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- InnerScope Hearing Technologies’ subsidiary HearingAssist, announced that they had received $277,000 worth of purchase orders from Walmart for their EZ-Hear device
- The EZ-Hear Neckband Bluetooth Hearing Amplifier is a rechargeable Bluetooth hearing amplifier which enables users to combine hearing amplification, hands-free calling and music streaming
- InnerScope completed the acquisition of HearingAssist in late November for a gross consideration of $10 million
InnerScope Hearing Technologies (OTC: INND), a manufacturer and distributer/retailer of DTC, FDA registered, Bluetooth app-controlled hearing aids and personal sound amplifier products (“PSAPs”), as well as various hearing-related products, announced that its recently acquired and wholly-owned subsidiary HearingAssist, had received purchase orders from Walmart totalling over $277,000 for its EZ-Hear Neckband Bluetooth Hearing Amplifier for an in-store display to be located within 757 Walmart stores (https://ibn.fm/cooaH).
The EZ-Hear Neckband Bluetooth Hearing Amplifier (“EZ-Hear”) is a fully rechargeable Bluetooth hearing amplifier that combines hearing amplification with easy-to-use hands-free calling and music streaming. HearingAssist recently revealed that it had ramped up its production of the product to meet the demand for in-store Walmart purchases, with the product set to initially be stocked across 5 US states (Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, and Arizona). The company has also stated that it expects to continue receiving and fulfilling additional purchase orders from Walmart for the EZ-Hear Neckband Hearing Amplifiers.
The company’s order win comes only a few weeks following the announcement that InnerScope Hearing Technologies had completed the acquisition of Hearing Assist II, LLC (“HearingAssist”) for a gross consideration amounting to $10 million equivalent of InnerScope’s restricted shares of common stock. Following the acquisition, InnerScope Hearing Technologies stated that it expected the acquisition of HearingAssist and the companies’ combined revenue synergies to contribute positively to the former company’s revenues, most immediately through sales generated through HearingAssist’s hearing product kiosk displays located within Walmart stores (https://ibn.fm/zVlf7).
Matthew Moore, president and CEO of InnerScope, stated following the acquisition: “Today is a tremendous milestone for InnerScope. I’m delighted to welcome the HearingAssist team, who share our passion for providing convenient and affordable hearing products for the tens of millions of Americans who suffer from hearing loss. The HearingAssist acquisition is another meaningful step in advancing our strategy to grow as a leader and innovator in the direct-to-consumer hearing aid market. Moreover, adding HearingAssist and its management team with their proven track record should continue generating millions of dollars in sales revenues with Walmart in-store displays and Walmart.com and through its online website at http://hearingassist.com/
Since the company’s inception in 2008, HearingAssist has rapidly established themselves as a leader in the direct-to-consumer hearing aid market with over 500,000 hearing aids sold and top-line revenues of more than $72 million since 2018, in the process transforming into Walmart’s largest hearing aid supplier. Following the recent acquisition, the combined InnerScope-HearingAssist management team have sought to further their recent growth momentum, launching an aggressive marketing campaign for the holiday season dedicated to building on HearingAssist’s brand messaging as America’s No. 1 Affordable Hearing Brand, as well as using HearingAssist’s acclaimed national television commercial, which includes a “Free Holiday Special Offer“ valued at $149.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to INND are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/INND
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Dolce & Gabbana accused of tax evasion
The designers behind premium brand Dolce and Gabbana are reportedly under investigation for failing to declare revenues of about €840m (£734m).
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Frustration with Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is as high ever. Not all of the gripes rank equally.» Read More
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 26- Activist investor Starboard Value LP said on Friday it has acquired a significant stake in Yahoo Inc and urged the struggling Internet company to cut costs, monetize its Asian assets and seek a "strategic combination" with AOL Inc..
NEW YORK, Sept 26- Shares of both Yahoo Inc and AOL Inc jumped in afternoon trading on Friday, turning sharply higher after Starboard Value LP urged a strategic combination of the companies.
Sept 26- Activist investor Starboard Value LP said Yahoo Inc should consider a strategic combination with AOL Inc to save more than $1 billion in costs. Starboard also urged Yahoo to cut expenses and look for ways to generate value for shareholders from its stakes in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Yahoo Japan Corp..
Starboard has sent a letter to Yahoo pressuring the company to explore a strategic combination with AOL. CNBC's Brian Sullivan and the FMHR traders discuss.
Starboard Value sent a letter to Yahoo on Friday listing several opportunities to increase shareholder value and recommending that it merge with AOL.
Starboard has upped its pressure on Yahoo to explore a strategic combination with AOL. CNBC's Brian Sullivan reports the details.
Yahoo's move to extend its hold on its Alibaba stake was no help to the search giant's stock, which dropped nearly 2 percent in early trading Thursday.
Yahoo is making amends for years of blundering with one smart move: An investment in China's Alibaba that has turned into a multibillion-dollar boon.
The digital age is shattering the traditional learning model. Now VC-backed tech start-ups are revolutionizing teaching methods.
Check out which companies are making headlines after the bell Tuesday: Concur, Helen of Troy, Guidewire & more.
Ten years after the search giant's IPO, CNBC looks at where some high-ranking Googlers have landed in the tech industry and beyond.
Facebook is now able to track how ads impact consumer spending across multiple devices, the company said Wednesday.
Take a look at some of Wednesday's midday movers:
BuzzFeed just closed a new $50 million investment, bringing the value of the company to about $850 million, the NYT reports.
Talking Squawk, the official "Squawk Box" blog, provides tidbits, insights, and some sarcastic reflections on the WEEK THAT WAS and the WEEK TO COME.
*Time Warner posts higher-than-expected profit, sets buyback. Aug 6- Time Warner Inc will not have to worry about any overtures from Twenty-First Century Fox for the foreseeable future. We have no plans to pursue any other third party content company as an alternative to Time Warner. "
Thanks to Rupert Murdoch's recent overture, Time Warner shares have traded more on drama than fundamentals. That may be about to change.
Some of Wednesday's midday movers:
Aug 6- Time Warner Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes opened his remarks during the company's second quarter earnings call on Wednesday vowing he would not discuss Twenty-First Century Fox's stunning turnabout to pull its offer to buy Time Warner.
AOL reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue, helped by a 60 percent jump in advertising revenue in its third-party platform.


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With his iconic hat, sweat, and knived gloves, Freddy Kreuger is a horror icon that few others live up to, and now those playing Dead By Daylight will get the chance to take on (or fight against) the iconic horror movie villain in a new DLC coming to the game very, very soon.
After an initial tease a few weeks ago, developer Behaviour Interactive has revealed that A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Freddy Kreuger is being added to Dead By Daylight in a new DLC that will arrive for the game tomorrow, October 26th, bringing the iconic character into the game as one of its playable killers that the opposing team must outlast and survive against.
While the teaser video is cinematic and doesn’t show gameplay of Freddy in action, his introduction into the game is still one that many fans (of both the game and horror movies in general) should be looking forward to, especially with Halloween on the horizon. However, you might want to reconsider that early bedtime though…
Dead By Daylight is available now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For a closer look at Freddy Krueger’s introduction into the game, you can check out the full reveal video below:


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. As a part of the partnership, the two brands are releasing a special edition apparel collection on Aug. 22, with the support of Legends Hospitality.
The Billionaire Boys Club x Yankees special edition apparel line features co-branded apparel and accessories including a Stadium Satin Jacket, denim OG fitted hat, T-shirts, sweats and novelty items including a retro-inspired bobblehead, ceramic NYC bodega-style coffee cup and ceramic Yankees helmet bowl.
In celebration of the Billionaire Boys Club x Yankees collaboration, brand founder Pharrell Williams and his son Rocket are throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Yankees’ Subway Series game vs. the Mets on Monday, Aug. 22 at Yankee Stadium.
The collection will be available for purchase at BBC ICECREAM flagship store locations in New York City, Miami, London and Tokyo, in addition to the online store
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AMD and Intel have acknowledged that demand for personal computers (PC) is fading and that the situation is worse than their gloomy outlook.
After meeting with Intel (INTC-US) and AMD (AMD-US) executives last week, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon released a research note on Monday (19th) that focused on the decline of the PC market.
The processors for AMD and Intel personal computers and servers use the x86 chip architecture.
Intel Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner said that compared to the company’s annual PC market forecast provided in July, it was a further 10% decline from 2021. He did not offer a revised forecast.
The data center market has softened due to weaker sales in China and a tougher macro environment, Zinsner said.
The analyst also spoke with Dan McNamara, head of AMD’s enterprise server division, who revealed that “the current PC environment is chaotic and the outlook for customers is lower than expected.” In contrast, the current PC market has declined by around 15%.
Rasgon has an “underperform” rating on Intel with a $30 price target, while AMD has an “outperform” rating with a $135 price target.
Intel edged up 0.68% on Monday to close at $29.44 per share; AMD edged up 0.34% to close at $76.77 per share.
Intel in April expected the PC market to rebound in the second half of the year. But over the next few months, business conditions worsened. According to IDC data, global PC shipments fell 15% in the first quarter of June, and then Intel and AMD revised their full-year 2022 PC market forecasts when they announced their second quarter earnings.
Now AMD and Intel are saying that the overall PC market is doing worse than their revised forecasts, which I’m afraid doesn’t bode well for their business.


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Daily News / Global Trends / Market Analysis / Forestry / Lumber / Sawmilling / Wood Products / China / Europe / Global
June 11, 2018
China’s booming demand for France’s oak logs puts French sawmills in jeopardy
China's increased demand for wood has made the oak logs exports from France to boom. Moreover, the larger demand has also made the prices soar. Commercial timber harvests have been banned in Beijing and the Chinese millennials have developed a taste for high-quality wooden floors and furniture from Europe. Yet, the French higher exports might mean a bust for nearly 550 sawmills in the country. According to Reuters, French oak producers have traditionally sold oak logs to the mills, which then cut them into ...
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Even as the industry digested the news of a bankrupt Mervyns, rumblings grew of another potential Chapter 11 filing by a major retailer: Boscov’s Department Stores.
Sources told WWD that Boscov’s could file for bankruptcy as early as Monday, depending on whether it is able to secure a cash transfusion. Sources also said the owning families might inject more cash into the chain to prevent a bankruptcy filing, but after making a nearly $30 million contribution within the last month, there’s a greater chance that additional capital might not be forthcoming.
While the news about Boscov’s addressed the issue of “who’s next?,” others were focused on the equally pressing question of what is next for Mervyns, the $2.5 billion California-based midtier department store with 177 units in seven Southwestern and Western states. Many observers of the national and West Coast retail scenes were left pondering if the regional chain can emerge from the grueling bankruptcy process but, perhaps more critically, what its role would be in a retail world increasingly dominated by national chains like Kohl’s Corp. and J.C. Penney Co. Inc., discounters like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp., and nimble specialty and off-price retailers.
“Mervyns just can’t seem to compete well against Kohl’s,” said San Francisco-based retail analyst Jeff Green of Jeff Green Partners. “Kohl’s strategy has been to open a number of stores simultaneously and come in strong, especially in markets like Southern California. It was an effective way to muscle into the market and Mervyns couldn’t help but take a big hit there. They were seeing market share eaten right up.”
Mervyns “wasn’t in that same position” that would allow it to keep up with Kohl’s “big money strategy,” Green added. “It’s an aging brand,” he said. “They don’t do a whole lot of big marketing.”
Retail consultant Walter Loeb acknowledged that Mervyns had been “a vibrant company” in the past. “It had a good assortment,” he said. “Today, both the discount chains and the low-margin retailers have overtaken them in so many ways. It has been mismanaged for so long….The consumer has found other places to shop for value.”
But is there a place for it in the future? “Frankly, the low-end consumer in California and maybe Arizona would probably still shop at Mervyns, but then you would have to close so many stores to bring the operation to a profitable level,” Loeb said. “At that point, the operation would be so small that you would have to wonder whether it is still worth keeping open from an operational basis.”
Loeb considered the bankruptcy “inevitable. I think the company is irrelevant. It could be a liquidation.”
If a liquidation were to occur, it would put 177 retail spaces averaging 80,000 square feet into the “For Rent” category. The footprint could conceivably work for retailers such as The TJX Cos.’ T.J. Maxx and Marshalls divisions, Bed Bath & Beyond, H&M, Best Buy and Forever 21, which generally operate from similarly sized formats. Kohl’s could also avail itself of locations, although it tends to operate with a larger footprint.
Isaac Lagnado, president of Tactical Retail Solutions Inc., considers the timing of the bankruptcy at Mervyns telling. “The penetration of the back-to-school business at Mervyns, as a percent of the total business, was among the highest in the industry,” he said. “At one time, the number was 20 percent. Back-to-school has been a historical strength of the chain, far more than the typical chain.”
So with vendors and factors tightening the spigot at such a crucial period, Mervyns needed to act decisively to get help, in this case a $465 million debtor-in-possession facility, not yet approved, from a group led by Wachovia Capital Finance Corp.
Lagnado noted the chain’s troubles represented a reversal of fortune from events in the Eighties and Nineties, when Mervyns, then owned by Dayton Hudson Corp. (later Target Corp.), expanded rapidly and moved into states outside its West Coast base. Meanwhile, stores including Sears and J.C. Penney were struggling and the discounters had yet to fully reach their stride. In the late Eighties, the larger department store groups — Federated Department Stores, Allied Stores Corp. and R.H. Macy & Co. — were struggling with leveraged buyout-related problems of their own.
Especially since rumblings of credit difficulties at Mervyns began earlier this year, its downfall was for many not a question of “if,” but of “when.”
On Monday, the day before the chain’s Chapter 11 filling, David Simon, chief executive officer of Simon Property Group, told a Wall Street conference call, “We have always earmarked Mervyns to go away. The fact that it’s lasted this long is a testament to the guys who own it and operate it. It’s just been out-positioned between Penney’s and Target.…You see very similar tenants like Penney’s that are performing reasonably well, and it’s just that Mervyns was an afterthought at [former owner] Target and it’s not something that we haven’t anticipated.”
A retail source with knowledge of Mervyns operations noted, “Mervyns really does cater to a value-oriented consumer who has been hit very hard by all these macro issues, and you have to remember that Mervyns operates a lot of stores in areas that have been hit hard, like Las Vegas and Southern California.”
The source said Mervyns has mostly lost market share to Penney’s and Kohl’s, its two most direct competitors. However, Mervyns caters to an average household of four which has annual income of $50,000, whereas Penney’s and Kohl’s typical customers are more affluent, with household incomes of $60,000 and $65,000, respectively. After those two chains, Mervyns’ toughest competitors are Wal-Mart, Target and Family Dollar Stores, the source said. “There is no question that Penney’s and Kohl’s have been on the attack,” the source said.
But Mervyns’ problems go back many years to when the company was still owned by Target, which backed off its investments in the chain after its profitability declined in the Nineties.
After Mervyns was bought by private equity concerns in 2004, the retailer underwent a portfolio cleansing that shuttered nearly 90 stores, leaving the chain with many stores in good locations. Not long after that process, approximately three years ago, about 10 stores were opened in stronger locations than Mervyns had occupied previously. Among the best are those situated in the Del Amo mall in Los Angeles, among the nation’s largest shopping centers, and in San Francisco, Oakland and Pleasanton, Calif.
Since the sale of the real estate portfolio by its private equity investors, Mervyns stores are all leased.
“Suppliers need Mervyns, but this is going to be a fight for survival,” the retail source said. “The customer has a lot of shopping choices.”
Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., said the bankruptcy could have a visible effect on Southern California since many Mervyns locations are in poorer neighborhoods where finding new tenants in the midst of an economic downturn will be especially difficult.
“The key will be what happens to those sites and if Mervyns can do something to get out from under this,” Kyser said. “Things don’t look good, except if they can make some savvy real estate moves now, but there are not many large retailers out there as potential tenants in Mervyns’ spaces.”
Mervyns’ real estate assets were separated from the operating company after Target sold the retailer to a consortium including Sun Capital Partners Inc., Cerberus Capital Management LP and Lubert-Adler and Klaff Partners LP in 2004.
The real estate holdings were put into eight entities, all of which begin with MDS, such as MDS Realty Holdings I. The MDS entities did not file for bankruptcy and are now one of Mervyns’ landlords. Numerous sales have followed, including a sale-leaseback involving a joint venture of Developers Diversified Realty Corp. and Macquarie Trust, which acquired 36 stores for $396 million in 2005, and Macerich’s acquisition of 43 units for $430 million in February. Developers Diversified Realty said last week that Mervyns, its second-largest anchor retailer, was current on all payments.
Economic headwinds certainly provided no shelter for Mervyns as it battled against insolvency. In June, with the national unemployment rate at 5.5 percent, California’s stood at 6.9 percent and Nevada’s at 6.4 percent. Arizona’s came in at 4.8 percent, below the national average. According to state and federal records, California’s unemployment rate has been at least 1 percent higher than the national average every month this year except February, when it was 0.9 percent higher.
The housing crisis made a substantial contribution to the crisis as well. Nevada, California and Arizona had the top three foreclosure rates in the country during the first half of 2008, with one foreclosure for every 23, 34 and 40 housing units, respectively. Total foreclosures for the year to date in California are 387,214, up 104 percent from the comparable months of 2007; in Arizona, 65,351, up 138 percent, and in Nevada 45,717, up 81 percent. Nationwide, foreclosures are up 59 percent so far this year, according to a national study conducted by RealtyTrac Inc.
But Mary Ann Domuracki, managing director of Financo Inc., thinks there could still be a place for the chain. “It’s a difficult retail and financial market and it’s not surprising vendors are skittish,” she said. “Mervyns has a long history and we would hope a strategic [buyer] sees value in its heritage and platform.”
Jason Asaeda, an equity analyst at Standard & Poor’s, told WWD, “Because the economy is so weak right now, I don’t know if [the bankruptcy] is going to have an appreciable effect on companies like Kohl’s or even, let’s say, a Target or a Penney’s. I think everyone is struggling to win dollars from consumers, so even if one competitor is in bankruptcy, I think it really depends more on the execution of merchandising and marketing on a company-by-company basis.”
In categories where there is brand overlap between Mervyns and its competitors, as there is in some cases with Kohls, “I think it really depends on how they are pricing. I don’t really see a huge impact on other companies right now,” Asaeda said.
The long-term effects could be different, however. While the Mervyns bankruptcy might not give a big boost to competitors immediately, it might set those companies up for better growth once the economy turns.
“In any given sector, as weaker operators exit the market or there is an acceleration in store closings, stronger operations tend to consolidate their market share,” said Monica Aggarwal, a retail credit analyst at Fitch Ratings. “Even if they don’t pick up stores, they have less competition.”
For many, the filing is a reminder of how quickly the innovator of one season can become the tired old formula of the years ahead. Certainly, with his different approach to merchandise assortment and pricing, as well as his trailblazing use of tabloid circulars, Mervyns founder Mervin Morris, who started the company in 1949, was among the most admired and imitated retailers in the U.S.
“Mervyns at one point in their history was an icon of what you would call big-box value retailing,” said Arnold Aronson, managing director of retail strategies Kurt Salmon Associates. “No question that Mervin Morris was a pioneer in the industry. He built Mervyns into a store that was emulated by many, including Kohl’s.”
That competitive pressure, along with the housing-led slump in California and other economic woes, proved to be too much for Mervyns.
“Mervyns is not an exception,” said Aronson. “Right now Mervyns is in the middle of this kind of perfect storm.”
As are many other retailers, especially other regional ones like Boscov’s, whose roots in the central and western parts of New York and Pennsylvania are deep and well-established.
Founded by Solomon Boscov, the 75-year-old chain is owned by the families of Albert Boscov, Solomon’s son, and Edwin Lakin, a son-in-law, according to the company. The stores were recapitalized two years ago, giving 5 percent of ownership to nonfamily management.
A phone call seeking comment on Boscov’s financial condition wasn’t return by press time.
However, within the last week, Boscov’s has become the latest retailer to lose support in the credit community.
Vendor and credit sources said the factoring arm of CIT’s trade finance group earlier this month put a “hold” on future orders to the Reading, Pa.-based chain. One source said CIT wanted more information from the retailer before committing to approval on future orders. CIT has not pulled support for back-orders. Consequently, recent orders that were approved, but not yet shipped, were not affected by CIT’s latest decision.
Several credit sources said CIT’s decision followed the path of other factors, such as GMAC and Milberg, which were among the first to hold approval on orders pending more information from the retailer earlier this month.
As with Mervyns, the problems at Boscov’s have been ongoing for several months. Some sources in the vendor community said they have been waiting for payment from Boscov’s on previously shipped orders and contacts in the credit community said that even some big-name vendors have experienced slowness in payment.
The problem now is that nearly half of its suppliers have stopped shipping merchandise. It was the same problem Mervyns encountered when it lost support from the credit community. Because of concerns of a bankruptcy filing, and account balances on shipped orders still unpaid, many vendors are no longer willing to ship goods and take on the risk of incurring an even bigger unpaid balance due.
Market estimates put Boscov’s sales at just over $1 billion, making it among the largest privately held department store companies in the U.S. The largest is Belk Inc., which had sales of $3.82 billion in 2007.
Boscov’s currently has 49 stores in six states in the mid-Atlantic region. The chain’s brand assortment includes Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, Champion, Calvin Klein and Elizabeth Arden. Some stores also carry Clinique, Estée Lauder and Lancôme, according to the company.
Regional department stores have been hard-pressed to compete with national retail chains in the last few years, and that pressure has grown in recent months as consumers have shopped less and lenders have been more selective about their financing. In addition to Mervyns and Boscov’s, other regional retailers hitting difficulties include Goody’s Family Clothing Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection in June.
Goody’s on Friday filed its disclosure statement, which is pending approval by the bankruptcy court before it can solicit votes from creditors regarding its plan of reorganization.�
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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Google recently launched the Pixel, thus, expanding its Pixel phone lineup. Now, the company is in news for its next-gen Pixel phone, purportedly called the Pixel 6 for which rumors and speculations have begun making rounds, giving us an inkling about a Pixel first feature that we might see with the upcoming Pixel smartphone. Also Read - Google’s $1 billion investment in Bharti Airtel gets CCI approval
Pixel 6 to get under-display selfie camera
A Google patent has recently been spotted that hints at new technology for a Pixel phone. As per a report by Patently Apple, the company has been granted a patent for a phone with an under-the-display front camera, something that is a raging trend in the tech world. Also Read - Google, Vodafone team up to work on extending Wear OS smartwatch battery life
The patent (no. D903,618) presents a Pixel phone without a punch-hole display or a pop-up front camera, throwing light on an under-the-display front shooter. Also Read - Google's Password Manager gets updated: Here are the four major changes
Furthermore, the leaked image suggests that the alleged Pixel 6 will come with a square-shaped rear camera module consisting of dual camera sensors and an LED flash, much like the one on the Pixel 5.
While other details regarding the Pixel 6 aren’t known, it is rumored that the Pixel 6 could fall in the premium segment, marking a switch back to the high-end segment, as opposed to the Pixel 5 which is a mid-ranger phone. It, however, is likely to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor which will be an old processor by the time the phone launches. But, this isn’t surprising as Google is known for launching the Pixel phones with an old high-end processor.
Apart from this, the Pixel 6 is speculated to get up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and could launch in the second half of 2021, following its usual launch cycle.
Google was also granted a patent for an Amazon Halo-like fitness band that will come with an annual fitness membership. However, there is no word on whether or not it gets launched, considering Google could soon acquire Fitbit.
In related news, Google is expected to introduce a Pixel 5 Pro in the first half of 2021. The smartphone will be another version of the Pixel 5 possibly with upgraded specs and features.


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It’s official: Prince and purple are together foreverIt’s official: Prince and purple are together forever. The Pantone Color Institute has created “a standardized custom color” to honor Prince.
The (naturally) purple hue, represented by his “Love Symbol #2” was inspired by his custom-made Yamaha purple piano, which was originally scheduled to go on tour with the performer before his untimely passing at the age of 57. The color pays tribute to Prince’s indelible mark on music, art, fashion and culture.
Prince’s association with the color purple was galvanized in 1984 with the release of the film Purple Rain, along with its Academy Award-winning soundtrack featuring the eponymous song. While the spectrum of the color purple will still be used in respect to the “Purple One,” Love Symbol #2, will be the official color across the brand he left behind.
“The color purple was synonymous with who Prince was and will always be. This is an incredible way for his legacy to live on forever,” said Troy Carter, Entertainment Advisor to Prince’s Estate.
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MANILA - Two weeks into the imposition of the price cap for pork and poultry in Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture revealed Thursday it has received reports traders are bringing some of the meat from Mindanao to provinces outside the capital region that are not covered by the price ceiling.
Agriculture Undersecretary Ernesto Gonzales said Thursday they have instructed the DA enforcement team to monitor the meat being brought from Mindanao to make sure they end up in Metro Manila markets— a measure undertaken to ensure supply amid the impact of the African swine fever across the country.
“Pupuntahan 'yan ng ating enforcement. In fact, we also requested the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police) to conduct the surveillance. From there, kung saan siya darating susundan 'yan hanggang sa slaughterhouse,” he said.
(Our enforcement team will go there. Where meat traders go, they will be followed until the slaughterhouse.)
Gonzales said they are now studying the possibility of imposing the price cap in the entire Luzon.
DA Secretary William Dar, meanwhile, said they are delegating the task to the local price coordinating councils headed by local chief executives to impose suggested retail prices.
Traders and vendors lamented they're not able to get pork supply from the DA despite arrivals from Mindanao, averaging at 4,560 live hogs daily, which are intended for Metro Manila wet markets.
Some vendors have shifted to selling imported frozen pork due to the lack of supply from the agency.
Ricardo Chan, president of the Manila Meat Dealers Association, said they don’t know where to get meat supplies shipped by the DA.
“Hindi namin nakikita kahit anino man lang ng baboy na 'yan na sinasabi ng DA eh. Wala ring kumokontak sa amin. 'Di natin alam kung saan kukunin 'yang baboy na 'yan,” he said.
(We don't see any of the supply which the DA has been saying. No one has contacted us. We don't know where to get those hogs.)
Chan urged the DA to show a list of traders and wholesalers who are getting meat supply from slaughterhouses.
“'Pag inilantad nila, malalaman ng mga tao saan napupunta 'yung mga baboy. Maaaring kami rin makakuha ng murang baboy, madadala namin sa mga market, kakalat,” he said.
(If they reveal them, the people will know where the pigs are delivered. We may also be able get cheap hogs and deliver them to the markets and spread them.)
Malacañang earlier said 2,000 hogs were shipped from Mindanao to Metro Manila to address a supply shortage of pork and bring down its prices.
If hog shipments from other parts of the country are not enough to raise the supply in Metro Manila, the Philippines is ready to import, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.


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Dell was the hardware manufacturing success story of the 1990s, thanks to such innovative business practices as selling to customers directly and assembling devices to order. The past ten years, however, have seen Dell rather lose its edge to Apple in the consumer space and to Hewlett-Packard in business.
That has prompted an attempted reinvention at the company. One of the most conspicuous facets of this has been Dell’s acquisition of IT service provider Perot Systems in the second half of 2009. Just as significant, though rather less visible, has been the expansion of its global supply chain to include both retailers and so-called original design manufacturers, which sell complete devices for Dell to rebadge.
This transformation placed a significant new burden on Dell’s supplier engagement processes, and the disparate systems that supported them. The company therefore decided to outsource these processes and systems to Inovis, a US-based ‘business-to-business’ outsourcing provider.
Inovis describes the platform it built to support Dell’s supply chain infrastructure as “the largest hosted B2B cloud environment in the world”, based on the volume of transactions it now supports. Even so, the move to a fresh site made possible some radical feats of consolidation, and the underlying infrastructure has been reduced by 200 servers, 20 networks, 20 data centre racks, ten databases and six terabytes of storage.
This wasn’t a simple infrastructure outsourcing job, however. Inovis has taken responsibility for the functional operations of transactions between Dell and its suppliers. Tim Ratliff, senior architect for enterprise solutions at Inovis, spends 90% of his time on the Dell site, and is currently working to extend his client’s electronic invoicing systems across all of its territories, including Mexico, Brazil, the EU and Asia-Pacific. This job requires considerable domain expertise, Ratliff explains. “The regulations for what has to go into an e-invoice are entirely different in Brazil from what they are in Mexico,” he says. “And they are different in every European state.”
Indeed, it is arguably a combination of Inovis’s domain expertise and the consolidation capabilities of cloud technology that made possible this transformation, which took seven months and involved over 2,000 suppliers.
That said, it is perhaps a little early to judge the success or otherwise of Dell’s new supply chain strategy. Early signs are good, however: the company’s profit jumped 52% in its most recent financial quarter.


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A national crime fighting charity has issued a warning about fake bank notes changing hands in Liverpool in the run up to Christmas.
Crimestoppers are putting adverts up in toilets in north Liverpool including the Fountains Abbey Bar on Walton Road, Walton, and The Royal on Breck Road, Anfield, to help warn people.
In the first half of 2017, over 237,000 worthless counterfeit banknotes purporting to be worth more than £4.88m were removed from the UK’s streets.
Christmas is a time when more cash changes hands, especially £20 and £50 notes, and fraudsters take advantage of the festive season by targeting busy shops with temporary staff.
Even though less than 0.05% of notes in circulation are fake the costs stack up and many businesses, schools, charities and the elderly have been conned out of money using fake notes.
Incidents include scammers tricking innocent members of the public into swapping fake £20 notes for two genuine £10 notes, and businesses being left out of pocket if they take a counterfeit note.
Director of Operations for Crimestoppers , Roger Critchell, said: “Fake notes are completely worthless and knowingly holding or passing on counterfeit notes is a crime.
“The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around Christmas when money can be tight, but also to highlight how heartless and callous fraudsters can be when targeting their victims”.
“I’d ask that anyone with information on those selling counterfeit notes contact Crimestoppers anonymously, safe in the knowledge no one will know you spoke to us, and knowing you may have prevented someone’s Christmas from being ruined.”
Ben Crosland, Senior Manager of Banknote Engagement and Communications at the Bank of England, said: “The general public play an important role when it comes to reporting counterfeit currency. Campaigns like this and the recently launched Banknote Checking Scheme, are essential to encourage the public and businesses to help us and law enforcement stop the counterfeiters.”
If you have information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our Anonymous Online Form at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-info.


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Associated’s top tourer has been refined even further as the TC6.2 Factory Team kit, and features an updated bulkhead, top plate, and chassis configuration. According to Associated, the new design allows flex to be optimized by disconnecting the drivetrain bulkheads and suspension mounting systems. “This new arrangement allows a predictable flex through the entire length of chassis, giving maximum grip on any track surface,” says Associated. If all you can think is “blue anodizing…carbon fiber…me want…,” that’s OK too.
For more pics and info, visit the TC6.2 Factory Team post in our Hot News & New Stuff forum.


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Since co-founding the company seven years ago, CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has overseen Ola’s growth to be Uber Technologies biggest rival in India. Recently it has also expanded to overseas market. On Monday, the SoftBank Group-backed company gave a glimpse of its plans for the future: announcing a mission to introduce one million electric vehicles (EV) on Indian roads by 2021. Ola’s plans for electric vehicles dovetail the central government’s plan to increase electric vehicle sales in India by 2030.
To begin with, the company’s ‘Mission: Electric’ programme aims to induct 10,000 e-rickshaws and electric auto-rickshaws into its service across three Indian cities in the next 12 months. The company didn’t name the cities, but said it is in talks with several state governments on policy and regulation of electric three wheelers.
“Three wheelers are a vital means of transportation and a source of livelihood for millions of people every day. It also represents an immediate opportunity of improve outcomes for all stakeholders while reducing pollution across towns and cities,” Bhavish Aggarwal said in a statement. Aggarwal, 32, is among Fortune India 40 under 40 Classics list for 2018.
“Less than a year ago, we launched India’s first multi-modal electric pilot in Nagpur. After more than 4 million electric kilometres of travel and many lessons learned, we are significantly expanding our commitment to electrify mobility in India,” he added.
The deployment of 10,000 electric auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws by the end of the year will make Ola the largest operator of electric vehicles in the world, the company claims. Ola, owned by ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd, said it would work with driver-partners, cities, vehicle manufacturers, and battery companies to make EV technology cost effective and viable.
Last year, the company launched a pilot project in Nagpur. Ola claims that the programme provided it with significant insights into effectively managing vehicles, batteries, and operations. The company said that it will continue to experiment with battery optimisation and charging to develop a strong business model for electric vehicles in the country.
Find the 40 under 40, 2018 list here
The annual Fortune India 40 under 40 event takes place in Bengaluru on April 29.


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The date of Starfield’s formal release has been made public. The most recent game from Bethesda will now be released on September 6, 2023, as opposed to the first half of 2023 as initially anticipated.
The news of the release date coincides with the declaration that Microsoft and Bethesda will host a comprehensive Starfield Direct show on Sunday, June 11.
“Hello everyone, from myself and everybody here at Bethesda, we are so excited to tell you when Starfield is coming out this year finally,” Bethesda’s Todd Howard says in the announcement video below. “Even I am shocked at how much we can pour into a game after deeply investing in it. It is sizable.”
Howard mentions that the Starfield Direct broadcast will “bring fans into the studio.”
He says, “We still have so much to show you.
We eagerly anticipate your playing it.
Both the PC and Xbox Series X|S will support Starfield. Also, it will be accessible to Xbox Game Pass members from day one. It’s unlikely that the game will ever be released on the PlayStation 5. Microsoft bought Bethesda in 2021 to make all upcoming Bethesda games exclusive to Microsoft consoles and computers.
Are you anticipating Starfield’s release on the scheduled date?


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Relay car theft: Which are the safest new cars?
Thatcham Research has revealed which brand new models are safest when it comes to car security.
Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research, said: “This initiative focuses on addressing keyless entry/start vulnerability. We’ve seen too many examples of cars being stolen in seconds from driveways.
“Now, any vehicle that is assessed against the new Thatcham Research Security Rating, and has a vulnerable keyless entry/start system, will automatically not achieve the best rating.”
So, according to Thatcham Research, which new cars are best when it comes to security?
BMW 7 Series
BMW’s flagship saloon features a new look, fresh tech as well as new plug-in hybrid drivetrain options. Now it can add superior car security to that list.
This behemoth 4x4 is going to be one of the biggest and most imposing SUVs on the market, offering exclusivity, spaciousness, superior quality, strong performance, agile handling and off-road capability.
Now entering its eight generation, the new Porsche 911 offers more power, retro styling tweaks, improved infotainment and new connectivity tech. With a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 190mph, it’s a car built for fun and security.
The Audi e-tron brings an element of subtlety to the EV segment, while offering the power and performance we’d expect. Check out five things we learned driving it.
Range Rover Evoque
The new Range Rover Evoque has been subtly yet comprehensively overhauled. Stylish, quiet, practical, refined and luxurious, it's another big win for JLR. Check out our review here.
The Jaguar XE has been updated for 2019, introducing tweaked looks, a seriously improved interior as well as a host of tech upgrades.
Erring away from its MPV roots, the new Mercedes B-Class positions itself as a more practical A-Class built for the family. Check out our review here.
The Porsche Macan has been a huge success since its launch in 2014, and the latest model brings further enhancements in terms of its design, comfort, connectivity and driving dynamics to the compact SUV segment.
How can you make your car more secure?
The BMW 7 Series, BMW X7 and Porsche 911 all scored top marks most recently because they had motion sensor enabled fobs. This means the sensor will go into sleep mode when the fob hasn’t moved for a short period of time. This prevents criminals from using Relay kits to communicate with the fob signal to replicate it.
“These carmakers have made significant strides in addressing keyless entry/start vulnerability, by either switching to a more secure wireless technology or introducing key fobs that go to sleep when idle. This demonstrates that there are solutions and fixes to the problem, which we expect other manufacturers to include on their future models.”
Thatcham’s advice to avoid keyless relay car theft is to see if it’s possible to turn your key fob off over night and check if it goes to sleep if it’s not in use.
Another solution is to invest in a Faraday pouch – this effectively cuts off the signal from your key fob. You can find out more info on relay car theft and why it’s on the rise in our full guide.


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Boux Avenue has announced the launch of its Christmas TV advert, which will air tonight.
The advert has been designed to raise awareness for the brand and its range of lingerie, nightwear and gifts in the run up to the festive trading period.
Scroll down for video
Boux Avenue marketing and ecommerce director Sue Dover comments: “The ad is aimed at women of all ages, with sexy lingerie sets and chemises right through to novelty nightwear.
"It encapsulates the luxury, glamour and fun of Boux Avenue with a touch of flirty humour, brought to life by star of the show ‘Rudy’ the reindeer.”
The multiple lingerie retailer will showcase two variations of the advert on primetime TV, with the first targeting women in a fun and playful style. The second is a more humorous version that has been designed to appeal to the male viewer .
The brand, headed up by Theo Paphitis, said it has heavily invested in the campaign, which will also be rolled out through stores.
This will be the fourth television campaign that the brand has launched in the three years that it has been trading.


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Amazingly, “are umbrella companies illegal” is a very commonly searched phrase on Google. Therefore, we wanted to discuss why some individuals and organisations may not be happy with umbrella companies and why some parties may be campaigning for umbrella companies to be made illegal. Keep reading for more information.
Firstly – a quick answer to the question
Are umbrella companies illegal? No. However, some act unethically and promote tax avoidance. Tax avoidance is technically legal, but those who promote it or engage with such schemes are likely to face retrospective punishment. Therefore, take it from us – it is not worth it.
Engage with a compliant, ethical umbrella company – you have nothing to worry about. However, use a non-compliant umbrella company, such as a tax avoidance scheme or disguised remuneration arrangement – you could face severe punishment from HMRC.
It’s worth adding that if an umbrella company were running a tax evasion scheme – this would be illegal (because tax evasion is illegal). However, what we’ve seen recently is several non-compliant umbrella companies taking advantage of loopholes in UK tax law to inflate the pay of those who engage with them. For example, mini umbrella fraud recently came to light.
A minority of umbrella companies have given the industry a bad name
Believe it or not, there are over 500 umbrella companies in the UK. This gives contractors a tremendous amount of choice when deciding which payroll provider to use. A significant majority of these umbrella companies will process payments with HMRC’s tax system Pay As You Earn (PAYE) – making them compliant. However, it’s likely that a few umbrellas operate unethically and not under UK tax law. You must avoid these companies at all costs.
Recently, mini umbrella company fraud (MUC) was reported on again by the BBC. To put it simply, some honest workers have been pushed down the route of non-compliant umbrella companies completely against their knowledge. For example, in the case study reported on by the BBC, workers were only aware they were being paid by an unknown third party (mini umbrella company) when they received their payslip. This is terrible and something that needs to be stopped.
The example above is shocking, but it is rare. Most umbrella companies operate PAYE and are compliant. HMRC even acknowledges umbrella companies and how they operate. It’s worth reading their online guidance called: Working through an umbrella company.
Tax avoidance technically isn’t illegal, but…
Tax avoidance schemes and disguised remuneration arrangements set out to help people retain more of their money by paying less tax. They do this by exploiting loopholes in the UK tax system. Tax avoidance is technically legal, but it could still ruin your life.
HMRC is not afraid to retrospectively punish those who engage with unethical schemes – even if it was by accident. The controversial 2019 Loan Charge proves the lengths HMRC is prepared to recuperate unpaid tax and National Insurance Contributions.
Growing demand for the umbrella company marketplace to be regulated
As mentioned earlier in this article, some umbrella companies have given the industry a bad name. As a result, there is more demand than ever before by stakeholders for the umbrella company marketplace to be regulated. We’re certainly not opposed to the marketplace being regulated and our article ‘Should umbrella companies be regulated?’ explains why.
Anything that the government can do to stop non-compliant umbrella companies from preying on vulnerable, hard-working contractors and freelancers is good. The FCSA and Professional Passport are currently the two leading professional bodies determined to ensure the supply chain of temporary workers is compliant and ethical. Both professional bodies have strict codes that their members must adhere to. The government should work closely with both parties to produce industry-wide regulations.
Choose a compliant umbrella company and you have nothing to worry about
By choosing a compliant umbrella company, you have nothing to worry about. You’ll be paying the correct tax, and National Insurance Contributions (PAYE) to HMRC and your tax affairs will all be in order.
To ensure you use a compliant umbrella company, we recommend you only consider engaging with an FCSA or Professional Passport accredited umbrella company. These two professional bodies are dedicated to ensuring the supply chain of temporary workers is compliant with UK tax law. Effectively, both the FCSA and Professional Passport self-regulate the umbrella company marketplace. If the government regulates the marketplace, we sincerely hope they put a plan in action that includes the FCSA and Professional Passport.
Umbrella companies that have achieved accreditation by the FCSA or Professional Passport have undergone thorough audits and assessments. They have proven they operate compliantly with UK tax law and have their employees’ best interests at heart.
Avoid non-compliant umbrella companies and tax avoidance schemes
By choosing an umbrella company that isn’t accredited by either the FCSA or Professional Passport, you risk engaging with a non-compliant provider. We strongly suggest you don’t take such as risk. Non-compliant umbrella companies may enable you to retain more of your money and pay less tax. However, HMRC is likely to come knocking down the line, and the fine you face could be life-changing.
So, are umbrella companies illegal? The answer is no. Compliant umbrella companies process PAYE payroll for their employees in accordance with HMRC’s rules and regulations. However, there are non-compliant umbrella companies out there and engaging with these could potentially land you in serious trouble. Most tax avoidance schemes would argue their activities are legal, but tax avoidance could result in severe penalties in the future. Don’t ever be tempted to engage with a non-compliant umbrella!
If regulating the umbrella company marketplace helps to protect temporary workers, we’re all for it. However, the FCSA and Professional Passport are doing a marvellous job at the moment. If you choose a prover with an accreditation from one of these bodies – you’ll be in the safest hands.
Top 10 umbrella companies
If you’re looking for a compliant list of legal umbrella companies – you’ve come to the right place! We’ve collated our top 10 umbrella companies, and they’re accredited by either the FCSA or Professional Passport. Some have special offers at the moment – check them out!


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Bonsoy celebrates its 40-year anniversary and discusses how the brand has persevered through the changing landscape of the specialty coffee industry.
When Bonsoy launched in 1983, its vision of a sustainable future through a macrobiotic diet was an offbeat sentiment. After all, Bonsoy was the first modern Japanese soy milk to arrive in Australia.
Bonsoy Marketing Director Raphaelle Wilson says while health fads come and go and the vegan health kick is well and truly underway, the brand’s commitment to quality, all-natural nutritional beverages, hasn’t changed.
“Like the box, the name and the product itself, the story of Bonsoy’s popularity is one that played out naturally. You can’t fake real food value. And for people chasing a solid source of vegetable protein, you can’t overlook premium quality soy milk,” Raphaelle says.
After riding the wave of popularity of natural diets, Raphaelle says people started catching onto macrobiotics and the wonders of Japanese foods.
“There’s no denying that the world soy masters are the Japanese who we’ve worked closely with for 40 years now. Bonsoy had superior frothability and stretchability, exactly what the burgeoning café scene was looking for. Decades on, Bonsoy still plays nice with coffee,” she says.
In 2019, Bonsoy expanded its range to include Bonsoy Almond Milk. With a light flavour profile that holds when heated, and a natural nutty almond fragrance, Raphaelle says it’s the ideal pairing for whatever the barista is blending.
“Baristas and coffee lovers know that Bonsoy is super frothable and won’t change its flavour profile when heated. It’s the perfect canvas for latte art and creamy coffee because it stretches further,” she says.
To add to its suite of products, Bonsoy also released a range of sparkling coconut waters in 2020, including organic natural, watermelon, ginger, lychee, and passionfruit flavours. Raphaelle says the refreshing beverages give hydration a real sense of occasion.
“We use certified organic coconut water, no added sugars, and the refreshment of sparkling bubbles. The Bonsoy sparkling coconut waters are a revelation,” she says.
Despite the astronomical growth in the dairy alternative sector in recent years, the company prides itself on staying true to its ideals and brand values. Today, Bonsoy is available across the globe in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Canada.
“Bonsoy has paved the way for cafés and baristas to introduce plant-based milks onto their menus. Bonsoy’s trademark flavour paired with the way it performs in coffee was a revelation for baristas as it meant people could enjoy the coffee flavour without the milk taking over. Despite competing alternative milk brands extending their offering to include oat, hemp, rice, coconut, and more, when we released the Almond milk it needed to stand up to the premium quality of the iconic soymilk, of which it does,” Raphaelle says.
“I think this is a massive strength of ours and has contributed to our longevity in the industry. We always go back to our roots and remember why we began this journey, which was to provide a nutritional dairy alternative with food value. We’ve persisted through generations with the same principles, remaining a constant, comforting presence in the industry.”
Despite its integral values, Bonsoy isn’t afraid to get creative with branding and partnerships. For example, Bonsoy sponsors the Vietnamese rowing team and has also partnered with the World Surf League (WSL) Asia Pacific.
Together, Bonsoy and WSL align on implementing healthy habits into customers’ daily routines, with Bonsoy activating that messaging across the four Australian marquee events at Bells Beach, Margaret River, Gold Coast and Narrabeen. Raphaelle says Bonsoy will continue its product and brand integration with WSL’s global live broadcast with the sale of product and merchandise at the Australian Championship Tour and Challenger Series.
“Already the Official Milk of WSL, we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with WSL, and this year to become the presenting partner at the iconic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event,” Raphaelle says.
Raphaelle sees Australia as a world leader in café culture and quality, and with that, Bonsoy will continue promoting milk alternatives for baristas to remain at the forefront.
“We’re really proud of our soy milk formulation with trademark flavour and when we’re able to continue thriving in the market with such a positive response, it’s a justification for all the hard work that went into it. In 2020 and 2021 we were voted Best Plant-Based Milk in the Nourish Vegan Awards” she says.
“Since 1983, we’ve let soy lovers and lovers of soy lovers come to us. And today, we’re proud to be sharing our finest qualities with millions of devoted Bonsoy people, and on millions of shimmering latte rosettes too.”
For more information, visit bonsoy.com
This article appears in the April 2023 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.


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At the board meeting on Dec. 17, Lotte Chemical Corp. has approved an investment to set up an ethane cracker plant with an annual production capacity of 1 million tons and an ethylene glycol (EG) plant with an annual production capacity of 700,000 tons in Louisiana, a state of the U.S.
The company has decided to invest US$860 million (1.02 trillion won) of capital in the joint project worth US$3 billion (3.54 trillion won) in total at the board meeting.
Previously, Lotte Chemical had signed a basic contract with Axiall Corp. of the U.S. for a joint ethane cracker business in February of last year. In June this year, the two companies established a joint venture with an ownership percentage of 90 percent of Lotte and 10 percent of Axiall.
Under the agreement, Lotte and Axiall will be supplied with low-priced ethylene from the ethane cracker plant according to their share rates.
The EG plant will be built in the same site with the ethane cracker plant, and it will be the single largest plant in the U.S. in terms of size. EG products, which are used as raw materials for polyester fibers and film, will be sold mainly in the Americas and Europe.
CB&I will provide technology licenses, and engineer, procure and construct the ethane cracker plant. For the EG plant, SD will provide technology licenses, while a consortium of Samsung Engineering and CD&I will be in charge of the EPC.
The project will start construction in the second half of next year and commercial production in the first quarter 2019. Once the project is completed, Lotte Chemical is expected to see an annual sales increase of US$1.5 billion (1.77 trillion won) and expand its production capacity of ethylene and EG to 3.7 million and 1.74 million tons, respectively.
Axiall Corp., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a petrochemical company that produces various chemical products and building materials. The company posted 5 trillion won (US$4.24 billion) in sales last year.


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It will soon be mother's day here in the UK and it's time to get thinking about the ideal present.
Now flowers are always nice but at this time of year, the only blooms other than a crocus come from Holland or even further
afield. If you're thinking about your carbon footprint, how about getting mum a nice book instead? You know, something like
Henley Standard talks about Kids Chaos
Town's appetite growing for next month's food festival
By Richard Reed
FINAL PREPARATIONS are being put in place for the second Henley Food Festival — with a host of new features confirmed
for the two-day event.
Following the success of last year — which saw an estimated 15,000 people flock to the Market Place — organisers
have launched an initiative to get future foodies interested in what they eat.
There's nothing like sticky fingers - and eating the goodies as this little girl discovers.Kids Kitchen Chaos, organised by
committee member Steff Cromack, promises to be a fun-filled introduction to youngsters about the importance of food and eating
Children will be able to design and paint their own plate, with help from The Kiln Ceramic Cafe, which will also be running
a competition to win ࠷orth of gift vouchers.
Youngsters will also be able to try their hand at decorating gingerbread men, making two-minute trifles and fruit cones.
There will be cookery workshops with Splatt Cooking, and demonstrations from Carolyn Robb and Morag Cuddeford-Jones.
Jennie Delbridge will host a question and answer session about family nutrition and a touch and taste table and children’s
entertainment will be laid on.


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This is the path to purchase for Mary, an average 54-year-old.
She’s on the couch, watching DVR-ed TV while checking email on her phone. Among the messages she does not delete is a promotional alert from an American sweatshirt maker. It is having an annual sale that ends at midnight. She clicks through, selects the color she likes in her size and taps in her credit card information.
Before the commercial break she fast-forwards through, Mary has ordered a $62 forest green hoodie.
Chances are the merchant had no idea of Mary’s age, but it should take note. Retailers are investing millions of dollars in a bid to capture the digital wallet of the millennial shopper, yet older consumers appear to spend more time, and potentially money, online.
Half Spend At Least 11 Hours Online
Specifically, nearly half (49%) of those aged 52 to 70 spend at least 11 hours a week online, according to the 2015 State of the User Experience report from Limelight Networks, a content delivery specialist. That compares with 42% of millennials (19- to 35-year-olds).
A lot of that online time is spent spending. Boomers ranked researching and shopping as the third and fourth most important online activities (following news consumption and social media), according to the report. Millennials ranked shopping as fifth most important.
And when it comes to shopping on mobile, one in four people aged 55 and older do so, according to a report by BI Intelligence, a research service from Business Insider. Further, 24% of online shoppers fall between the ages of 45 and 54, though that age group represents less than 20% of the population.
“This older generation, those over 50, 60 and 70, they have computers, they have smartphones, and very directly they’re using them for everything, from canned tomatoes to television sets, to order those things online,” Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa, told TheStreet in mid-December.
Generate Roughly $7.6 Trillion In Economic Activity
West also pointed out that boomers generate more than 51% of the spending in the United States (and have a total annual economic activity of roughly $7.6 trillion, according to AARP). Regardless of where or how that 51% of spending occurs, the fact is older consumers represent a sizable and potentially lucrative long-term market base for digital retail.
Some retailers are noticing, and others can learn from their efforts. Following are four factors that help define and engage the online boomer consumer.
Baby boomers are among the longest-studied demographics in retail. It would be a mistake for merchants to allow the long shadow of millennials to blot out the boomers’ complex value. After all, even if the average 54-year-old is not yet ready for extra comfortable walking shoes, her mother may be.


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June 16, 2021
For immediate release
St. John’s – Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador is putting a face to tourism and raising the profile of the industry with their new multimedia advocacy campaign, “We Are Tourism”. The campaign focuses on establishing the tourism industry as not only economically valuable to the province and to the many people it employs, but also showcase the vital role it plays in improving the quality of life for all.
“Our tourism industry is large and encompasses so many different things; the impact it has on the province and its people is immeasurable. It’s not just about jobs and GDP, it’s about culture, history, education, and conservation. It’s about discovering new things, old things, and things that simply wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for the tourism industry.”
-Brenda O’Reilly, Chair, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
The “We Are Tourism” campaign launches today, June 16th, on both television and digital mediums and will run over a 7-week period. Hospitality NL developed the campaign in conjunction with Target Marketing and Communications Inc. with the support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, and the Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism.
“Support for local businesses and the tourism industry is needed now more than ever. This anthemic campaign unites the industry by putting a human face to tourism and celebrates the value it brings to hundreds of communities, individuals, and operators in the province.”
-Catherine Kelly, Director of Account Management, Target Marketing and Communications Inc.
The tourism industry is an essential economic driver in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to the pandemic, the industry provided $1.14 billion in spending to the provincial economy, creating 20,000 jobs in 2,700 businesses. For over 38 years, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s advocacy has supported the preservation of the province’s culture, traditions, and contributes to the vibrancy of local communities.
Click here to watch the We Are Tourism Video
Chief Executive Officer
P: (709) 722-2000, ext. 232 C: (709) 693-4402


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Simpsons Logistics transferred 70 employees to another company when HMRC attempted to wind it up and agreements with APC Overnight and The Pallet Express (TPN) were cancelled, according to administrators. In an effort to rescue the company’s trade, Simpsons Logistics in Chester le Street, moved all its staff over to Logistics (Teesside) at the end of August, before administrators were appointed on 19 September. In a report compiled by RSM Restructuring Advisory and based on information provided by Simpsons’ directors, […]
Farrall’s Transport has invested £3.5m in a new 81,000ft² food grade facility in Deeside to tap into a predicted boost in port-centric logistics from the opening of the Liverpool SuperPort next year.
Rapid expansion and a change in the way invoices were generated were behind the failure of Slough-based Mark Priestley SDT, according to its administrator.


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Apple CEO Steve Jobs is making another appearance onstage at the eighth D: All Things Digital
conference on June 1.
Until then, every week I am posting one of the previous interviews he did at past D
Here’s the video, after the jump, of the full interview from D3
in 2005. Pictured here is Jobs during the interview.


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ESPN To Air World Cup Of Hockey SportsNet LA Impasse Carries On Neuheisel Joins CBS As CFB Analyst ESPN's Traug Keller Talks Talent Galaxy Get New Radio Deal For '15 Chargers Fans Vocal At Stadium Forum Smith To Face At Least Three People In NFLPA Race TNT's Craig Sager Talks Return To Sidelines Giants WR Beckham Weighing Endorsements St. Louis Unveils New Renderings For NFL Venue
Upcoming Conferences and Events
SBD/January 8, 2013/Media
CBS' Super Bowl Stream To Feature Halftime Show, TV Ads, NFL's All-22 Camera Angle
Published January 8, 2013
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SEE SPOT RUN: Like NBC last year, CBS will present a separate set of digital-only commercials for the Super Bowl stream, with the video player also including an "interactive gallery" of the TV broadcast commercials as they air. NBC last year had a quintet of advertisers for the digital stream; Kint said CBS' number of online buys is "nearing double digits" with a couple of ad packages still available. He declined to specify rates for inventory purchased thus far. The Super Bowl XLVII digital coverage will also feature three other alternate angles in addition to a repurposing of the TV broadcast, including a fan's choice angle that will change based on producer decisions and polls on CBSSports.com. Now-customary social media integration, DVR-type video controls and live-game statistics will be part of the production. Kint declined to predict an audience size of the live stream. NBC garnered 2.1 million unique digital users for Super Bowl XLVI, by far a U.S. record for a single-game sports event shown on the Internet. Like a year ago, the game will be available across nearly every digital device, including computers, tablets and smartphones.


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Pensacola POS Systems Merchant Launches New Website
October 03, 2022 at 15:58
Pensacola, Fla. — For many, the beginning of autumn is the ideal time to make a change and for local businesses, this is especially true. Just in time for the start of the fall season, Gulf Coast Merchant Services, a provider of point-of-sale systems in Pensacola, FL, launched their newly redesigned website which showcases a sleek and modern aesthetic.
In order to cultivate a more user-friendly experience for visitors, the redesigned Gulf Coast Merchant Services website has a welcoming and informative homepage paired with a clear menu that lists the business types they cater to and the products and services they offer. With a sleek multi-panel layout for each page, users can easily traverse the entirety of the website without issue.
With its headquarters in Pensacola, Gulf Coast Merchant Services has aided over 8,500 businesses from coast to coast to take customer payments since 2005. The merchant services provider works with the latest technologies and top brands such as SpotOn and Valor Paytech to help businesses in the restaurant, retail, salon, and spa industries grow and work more efficiently. Not to mention, they also offer cash discount processing, dual-processing, e-commerce platforms, gift cards, loyalty programs, and much more.
With a 5-star Google rating, Gulf Coast Merchant Services adamantly adheres to their motto that each client is more than just a number on a spreadsheet as stated on their website: “Here at Gulf Coast Merchant Services, you can trust us to grow your business. You are more than an account number to us. You're a name, a face, and a part of the family. This motto of servicing and supporting customers has led to our success today. We appreciate each and every one of our customers, employees & vendors we work with from Coast to Coast.”
The team at Gulf Coast Merchant Services is dedicated to bringing people superior service and the best-in-class POS Solutions & Payment Processing in Pensacola, FL, and surrounding areas. For more information about Gulf Coast Merchant Services, visit their website at gulfcoastmerchantservices.com, give them a call at (850) 995-4414, or send them an email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
For more information about Gulf Coast Merchant Services , contact the company here:
Gulf Coast Merchant Services
180 E. Burgess Rd. Suite D
Pensacola, FL 32503


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In which Galaxy phone are new features going to get introduced?Add Answer
Samsung Galaxy is going to launch many new models with new features. Samsung is planning to launch S10 and Foldable smartphones this year. The Foldable smartphones are going to be launched as F series. Samsung is planning to launch multiple variants with different features this day.


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Artificial Intelligence driven Marketing Communications
Apple shares are top of today’s trading list among US BlueChip shares. Today’s trading saw a trading volume of 74,263 traded shares with 573 transacted orders up to midday. Stocks are currently selling for €199.54 and bids are coming in at €199.32. The corporation suffered a loss of -3.0% from its level at previous day’s close of trading. (Source: http://www.bankernews.co.uk/, a service of tradegate. Tradegate Exchange is Europe’s leading marketplace for private investors, major shareholder: Deutsche Börse Group.)
In second spot on Tradegate’s ranking of most traded US BlueChip shares is Microsoft Corp. In all, 47,830 company shares with 567 transacted orders were traded by midday. Stocks are currently selling at €122.16, bids are in at €122.08. The company’s share price dropped by -2.7% from its closing price on previous day’s trading.
Visa shares achieved third place today among US BlueChip shares on Tradegate. In total, 13,487 stocks were traded in 243 transactions by noon. Shares are currently being sold for €154.14, with bids coming in at €154.08. The company’s share price dropped by -3.4% from its closing price on previous day’s trading.
The fourth most traded US BlueChip share on Tradegate currently is 3M Co. In all, 7,443 company stocks with 197 transacted orders crossed the counter by noon. Current stocks are selling for €141.38, while bidding is at €141.08. 3M saw a fall of -2.7% from previous day’s close of trading.
On Tradegate Exchange, the shares of McDonald’s Corp came in at fifth place on today’s trading of US BlueChip shares. In all, 5,182 shares were traded in 186 transactions by midday. So far, stocks are selling for €187.84, with bids coming in at €187.74. The corporation’s shares are down by -1.8% compared to its closing price on previous day’s trading.
(Updated Wednesday, 02 October 2019, 17:01:33 GMT.)


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San Francisco based Ripple, owner the world’s third largest cryptocurrency, has made a plea to UK regulators to end the ‘Wild West’ days of cryptocurrencies. The company has urged the UK to follow in Japan’s footsteps in implementing structured regulatory frameworks to encourage safe and legal investments into digital currencies.
According to The Telegraph, Ripple’s head of regulatory regulations, Ryan Zagone, called on UK regulators to strike a balance between “capturing risk and enabling innovation”. Three areas highlighted for suggested regulation were financial stability, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering.
Zagone compared the current status of the crypto industry to the early days of the internet and added;
“We’re at that time now where we need more clarity and rules and we need more certainty. It’s a good time to start revisiting that ‘wait and see’ approach taken by regulators,”
Japan has led the way with cryptocurrency legitimization and regulation and is the world’s leading country for digital asset trading and investment. The UK has been a lot slower to react, possibly due to the Brexit negotiations dragging on and dominating national politics. UK Chancellor Philip Hammond unveiled a new taskforce in March which would help protect consumers.
Unsurprisingly Bank of England governor Mark Carney took the stance that most central bank bosses have and called for a clampdown stating that cryptocurrencies had ‘the hallmarks of a bubble’. Zagone argued that regulation is needed to help markets mature and draw in new entrants;
“Regulation creates the guardrails on the highway that allows new entrants to come in, particularly institutional investors,”
Bankers obviously favor complete crackdowns as their business model is threatened by decentralized currency. UK bank Barclays has made some bizarre moves by likening Bitcoin to an ‘infectious disease’ in one instance, then partnering up with Coinbase, one of the world’s largest exchanges, in another.
It remains to be seen what path the UK will take with regards to cryptocurrencies. It can follow in Japan’s footsteps and welcome the industry which will generate greater innovation and new business investment. Or it can choose to clamp down forcing companies, traders and investors overseas to crypto friendlier climes.
Image from Shutterstock


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Lower revenue, profit for Jabil as job cuts increase to 4,500
The economy is beginning its rebound from the recession, and at some point, it will carry Jabil Circuit Inc. with it.
That’s the belief the St. Petersburg electronic product services company’s chief executive officer, Timothy Main, shared along with fourth quarter results showing a 90 percent drop in profit.
“Based upon our current expectations, it appears as though the worst of the recession is behind us,” Main said in a release filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. “We are ready to take advantage of opportunities for growth in our fiscal 2010.”
Jabil (NYSE: JBL) reported a net profit of $5.5 million, or 3 cents per share, on revenue of $2.8 billion in the final quarter ended Aug. 31. That was down from the $57.5 million, or 28 cents per share, profit from the year before on revenue of $3.3 billion.
That brings the final numbers for fiscal 2009 in at a $1.17 billion, or $5.63 per share loss, most of it on a $1 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge. In fiscal 2008, Jabil turned a $133.9 million, or 65 cents per share, profit.
Revenue was down 8.6 percent year-over-year from $12.8 billion to $11.7 billion.
Jabil has more than $800 million in cash, even after repurchasing $295 million worth of senior notes due in 2010 at 5.875 percent as well as $312 million of senior notes due in 2016 at 7.75 percent. The company also has an $800 million revolving credit line it can use, Main said.
But there will be some divestment. Jabil said it plans to sell its automotive electronics manufacturing entity in Western Europe in the upcoming quarter that would result in a loss of up to $25 million, including $4 million in cash. No other details about the pending transaction were made available.
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Gary Pugatch has joined Williams Hospitality Group of San Juan, PR, as vice president of sales and marketing. Pugatch, who will be based in Miami, had been area director of sales and marketing for the Westins of New England. Williams Hospitality Group owns and operates El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, and El Conquistador Resort & Country Club.
Bruno Huber has been named general manager of Baan Taling Ngam, the Mandarin Hotel Group's resort on Koh Samui, Thailand. Huber had been general manager of Le Meridien Baan Boran in Thailand's Golden Triangle.
Greg Stafford has been named vice president and managing director for the new Crowne Plaza Hotel Washington, DC. An 18-year veteran of the hotel industry, Stafford had been general manager of the Hilton Suites Oakbrook Terrace in Oak Brook Terrace, IL.
Marc W. Ellin was named general manager of the Grand Hyatt Washington (DC). Ellin joined Hyatt in 1988; most recently, he was general manager at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort.
Liz Lymanwas named to the newly created position of executive director of special events (a full-service destination management organization for all Opryland Hotel meeting groups) and Executive Conference Center (which handles all aspects of smaller meetings) at Opryland Hotel Convention Center, Nashville, TN. Lyman had been general sales manager for Opryland USA attractions.
Meghan Lewis Collinswas promoted to director of sales and marketing at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia. She had been associate director of sales. Prior to joining the Ritz-Carlton she had been national sales manager for the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco.
Brian Booth has joined the Hyatt Regency Dallas/Fort Worth at the DFW Airport as director of sales and marketing. He had been director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis.
Frank Morogiello was named managing director of commercial sales at American Airlines. Based in Dallas, he will handle national accounts and all corporate. Morogiello had been managing director of field corporate programs and special sales
Jose Luis Toledo was appointed director of sales for the five-star Melia Turquesa resort in Cancun, Mexico. He had been operations director and sales director for the Cancun Convention Center.
Ron Naples was named director of the Manhattan Conference Center and Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway in New York City. He had been with Smith Barney, where he rose to become the company's first vice president of conference services.
Delta Orlando Resortat Universal Studios Florida has promoted Linda Wiman from senior sales manager to associate director of sales. Also at the resort, Patty Toce has been promoted from tour and travel industry sales manager to senior sales manager, responsible for the corporate market in the USA, excluding the Northeast and Florida markets.
David C. Akinwas promoted to associate director of sales at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. He had been sales manager for New York corporate accounts, which he will continue to manage in his new position.
Debra A. Joseph has joined the Palm Coast (FL) Resort as associate director of sales, managing group sales. Previously, she had been national sales manager at Adam's Mark Resort in Daytona, FL.
Ralph Behrsin was named director of incentive sales at Patti Roscoe Associates (PRA), a destination management company with offices throughout Southern California. Behrsin, who had been director of incentive sales at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, CA, will be based in PRA's Orange County office.
Carol Sonneman has joined the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in Longboat Key, FL as national sales manager. She had been group sales manager at Belleview Mido Resort Hotel in Clearwater, FL.
Jeffrey Brucehas been named regional sales manager for the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Bruce has held sales positions with Stouffer Hotels, Oak Tree Hotels in Washington (DC), and Hyatt Resorts Hawaii.
Birgit Albicker-Rimpel has been named sales manager for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, responsible for the eastern USA and Canada. She was formerly senior sales manager in the regional sales office of Kempinski Hotels.
Ronnie L. Burt, Jr. was named sales manager for the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority convention development department. He will be responsible for booking corporate meetings. He had been casino host and assistant to the casino manager at Caesars Atlantic City.
Lindy Lowthrop is the new group sales manager at Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui's Kaanapali Beach. She will be based in the Westlake Village, CA office of Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts, owner of the resort, where she will focus on increasing Royal Lahaina's visibility among corporate and incentive groups. Lowthrop had held sales management positions at Blue Gem Sunglasses and Select Staffing in Oxnard, CA.
The Netherlands Board of Tourism has appointed Donna Jeannette incentive travel manager, based in the board's New York office. She had been in the marketing department at the Hungarian Convention Bureau in Budapest.
The Wyndham Anatole Hotelin Dallas has named two new conference managers, Michelle Hayter and Jim Richardson. Hayter had been convention services manager for the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. Richardson had served as banquet manager at the Anatole for five years.


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Soaring drug prices take a toll on governments, employers, and families. Taxpayers support R&D at the front end and still foot the bill for expensive drugs at the pharmacy counter.
Higher drug prices increase premiums for everyone.
California leads on addressing the escalating cost of prescription drugs and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their skyrocketing prices.
California Senate Bill 17 —
The state’s landmark drug price transparency bill passed in 2017 —provides transparency into pharma’s skyrocketing drug pricing tactics and helps hold pharmaceutical manufacturers to similar reporting standards as others in the health care industry. The pharmaceutical industry spent years stalling transparency legislation in the state legislature. There’s more to be done, but this landmark law is paving the way for more sustainable, affordable prescription drug prices.
California Assembly Bill 824 –
intended to end the harmful “pay-for-delay” practices by pharmaceutical and generic drug manufacturers and lower prescription drug prices for California consumers by hundreds of millions of dollars a year, it was signed into law in 2019.
Pay-for-delay agreements, also known as reverse payment settlements, occur when major brand-name pharmaceutical companies pay off generic manufacturers to delay entering their lower-priced generic versions of the drug into the market for a set period of time. Pay-for-delay agreements take money from patient pockets to unfairly increase drug company profits. Bringing more generic drugs into the marketplace to ensure competition helps all Californians have access to more affordable health care.
California Health Plans
are providing a critical service to consumers by picking up the majority of the tab for the costliest medications.
- Overall, health plans paid 92.4% of the cost of the 25 Most Costly Drugs, including generic, brand name, and speciality.
- DMHC-regulated health plans paid more than $9.6 billion for prescription drugs in 2019, an increase of almost $600 million from 2018.