fifth acquisition in five years as the company continues to reshape its portfolio for growth. The company acquired Bolthouse Farms in 2012, organic baby-food company Plum and biscuit company Kelsen in 2013, and fresh salsa and hummus maker Garden Fresh Gourmet in 2015. This acquisition is the latest in a series of moves Campbell has made to diversify its portfolio in response to increased consumer interest in health and well-being.


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A three day long wedding exposition titled 'The Grand Wedding Expo 2021' is going to be held from 11th to 13th November at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View.
The Violet Incorporation and the Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View have signed an agreement (MOU) in this regard on Tuesday afternoon, said a press release.
The operation-in-charge of Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View, Jamir Uddin Qureshi and the managing director of Violet Incorporation, ABM Khaled Mahmud signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Other higher officials of the hotel and the host organisation were also present at the event.
Wedding plan consultancy firms, different wedding packages, photography, videography, wedding makeup, fashion show, bridal costumes designed by the experts, jewelry etc will be available at the expo.
During the occasion, more than fifty-five different organisations will take part and showcase their exclusive sarees, jewelry, event management, flower, furniture, honeymoon packages with customers' budget.


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Goodyear has come up with an novel invention that it is announcing today: self-inflating tires.
The tires have an inflation device inside each of them that would keep track of their inflation and add air as necessary. Not only would they be safer because tires would never fall to dangerously low inflation levels, they would also eliminate the need for cars’ required tire pressure monitoring systems. Also, they would save gas, since Goodyear says underinflated tires decrease gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
Goodyear says its “Air Maintenance Technology” will enable tires to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including the miniaturized pump, will be fully contained within the tire.


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It was announced this morning that Oracle has signed an agreement to acquire Involver, a company that provides a development platform for social media that helps companies build marketing apps that can be employed in social campaigns and on social websites.
Financial terms of the deal were not announced. The agreement has been signed, and is expected to close by the end of this summer. Involver was founded in 2007, and had raised some $11 million in its life.
It’s noteworthy that Oracle recently purchased Collective Intellect, a company that provided ‘social media monitoring.’ Its purchase of Involver, given that backdrop, is hardly surprising.
The combination of Involver with Oracle is expected to create the most advanced and comprehensive cloud-based social solution, across marketing, sales and service touch points. Our technology is expected to extend Oracle’s social platform to help customers more easily and cost-effectively collaborate and build engaging applications and social experiences across social networks and the Open Graph.
[Oracle] has entered into an agreement to acquire Involver, a leading provider of SML™ (Social Markup Language), a social media development platform that enables developers to create highly customized marketing applications for social media sites and web campaigns.
Until the deal officially closes, the two firms will operate as fully independent entities. Involver’s purchase could lead to a boosting of Oracles total suite of enterprise tools.
Oracle is the third largest software firm by sales, after Microsoft and IBM. Oracle, best known for its database software, also sells ERP and CRM products. Involver’s products could fit into those niches.
Top Image Credit: Peter Kaminski


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Tony’s Chocolonely voices concerns over NORC report revelations on child labour in cocoa supply chains
Ethically-focused chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely, has added to industry concerns over the levels of child labour remaining in key West African cocoa supply chains, as revealed in the freshly released US NORC report last week, writes Neill Barston
As the study revealed, a total of 1.56 million minors were identified as working within the sector in Ghana and Ivory Coast, despite considerable efforts from major manufacturers, civil organisations and the region’s governments.
According to Tony’s Chocolonely, the figure of those still in child labour is in fact higher than this given the additional victims of child trafficking and forced child labour, often brought in from other countries, which the confectionery business believed that mandatory human rights due diligence legislation. Sector campaigners have also highlighted the fact that the impact of the coronavirus over the past six months has also resulted in the situation of child labour worsening by 15-20%.
In addition, the Amsterdam-founded confectionery brand also strongly recommends a sector-wide rollout of the Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System, developed by the International Cocoa Cocoa Initiative (ICI), to successfully find and remediate illegal child labour.
“The outcome of the NORC report doesn’t surprise us, it’s depressing.” Paul Schoenmakers, Head of Impact at Tony’s Chocolonely. “No child should be doing hazardous work to make a luxury product like chocolate. Almost twenty years later, despite numerous voluntary programs and agreements, nothing has changed. In fact, the report reveals that in low and medium production areas, child labor has actually increased. Time’s up.”
“The real problem in the chocolate industry, is inequality,” adds Thecla Schaeffer, Head of Marketing at Tony’s Chocolonely. “Hundreds of thousands of farmers, and millions of children as young as five are suffering daily just to try and survive, while someone else enjoys the profit and can indulge in a sweet luxury. That is unfair, period. We all – and I mean everyone – can be part of the solution and not just demand but create actual change. If exploitation leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, don’t buy or make products that support a system of inequality. Tony’s Chocolonely is committed to leading by example and creating awareness about the root cause of the issue — poverty — so we can all take effective action.”
As previously reported by Confectionery Production, one of the leading civil organisations involved in seeking to bring about change in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which account for around 60% of the cocoa trade, is the World Cocoa Foundation. The organisation has championed targeted support to farming communities as a key means of driving change, and in its view, manufacturers and governments have demonstrated a willingness to engage on the issue and have been actively seeking resolutions to labour issues as part of tackling wider poverty-linked issues.
The organisation’s president Rick Scobey said: “As this (NORC) report shows, there are today still too many children in cocoa farming doing work for which they are too young, or work that endangers them — and child labor has no place in the cocoa supply chain.
“Child labour remains a persistent challenge in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, despite major efforts by the governments, cocoa and chocolate companies, cocoa-growing communities, and development partners. NORC confirms that targets to reduce child labor were set without fully understanding the complexity and scale of a challenge heavily associated with poverty in rural Africa and did not anticipate the significant increase in cocoa production over the past decade.”
As Tony’s Chocolonely added, poverty is a complex issue, and it needs to be tackled from all angles, from systemic fairness to improved productivity. In its view, paying a higher price for cocoa is just one example. It’s a difference of pocket change for chocolate fans, but it makes real change for millions of cocoa famers and their families – which has led to Ivory Coast and Ghana governments to introduce its living differential policy of seeking a buying premium of $400 a tonne extra per tonne for manufacturers, that is intended to be directly distributed to farmers, which in turn is hoped will reduce instances of child labour.
Furthermore, the Tony’s added that while it welcomed all drives to eliminate child labour, in its view the NORC report findings make it clear that the industry require a greater intensity of sustained and combined action.
Schoenmakers explained: “Eradicating illegal child labor from the cocoa supply chain takes a holistic approach, which we have laid down in Tony’s 5 Sourcing Principles. They are applicable for all chocolate producers and we support them in joining our way of working via Tony’s Open Chain.”
He added: “The biggest problem that needs to be addressed is not in Africa, it’s in the West: getting companies to put basic children’s rights before profit. That should not be a matter of choice for companies,” added Schoenmakers, “We need human rights legislation that holds companies accountable for abuse in their supply chain.”