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Grocery retailers have seldom been on the leading edge when it comes to advanced technologies, whether it involves behind-the-scenes, supply-side implementations or customer-facing tools that enhance the food-shopping experience.
Increasingly, however, the mountains of data available to retailers are creating opportunities for grocers who can leverage the vast trove of information at their fingertips.
Many of the most advanced customer-facing technologies, such as beacons and other mobile-based platforms, have seen more widespread adoption in channels other than grocery, says Scott Bauer, U.S. retail and consumer partner at PwC. Testing these technologies in grocery stores is often driven by CPG suppliers.
"We're seeing some of [these advanced technologies] in grocery, but the sector has been slower than other sectors of retail with things such as beacons, smart shelf technology and advanced loyalty," Bauer says.
Much of the focus of grocery retailers has been on data analytics, he notes.
"They are taking advantage of the data they have, and getting smart on that," Bauer says. "The next evolution of that will be using that data analysis to be more proactive and targeted and personalized with their offers."
For many grocers, those offers are likely to be made via e-mail, rather than via mobile, he points out.
The mobile opportunity is one that many grocery retailers have been slow to adopt. Although many food retailers have mobile apps, by and large they have not yet leveraged mobile's full potential.
"For most, the mobile app is pretty limited," Bauer says. "It's not really intended to engage with shoppers on a regular basis."
Some grocery retailers have begun using mobile technologies for location-based marketing, however, through the use of beacon technologies. Beacons use Bluetooth sensors to detect when a mobile phone is within a certain range to trigger a message sent to the phone via text message or via push notifications from an app.
In June, British supermarket giant Tesco said it was rolling out beacon technology to 270 stores in partnership with CPG supplier Unilever to promote Unilever's Magnum brand ice cream to customers who had downloaded the Mpulse app, which allows customers to find the nearest Tesco Express store in London offering discounts on certain Magnum ice cream products, according to a report in NFC World.
Several U.S. supermarket operators have also deployed beacons on a limited basis, generally in partnership with suppliers for specific promotions.
Beacon technology, shelf sensors and in-store cameras can all be used to detect patterns of shopper activity in the store, which can provide valuable information to both retailers and product suppliers, Bauer notes.
"They can be used to help understand whether a product has been moved or touched, or to understand if somebody lingers," he says. "In terms of understanding someone's moment–whether they linger around endcaps, for example–is of high interest to CPG companies. They want to see that they are getting a return on their investment in premium shelf space. I think we'll see more experimentation with that, and I see it being paid for by the CPG companies."
CPG companies have also enjoyed success around mobile and social media marketing efforts using things like photo-sharing and gamification, through which they are finding ways to communicate directly with consumers outside the store.
DIGITAL SHELF TAGS
Another customer-facing technology that holds promise for grocery retailers is electronic shelf tags.
Last year Kroger launched a test of digital shelf display technology, which it recently said it was expanding throughout the center-store aisles of a location in Cold Spring, Ky., near the company's headquarters, according to local reports.
The labels can be used to display video ads as well as prices, and they could potentially be used to interact with customers' mobile devices to perform functions like highlighting items on a shopping list.
"It has the potential to reinvent brick-and-mortar retailing," Brett Bonner, vice president of research and development at Kroger, told the Cincinnati Enquirer in October. The labels, he said, bring "the info-richness of the Internet" to in-store shopping.
Bauer says such technologies can not only drive labor savings for grocery retailers–who currently spend a tremendous amount of time changing shelf prices manually–but also to create more personalized experiences for shoppers. By tying them in with other data sources, digital shelf labels also allow for dynamic pricing based on factors such as inventory levels, weather conditions and other information.
"That's something where there's been some success in other sectors," Bauer says.
SUPPLY-SIDE DATA CHALLENGES
On the supply side, the key for retailers is not so much which tools they use, but how they use them, says Kurt Jetta, founder and chief executive officer of TABS Group.
"A focus on innovative analysis, not innovative software, is required to gain a competitive advantage," he says.
Defining technology as "the practical application of knowledge," Jetta says the most advanced supply-side technology involves the intelligent use of analytics and modeling.
"Given the historically weak growth of our industry, our insights technology is obviously not working," he says. "Therefore, better knowledge is needed in analyzing and predicting the major drivers of revenue and profits: distribution and trade promotion, and to a lesser extent, consumer marketing and everyday pricing."
Among the major hurdles retailers need to overcome in order to improve their technological prowess, Jetta says, are "organizational obstacles," which include bureaucracy and aversion to risk.
"A culture of empowerment is required for both retailers and suppliers to overcome" this hurdle, he says, noting that smaller technology vendors tend to be more adept at this.
Once retailers get past the organizational barriers to implementing advanced technology, the next major hurdle is their lack of expertise in data harmonization.
Retailers need to identify vendors with "true data harmonization expertise," he says. "Very, very few of them have it. Data integration is not harmonization, and most suppliers only provide integration."
Data harmonization involves the adjustment and correction of inconsistencies in information to make the data compatible across all systems, and it is becoming an increasingly important function as more and more retailers look to connect supply-side data with consumer-facing platforms such as e-commerce and digital loyalty programs.
The sharing of data among trading partners remains a key challenge for effective supply-side technologies, Jetta says.
"Most companies have relevant insights to share. Category captains can still play a valuable role in the process–aggregator of insights, ad hoc analysis support, planogram support, etc.–but giving them exclusive access to data and insights hurts the category," Jetta says.
WHOLE FOODS' PLATFORM
One recent development that seeks to connect the dots between back-end technologies and customer-facing platforms was an agreement between Whole Foods Market and technology provider Infor. The two are implementing a cloud-based system that will afford greater visibility into data, among other functions.
"The new retail platform we will co-create with Infor will be unlike anything currently on the market, better leveraging major technology advances to deliver much more value at lower cost," said Jason Buechel, Whole Foods' chief information officer, in a statement announcing the partnership.
The retail management solution will enable Whole Foods to automate more functions on the back end, says Nick Ciminillo, senior director, retail industry at Infor.
"Whole Foods will benefit by a number of improvements, including consistency of data and visibility to inventory and other operational data that will lead to increased efficiency, increased sales and profitability, while greatly lower the total cost of ownership," he says.
For shoppers, the system will enable Whole Foods to more easily provide product data to customers, and will also help Whole Foods provide relevant offers at the right time, Ciminillo says.


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Dell plans to enter the consumer and small and medium-sized business (SMB) smartphone market by working with several major carriers globally, Dell officials told analysts Tuesday, without divulging many details, including timing.
Dell is planning to offer small and medium businesses (SMBs) globally pre-configured bundles of hardware and open source software to run their businesses, according to an executive at the company.
Trend Micro has released a new version of its 'Worry-Free' SMB security suite, putting the focus on a design it says will greatly improve the software's updating speed.
Google Australia today announced it will offer a free $75 search marketing campaign to help more than one million Australian small and medium businesses.
2009 will be the year SMBs start adopting software as a service (SaaS) in earnest, presenting an opportunity for Microsoft and other vendors to offer services to them despite the economic recession, according to a Microsoft survey.
NetApp is killing off StoreVault, a network storage appliance designed for small and midsize businesses. While NetApp will not provide any further product upgrades for StoreVault, which had recently been renamed the S Family/S550, NetApp will continu...
Some security patches take time.
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Do you ever look at where the products you buy come from or ponder over how they were made? Staple commodities such as coffee, tea and sugar all have a human story behind them, one involving hundreds of people across the world, that consumers are largely blinkered to.
However, the recent horsemeat scandal has shone a harsh light on the complexity of global supply chains and has showed how the expansive webs of producers, suppliers and retailers have spiralled out of control with little transparency or accountability. The constant pressure to drive prices down, no matter what the cost or impact on product quality, has created a distorted food system, stripped out true value and started price wars that have devastating economic impacts on the farmers at the start of the supply chain.
According to the Fairtrade Foundation, smallholder farmers produce more than 70% of the world's food supply, yet shockingly they represent over 50% of the world's hungriest people. Is this the result of a fair and equitable trade system? Clearly not, but with the correct supply chain management, business, governments and investors can have a powerful impact on tipping the scales.
A new report from the Fairtrade Foundation, outlines five key points that need to be addressed to empower smallholders:
Increasing farmers' voice, influence and organisation: this includes better access to markets, subsidies for inputs such as fuel, seed and machinery and the opportunity for smallholder farmers to secure land rights
A fair value: currently smallholder farmers receive low returns on their produce in supply chains that are dominated by global corporations so building fairer trading models, improving their negotiating power and building direct business partnerships is key
Access to finance: credit for smallholder farmers is often unavailable or unaffordable making it difficult for them to buy inputs, technologies or diversify their crop base. Subsidies for credit schemes or loan guarantees to banks can help this
Future-proofed farming: increasing sustainable practice and helping smallholder farmers to adapt to the demands of climate change will require investment in training and adaptive technologies
Targeted government spending: developing countries dependent on agriculture currently allocate an average of just 5% of their national budgets to the sector and international aid is also very low. Women farmers should be targeted specifically; they produce 60-80% of food in most developing countries but are often dis-empowered and isolated
Taking steps to empower smallholder farmers that will enable them to build sustainable futures will help companies secure future supply of key food commodities, safeguard the environment for generations to come, curb escalating food waste in the West and give producers the tools they need to tackle threats from climate disruption.
Join the discussion
Our live discussion will pull together a panel of experts to explore how business, governments and investors can empower smallholder farmers to make sustainable changes in the food system. We'd love you to get involved in the discussion by joining us on Thursday 28 February, 2 - 4pm (GMT). Pose a question beforehand in the comments section below or tweet us @GuardianSustbiz.
Panel (with more to be confirmed)
David Bright is a senior adviser and programme development lead on economic justice in Oxfam, who has worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Hannah Newcomb is international development manager at the Co-operative Group.
Richard Anstead is head of product management at the Fairtrade Foundation.
Frank Olok is the co-ordinator for the Malawi Fairtrade Network.
Julia Clark is the former head of marketing at Tate & Lyle Sugars and now works as a consultant but still advises Tate & Lyle, working with all points in the Fairtrade supply chain.
Dr. Ann-Marie Brouder is principal sustainability advisor at Forum for the Future.
Sophi Tranchell is managing director of Divine Chocolate Ltd, which is 45% owned by Kuapa Kokoo farmers' co-operative in Ghana.


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Merchants cheerfully spend loan providers generous percentage in return for those larger revenue. The trader stated double-digit fee costs weren’t unusual in the market. For loan providers, dealing with repayments features moved from a price centre to an income heart, they said.
a€?The concern is the checkout switch. This https://paydayloansexpert.com/title-loans-tx/ is the hippy break from the business. It’s the switch in which a person pays and then leave the checkout without spending any money in advance.
The payday lender moved breasts in 2018
a€?People were joining to a credit arrangement and you also cannot say they have completely recognized the financial support whether or not it’s a two-click procedure. Nobody reads the terms and conditions.a€?
a€?We help regulation and, done correctly, [it] helps raise criteria across sector. Much more companies enter the industry that obligation content is much more vital than ever.a€?
Loan providers exactly who choose leap in would be performing this lacking the knowledge of what guidelines are on their way along the track through the Investment behavior expert, and is expected to establish guidelines for interest-free BNPL goods in late 2022 from the initial. Having less proper analysis keeps encouraged obligations campaigners to alert this might be the second Wonga-style scandal to hit the economic industry.
Sue Anderson in the personal debt charity StepChange stated: a€?Buy now, pay afterwards service you shouldn’t give individuals sufficient time or coverage to stop, pause and see the outcomes of these buy. Sometimes this actually ways visitors become making use of BNPL on internet based checkout without actually realising obtained opted.
a€?Second, value checks are just utilized by some BNPL loan providers, and protections against taking out fully multiple BNPL financial loans are lacking. a€?
Boohoo mentioned the average visitors invest per object utilizing BNPL on its site was actually a€?relatively lowa€?, at A?11.96. a€?Like just about any other retailer in UK, the internet site offers a selection of payment choices to meet the needs of the clients.a€?
Eventually, because of deficiencies in regulation, it isn’t clear whether these types of services is dealing with clients pretty plus a means that is in keeping with different credit services and products
Ronan Dunphy, a banking expert at stockbroker Goodbody, stated the regulators’ strategy shall be a vital determinant of how big the business might get.
a€?BNPL obviously resonates with extreme cohort of buyers, as confirmed by fast development in industry,a€? he said. a€?However, this progress has had devote the lack of any regulating restrictions plus in an environment in which it is not constantly obvious if customers understand the terms of the products.a€?
From inside the UK, the aid of BNPL almost quadrupled in 2020, to A?2.7bn in deals, per official information a€“ nevertheless a portion of the A?250bn of exceptional credit rating personal debt. Within start of the pandemic while the conclusion of a year ago, 5 million visitors put a BNPL item, an FCA research discovered, whilst the consultancy Capital Economics stated there were a€?over 10 million usersa€? in 2020.
Experts at Juniper Studies informed the Observer that by 2026, spending via BNPL solutions will hitwas forecasted to attain practically $51bn (A?37bn) in britain alone. Globally it predicts spending will get to $995bn in five years’ times, very nearly fourfold the current figure.
I’m hoping the fresh new BNPL regulation includes monitors on a person’s ability to pay if they are using instalment tactics
Up until now the focus provides mostly been on occasional trend and beauty shopping, as well as the ordinary amount borrowed are usually relatively smaller a€“ A?65-A?75 per deal, based on the FCA.
Some commentators say it has all already been fuelled by promoting slogans inviting people to a€?shop like a queena€? and informing all of them a€?don’t wait until payday,a€? plus by influencers on Instagram. But based on Capco, a technology and administration consultancy, that could all alter if supermarkets along with other vital merchants come on board. The united kingdom has already seen the establish of Flava, which phone calls it self a a€?buy today, spend after on line supermarketa€?. It allows someone distribute the expense of her trips to market, and shares trusted brands eg Heinz and Kellogg’s.


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(Getty Images) According to Tracy Anderson running may not be doing the trick for getting you to lose unwanted weight.
Been running for weeks and not seeing any results? Don't worry. Trainer to the stars Tracy Anderson explains in a reccent video posted on Gwyneth Paltrow's website Goop that running can actually exacerbate "problem areas" for many women.
But Anderson is not condemning all cardio. She is simply saying that it will not give women the toned look so many of us crave.
"While running and cycling may burn calories, they do not design feminine muscles or get rid of an imbalance that may masquerade as a 'problem area,'" says the 37-year-old mom.
She agrees that women should still monitor calorie intake but notes that not all methods of burning calories are equal.
"Running a marathon is a real and measurable accomplishment, but if you're looking to lean out and lose weight, training to complete 26.2 miles isn't going to give you the physical results you crave," Anderson says.
She also says that women should be conscious of what they eat before a workout. She explains that eating pasta and heavy carbs before a workout will not generate the same amount of fat burning as eating protein prior to a workout.
Anderson, who designed her method of exercise to help her lose over 50 pounds of post-baby weight, is famous for whipping stars like Paltrow, Courtney Cox and Victoria Beckham into shape. Her six days a week, hour a day intense workouts are specifically designed to target, tone, and reshape women's bodies.
Gwyneth Paltrow called Anderson "freaking awesome," and we're not about to question an Oscar winner with arms like this.
Check out Anderson's 15 minute workout that appeared on Paltrow's own site.


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MANCHESTER, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bob’s Discount Furniture today announced that Bill Barton has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Barton will succeed Ted English, who has been serving as Interim CEO since June, effective November 3, 2020. Mr. English will continue in his role as Executive Chairman and will remain actively involved with the Company.
Bob’s Discount Furniture is one of the largest and fastest growing furniture retailers in the country, providing a wide variety of high-quality furniture, mattresses, and home accents at attractive prices. Since 2015, Bob’s Discount Furniture has more than doubled its store count, from approximately 60 locations to 135.
Barton brings more than three decades of experience developing and leading high-growth businesses to his new role at Bob’s Discount Furniture. Most recently, he spent 11 years as CEO of California Closets, the category leader in home organization solutions and a unit of FirstService Brands, which is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation. During his tenure, Barton worked with the leadership team to drive sustained growth by introducing new products and materials, opening the company’s first two U.S. manufacturing plants, launching its e-commerce platform, and creating collaborations with major lifestyle brands including Marquee Brands and Martha Stewart.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Bob’s Discount Furniture and build on the Company’s outstanding reputation for delivering great values in furniture and mattresses every day," said Barton. “The team at Bob’s has built an incredible business and driven a remarkable growth story. I am honored and humbled to join as Bob’s next CEO and to work together with the team to realize Bob’s potential as a leader in omnichannel furniture retail.”
“Bill is an exceptional and customer-centric leader with deep retail and home goods experience. He is the ideal person to work with our talented team to lead Bob’s Discount Furniture through its next phase of growth,” said English. “Our business has experienced tremendous growth since we reopened our stores with a heavy focus on safety for our customers and our associates. We expect this momentum to continue as we head into the holiday season and plan for 2021 and beyond.”
Bob’s Discount Furniture continues to expand across the country, opening 15 new stores in 2020, including most recently in California, Arizona and Nevada. The Company has implemented Bob’s Rules across its stores, which focus on three areas — cleanliness, a healthy environment and safety. The Company has also invested heavily in its e-commerce platform to serve customers in ways they prefer to shop.
About Bob’s Discount Furniture
Founded in 1991, Bob’s Discount Furniture is one of the largest and fastest growing furniture retailers in the country. Keeping true to its founding principle that everyone deserves quality furniture, Bob’s provides unsurpassed value with honesty and integrity. Through all the work that happens behind the scenes, Bob’s engineers this value, offering its discount on a wide variety of stylish, quality furnishings, mattresses, and home accents.
With 135 furniture stores across 21 states, the Manchester, Connecticut-based company has become the 10th-largest U.S. furniture chain and proudly holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. In 2020 MyBobs was named a “Top Online Shop” by Newsweek. In 2019, Bob’s was recognized as a leader in sustainability by both the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
Bob’s is committed to supporting local communities through a variety of charitable giving efforts. Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation has anchored the company’s philanthropic work for more than 20 years. Additionally, the Bob’s Outreach program was created as a separate entity to help schools and children-related charities. The company donates more than $2.75 million to charities through these programs each year. For more information on Bob’s charitable programs, visit Bob's Cares, and follow Bob’s on Twitter @MyBobs, on Facebook, and Instagram.


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Six out of 10 shoppers say better security would encourage more shopping.1 No wonder why more and more merchants and shoppers are turning to Amazon Pay for an experience they know and trust thanks to:
Nearly eight out of 10 shoppers feel inconvenienced by online registering, causing merchants to struggle with rising shopping cart abandonments.1
“We added Amazon Pay to give millions of customers an experience they know, trust, and even prefer. Plus we love that our customers never have to leave our site.”2- Lar Quigley, Director of Corporate Development, Cymax
Amazon Pay is competitively priced with transparent fees.
Domestic processing fee
Cross-border processing fee
Disputed chargeback fee
Integrate the payment solution that’s trusted by merchants and shoppers alike.
Provide business name, address, tax ID, and credit card (don’t worry, you won’t be charged)
That’s all it takes to start growing your business with the help of decades of trusted Amazon innovation.


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The Impact of The Cost of Living Crisis On Consumer Snacking Habits
Inspiring Positivity and Flavour During The Cost of Living Crisis
Over the last 18 months, the impact of the cost of living crisis has been seemingly ever-present in discussions over the radio or news segments on TV, consumers are finding they have to be increasingly smarter about how they spend their hard-earned cash. Shoppers are now opting to forgo what they deem to be unnecessary purchases, one major way of doing so is by cutting back on expensive experiences and costly travel.
Here at Epicurium, we are in a privileged position to assess the cost-of-living changes from both sides of the supply chain and have done the research to help retailers make the right choice for their customers.
Home is Where the Heart is
The cost of going out is at an all-time high, 37% of people say they have reduced the amount of paid activities they do at the weekend, such as cinema, theatre, museums, concerts or festivals. Instead, consumers are looking for alternative experiences where they can get greater value in return for their spending.
With a rise in subscription-based streaming platforms, more families are able to engage in home movie viewings and by stocking best-selling quality brands such as Propercorn, you are enabling your customers to capture the essence of cinema in their own homes.
Moreover, as per research conducted by Timeout on the partying habits of Generation Z amidst the escalating cost of living crisis, it has been revealed that "The average expenditure for a night out has surged from £68.03 in March 2022 to £73.36." This substantial rise in costs is reshaping the nightlife landscape for university students. Consequently, a growing number of students are opting to organize their own gatherings, where it is more practical to purchase their beverages and stock up on snacks, thus mitigating the financial strain associated with conventional nights out.
Furthermore, research directed by metro.co.uk has revealed that “36% of the British public have cancelled their gym memberships due to cost-of-living concerns” and as a result, 79% of Brits are looking to take up and do more free exercise-based activities such as walking or hiking according to a survey conducted by QuMind.
Retailers can look to take advantage of these changes in consumer snacking habits by making sure they stock products such as share-sized popcorn for film nights, intense/exotic flavours of crisps for house parties and energy bars such as Tribe or Clif to aid in those outdoor workouts.
Empowerment Through Nutrition
As consumers grow increasingly conscious of their spending, they may be sacrificing purchases in some areas of their life however despite this they are still opting to invest in choosing snacks that not only fulfil their cravings but also align with their well-being objectives. According to leading food analysts at Mintel “helping consumers to eat healthily on a budget will resonate widely, with the retailers in a strong position to offer meaningful support”.
The demand for feel-good products has surged with 40% of adults in the UK now motivated to make healthier life choices, mirroring a societal appreciation for holistic health, focusing on all aspects of their wellbeing including their mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Consumers demonstrate a willingness to invest more in sustainable brands and products than retailers initially anticipated. Moreover, the healthier snacking market has witnessed a remarkable 15% growth over the past 12 months. In the midst of economic fluctuations, this growth stands as evidence of the manner in which positive choices can influence both personal and societal well-being.
As prices continue to rise, consumers are increasingly turning to local shopping as a way to cut down on fuel costs and streamline their spending. In fact, 95% of consumers are worried about price hikes and see local shopping as a key strategy to help them stay within their budget. In addition, the increasing popularity of hybrid work has played a pivotal role in driving progress within the crisp segment the surge for robust and distinctive flavours has lead to a market value of £5.29 billion in 2022 as noted by Mintel.
Owners of convenience stores now possess an avenue to cater to this demand by stocking independent brands that boast exclusive and unparalleled taste profiles. By doing so, retailers can consistently kindle the interest of budget-conscious consumers looking for a product that supplements their experiences whether that be snacking in the office or at home as part of a meal deal or in a sharing bowl for their big night in.
Challenger brands such as The British Crisp Company, Mr. Trotter, Fairfield’s Farm, and Taste of Game have all pledged to remain exclusive to non-supermarket outlets. This resolute choice not only stands as a testament to their support for local businesses but also translates into a product selection that differentiates from the commonplace crisp brands available elsewhere.
Order Growth Driving Snacks at Epicurium
Epicurium stands as your partner in mindful consumption, where financial considerations drive thoughtful decisions. Work with us to discover the latest snacking trends and curate a tailored list of relevant products designed to grow your business. To register an account with us click here


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The value of the UK budget hotel market increased by 38 per cent between 2002 and 2006, to reach £1 billion for the first time ever, according to the latest research from Mintel.
This growth is three times that of the overall UK hotel market (worth £11.2 billion), which increased by just 12 per cent over the same four year period.
Today, the budget hotel market is worth £1.1 billion, with no less than 85,000 budget rooms to choose from in the UK alone.
Senior travel analyst at Mintel, Richard Cope, said, "The Brits' desire for taking several short breaks a year, independent booking and paying for guaranteed basics has seen budget hotels surge in popularity.
"Boutique and lifestyle budget hotels such as The Big Sleep, the Hoxton Hotel and base2stay have raised the game by providing an affordable but luxurious alternative to their more traditional cousins.
He added, “In the same vein, the new capsule hotels in prime locations by brands such as Yotel and nitenite offer high-spec, cutting edge design but in smaller living spaces. Both have also helped boost the budget hotel market."
For budget hotels, a further 38 per cent growth is expected over the next five years, with the market set to hit the £1.5 billion mark by 2012. The run up to the Olympics is set to be a key factor driving this growth.
Like the low cost airlines, budget hotels have not created a new travelling class, they have simply maximised opportunities for wealthy holiday-loving ABs to travel more and opt to stay in hotels.
Indeed, while as a nation around 54 per cent of us have stayed in a budget hotel, this rises to some three in every four (76 per cent) amongst these wealthier AB travellers.
Richard Cope concluded, "Brits bought into low cost airlines and now it is the turn of the budget hotel. The phenomenal growth of low cost air travel has spawned a generation of cost conscious but frequent travellers, and the UK budget hotel market has benefited greatly.
“Why pay more for a hotel room when you only plan to sleep in it for seven or so hours?"
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FRANCE – Platinum Equity, a Los Angeles based investment firm, unveiled that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Biscuit International, a leading European manufacturer of private label biscuits from Qualium Investissement.
Biscuit International was created in 2016 by the merger Groupe Poult and Banketgroep.
The company has since then expanded through the acquisitions of A&W Feinbackwaren in Germany, Northumbrian Fine Foods in the UK, Stroopwafel & Co and Aviateur in the Netherlands, and Arluy in Spain.
Headquartered in Paris, Biscuit International markets a wide range of products with a European or local presence, including traditional biscuits and a growing portfolio of products for consumers with specific dietary requirements.
The company employs approximately 1,900 people and generated sales in excess of €500 million (US$550m) during the last 12 months, of which approximately two-thirds came outside France.
“Biscuit International has an exceptional portfolio and a well-deserved reputation for high-quality products,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson.
“We support the company’s plan to continue expanding its offering and its international reach, both organically and through additional add-on investments.
“We look forward to working with the management team to optimize the platform and maximize operational performance throughout the business.”
Jean Eichenlaub, President of Qualium Investissement added: “We are proud to have supported the development stages that have led Biscuit International to become a leader in the European private label biscuit market.
“We are pleased with the progress made with the group and its teams since our initial investment in March 2014 and we are confident about the opportunities ahead with the support of their new shareholder.”
The proposed transaction is subject to works council consultation, regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
In June this year, Platinum Equity announced that it had completed acquisition of Spanish seafood provider Iberconsa from Portobello Capital.
The food and beverage industry has in the recent past proven to be an appetizing field for private equity firms, which control billions of dollars across almost all sectors.
According to The Food Institute, which tracks mergers and acquisitions in the food, beverage, grocery and food service industries, the industry had recorded 55 private equity acquisitions by October 2019 of which 26 of them have been food processors.
The trend has held strong over the last few years. In 2018, there were 72 private equity acquisitions in the larger food space while the number was 109 two years ago.
Constant demand in the food and beverage industry and the sector’s relative resistance to economic downturns have been some of the major drivers of this acquisitions with various reports ranking the food and beverage somewhere in the middle in return on investment.


text: Bethesda has released some brand new screenshots for Arkane’s upcoming FPS/RPG hybrid, Dishonored. Dishonored takes place in a Steampunk city where players take the role of a supernatural assassin, Corvo, that is framed for the murder of the city’s Empress. The game promises to be a cross between Thief, Deus Ex, Bioshock and Assassin’s Creed. Dishonored is slated for a 2012 release on current generation consoles and PC. Enjoy!


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Apple fanboy reveals that his favourite company is security nightmare
Fruity cargo-cult Apple has released its macOS High Sierra desktop and notebook operating system in the full knowledge that it has a zero day bug which allows hackers to steal password details.
Up to 128GB and up to 3200MHz
G.Skill has announced a couple of new Trident Z RGB memory kits which are optimized for AMD's Ryzen and Ryzen Threadripper CPUs, which will be available running at up to 3200MHz and coming in up to 128GB in capacity.
Couple of SKUs and new Z370 chipset
Intel has officially announced its 8th generation Core Coffee Lake desktop CPUs as well as its newest Z370 chipset, which will be a must for these new CPUs, despite being based on the same socket.
Broadcom said it is sampling the first mass-market chip that can take advantage of new global navigation satellite signals and will give the next generation of smartphones 30-centimetre's accuracy instead of five metres.
Apple environmental officer sees nothing wrong with stopping people repairing their phones
The fruity cargo cult Apple’s environmental officer must have a conflict of interest when it comes to keeping the planet safe when she works for an outfit whose sole reason for being is flogging overpriced toys to rich kids and making profits.


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After e-commerce bigwigs, social commerce player Meesho is now looking to join government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and has started to work on its new product called Meesho Mall, people aware of the matter said.
ONDC is a freely accessible platform that aims to democratise e-commerce. Unlike the platform-based model, it is not be owned or controlled by a single entity.
The firm will look to tie up with affordable consumer brands for Meesho Mall and is already in talks with a few. This move is significant as the Bengaluru-headquartered company typically focuses on the non-branded segment and aims at the price-over-convenience market by focusing on customers who spend less than Rs 500.
Meesho Mall will be competing with Flipkart and Amazon directly. So far Meesho has been competing with Flipkart's social commerce app Shopsy, which was launched last year. The competition though also intensified as Meesho started deriving 75 percent of its business directly from customers.
The firm did not respond to queries about Meesho Mall.
“Meesho Mall will work similar to Paytm Mall. A separate team has been set up for this project,” said one of the sources cited above.
“It is still at the ideation stage. As of now it’s pitched as a separate website from Meesho’s current website and may or may not be part of ONDC, depending on how successfully ONDC takes off,” he added.
Meesho is currently pitching to brands for onboarding, according to a few people in the know. Moreover, through this initiative the firm will be aiming at launching its own private labels, which is its long-term strategy.
Responding to e-mailed queries on ONDC, Dhiresh Bansal - Chief Financial Officer – Meesho, said, “ONDC is a game changing initiative around bringing in a large network of buyers, suppliers as well as enabling the expansion of ecommerce business thereby bringing in more masses online.”
“We also feel that ONDC can reduce the barriers for sellers to come online as well as for buyers. Besides tapping into new users, ONDC will also enable platforms with sizeable business-to-business verticals to tap into the seller side of the ONDC network to supply goods.
“As ONDC is at an early stage, we are monitoring the developments that are taking place and waiting for further details to emerge. However, we think that this can prove to be the backbone of e-commerce in India, same as UPI has been for digital payments.”
The SoftBank-backed unicorn is also in cash reserve mode as it has instructed its teams to reduce customer acquisition cost. The company’s monthly cash burn is currently $35-40 million.
Last year in an interview with Moneycontrol, Vidit Aatrey, founder & CEO of Meesho, said the firm clocks three million orders per day on average.Meesho raised $300 million and $570 million in two rounds last year and was last valued at $4.9 billion.


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“This doesn’t happen everywhere. We fought to ensure legacy Detroiters have an opportunity to grow businesses in the cannabis industry, which has had a disproportionately negative impact on communities of color,” Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison said. “Social equity means taking action to combat the years of criminalization faced by too many of our residents. Here in Detroit, we are addressing generational loss and building generational wealth back into the hands of the community.”
Since adult-use marijuana sales were authorized in Detroit three years ago, Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration has worked closely with Council President Pro-Tem James Tate to ensure that Detroiters have equitable opportunities to participate in the legal cannabis industry, which is predicted to generate $3 billion in annual revenue in Michigan by 2024.
…“During the prohibition era, Detroiters were 30 times more likely to be convicted of a marijuana crime than elsewhere in Michigan, and our (Homegrown Detroit) program addresses that inequity by reserving half of the retail licenses for those who come from communities like Detroit,” said James.
Last December, City of Detroit notified the first 33 successful equity licensee applicants, including Nuggets Dispensary, for adult-use marijuana retail licenses that they have been approved.
“I entered into the business initially as a medical provider, but we are honored to be given the opportunity to open one of the first recreational facilities in the City of Detroit,” said Dr. Radden.
As we looked at opportunities across the Metro area, we always knew we wanted to be in our hometown. The cannabis industry has provided the opportunity for gainful employment with reasonable benefits to many folks in our community. I am proud to say 100% of our employees at the Telegraph store are Detroit residents.”
https://micannatrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Nuggets-Dispensary.jpg 394 590 MCT https://micannatrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/micannatrail.png MCT2023-03-21 10:03:312023-03-21 10:21:58Detroit Licenses First Legacy Cannabis Dispensary


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Nuuvera announced a joint partnership with Globalive Technology Partners to introduce some form of the blockchain technology into the cannabis market.
Nuuvera (TSXV:NUU) announced a joint partnership with Globalive Technology Partners (GTP) to introduce some form of the blockchain technology into the cannabis market.
As quoted in the press release:
Following the joint development of the blockchain technology, both Nuuvera and GTP will license the software around the globe to help increase the safety and security of records as well as help supply chain management globally.
The first of its kind partnership will see Nuuvera and GTP developing proprietary blockchain technology that will help validate the integrity and grade of cannabis products, from source to consumer.
“We’re extremely excited to partner with Anthony Lacavera and GTP on this disruptive global cannabis technology. In applying blockchain technology to this emerging industry, we will continue to shape the global cannabis market, and set an incredibly high bar for safety and consistency that will benefit patients everywhere,” said Nuuvera CEO, Lorne Abony.


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Hawks Spotlight Legendary Atlanta Record Label with ‘So So Def Night Presented by Adidas’ on Sunday, Nov. 14
So So Def Founder and Iconic Producer Jermaine Dupri To Sign the New adidas Trae Young 1 ‘So So Def’ Basketball Shoes Available in the Hawks Shop at State Farm Arena. Night to Include Special Performances of So So Def Classics by Jagged Edge and Bonecrush
ATLANTA – As a continuation of the multiyear partnership between the Hawks and global sports and lifestyle brand adidas, the two companies have teamed up around the recent launch of the Trae Young 1 “So So Def” colorway, a tribute to the iconic Atlanta-based record label. To celebrate the shoe’s release and the label’s history, So So Def founder and prolific producer Jermaine Dupri will make a special appearance at the Hawks game on Sunday, Nov. 14. The in-arena entertainment will also feature performances of classic songs by label hitmakers Jagged Edge and Bonecrusher. The game presented by adidas on Sunday, Nov. 14, tips off at 6 p.m.
“I have loved every minute of helping put Atlanta on the global music map with So So Def for more than 25 years,” said Jermaine Dupri, founder of the legendary label. “It’s dope that the Hawks understand how important that history is and that Trae Young and adidas are taking the So So Def brand to a whole new level with these Trae Young 1s.”
GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, Hall of Fame songwriter, recording artist, and TV star, Dupri will do a limited signing of the Trae Young 1 “So So Def” shoes purchased at the arena’s Hawks Shop. Dupri, who was raised in Atlanta, founded So So Def Recordings in 1993 and has seen nearly three decades of success after working with numerous famed artists on his own label including Da Brat, Bow Wow and Xscape, as well as other global icons in music like Mariah Carey and Usher.
R&B quartet Jagged Edge is known not only for their smooth ballads, but dancefloor anthems such as “Where The Party At?” while on the So So Def roster. Gravel-voiced rapper Bonecrusher’s “Never Scared” is a spirited Atlanta-standard. Fans will be treated to live performances from both acts, along with nods to the many hits that the label has produced over the years.
As part of the recent launch of the Trae Young 1s, adidas and the Hawks have also invited more than 30 sneaker-culture influencers to the game for private event at State Farm Arena. Scheduled to attend are TikTok stars Mr. Hotspot, Toosie and more. On that night, fans are invited to participate in a special 360-degree adidas-branded revolving photo booth experience on the arena’s concourse to make personal videos for sharing across social media.
In 2018, the So So Def 25th Anniversary show officially opened up the award-winning State Farm Arena to a sold-out crowd for the first concert in the venue after the completion of the second-largest arena transformation in NBA history. Led by Jermaine Dupri who has been an iconic presence in the music industry over 30 years, this one-night event celebrated the breadth of So So Def’s chart-topping artists over more than a quarter century of success.
Limited tickets remain for Sunday’s game presented by adidas and can be secured at Hawks.com.


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Association Chair Nguyen Thi Anh Hong was widely quoted by the Vietnamese media as saying that the country's tea exports have improved from their lacklustre performance over the past several years.
Though the better figures are encouraging much more need be done to achieve the export levels of five years ago, higher profitability and long-term sustainability, Ms Hong noted.
During the January-November period, the domestic sector shipped 118,000 tons of tea to foreign markets generating US$197 million in gross revenue, up 7.1% in volume and 4.3% in value year-on-year.
Major markets that experienced significant growth for the period included Pakistan, China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Pakistan was the lead buyer of the country’s tea, commanding a 33.5% market share.
Exports were buoyed by two-fold rises in sales volumes to China and Indonesia while consignments to Malaysia jumped 44.7% in volume, said the Association in a prepared statement.
Currently, the tea export price hovers around US$1,656 per ton, roughly a drop of 14% from November of 2015.
In line with statistics from the Association, experts estimate that the Vietnam domestic sector tea output fell to 160,000 tons in 2014— a 13.5% annual decline following a 7.5% drop in 2013.
The area dedicated to tea cultivation in the Southeast Asian country has fallen gradually over recent years, from 130,000 ha in 2009 to 124,000 ha in 2013. Poor weather and a lack of reinvestment in the tea segment contributed to a particularly weak 2014 result.
Experts had forecasted a partial recovery in 2015-16 on the back of the positive impact of official efforts to expand the production area (to a targeted 150,000 ha by 2020) and boost productivity.
However, at a projected level of 170,000 tons in 2016, production will remain around 15% below 2011-12 levels, per experts.
On the upside, Ms Hong noted that the domestic tea sector has managed to strengthen controls over excessive pesticide use, which grip is a fundamental prerequisite for the sector to gain market entry into the EU.
The EU is the globe’s third largest economy in terms of tea consumption and the Association is banking on improved market entry subsequent to a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement coming into full force by 2018.
The use of chemicals in the EU are also strictly regulated so it’s important to keep making progress in this area, added Ms Hong.
The domestic sector has also made headway in improving productivity, coordination among the supply chain members, noted Ms Hong, but still lags in giving effect to a cohesive global marketing and brand building effort.


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Congress must act to keep America’s infrastructure strong
Congress must move quickly to approve a collection of bills that will help ensure the country’s economic infrastructure is in place and healthy enough to allow for a swift postpandemic rebound. In particular, Congress should approve the HR 7690 and S4233, which are collectively known as the “Logger Relief Package.” HR 7690 was intrwoduced by North Carolina Republican Rep. David Rouzer and Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine.
The package draws bi-partisan support.
The American Loggers Congress (ALC) had proposed the legislation in May, over concerns of reduced or lost markets, because of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Less demand for wood fiber results in fewer markets for loggers.
A prolonged downturn could be devastating for the many small family-owned logging and log trucking businesses.
This could have a domino effect through rural communities in Wisconsin, and elsewhere, causing a potential cascade of broken businesses.
While any business must be able to weather the ups and downs of the normal business cycle, the circumstances of this downturn are unique and potentially catastrophically disruptive to the country’s core logging infrastructure.
Logging is one of the fundamental tiers of the state economy, and along with agriculture and manufacturing, serves as a base-level economic generator, transforming resources into income.
They are a key link in the supply chain that ultimately employs tens of thousands of workers throughout the state and country.
The concern of the ALC and others, is how long can small businesses tread water hoping for things to return to normal? Logging industry analysis predict a two-year dip before logging recovers. Two years is a long time to tread water.
If the base businesses go under, the entire supply chain could go with it.
The proposed Logger Relief Package would provide grant funds to allow these small businesses to meet their financial obligations and keep their business viable for the coming year, as the economy rebounds.
Similar bi-partisan measures have been proposed for other areas of the economy and they should likewise be supported. America has long been in the business of subsidizing essential industries, such as for the exploration of petroleum and natural gas, pharmaceutical companies developing new medications, and aviation through lucrative military contracts.
It is time for Congress to look beyond bailing out multibillion companies and instead, give a boost to small businesses who are disproportionally suffering under the prolonged economic impact of the pandemic.
America must be willing to invest in keeping its core infrastructure strong and functioning, while faced with unique challenges.
Contact Rep. Tom Tiffany, and Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, and urge them to support the Logger Relief Package and other legislation, that will help keep American supply chains strong.
Members of the Courier Sentinel editorial board include publisher Carol O’Leary, general manager Kris O’Leary and Star News editor Brian Wilson.


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There have been rumors to suggest that Apple will go with an embedded fingerprint sensor with the iPhone 8, where the home button will be removed and users can scan their fingerprint via the display. However there have been some photos that surface that suggests that maybe Apple might simply move the fingerprint sensor to the back.
However that might not be the case because in a report from DigiTimes, it seems that TSMC themselves might have confirmed the embedded fingerprint sensor. For those unfamiliar with TSMC, they are one of the chipmakers for Apple’s A-series of chipsets. The report claims that TSMC had told their sources that there are a number of design changes to the iPhone 8, and that one of those changes is an embedded fingerprint sensor.
That being said, DigiTimes doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to Apple related rumors, so take it with a grain of salt for now. So far based on the feedback we’ve seen, many are disliking the possibility that the fingerprint sensor could be placed on the back, just like how many reacted negatively to Samsung’s choice of a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.
In any case we’re probably still several months away from hearing about the iPhone 8, but here’s hoping this information is accurate!


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Korea Telecom releases ‘all-in-one’ smart card
KT has released its all-in-one smart card, combining up to 21 payment methods in one digital card.
Users can register not just their credit and debit cards, but also memberships and transportation cards into the CLiP CARD, the company said in a press conference, Tuesday.
The device comes with a 1.3-inch light emitting diode (LED) display and two buttons, allowing users to select one card before making payments. The display also shows basic card information such as membership barcode numbers and transportation card balance.
The new product comes at a time when many customers feel confusion over numerous new payment methods with the rise of smartphones, KT said.
It is true smartphones are replacing traditional payment methods such as credit cards and cash at a rapid pace, but most people still rely on those conventional payment methods. On top of that, there have been growing calls for a unified smart platform to make payments easier, regardless of type of operating system (OS), smart device or app.
Users of BC Card, Lotte Card and Hana Card can register their cards into the CLiP CARD, KT said. The mobile carrier added it plans to sign partnerships with all the card companies here by the end of this year.
“We will attract more than 300,000 subscribers for the new digital card this year,” said Kim Hyung-wook, vice president at KT’s platform business unit. “By 2020, we expect CLiP’s annual transaction volume will reach 27 trillion won ($23.9 billion) with 2 million users.”
Target customers for the digital card are those in their 30s and 40s, who KT says have purchasing power and easily accept new services or technologies. Women in their late 20s are the next target for the service, as they tend to be more sensitive to reasonable consumption and membership services, KT said.
The CLiP CARD is also equipped with a lithium-ion battery. It takes about an hour and a half to completely charge, which enables users to use the card for about three to four weeks without battery problems, according to KT. The CLiP CARD comes with a price tag of 108,000 won.
KT has a strong foothold as a telecommunications giant in Korea. But in recent years, the company has sought to turn itself into the nation’s leading network and platform giant, citing market saturation in the conventional wireless business.
In particular, financial transaction is one of KT’s five next growth areas along with media, smart energy, new corporate values and public safety.


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Apple iPhone 4S users worried about the device’s battery draining rapidly can take steps to prevent the problem.
After reporting sales of 13.2 million smartphones during the third quarter, HTC is now the fourth largest smartphone vendor after having outpaced Research In Motion, according to market research company Canalys.
The intellectual property lawsuit between Oracle and Google over the Android mobile OS won't go to trial until next year, according to a ruling made Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by the judge overseeing the ...
Getting two Windows Phone-based smartphones ready for Nokia World was quite an accomplishment for the phone maker, but it still must overcome many challenges to turn around its smartphone business, according to analysts.
Over the weekend I wrote an article titled "What If Steve Jobs Is Right?" As the title implies, the post was a hypothetical look at the possibility that Steve Jobs' assertion that Android is a "stolen product" is true.
The moment of truth has come for Nokia: the company is expected to launch its first phones based on Microsoft's Windows Phone OS Wednesday at Nokia World in London. CEO Stephen Elop will have to convince consumers, operators, developers and retailers...
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is readying the next update of its mobile operating system as a company subsidiary launched a new fund to support app development for the OS.
Microsoft has signed a patent agreement with Taiwan's Compal Electronics that provides coverage under its patent portfolio for Compal's tablets, mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer devices running Android or the Chrome platform, the company s...
Less than a week after it announced plans for a new platform called BBX for its smartphones and tablet, Research In Motion is facing the threat of legal action from a software company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that claims that BBx is the trademark ...
Google has lost its appeal to keep a potentially damaging email away from the jury in the company's legal fight with Oracle over Java.
Nokia reported a net loss and a fall in revenue for the third quarter, despite selling more phones than analysts had expected.
The dispute between Oracle and Google won't go to trial on Oct. 31 as initially scheduled, according to the judge overseeing the case.
Apple's iOS 5 and the new iPhone 4S got some new competition late Wednesday after Google introduced Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, running on the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
Telefonica and Verizon in a few months will become the first operators to offer Android phones running VMware's mobile hypervisor, the companies announced Wednesday at the VMworld 2011 Europe conference in Copenhagen.
Google and Samsung on Tuesday unveiled the Galaxy Nexus phone running Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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Apple today unveiled the iPhone 4, touting it as the "biggest leap" since the company's original model of 2007 and saying it would go on sale in the U.S. and four other countries on June 24.
"This is more of the kind of enhancements they usually do, and none of them is a blockbuster, but I agree that it's the biggest step since the  iPhone," said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research.
The debut of the iPhone 4 and the availability date for iOS 4, the new name for what the company had called iPhone OS 4, came at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which CEO Steve Jobs kicked off Monday in San Francisco.
Jobs covered several of the new smartphone's and operating system's features, including a much sharper display, Apple's new iAd mobile advertising platform, and video capture and video chat.
The last was saved for Jobs' now-famous "One more thing..." near the end of his time on stage, when he placed a video call to Jonathan Ive, Apple's head of design. "You know, I grew up with the Jetsons and video calls," Jobs said to Ive. "And now it's real."
Dubbed "FaceTime" by Apple, the video chat feature works only between iPhone 4 smartphones, and during 2010, only via a Wi-Fi connection on each end. "We need to work a little bit with the carriers" before video calling can migrate to cellular data networks, Jobs admitted.
"They're positioning this as completely divorced from all the other video chat that's out there," said Gottheil. "They're positioning this as something completely different from, say, the Skypes of the world." Even so, Gottheil expects that Apple will provide video chat links between the iPhone and its desktop-bound Mac OS X client, iChat, in the near future.
"Apple wants to build a wall around [its] own ecology," said Gottheil.
The 32GB iPhone 4 will sell for $299; a 16GB model will go for $199. Both will be sold by Apple and AT&T at brick-and-mortar and online stores, and at Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores. Apple is also retaining the 8GB version of the iPhone 3GS, and starting June 24 will sell that older model for $99.
All iPhones sold in the U.S. require a two-year commitment to AT&T service. AT&T, however, will waive its usual contract restrictions and allow any current subscriber who would be due for an upgrade in 2010 to purchase an iPhone 4 starting this month.
Apple will take pre-orders on the iPhone in the U.S., France, Germany, Japan and the U.K. beginning June 15, and start selling them in those same countries nine days later.
"People are going to go out and buy this thing in droves," said Ken Dulaney, an analyst for Gartner Research. "Apple will get not just the additive buyers, but also the repeat customers," he said, pointing out the waiver AT&T is giving subscribers.


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== Pine nuts: ==
It is increasingly likely that prevailing demand will be affected by prices being pushed up exponentially. Pine nuts are almost certain to see diminishing demand, but the extent and timing of this fall remains to be seen. Fuelled by the stronger dollar, prices have been pushed close to the £10/kg for bulk for the first time in 10 years.
== Pumpkin seeds: ==
Prices, although well below pine nuts, have also climbed. UK prices look vulnerable due to a sustained decline in the value of sterling. Global demand will drop especially at these newly established prices which are over 100% higher than their usual traded levels but, currency permitting, we would expect to see stable prices rather than the exponential increases into 2009 we expected a few months ago.
== Sunflower seeds: ==
China has stepped up its production of sunflowers both to respond to increased demand from both manufacturers and crushers. With an unexpected reduction in global edible oil prices this year, the optimal Chinese supply has encouraged weaker "sunseed" pricing although for us in the UK, the currency adjustment has done us no favours. The net result is that spot prices are trading at parity to where they were before the currency depreciation.
l Based on information provided by ingredients supplier RM Curtis.


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| Oct 31, 2013
| 7:28 AM
IKEA is inviting consumers to celebrate the holiday season at the annual Julbord buffet Friday, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. The all-you-can-eat holiday smorgasbord is a Swedish culinary tradition. Tickets are on sale in the IKEA Orlando restaurant...
| Oct 30, 2013
| 9:54 AM
Carmel Café & Wine Bar is celebrating fall with new menu items and specialty cocktails. At a recent media preview, the butternut squash soup, pumpkin ravioli with toasted walnuts and a sage cream sauce and the grapefruit basil twist cocktail were...
| Oct 30, 2013
| 12:11 PM
"Drink better beer" is the motto of the Central Florida Home Brewers. It's a simple slogan that is much easier to live by since craft beer has grown in both popularity and availability in the past few years. But for avid hobbyists who take on the not-so-...
| Oct 29, 2013
| 11:22 AM
Buoyed by a streamlining that has shed 500 jobs in Central Florida, Harris Corp. said Tuesday it posted stronger than expected profit in its latest quarter, although revenue fell short of expectations.
The Melbourne-based high-tech company said it has...
| Oct 18, 2013
Pizza is a year-round comfort food favorite, but I'd wager there's an uptick in demand with fall tailgates and after-school activities.
But for those who live with food allergies, even simple comfort foods, such as pizza, are off the table. For example,...
| Oct 27, 2013
Terrace 390 has reopened in downtown Orlando with a new name and a new focus in the kitchen.
The spot was originally home to the critically acclaimed Harvey's Bistro. In 2011 three University of Central Florida alums rechristened the space Terrace 390,...
| Oct 25, 2013
One of my colleagues aptly described the original Black Bean Deli in Winter Park as a small bus-station waiting room with great food.
The new Black Bean Deli east of downtown Orlando is pure urban chic with a hint of Crate & Barrel.
Both restaurants set...
| Oct 23, 2013
| 10:40 AM
Restaurants from Waterford Lakes Town Center and Orlando are gearing up for the 14th Annual Taste of Orlando on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The all-day family food festival includes beverage sampling, live entertainment, a business expo, shopping...
| Oct 22, 2013
| 7:26 AM
Kasa Tapas & Raw Bar, a new restaurant from The Bento Group, will open @ 8 p.m. Nov. 14. The menu will include small plates with global influences and a raw bar with fresh oysters and seafood. Executive Chef Sean Kaplan and “Food Network Star”...
| Oct 16, 2013
| 11:19 AM
Early Wednesday Jimmy Fallon tweeted that he was in Orlando and looking for lunch recommendations. Seconds later the local Twitter-verse blew up with suggestions ranging from theme parks to food trucks. Beefy King, a true Orlando icon, won out. "I was...
| Oct 13, 2013
When I first dined at Francesco's Ristorante & Pizzeria more than a year ago, the Maitland restaurant was a pleasant place with only minor quibbles on the menu and with service.
During two recent revisits I found a kitchen pulling out all the stops...


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Recent months have witnessed some landmark measures from the technology giants, with the United States (US) enacting one of the harshest targeted updates to its export controls against the Chinese tech sector. Semiconductors are at the centre of this Sino-US technology war. While the US majorly curbed exports of its semiconductor-related technology and services to China, Beijing, following much public agitation, finally retaliated by announcing a security review of a US semiconductor firm and barring the export of rare earth metals required for microchip manufacturing.
Though the two countries have been in a tech war for around four years, China has not been able to retaliate much against the US actions. The latest restrictions from the US came in October when the US Department of Commerce announced new rules to amplify the export controls on microchips made using American tools from being shipped to China. The current bar’s objective is also to keep Beijing away from the design software and equipment required to fabricate high-quality microchips that have military uses. Per the document released on 7 October 2022, the targeted updates to the US export controls will restrict China’s “ability to both purchase and manufacture certain high-end chips used in military applications”.
In case the West keeps on imposing increasingly wide-spectrum bans on China pertaining to the semiconductor industry, the bilateral competition can exacerbate and lead to broader detrimental effects for the wider international technology arena.
Semiconductors are the foundation of advanced technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, cloud systems and quantum computing. The semiconductor domain has three significant areas: design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing. While the US stands incomparable in semiconductor design and technology, Taiwan and South Korea are prominent manufacturers, while Japan has the upper hand in materials. However, advanced microchips are particularly for military use. China does own microchip factories. However, they do not produce high-end processors. Furthermore, the US has ostracised various Chinese microchip manufacturing companies, including Yangtze Memory Technologies Co Ltd. With the latest document, the US has restricted chip equipment manufacturers from furnishing services or tech assistance that could allow Chinese firms to make advanced microchips with artificial intelligence applications. The recent limitations are one of the toughest to be enacted till now.
Washington’s measures have led to wide-range repercussions for China. Likewise, countries like Netherlands and Japan have also aligned their trade controls with the US. The countries have limited the provision of such technology to China that might be employed for producing weapons. Moreover, international businesses are reluctant to engage with the Chinese chip industry. For instance, until September 2022, Apple intended to incorporate economical Chinese microchips for its locally-made cellular sets. The prospective development was considered a major success for the Chinese semiconductor domain since it could allow the country to showcase the capacity to provide top-notch products for international labels. Yet, increasing geopolitical strain and US policies caused the American multinational to retract.
Given the rather one-sided US actions over the years in the technology domain, primarily the semiconductor sector, a reactionary measure from Beijing was long awaited. However, Beijing refrained from acting in that direction. The country has been investing huge amounts to facilitate microchip growth and subdue the reliance on external technology. However, in March 2023, President Xi Jinping blamed the US for attempting to bar China’s progress with a drive for “containment and suppression.” He motivated the masses to “dare to fight”.
Subsequently, on 31 March 2023, China advanced on the tech war frontier by calling for a security probe of Micron Technology, a major US memory-chip firm. The country’s cyberspace regulatory body will carry out a cyber security review of Micron’s products available for sale in China. The firm generates about 11% of its revenue from the country. However, it is to be seen whether the review will have an impact on the firm’s business with non-Chinese buyers within China. Some suspect that the scenario might end up with China showing Micron the exit door. Still, Chinese representatives from the foreign ministry maintain that it is a standard procedure to ensure “national security”.
Beijing’s retaliation presents a considerable risk for the US multinational firms. The recent measures by China make it clear that the states siding with the US in the technology war might face pressing consequences. Besides, China is the market leader in “indispensable technologies and materials” for manufacturing semiconductors. China may react to the US restrictions by stopping exports of the necessary materials and technologies that it leads. Beijing is contemplating putting an embargo on particular rare-earth magnet technology to offset the US position in the high-technology sector. Discussions are underway to amend the restriction list for technology export 2020. The changes in the Chinese export restrictions list would limit or completely bar the export of technology to the US for refining and processing rare-earth elements.
Given the switch to remote work following the onset of the pandemic, there has been a massive increase in demand for microchips leading to the semiconductor firms growing and accruing profits over the last three years. The market has kept becoming increasingly competitive. Still, with US-imposed trade limitations, increasing wages and interest rates, the initial growth might be hampered. In case the West keeps on imposing increasingly wide-spectrum bans on China pertaining to the semiconductor industry, the bilateral competition can exacerbate and lead to broader detrimental effects for the wider international technology arena.


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(Ecofin Agency) - At the end of the 2017/2018 cocoa campaign, Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa producers generated CFA1,356 billion, Lambert Kouassi Konan (photo), president of the country’s cocoa-coffee council, announced during the national cocoa and chocolate day (Journées nationales du cacao et du chocolat -JNCC) held in Abidjan from September 28 to October 3.
Summarising the campaign, the official indicated that the cumulated cocoa purchases declared reached 1,938,436 tons against 1,977,770 tons during the 2016/2017 campaign.
For the 2018/2019 campaign, the farm gate price has been set to CFA750. In addition, the government introduced a 1.5% tax on the insurance and freight fees of each kilogram of cocoa bought by buyers. Let’s note that this tax had been canceled two seasons earlier to boost producers’ revenues.


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This comes right on the heels of Assasin's Creed Origins latest DLC expansion, The Hidden Ones, which takes place four years after the main game. At the time, Ubisoft said that it was now a feature that was being investigated, but the more recent announcement means that those investigations must've been successful.
That's not really been announced as part of Ubisoft's ongoing support for the game, but a community manager confirmed it in the publisher's forums yesterday.
New Game +, for those that aren't aware, is the ability to start the game over with all of your original playthrough's weapons, items, outfits, abilities, etc. without having to earn them again.
Assassin's Creed Origins is the game that keeps on giving because a highly requested feature from fans is finally coming true. More information will be shared soon, according to that post.More news: Militants assault Afghan workplaces of kids's NGO, killing 4
This DLC also raised the level cap to allow for more character progress during the story and another DLC, The Curse of the Pharaohs, is scheduled to release on March 6 and will raise the cap even higher.
Assassins Creed Origins is out now for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
With developers now confirming that the New Game Plus mode will indeed be added, fans have now moved on to speculating about how this feature could work inside "Origins".


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If there was ever any question that the wine auction market wouldn't recover from two years of decline, 2010 provided the answer. According to figures released by the major commercial auction houses, worldwide auctions of fine and rare wine soared to a record $408.10 million in 2010, nearly double the previous year’s total of $233.35 million.
While the economy’s slow rebound was a factor, the bigger reason for the upsurge was a massive escalation in Hong Kong wine sales, which totaled $165 million, 157 percent above their 2009 tally. U.S. auctions rose 43 percent in 2010 to $154 million, but still fell short of 2008’s total of $165 million. Most notably, as predicted by Acker Merrall & Condit auction director John Kapon in 2009, this year marked the first time that U.S. sales were eclipsed in value by those in Hong Kong, a sea change that’s not likely to ebb anytime soon.
While more lots of wine are sold in the U.S., Hong Kong continues to bring in much more money per lot. In the U.S., roughly the same amount of lots (46,037) went on the block in 2010 as in 2009, with an average price per lot in 2010 of $3,600, up from $2,202 the previous year. By contrast, the number of lots on offer in Hong in 2010 rose to 17,000 from 10,146 in 2009, with a current average price per lot of $9,700 compared to $6,870 in 2009.
Hong Kong wine auctions target a different audience from those in America, with an almost exclusive emphasis on the rarest wines from the finest vintages. The fundamental difference between the two markets is that Hong Kong buyers are not particularly price sensitive, so auction directors funnel high-profile lots there. “Many Asian buyers are in the initial stages of collecting and when they first start out, they buy practically everything for whatever it takes because their cellars are basically empty,” said Charles Curtis, head of wine for Christie's Asia.
“From 1994 through mid-2008, U.S. wine collectors built significant cellars because they were not price sensitive in their pursuit of fine wine,” said Jamie Ritchie, CEO of Sotheby’s Wine Americas & Asia. “Now, Asian wine buyers have taken over that role and are likely to be driving demand for fine wine over the next 15 years. We expect to continue shipping our most important single-owner collections for sale in Asia and will sell more wine sourced in the U.S. in Hong Kong than in New York.”
Thanks largely to its spectacular performance in Hong Kong, Acker Merrall and Condit led the 2010 auction market with $98.5 million in worldwide sales, the highest total in the history of wine auctions ever achieved by a single auction house in one year. Sotheby’s followed with $88 million in global sales while Christie’s ended up third with $71.5 million.
Chicago’s Hart Davis Hart topped the domestic market with $39 million in sales, followed by Zachys with $34 million. Six of HDH’s seven auctions were 100 percent sold, and the firm also conducted the largest U.S. sale with an aggregate of $8.5 million. Spectrum Wine Auctions, an Irvine, Calif.-based auction firm, brought in $14 million in worldwide sales in 2010.
Of all the wines on the auction block, Château Lafite Rothschild proved the most sought-after in 2010—especially the 1982 vintage, which is highly coveted both in America and the Far East. In the first quarter of this year, the wine averaged $42,528 per case in the Wine Spectator Auction Index. By December, a case of Lafite ’82 climbed to $65,550 at Zachys New York. Yet the numbers pale against the $132,584 winning bid paid for a dozen bottles of Lafite ’82 at the Sotheby’s Lafite auction in Hong Kong this past October. At the same sale, a new world record for a single 750ml bottle of wine was established when three bottles of Lafite 1869 consigned from the château sold for a staggering $232,692 each, toppling the previous record of $156,450 paid for a single bottle in 1985.
The fourth quarter saw a flurry of high-profile sales around the world. Another world auction record was set in Geneva last November when an imperial of the acclaimed Cheval-Blanc 1947 sold for $304,375 against an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. In New York on Dec. 3, Zachys sold 11 bottles of DRC Romanée-Conti 1969 for $102,850 (up 76 percent from its average auction price in third quarter 2010). A case of Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1988 brought $5,808 (up 267 percent) and four bottles of Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1961 commanded $20,570 (up 119 percent). At Acker’s November sale in Manhattan, four magnums of Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano di Neive Riserva 1997 traded for $3,172 (up 212 percent) and six bottles of Château La Tour-Haut-Brion 1978 brought $1,952 (up 198 percent).
Bargains were hard to come by throughout most of the year as the market never lagged. Nevertheless, there were select buying opportunities, even in the flush fourth quarter. At Acker in late November, a case of E. Guigal Ermitage Ex Voto 2003 sold in New York for $1,586 (down 62 percent.) At Sotheby’s New York in November, a case of Château Ausone 1982 fetched $3,025 (down 53 percent), and at Hart Davis Hart in late October, six magnums of Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 1999 brought $1,315 (down 46 percent). The best bet for the serious collector was a lot of five magnums of Château Latour 1982, a relative steal at $15,535 (down 48 percent), also at Hart Davis Hart.
Most auction directors predict continued strength in the 2011 global wine auction market, barring any setbacks to the economy. Nikos Antonakeas, Morrell’s auction director, quipped that the time to sell your Lafite—if you are not planning to drink it—is now.
Reflecting on 2010, Acker’s John Kapon said that the wine world has taken “a huge step toward becoming a true global market, with East and West coming together like never before.” But he sees more than sales in Asia in the cards for the future: “With so many potential emerging markets still to join the table, I feel strongly that this is just the beginning.”


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Speaking at the forum, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, said that the EU is an important partner of Vietnam in the fields of trade cooperation. Trade relations between Vietnam and the EU over the past time have developed rapidly and effectively. In the first ten months of this year alone, although Vietnam's export turnover to the EU slightly decreased by 3.8 percent compared to the same period last year, it still reached a high level, with US$33.23 billion. Meanwhile, Vietnam's imports from the EU increased 3.1 percent over the same period last year and reached $12.42 billion.
Currently, the EU is one of the three largest export markets for Vietnam, besides the US and China.
According to Mr. Vu Ba Phu, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which takes effect from August 1 this year, has been creating a strong boost for the development of trade between Vietnam and the EU, bringing about favorable factors for the development of the logistics sector.
Over the past time, Vietnam's logistics industry has a high growth rate of 13-15 percent. Currently, Vietnam has about 4,000 logistics enterprises, which include warehouse services, forwarding, and transportation.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Department of Import and Export, said that logistics is becoming an economic sector attracting the attention of the Government of Vietnam. The promulgation of Decision No.200/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister on enhancing competitiveness and development of logistics services until 2025 opens a new stage for the development of logistics in Vietnam when setting out comprehensive and synchronous solutions to improve infrastructures, develop markets, as well as to improve human resources for this field.
The development of the logistics industry would also create conditions for Vietnam to quickly become a new manufacturing hub in the region, with high labor productivity and good competitiveness, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai emphasized.
New difficulties arise
Besides the above advantages, there are also many difficulties in cooperation in logistics between Vietnam and EU countries.
Mr. Vu Ba Phu said that, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU has been facing many challenges, including difficulties from some logistics activities that cannot take place as usual.
For instance, over the past time, some logistics services for goods moving between Vietnam and the EU have become expensive and scarce. Enterprises also have to meet some new requirements and conditions because the administrative procedures on import and export and the international goods control process of the EU have already changed.
Mr. Nguyen Tuong, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), also pointed out the challenges of Vietnamese logistics enterprises, such as shortcomings in service quality, management skills, information technology application, and human resources. The main difficulties in digital transformation for logistics service providers currently include financial situation, human resources, and selection of suitable technology.
According to Mr. Vu Ba Phu, to make two-way trade exchange between Vietnam and EU more efficient, optimizing the quality and implementation of logistics services to serve import and export goods of Vietnam and the EU in a new economic condition under the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic is one of the necessary solutions.
The MoIT said that the relevant authorities under the ministry are continuing to review administrative procedures on import and export in order to promote export, create favorable conditions, and effectively support import-export enterprises and logistics service enterprises.
Vietnam also encourages enterprises to focus on investing in logistics infrastructure, increasing the connectivity of means of transport, and improving the capacity of providing logistics services by applying digitization of operational processes.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai also suggested that EU enterprises can participate in investing in logistics infrastructure in Vietnam, as well as participate in deploying technology application activities in logistics, promoting the training of human resources for the logistics sector and cooperation in new fields, such as urban logistics, circular logistics, and green logistics.
Sharing with Vietnamese enterprises about the opportunity to cooperate with outstanding logistics services of the Netherlands, Mr. Sjaak de Klein, Senior Manager of Supply Chain Solutions Asia, Holland International Distribution Council (HIDC), said that Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, with more than 200 deep-water terminals. Especially, this port optimizes the supply chain through digitization. Besides, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the second-best direct connectivity airport in the world.
Mr. Sjaak de Klein also committed that HIDC is willing to advise on the European supply chains for Vietnamese logistics enterprises.
In another perspective, Mr. Gilbert Canameras, President of Francorisk, a French foreign trade consultant, said that risk assessment and handling is the top requirement for any enterprise because when the enterprise participates in a constantly changing world, the risks will increasingly heighten.
Enterprises need to equip with a risk forecasting system to minimize risks. With each risk, such as risk from internal factors (failure of machines and people) to objective factors, enterprises need to determine which ones are acceptable and which ones are unacceptable and take appropriate measures to minimize them.


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Burger King is getting in on the Chicken Sandwich Wars. On Wednesday, the fast-food chain officially debuted their new, hand-breaded "Ch'King" chicken sandwich, an offering aimed at taking on the likes of Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. The sandwich was previously announced earlier this year and has been tested in select stores ahead of the nationwide rollout. Burger King has been testing the new sandwich, which comes in a regular and spicy variety, for approximately two years.
"We were the first in mainstream burger in QSR (quick service restaurants) to brand a burger the Whopper, [so] we want to be the first in mainstream QSR to brand a chicken sandwich the Ch'King," Ellie Doty, Burger King's chief marketing officer, told Yahoo Finance.
The new Ch'King will be available in two ways — original and spicy. It'll be served on the company's toasted potato bun and includes deli pickles and a proprietary sauce. If you want, you can get it deluxe with lettuce and tomatoes. The sandwich has a suggested retail price of $3.99 up to $4.99 depending on location, but with the recently-launched "Royal Perks" program, from June 3 through June 20, customers who order a Ch'King through Burger King's website or app will also get a Whopper for free.
The nationwide rollout of the Ch'King comes at a time when a demand for chicken sandwiches is not only driving restaurant traffic – chicken sandwiches are definitely having their moment – but is also contributing to a potential chicken shortage thanks to a higher demand for product. However, Burger King says they are prepared and have a strategy in place.
"We're not immune to macro forces, they hit us just like they hit everybody else, but we have put in place a very robust supply chain support system, we have a diversified set of suppliers," Doty said.
The announcement of the Ch'King isn't the only chicken-related menu news from Burger King this week. Earlier this week, the chain announced that it had brought back the fan-favorite crown-shaped chicken nuggets to restaurants in the Miami area for a limited time.
Will you be checking out Burger King's Ch'King sandwich? Who do you think is the current winner of the Chicken Sandwich Wars or are you just ready for another food trend? Let us know your thoughts about this and all things fast food in the comment section.


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A new national campaign launching this summer in Canada aims to reduce the vast volume of food waste generated by Canadian households.
The Love Food Hate Waste campaign is dedicated to reducing the significant amounts of food thrown out daily in households right across the country, said Malcolm Brodie, chair of the National Zero Waste Council, a group organized in 2013 in B.C. in a partnership with Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
- Read more: Eating garbage
Canadians’ dubious reputation for throwing out tons of perfectly edible food is becoming more widely recognized but there hasn’t been enough attention put on it, nor focus on changing behaviours around food, said Brodie.
Canadians are among the worst of the developed nations in wasting food, with about 47 per cent occurring in the home. Over 60 per cent of the food thrown out is nutritious and with nothing wrong. The cost of all the thrown-out food to the average Canadian household is more than $1,100 per year.
Overall it amounts to 2.2 million tonnes of food wasted every year. That’s rotting food that ends up in landfills generating methane and contributing to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. All the land, water and inputs that went into producing, distributing and merchandising that food is wasted.
Canada “desperately needs” to put concerted effort into reducing food waste, Brodie said, adding the statistics are becoming more widely known but scant attention has been put towards addressing consumer behaviour.
“It really is offensive that we’ve adopted such bad habits in relation to food,” Brodie said. “The amount of food we’re wasting and the damage that causes to the environment and financially is very significant.”
Retailers on board
The LFHW campaign’s focus is on households and consumers in a first-ever co-ordinated national approach to help Canadians change their relationship with food.
“It only takes a small change, such as buying only what we need so food doesn’t spoil or get forgotten in the back of the fridge and is then thrown out,” Brodie said.
The campaign will also offer practical and easy tips for keeping and storing fresh food, using up existing ingredients and better planning to avoid overpurchasing food.
- Read more: Eat your package
The campaign now involves nine large urban centres as partners, including the cities of Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, the Capital Regional District, Metro Vancouver, Province of B.C. and a group called RECYC-QUÉBEC.
Walmart Canada and Sobeys are also supporting the campaign.
Walmart has its own zero-food waste goals within its own operations by 2025, Lee Tappenden, Walmart Canada president and CEO said in a news release.
“By partnering with the National Zero Waste Council on the Love Food Hate Waste campaign we hope to champion and inspire more change and action that will significantly reduce food waste in Canada.”
The grocery stores are key sites to talk with consumers about food behaviours, better food-related habits, including knowing how to store purchased food, buying what you know you’ll use, and most importantly, meal planning so unnecessary food purchases are avoided.
This isn’t about buying less food, but making purchases more strategically, he said.
In the United Kingdom where similar campaigns have been underway has cut avoidable household food waste by 21 per cent, saving U.K. consumers 13 billion pounds, he said.
Addressing ‘best before’
The National Zero Waste Council has also released its Food Loss and Waste Strategy, a broader initiative which focuses on the need to change consumer behaviour and reduce food waste in the production and distribution systems — where the other half of Canada’s food waste occurs.
That strategy also calls for an overhaul of food labelling laws in order to alleviate confusion over ‘best before’ dates, and establishes a national goal to halve food waste by 2030.
That strategy is also NZWC’s contribution to the pending Food Policy for Canada.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, has seen the food waste strategy and has commended the leadership of the National Zero Waste Council’s efforts. Brodie said it’s hoped as the campaign gains profile more provincial governments, including local governments will also support these efforts.
Quebec’s minister of sustainable development, environment and the fight against climate change has praised the newly launched Love Food Hate Waste campaign.
“From a sustainable development perspective, we have a collective duty to reduce waste before thinking about composting, even if composting is a better option than throwing food away,” she said.