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Amazon is already everywhere from your mailroom to your TV, and now it wants to be in your pocket.
The company is holding a splashy press event on Wednesday in Seattle, and the rumors are so loud that it's all but confirmed Amazon is finally announcing its own smartphone.
Reports had suggested for years that Amazon might be working on a phone -- one of the final frontiers for the company after launching its Fire TV and tablets -- and rumors about what features such a device could include began swirling even more when Amazon announced the June 18 event.
Here's what reputable sources say the Amazon phone could include:
3-D holograms: The Wall Street Journal reported in April that the Amazon phone would feature 3-D images -- with no glasses required. According to the Journal's unnamed sources, the phone will pull off that feat by using eye-tracking technology in four front-facing cameras.
The 3-D rumor appeared to be borne out by a preview video Amazon itself released earlier this month, showing customers trying out the mystery gadget. "It moved with me!" one woman says in the promotional video. Others move their heads around as they look at the gadget, saying, "Whoa!"
Gesture controls, like tilt-to-click: Those suspected front-facing cameras might not be only for eye-tracking.
They could also track hand gestures that can be used to control the phone, according to an April 22 report from the tech blog BGR (which has a strong track record on leaked Amazon news and published photos of the purported new phone last month).
BGR's anonymous sources said tilting the phone will let users access menus and other features in apps without a single touch. For example, tilting in the messaging app will pull up an option to attach photos, they said.
Snap a photo of words, convert it to text: The other feature mentioned in BGR's April 22 article is "optical character recognition" -- that is, users can snap a photo of a sign or a business card, and the phone will automatically convert the words in the image into text.
Prime Data: Amazon may not be content with merely launching a phone; the company may also wade into providing phone service itself.
A separate April report from BGR claims Amazon will also unveil a wireless data plan called "Prime Data." BGR's sources couldn't suss out details on the service, as Amazon is keeping the program hush-hush. But they speculated Amazon may offer its smartphone customers free access to its Prime-branded digital services like Instant Video.
Exclusive to AT&T: Sorry, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile customers: AT&T will be the exclusive wireless carrier for the Amazon smartphone, the Journal reported Tuesday. As the newspaper noted, AT&T already provides service to Amazon's Kindle tablets and e-readers.
Cheaper version: We don't yet know what Amazon's phone will really turn out to be, or how much it will cost. But if you're already looking for a different version of the yet-to-be-unveiled device, fear not: Rumors say a cheaper version of the phone is in the works.


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October Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix
This month, the openings far outnumbered the closings as we saw several Valley dining outlets re-open and we welcomed a whole slew of new food trucks to the scene. We're waving goodbye to Aaron May's beer-centric Scottsdale restaurant, Praying Monk, but don't fret, there's something else exciting on the horizon . . .
Bufala Verace S.T.G. from Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana and Forno Fabbri Italian Market & Mozzarella Bar
- Pomo Pizzeria and Forno Fabbri Italian Market & Mozzarella Bar, Scottsdale
- The Roasted Shallot, food truck
- Steak 'n Shake, Tempe
- Chedda Truck, food truck (re-opening)
- Stacy's Smoke Dem Bones Pit Stop, Phoenix
- Hopdoddy Burger, Scottsdale
- Wicked Six Bar and Grill, Fountain Hills
"On the heels of opening North Scottsdale's Renegade by MOD in May, ex-Kai chef Michael O'Dowd and partners Ed Leclere and Don Misheff of Vivid Lifestyle Concepts have opened their second restaurant -- this one tucked into a golf club in Fountain Hills."
- Rock A Belly, food truck
"Since losing their restaurant's home at The Borgata of Scottsdale shopping center early this year, the Italian trio not only made plans to re-locate Pomo, they expanded it as well -- first with a downtown location that opened in May, and now with a location in Scottsdale's Gainey Village that opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 30."
Find out what columnist Eric Schaefer thought of the Midwestern legacy's Arizona outlet, here.
"Last June, Nick Watts' mobile kitchen of grilled cheese sandwiches, called Chedda Truck, made its debut to a huge (and unexpected) crowd at Artistic Tattoo in Central Phoenix."
"Stacy Phipps may have taken a few hits in his restaurant career, but the Phoenix barbecue man hasn't been knocked out yet."
"Heads up, burger-and-beer hounds: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, the Austin-based counter-service eatery from the owners of Roaring Fork and Salty Sow, is opening its doors in Scottsdale tomorrow."
"Talk to chef-owner Jordan Murray about his new food truck, Rock A Belly, and it isn't hard to figure out what he's passionate about."

domain: news


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Earlier today, Ford offered an update on some of the efforts it has ongoing to help fight the coronavirus around the United States and the world. Ford confirmed that it’s powered air-purifying respirator would start production today. The automaker also talked about how it was helping another company increase production capacity for COVID-19 testing kits. The automaker has offered an update on where it stands around the world with Ford ventilator production.
Ford says that work is currently underway at the Rawsonville Components Plant to transform a portion of the plant to build a third-party ventilator in collaboration with GE Healthcare. Production for those ventilators is expected to start the week of April 20th. A team of paid UAW volunteers is working on the Ford ventilator project to produce 50,000 Model A-E ventilators by July 4th.
Ford ventilator pre-production activities are going on in the UK, where Ford is working with an industry consortium preparing to make ventilators from Penlon. Ford says that in the UK, it is working with an industry consortium and is providing manufacturing, engineering capability, project leadership, purchasing support, and assembly for the ventilators at its Dagenham Engine Plant.
Ford says that its production will help meet the demand for 15,000 ventilators ordered by the UK government. While Ford is talking about its ventilator efforts, it’s also talking about its plans to continue producing the transparent-face shields for medical workers. Ford says that as of April 13, it has made more than 3 million face shields that have been provided to medical personnel and first responders. Face shield production is ongoing in the United States, Canada, Thailand, and at the joint venture in India with partner Mahindra & Mahindra in India.


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Ever stared bleary-eyed at the bewildering array of over-the-counter drugs at the pharmacy–aching, sniffling, coughing, and wanting nothing more than to go back to bed? Silicon Valley startup Evincii has an app for that.
The search company launched its Pickka Med mobile application this week to help consumers sort through their choices for first-aid treatments, pain relief, digestive trouble, and cold and allergy medicines. Available for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android phones, the tool recommends the best over-the-counter drugs to treat specific symptoms, based on age, illness, and any drug allergies. It can even narrow its suggestions based on information from specific store chains, if you allow it access to your location.
The app is simple to use, and helpful–if a little simplistic–for sorting through the (literally) thousands of possible options to treat different combinations of symptoms. Evincii also has a mobile app in beta to help consumers select vitamin supplements, with health food and skin care apps to come. It’s all part of a larger trend toward consumer-oriented medical info apps for the iPhone, Blackberry, and other smart phones.
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POPcodes, a leading provider of value-added solutions and services to the payment industry, today announces results from a 2-year pilot and a subsequent three-year contract extension with a global top-five merchant acquirer.
Founded in 2013, POPcodes created a content, campaign and workflow management platform with a smart terminal-based app that helps merchant services providers (MSPs) establish a direct-to-merchant digital communication channel that optimizes key business processes, benefitting themselves and their merchants.
According to a September 2022 Gallop poll, 95% of people prefer to use something other than cash for some or most their purchases. And, with over 80% of those purchases still occurring in-person, the deployment, training and support for the infrastructure required to process those payments costs merchants and acquirers millions of dollars a year and consumes valuable employee resources.
In April of 2020, in an effort to contain those costs and deliver a better merchant experience, a top-five acquirer launched its evaluation of a white-labeled version of POPcodes’ Push Button Services™ solution. They began remotely deploying the app to thousands of merchants’ smart devices just as COVID began to impact their very large brick-and-mortar merchant base.
The platform enabled merchants to access the latest deployment, training, support content directly from their smart terminal. With the go-live occurring days after the CDC’s declaration of COVID as a global pandemic, the solution quickly paid unexpected dividends, by delivering time-critical instructions to merchants on how to disinfect their terminals without damaging them. This not only reduced customers’ and associates’ risk of exposure during payment, but it also saved downtime and tens of thousands of dollars by not having to replace equipment.
“There is tremendous untapped potential in the global, internet-connected ecosystem of smart terminals,” said Gregg Aamoth, CEO of POPcodes. “Our goal is to deliver omnichannel ready, value-added solutions help acquirers, ISOs, merchants and ultimately everyone in the extensive payments value-chain unlock that potential.”


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Even larger consumer durables retailers could face troubles due to increased financial exposure after acquisitions and the difficult economic environment.
- No sales rebound expected in 2019
- Smaller brick-and-mortar retailers continue to struggle
- Insolvencies expected to increase in 2019
In 2018 consumer durables retail sales were affected by lower household consumption, together with the negative impact of the so-called ‘yellow vests protests’ at the end of the year, usually a peak sales period for retail. Purchasing behaviour has changed in recent years, e.g. the evolution of ‘Black Friday’ in France has changed sales patterns.
According to the research institute GfK, consumer electronics sales decreased 0.3% in 2018, to EUR 4.3 billion. The stagnation was mainly due to declines in the struggling photo segment (down 14%) and lower sales of audio items. The consumer electronics segment is characterised by very low margins.
Sales of home equipment decreased 0.6% in 2018, to EUR 31.5 billion, after a robust increase seen in 2017. According to Gifam (the French association of household appliances manufacturers) sales of large household appliances decreased 0.9% in 2018, to EUR 5.2 billion, impacted by a downward trend in new housing and lower household confidence. Sales of small home appliances continued its upward trend for the eleventh consecutive year, but at a lower pace (up 0.5%), due to a lack of innovative new products.
After three consecutive years of growth, furniture sales decreased 2.7% to EUR 9.5 billion, mainly due to a subdued performance in H2 of 2018, according to the industry research organization IPEA. Some large retailers are facing difficulties, and it seems that businesses have adjust their product mix and reduce store sizes to adapt to changing consumption habits. That said, despite a decline in new housing, the kitchen segment (which accounts for 27% of furniture sales) kept up well, mainly benefiting kitchen specialist retailers.
The French consumer durables market is not expected to rebound in 2019, due to the more difficult economic environment and ongoing social tensions. The decrease in new housing should again affect demand for large household appliances and furniture. The rather cyclical TV market is unlikely to be boosted by a major sports event as seen in 2018.
The business environment will remain highly competitive in all segments. Increasing market share of online retailers has generated significant pressure on sales prices and profitability, especially affecting independent and local retailers. According to the e-commerce federation FEVAD, online retail sales increased more than 13% in 2018, and online sales accounted for 23% of home equipment sales. E-commerce competition and the high frequency of discount sales have squeezed the margins of retailers over the past 12 months.
A concentration process through acquisitions or purchasing alliances is ongoing among retailers to cope with the mounting challenges.
In order to adapt to the competitive environment and ongoing development of e-commerce, several major players have developed omni-channel strategies. Partnerships between online and brick-and-mortar retailers have emerged to take advantage of each other’s strengths.
In general, the gearing of consumer durables retailers is rather high, given their need to finance working capital requirements and inventories. Moreover, there are peak seasons and special events which temporarily require additional financing. Loans are also required to finance the opening of new stores in order to extend geographical presence. Banks are principally not restrictive to lending to the sector, but their willingness mainly depends on individual retailers´ creditworthiness.
Payments in the industry take 45 days on average. In line with the subdued sales performance in 2018 and rising market challenges, non-payment notifications and insolvencies increased in H2 of 2018, and are expected rise further in the coming months. Given the fierce competitive environment and pressure from online retailers, mainly independent and smaller players are threatened by business failures. However, some larger businesses are also facing major financial difficulties.
Our underwriting stance for the consumer durables retail sector is neutral for the consumer electronics and household appliances segments. We remain cautious with small independent players, as deteriorating revenues and margins have affected several of them over the past couple of years. However, even larger businesses could face troubles due to increased financial exposure after acquisitions and the difficult economic environment.
We are more cautious in the furniture retail segment, as the market situation of many small players is difficult due to the overwhelming market power of three large retailers.
In general, we focus on the resilience of individual buyers in a competitive market environment, the distribution channels and the management of working capital requirements.


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In Germany, consumer prices increased by 0.5% in March, which was in line with prelim figures. In February, consumer prices had risen by 0.7%. The annual rate of inflation accelerated from 1.3% to 1.7%, which was also in line with prelim figures.
- The prices of services were up 1.6%, with prices of goods rising by 1.9% when compared with a year earlier.
- Energy product prices were 4.8% higher than a year earlier, with food prices up by 1.6% compared with March 2020.
From France, consumer prices were also on the rise, with the annual rate of inflation picking up from 0.6% to 1.1%, which was in line with prelim figures. Month-on-month, consumer prices rose by 0.6% in March.
According to Insee.fr,
- Year-on-year, service prices ticked up from 0.8% to 1.1%, with deflationary pressures for manufactured goods softening from -0.4% to -0.2%.
In Italy, the annual rate of inflation saw a more modest uptick from 0.6% to 0.8%, which was also in line with prelim figures. Month-on-month, consumer prices increased by 0.6% in March.


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Cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger has sold over 1.3 million units as of this month, the company revealed in a blog post October 10.
Wallet Manufacturers Target The Millions
Discussing whether or not cryptocurrency investors “need” hardware wallets, CEO Eric Larchevêque disclosed the figure, which potentially makes Ledger the biggest-selling hardware wallet on the market.
Competition in the sector remains limited to a handful of manufacturers, with other well-known names such as TREZOR and KeepKey yet to publish current public figures about their total sales.
Unofficial statistics for TREZOR from January suggest the number being around 800,000.
For its part, TREZOR regularly sells out of its offerings, earlier this year instigating a waiting list for eager consumers wanting to buy their latest Model T device.
Larchevêque: Market Is ‘Booming’
Discussing current market trends, Larchevêque unsurprisingly pointed to a combination of security and affordability to explain the rising demand for hardware wallets.
“Hardware wallets are convenient, affordable, portable and backed up by a paper wallet allowing easy recovery in case of loss,” he wrote.
This is why hardware wallets are booming in popularity and becoming the new standard bearer for crypto security.
Indeed, newcomers are entering the hardware wallet industry fast. The CoolWallet S, which was recently reviewed by Bitcoinist, for example, provides an interesting credit-card form factor worth checking out.
The industry has not always had a smooth run with publicity. Earlier in summer, controversy broke out over claims from a newcomer manufacturer BitFi, endorsed by John McAfee, which claimed to have produced an “unhackable” wallet.
Going forward, however, Larchevêque outlined forthcoming security updates which would serve to increase the solidity of Ledger’s offering.
This, he says, will take the form of “a chip designed specifically to resist highly skilled attackers and a custom OS designed specifically to protect crypto assets.”
The company’s president Pascal Gauthier further called 2019 the “year of custodianship” in an interview this week.
What do you think about Ledger and TREZOR’s hardware wallet sales? Let us know in the comments below!
Images courtesy of Shutterstock, reddit.com


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SHL Telemedicine has announced the release of SmartHeart, a lightweight and portable device that they claim can take “hospital-grade” ECGs by “anyone, anywhere, anytime.” The device connects wirelessly to smartphones and can transmit the ECG to a physician for a preliminary diagnosis. The possibilities for a device like this are endless – but so are the questions it raises.
The device greatly streamlines the process of obtaining an ECG as it avoids the need to actually come in to a clinic and can be used to monitor high risk patients from their own homes. The smartphone can then transmit the ECG to an office or a hospital where health care professionals can examine them instantly. As cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, a low-cost and easily used cardiovascular diagnostic device could have a huge impact on a sizeable part of the population. SmartHeart is set to cost $500, which is less than an iPhone itself.
However, a portable ECG device that anyone can supposedly use raises some major concerns. The first question is its practical application. For a patient to just have this at home implies that they are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Arrhythmias typically require continuous cardiac monitoring rather than a 10-second ECG, which this device does not appear to provide. So, is this device intended to Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at iMedicalApps*


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Harvey Norman Name Added To 2nds World
Harvey Norman is keeping pace with its plan to rapidly turn around its purchase of discount retailer 2nds World, already rebranding two outlets “Harvey Norman 2nds World.”
The Auburn and Castle Hill 2nds World stores have received the new masthead after the Harvey Norman team renegotiated the stores’ leases, and completed an asset purchase of stock, fixtures and fittings.
Reportedly, the Penrith store is set to join the new 1,000 sqm site in the Harvey Norman @ Domayne homemaker centre.
As previously reported by ChannelNews, the embattled retailer 2nds World was placed in administration after suffering for some time.
A major contributor to its lack of business was fierce competition from online retailers Catch.com.au and Kogan.com.au as well as a lack of parking near their Cremorne outlet.
ChannelNews was also made aware of several suppliers who had elected to stop credit to 2nds World.
Three weeks following the news, Harvey Norman Holdings Chairman and local billionaire, Gerry Harvey, scooped up the discount electronics retailer and its assets.
2nds World operated five retail outlets in New South Wales — Auburn, Caringbah, Castle Hill, Cremorne (not expected to reopen) and Penrith — plus an online store.
ChannelNews understands Harvey is also planning to expand the brand interstate, with 2nds World stores in VIC, SA and QLD.
Harvey Norman is commandeering the majority of the seconds market in NSW with these new updated sites, plus its trade-in and clearance store in Mascot.
In an interview with Appliance Retailer, Harvey Norman executive director, David Ackery confirmed the company’s strategy.
“Our proprietors are in negotiations with suppliers to purchase stock,” said Ackery.
“Our strategy is to sell factory seconds, reworked appliances and run-out lines and not to stock brand new appliances.”
Ackery also made mention that the 2nds World Harvey Norman website is live but there are no plans to update the online channel as he believes “Our customers need to visit our stores to see what they are buying”.


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The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) was enacted to place parents in control over what information is collected, used and disclosed from young children online. COPPA applies to operators of commercial websites and online services directed to children under the age of thirteen that collect, use, or disclose personal information from children, and to operators of general audience websites or online services with actual knowledge that they are collecting, using or disclosing personal information from children under thirteen. On December 19, 2012, The FTC announced the adoption of its long-awaited amendments to COPPA. The updates are primarily aimed at mobile privacy, but are intended to reflect the FTC’s commitment to “helping to create a safer, more secure online experience for children” in the face of rapid technological change. The amended rule will be effective July 1, 2013.
The Video Privacy Protection Act (the “VPPA”) prevents disclosure of personally identifiable rental records of “prerecorded video cassette tapes or similar audio visual material.” On January 10, 2013, President Obama signed into law amendments to the VPPA that facilitate social media sharing of video viewing preferences when users consent to disclosure of information via the Internet. The amendments provide that a consumer’s written consent can now be obtained through electronic means using the Internet, provided that the consent is in a “form separate and distinct from any form setting forth other legal or financial obligations of the consumer.”
This article discussing these two important federal privacy laws was originally published by The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel.
Click here to view the entire article.


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On 21 July, Microsoft has updated the status of the Marketplace, announced that within a month the store would accept new apps designed for Windows Phone Mango (Windows Phone 7.5). Just a little over a month, Microsoft has kept it’s promise, and from now on the Windows Phone Marketplace accepts Mango applications.
Todd Brix said:
The infrastructure for accepting your Mango apps is coming online as we speak! Some of you may already be seeing new content as we conduct a final round of tests. Stay tuned for a more detailed overview of the Mango app submission process within the next 24 hours.


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Question for written answer E-011157/12 to the Commission
Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz (PPE)
(6 December 2012)
Subject: Regulating advertisements aimed at children
Communication technology has changed with lightning speed in recent decades, and with this has come an increase in the ease with which children can be targeted by advertisements. Leading food and drink producers undertook some years ago that they would not in future target children with advertisements for products containing excessive amounts of fat, sugar or salt. A report published at the end of September (‘A junk-free childhood 2012’) investigated the extent to which this objective has been fulfilled. According to the study, the companies’ own data showed that the amount of advertising for unhealthy foods aimed at children had fallen by barely a quarter in the past six years, whilst in some countries it had actually increased; meanwhile, the ‘EU Pledge’, whereby six years ago a number of major European companies pledged to undertake self-regulation, had similarly failed to achieve the desired result. Most companies agree that they must restrict themselves in the area of paid online advertising, yet they do not adopt the same approach to their own homepages, which remain full of pictures of happy children, online games, puzzles and gifts to download, all of which are aimed at children.
In light of this, I would like to ask the Commission the following questions:
Does the Commission not feel that there is a need for further EU-level regulation in addition to self-imposed restrictions?
What penalties would the Commission propose putting forward for companies which violate the regulations?
Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission
(4 February 2013)
The Commission is committed to address issues related to advertising of foods high in fat, salt and/or sugar to
children and since 2007, it has promoted EU action as set out in the strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and
Obesity related Health issues (1).
The first results of the ‘EU Pledge’ — an initiative by a group of companies who pledge not to advertise food and
beverage products to children under twelve, or only to advertise products that meet specific nutrition criteria — were
highlighted in the Implementation Progress Report of December 2010 (2).
This report showed that the Pledge led to over one third less TV advertising by pledge participants. In the meantime, the Pledge was reinforced: it now includes company-owned brand websites; uses a stricter definition of ‘children’s media’ (35% of the audience is children instead of 50% as before); and developed common nutrition criteria (3) aimed at replacing the existing company-specific criteria.
Another major instrument for EU action in this area is the Audiovisual Media Service Directive 2010/13/EU (4). In this
context, the Commission supports Member States in encouraging audiovisual media service providers to set up codes
of conducts on advertising of foods to children.
The first Application Report on the directive published in May 2012 showed that this provision led most of the
Member States to set new codes or extend the existing codes. It also triggered initiatives, such as healthy food
promotion campaigns on Television and Internet. The 2nd Application Report due in 2014 will examine the
effectiveness of such codes of conduct.
⋅1∙ A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues, COM(2007) 279.


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LONDON — On a humid late spring evening, women from across north London descended upon a Victorian pub in the eclectic neighborhood of Camden for a secret meeting. Each slipped inside cradling a package under one arm. They weren’t there for a pint, though. They’d come for cake and to share the keys to its creation.
Long home to edgy worlds of music and art, urban Britain can now claim one more underground scene: baking. The Clandestine Cake Club, a hush-hush society for baking enthusiasts, has become wildly popular here. Since its inaugural meeting in 2010, the CCC has grown from one chapter to more than 185 across the British Isles and beyond, from Abergavenny to Wythenshawe and York.
Members have congregated in castles and canal barges to share their passion for cakes (no cupcakes or pies allowed), with one firm rule: The location is top-secret until shortly before the event — an attempt to add a little spice to the sometimes pedestrian occupation of home baking.The success of the CCC, and other British cooking clubs like it, reflects the increasing appetite for the culinary arts here. In the past year alone, 9 million more Britons have started baking, according to research by Mintel.
This British baking renaissance is being fueled, in part, by the recession. Renewed interest caused the industry to grow by 59 percent between 2007 and 2012 to reach $2.57 billion, Mintel reported. Home baking was one of the few sectors to experience growth during the financial crisis — in products from cake decorations to sugar. Even though consumers are spending less on groceries, the Office for National Statistics reported that British household spending on flour has steadily increased since 2008, jumping by 24 percent since 2010.
“Pressures on consumers’ real incomes combined with rising food inflation have encouraged more adults to go back to basics and bake from scratch as a means of economizing,” says Emma Clifford, senior food analyst at Mintel. At the same time, Clifford says, popular cooking shows have raised the profile of home baking.
“I love baking and obsessively watch gluttonous shows on telly,” Clare Ellis, 36, a publicist and newcomer to Camden’s cake club, said. Continue reading


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Schnucks displays St. Louis pride with streetwear store-within-a-store concept
Regional grocer Schnuck Markets’ latest store concept experiment will let customers get themselves fashionably outfitted while getting their groceries.
Schnucks announced it would remodel of a St. Louis location, adding space for an Arch Apparel store-within-a-store, according to Supermarket News. Arch Apparel is a St. Louis-based streetwear brand with a variety of products featuring designs that demonstrate hometown pride, such as STL logo shirts. Even the company’s name references the city’s iconic Gateway Arch. The brand also involves itself in a variety of local community-centered activities.
Schnuck Markets is not the only grocer to add some local flavor to its assortment with an apparel partnership.
Midwest grocer Meijer recently announced a new apparel partnership bearing some similarity to Schnucks, although it is not set up as a store-within-a-store. The grocer has begun stocking an exclusive line of clothing from Merit Goodness at two Detroit locations, consisting of Detroit-themed hoodies and t-shirts, Hour Detroit reported. Twenty percent of profits from Merit Goodness go to the brand’s affiliated non-profit, which helps Detroit high school students go to college. Prior to the Meijer deal the brand was only available online and at a limited-run pop-up.
Other regional grocers have also piloted store-within-a-store concepts for non-grocery selections — both in and out of apparel. Hy-Vee introduced DSW shoe shops last year inside its stores with plans to add them in 120 locations. This year, the grocer also partnered with W Nail Bar to offer in-store manicures, pedicures and a variety of other salon services in select stores.
The Arch Apparel deal is not Schnuck Markets’ first experiment with a store-within-a-store setup that promotes a local St. Louis vendor. The grocer partnered in 2017 with Volpi Foods, a local specialty meat producer, to open an in-store shop operated by Volpi employees featuring the brand’s artisanal cured meats.
Schnucks’ remodel will also include a new food hall featuring service counters from a number of popular local restaurants, according to Supermarket News.
- Schnuck Markets to add food hall, apparel boutique in store upgrade – Supermarket News
- Our Story – Arch Apparel
- Shop Local Apparel Brand Merit Goodness at Meijer – Hour Detroit
- Will a store-within-a-store work for deli? – RetailWire
- Will shoppers get their nails done at Hy-Vee? – RetailWire
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Do you see a lasting trend in supermarkets partnering with non-grocery brands on store-within-a-store concepts? How can grocers that pursue these types of partnerships make sure they’re making the right move?


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Chick-fil-A Bowl representative Rod Hovater will visit Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday for the Mississippi State – Ole Miss game. The two teams are being scouted as potential SEC representatives in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31.
Hovater, sporting the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s signature navy blue blazer, will be available to the media before the game and in the press box during the game.
To arrange an interview, please contact Caitlin Davis by phone at (404) 586-8415 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
The ACC and SEC team selections for the 45th annual Chick-fil-A Bowl will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 2. The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the oldest guaranteed ACC vs. SEC match-up in the bowl business.
Mississippi State and the Chick-fil-A Bowl
Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) has made three appearances in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, most recently in 1999, defeating Clemson 17-7. The Bulldogs’ all-time record in the Bowl is 1-2, with losses coming against North Carolina in 1992 and North Carolina State in 1994.
Ole Miss and the Chick-fil-A Bowl
Mississippi (5-6, 2-5) has made one appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, defeating Georgia Tech 41-18 in 1971. The Rebels will open the 2014 season against Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain available for public sale for the 45th annual Chick-fil-A Bowl. Bowl officials issued the ticket alert last week, with ticket inventory dwindling, urging fans to purchase tickets now to avoid being shut out. The Chick-fil-A Bowl expects to announce its 16th straight sellout before teams are selected Dec. 2.


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Every year, the village of Tuntou in northern China churns out more than 80 million lanterns to markets around the world. Most of them used during Lunar New Year.
Red lanterns can be seen in Chinese communities around the world during Lunar New Year, and one small village in China is responsible for making most of them.
The village of Tuntou in Hebei Province, about 200 miles outside Beijing, produces 80% of China’s lanterns. Nearly every family here has a workshop for making lantern parts.
Altogether, the village produces more than 80 million lanterns every year, supplying markets across China, Asia, and beyond. It collectively brings in $160 million every year from the business.
(Read more: Inside the lingerie town of China)
Lunar New Year, which falls around January or February, is their busiest time.
“We usually make extra throughout the year,” says 35-year-old Su Lijie, who has been making lanterns since he was in high school, “to stock up for Lunar New Year.”
Su’s workshop makes 200,000 lanterns a year, and nearly every part of the process is done by hand.
“There are quite a number of steps to making a lantern, most of it by hand,” Su says. “For example, shaping the metal rods, gluing the glitter, and putting on the cover.’’
His shop makes 1,000 to 2,000 small lanterns a day, plus a few hundred big ones. In one year, his factory might bring in $15,000 to $30,000.
How Tuntou became China’s lantern village
Tuntou has been famous for its lanterns since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), due to its proximity to the capital Beijing. Artisans in the village provided their services to the imperial family.
Local lore goes that one lantern maker in the village caught the eye of the village leader, who decided to employ him to make a lantern as a gift for the emperor.
The emperor, according to the story, was so impressed that he appointed Tuntou’s craftsmen to be his official palace lantern makers.
Although there is no official historical record of this story, the village continues to be famous across China for its lanterns.
“My father’s generation used to make lanterns with bamboo instead of metal rods,” Su recalls. “They would have to bend the bamboo each time.”
But working with the tough material became too time-consuming, and as demand increased, factories switched to metal rods to create lantern frames.
Lanterns for the 21st century
In recent years, the villagers of Tuntou have become more internet-savvy, and younger lantern makers have started online stores to sell their wares.
On Kuaishou, a short-video app similar to TikTok that’s popular among China’s rural set, workshops regularly post videos of their production process and sell directly to individual buyers through the app.
“We used to only sell to regions where the lantern tradition is strong,” Su says, “but in recent years, we’ve received orders from all across China and the world.”
Su is now preparing to open his own online shop next year. But the rising demand also means less production can be done by hand.
“They used to make literally everything by hand,” he says, “but now parts of the process have been replaced with machines, so we’re making them faster.”
For Su, it’s a welcome development, as long as he can keep the tradition alive.


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A quick look around the just opened Flatbush, Brooklyn location of
Lawrenceville, Ga. — Encompass Supply Chain Solutions today announced it has formed a strategic partnership with Hisense USA to enhance service parts support for its CE and major appliance products.
Mountain View, Calif. – Eye-Fi introduced Monday its Mobi Class 10 Wi-Fi card that sends images directly to a mobile device without the need to connect to a computer first.
The Eye-Fi Mobi, which carries a $50 suggested retail for an 8GB card and $80 for 16GB, is designed for photographers who have become accustomed to the convenience of storing images on their smartphones and tablets.
Seoul, South Korea — Samsung is expanding its next-generation of Tab series tablets.
The 10.1- and 8-inch Tab 3 models will be available globally beginning in June, joining a 7-inch Tab 3 announced in May.
The two new models’ prices and availability date by country were not announced.
The new Android 4.2 models feature many of the same software features as the 7-inch Tab 3. Both new models, which will be available in Wi-Fi and cellular versions, are not part of the Note series of tablets, which come with a stylus.
Irvine, Calif. — Notebooks, laptops and Ultrabooks may be getting a little smaller, following Western Digital’s disclosure Monday at Computex Taipei 2013 that it’s starting delivery on “the world’s thinnest 1TB hard drive.”
The 2.5-inch WD Blue 7mm hard drive is targeted at OEMs, channel integrators and general consumers, and will provide “a unique storage solution for thin and light systems, slimmer notebooks, as well as compatibility with the industry-standard 9.5mm drive slots of mainstream notebooks,” the company said.
Arlington, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Friday issued a statement of support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) upcoming version 6.0 Energy Star television and display specifications, which will take effect June 1.
Chicago — Regional carrier U.S. Cellular will join other cellular carriers in entering the home phone market, giving consumers another option to cut the cord with a wireless service that costs less than standard landline service.
The LTE/CDMA carrier plans to offer a device that connects to up to two corded phones or multiple cordless phones to the U.S. Cellular network. The device will cost one cent with a two-year contract for a $19.99/month service that offers unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding and three-way calling.
New York — Outdoor Tech expanded its line of headphones to add a Bluetooth model that comes with a battery-level indicator.
The Tuis headphones feature 40mm drivers, onboard controls, Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP streaming and a built-in mic. Playtime is listed at 16 hours with 200 hours of standby time. When the headphones are paired with an iPhone, a battery-status indicator will appear next to the phone’s battery status, a spokeswoman told TWICE.
Long Beach, Calif. – Greater differentiation between the Kenwood and JVC car electronics lines, a refocusing of the JVC marketing department on supporting sell-in and sell-though, and other select changes are on the horizon now that Kenwood’s Keith Lehmann has taken on the additional role of senior VP at JVC Mobile Entertainment.
At JVC, Lehmann is taking charge of JVC Mobile sales, marketing and business strategy. At Kenwood, whose car electronics sales exceed JVC’s, Lehmann’s title changes to executive VP of consumer electronics from senior VP.
Santa Monica, Calif. – Antelope Audio plans July shipments of its first DAC with DSD (SACD) file decoding.
The Zodiac Platinum USB DAC, which will retail for an expected $4,895, performs DSD up-sampling to DSD256 and PCM up-sampling to 384kHz. DSD up-sampling pushes DSD noise into higher frequencies, “vastly improving the quality of the D/A conversion,” the company said.
Las Vegas — European cellphone supplier Just5 has begun shipping its second cellphone intended for consumers who want basic voice service and simplified operation.


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Jed Wakefield, chair of Fenwick’s Trademark Litigation group, was quoted in two articles, “Nike Makes Case to the Supreme Court” in the Portland Business Journal and “Justices Eye Nike’s Deal Not to Sue in Trademark Case” in Law360.
On November 7, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a three-year-old case involving a trademark dispute between Nike and Already LLC (Already LLC v. Nike Inc.). The case dates back to 2009 when Nike filed a trademark infringement suit against Already and its Yums footwear brand, alleging the company was infringing on Nike’s trademarked Air Force 1 footwear design.
Yums proceeded to file a counterclaim, attempting to invalidate the trade dress registration. Nike then withdrew its claim and issued a covenant not to sue, but Yums still pursued their attempts to cancel Nike’s registration.
Nike has prevailed in the lower courts, and now the Supreme Court is considering whether accused infringers can still challenge a trademark's validity after the owner agrees not to sue.
Wakefield said the case has received significant attention from intellectual property groups out of the fear that a ruling against Nike could pave the way for frivolous lawsuits against trademark or patent holders. “The risk would involve the potential for increases in opportunistic strike-suit claims, where a party could say, ‘I’m going to challenge the validity of your patent even though you’ve never threatened me with it, unless you pay me’,” Wakefield said.
He said the likelihood of that outcome is remote, but the specter of its possibility was enough to compel groups such as the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the International Trademark Association to file Amicus briefs in the case.
But Wakefield said the company's argument all along has been that companies in Yums’ situation can always request that a trademark be canceled with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, offering an adequate alternative outside of the venue of a courtroom.
According to Wakefield, the detailed questions about the specific covenant in this case during oral argument suggest that the justices may be taking a more limited view. “The decision might be very narrowly tailored to the nature of that covenant and whether it adequately provided assurance to Already that it would not be sued again," he said. "In that case, I would not expect a broad, sweeping opinion that would unsettle people's expectations about declaratory judgment standards."


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Oct. 19, 2000 (Washington) -- An ingredient found in a number of over-the-counter cold medications andappetite suppressants can not be classified as "safe" because it mayincrease stroke risk, even in relatively young, healthy people, FDA advisorsconcluded Thursday. A "safe" classification is critical to a drugs' abilityto be sold over-the-counter.
The FDA has suspected since the early 1990s that phenylpropanolamine, or PPA, increases the riskof stroke, but after reviewing all the available datain 1992, the agency concluded that the data did not warrant removing PPAfrom the over-the-counter market.
The panel's conclusion Thursday was based in part on a recently completedstudy designed to address the FDA's suspicions. The five-year study wasconducted by researchers at Yale University and was sponsored by theConsumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the nation's largestrepresentative of over-the-counter drug makers.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or shut off. This usually occurs when an artery is clogged or when it bursts open and bleeds. The researchers suspected that PPA increases the risk of the latter, bleeding kind of stroke called a hemorrhagic stroke. The study, including more than 2,000 people aged 18-49, compared the risk of hemorrhagic strokes in the general population with the risk incurred by those using PPA-containing products.
Once the study population was distilled to people that had used the products, the researchers were left with a total of eight patients that had used PPA products immediately prior to their stroke, and five people that had used PPA products without suffering a stroke. After adjusting for other risk factors, such as smoking, the comparison was further reduced to six people that had suffered a stroke compared with one person that did not.
An independent panel of experts commissioned by CHPA to review the conclusions found that the study was a failure. Although the study was thoughtfully designed, there simply was an insufficient number of participants to draw any conclusions, the experts said.
As a consequence, the FDA panel's decision already is mired in controversy.
"Even if the association is real, the risk appears to be exceeding small," said Noel Weiss, MD, DrPH, the independent panel's chair and a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle.
"We are back where we were when we started the study," added William Soller, PhD, senior vice president and director of science at CHPA.
Still, the results suggest that PPA is an independent risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke, said the study's lead researcher, Walter Kerman, MD, associate professor of medicine at Yale. This association is proven by the total number of people using PPA products that suffered a stroke compared with the expected incidence of hemorrhagic stroke in this age group, he told committee members.
The FDA reviewers supported this analysis, noting that previous studies also have suggested that PPA causes hemorrhagic stroke. The FDA database of adverse events associated with PPA products includes 22 cases of hemorrhagic stroke reported between February 1991 and July 2000, including four deaths, the reviewers said.
"The burden of proof now falls upon the industry to show us that it's safe," said Lois La Gernade, MD, MPH, the lead FDA reviewer. "At a minimum, consumers should be adequately informed."
"This is the best data we are going to see. It is time to proceed with rulemaking," added Charles Ganley, MD, director of the agency's over-the-counterdivision, while observing that conducting a new study to address theproblems could take more than a decade.
What kind of rule making will come from this committee decision is unclear.On one hand, the FDA had proposed a stronger warning label for allover-the-counter products containing PPA in 1996, to which the industry hasnow agreed. Yet the new conclusions of the FDA's expert panel could providethe agency with the ammunition to simply withdraw the products from themarket by declaring PPA unsafe.
Certain consumer groups are now petitioning the FDA to ban allPPA-containing products sold over-the-counter. Among them is Public Citizen,a group that has in the past played a large role in influencing the FDA'spolicies.
Further complicating the issue is that certain consumer groups are now petitioning the FDA to ban all over-the-counter PPA-containing products. Among them is Public Citizen, a group that has in the past played a large role in influencing the FDA's policies.
And finally, while the FDA usually follows its committee's recommendations,this committee was not asked to determine whether these products should bewithdrawn. Even then, the FDA is not bound by this conclusion, which is sureto be protested by CHPA as well as drugmakers.


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AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is investigating the source of alcohol served to a man charged with intoxication manslaughter after an auto-pedestrian crash that killed a man in south Austin.
The investigation began after 24-year-old Paul Joseph Garcia, Jr., indicated to Austin police he had consumed alcohol at multiple businesses prior to the crash. TABC says the investigation will seek to determine whether those businesses served alcohol to an intoxicated customer prior to the crash. Under Texas law, alcohol retailers are required to decline service to any person who shows signs of intoxication.
Austin police say Garcia was driving while intoxicated on Menchaca Road when he fatally struck a pedestrian pushing a shopping cart around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. According to police, the force of the impact left the victim lodged in the passenger section of the driver’s vehicle. Garcia allegedly continued for at least half a mile before coming to a stop.
He then left the vehicle and continued on foot until reaching the South Austin Beer Garden, where staff stopped him from entering the building before calling police, says TABC. Garcia was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid.
RELATED: South Austin Beer Garden co-owner speaks out about catching fatal auto-ped suspect
Businesses cited for selling alcohol to an intoxicated person could face a civil fine up to $7,200 as well as a temporary suspension of their license to sell alcohol. Extreme cases, or those involving repeat offenses, could result in cancellation of the business’ license, says TABC.
"Retailers are the folks who sell the alcohol and that makes them the first line of defense when it comes to preventing the sale of alcohol to intoxicated people and preventing these types of deaths," said Chris Porter, TABC Information Officer. "Most of the time 95 percent of the time we see businesses refusing business to these patrons but again in those businesses where it does take place TABC is empowered by the legislature to hold those businesses accountable and then once everything is taking care of get those businesses back into compliance so they can continue operations."
The case remains under investigation by TABC and the Austin Police Department. TABC is declining to name either business until the investigation is complete.


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- Meals and agriculture large Cargill pays farmers to develop or implement practices on their farms that sequester carbon within the soil as the corporate seems to serve rising demand from CPGs to satisfy their greenhouse-gas emissions objectives.
- Cargill is paying farmers roughly $20 per metric ton of carbon sequestered that comes from adopting regenerative agricultural practices akin to no-till or the usage of cowl crops that forestall the discharge of carbon into the environment. This system, known as Cargill RegenConnect, additionally will assist the Minnesota-based firm comply with via by itself sustainability commitments.
- Many meals producers are incorporating sustainability practices into their enterprise operations as they attempt to deal with environmental, social and governance points that more and more are necessary to customers when figuring out what merchandise to purchase.
A lot of the curiosity in sustainability comes from the commitments massive CPGs make to cut back their environmental footprint via the usage of much less water, renewable power, higher packaging or sustainable substances, amongst different instruments.
Earlier this 12 months, Mondelēz Worldwide stated it supposed to spend money on initiatives that defend forests, scale back carbon emissions or enhance resilience in areas the place it sources uncooked supplies as a part of a broader rollout. And this week, PepsiCo introduced a sweeping sustainability initiative that features restoring about 7 million acres of farmland — the equal of how a lot it makes use of — and discovering sustainable sourcing for a lot of of its key substances.
However for CPGs like Mondelēz and PepsiCo to obtain the substances they should assist them comply with via on their sustainability pledges, they should discover farmers throughout the globe that produce every thing from wheat and corn to soybeans and cocoa in a extra environmentally pleasant method.
Cargill’s RegenConnect program, because the identify implies, indicators up farmers to supply extra sustainable crops that in flip can be utilized by meals producers to achieve their greenhouse-gas emission discount objectives.
Cargill pays farmers relying on how a lot carbon they sequester and supply them with financial analysis, knowledge and assist.
RegenConnect will embrace hundreds of acres and a whole lot of farmers throughout its first 12 months, starting this fall going into the following planting season. It is going to probably be scaled up relying on demand from CPGs, the curiosity by farmers and adjustments within the carbon market, Ben Fargher, vp of sustainability in Cargill’s North American agricultural provide chain, stated in an interview.
“The demand facet when it comes to the CPG meals sector could be very sturdy when it comes to the goal and the dedication however precisely tips on how to operationalize that’s nonetheless evolving,” Fargher stated. “We see a lot motivation, resonance, dedication and drive from demand prospects … that we all know we want to have the ability to present a worth proposition to the farmer to assist meet that want, and that’s what this program is all about.”
However for farmers, CPGs and firms like Cargill, the demand for sustainably produced meals comes from the buyer, producing demand for crops produced this fashion. In response to a 2018 research from Nielsen, virtually half of U.S. customers stated they have been prone to change what they purchase to align with environmental requirements. Corporations have little selection however to reply.
In Cargill’s case, the cash it spends to assist farmers makes it financially extra enticing for producers to enter this system, whereas additionally assembly the wants of corporations seeking to decrease their environmental footprint. It additionally ensures Cargill has entry to at the very least a portion of the commodities it wants to satisfy this demand. RegenConnect additionally helps Cargill attain its personal sustainability objectives.
“We are able to add worth by connecting [farmers and CPGs] collectively,” Fargher stated. “What we’re not making an attempt to do, is ensure that we do not overpromise and below ship.”


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Lenny Kravitz adds model to his resume
For French brand
Lenny Kravitz has yet another cool gig. The rocker-actor-interior designer is the face of fashion brand Eleven Paris for its 10th anniversary. The rustic-chic shoot for the Spring/Summer collection recently went down in Miami photographed by Renaud Corlouer. And Russian supermodel Irina Shayk — well, her bikini — got heads turning on the sands behind the Soho Beach House the other day. Cristiano Ronaldo’s galpal was flown in by Colombian swimwear label Agua Bendita (Blessed Water).
On Our Radar
- Chazz Palminteri tells his 'Bronx Tale'
- Athletes seen partying in Miami
- Is Miami Heat star Chris Bosh OK?
- Latin stars come together for Premios Lo Nuestro
- William Levy front and center at rum event
- Diana Nyad to re-create famous swim on stage
- Report: Rapper Vanilla Ice arrested
- Emeril Lagasse talks food, milestones and Florida
- Wyclef Jean, Barry Gibb among performers at Miami Beach centennial concert
- Own a piece of art by Chris Brown


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It is an American tradition to give thanks at this time of year. Thanksgiving was initially celebrated by the colonists in Plymouth after their first harvest in the New World. History records that the event occurred in October 1621 and lasted for three days with attendance by 53 colonists and approximately 90 Wampanoag Native Americans. Though celebrated through the subsequent years, Thanksgiving was not made an official holiday until President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the middle of the Civil War as a way to help heal a wounded nation. Coincidentally, President Franklin Roosevelt sought to heal the nation again as he proposed to move the holiday forward in 1939 as a way to spur retail sales during the Great Depression (a plan humorously called “Franksgiving”) but settled on the fourth Thursday of November in a bill passed in 1941.
This last point in history about consumption is interesting, because that is something with which Thanksgiving is often associated. Other than the estimated 46 million turkeys consumed on the day, Americans consume a lot of everything. An estimated 46.9mm people travel at least 50 miles to reach their Thanksgiving destination. Over 30mm Americans watch the professional football game that day. But, for President Franklin and all the retailers, people spend money. Last year, over 151mm people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend as we approach the year-end holidays. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, approximately 40% of all holiday spending occurs this weekend. At first look, 2016 does not seem to be an exception. The most recent report on consumer confidence in the US showed the index hitting a six-month high this week – a pop from the pre-election preliminary reading. While some journalists may try to interpret this as a political statement on the election, we do not. It is simply a reflection of the fact that a long and emotional process reached a conclusion…for now. Whether sentiment is maintained depends on the political process which is slowly taking center stage in the policy world away from the central bank. We will have to see how the rest of the show gets underway.


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Cold and sometimes rainy winter weather in the Arizona and California deserts over the past month has slowed the production of many organic vegetable crops, leading to an active market and rising prices, with organic celery being especially short and experiencing a spot market f.o.b. price approaching dizzying heights.
“If I had any that wasn’t on contract, I could get at least $50,” said Boskovich Farms Organic Sales Manager Darrell Beyer on Tuesday, January 5.
Darrell Beyer, Organic Sales Manager, Boskovich Farms
The Oxnard, CA-based salesman said there are several “hot veg items” because of short supplies this first full week of the new year. He also mentioned that kale was a “good mover” this week and that most of the leafy items were in short supply. Beyer said a week of warm weather could right the ship and bring the supply situation back into sync with demand. But he predicted that the hot celery market will last at least several more weeks.
Doug Classen, vice president of sales for the Nunes Company Inc., Salinas, CA, also noted that cool weather has created the typical “ebb and flow” of organic vegetables this winter, stating “supplies are tight across the board.” He agreed that celery demand is active and added that seasonally cool weather has created that same situation for many different items.
Beyer said a week of warm weather could right the ship and bring the supply situation back into sync with demand. But he predicted that the hot celery market will last at least several more weeks.
Classen was hard-pressed to come up with an organic vegetable with promotional pricing possibility but did say that Nunes’s organic cauliflower supplies would be increasing in the short term, which could offer more attractive pricing.
Doug Classen, Vice President of Sales, the Nunes Company
Longtime organic wholesaler David Weinstein of Heath & Lejeune in Los Angeles was unconcerned about the current state of organic vegetable supplies. “In a lot of ways this is typical of what we see every year from the desert,” he said. “This is what we deal with every year—short supplies because of cold weather.”
Weinstein noted that many organic veg crops are in short supply currently, even those grown in hot houses. He expressed dismay that many growers now use indoor environments to control the weather and their production but seem to have no more control than they did with open field production. He said both organic eggplant and bell peppers are largely grown in greenhouses, but both are in short supply this week.
David Weinstein, Director of Procurement, Heath & Lejeune
The National Specialty Crops Organic Summary for January 5 reflected the short supply situation, reporting a wide variation in f.o.b. prices for most of the organic vegetable items. Organic iceberg lettuce was reported to have a tight pricing window of $16-$18, but almost every other leafy green item featured $10 ranges, such as romaine hearts which were listed at $16-$26. Green leaf lettuce was one of the highest priced items at $26-$28, with red leaf lettuce only a tad lower.
“This is what we deal with every year—short supplies because of cold weather.” -David Weinstein
If a week of warm weather does, in fact, significantly increase supplies, organic vegetable volume will be in a much better situation later in January. Those desert production areas have seen temperatures top out in the low 70s for most days over the last few weeks, which means the temperatures start out in the 50s in the morning and do not produce those highs until there are very few daylight hours left.
But the days are getting longer, and by the third week in January, temperatures in the 80s are anticipated in Yuma, Arizona as well as California’s Coachella and Imperial Valleys.


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Bloggers: Hackers reached Target via Pa. vendor
A western Pennsylvania heating and refrigeration contractor that services Target retail stores said it was the victim of a “sophisticated cyberattack operation” that might have allowed hackers to infiltrate Target’s computer systems and steal millions of debit and credit card numbers.
Fazio Mechanical Services Inc., of Sharpsburg, Pa., issued the statement after Internet security bloggers identified it as the third-party vendor through which hackers accessed Target’s computer systems. Target has said it believes hackers initially gained access to its vast computer network through one of its vendors. Once inside, the hackers moved through the retailer’s network and eventually installed malicious software into the company’s point-of-sale system.
The series of hacks, experts believe, gave thieves access to some 40 million debit and credit card numbers, along with the personal information of another 70 million people.
U.S. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary confirmed Fazio’s business is being investigated, but wouldn’t provide details.
Molly Snyder, spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based Target, declined comment citing the ongoing investigation.
Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh referred calls to their counterparts in Minnesota, where Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Schleicher, acting criminal division chief, declined comment on the Fazio link, in particular, and the overall investigation.
“Like Target, we are a victim of a sophisticated cyberattack operation,” Ross Fazio, the company’s president and owner, said in a statement. Fazio’s company is cooperating with the Secret Service and Target to identify the possible cause of the breach, he said.
Fazio Mechanical Services also denied reports on blogs and other outlets that said the company remotely monitored heating, cooling and refrigeration for Target, which has about 1,800 stores nationwide.
Fazio’s statement explained his company has an electronic connection with Target, which it uses to submit bills and contract proposals.
Target has said hackers breached its systems during the holiday shopping season and stole about 40 million debit and credit card numbers and the personal information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses of as many as 70 million customers.
Banks, credit unions and other entities that issued debit and credit cards have had to cancel and reissue cards, close transactions or accounts, and refund or credit card holders for transactions made with the stolen data.
Target has said its customers won’t be responsible for any losses.


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NEW YORK (P3P) – Bitcoin rose above $10,000 on Thursday for the primary time in additional than two weeks, as buyers purchased again the digital foreign money after having fallen 70 % from its all-time peak hit in mid-December.
Bitcoin has been buffeted this yr by a collection of damaging headlines centering round elevated scrutiny by world regulators. There has additionally been the incidence of hacks on exchanges, the newest being the theft of roughly $532.9 million in digital cash from Tokyo-based cryptocurrency trade Coincheck a number of weeks in the past.
The primary digital foreign money was additionally affected by the risk-off temper that permeated monetary markets for the reason that starting of the yr, undermining views that bitcoin’s worth strikes are usually uncorrelated to different asset lessons. Sentiment on threat belongings comparable to shares and bitcoin has since improved.
Thomas Lee, managing companion at Fundstrat International Advisors, sees a brand new report peak for bitcoin by July, primarily based on the foreign money’s 22 corrections since 2010.
On the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp, bitcoin rose as excessive as $10,234 BTC=BTSP and was final at $10,123.12, up practically 7 % on the day.
(Graphic: Bitcoin every day chart – reut.rs/2stJIqQ)
“Bitcoin’s enhance has coincided with the rally in world inventory markets,” stated Miles Eakers, chief market analyst, at FX brokerage Centtrip, including sustained break above $10,000 might open the $12,000 degree.
The unique cryptocurrency gained greater than 1,300 % final yr, capped by a lifetime peak simply shy of $20,000 on Dec. 17.
Different digital currencies additionally rose after posting steep losses the previous few weeks. Ethereum, the second-largest by market worth, was up 2.5 % over the previous 24 hours at $933.24, whereas the third-largest, Ripple, gained 5.three % to $1.15, in keeping with cryptocurrency worth tracker coinmarketcap.com.
(Graphic: Ethereum, Ripple worth chart – reut.rs/2o5jGp5)
Fundstrat’s Lee stated bitcoin continues to be in a bull market section even after a 70 % selloff.
“Throughout bull durations, bitcoin recoveries take 1.7 occasions the period of the decline and implies that 85 days are wanted to get well prior highs—that is July 2018,” Lee stated.
He added that 2018 will stay a robust yr for cryptocurrencies, however he sees the bigger and extra established blockchain networks comparable to bitcoin and ethereum dominating once more.
As bitcoin recovered, European Central Financial institution govt board member Yves Mersch warned in a speech in Paris on Thursday that bitcoin just isn’t a foreign money, however a speculative digital asset, in keeping with a Market Information Worldwide report.
He added that as a result of digital currencies do not need a trusted issuer behind them, “they might grow to be nugatory at any time.”
Mersch stated he’s not stunned that digital currencies aren’t extensively accepted as a way of cost.


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The Volkswagen Group has already installed more than 15,000 fast charging stations worldwide
The Volkswagen Group has only made an interim report on the deployment of a global network of fast charging stations. By the end of 2022, more than a third of the 45,000 terminals the company plans to install by 2025 will have been put into service. In total, the company’s network has around 15,000 fast charging stations (HPC), for a maximum capacity of 350 kW. On the occasion of Power Day 2021, the Group announced its intention to become the first international car manufacturer to deploy, in collaboration with its partners, a global network of fast charging accessible to the public, for all electric vehicles. By the end of 2023, nearly 10,000 HPC terminals should be in service in Europe, 25,000 worldwide.
Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management responsible for innovative technologies and CEO of the Volkswagen Division, underlined: “A few years ago, Volkswagen started deploying an international network of fast charging station. With 15,000 terminals installed in North America, China and Europe, we are already among the pioneers of electromobility. This is a success we owe in particular to our close cooperation with our industry and energy partners. We believe we that car charging is not only a requirement for electromobility, but also a strategic sector with high potential. And we have every intention to develop it in the future. »
The fast-charging stations are being rolled out in Europe, among other places, with the help of IONITY, a joint venture owned by Audi and Volkswagen Passenger Cars, brands of the Volkswagen Group, as well as the sports car manufacturer that Porsche. Last year, the Group also announced the creation, in Italy, of the Eviva joint venture with Enel X Way, a member of the Enel Group. Volkswagen is also installing fast charging stations under strategic partnerships with BP and Iberdrola. With BP, the Group plans to set up a network of 8,000 terminals in Europe, specifically consisting of Flexpole terminals manufactured by Volkswagen’s Components division. With Iberdrola, the company will equip the main Spanish traffic axes. In the United States, the expansion of the Group’s electrical infrastructure is managed by Electrify America, the largest public fast charging network in North America. In China, this work is carried out by the CAMS joint venture. As announced on the occasion of Power Day, Volkswagen and its partners aim to develop a global network so that it has a total of 45,000 terminals by 2025: 18,000 in Europe, 10,000 in North America and 17,000 in China.
Elke Temme, who heads the Charging & Energy Management Solutions business, explains: “We set ourselves the goal of making electromobility accessible to everyone. The successes we have achieved in this field, in cooperation with strong partners, prove the relevance of our approach. Together, we can create future mobility that is sustainable and accessible. »
The Volkswagen Group makes charging and energy management its core business
The NEW AUTO strategy, deployed in early 2021, brings together all activities related to electric vehicle charging and energy management, under the supervision of the Technological Innovations function within Management Board. Today, the Volkswagen Group Technology entity plays a major role in the Group’s ambitions in terms of electromobility. Goal: to be among the leading suppliers in the sector by deploying an intelligent charging and energy management ecosystem. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of the Volkswagen Group, confirmed this role in his 10-point plan, making the electric charging sector and energy management a key part for the company’s future. In addition to the deployment of a global network of fast charging stations, Volkswagen now offers a range of products covering the entire range of charging solutions for individuals and businesses, from domestic walls terminal to flexible solutions, including charging station services and innovative and smart pricing for green electricity. The Group is also working to develop electric vehicles that are mobile energy storage units, integrated into the energy supply system, to allow motor vehicle users to create value.


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Rewind just five years, and many people doubted whether electric-car maker Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) could ever even get to the point that it was building 500,000 vehicles per year, let alone achieve it by 2020. Yet now Tesla’s doing such a good job ramping up production that we’re already talking about when the automaker could be building one million vehicles annually, and it may be coming sooner than you think. In fact, the company could potentially pull this off as early as this year — one year after its annualized production crossed 500,000 for the first time.
Here’s a closer look at Tesla’s stunning progress with building out its electric-vehicle production capacity recently — and why the company could potentially double its vehicle production this year.
Expanding production capacity
Tesla’s vehicle production capacity has expanded by leaps and bounds over the last two years. Size, it turns out, has not been a limiting factor for Tesla. Indeed, it has arguably been an accelerant recently.
The automaker’s aggressive capacity expansion started kicking up a notch in 2019, when the company broke ground, built, and started producing cars in a new factory in Shanghai — all in less than 12 months. By the end of the year, a factory less than 12 months old had a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, increasing Tesla’s production capacity by nearly a third.
But Tesla’s capacity expansion really got aggressive in 2020, as Tesla’s newfound ability to generate positive cash flow seemed to inspire the company to take even bolder expansion bets. Throughout the year, Tesla installed enough new production lines and tooling to increase its production capacity by more than 60%. This came from a slight increase in production capacity at the company’s factory in Fremont, California and a tripling of its capacity at its new factory in Shanghai.
Of course, investors should note that production capacity doesn’t immediately translate to respective production levels. It takes time for production lines to ramp up to fully utilize installed tooling. Still, Tesla notably kicked off 2021 with production capacity for 1.05 million vehicles, setting the stage for some incredible growth.
It gets better in 2021
Of course, Tesla isn’t stopping at a production capacity of 1.05 million, particularly with deliveries more than doubling year over year for two quarters in a row. To capitalize on the growing demand for its vehicles, Tesla has two more new factories where it is building out even more capacity: one in Berlin, Germany, and another in Texas. Production is expected to start at both factories this year.
Considering this capacity buildout alongside the fact that Tesla has already produced about 387,000 vehicles during the first six months of 2021, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tesla build close to one million vehicles this year. Even if production is closer to 900,000 by the end of the year, it’s highly likely Tesla will at least finish the year with an annualized production rate of one million vehicles on a run-rate basis.
All of this begs the question: With staggering growth like this, could we be underappreciating Tesla’s growth prospects for the next five years once again? Based on the stock’s pricey valuation, investors may be embracing the fact that that the company seems to be a growth machine better than they were five years ago. But it wouldn’t be surprising if Tesla continues to outperform expectations — particularly over the long haul.
How many new factories will Tesla build over the next five years?
This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.
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For many men, “skin care products by assuming they’re mere marketing ploys aimed at separating self-absorbed men from their money.
Yet skin care isn’t just for the growing ranks of urban “metrosexuals.” Dermatologists from across the country tell WebMD that growing numbers of older men are seeking advice on how to stay looking younger for longer.
“No matter how well you dress, how nice your haircut is, and how healthy you are, if you have skin that is dull and freckly and blotchy you’re not going to look your best,” says Jeffrey Dover, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
And proper skin care isn’t just about looking young; it can also prevent deadly skin cancers. More than 1 million new cases of laser hair removal or restoration). But stay away from the beauty counter at department stores, advises Melamed. Clerks at these counters have no formal training and tend to push expensive and ineffective treatments, he says.


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iBoss Advertising, located in Tampa, Florida, launches automation program to help businesses grow, establish systems and get results by using technology like InfusionSoft to help automate and scale businesses.
TAMPA, Fla., November 13, 2018 (Newswire.com) - According to leading business automation software sources, a recent study released reveals the global state of automation maturity across organizations, which highlights the increasing adoption of automation to drive business success, and demonstrates that automation is becoming the backbone for every modern business. Organizations who do not embrace modern business automation will flounder and struggle to survive.
iBoss Advertising is a full-service metrics-driven digital agency that helps established businesses get more clients and customers for their products and services by delivering unmatched experiences through various digital technology platforms.
Our company has seen tremendous advantages from implementing iBoss' automation tools and resources into our real estate business. With the automation journey, we provide better service for our real estate investors, funnel prospective investors in our campaigns and have created more time focusing on our development projects while automation does its work.
Joseph Jackson, Founder of DCT Capital Fund
Since iBoss Advertising's launch in 2015, its team remains devoted to building brand success for their clients around what they believe are the four pillars to any successful business – to measure, scale, optimize and automate.
Now, iBoss Advertising is in search of businesses that want to utilize automation by offering a limited-time-only automation service. The automation service packages vary and include an iBoss strategy session for those looking to grow; an iBoss Micro Builder for those looking to scale; an iBoss Macro Builder for businesses looking to dominate. Interested prospects can find the packages' pricing and more details by visiting https://ibossadv.com/automation.
While many businesses may be looking to save time, money and attention, this program is not for everyone. iBoss Advertising chooses to work with select established businesses that also believe in technology and in the tremendous power technology aids in the production and evolution of the business world. To find out if automation is right for one's business, please visit https://ibossadv.com/automation.
Here's what Joseph Jackson, a current client, said about iBoss after implementing automation: "Our company has seen tremendous advantages from implementing iBoss' automation tools and resources into our real estate business. With the automation journey, we provide better service for our real estate investors, funnel prospective investors in our campaigns and have created more time focusing on our development projects while automation does its work."
For more than 15 combined years, co-founder Hugo D. Aviles and the iBoss team have started, scaled and automated companies through utilizing technology; iBoss Advertising gets results. Mr. Aviles states, "There are typically 100 people in the automation program at one time - most members come back and continue to learn and scale their business with iBoss."
To get a seat today and to learn about the power automation can have on a business, click https://ibossadv.com/automation to unlock the power of technology.
For media or press inquiries, please contact media relations liaison Claudia Tran at info@iBossAdv.com.
About iBoss Advertising
iBoss Advertising is a full-service digital marketing agency devoted to their clients' online branding success. iBoss’ passion is for the business – making businesses profitable and successful. iBoss produces forward-thinking, innovative, creative and impactful marketing tactics and plans that stand out from the competition. iBoss understands that a cohesive and strong foundational brand and online presence fuels business results. Therefore, iBoss Advertising will accomplish just that. iBoss Advertising’s mission is to be the leading source for online branding of strategic solutions – i.b.o.s.s.
For more information, visit http://www.ibossadv.com.
Source: iBoss Advertising


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The Leading NFT marketplace, OpenSea, has produced a combined total of $5 billion in revenue last month which was spread across both the Ethereum and Polygon blockchains. The January sales smashed the prior record of $3.4 billion set last August 2021.
These record-breaking results are based on publicly available blockchain data, gathered by Dune Analytics. According to Dune Analytics data, OpenSea had the vast majority of its January trading action – more than $4.95 billion – occur on Ethereum. The balance of the record-setting volume for last month was on the Polygon network.
The Dune Analytics numbers found that those revenue splits were single-month records for each respective network, and the data further showed that OpenSea had its best single day in months on January 31, with an eye-popping $233 million worth of NFT trading. That breaks down to nearly $10 million worth of NFT sales per hour.
The volume of OpenSea sales is important because it’s an excellent indicator of the strength and growth of the NFT marketplace, which doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. While the initial NFT surge was infatuation with the novelty of NFTs, its continuing expansion has been driven by other use cases. Specifically, many users are buying low-tier NFTs and flipping them for higher prices on a daily basis, somewhat similar to the way that contractors flip refurbished real estate.
There’s also high demand among high earners who have moved funds from beaten cryptos to buy up blue-chip NFT assets. The thinking behind targeting high-end projects such as Doodles, CryptoPunks, and Bored Ape Yacht Club – to name a few – is that they are a store of value during these high-inflationary times we’re currently living. Top-tier NFTs are analogous to a Dali or Picasso piece of art in the real world.
However, OpenSea faced some choppy waters in January as well. The leading NFT bazaar refunded approximately 750 Ethereum (ETH) – roughly equivalent to $1.8 million U.S. – to users on its platform who mistakenly sold pricey NFTs at deep discounts. What happened was that traders of valuable NFTs, which were priced on OpenSea for tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ETH – got snatched by some rogue shoppers using sleight of hand buys on inactive listings for the same NFTs. The sneaky shoppers made a steal by purchasing the old listings at beyond bargain prices. Prior to issuing the reimbursements, OpenSea co-founder, Alex Atallah posted this message to Twitter.
It’s difficult to tell if this trading debacle has been fully resolved, but don’t be surprised if some disgruntled sellers initiate some type of legal action regarding this open matter with OpenSea. But don’t feel too badly for the OpenSea team, they’ll be able to afford any potential legal bills after last month’s sales surge.


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CNET breaks out the most important things to know when shopping for a new television.
Holiday party season is approaching. Want to spice up your wardrobe with new accessories but don't want to invest in costly jewelry or handbags? CNET's Kara Tsuboi reports on some online rental services that let you borrow these stylish items a month at a time. She has more in this Tech Minute.
Almost 2 billion people around the world use smartphones -- typically worth hundreds of dollars a pop on the black market. A former smartphone thief explains their allure to street criminals.
The most important things to know when shopping for a new laptop, hybrid, or Windows tablet.
Keith Law gets into a Twitter debate with former pitcher Curt Schilling on the subject of evolution vs. creationism. ESPN confirms Law's Twitter use has been suspended but won't say why.
Head-up displays are starting to show up everywhere. Brian Cooley tells you why HUDs may be the next revolution in car tech.
With a format tailor-made for one-liners, Twitter has become the world's biggest stand-up comedy club. TV comedy writers and an original "SNL" cast member tell Crave why the tweet's the thing.
Be part of the Treble Alliance and take control of your music sound system with the iHome Death Star Bluetooth speaker from ThinkGeek.
Changing Web usage is hard. Google has granted a few extra months of leeway to those who rely on a handful of popular plug-ins, such as Silverlight, to extend what their browser can do.
Sure, it's not cheap, but the Apple iPad Air 2 nails it in just about every gift eligibility checklist we can think of.


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Israeli venture capital firm Grove Ventures raises $ 185 million fund to support start-ups
Israeli investment firm Grove Ventures said Thursday it has raised a fund of $ 185 million to invest in early stage startups and “outstanding Israeli entrepreneurs.”
The fund, the third from Grove Ventures, will focus on companies working on digitization processes that “will shape the future, advanced computing, cloud infrastructure, data infrastructure and management, tools and software developers, DevOps, AI and automation, the company said.
Grove Ventures has backed companies like Wiliot, a maker of battery-less Bluetooth chips to label consumer products that recently raised $ 200 million, trusted and online security startup ActiveFence, the developer of a platform based on artificial intelligence to proactively discover and report malicious content, and TriEye, a developer of shortwave infrared (SWIR) detection chips that allow drivers to see in inclement weather and at night.
The venture capital firm stressed that the new fund will invest in pre-seed, seed and Series A in Israeli startups, early rounds that have attracted fewer investors in recent years. The majority of investments in Israeli companies over the past few years have shifted mid-term (Series B and C) and later, fueling the growing stability of Israeli unicorns – private companies valued at over $ 1 billion.
Grove Ventures is led by Dov Moran, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor widely known for inventing the USB drive as the founder of M-Systems, which SanDisk acquired for over $ 1.6 billion in 2006. Lior Handelsman, the one of the founders of smart – energy solutions company SolarEdge, currently the only Israeli company listed on the S&P 500 index, Lotan Levkowitz and Renana Ashkenazi, formerly of Applied Materials, serve as general partners.
The team said in a joint statement that they are delighted to “support the next generation of businesses that will propel technological advancements and digitization processes to propel the future of the world.”
“We are living through a difficult and fascinating time in which the world is becoming more digital than ever. We are working to be a home for Israeli founders who are building significant technological innovation and infrastructure and creating game-changing companies, ”they added.


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If you live in California, you’ve most likely been exposed to ads persuading you to vote no on Prop 37 because it’s a) bad for farmers and b) will end up costing you more at the grocery store. Acclaimed blogger Jessica Gottlieb who has been featured on everything from ABC News to Fox News to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and every network in between joined me recently to debunk myths you’ve heard about Prop 37, and discuss why you should vote yes on the Proposition.
Candace Rose: Much of the public seems to be in the dark about genetically modified food. Can you give us a rundown on what genetically modified food is?
Jessica Gottlieb: “Genetically modified foods are different than hybrids. GMO’s are not hybrids, they are two totally different things. A hybrid occurs in nature, a GMO occurs in a laboratory. What happens is that GMO foods are created in a laboratory where the RNA of the food is changed. For example, I think the first and largest crop is soybeans. There’s a chemical called Roundup (that’s used as a pesticide) and so when the farmers would spray Roundup on the soybean crops, what they did was they used Roundup almost as a virus and inserted that into the soybean. The soybeans that are sold (that are not organic) in the U.S. and worldwide are going to be these GMO soybeans and they contain a little bit of Roundup in them so that the farmers can then spray massive amounts of Roundup onto the plants and the soil without killing the soybeans.
There is no research that GMO’s are safe. There is limited research about it in any fashion because it’s really new. You can’t have a long term study because you don’t have a long term product here. Here’s another thing too – thinking that this is just about an ear of corn is just disingenuous and it’s also not about the edamame on your plate. The cattle that you’re eating is corn-finished or corn-fed. It went from one crop and now it’s in nine crops. We have GMO salmon which is on the horizon, which I think will grow two or three times faster.”
Candace Rose: Can you tell us about California’s Prop 37?
Jessica Gottlieb: “Prop 37 is a proposition to label GMO’s. When I look at the back of any packaged food it tells me how many calories, sodium, fat content. If this passes it would say ‘yes, it contains GMO’s’, so that you, the American consumer can decide ‘yes or no, I do not want to put this into my body’.
Currently the GMO foods are corn, soybean, crook neck squash, Hawaiian papaya, sugar beets. Currently to avoid eating a GMO food you would need to be eating organic. And that won’t completely eliminate it because it’s not like there’s a moat and a wall between farms. You can have an organic farm that is still a GMO farm or a conventional farm. There’s still some overlap. But most of the time it’s not GMO if you are eating organic.
This would just eliminate the need to do that. Consumers would just get one more choice, and that’s really what it’s about – just having some information so that you can make a decision for yourself. This isn’t going to affect their business. It would just have that line under it.”
I know it’s a California proposition, but California as we all know leads the way on these ballot initiatives. When we do stuff other people do stuff.”
Candace Rose: Why should the public be concerned?
Jessica Gottlieb: “Some people aren’t (concerned), and those people should still be concerned because it’s a very American thing to know what’s on our plate. 50 countries require this labeling, including China. We are way behind on the curve here. This is not going to stop farmers. They’re going to try and tell you this is going to stop farmers from producing their foods. They’re going to tell you this is going to increase the cost of your food. That is absolutely not true. It’s simply for you to know and decide if that’s what you want to put in your body.”
Candace Rose: According to a poll conducted by ABC News, the majority (of those polled) are for having mandatory labels placed on genetically modified food. What’s it going to take to get these people to the polls?
Jessica Gotlieb: “What’s interesting about this Prop 37 is it got on the ballot because a million people signed to get it on the ballot. We have a very interesting ballot process here where you can collect signatures and get stuff on the ballot unlike some other states. So this was definitely a proposition brought about by the people and folks were very passionate about. If we can just share or reignite their passion then that can go a long way.”
Candace Rose: Do you have any additional information you’d like to share?
Jessica Gottlieb: “I would definitely like to push people toward LabelGMOs.org. You can volunteer here with the Label GMO’s here. You can donate to your local Farmer’s Market, and remind people that they really need to vote on this.”
For more information on Jessica, please visit:


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CVS plans to shutter 900 stores nationwide as it pivots to offering more primary care and minute-clinic services, as well as prescription delivery.
The Rhode Island-based pharmacy chain, the nation's largest, won't say how many stores it may close in Northwest Indiana, where it has an extensive footprint and recently took over the homegrown Fagan Pharmacy chain.
"It’s important to note these changes to our store footprint won’t begin until the end of Q1 2022 — we’ll provide more details, including specific locations, when available," spokesman Charlie Rice-Minoso said."The decision to close stores over the course of the next three years follows a deep analytical look at changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs. It’s about optimizing our footprint and updating some store locations that were chosen years — or decades — ago. Closing these stores allows us to invest in our colleagues and our consumer experience."
CVS said it is trying to avoid layoffs.
"All impacted colleagues will be offered opportunities in other locations or roles in the company," Rice-Minoso said. "In fact, we are creating a dedicated team that will be focused on helping to redeploy impacted colleagues."
Rival pharmacy chain Walgreen's recently closed four stores in Gary and another near the state line in Calumet City while cutting back on the hours of stores that had been open 24 hours in Northwest Indiana.
CVS said it will reduce store density in some markets while closing 300 stores a year for the next three years.
"Our retail stores are fundamental to our strategy and who we are as a company," said Karen Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health. "We remain focused on the competitive advantage provided by our presence in thousands of communities across the country, which complements our rapidly expanding digital presence."
CVS expects to write down an impairment charge of $1 billion to $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter as it writes down the store closings.
The pharmacy chain has locations in Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Crown Point, Demotte, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart. LaPorte, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, North Judson, Portage, Rensselaer, Saint John, Valparaiso and Whiting. It currently operates more than 35 locations in Northwest Indiana.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Olive Garden, Red Nar Mediterranean Grill, Santa, Southlake Mall vendor pop-up and Powell's Books coming
Under new management
WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops — Patrolling Lowell with Cpl. Aaron Crawford
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Candy store, menswear store, Big Daddy's BBQ and Culver's opening; Benedict closes


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Tata Starbucks Private Limited announced that women now make up 29 percent of its workforce, a key gender diversity milestone toward its goal to achieve 40 percent gender diversity by 2022. Tata Starbucks continues to promote opportunity for women within the company, boosting the share of female partners (employees) from 14 percent in FY14 to 29 percent in FY19, a figure that continues to grow.
In addition, Tata Starbucks announced it has achieved 100 percent pay equity for women and men, a landmark accomplishment that demonstrates Starbucks commitment to gender equality globally. Starbucks pay equity principles are based on equal footing, transparency, and accountability. Tata Starbucks continues to create opportunities for female partners through an ongoing series of initiatives focused on an inclusive and diverse workforce to drive business growth.
“By investing in our partners and fostering diversity across our organization, Tata Starbucks is able to reflect the demographics of the communities we serve across India,” said Navin Gurnaney, ceo, Tata Starbucks Private Limited. “Diversity and inclusion are an integral part of our business that makes us a better organization.”
One of Tata Starbucks diversity initiatives in India, Brew of Balance, creates opportunities for women returning to the workforce from maternity leave. The program offers flexible employment options including a 5-day work schedule, childcare assistance, access to the Women Inclusion Network @ Starbucks platform, as well as family and sabbatical leave.
“This achievement is the result of years of work and commitment. We believe it is important, as a company of our scale, to help bring more attention to this critical issue for women in India,” said Naveen Kumar Nerlaje, head of Partner Resources. “Starbucks has consistently led our industry on issues like pay equity, but there is still even more we can do ensure women in India excel in the workplace. To achieve 40 percent gender diversity by 2022, we are focused on achieving equal representation at the hiring stage by ensuring a balanced slate of candidates.”
Tata Starbucks is recognized as one of the top 100 Best Companies to Work & top 75 Best Workplaces for Women in India by the Great Place to Work® Institute in 2019, and one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India by Working Mother and Avtar for three years running.
The announcement marks Tata Starbucks seventh anniversary in India. Since entering the market in 2012 as 50/50 joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages Limited, Tata Starbucks has expanded to operate 167 stores and employs more than 2,000 partners across India. As Tata Starbucks continues to grow, so does its commitment to be a positive force in contributing to the future success of Indians.