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Apple orchestrated one in consumer electronics. Cadillac in cars. Al Gore in politics. And Tim Tebow in football. Now, Lincoln is trying to stage one of its own for its aging cars.
Everyone loves a comeback. But it's not as easy as it looks.
Strong brand recognition is crucial for a comeback. But that's only one element of a success story - think of well-known brand names like Blockbuster and Borders that went bankrupt because they failed to adapt to changing consumer tastes and habits over the years. Achieving a comeback takes hard work, big ideas, precise timing and good luck.
"The brand name is a starting point, but you need to have a new story that people care about," says Allen Adamson, managing director of branding firm Landor Associates. "Without that, it's `I've heard of that, but who cares?' Marketers that have come up with the right story can revitalize their brand."
Here are a few brands that tried - successfully or unsuccessfully - to make a comeback:
Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., has had one of the most dramatic comebacks in the past 30 years. The company rose from near death by creating products that no one knew they needed.
Apple, which first revolutionized computing with the Apple II in 1977, went public in 1980 in one of the biggest initial public offering ever at the time. Annual sales hit $1 billion in 1982. By 1984, the company introduced the popular Macintosh computer.
But by 1993, Apple was operating at a loss as it struggled with competition from Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95 operating system, parts shortages and mistakes it made in predicting customer demand.
The company continued its decline until Steve Jobs, the co-founder who left Apple in 1985 after clashing with then-CEO John Sculley, returned in 1997. His return marked the beginning of Apple's turnaround and led to a string of blockbuster products - namely, the iPod, iPhone and iPad.
The new gadgets made Apple one of the world's most profitable brands. In its most recent fiscal year that ended in September, net income rose 85 percent to $25.9 billion. Revenue jumped 66 percent to $108 billion.
Spicing up Old Spice
A few years ago, Old Spice was a 70-year-old brand that young people generally associated with their fathers - that is, if they knew about it at all.
All that changed in 2008, when new competition in the men's spray and shower gel category caused Old Spice owner Procter & Gamble to revamp the brand. The aging Old Spice brand debuted hip products with names such as "Red Zone" and "High Endurance." It also rolled out trendy marketing targeting a younger audience than its traditional gray-haired men's after shave consumer.
A quirky "Smell Like a Man" ad campaign launched in 2010 and became a viral hit, sparking sales and brand recognition. One ad featured buff, towel-clad, former football player Isaiah Mustafa who urged women to "Look at your man, now back at me." The ad generated tens of millions of online views and a new catch-phrase: "I'm on a horse." Another campaign included 186 related videos in which Mustafa responded personally to online queries, including ones from talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and actress Alyssa Milano.


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Today Nike announced they will have the LeBron X Cork available for sale online on Saturday 2/23 at 8AM EST.
But thats not the only good news sneakerheads got about the Cork, we also found out they would only be $250, as opposed to the original price tag of $305
For those of you who don’t have a footlocker selling the LeBron X Cork near them, or were unable to score tickets, this might be your only chance to cop a pair.
FootAction Launch Locator hasn’t been updated with the Cork yet, begging the question, will they even launch? Eastbay will likely not sell the Cork, given footlocker is denying an online release.

domain: news


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As the company who created the tablet market, revolutionized music, and reinvented smartphones, Apple seemed invincible. But times are different now. Since Steve Jobs' death, Apple's hold on consumers slowly eroded. The process certainly is not "overnight," but the evidence is becoming clearer over time: Apple's current strategy, and its app standards, need to change for the firm's continued success.
iPhones are missing out on emerging markets
Competitors running the Android operating system pose a great threat to Apple. Phones running Android operating systems, such as Nokia and Samsung , saw a jump in market share in the second quarter from 69.1% to 79.3%. iPhones, on the other hand, saw a market share decrease from 16.6% to 13.2%.
Part of Samsung's and Nokia's success comes from a focus on emerging markets. With their large populations and growing personal income, emerging markets provide many new smartphone customers. Nokia, for instance, sees special success in India with its Lumia line of phones. Excluding North American sales, Nokia sold 8.5 million Lumia phones in 2012. This year Nokia sold 5.2 million and 6.9 million Lumia phones in the first and second quarters, respectively, excluding North American sales. And that number is widely expected to ramp up as consumer incomes increase and as Nokia tailors its Lumia product family to fit the market. At present, Nokia is able to cater to a variety of income levels with its products, but I believe the firm has more revenue potential by more closely refining its products to compete in each income segment.
Samsung also appeals to global smartphone users, thanks to its wide variety of low-priced and high-end smartphones. Smartphones often sell for $390 - $450 in emerging markets, but phones like Samsung's Galaxy S Duos and Nokia's Lumia 920, which cost customers about $200 and $450 respectively, appeal to lower-end customers. That's why such an opportunity exists for both firms in the fast-growing nation of India.
Apple saw some success in its attempts in emerging markets. In June, Apple offered 18% cash discounts and 25% total discounts to customers in India. Lower prices helped increase monthly sales from 75,000 to 400,000 units. Despite this moment of success, the iPhone saw a continued decrease in non-American global shipments. Apple saw a 30% decline from the first quarter to the second quarter in non-American global iPhone shipments.
Furthermore, selling to emerging markets does not fit into Apple's strategy. Earning a 49% - 58% profit margin on its iPhones, Apple depends on high profit margins to make up for lagging shipments. Customers in emerging markets often call for low-priced phones, not up-scale ones. Therefore, if Apple wants to expand sales, it must reevaluate its low-shipment, high-profit market strategy, potentially considering a lower-end phone to grab up market share. After all, if a decade from now income levels (and consumer tastes) were to increase as expected in emerging markets, consumers will be far more used to Nokia and Samsung phones, offering these firms an opportunity to pitch higher-end products to the same customers.
Finally, note that revenues from smartphones comprise a considerable portion of phone maker's total:
Mobile Division Total Sales as a
% of Net Sales in Q2
Source: Company 10-Qs.
Designed to be "easy to use" with self-explanatory icons, Apple's iPhone apps created a new, unspoken mobile standard. As consumers become more tech savvy, the demand for such simple apps fades. Consumers now look to more sophisticated apps that can accurately collect and adapt to new data. Unfortunately, Apple has a history of dropping the ball. Apple's mapping blunder aside (where CEO Tim Cook recommended using other mapping apps instead of Apple's buggy one), let's take a closer look at Apple's Siri and Google Now, Google's personal assistant and search app.
Apple provides iPhone 4s and iPhone 5 users with Siri, the interactive voice recognition software that helps users search their devices and acquire answers. Siri impressed many users with her smooth voice and assistance. However, Google's technology may now push her by the wayside.
Google proves it can develop sophisticated apps. In the most recent Android operating system (Jelly Bean), Google Now is equipped with better voice recognition software than Siri. Further, the software improves with continued app use. Developers of Google's voice recognition software managed to cut errors by 25% from the last Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich. The technology imitates the method in which neurons in the human brain identify patterns and participate in thinking. This allows the software to better understand the user's accent and speech the more he uses the app. Google Now is available on both Android phones running Jelly Bean and Apple's app store.
Siri takes a more mechanical approach to its voice recognition. As the user speaks, the software compresses the words into a digital audio file. Then it compares that file to a statistical model usually on the cloud, allowing the software to convert the audio into letters. Therefore, Siri does not adapt to the user's speech and accent over time.
Beyond Google Now, Android app sales continue to grow beyond expectations. Google's app store brought in 38.5% of Apple's revenues, a great increase from the 10% Google brought in last year. iOS apps still bring in more revenue, 130% more than Google Play, but Google's current growth provides much promise. To conclude, here's a startling statistic: according to BGR Media, Google's app store users currently download 90% of Apple's downloads.
Google does not disclose revenue figures for Google Play. However, we do know that Google Play revenue continues to increase through third party reporters App Annie and Distimo.
If Apple wants to continue to impress users with its apps, like it did when Siri first came out, it's time for software upgrades.
As the firm misses the mark in emerging markets and falls behind in app innovation, we start to see the cracks in the fortress called Apple. As a well-established name brand with large profit margins, this firm's end will not come anytime too soon. However, it's not too far of a stretch to consider that Apple is off of its pedestal and now on the same playing field as the other major competitors. In short, Apple's running out of juice.
Editor's Note: The original article stated Apple invented the smartphone. They didn't, this version has been amended.
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The article Why Apple Is Running Out of Juice originally appeared on Fool.com.
This article was written by Michele Milheim and edited by Chris Marasco and Marie Palumbo. None have a position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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The Federal Trade Commission has announced that Skechers will pay more than $40 million to settle charges that the company made unfounded claims about its shape-up shoes. The FTC says the marketing was deceptive.


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The regulations will take effect in February and require that crypto-asset promoters inform Spain’s securities watchdog regarding any ads that target more than 100,000 persons.
10-day advance notice rule
The Spanish government has tasked the country’s securities watchdog with authorizing advertisements that promote cryptocurrencies, a report has said. Also, as part of the new measures, crypto-asset investment promoters will be required to notify the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) of any promotional campaign that targets more than 100,000 people some ten days before such a campaign commences.
The regulations are due to go into effect in February and will permit the CNMV monitoring all crypto-related ads. These regulations will allow the watchdog warn investors about potential risks when investing in crypto assets.
The report also stated that any influencers who have more than 100,000 followers would be asked to notify the watchdog about any cryptocurrency-related investments they plan to promote. This requirement also requires influencers with more than 100,000 followers to notify the watchdog of any crypto-related investments that they plan on promoting.
CNMV Supports Influencers
Explaining the government’s decision to start reining in influential individuals that promote crypto assets, the report cites the CNMV’s public rebuke of Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta back in November. Iniesta’s tweet that promoted cryptocurrency trading platform Binance was the reason for this rebuke.
The CNMV scolded the footballer by saying that Iniesta must gather sufficient information on cryptocurrencies prior to making any investments or recommending it to his 38 million Instagram followers and 25 million Twitter followers.
In the meantime, the CNMV’s decision to target influencers that are being paid to promote crypto-asset investments follows reports that U.S. reality television star, Kim Kardashian, and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., are being sued for their role in promoting Ethereummax and the EMAX cryptocurrency token.
In this lawsuit, the plaintiff accuses both Kardashian — who reportedly routinely gets paid for promotional posts — and Mayweather of helping to create sufficient trading volumes allowing Ethereummax token creators to dump EMAX tokens on unsuspecting investors.
What are your thoughts on Spain’s decision to regulate crypto ads? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Image creditShutterstock. Pixabay. Wiki Commons
DisclaimerThis information is provided for educational purposes only. This article is not intended to be a solicitation or offer to sell or buy any product, service, or company. Bitcoin.com doesn’t offer investment, tax or legal advice. The author and the company are not responsible for any loss or damage caused or alleged caused by the content or use of any goods, services, or information mentioned in the article.


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The Ford Motor Company’s announcement this week that it would shift some auto manufacturing from the U.S. to Mexico has played perfectly into Donald Trump’s argument that many trade deals hurt American workers.
“It’s disgraceful,” Trump said Thursday. “It’s disgraceful our politicians let them get away with it. It really is. It used to be cars were made in Flint and you couldn’t drink the water in Mexico. Now, cars are made in Mexico and you can’t drink the water in Flint.”
Decades ago, Flint, Michigan, boasted a plethora of car manufacturing jobs, but the withering of U.S. auto production has contributed to the city’s 41 percent poverty rate and currently undrinkable water. Flint’s water has been contaminated with toxic lead since the state tried to save money by switching the broke city’s water source in 2014.
“They’ll make their cars, they’ll employ thousands and thousands of people not from this country,” Trump said Wednesday during a trip to Flint, “and they’ll sell their cars right through a very weak border, no tax, no nothing, and we’ll have nothing but more unemployment in Flint and in Michigan.”
Ford first announced it would build a small-car assembly plant in Mexico in April, prompting criticism from Trump, who said that he would impose a tariff on the automaker’s imports.
“These ridiculous, job-crushing transactions will not happen when I am president,” Trump said at the time.
Ford CEO Mark Fields said in a statement that the company’s Mexico investment will not cost U.S. jobs.
“It is really unfortunate the politics get in the way of the facts,” Fields said, adding that the company has created 28,000 jobs in the U.S. in the last five years. “Our investment here in the U.S. has never been stronger.”
Last year, in its most recent round of labor negotiations, the autoworkers union said Ford had committed to enough U.S. investment to cover as many as 8,500 new or saved American jobs. Still, union chief Dennis Williams criticized the company’s Mexico investment in essentially the same way Trump did.
“For every investment in Mexico it means jobs that could have and should have been available right here in the USA,” Williams said in an April statement. “This is another example of what’s wrong with NAFTA and why the TPP would be a disaster for the citizens of the United States. Companies continue to run to low-wage countries and import back into the United States. This is a broken system that needs to be fixed.”
Trump habitually bashes the North American Free Trade Agreement and the unfinished Trans-Pacific Partnership, and he has pointed out ― accurately! ― that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has spoken in favor of those deals, although she now says she’s against the TPP.
Trump’s comments this week came after Fields told shareholders on Wednesday that the automaker would be shifting more production to Mexico.
“Over the next two to three years, we will have migrated all of our small-car production to Mexico and out of the United States,” the CEO said.
Ford isn’t alone in moving more manufacturing to Mexico. In April, Fiat Chrysler announced plans to shift production of a Jeep SUV to Toluca, Mexico, from a plant in Belvidere, Illinois. In May, General Motors said it would build some of its light-duty pickup trucks in Silao, Mexico, rather than at its Flint assembly plant. Last year, Volkswagen vowed to expand its assembly plant in Mexico’s Puebla state, where it plans to produce its new Tiguan compact crossover SUV. A handful of other automakers are opening or expanding operations in Mexico, too.
HuffPost readers: Did your job get shipped to another country? Tell us about it ― email email@example.com. Please include your phone number if you’re willing to be interviewed.
Mexico eclipsed Japan as the No. 2 exporter of cars to the United States last year. Lower labor costs are one of several reasons auto manufacturers have been moving production there, according to the Center for Automotive Research, which also cited Mexico’s free trade agreements with other countries.
Ford, for its part, is at a crossroads. The company is scrambling to compete against new rivals from Silicon Valley, as Uber, Tesla and Google roll out self-driving technology that could reshape the auto industry. Last month, Ford announced plans to launch a fleet of autonomous vehicles by 2021 that could be summoned through an app. The iconic American car company is also now dabbling in bike-sharing and bus shuttle services.
Ironically, Ford also opposes the TPP. In July, Fields said the company feared the trade deal would give an unfair advantage to Japanese automakers, who rank among Ford’s biggest competitors. Toyota is the second-largest automaker in the world, behind scandal-struck Volkswagen. Fields said Japan’s long history of currency manipulation could give its companies a leg up.
“We’re against TPP not because we’re against free trade,” Fields told Bloomberg TV. “We’ve been free traders forever. But when you look at some of the countries, like Japan, who want to be in there, they have done that in the past. We just want to make sure we’re competing on a level playing field.”
Part of that competitive strategy, it seems, involves following the rest of the U.S. auto industry across the southern border.
This story has been updated with comment from Ford CEO Mark Fields.


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SMALL energy firm Green has ceased trading, leaving 250,000 customers without a supplier.
The company has "taken the decision to exit the energy market", Sky News reported.
In a statement on its website the firm said: "We are saddened to let you know that Green is ceasing to trade."
Yesterday it was reported that Green had lined up advisers in case it fell into insolvency.
Green was reportedly working with insolvency firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) as it considers using Ofgem's Supplier of Last Resort scheme.
This would see the regulator step in to appoint another firm to take over Green's customers.
The Sun has contacted A&M for comment.
The firm's chief executive Peter McGirr had previously warned that the company would collapse within three months unless it received state support.
Energy companies are struggling as wholesale gas prices have surged.
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng yesterday said ministers are braced for "more failures" than in a usual year due to sky-rocketing prices of natural gas.
But he insisted Boris Johnson won't step in to bail out "badly run" enterprises as happened during the 2008 banking crisis.
Bulb, the UK's sixth biggest energy firm, has confirmed that it is scrambling to find new funding.
Four firms have already folded this year, including Utility Point and People's Energy.
What happens if your energy supplier goes bust?
Don't panic if your supplier goes out of business, as your energy won't be cut off.
Ofgem, the industry regulator, will arrange for another company to take over.
You will be contacted by the new supplier directly, and shouldn't switch until you have heard from them.
With the recent fall of People's Energy, for example, Ofgem has appointed British Gas to take on supplying the provider's over 350,000 customers.
The new firm won't have to honour the deal you were on with your previous provider, but any credit on your account will be protected.
Experts like Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert are advising customers not to rush to switch though, and instead "simply sit tight and wait to be contacted by a new supplier".
But it is recommended that you take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.
Other charities also recommend keeping old energy bills and waiting until your new supplier is appointed before cancelling any direct debits.
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Working to solve Pa.'s e-cycling problem (column)
Late last year, the York County Solid Waste Authority suspended the electronics recycling program it began in 2002. Thankfully, the authority announced last month it would soon be launching a new Residential Electronics Recycling Program, which began this past week. The authority’s new e-scrap management contract unfortunately extends only to Dec. 31 of this year. They are pursuing program alternatives for next year and beyond.
Our state has a great history when it comes to recycling. The country’s first recycling mill was built by Waste Techniques in Conshohocken in 1972. So why is recycling in Pennsylvania now on shaky ground?
Ellen O'Connor, manager of the authority’s Community Services Division, describes it as a “perfect storm.” For starters, there is the sheer volume of electronics in our world today. Take a moment and count the number of electronic devices you have in your home. Now add in the number of household items that run on electricity (items like vacuum cleaners that the authority’s new program will recycle and which I’ll detail in a moment).
Keep in mind groups such as the York County Solid Waste Authority do not simply collect and then bury or burn these electronics. They hire an electronics vendor who can properly disassemble the devices and sell the parts and make money off them. When we as a society were less dependent on electronics, these vendors were in turn able to make a significant profit off the devices. The increased volume made it less cost effective, which drove out vendors.
Add to that the Covered Device Recycling Act, which became law in 2010 and was implemented in January 2013. This legislation required manufacturers of electronics to provide for the recycling of a percentage of the devices. Unfortunately, it also banned disposal of certain electronics by waste disposal facilities. The resulting influx of electronics into the recycling market has also driven down the price paid for scrap electronics.
The third “leg” of the problem comes with advances in electronics. Many of us over the age of 50 can remember the monstrosities that used to pass for television sets. They were often part of large consoles that included a turntable for playing records and/or a radio. The days of hanging a TV on the wall were purely science fiction.
Most electronics recycling agreements were based on the weight of covered devices sold in Pennsylvania. Imagine the impact as televisions became thinner and subsequently lighter. These agreements eventually fell short of the amount of electronics that need to be recycled.
Fortunately, the York County Solid Waste Authority has found a vendor that is willing to take on the challenge – but only until the end of the calendar year. The program is free and open only to
York County residents, and it will be conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only
3-6:30 p.m. every week at the authority’s yard waste site off of Flour Mill Road in Manchester Township.
Items to be accepted are as follows: televisions, desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals (anything that connects to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.); cell phones, vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, irons and coffee makers or anything with a plug that does not contain Freon (examples of Freon-containing items include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers).
I am very appreciative of the ambitious staff at the York County Solid Waste Authority for their efforts.
On the legislative side, state House members from York County have met with Gov. Tom Wolf on this issue.
Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, has also proposed a bill that would amend the Covered Device Recycling Act; however, it has yet to be formally introduced.
We, as a delegation, continue to pursue a legislative “fix” to the problem.
I urge you to take advantage of this service offered by the York County Solid Waste Authority. If you have questions, please feel free to call my district office at (717) 840-4711.
State Rep. Keith Gillespie is a Republican from Hellam Township.


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( dpa ) - South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor, the world's second-largest maker of memory chips, reported its first quarterly loss in more than 4 years on Friday on falling chip prices.
In the three months ending December 31, Hynix posted a 465 billion won (492.8 million dollars) net loss, compared with a record 1 trillion won profit a year ago in the same period.
Fourth-quarter sales were 1.85 trillion won, a 29 per cent decrease from last year's 2.61 trillion, on sharp pirce drops in both dynamic random access memory DRAM, used mainly in personal computers, and NAND flash chips used in digital cameras.
The loss was Hynix's first since the second quarter of 2003.
For all of 2007, net profit fell to 361 billion won, compared with 2 trillion won a year earlier. The difference between the operating loss and the net loss was the income tax expense of 108 billion won, Hynix said.
Full-year sales rose 12 per cent to 8.6 trillion won.
For 2008 the company forecast another year of losses, with prices of DRAM chips falling 35 to 40 per cent on the year and NAND prices sinking 45 to 50 per cent. The drops would be smaller than in 2007, Hynix said.


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SUPER-quality SSFIV Gameplay from Ruliweb
Makoto and her new rival in SSFIV, Feilong, in action.
FINALLY, the seeming drought of quality Super Streetfighter IV gameplay videos has abated. Korean gaming site/forum Ruliweb has just today started posting match vids from Capcom’s upcoming beat ’em upgrade. Not only are these vids in gorgeous, 60FPS HD, the skills of the players are also a cut above the ‘Hahaha’ just for laughs gameplay in previous vids. Eventhubs posted the so far posted matches here, so check them out if you’re a fight fan waiting impatiently for your Super Fix in April.
Hot babes, hot stage!


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Berea Tourism Blog
There’s a brand-new space dedicated to helping families thrive in Berea, KY – The Mother Well! The Mother Well transforms expecting moms and dads into confident parents through education, support, and community.
LeeAmber opened Wildflowers Boutique a year ago this month. The Chestnut Street shop’s warm and inviting atmosphere is blooming with business, selling a variety of clothing, accessories and more.
Skills passed down from generation to generation, the Adams family loves to craft together. For almost 30 years, The Family Tree has been their family business. Selling handmade wares, many made by their family, in Berea’s Old Town Artisan Village for 21 years of their 30 years in business.
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, a beautiful new sign was unveiled for the Boone Trace Trail at Brushy Fork. The trail, recognized as part of Daniel Boone’s path blazed in 1775, is ¾ of a mile, lining up very closely to Boone’s exact trail.
HomeGrown HideAways, one of Berea’s fastest growing AgriTourism destinations, recently celebrated the grand opening of their community kitchen facility. The farm, campground and event facility’s latest project, an expansion of their pavilion, is already underway.
On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, Berea Tourism, the City of Berea and Berea Farmer’s Market celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Chestnut Street Pavilion.
BEREA’S BUZZ-WORTHY MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK | Friday, September 10, 2021, dozens of bikers of all ages rode through the grand opening ribbon at Berea’s newest adventure tourism destination, Silver Creek Bike Park. This state-of-the-art mountain bike trail is already stirring up a lot of buzz, locally and regionally.
Just a few years ago, Raven Kelly was working as social worker in Frankfort, Kentucky when she came across the shop HealthEase Nutrition. This capital city shop offered the sense of community she longed for and soon changed her life, leading to her ownership of Everyday Nutrition in Berea.
Aaron Hughes opened The Twisted Willow Barber Shop in Old Town on June 6, 2021 with a dream of offering something unique to Berea and the surrounding areas. With a passion for classic looks and traditional services, Aaron provides an exceptional experience for his clients.
A creative entrepreneur at heart, Lisa Rose opened an online boutique during some unexpected down time in 2020, thanks to the pandemic. Fast forward to May of 2021, Lisa opened a brick-and-mortar storefront after much success with e-commerce.


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iPhone 5 Release Scheduled for Second Week of October As Apple Blocks Vacations?
According to a new report published by AppleInsider, Apple has blocked vacations for its retail employees during the second week of October. This has lead many to speculate that Apple’s iPhone 5 will go on sale around October 15th.
In order to prepare for an influx of customers during major product or software launches the company generally starts blocking vacations in order to cater to customer demands.
More specifically, the iPhone maker has in some locations blacked out vacation time for employees from October 9th through 12th and October 14th through 15th, according to people familiar with the matter.
We recently highlighted another report which suggested that the company had instructed AppleCare call centers to be prepared to handle an increased number of calls around October 10th. Apple could be looking at making iOS 5 available to users before iPhone 5 hits the stores in order to give some gap between two major releases. The Cupertino, Californai-based company followed similar trend when it launched iOS 4 on June 21st and iPhone 4 on June 24th.
The move to block out vacations from October 9th through 12th and October 14th through 15th strongly suggests that we could see iOS 5 release before iPhone 5 goes on sale.
It is widely believed that iPhone 5 will feature 8 megapixel camera, A5 processor, 1GB RAM and an all-new design with tapered edges.
Are you excited about iPhone 5 launch? Will you be upgrading your iPhone 4? Let us know what you think in the comments below.


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Burke’s famous quote digested…
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Should You Invest in the Competitive Game Console Industry?
Bill is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is thought to be ahead of the curve and a bellwether for gaming trends. With the launch of the company’s latest initiative, it will have the competition of new generation consoles from companies such as Nintendo, Sony (NYSE: SNE), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).
Nvidia’s recent product development has legitimized mobile gaming but also seems to be hedging bets between different gaming habits. With this in mind, investors should not pay dearly for any particular gaming stock. Instead, they should require reasonable prices before speculating on a hardware provider.
Nvidia Embraces Mobile Gaming
In an effort to modernize gaming options, Nvidia has gone mobile. The company recently launched a cloud gaming platform called Shield, which should make it cost-effective to stream games on mobile devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. This gaming device looks like a console controller but also has a pop-up screen. Game players should be pleased to note that the Shield works for “Angry Birds,” can wirelessly link to some PCs, and can be connected to a television. Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, indicated that “this is going to be the best way to enjoy games in the future”.
This move will categorically appeal to game players who have the desire to play on the go, which is a notion that is gaining popularity. Revenue from downloaded games grew 16 per cent year over year to $5.9 billion, according to NPD Group, which is indicative of an increase in the demand of mobile games. This move should have a positive impact on Nvidia’s revenue flow. Bloomberg has indicated that the company’s sales grew by approximately 7.1% last year, and this was as a result of branching out into mobile devices.
Nvidia Is Also Hedging its Bets
Nvidia is working on multiple projects and not just the compatible-with-everything Shield.
In a news release on the company’s website, Nvidia indicated three different products. First, it’s Razer Edge Pro streamlined 10.1-inch laptop is expected to go on sale later this year. According to the website, this gaming platform “is a powerful PC processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE GPU, giving the device the power to play games normally consumed on desktop PCs and bulky gaming notebooks.”
The company also drew attention to the Ouya, which the company says, “puts the games built for Android smartphones and tablets into a slick $99 Yves Behar-designed console powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor.”
And last but not least, the Shield Portable was mentioned. It is slated to go on sale in the second quarter of this year. Nvidia noted that “The Tegra 4 powered device will pair a retina-quality 5-inch screen and console-quality controls with the ability to dip into the thriving Android mobile gaming ecosystem. It will also be able to stream games from a PC powered by an NVIDIA GTX 650 or better GPU.”
Sony is expected to launch a new “PlayStation 4” console system. The new console is expected to bring a new life to the video game business, which has suffered declining sales and questions about the future of game console systems. Seven years have passed since Sony launched PlayStation 3. Sure, it was a smashing success, with 77 million units of the console sold around the world. Microsoft’s Xbox has been very successful, too. However, smartphones and tablets have sideswiped the gaming market and constitute a secular disruption across the entire gaming industry. Like Sony, Microsoft is expected to start selling the latest version of its console by the end of 2013. It is unclear whether many consumers will respond.
Demand Lower Valuations for Console Makers
Investors should be willing to pay more for game software stocks than game hardware stocks. Their brands and copyrights can be transferred across platforms and even across media. This is not the case for largely incompatible console systems.
Many video game developers have done very well. Activision Blizzard reported fourth quarter results that beat analyst expectations. Revenues were boosted by its "Call of Duty," which ranked as the number 1 best-selling game franchise in 2012, and "Skylanders," which ranked number 3. Take-Two Interactive is also doing very well. It reported that its net income rose to $71.4 million during the third quarter, much higher than net income of $14.1 million for third quarter in the previous year. Take-Two Interactive is planning to launch Grand Theft Auto V in September 2013.
Sony is cheap enough to make it a compelling hardware stock:
At a discount to the book value of its assets, Sony is attractive as a technology and media stock. It also trades at a very low price-to-sales ratio. Take-Two Interactive is also trading at low price-to-sales ratios relative to other gaming stocks while having comparable growth prospects.
Nobody really knows what is going to happen to gaming. Games may be played on souped-up PCs, new versions of familiar consoles like the PlayStation 4, or on mobile devices like tablets. They could also be played on some hybrid system or something entirely unknown today.
Since there is considerable competition between platforms, speculators should demand attractive valuation multiples as compensation for the risk of any particular platform becoming unpopular. Sony and Take-Two Interactive are cheap bets for software at today’s market prices.
BillEdson11 has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NVIDIA. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Paysafe Study Finds That Over Half of Online Merchants Report Checkout Issues During Peak Shopping Times
The majority of online SMBs (small to medium size businesses) rely on seasonal business to keep them afloat, but around half (52%) say they have experienced checkout issues during these vital surge shopping periods, up from 43% in 2021. That's according to new research with over 1,100 merchants in 12 countries* commissioned by leading specialised payments platform Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE).
Almost three quarters (74%) say the checkout continues to be a serious competitive advantage, perhaps in part due to the impact when things go wrong. Nearly a third (31%) of businesses who have experienced a surge-related issue with their checkouts lost upwards of $100,000 - with common issues including checkout system slowdown (46%), and a failure to authorise payments (31%).
This problem takes on more significance if you consider the effort merchants make to get customers to the checkout stage in the first place. Nearly three quarters (74%) cite cart abandonment as an ongoing issue in 2022 (up from 69% in 2021) and 61% say abandonment has increased in last 12 months (up from 49% in 2021). Technical issues including checkout screen crashes (14%) and customers being unable to pay with their preferred method (17%) were cited as expected resons.
Merchants are increasingly eager to explore new payment technologies in a bid to make their checkout experience more streamlined, secure, and reliable and as one way to gain competitive advantage. Around three-quarters (73%) of merchants surveyed believe that adopting some of the newer ways to pay would help add value to their business. In spite of the interest in newer ways to pay, debit cards (75%) and credit cards (72%) continue to lead the table of payment processing methods offered.
Afshin Yazdian, President of Merchant Solutions at Paysafe, commented: "During the holiday season, payment processing systems will be put to the test, highlighting the importance of payments efficiency as a business differentiator. Offering more payment methods gives merchants the opportunity to gain an advantage by offering a frictionless customer experience, improve conversion rates and ultimately avoid losing business during their peak season."
The survey was conducted as part of Paysafe's Lost in Transaction research series. Further findings will be revealed in due course.
About the research
About Paysafe Limited
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Apple has released iOS 9.3.3. With five public betas across two months it is one of the most tested iOS minor updates of all time, especially given it only claims to be a bug and security patch. But it turns out there is a reason to get excited about iOS 9.3.3 because it hides a great secret feature…
‘Great Features’ and ‘Nasty Surprises’ are my regular columns investigating operating system updates for the best features / biggest problems hidden behind the headlines.
What Apple has achieved with iOS 9.3.3 is to actually realise one of the most famously empty and often repeated promises in any software upgrade: “performance improvements”.
Yes, many users are finding iOS 9.3.3 to be notably faster than previous iOS 9 releases with happy upgraders across forums and social media reporting that their iPads, iPhones and iPod touches are noticeably faster, smoother and more responsive after the upgrade.
“I *highly*, *HIGHLY*, recommend that you update to 9.3.3. It made my devices so much better to use.”
And there was another welcome discovery for iOS 9.3.3 upgraders as it was found to enhance the performance of gaming phenomenon Pokemon Go: “So Pokemon Go runs significantly smoother,” comments AVEGA
“POKEMON GO runs smoother!!!!!!! Really it does!!!" declared Prynce
Of course not everyone is spotting a major difference, but it is certainly noticeable how many users are commenting on the positive speeds benefits - especially as iOS 9.3.3 will be the last version of iOS 9 before the release of iOS 10 which makes important changes.
One word of caution: despite all this praise, I have some reservations about users upgrading to iOS 9.3.3 straightaway. You can read about this as well as getting a detailed breakdown of what iOS 9.3.3 contains in my upgrade guide.
More On Forbes


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Lancashire based halal food manufacturer KQF has announced the recruitment of several new employees as part of its continuing plans for expansion, which have included the launch of new product ranges, new contract manufacturing deals and new distribution agreements.
Notable appointments include Zahir Patel to the role of key trade account manager and Ilyas Akubat, who joins as manager of the recently acquired KQF Superstore in Blackburn.
Both the new recruits have impressive track records in the retail trade – Zahir having previously worked for Graham & Brown and, prior to joining KQF, as a retail development executive for GlaxoSmithKline, where he worked with well known brands such as Ribena and Lucozade.
Ilyas is a highly experienced store manager who has spent more than twenty-five years in the industry. He most recently managed a large forecourt retail outlet that secured a national award for excellence in customer service and, working alongside KQF managing director Faruk Vali, he will now be leading the transformation of the superstore.
“The changes at KQF are now picking up pace,” said managing director Faruk Vali. “Consequently, we need additional staff to deal with the increasing volumes of business and a more diverse range of activities. It’s all moving in a very positive direction and I’m confident that we’re building up the right mix of skills and experience to maintain steady but controlled growth.”


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Several Pennsylvania and New Jersey wineries are celebrating the recent results out of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, one of the world’s largest and longest-running wine contests.
Karamoor Estate Winery in Fort Washington, Montgomery County, won a gold medal for its 2019 Petit Verdot, silver medals for its 2019 Chardonnay, 2021 Pinot Gris and 2017 Meritage, and bronze medals for its 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2017 Cabernet Franc. All six wines it entered won a medal.
Stony Run Estate Winery, located in Breinigsville In Lehigh County, took a gold for its Viognier and silvers for its Estate Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay Reserve.
- Penns Woods Winery in Chaddsford, Delaware County, took two golds, one for a 2021 dry rosé and another for its 2020 Estate Pinot Noir.
- Presque Isle Wine Cellars, in Erie County, won a double gold for its 2022 Pinot Grigio, a gold for its 2022 Gruner Veltliner, and a silver medal for its red blend.
- Black Dog Wine Company, in Allegheny County, a double gold for a white native American/hybrid, golds for each of its semi-sweets roses, and
Across the Delaware River in New Jersey:
- Sharrott Winery in Hammonton, won nine medals, including a double gold for its 2021 Chardonnay and a gold for its 2020 Merlot.
- William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill, won four medals, a double gold for its 2021 white blend and golds for its 2019 Blanc de Blancs, its 2021 Chardonnay and a 2020 red varietal.
- Autumn Lake Winery, in Williamstown, a silver and a gold.
- Auburn Road Vineyards, in Pilesgrove, a double gold for its 2021 dry rosé and three bronze medals.
More than 5,500 wines were entered from more than 1,000 wineries across the country. You can find all the results, in alphabetical order by winery, at this link, and by category at this link.
Winemaker Kevin Robinson said Karamoor only enters several competitions each year, “and try to focus on those that we will be judged on a world stage where we can compete with our peers from across the country or internationally. It not only helps to see how we fare within similar categories and price ranges of other brands, but also helps to validate that PA can make world-class wines along with some of the best.”
Karamoor has won at least three medals in the five previous Chronicle competitions:
- In 2022, three silvers and a bronze
- In 2020, three silvers and a bronze
- In 2019, a gold for its 2016 Chardonnay and four silvers
- In 2018, a gold for its 2015 Chardonnay and two bronze
- In 2017, a gold for its Petit Verdot, a silver and a bronze
Stony Run owner Larry Shrawder said that Pennsylvania “is increasingly emerging as a world-class dry European style wine-producing region as evidenced by the success of these wines, among others, in international competition.” The winery, at 150 Independent Road, in Breinigsville, is inviting the public to taste these award winners during a weekend celebration from noon to 7 p.m. Feb. 18 and noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 19. Charcuterie and cheese boards will be available to complement the wines. Reservations for groups of six or more are recommended. Contact the winery at 610-398-7231 or email email@example.com to reserve.
Fingers Lakes winery owner using second one to try some ‘wild and crazy things’
Philly distillery unveils renovated tasting room, date night cocktail classes
Eastern Pa. winery goes on the market for $3.395 million
Longtime head of state wineries named Md. Secretary of Agriculture


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“Inflation rate drops”, or “Inflation rate remains elevated,” choose your headline to describe a change in America’s inflation rate from 8.5 percent in March to 8.3 percent in April. This change in the number following the decimal point after an 8 is of no policy consequence. It can’t change the important fact that seven-in-ten Americans view inflation as “a very big problem for the country” says the Pew Research Center – and not other concern comes close.
It certainly does not portend victory for Federal Reserve Board monetary policy. For one thing, wholesale inflation shot up 11 percent in April for stuff heading for consumers. For another, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, is the indicator policymakers look to as a harbinger, and it rose. More important, as the Lindsey Group points out, the annualized three-month rate of retail inflation is higher than the six-month average rate, which in turn is higher than the twelve-month rate. That arithmetic arrow is pointing upward.
The Silent Thief Robs From The Poor
Inflation is a silent thief. The increased purchasing power that workers would have received from wage increases has been stolen by an inflation rate three full percentage point higher than their wage gain. But inflation is not an equal opportunity marauder. It has what economists call distributional consequences.
Teenage kids who want to work never had it so good: the unemployment rate among 16-19 year old workers is close to its 68-year old low. Home owners have watched the value of their houses rise by over 30 percent in the past year, while interest rates on their 30-year mortgages remain fixed. High earners are finding the average 7.2 percent jump in the cost of “food away from home” tolerable and are scrambling for reservations at their favorite swank restaurants.
Not all workers are perfect matches for the 11.5 million unfilled job openings, two for every job seeker, but alternatives are so numerous that some businesses are reporting that 60-70 percent of candidates don’t show up for scheduled interviews, and others that 15-20 percent do not show up on the first day of jobs they have accepted.
But, on the economist’s inevitable other hand, the one that made Harry Truman wish for a one-handed economist, pensioners on fixed incomes scrimp on meals and medications and face a cold winter with thermostats turned down or set to “off”. Renters with expiring leases face sizeable increases. Many families are unable to reach the first step on the home-ownership ladder. Homemakers scramble to fill their shopping carts without doing serious damage to family budgets, and often must trade down in quality in order to do so.
Prisoners of policies developed in response to the pandemic who have not yet ventured into the wider world are re-examining their summer options. Airline fares shot up in April by close to 20 percent, bringing the rise since last year to 33 percent. According to Hopper Price tracker, the average “good deal round-trip domestic airfare” this month cost $404, up from $272 or almost 50 percent, since last May. If released shut-ins can afford gasoline that has risen more than 80 percent since before the pandemic, they might drive to some salubrious resort, or brave a visit to relatives, but many tell pollsters they can afford to plan only short trips.
A Tale of Three Joes
Joe Sixpack and Joe the Plumber, unlike Joe the President, confront the higher gasoline price when they fill up the tanks of the vehicles in which they schlep their tools from job to job, eschewing the public transit so beloved of liberal planners. They must pay up or lose work. Meanwhile, Joe the President cancels sales of offshore oil leases that could produce oil to lower crude prices that underpin gasoline prices.
It is never good to be poor, but poverty is even less bearable when food, already claiming a large portion of the family budget, costs 9.4 percent more than it did last year, the largest annual increase since early 1981. And budgeting becomes a nightmare in the face of monthly price increases of 2.5 percent for milk and 10.3 percent for eggs, with more to come. America’s largest food processor, Tyson, in April increased its prices of beef, chicken and pork by 23.8, 14.4 and 10.8 percent, respectively.
Inflation also distorts investment incentives. Rising prices of Apple products, which are not on most consumers’ list of essentials, are likely to constrain demand for iPhones and other such products, while soaring price of gasoline pours billions into oil producers’ pockets. Investors respond this year by selling off Apple shares, down 20 percent, and bidding up those of Exxon by 40 percent, and making Saudi Aramco the world’s most valuable company.
Inflation A Friend Of The Tax Collector
Inflation is also a wonderful tax collector. As nominal wages – not corrected for inflation – rise, so do taxes levied on those wages, sending cash to the Treasury without the need for an annoying tax increase. Politicians setting tax rules know that inflation wipes out the raises and then some, and even raises the tax rate when inflation pushes the worker into a higher bracket. Silence is golden when it comes to taking responsibility for a tax increase.
So far, the inflation genie has avoided being corked up in the bottle Fed chairman Jay Powell has in mind for it. And seems likely to remain on the loose if Powell persists in leaving three-quarter percentage point increases off the table at the committee’s June and July policy meetings. Some experts believe the Fed will be forced to raise its benchmark rate to 4 per cent over the next year, rather than 3 per cent as the Bank’s policymakers now plan.
The Fed And “Rich Strike”
The Fed just might succeed in its belated effort to catch up with reality if Putin’s war, or China’s lockdown of the world’s workshop, or supply bottlenecks prove transient. Or if interest rate increases already mooted “destroy” sufficient consumer demand, easing pressure on prices. With Rich Strike, an 80-1 longshot, winning the Kentucky Derby, anything, including an accurate growth forecast by the Fed, seems possible.


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Elon Musk this week earned himself a spot on Twitter’s board after becoming the social media giant’s largest shareholder. It was revealed on Monday that the Tesla CEO purchased a 9.2% stake in the company, worth almost $3 billion.
Musk also teased an edit button for tweets, which has been one of the most-requested features among Twitter users for many years.
There are tons of ways to give money to a friend or family member. You could mail a check, hand them a stack of cash, or send it digitally. With the Cash App, sending money to someone is as easy as entering an amount, dropping in their $cashtag, and hitting send. While this is very similar to Apple Pay Cash, the Cash App packs a few extra perks that make it awesome.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has made his annual pilgrimage to Sun Valley, Idaho, to gather with other leaders who run the world’s tech and media empires.
This is the fourth year in a row that Cook has made an appearance at the exclusive conference, which attracts dozens of industry bigwigs like Disney CEO Bob Iger, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, HP CEO Meg Whitman and Facbook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
The NBA Finals started last night, with LeBron James taking to the court in search of yet another championship ring. His team is taking on the Silicon Valley Golden State Warriors and, while Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue was all too happy to cheer on LeBron during the last two NBA championships, this year he’s defected to the home team — and giving King James hell.
Apple Pay is threatening to put mobile payments companies like Square and PayPal out of business when it launches next month, but according to Square co-founder Jack Dorsey, Apple Pay isn’t actually a threat to his company.
Dorsey revealed yesterday that Square is hoping to use Apple Pay to its advantage by building a new register for sellers that accepts Apple Pay and pretty much every other form of payment you can slide across a counter.
As the CEO of Square, and co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey has quickly become one of Silicon Valley’s most admired CEOs. His Square payment system is quickly changing the way consumers buy things, and it’s making businesses and consumers interact on a more personal level.
Square’s goal is to make payments quicker and easier for both business and consumers, so the company has an intense interest in wearable tech. When asked in a recent interview whether he thinks Google Glass is an interesting product, Dorsey answered that he doesn’t see much value in Google Glass right now, but he’s intrigued by devices that wrap around the wrist – like Apple’s rumored iWatch – because they feel more natural.
When asked whether he’s looked into Google Glass, Dorsey had the following to say:
Check this out: at a recent Twitter Town Hall hosted at the White House alongside Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, President Barack Obama sent his first live Tweet… and did so on his MacBook Pro, modded with a conspicuous presidential seal over the iconic Apple logo.


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Tesla was deprived Model 3 advanced hardware, due to the outbreak of coronavirus and the failure of supplies of chips of a new generation
New Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai delivered the first batch of Model 3 for local customers. However, the outbreak of coronavirus forced the company to install the old equipment to Full Self-Driving due to the lack of supply. It is noteworthy that Tesla is modestly silent about it, but the owners found the fact of fraud on the part of the company Ilona Mask.
Owners of electric vehicles confessed about the problems in operation
Many technology companies suffered from the ongoing epidemic of coronavirus, and the problems reached to the cancellation of conferences and reduction in production. Virtually any company that depends on China or South Korea in the supply chain is experiencing delays and failures.
Now turn touched automakers such as Tesla, which has become the latest company to feel the negative impact of the epidemic of the coronavirus. According to a report by Nikkei Asian Review, the first batch of cars Model 3, produced at a plant in Shanghai, equipped with the older chip autopilot control.
See also the story about how to recognize the coronavirus:
The problem became obvious when some Chinese Tesla owners found that the part number printed on the control unit of a recently purchased electric vehicle, it is not the number in the technical documentation. This means that their Model 3 did not receive the version 3.0 HW on the revolutionary chip Full Self-Driving (FSD) own the development of Tesla, which is 21 times faster than the previous generation. This circumstance prompted the owners to unite and sue Tesla for fraud.
Fee of Full autopilot Self-Driving (FSD)
The automaker says that the new chips, which allow the autopilot to control turns, braking and acceleration in China is not enough, so the automaker decided to equip the cars of the previous generation HW 2.5 NVIDIA Drive PX 2. The company made a public apology on social Weibo and explained that upgrades new cars to HW 3.0, as soon as the new chips will become available in the region.
Electric cars worse than diesel for the environment: the view of the Mazda
The exact timing of the manufacturer did not specify, saying only that it will happen as soon as the supply will improve. That only owners of Tesla cars manufactured up to April 2019, among those who bought the option Full Self-Driving, still waiting for a promised free upgrade of the autopilot.
Earlier, BMW has changed its logo for the first time in 23 years. Also Renault has created an electric car-transformer with expandable battery.
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IATA has urged all branches of the European Union to support an initiative from Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to agree a common digital European Covid-19 vaccination certificate
As per the statistics of Ministry of Tourism in Maldives, by the end of 2020 India became the number one source market with 62,905 Indian tourists holidaying in the island country, thus accounting for 11.3% of the total market share
One of the latest partnerships for the benefit of the tourism market is the collaboration between Juniper and Hotelmize
Singapore Airlines is once again operating three flights per week between Singapore and the Munich hub
Starting in 2022, visa-free travellers heading to Europe will need to apply under the ‘visa waiver’ program as the continent tightens its border control.
With high demand for staycations, Visit Jersey has created a new marketing campaign titled ‘Restore Your Balance’, to raise awareness of the destination’s varied product


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Marking the Japanese automaker’s third recall in the first two months of 2010, Toyota has issued a recall for 7,300 Camry vehicles from the 2010 model year, according to the company.
This recall only affects Camrys with a four-cylinder engine. The problem is with a power-steering hose that may be in contact with a front brake tube, which could create a hole in the tube and allow brake fluid to leak. This could negatively impact the effectiveness of braking in the vehicle.
Owners of the affected 2010 Camrys will get a mailed notification in the middle of February, Toyota says. More information is available at www.toyota.com/recall, and owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331.


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Jackfruit has just been unveiled as the Taste of the Year for 2020
Culinary professionals and consumers across Britain predict that in 2020, jackfruit will be the meat alternative of the year.
Following two separate surveys produced by the UK’s largest diners’ club tastecard, the meat substitute topped the polls with both consumers and food experts predicting that the fruit will massively increase in popularity on the high-street restaurant scene. Other popular food choices are set to include turmeric, collard greens and goji berries.
Loved by vegans and vegetarians alike, jackfruit has already seen its status rise in 2019 with more people trying plant-based diets.
Over 300 chefs and restaurateurs predict that jackfruit will be the food on everyone’s plates and dinner tables in 2020, with research indicating that 12 per cent of people have tried vegetarian and/or vegan diets in 2019, women being twice more likely to try the diet than men.
Consumers can look forward to seeing even more of this ingredient appear on restaurant menus across the country, with brands including Giraffe, PizzaExpress and Chiquito already serving dishes that feature the fruit.
Available in most major supermarkets, jackfruit can be used in a variety of ways and in traditional dishes including meat-free fishcakes, Sunday roasts and burgers.
To celebrate the tastecard Taste of Year 2020, the diners club is releasing a limited number of its coveted membership cards and will offer members a number of discounts at more than 6,000 restaurants across the country.
tastecard’s CMO, Anwar Sultan commented: “The jackfruit trend is set to soar in 2020 with the ingredient being favoured for mainstream menus and served on dinner tables across the country. I’m really looking forward to seeing how restaurateurs, chefs and home-cooks experiment and incorporate jackfruit within everyday meals”.


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Sales of voice-activated smart speakers have soared over the past three years with one in six American adults, the equivalent to 39 million people, now owning the tech, according to a fresh study.
NPR and Edison Research surveyed just under 2,000 individuals to compile the Smart Audio Report, discovering in the process that uptake is now ‘outpacing’ equivalent adoption rates in the more established smartphone and tablet markets.
Fueling the surge in interest is consumer demand for easy to use multipurpose gadgets which can be put to a variety of tasks such as locating restaurants and shops, checking the weather or even setting alarms and controlling smart home devices such as thermostats and lighting.
A detailed breakdown found that over half of smart speaker owners kept their device close at hand in the living room while 21% stored them in the kitchen and 19% kept one by their bedside, with time spent on their speaker directly replacing leisure time which might otherwise have been spent on the radio, TV, computer or publications.
Source: The Drum


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Clover forecasts higher profits
IOL Business - Sep 9th 2011, 09:03
Clover Industries (CFR) said on Thursday that headline earnings per share for the 2011 financial year were likely to increase to 113.84 cents from 33.07 cents previously.
The branded consumer goods and beverages group said headline earnings per share from continuing operations were likely to increase to 113.84 cents from 12.29 cents previously.
The company said headline earnings from continuing operations were expected to increase to 175.2 million rand from 19.0 million rand.
Clover will release the results on September 19. -
World food price index up
05/10/2012 - 07:56
World food prices rose slightly last month‚ following some stability in the preceding two months‚ according to the latest United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report.
Tiger Brands buys 63% Dangote Flour
05/10/2012 - 07:46
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on Thursday sold 63 percent of Dangote Flour to South African consumer goods firm Tiger Brands in a deal worth $188 million, brokers said.
PPI slows to 5.1% in August
28/09/2012 - 11:59
Johannesburg - SA's producer inflation, which represents domestic output, was slower at 5.1% year-on-year in August compared with 5.4% in July, Statistics SA data showed on Thursday.
Tiger Brands acquires a 63.35% shareholding interest in Dangote Flour Mills in Nigeria
25/09/2012 - 08:54
Tiger Brands Limited (“Tiger Brands”) and Dangote Industries Limited (“Dangote”) are pleased to announce they have executed a share sale and purchase agreement which will result in Tiger Brands acquiring a 63.35% shareholding in Dangote Flour Mills Plc (“Dangote Flour Mills”) for approximately R1.5 billion from Dangote. The transaction is expected to be effected during the first week of October 2012.
France fines washing powder firms
09/12/2011 - 08:25
Paris/Frankfurt - France’s competition authority slapped fines totalling $484m on Colgate Palmolive, Henkel and Procter & Gamble for fixing prices of washing powder in France from 1997 to 2004.


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Scramble’s Black Friday sale starts on Friday 29 November and ends Monday 2 December.
At Scramble Canada we will be offering 20% off all items in store.
The Kano Gi by Scramble is designed to commemorate jiujitsu’s roots in judo. The name is inspired by Kanō Jigorō , the founder of judo. His way of thinking strongly impacted combat sports, removing the so-called deadly techniques in favour of sporting techniques, and thus greatly improving the efficacy of those techniques by allowing the fighter to become an athlete and train as hard as possible. His team of judo experts famously defeated the previous generation of traditional jiujitsu athletes, despite having what appeared to be a more limited...
The Scramble Cali No-gi grappling set releases on Thursday October 24 at 11am EST.
The Cali No Gi Set of Rashguards, vale tudo shorts, and grappling shorts, will be available on the
Other stores (Korea, Japan, & resellers) will receive stock later.The theme for this set came about from knowing that a team of Scramble athletes would be representing the brand at ADCC, the “Olympics” of Grappling, that was held in California in 2019. The squad that...
Team Canada rashguards are now exclusively available in Scramble Canada Store.
We are excited to announce grand opening of Scramble Canada official online store and Montreal Martial Arts boutique.


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Extreme Networks has announced new 802.11n wireless access points and switches, and measures to help users cut the electrical power demands of their switches.
The wireless access points and wireless switches are re-branded versions of Siemens' 802.11n devices, and can therefore deliver full 802.11n performance, driven by standard power-over-Ethernet, says Paul Hooper, chief marketing officer at Extreme. Extreme has been selling this product family since before Siemens bought the original maker, Chantry Networks.
Other new products include the Summit X350, which "rounds out" its edge switch family with a 24/48 port switch for Gigabit to the desktop. There are also new blades for the BlackDiamond 8800 switch with higher Gigabit and 10 Gigabit density.
The new blades can be field-upgraded with Power over Ethernet modules, with no other changes to the chassis. This makes sense in the lifecycle of a switch, explained Hooper, as they tend to start out in the core of a network and get redeployed out to the edge, where PoE devices such as wireless APs and IP phones are more likely to reside.
Overall, the 8800 uses around a third the power of a comparable switch from Cisco, and half the electrical power of a switch from Foundry, according to a report on tests carried out by Tolly Group.
The latest version of ExtremeXOS, 12.1, includes the ability to automate network operations end-to-end: "It's the only modular OS for LANs that goes from the edge to the core," he said. Manageability could reduce the power demands still further, for instance by turning off ports in a call centre when it clearly is not in use.
The company hopes to promote tips like this, with Widget Central, a web-based community site, where network managers can can share tips for getting more out of their Extreme kit, and third parties can release tools to integrate the switches with other devices and software. "We've got a Posix OS that gives access into every capability of the switch," said Hooper - but so far those functions have only been used by academics, not businesses.


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International Business Machines (IBM) made a big profit after Tuesday's earnings were named the best this year.
Stocks jumped 8.46% a day and marking the biggest earnings day gain since September 2017 as the company's cloud, blockchain and artificial intelligence initiatives offered bulls to buy into the stock and its high-tech turnaround ambitions.
"While I have been in doubt about IBM for some time, I start to believe in the turnaround story here," Tim Collins commented on real money in his column on Wednesday. "A quarter does not, but it does it attentively."
The quarter was definitely one to remember, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
"Despite the main wind cycle of the mainframe, IBM delivered full-year revenue growth and its first quarter of gross margin expansion as Software rebounded and Services growth and margin recovery continued," Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty wrote in his earnings statement. "Guidance involves the surplus growth in 201
Armonk, New York-based tech titan's $ 4.87 earnings per report. In fact, the stock fell 5% from the same period a year ago, but came in the above FactSet consensus at $ 4.82 per share. Turnover also declined year-on-year to DKK 21.76 billion. $, But come back over the temperate analyst expectation of $ 21.72bn. $.
More positively, as Huberty locked on, the company expected "at least" $ 13.90 in earnings per head. Share and DKK 12 billion in free cash flow in 2019, which is above expectations for earnings and in line with cash flow expectations.
Curbing Estimates on Cash Flow
The stable cash flow is expected to be an important one as cash flows have been an area of concern considering the company's major dividend focus and the latest $ 34 billion block agreement for Red Hat (RHT).
In the longer term, the trade can cause problems such as the eradication of share buy-backs and the pressure on the company's highly protected dividends during its debt burden.
"Our rating remains Market Perform, which partly reflects the upcoming two-year break in stock buybacks, as free cash flow is geared towards Red Hat cash acquisition," Wells Fargo analyst ed caso said. "Our price target [is cut to] $ 140 from $ 155 reflects a lower market multiple and the lack of buybacks is expected to be rejected by 2020-21, offset by signs of further progress in their digital transition."
The company worked more positively to expand its margins specifically into its hollowing cognitive solutions unit, adding shine to the "clean quarter," and proposing realizable growth beyond the broader secular shifts.
Mapping a cloud course
Company bullish bullish calls on its hybrid cloud business, which is likely to be strengthened by Red Hat by the end of the year, has also begun to realize.
The company has recently inked partnerships with Juniper Networks (JNPR), BNP Paribas (BNPQY), Vodafone Group (VOD), Bank of Philippines and Walmart (WMT), suggesting a strong pipeline of cloud companions is available especially as Red Hat joins Big Blue fold.
"IBM's fourth-quarter results signaled strength in software, analytics and services focused on hybrid cloud and digital strategy," wrote Morgan Stanley's Huberty. "Better-than-expected demand for these segments at IBM also responds to feedback from our recent survey, where CIO & # 39; s ranked Cloud Computing, Digital and BI / Analytics in the ranking of Security Software and CRM Applications to become top three initiatives . "
The company declined to elaborate much on how Red Hat could accelerate this pipeline given the expected end date, but its VP for ecosystem Chris Wong told Realm Money that it will play a crucial role, especially in e-commerce.
"We can create solutions for consumers based on what they are looking for," he explained. "A store next to a college courage next to a guest house will be different and have different needs. This is one of the main reasons why IBM took over Red Hat to speed up the many cloud solutions that Provides flexibility to meet hyper-local consumer demand. "The trading segment will be highly beneficial, as it is unlikely to see any competition from the sky king Amazon (AMZN) who does not like retailers.
History must have shot in the arm which is shrinking growth to only 12% for the year 2018, far from Microsoft's (MSFT) Azure's 76% growth rate, which actually represented a slowdown in itself.
According to Synergy Research Group, IBM remains a distant third in the Cloud race behind Amazon and Microsoft, while the Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google Cloud offer is bronze neck and neck.
Microsoft and Amazon together control about 50% of the global cloud market share by the end of 2018 with each increasing market share in the end of the year. Meanwhile, IBM's market share dropped slightly and is threatened by the rising Alibaba (BABA) and Oracle (ORCL) globally for its location.
The acceleration that Red Hat could stoke will be a welcome and could increase the growth prospects of the low PE tech name.
This dissertation was convincing enough for Stifel analyst David Grossman who had a "buy" rating in the store.
"While the risk has been raised considering slower than expected revenue stabilization, we believe the risk rewards remain attractive given very negative market sentiment and more potential catalysts over the next 12 months, which could drive both estimates and higher," he concluded. . "Based on its defensive characteristics, the prospects for continued growth in cognitive / benefits and margins in 2019 and the RHT agreement in the second half of 2019, mean that the narrative must begin to become more positive and allow the population to build a base from current levels. . "
At least, the acquisition opens IBM's corporate face to an ecosystem of developers who are competing in the cloud.
"Another reason why this combination works so well for Red Hat is IBM's long history and dedication and participation in open source communities and focus on developing the ecosystem," Red Hat CEO James Whitehurst told analysts after the takeover announcement. "Together we believe we can be the world's strongest advocate of open source development."
An ecosystem is a well-known word for the developer community, which through its democratic nature has the power to do or break businesses.
Nels Wangensteen, managing partner and portfolio manager at Maytech Global Investments, an investment advisor and asset manager who monitors $ 179.1 million in assets, told Real Money that the popularity of developers is crucial.
"You must think of these companies as ecosystems," he said in an interview after the takeover. "They need a big developer community behind them."
The company's decision to "preserve Red Hat's open source innovation heritage, scale its huge technology portfolio and strengthen its widespread developer community" can prove to be a vital concession for many worried Red Hat employees and keep them aboard to keep the company's cloud ambitions obtainable.
The company's big bet on blockchain could also be a big payout.
"We see a strong pipeline as customers are interested in the benefits of blockchain behind their firewall," said Finance Director Jim Kavanaugh to Tuesday's analysts.
The effort in blockchain specific supply chain solutions recently highlighted by IBM's partnership with Ford (F) to track cobalt sourcing and Walmart to track food supply chain suggests that some of the major retail players And the car space certainly buys into this vision.
The initiation of the blockchain supply chain with Walmart has reduced its pollution time from days to seconds and highlights the value of the technology.
"Walmart has really chained itself to its use of technology," Wong said.
For reference, ReportLinker forecasted the global blockchain market size to grow from $ 1.2 billion in 2018 to $ 23.3 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 80.2%.
IBM's focus on retail hunting is also dependent on the forecasts of the report.
"The vertical retail and eCommerce industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the blockchain market by vertical in the forecast period," the report says. "Retail and e-commerce organizations make huge investments to improve the customer experience."
Investments are likely to help IBM, which quickly establishes itself as a leader in space.
IBM still has a long way ahead of it, but the pure quarter is a solid kickoff to the year of a company that has been desperately trying to orient its turnaround history to the new age block, blockchain and AI stories and away from the old picture, it built over 107 years.
"IBM is a cheap stock," Jim Cramer commented on the floor of the NYSE on Wednesday morning. "I like what I see in IBM."
He highlighted the bounceback from the company's bad third quarter and advised investors to take a longer term as the integration of Red Hat evolved.
"Fool me once, fool me Twice you know. The third quarter had some weaknesses in strategic imperatives, but the fourth quarter brought them all back," Cramer says. "They told you: Don't let 90 days be the verdict and they were right. I was very happy with IBM … it shouldn't have been where it was."
Technical analyst Realce Money Bruce Kamich added that stocks could move on from wherever it was in the coming weeks when he advised traders wishing to get involved in buying as stocks could quickly run into $ 150 plus row after the solid win of the day.
Shares remain positive as trading after trading.
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3i Infotech today introduced NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle, a first-ever Zero Trust Sovereign Cloud in Malaysia, which is slated to be a game-changer in how SMBs and enterprises adopt transformation.
The Zero Trust Sovereign Cloud platform will have data and operational sovereignty built into it, delivering compliance to companies that aim to keep data within the country. As a managed services provider, NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle will offer customers a whole stack of cloud services across IaaS and PaaS, supporting cloud-native applications and mission-critical and performance-intensive applications (HPC, GPU) workloads.
With NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle, verticals like BFSIs, public and government sectors, healthcare, media, and entertainment can seamlessly migrate to it. NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle, a Zero Trust Sovereign Cloud, is complemented by the NuRe suite of solutions, which include NuRe Desk, NuRe Velocity & NuRe Campuslabs. The platform will also help deploy native cloud-native workloads by empowering modern application development using technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, SDKs & APIs.
Thompson P Gnanam, Managing Director & Global CEO of 3i Infotech, said, “We have a longstanding relationship with Malaysia, which date back to two decades. It is one of the most important markets in the ASEAN region and one where we want to grow further. And, with NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle, Zero Trust Sovereign Cloud, enterprises in Malaysia can now realize their cross-border trade and business goals. Businesses can now leverage an enterprise-grade cloud converged infrastructure that will bring business-critical workloads on the NexGen Oracle cloud platform with better ROI in the shortest possible time. We look to achieve at least 40% lower TCO than on-premises and competing clouds due to superior performance backed by SLAs, automated migration and lifecycle management, and enhanced availability, security, and control.”
Reflecting on the launch of two Digital embedded business offerings – NuRe Velocity and NuRe Campus labs, Sax Krishna, Chief Growth Officer, 3i-Infotech Limited, said, “True Digital Transformation is synonymous with Cloud Adoption. SMB’s need access to business solutions that can accelerate their revenue, help enhance customer lifetime value and increase operational efficiencies. The launch of NuRe Velocity on NuRe 3i+ powered by Oracle, is designed for SMB’s and Enterprises to access AI & ML-based digital solutions on a pay-as-you-go model. Similarly, NuRe Campuslabs, the best-in-class ERP for education solution, to unify and manage operations seamlessly in multi-user and multi-location campuses for private and public higher education institutions.”
Nilesh Gupta, Chief Cloud Officer, 3i Infotech Limited, said, “This launch will truly open a world of opportunities for both nations. The rapid growth of cloud adoption over the past two years has seen it become ubiquitous. Enterprises have increasingly become reliant, while countries like Malaysia are at the forefront of data privacy and security compliance – with the use of our Zero trust sovereign cloud we cover data, technical and operation sovereignty with this launch. I strongly believe digital infrastructures and ecosystems cannot exist in silos and need to flourish through next-generation cloud-native integration, and this initiative is a step in that direction.”


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New York - Apple was expected to unveil a dramatically redesigned iPhone on Tuesday, and the price tag is rumoured to be $1,000 (R12 900), crossing into a new financial frontier that will test how much consumers are willing to pay for a device that's become an indispensable part of modern life.
Since it was introduced 10 years ago, the iPhone has been a great disrupter, heralding an end to everything from paper maps to small talk.
Here’s a (slightly) tongue-in-cheek look at all the things this ubiquitous gadget has laid to waste.
Let's see we may be saying goodbye to soon, thanks to the iPhone.
New York Times and AP


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If you’re looking to buy an Android phone, this is the week to do it. But the first deal we’ve found might be the best: Amazon is selling the Google Pixel 3 for $349Remove non-product link and the Google Pixel 3 XL for $449Remove non-product link, nearly 40 percent and $200 off Google’s already reduced prices and safe to say the craziest prices you’re ever going to see.
The Pixel 3 was Google’s flagship phone just two months ago, and it’s still a very respectable Android handset. (In fact, Google still sells it directly for $549 and $649.) While it doesn’t have the Pixel 4’s flagship features, including Motion Sense and Face Unlock, you’re getting a whole lot of phone in the Pixel 3 for a very small amount of money. There’s a 5.5-inch or 6.3-inch screen, a Snapdragon 845 processor, 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and of course, one of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone. And of course, it’s ready for Android 10.
But the biggest reason to buy a Pixel 3 is that the Pixel 4 isn’t very good. In my testing, I’ve found Google’s newest phone to be slow, buggy, and surprisingly slow to get updates, and it’s battery life isn’t great. And besides several of the Pixel 4 features are coming to the Pixel 3, including Live Caption, the new Assistant, the Recorder app, and several camera features.
Quite frankly, we’d recommend the Pixel 3 over the Pixel 4 even at its usual $549 price. But with a discount that’s brings it to $450 less than the Pixel 4, the Pixel 3 is a no-brainer purchase.
[Today’s deal: Google Pixel 3 for $349Remove non-product link and the Google Pixel 3 XL for $449Remove non-product link at Amazon]


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Laois entrepreneur Ronan O'Brien of Zatori Results flew the flag for Laois in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Now in its 21st Year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) 2018 programme has officially opened for nominations from Laois.
The theme of this year’s programme is “Ambition” and all sectors and businesses of all sizes are invited to submit their nominations until 16 February. The 24 finalists for 2018 will be announced on 23 April.
Laois entrepreneurs are encouraged to put themselves forward to follow in the footsteps of well-known Laois business people who have been involved in the programme as finalists in the past such as Ronan O’Brien of Zatori Results.
The successful finalists will have the opportunity to connect, learn and do business with the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni network, which consists of almost 500 of Ireland’s most successful business people. The finalists will get an opportunity to participate in the renowned international CEO Retreat which is designed to help Irish entrepreneurs transform their thinking and vision through executive education. They will also gain significant profiling, nationally and internationally.
Kevin McLoughlin Kevin McLoughlin, Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland launch the 2018 EOY programme.
“The diversity of participants in terms of industry, gender and location continues to grow each year. This is something we are very proud of. In 2017 30% of our finalists were female, fantastic role models for any young aspiring entrepreneur. I would strongly urge entrepreneurs across all industries and backgrounds, particularly female entrepreneurs, to nominate themselves this year to reflect the wide range of talent here on the island of Ireland,” he said.
Who can be nominated?
Operating in more than 60 countries worldwide, EOY is recognised as the most prestigious business accolade for entrepreneurs. The programme is open to entrepreneurs across all sectors on the island of Ireland. The awards programme is divided into three categories - Emerging, Industry and International - with 8 finalists chosen per category. The 24 finalists will be selected by an independent panel of judges, comprised of former EOY winners and chaired by Anne Heraty of CPL Resources plc. Individuals who wish to put themselves forward or nominate an entrepreneur with their consent, can fill out the online nomination form at www.eoy.ie or call the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ team for further information at email@example.com. The deadline for nominations is Friday, 16 February 2018.
Speaking at the launch, CEO of CPL Resources plc, Chairperson of the judging panel, and winner of the EOY programme in 2006, Anne Heraty said: “Each year I look forward to the launch of EOY and seeing the exciting new entrepreneurs that we will welcome into our Alumni community. It has been interesting to see the number of new industries emerging over the past few years, with an increasing focus on the global market, a trend that will no doubt continue this year. I expect to see the calibre of finalists increase once again in 2018, as we challenge them to improve and push their ambitions beyond what they would usually aim for.”
Last year saw a strong mix of male and female finalists across eight different sectors who collectively employed over 5,200 people and generated revenues of almost half a billion euro in 2017. Harry Hughes, of Portwest emerged as the overall winner at the 2017 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards and will go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in Monaco in June. Evelyn O’Toole, of CLS took top prize in the Industry category, while Jack Teeling from The Teeling Whiskey Company won top prize in the Emerging category.
What finalists can expect
The finalists will engage in a strategic growth programme over a 10-month period which includes a week-long CEO Retreat. As part of this international retreat, this year’s 24 finalists will join a group of more than 100 entrepreneurs, all previous finalists and winners of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme, and meet CEOs and entrepreneurs from some of the world’s biggest multinational companies.
The programme will include executive education sessions, the annual Gala Awards Dinner and many additional finalist benefits. In addition they will receive significant media profiling. An award is presented for each category, and an overall winner is announced as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in October. That person will go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ awards in Monaco in June 2019.


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Red tape and a labour shortage leave retailers and millions of lockdown gardeners with scant pickings.
'Trade in goods significantly harder under Brexit deal' says EU Goods Sub-Committee report 25/03/2021
The EU Goods Sub-Committee has published its report, Beyond Brexit: trade in goods, examining what the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) means for trade in goods.
Post-Brexit Red Tape Is Set To Cost The Meat Industry £120m A Year and Reduce Some Exports By Half 24/03/2021
New barriers to the UK's trade with the European Union are set to cost British meat businesses an extra £120m a year and result in some traders losing 50% of their exports to the continent, a leading industry body has warned.
The shortages have been brought on by a combination of Covid-19 and Brexit, with some laboratories predicting that they may not be resolved until late June.
The Brexit issues leaving a bitter taste 17/03/2021
Bridge Cheese founder Michael Harte shares his experiences of importing and exporting goods under the new EU trade agreement and looks at how the industry is having to adapt to the changing rules and regulations.
One of Northern Ireland's biggest catering suppliers is buying less from British firms and more from the EU due to Brexit and the Irish Sea border.
Wales' automotive industry faces more challenges over future Brexit trade changes, according to experts.
Businesses cite higher costs, customs delays and paperwork as among the problems they face.
Businesses are holding out hope for calmer times to come as Brexit has continued to cause disruption in supply chains.
New delays to post-Brexit import controls announced despite tax evasion and smuggling fears 11/03/2021
Businesses had warned of Northern Ireland-style disruption to trade if yet more red tape was imposed.
Big majority in EU parliament vote for corporate due diligence along entire supply chains, including for UK businesses.
Two weeks into Brexit, problems are mounting and recriminations are flying in all directions. The reality of Brexit is proving every bit as toxic as the four-and-a-half-year slog that got us to this point.
Major UK supermarkets have warned that they are experiencing shortages of cat and dog food amid a surge in people acquiring pets during the pandemic.
Since the new year, the impact of Brexit has had a clear effect on every stage of the logistics process... According to new research, 50% of UK business decision makers felt that Brexit uncertainty had negatively impacted their supply chain in the last five years, with this only set to increase as the full effect of Brexit becomes clear.
Ministers considering ‘lighter touch’ regime to avoid disruption to supplies from bloc.
Brexit to slash 0.5% from GDP in the first quarter, Office for Budget Responsibility says 03/03/2021
Disruption at Dover blamed for hit to UK supply chains.
Difficulties with logistics, trade with Northern Ireland, and the time and cost to fill out customs and due diligence paperwork are adding pressure to an already tight timber supply chain, a survey by the TTF has found.
Stock shortages and ‘random’ delays getting food from the EU will only get worse as new rules are phased in throughout this year, supply chain and logistics experts have warned.
British companies say new customs forms required following Brexit are the biggest hurdle to trading with the rest of the world, official data show.
Brexit-related issues are causing disruption for SME manufacturers in Yorkshire and the Humber, according to a new report.
Brexit issues are causing small to medium-sized (SME) manufacturers in the West Midlands significant disruption as they look to recover from the economic effects of Covid-19.
Brexit issues are causing small to medium-sized (SME) manufacturers in the West Midlands “significant disruption” as they look to recover from the economic effects of Covid-19.
Separating out shared supply chains and integrated business models requires the most delicate surgery.
An industry leader told MPs that the movement of parts is a ‘major challenge’.