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Consumer Electronics: A Global Outlook
San Jose, California (PRWEB) January 18, 2012
Follow us on LinkedIn – Digital technology is changing the face of consumer electronics, with the marketplace reaping huge benefits from the rising popularity of interactive digital applications. Products such as digital TVs, cameras, camcorders, smartphones and mobile computing devices have now infiltrated every home. The marketplace is not surprisingly characterized by cutthroat competition, short product life cycles and increasing product commoditization. Consumers across the globe are benefiting from the intense price competition in the industry, which is eating into the profit margins of manufacturers, while simultaneously making electronic products affordable across various geographies, particularly in fast growing economies such as China and India.
Powering most of the innovation witnessed in consumer electronics is the semiconductor industry, which has played a significant role in the evolution of several path-breaking technologies that have changed the face of world that we live in today, including mobile phones and computing devices that have revolutionized communications and information technology areas respectively. The role of semiconductors in this technology driven world is becoming highly evident, thanks to their extensive use in a wide range of applications right from traditional computers, televisions, audio players, and telephones to more advanced electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, smartphones, PDAs, DVD players, portable media players, video games, home-theater systems, microwaves, and printers, all of which use semiconductor devices. Development of smaller, faster, and cost efficient microchips will guide future innovations in the electronics space in the upcoming years.
Consumer automotive electronics will witness the maximum efficacy in terms of growth and product innovation, given that over 60% of a car's value resides in its electronics. In-car audio/visual systems like in-dash multimedia system with DVD video, in-dash video receivers, digital satellite radio, automotive DVD players, onboard video displays for rear seat entertainment, dedicated GPS/navigation and telematics systems, are poised to witness the highest growth.
In the home entertainment sector, handheld games, console games will witness the strongest gains in sync with the growing household penetration of video games in general. Home audio equipment represents a huge market after television in the worldwide consumer electronics industry. Currently in vogue are flattened speakers, a revolutionary design transformation from the traditional boxy models. Smaller, and compact speakers are also very much in vogue. Thoughtfully, and artistically designed speakers command a higher price in the marketplace given the changing image of speakers from just a sound reproducing device into an object of fine art. A noteworthy lifestyle induced phenomenon is the widespread popularity of using PCs for audio and video entertainment. The rise of plasma and flat-screen television sets in the consumer electronics market has created a need for speakers also to move in sync with the trend. Flat-panel loudspeakers have emerged to provide advanced sound complementariness and synergies with the advanced video display technology of TVs.
In the communications segment, handheld computing devices, comprising of Laptop/Notebook PC, Smartphones, PDAs and Tablet PCs, are rising in popularity chiefly as a result of workforce mobility. Globally, notebook personal computers are increasingly outpacing desktop PCs in terms of features, computing power and price. Laptops consume up to 90 percent less energy in comparison to desktops PCs. With rising energy cost and the shrinking price difference between a desktop and laptop, over the entire product lifecycle makes laptop a cost-effective solution than a desktop from a TCO (total cost of ownership) perspective. The industry is positive about the potential for mobile computing devices in both developed and developing nations, thanks to rise in popularity of online social networking sites (such as Facebook) and growing online video consumption. In future years, people will continue to access their favorite Internet sites ‘on-the-go’, due to adoption of a dynamic and mobile lifestyle. Also, advancements in mobile computing technologies will support the rising popularity of notebooks and netbook PCs as consumers opt to make their personal computers more mobile. This trend is likely to continue as notebooks feature more customized options, broader connectivity options, enhanced energy-efficiency, while technology innovation delivers a more vibrant multimedia experience.
The research report titled “Consumer Electronics: A Global Outlook” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers a rudimentary overview of the industry, highlights latest trends and demand drivers, in addition to providing statistical insights. Regional markets briefly abstracted and covered include US, Canada, Europe (France, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom) Asia-Pacific (Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, and Taiwan), and Latin America. The report offers a compilation of recent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic corporate developments. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies worldwide.
For more details about this comprehensive industry report, please visit –
About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/


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Selling Healthy Food to People Like It's Junk Food Is a Very Bad Idea
In February, Michelle Obama heralded a new front in America’s war against obesity. During a summit of the Partnership for a Healthier America, the First Lady declared that if big food companies “are going to pour money into marketing unhealthy foods, then let’s fight back with ads for healthy foods.”
She unveiled a campaign to “creatively market fruits and vegetables to take back America’s taste buds.” Dubbed FNV, for fruits and vegetables, the promotional effort will use “dynamic visuals, a self-aware tone, compelling spokespersons and savvy activations to market fruits and veggies in an entirely new way.”
Victors and Spoils, the Colorado-based ad agency tasked with handling the campaign, elaborated that while fruits and vegetables possess “vibrant colors and interesting flavors,” they lack the “marketing pixie dust” that make processed-food brands irresistible.
In essence, the idea is to use junk-food tactics to sell healthy foods.
On one level the campaign makes sense. In the United States, children are bombarded with 10,000 to 20,000 commercials every year for high-calorie nutritionally poor foods like chips, pizza, soda, and candy. Food marketing is one of the main culprits behind the obesity epidemic with 32 percent of American kids overweight or obese. Most children under twelve lack the brain power to dissect advertising, making them uniquely susceptible to Madison Avenue’s flashy and subtle techniques alike. Food companies focus on children because scholars say little kids develop “brand preference” before they even begin nagging parents to buy them treats. One Yale University study found children ate 45 percent more of a salty, fatty snack when exposed to television food ads than when they saw no advertising.
So why not fight fire with fire say public-health advocates? It’s worked for baby carrots. Led by the California-based Bolthouse Farms, forty-nine carrot growers banded together in 2010 to promote baby carrots with the tag line, “Eat ‘em like junk food.” Using the arsenal of modern advertising—from billboards, in-store displays and self-parodying commercials, to neon packaging, a web series, vending machines and video games—the campaign boosted sales by 10 percent in test markets before being rolled out nationwide.
That’s the model for the FNV campaign, which has recruited celebrities like Hollywood Actress Jessica Alba, musician Nick Jonas, and NFL star Victor Cruz to make fruit and vegetables as cool as junk food. Except it won’t work.
While some marketing pixie dust may rub off on apples and broccoli, the campaign is completely outgunned. It has a $5 million budget. The baby-carrot campaign had a $25 million war chest. In comparison, McDonald’s alone spent $972 million in U.S.-based advertising in 2012. Overall, food companies spend an estimated $10 billion annually to market to American youth, and the vast majority of that is for junk food.
Fresh produce can never come close to narrowing the marketing gap, and the reasons for this reveal why a junk-food style campaign will not only fail to foster good eating habits, it may backfire by encouraging unhealthy trends.
The market strength of iconic foods comes from brand names that are trademarked, production processes that are patented, and recipes that are trade secrets. For instance, Nestle has 654 patents and Coca-Cola, 369 patents. For big food processors, the raw ingredients are one of their smallest costs. The corn in a two-ounce bag of Doritos may cost a couple of pennies. But Frito-Lay’s proprietary production methods and marketing juggernaut means it can charge a dollar or more for that bag.
Brands like Doritos are “value-added” products. That means a basic commodity is enhanced in some way so one can charge more than a generic version. This is what Starbucks did with coffee, Hershey’s with chocolate and sugar, Kraft with cheese, and Kellogg’s with corn, wheat, and rice. Successful branding enables companies to extract high profits from low-cost goods. Then they pour huge sums into more marketing, promotion, and branding to convince consumers they are buying an experience, not just a bag of chips or bottle of soda. Companies also use marketing, promotion, and exclusivity deals to help them dominate shelf space and markets, which shuts out competitors and extends their control, market share, and pricing power. (There is also overlap between value-added products and the concept of “monopoly rents.”)
This is the slippery slope of junk-food marketing. The FNV campaign aims to “go toe-to-toe with other big iconic brands.” But the only way it can match the marketing muscle of junk food is by creating actual branded goods that add value to the basic commodity. With food this often involves additional processing, and that is the story of baby carrots, which are value-added regular carrots.
One rule of healthy eating is the less standardized, less processed and fresher the food, the more nutrients it has. Heirloom carrots plucked hours before being sold at a farm stand are generally more nutritious than commercial varieties of carrots shipped 2,000 miles to a supermarket. In turn, whole carrots are superior to baby carrots that are trimmed, sanitized, packaged, and may sit for weeks in refrigerators. Most forms of processing speed up the decay of nutrients, which is probably why baby carrots have lower levels of vitamins and minerals than regular carrots.
While the American diet is so poor most people would benefit from munching on baby carrots regularly, they are not as good as a plain unbranded carrot. But Bolthouse needs a branded product, otherwise any agribusiness concern could grab market share by selling any carrot cheaper. In fact, 96 percent of the billion-dollar baby carrot market is controlled by Bolthouse and one other company across the street from it in Southern California.
Tight market control enables the two producers to charge twice as much for a baby carrot as regular carrots. In 2012, Bolthouse took the value-added process a step further. It introduced “Shakedowns,” small bags of baby carrots with a separate spice pack. Having the consumer combine two packaged processed foods is a time-tested method of increasing sales and value. The innovation allows Bolthouse to sell carrots to the public for about seven dollars a pound—five to ten times the prices of regular carrots.
While the Shakedowns are low calorie, it’s another step closer to junk food. Michele Simon, author of Appetite for Profit and a critic of the food industry, points out the implications when she asks, “How will kids learn to eat more veggies if they must always be heavily seasoned and marketed?” Marketing healthy food as junk food encourages snacking, convenience foods, and packaged goods—habits that are all implicated in the obesity epidemic. Marion Nestle, one of the nation’s leading nutrition experts and professor at New York University, says the food industry’s profit motive leads it to urge “people to ‘eat more’ by making it socially acceptable to eat anywhere, anytime, and in very large amounts.”
Grabbing a bag of baby carrots is better than potato chips, but it runs counter to encouraging set meal times with others and eating dishes made from fresh whole foods. Additionally, junk-food marketing teaches children that plain foods are boring, and they need flashy commercials with guns, explosions, hot babes and dinosaurs to be interesting. Kids already think a food tastes better when packaged, and the baby-carrot campaign reinforces that.
The FNV campaign falls into the same trap. A celebrity may grab kids’ attention, but it teaches them to look to sports stars and actors for dietary advice. And food companies have long used stars to pitch junk food. One study found that when athletes endorsed foods and beverages, 85 percent were for energy-dense, nutrient-poor products like Gatorade, Oreos, Coca-Cola, and big fast-food chains. Many children will have difficulty understanding they should listen to one athlete telling them to eat oranges, but not another telling them to eat Big Macs. It’s also likely that branding will lead farmers, producers, and retailers to create patented value-added products that return higher profits so they can afford all the marketing. The cost will be higher prices, lower nutritional quality and poorer eating habits.
Junk-food companies are also savvy enough to know they are not threatened by healthy foods adopting their techniques. Commenting on the baby-carrot campaign, a spokesperson for Frito-Lay gloated, “We’re happy to serve as an inspiration.” They know junk-food-style advertising promotes all junk food consumption.
This is what happened with the “Great Cola War” between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, in which the rivals have spent billions of dollars in trying to achieve market supremacy. In reality, explains PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico, “If the Coca-Cola Company didn’t exist, we’d pray for someone to invent it … when the public gets interested in the Pepsi-Coke competition, often Pepsi doesn’t win at Coke’s expense and Coke doesn’t win at Pepsi’s. Everybody in the business wins. Consumer interest swells the market. The more fun we provide, the more people buy our products—all our products.”
If junk-food-style marketing did threaten the junk-food industry, it would be up in arms. What does threaten junk food are stringent federal nutrition standards, soda taxes, limits on advertising to children, banning toy giveaways with fast-food meals, healthier school lunches, subsidizing the purchase of fresh foods by food-stamp recipients. It’s why the food giants marshal armies of lobbyists to fight all these measures.
Marketing healthy food like junk food needs to be trashed, and the focus returned to fighting the processed-food industry instead of imitating it.
Reprinted from Telesur TV.

domain: news


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Article originally appeared on www.foxnews.com.
The bill, signed in 2021 by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, will force stores that sell childcare items or toys to pay a $500 fine should the store fail to create a gender-neutral toy section for kids 12 years old and under.
A childcare item, according to the legislation text, “means any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething.”
Traditional boys and girls sections won’t be outlawed, but a gender-neutral section must also be created.
Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Research Council — a conservative public policy nonprofit group — told Fox News Digital in an interview Tuesday the law “violates the First Amendment.”
CELEBRITY CHEF ANDREW GRUEL SAYS …
|View full article


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iQOO Z5 tipped to debut in India this month
iQOO is working to introduce the Z5 smartphone as a successor to the Z3 model. As per tipster Debayan Roy, it will be launched in India later this month. The company is likely to introduce a Z5 Pro variant as well. The tipster has also claimed that that the iQOO 8's September debut has been postponed to sometime later. Here's more on iQOO Z5.
The phone will sport a Super AMOLED screen
The iQOO Z5 is expected to feature a waterdrop notch design with slim bezels and an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure biometric authentication. On the rear, it might have a quad camera unit. The handset is likely to bear a 6.57-inch Full-HD+ (1080x2460 pixels) Super AMOLED screen with an aspect ratio of 20:9 and a 120Hz refresh rate.
There will be a 64MP main camera
The iQOO Z5 will reportedly offer a quad rear camera setup comprising a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP secondary lens, and two 2MP cameras. On the front, it could get a 16MP selfie shooter.
It will support 65W fast-charging
The iQOO Z5 will draw power from a Snapdragon 778G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Under the hood, it will run on Android 11 and pack a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast-charging support. For connectivity, the device should offer support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, a headphone jack, and a Type-C port.
iQOO Z5: Pricing and availability
The official pricing and availability details of iQOO Z5 in India will be announced at the time of its launch, which will take place later this month. However, the purported specifications suggest that it will carry a price-tag of around Rs. 25,000.


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--Accor: No Sign Of Demand Slowdown
--Accor: To Reach Expansion Target Through Acquisition, Organic Growth
--Accor To Add 5,000 Rooms A year Through Acquisitions Starting 2012
(Adds details, comments from CEO in paragraph one and five, background in paragraph 3 and updated stock price in the last paragraph)
PARIS (MarketWatch) -- French hotel group Accor SA (AC.FR) Tuesday forecast a strong performance in 2011 after a good summer, and Chief Executive Denis Hennequin said there was no sign of a slowdown in demand so far this year.
Accor, which owns hotels ranging from the upscale Sofitel chain to the U.S.-based Motel6 low-budget brand, expects its earnings before interest and taxes to reach between EUR510 million and EUR530 million this year after an "excellent" first half and a promising summer-season. The company's EBIT for 2010 was EUR446 million.
Accor's competitor InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG.LN), which owns Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands among others, recently said the travel industry has been resilient to economic upheavals so far.
Accor also said it will speed up its plan to increase the number of hotels operated under franchise and management contracts and sell off owned property to raise cash and cut net debt. The project will cut adjusted net debt by EUR1 billion over the period 2013-2015.
The company will also speed up its expansion and plans to open 35,000 rooms this year and to open 40,000 rooms a year starting in 2012. This will be achieved through acquisitions and organic growth, Hennequin said. The company plans to add 5,000 rooms a year through acquisitions.
Accor added it plans to strengthen its leadership in Europe and Latin America and boost its presence in Asia-Pacific, especially in China.
In the U.S., the group will accelerate its revamping of the low-budget hotel chain Motel 6. Jim Amorosia has been appointed as new CEO of the chain. Elsewhere, Accor will invest EUR150 million in rebranding its Ibis, All Seasons and Etap hotels under the single Ibis brand.
Shares of Accor were down 4.7% at 0842 GMT while the benchmark CAC-40 index was down 2.8%.


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Can & end making
Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein is now offering its customers Rasselstein CFPA (Chromium-Free Passivation Alternative), a 100% chromium-free passivation based on titanium, for use on the surface of tinplate. This passivation alternative minimises the tin oxide growth during storage, providing the same functionality as chromium-based passivation. CFPA is fully compliant with EU and FDA regulations and is approved […]
Sacmi Imola recently hosted its Metal Day 2019 – a two-day event that brought together over 160 international customers from 29 countries.
Russian beer brand Alcon, has partnered with Ball Corporation for the new launch of Braus.
In an effort to move away from plastic six-pack rings, Corona beer is doing away with extra packaging altogether with its new can.
Russian bottled water brand, Svyatoy Istochnik, has introduced a flavoured water to the Russian market in aluminum cans.


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Iran Gasoline Imports Decline
EghtesadOnline: Gasoline imports reached 10 million liters per day on average since the beginning of the current fiscal in March, down almost 2 million liters from the previous fiscal, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) managing director said.
Denying claims about higher gasoline purchases from foreign companies in recent months, Abbas Kazemi said, “The fuel is imported via ships of different capacities. A 40-million liter cargo maybe unloaded one day and no shipment may arrive the next day. What matters is the average import volume,” IRNA reported on Tuesday.
Media outlets owned or affiliated to the political opponents of President Hassan Rouhani and his administration recently alleged that NIORDC had ramped up gasoline imports compared to the previous fiscal.
According to Kazemi, Iranians burned almost 74 million liters of gasoline daily in the previous fiscal. The government had to import 12 ml/d to meet the shortfall, Financial Tribune reported.
Asked about domestic gasoline production, Kazemi said, “Around 62 million liters of gasoline is produced in our refineries daily and 2 ml/d of methyl tert-butyl ether is added to the output to raise its octane number.” Higher octane levels indicate better quality in fuels.
Kazemi noted that average consumption of gasoline stands at 78 million liters per day so far this year. “The higher figure is due to the economic upturn after the lifting of international sanctions last year as well as the production of 1.3 million vehicles in fiscal 2015-16.”
Bandar Abbas Refinery in southern Hormozgan Province has stabilized production of Euro-4 quality gasoline at 4.5 million liters per day, Kazemi noted.
The NIORDC chief referred to the second development phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery which is set for launch in the third quarter of this year. “Iran will export gasoline after the launch of Star refinery’s second phase,” he said. Once in full swing, the refinery will produce 36 million liters per day of high-octane gasoline and 14 million ml/d of diesel, which will effectively cut gasoline imports and make way for exporting the product. The first phase, with capacity to produce 12 ml/d of Euro-4 gasoline came on stream last month.
Asked about rehabilitation of Abadan Oil Refinery in Khuzestan Province, he said, “Plans have been made to improve the refinery’s processing capacity and efficiency at an estimated cost of €2.7 billion ($2.87 billion) in Chinese funding.”
More than 40% of the refinery’s output is mazut which is barely worth one-third of crude oil.
“Following the launch of the Star refinery, we now have no issues in producing regular and high-octane gasoline. Almost 80 million liters of regular gasoline is in our inventories,” Kazemi said, noting that total gasoline in storage tanks amounts to 200 million liters.
Almost 120 million liters of premium gasoline, sold as ‘super’, has also been stored. Premium gasoline is sold in major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Mashhad.
Kazemi stressed that gasoline storage may fluctuate on a weekly or daily basis. “Sometimes storage is up, at times it is down. There is no cause for concern.”


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Samsung has unveiled its new range of Smart SSDs, also known as Computational Storage Drives, at the 2020 Flash Memory Summit, which is taking place virtually this year for some reason or other.
As spotted by our friends at Techradar, it’s an SSD with its own processor the CPU can offload work to in the same way it does to a GPU, accelerating database management and virtualisation in data centres, plus video processing and (most frighteningly) AI. Samsung says this gives a 100x improvement in search speeds, as well as increasing compression to fit more on a drive—the ability to cram 12TB onto a 4TB drive was mooted, using accelerated transparent compression.
The tech comes via Xilinx, an American semiconductor company recently acquired by AMD for $35 billion. It specialises in Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)—essentially chips that can be reconfigured after they’ve been built. These see use in data centres for search engines, as well as artificial neural networks, speech recognition, and high-frequency stock trading.
This is going to be enterprise-class technology for a while, but will inevitably trickle down to the home desktop eventually, where you'll need to watch what you save as the AI in your drive will surely have opinions about your files. Or not. What’s the point of living in a techno-dystopia if you can’t speculate a little?


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NFT.NYC 2023: Sharif Mohammed, CEO at Valeria Games
Valeria Games has exploded in popularity over the past few months; and with their imminent mobile launch, we chat to CEO Sharif Mohammed!
If there’s one game that had a stellar NFT.NYC 2023, it was Valeria Games.
Valeria is an upcoming free-to-play, real-time strategy game built on Polygon, with an imminent iOS and Android release. Players summon, train, evolve, and battle their Valerian creatures as they progress through the story, participate in PVP matchups, complete quests, enter dungeons, and compete in tournaments.
We caught up with Valeria’s CEO Sharif Mohammad at NFT.NYC to discuss their progression since NFT.London, the reaction to their demo, and what’s in store across the rest of 2023!


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Casio Announces High-Speed Point-and-Shoots
Casio is applying it's high-speed technology to a new generation of consumer digicams. The company has announced this week at CES two new pocket-sized cameras which will be able to shoot 30 still frames per second in burst mode. Both cameras will be branded with Casio's consumer name, Exilim: the EX-FC100 and the EX-FS10.
Unlike traditional consumer pocket cams, these two new models can capture ultra-high speed action-shots, such as the precise moment a bat hits a ball, by recording dozens of frames in just a few moments. In playback mode, a review of the many shots looks rather like a slo-motion replay, and consumers can choose to save the most exciting frames.
William Heuer, Vice President of Digital Imaging for Casio America, said the new point-and-shoots capture so fast, even ultra-zoom and night shots are "virtually without blur."


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Bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices have leaped following the latest U.S. jobs report that showed employers added 467,000 jobs in January, well above all estimates.
The bitcoin price has climbed 8% over the last 24 hours to just over $40,000 per bitcoin, up from $36,000 just 24 hours ago.
Meanwhile, other major cryptocurrencies including ethereum, Binance's BNB, solana, cardano and XRP have also jumped, adding over $100 billion to the combined crypto market.
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The January jobs numbers also showed average hourly earnings rose 0.7% last month and 5.7% from a year ago, the biggest increase in decades and exacerbating fears of persistent inflation. The consumer price index climbed 7% in 2021, the largest 12-month gain since June 1982.
Soaring wages could mean the U.S. Federal Reserve takes an even more aggressive stance on inflation this year, with the market already pricing in an interest rate hike in March.
"January jobs data was shockingly strong," Callie Cox, analyst at trading platform eToro said in emailed comments, calling the report "a huge deal." "This is a robust job market, and it reinforces the Fed’s decision to hike rates."
"All of this is more ammunition for Fed hawks to push even harder and makes it more likely that the central bank will embark on an aggressive series of interest rate hikes in 2022," Mike Owens, global sales trader at Saxo Markets, wrote in emailed comments. "But the big question is will we get a 50-basis points hike in March?"
Meanwhile, online retailer Amazon reinvigorated stocks this morning, with its strong post-earnings rally wiping away the bad taste that Meta's major miss left in investors' mouths.
The bitcoin price crash over the last few months has weighed on the idea that bitcoin could act as a hedge against inflation—an idea popularized by famed investor Paul Tudor Jones in 2020.
Tudor Jones called bitcoin "the fastest horse to beat inflation," however, the bitcoin price fell sharply late last year along with stock markets after the Fed admitted it would have to raise interest rates to cool the red-hot economy.
"In the last two years, risk-on equities and bitcoin have been positively correlated," BitBull Capital CEO Joe DiPasquale said via email.
"This was not the case overall previously. This week, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 have recovered where they were before January 21, the day bitcoin sold off from $43,000 to $35,000. With equities’ partial recovery, all things being equal, we expected to see bitcoin back to $40-41,000."
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Ahead of the bitcoin price rally, ethereum and its major rivals solana, BNB and cardano had climbed following a broad sell-off earlier this week.
The price of ethereum and solana had fallen sharply after a $325 million decentralized finance hack spooked investors but prices rebounded after the project's backer restored user funds.


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A $10 Billion Loophole: Will General Motors Really Ignore the Same Taxpayers That Saved It From Ruin
General Motors has just been slapped with a staggering lawsuit that could cost the automaker more than $10 billion. The lawsuit claims that General Motors is liable for a loss of resale value on as many as 15 million vehicles, some of which aren't even involved in the ignition switch recall debacle, due to damaged brand image. With all the negative publicity about General Motors and its ever-growing pile of recalled vehicles -- 17.7 million vehicles in the U.S. and counting -- how will the company respond to this suit? Will it fork over the cash to its customers?
Don't count on it. It appears that America's largest automaker could use a loophole that formed when it emerged from its bankruptcy in 2009.
Here's where it gets tricky
Make no mistake, this massive recall saga has ballooned into a very complex situation. It has been made especially tricky because the bankruptcy General Motors emerged from in late 2009 enables "New" GM to avoid responsibility for accidents that originated during the "Old" GM era, in its pre-bankruptcy days.
Apparently, when you're America's largest automaker, this defense works perfectly. That's the kicker in this tragic case -- because many of these ignition switch accidents took place almost a decade ago, "New" GM can, in theory, avoid responsibility.
Toyota, while avoiding bankruptcy through its entire recall saga in 2009 and 2010, unfortunately did not have that same defense available and ended up settling a very similar lost-value lawsuit under terms valued between $1 billion and $1.4 billion.
To be very clear, General Motors has said that it will absolutely take "Old" GM's responsibility, and rightfully so, for those people directly affected by the ignition switch defects through crashes, injuries, or tragic deaths. Currently, it appears "New" GM's assumption of "Old" GM's responsibility will end with the 300 individuals identified as having been directly affected.
In reality, this lost-value lawsuit is but one piece of the entire situation surrounding General Motors. Here are a few more things to consider, and a mystifying lack of a response from the taxpayers that were left on the hook paying to save the once troubled Detroit automaker.
Does anybody care?
General Motors has recalled over 17.7 million vehicles in the U.S. this year. That amount is more than the entire automotive industry is expected to sell in the U.S. this year, an estimated 16.1 million vehicles. Furthermore, General Motors is currently on pace this year to top the entire auto industry's record of 30.8 million vehicles recalled, set in 2004, single-handedly.
After the American taxpayer helped fuel General Motors' unique bankruptcy and bailout process roughly five years ago, our thank-you note was an $11.2 billion tab. After all of that, is General Motors really going to try to shrug off a $10 billion lawsuit that alleges that as many as 15 million American car buyers lost value on their vehicles?
Surely the American consumer would respond to either the massive recall debacle or this new lawsuit?
If Americans responded, it certainly wasn't in terms of purchasing competing vehicles, rather than General Motors' -- the company's sales are up 13% through the first five months of the year, and May was the company's best monthly sales performance since August 2008.
"It's remarkable how disconnected the buying public is from this story," said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, according to Bloomberg. "It doesn't seem to have affected sales at all."
Despite ballooning recalls, massive incompetence, and tragic deaths linked to ignition switch defects, it's possible that General Motors could emerge from this entire recall debacle relatively unscathed. We know that General Motors will take a $2 billion charge on its financial reports through the first two quarters, and that it plans to set up a massive fund to compensate victims' claims. But is that enough?
If General Motors emerges, after all is said and done, paying roughly the same amount Toyota did for its massive recall a few years ago, roughly $3 billion, wouldn't that seem like a slap on the wrist? Wouldn't that be insignificant compared to the tab GM left taxpayers on the hook for, to the tune of $11.2 billion? Before you answer, consider that General Motors ended the first quarter with $27 billion in automotive cash and marketable securities. Maybe it's time consumers and investors spoke up.
Warren Buffett's worst auto nightmare (Hint: It's not Tesla)
A major technological shift is happening in the automotive industry. Most people are skeptical about its impact. Warren Buffett isn't one of them. He recently called it a "real threat" to one of his favorite businesses. An executive at Ford called the technology "fantastic." The beauty for investors is that there is an easy way to invest in this megatrend. Click here to access our exclusive report on this stock.
The article A $10 Billion Loophole: Will General Motors Really Ignore the Same Taxpayers That Saved It From Ruin? originally appeared on Fool.com.Daniel Miller owns shares of General Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. 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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Lamborghini is set to unveil its first electric supercar in 2028, but the company’s CEO Stephan Winklemann says don’t expect its hybrids to phase out anytime soon.
With several automakers proving a fully electric supercar is possible, the brand that’s essentially synonymous with performance is finally setting a date for its EV release.
Companies like Rimac are releasing electric hypercars like the Nevera with 0-to-60 mph capabilities of 1.85 seconds.
In January, Lamborghini’s CEO claimed 2022 would be the last year we would see a new solely gas-powered Lambo hit the market. As of 2023, Winklemann says Lamborghini will release only hybrid electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles as it progresses toward a pure electric model.
Lamborghini is spending $1.8 billion on a four-year electrification transformation, which includes a few fan-favorite Lamborghini models that will get an HEV or PHEV upgrade, such as the:
- Aventador HEV in 2023
- Huracan PHEV in late 2024
- Urus PHEV SUV also in 2024
Meanwhile, while many automakers have used hybrid as a bridge to fully electric or have skipped this phase altogether, Lamborghini plans to keep hybrids “as long as possible.”
Lamborghini to sell hybrids alongside fully electric models
Although Lamborghini is targeting 2028 for a pure electric model, the supercar company isn’t planning to phase out its engines anytime soon.
According to an interview with Auto Express, Lamborghini’s chief suggests synthetic fuels may play a role in “keeping [Lamborghini] alive,” adding:
We don’t need to decide now – we still have some time. After 2025 we need to take action.
Despite these comments, Winkleman did mention Lamborghini’s first electric model will not replace any current models. Instead, it will be a:
Fourth model which will be more daily useable. This means a 2+2, two-door car with more ground clearance.
The company hinted at working with Volkswagen, as it did for the Urus, meaning it could use VW’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), designed for all auto segments.
Lamborghini’s chief technical officer, Rouven Mohr, spoke on the benefits of a Lamborghini electric vehicle, stating:
Some of our core pillars from the technology point of view are fitting perfectly with the electric world. If we speak about carbon-fibre function integration, battery integration as a structural part – this is something that allows you much more degrees of freedom from the design perspective in the sense of aerodynamics.
As far as the added battery weight, Mohr says:
We have some cool ideas to compensate this… for instance regarding the driving dynamics, the control, the driftability, the driving behaviour in general.
Adding the possibility of “a 360-degree approach combining all active systems to enable wheel speed control, not possible with a standard combustion engine.”
Lamborghini seems to be a little late to the electric supercar party, but waiting until 2028? That may cost them.
The automaker’s CEO says they have until 2025 to decide; yet by that time, the market of electric supercars will be several times larger. Furthermore, automakers are continuously developing innovations allowing electric cars to go faster and drive longer.
I’m excited to see Lamborghini setting a date for a pure electric model. However, by 2028, it may not have the same thrill after several electric supercars hit the market.
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The price of a barrel of oil could drive wildcatters and roughnecks to the bottle. But Mark Thompson is hitting the other side of the bar.
Thompson, a petroleum engineer who had been working as a consultant, plans to launch the Congress Park Taproom on Colorado Boulevard in August. His plan is to tap into a base of current and future Colorado Boulevard residents from a 30-draft-line beer hall across from the former CU Hospital.
“There are a lot of people who live here and want to live here, and with everything coming in across the street, there’s a need for a place like this,” he said. “Hopefully people in the neighborhood can find certain beers here so you don’t have to go downtown to the breweries or wherever else.”
Thompson, 31, grew up in New Mexico and moved to Denver about five years ago. He decided to jump into the bar business full time after his engineering work dried up. It will be his first gig in the hospitality industry.
He plans to spend about $180,000 to renovate his space at 833 Colorado Blvd. in hopes of opening in August. Thompson said he and his father are funding the venture themselves and do not plan to seek a bank loan.
The plan is to install 30 beer taps and four taps for wine. Thompson said he plans to sell prepackaged snacks but won’t have a full food menu.
Congress Park Taproom shares a retail building with Falafel King, Swing Thai and Dae Gee Korean BBQ, and Thompson said customers will be able to bring in their own food.
Thompson’s 2,000-square-foot bar-to-be previously was a Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli and most recently housed Twisted Cream, which offered booze-infused ice cream.
Twisted Cream opened in May 2015 serving items such as a Fireball-tinged vanilla ice cream and a “Dirty Mint Chip” frozen treat with peppermint schnapps and crème de menthe. But the buzz wore off by winter, and Twisted Cream had closed by the end of January.
Thompson signed a two-year lease on the space at the beginning of May. That deal has three more two-year extension options once the original term expires, he said.
The space is mostly ready to go, Thompson said. The original sandwich counter from Heidi’s remains intact, but Thompson will need to raise it a bit to convert it to a sit-down bar. He’s planning a few other interior changes, but doesn’t anticipate the need to bring on a contractor or go to the city for building permits.
“It’s something I’ve already wanted to do, so I always had an idea and now we’re trying to fit it to the space at hand,” Thompson said.
Blue Sky Studio designed Congress Park Taproom.
With 30 taps to fill, Thompson said he’s not going to be too picky on brand or variety as long as the brews come from Colorado.
“I’ll keep it to Colorado,” he said. “So it won’t necessarily all be ‘local,’ but I’ll go as far as Durango, or Fort Collins and anywhere around there.”
Thompson also welcomes a big Colorado brewer.
“I’ll have one Coors Light tap handle,” he said. “And it’ll go down in size from there.”


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Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter On Creation
Capcom has announced their plans to release a sequel to their X-Men versus Street Fighter, Marvels SuperHeroes versus Street Fighter. Not much has been released in detail about this game, but the Cafe has confirmed Sakura and Wolverine (as seen in the picture), and Spiderman and Dan to be in the game as well. The game is scheduled to be released by, or during the summer.
As a personal speculation of the Howlin' Mad -H-, Norimaro (seen in the "appetizer" section, X-men vs. SF artilce) might be in this game as well...
Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter Copyright Capcom 1997. Marvels Super Heroes Copyright Marvel Comics 1997.


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What’s coming up in downtown Visalia
Nearly a dozen members of the Downtown Association gathered for the monthly Business Development meeting Wednesday morning.
“I invite all of the merchants for the event meetings,” said Christi Metzner, events and membership manager. “It’s a fun meeting where we add events, change events and gather ideas to make events better.”
She said this month’s meeting had a good turnout with a variety of people from around downtown.
The attendees included representatives from the Convention Center, The Arts Consortium, Avedian Properties, Chelsea Street Boutique, Visalia Rawhide, ImagnineU, Janeen’s Furniture and staff from Downtown Visalians.
“You hear a lot of new things and ideas,” Metzner said. “But, I’d like to see everybody involved.”
Their main topics of discussions are some you may want to jot down in your calendar.
The Sixth Annual Wine Walk is happening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., April 6 in downtown Visalia.
Midnight Wine will entertain people as they stroll from business to business.
A total of 34 different locations will offer samples of wines from popular wineries. The samples will be paired with artisan cheeses, Stafford chocolates, Bari Olive Oils and numerous other appetizers.
Also – for all the non-wine drinkers – enjoy Stella Artois Cidre’ compliments of Bueno Beverage.
Tickets are $35 before March 24th and $40 after. Call 732-7737 or purchase online at downtownvisalia.com.
Before the wine walk, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Casa De Sciacca is unlocking their doors for an open house and ribbon cutting. Stop by Chelsea Street Boutique to pick up a $5 entry pass. All proceeds of the open house go toward Alzheimer’s research.
A place for people to see all of that downtown has to offer and more at the Downtown Expo on May 19 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The line-up includes Thomas Robinson and The Crawdads playing from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A fashion show showcasing the different style of each boutique from 6:30 to 8 p.m. To round out the night, Run for Cover will play from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Janeen Robbins owner of Janeen’s Furniture proposed the idea of a “men’s high heel run.” It is a potential new attraction for the expo.
More than 20 vendors including dinner, dessert, coffee and brews will sample alongside local business promoting their services. The Budweiser wagon will be on tap with beer and wine for people ages 21 and older.
Also, take a sneak peek at some of the hot rods and muscle cars on display for the Breakfast Lions Club Car Show on Saturday, May 20.
Tickets are $10. A portion of each ticket will benefit The American Cancer Society and breast cancer research.
This is a time for property owners, city officials, merchants and local residents to meet for once a year and talk about the success and future plans for Visalia.
“We want to be an organization that is more than just collecting business licenses,” said Sam Sciacca, downtown property and business owner.
The members made it clear that jazzing up the luncheon with inspirational speakers and entertainment was a must to boost the attendance. The lunch time event will honor people who have made an impact on the downtown community.
The luncheon will be held on June 27. Tickets are $25.


text: Poultry sales have plummeted by up to 40 percent recently as fears that bird flu will enter Greece from Turkey have driven consumers to opt for other meat on their dinner table, an industry representative said yesterday. Costas Yantzitzoglou, a board member from the Union of Poultry Businesses (SPE), said that sales have fallen by between 30 and 40 percent despite continued reassurances from authorities that eating chicken and eggs is completely safe. «The television footage showing miserable chicken farms in Turkey is completely removed from the reality of Greek chicken farms,» said Yantzitzoglou. Organized poultry businesses are strictly controlled and certified, Yantzitzoglou added. Greece produces 110 million chickens and 1 billion eggs every year in an industry that employs nearly 15,000 people and has annual sales of 750 million euros. The sector was hit hard in October, when a bird flu scare resulted in local poultry sales dropping by 60 to 70 percent. Authorities are continuing efforts aimed at protecting Greece from the disease that has been blamed for killing four children in Turkey. On a tour of the Dodecanese Islands yesterday, Agricultural Development Minister Evangelos Bassiakos told local officials on Samos that funds had been set aside to cover the cost of employing personnel to disinfect and clean parts of the island to combat a possible outbreak of bird flu. The resources are there to implement action plans, Bassiakos assured islanders. Meanwhile, Deputy Economy and Finance Minister Antonis Bezas said that extra staff have been put on duty at customs posts and have been ordered to conduct detailed searches on any travelers passing through.


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Welcome to Wellness Lies, our list of the most pervasive misfires in the effort to feel and look better. We asked the experts and consulted the best science on all the questions you have about each of these wellness fads. Read the whole list and share with your most misinformed friends and family members.Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but severe condition that’s associated with using tampons—though tampons aren’t the only cause—and, yes, it can lead to organ failure and become life-threatening. It’s caused by an infection with a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that, when present in high enough levels, produces the TSST-1 toxin that can wreak a lot of havoc. For women to get TSS from a tampon, they’d have to have this strain of S. aureus in their vaginal flora and leave a tampon in long enough that the staph bacteria produced the toxin. Then they’d have to lack sufficient antibodies to fight it off. Rare, but it happens.There were only 40 reported cases of TSS in the United States in 2016. But after high-profile cases of TSS made headlines in recent years, including one from VICE, some women said they were switching to cotton-only tampons—which some experts hypothesized were safer than ones made with synthetic fibers like rayon. Others said it didn’t make a difference—or swore off tampons in favor of non-absorbent, silicone menstrual cups (a report published in 2015 detailed the case of a Canadian woman who developed TSS a few days after using a menstrual cup, but otherwise there hadn’t been any research linking cups to the condition).Now, a new study challenges the idea that cotton tampons are less risky than the traditional kind when it comes to TSS—and also suggests that menstrual cups could cause problems, too.For a paper published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, French researchers tested 11 types of tampons of different absorbencies and four kinds of menstrual cups in a laboratory set-up designed to reproduce conditions inside the vagina. (No, it’s not the same as testing the products in actual vaginas, but it’s a reproducible experiment which means other researchers could try to verify their results.) The brands included Tampax, OB, Natracare (all cotton), and different sizes from two French cup brands, be’Cup and MeLuna.The researchers put the products in sterile bags—which is apparently known as "the tampon sac method"—along with a solution containing S. aureus and observed the differences in S. aureus growth and production of the TSS-1 toxin over 8 hours. (There was a control group using solution without staph.)
What did the study say about tampons?All of the tampons tested promoted the growth of S. aureus and the toxin, and cotton-only tampons actually produced more of the toxin than did cotton blends or synthetic tampons. And the levels didn’t correspond to tampon absorbency.Microbiologists say that oxygen helps staph bacteria multiply. Gerard Lina, a physician and professor of microbiology at the University Claude Bernard and lead author of the study, said in a release that space between the tampon fibers, which contribute to additional air entering the vagina, represented a “major site” of staph growth and toxin production in the experiment. The team also found that cotton-only tampons were less structured than synthetic ones, meaning they had more space between fibers, which allows more air into the vagina, which is, in a word, bad.
What did the study say about cups?The researchers found higher levels of S. aureus and TSS-1 in the cups than they did in the tampons; the larger cup sizes had the highest levels. The researchers also believe that air introduced into the vagina via menstrual cup insertion is a concern because again, it helps staph breed. (Inserting a cup is basically sticking a scoop of air up there.)They also found that a “significant” film of staph remained on the cups eight hours after they were rinsed with water three times, which means that people might be reinserting a contaminated cup if they’re not using soap or a cleaning solution before putting the thing back in. Given this finding, the authors recommended people have a second cup so they can boil it between uses.Currently, cup brands do not tell users to bust out the saucepan after emptying their cup. Some cups sold in the US like the Diva Cup and Lunette do say to wash well with warm water and either soap or their special wash before reinserting (though who knows how many people follow those instructions), but others only say to rinse, which is what the researchers did. The Moon Cup says to rinse or wipe before reinserting and the Blossom Cup only says to rinse but to clean it before storing. Between periods, makers of the Moon Cup do suggest boiling for five to seven minutes or using sterilizing solution or tablets. The Diva cup says to use oil-free soap or boil for five to ten minutes “as needed.” We contacted Diva Cup, Lunette, Blossom Cup, and Moon Cup for comment on the study and will update this story if we hear back.
Watch More from VICELAND:
What should I do now?Cotton tampons look just as risky as synthetic and cups probably aren’t any safer than tampons, so don’t buy them under the impression that you’re safer from TSS. "Our results did not support the hypothesis suggesting that tampons composed exclusively of organic cotton could be intrinsically safer than those made of mixed cotton and rayon, or viscose or tampons composed entirely of viscose," Lina said. The authors concluded: “Notably, our results do not show that menstrual cups are safer than tampons and suggest that they require similar precautions.” Lina told Consumer Reports that he’s observed two cases of TSS linked to cups in the last three years.Jen Gunter, a board-certified gynecologist who frequently writes on health issues, tells Tonic that “women should not think cotton is safer.” Gunter, who was not involved in the research, says the study supports the idea that it’s the introduction of air that matters the most with tampons and TSS risk, adding that this is why she’s so against Goop’s promotion of vaginal jade eggs that could be porous and trap air. (Gunter frequently takes Goop’s health claims to task.)Gunter, who wrote about the 2015 case report of TSS linked to a cup, says the study shows that cups also carry a risk. “The menstrual cup data suggests that the risk is equal if not even potentially greater (still likely low, though) as there was greater adherence [of staph bacteria on the cup],” she says. Gunter agrees with the authors’ recommendation to have at least two cups. “I think women who want the lowest risk of TSS should have more than one cup so they can boil between uses,” she says. We shouldn’t have to say this, but this advice applies to reusable cups, not disposable ones—do not boil those and reuse them, as they’re only made for one use in the first place.
What else can I do to avoid TSS?TSS risk has a lot to do with who has staph bacteria in their vaginal flora, which, by the way, changes throughout your cycle, so it’s not like you can just get a test once and know if you’re at risk.Whatever product you’re using for your period, follow the instructions. Don’t leave anything in your vag longer than instructed and, if you’re a cup person, get a second one and properly sanitize it between uses. Experts also recommend using the lowest absorbency tampon that will hold you over for four to eight hours; changing more frequently than that is just introducing more oxygen and could lead to insertion trauma, especially on light days. And the authors of this study suggested using the smallest cup possible.If you have any symptoms of TSS (like high fever, rash, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea) during or a few days after your period, you should call your doctor right away and tell them that you’ve been using a tampon or a cup.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of Tonic delivered to your inbox weekly.Update 4/30/18: Lunette CEO and founder Heli Kurjanen provided the following statement:
We have read the study manuscript in great detail and we find it problematic; number of cup brands tested was low (Lunette not included), it was done in vitro (potentially introducing additional air) and the cleaning method used (washed only with water).
We at Lunette have always been knowledgeable about the risks of TSS and mentions of it have been in our user guide from the very beginning. These are made based on FDA’s regulations and guidance for tampons. Currently, we are adding even more information about TSS on our website. It is important to know that TSS is an extremely rare, potentially fatal disease occurring in men, women and children.
The fact is that for TSS to occur, the toxin (TSST-1) must enter the bloodstream. The most direct avenue is through a cut, abrasion or micro-scratch. There is an important difference between tampons and menstrual cups. Tampons can cause micro-scratches as they can dry the vagina (up to 35% of the fluid they absorb are natural secretions for lubrication). Menstrual cups differ in that they do not absorb the natural secretions, and do not cause micro-scratches.
Menstrual cups have been a trusted period care product for decades.
Globally only 2 cases of TSS relating to menstrual cup use have been reported. At least of one of cases was due to very prolonged use as the menstrual cup was left within the vagina for 18 hours rather than the recommended 12-hour maximum. Neither of the cases were related to Lunette Menstrual Cups.
Good hygiene practice is important.
Before handling anything that will be inserted into the vagina or removed from it, wash your hands thoroughly – including under your fingernails - to avoid the introduction of bacteria. Lunette Menstrual Cups should be cleaned before and after your cycle, and after emptying/ before reinsertion. Rinse the cup first in cold water, and then wash with hot water and Lunette Feelbetter Cup Cleanser designed specifically for silicone cups. After your period, sanitise the cup by boiling it in a large pot of water for 5-10 minutes.


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Nigeria’s business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is the 43rd richest man on earth today, according to the 2013 list of world’s billionaires, compiled by Forbes Magazine. He is worth $16.1 billion, with assets from his cement, sugar, flour and other businesses. He is number one in Nigeria and Africa. LEADERSHIP recalls that Dangote was number 76 on the list last year.
Mexico’s Carlos Slim, who has taken a hit from the slump in the share price of his America Movil telecoms group since the list was calculated as of February 14, remained the richest person with a fortune of $73 billion, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates held on to the No. 2 spot with a net worth of $67 billion.
Spain’s Amancio Ortega, the co-founder of the Inditex fashion group, leapt over Warren Buffett and France’s Bernard Arnault to become the world’s third richest person on Forbes’ 2013 annual ranking of billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $57 billion.
Ortega’s fortune increased $19.5 billion, the biggest gain for any of the billionaires, from the report in 2012. He jumped two places and bumped Buffett, chairman and chief executive of conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc, with a fortune of $53.5 billion out of the top three to the No. 4 spot for the first time since 2000.
“Warren had a great year, it’s just that Amancio Ortega had a better year,” Forbes magazine editor Randall Lane said of the co-founder of Zara. “He has one of the dominant apparel lines in Europe.”
Arnault, of the LVMH luxury goods group, dropped to 10th place with $29 billion.
Slim, 73, made much of his fortune in telecommunications but also branched out into retail, commodities, finance and energy.
“To see Carlos Slim again broaden his lead and certify himself as the richest man in the world is a statement that wealth truly is global and not an American monopoly like it sometimes felt for many decades,” Lane added in an interview.
Dangote, 55, retains his position as Africa’s richest man for the third year in a row. The past year has been eventful for him. In October, he sold off a controlling stake in his flour milling company to Tiger Brands of South Africa. He pocketed $190 million in cash. In February, his Dangote Sugar Refineries acquired a 95 per cent stake in Nigerian sugar producer Savannah Sugar in a bid to maintain its dominant position in the Nigerian sugar industry. Dangote stepped up his philanthropy in the past year, giving over $100 million to causes ranging from education to health, flood relief, poverty alleviation and the arts. He also acquired a yacht, which he named after his mother Amiya.
The second Nigerian on the list is Otunba Mike Adenuga, who is 267th richest on earth, second in Nigeria and 5th in Africa. Adenuga, 59, owns Globacom — Nigeria’s second largest telecommunication’s firm, Conoil and some stake in Sterling Bank Nigeria. He founded Globacom in 2006. It has 24 million customers in Nigeria, operates in the Republic of Benin and recently acquired licences to start businesses in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. His Conoil Producing is one of Nigeria’s largest independent exploration companies, with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day…
Read More: nigerianreviews.com


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Filed Under (Front Row) by zach on 15-07-2008
A wave of new talent come ashore at this season’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim for the first time. From Australia to Brazil, the UK to the US, fifteen diverse designers will work the runway at our industry’s most respected and well-known swimwear event.
“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim is the leading platform for designers to showcase their collections,” said Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion, Fern Mallis. “This season, designers from around the globe have recognized Miami as the destination to debut their new looks.”
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim brings together fashion insiders, buyers, celebrities and VIPs to create one of the most distinctive events in the swimwear industry, providing a unique platform for designers to showcase their collections. This season’s attendees will see shows from Red Carter, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents designer, Cia.Marítima, ANK by Mirla Sabino, Zimmermann, XTRA LIFE LYCRA®, Diesel, ViX Swimwear, Tommy Bahama, SYLA by Sylvie Cachay, Ed Hardy Swimwear, Pistol Panties, Luli Fama and Poko Pano. Custo Barcelona and tibi will be launching their first-ever swimwear collections.
“This is the most important show specialized in swim and with 2009 being our largest swim collection ever, this is the perfect setting to launch it,” said Custo Dalmau, Custo Barcelona.
“We’ve waited to introduce swim until I had a very strong, clear and unique direction. While the market has a variety of great offerings, I wanted to create a selection of patterns immediately identifiable. You won’t mistake my suits for any other designers” says tibi owner and creative director Amy Smilovic.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim will once again be at Miami Beach’s historic hotel The Raleigh, July 18-21, 2008, with all three venues accessed via an event lobby on Collins Avenue at 18th Street. The Cabaña Grande, the Beachway and the Oasis venues all feature the outstanding production elements and amenities for designers and media that are the hallmarks of IMG Fashion events.
Mercedes-Benz, the event’s title sponsor, is joined by American Express, DHL, LYCRA®, Smashbox Cosmetics, The Raleigh, Havaianas, Continental Airlines, Aveeno, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Scünci, Imperia Vodka, Peroni, Chambord, OLO Premium Brazilian Rum, BAWLS Guarana, smartwater, Fuze, POWERADE ZERO and Café Bustelo. Media partners include Ocean Drive Magazine, The Miami Herald, miami.com, California Apparel News Waterwear, The Swim Journal, ULTRA HD and Getty Images.
Further details and announcements on this event will follow.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2009 Collections will be held July 18 to 21, 2008 with a kick off event on July 17. For more information, and for press and industry registration, please visit us online at www.mbfashionweek.com/miami.
For press information including photography please register and visit the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Newsgroup at www.newsgroup.mbusa.com.


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IFA 2016 is happening a few weeks from now and we know that a lot of companies will be launching their latest products. One brand anticipated to introduce its newest flagship device is Huawei with the Mate 9. A press event is already set and we’re with those many groups anticipating for a new Mate phone. Will we see a new Mate or a new P9 variant? We’re leaning more on a new Mate series phone.
Specs of the upcoming phone were recently sighted on GFXBench. The database has a listing of a new Huawei phone complete with a 5.9-inch display screen, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, Mali-T880 GPU, HiSilicon Hi3660 octa-core processor, 64GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, 12MP camera, and an 8MP selfie cam. There’s no mention of battery size but the standard features are there_—accelerometer, barometer, Bluetooth, compass, GPS, gyroscope, lightsensor, NFC, pedometer, proximity, and WiFi. We’re assuming phone will be 4G LTE ready but we’ll know for sure on release date.
Listed on GFXBench is Android 7.0 Nougat and Google Play Edition running on the new Huawei phone. We hope to confirm everything on the list while in Berlin at the IFA event on September 1. GFXBench is a good source but it’s not always reliable. The specs listed on the page aren’t always final so they’re sometimes different at launch. We’ll let you know soon.


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First, we talk about Apple phones at the launch of the iPhone 12, Apple discloses it no longer includes charging bricks in the box. And then other distributors first ridiculed the Cupertino company for this, and some of them finally followed suit.
Samsung will stop bundling chargers with its smartphones, starting in 2021. in the S21 cell phone Samsung does not include a charger nor with the recently released Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3. and Google’s Pixel 6 won’t have one either. Even Xiaomi also announced that its Mi 11 smartphone wouldn’t have a charger in the box, although it eventually refer and put one in.
But what’s the real reason behind switching or taking this step? let’s get back to find the exact reason
- For the environment.
- Saving a Few Bucks in the Box.
- Waste-making accessories.
For the environment:
The apple company also said that there were already over 2 billion Apple power adapters out there, with more made by other manufacturers,
So expecting these numbers Apple decided not to include these items in the box anymore, thus reducing resource consumption while at the same time allowing the iPhone packaging to be smaller. reducing its logistical carbon footprint Apple could ship up to 70% more phones in one container because the iPhone box is more compact.
In 2020 during the iPhone 12 launch, Apple announced that it would not include Lightning headphones and a charging brick in the box. The reason behind that is this decision is that most iPhone users already have Lightning headphones, and more are switching to wireless earbuds.
Saving a Few Bucks in the Box
On the face of it, Apple’s move looks like a sound decision. After all, shouldn’t we be in favor of reducing waste and resource use? ultimately other companies like Samsung and Google followed suit, with the S21 and Pixel 6 reportedly not including a charger in the box.
Waste making accessories
However, one argument against this decision is that it’s actually exacerbating the waste problem. Because even though the company may have saved on resources, packaging, and shipping, some users will still need to buy accessories not included in the box.
Most people have too many chargers by now, and we don’t need any more electronic waste going into landfills. The whole point of standardizing USB charging is so that we won’t need to include a charger with every single product that needs to be thrown out when product is thrown out.
So instead of having to create a slightly larger box for one smartphone, manufacturers now have to make two entirely different kinds of packaging to accommodate the phone and the charger. And if a consumer buys an adapter from another manufacturer, it would constitute a totally different supply chain—thus expanding that particular user’s carbon footprint.
While Apple argued that most of its user base already has these accessories, you have to look at evolving technology. For example, past iPhones came with a Lightning adapter. However, the current model comes with a USB-C to Lightning cable, thus rendering the old iPhone charging brick incompatible.
Whatever the reason behind that is, there were mixed reactions to Apple’s announcement. While other companies like Samsung eventually followed suit. Samsung’s Galaxy S21 did not come with a charger, and neither did the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.
One more piece of news is also spread out is that in December 2020 that the new Xiaomi Mi 11 wouldn’t come with a charger. the company eventually relented and included a 55W fast charger in the box.
Even Google got into this ruin by announcing that the Google Pixel 5A will be the last Pixel phone to come with a charger in the box. It clarified this by saying that most people already have a USB-C charging brick, so why add it to everyone’s charger collection?
Compromise between consumers and manufacturers
Both manufacturers and consumers make valid arguments. Shipping phones without chargers and earphones does mean less use of resources for accessories that might be unwanted or unused.
To ship phones in two configurations with and without chargers at different prices is one reasonable solution to this problem. That way, the consumer can decide for himself if they need it or not.
This is a fruitful solution for all including some savings for the manufacturer, freedom to choose for the consumer, and less actual waste for the environment.
A bench of justices S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Madan B. Lokur held that a “battery charger cannot be held to be a composite part of the cell phone but is an independent product which can be sold separately, without selling the cell phone.”


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With crypto fever once again making headlines, a new study reveals that a quarter of students in the UK currently own cryptocurrency.
Articles in category: Research
Retail research covers multiple sectors within the retail industry, hear from retail analysts, retail research professionals and key figures from global retail businesses
According to the latest Shopper Confidence Index from IGD, shopper confidence remains strong and financial confidence has reached a new high.
Today, findings from environmental services company Foodsteps, reveal that dinners from leading recipe box Gousto, produce 23% less carbon emissions than equivalent meals from supermarket stores*.
UK expects to be nearly cashless by 2024 as use of digital payments accelerates, new Worldpay from FIS report finds
The use of cash in the UK has significantly reduced, with the COVID-19 pandemic fueling a shift in consumer payment preferences, according to a new report recently released by financial technology leader FIS® (NYSE: FIS).
UK FMCG sales decline in May as hospitality reopens, but Brits continue to shop for groceries online, Nielsen reports
Total Till sales fell 2.7% in the four weeks ending 22nd May 2021, with grocery sales declining by 6.7% during the week ending 22nd May, the first week indoor cafes, pubs and restaurants reopened, reveals new data released today by
The FDF has published their Q1 2021 Business Confidence report, summarising member sentiment, the latest official industry figures, and key opportunities and challenges for the sector.
Britain’s box backlog: more than 135m cardboard boxes stowed in homes as almost half of Brits admit to hoarding them
New data from leading sustainable packaging provider DS Smith shows that 44% of Brits admit to hoarding cardboard boxes – with a massive 135m believed to be sitting in our sheds, garages, and wardrobes.
Over eight in ten (84%) online shoppers would turn their back on a retailer after a bad returns experience. That’s according to new research from Klarna, which highlights the power of returns as a customer acquisition and retention tool, and
Shoplifting in the United Kingdom was slashed during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of 2020 police data, with lockdowns and the closure of non-essential retail leading to the first reduction in theft since 2018. However, retailers are being
New research from Bazaarvoice’s Influenster community reveals that shopping on TikTok has grown exponentially in popularity during the pandemic, with a 553% increase in the last 12 months - almost three times the growth of shopping on Instagram (189%) and Facebook (160%).
UK teenagers are fussier with their food than toddlers, a recent survey by HelloFresh has found.
New research* has revealed that footfall and visits in the UK’s hospitality and restaurant sector went up by around a third (32%) in the week immediately following the re-opening of indoor hospitality on Monday 17 May. The data includes the
A shot in the arm for the economy: customers to increase spending once vaccines have been rolled out, SAS research finds
Customers are set to increase their spending once vaccines have been rolled out, according to research by SAS, the leader in analytics. When asked if they would increase their spending, nearly a fifth (17%) said they would, compared to just
Latest figures from retail experts, Springboard, reveals that footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +1.1% last week from the week before, a product of rises in both high streets (+2.4%) and shopping centres (+1%) whilst in retail parks footfall dipped (-1.7%).
Deloitte: forty six per cent of consumers are willing to pay more to shop on high streets, as 33% say online services are not good enough
Almost half (46%) of British consumers say they would be willing to pay more to shop at their local high street, rather than online, so that they can enjoy additional amenities, according to new research from Deloitte Digital analysing the
Britain is a nation of sandwich lovers, with almost half (45%) of people nationwide saying they couldn’t live without sandwiches, rising to 55% of those aged 25 - 44 according to a new survey by OnePoll of 2,000 nationally representative
Mytraffic, the European leader in footfall analysis, and Cushman & Wakefield, a world leader in commercial real estate, publish today a ranking of Europe’s iconic high streets. Although visitor recovery has been evident during the initial phase of the UK
Global self-care company Perrigo, and its hay fever relief brand, Beconase, has revealed that more than a third (37%) of those that suffer from hay fever admit to being concerned about socialising outside this spring and summer as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Google tops the Conscious Brands 100, Wolff Olins and Hall & Partners’ inaugural list of the UK’s 100 most conscious brands.
Three quarters of customers will stop recommending a retailer following a poor delivery experience, research finds
Poor delivery experiences will significantly impact on whether a recipient recommends a retailer, with almost three quarters (72.5%) of customers who shop online saying they are likely or very likely to stop recommending a retailer following a poor delivery experience.
UK pubs and restaurants without clear indoor safety protocols risk losing out on student spending boom as restrictions ease, UNiDAYS finds
With indoor hospitality set to return in the UK from Monday 17 May, a study into behaviour and spending of more than 8,000 UK students by student benefits platform, UNiDAYS, has revealed that a quarter don’t intend on spending any
The pandemic has transformed the high street, with smaller retail brands having to quickly innovate, and global household names becoming more agile to meet consumer demands and expectations. Exploring the shift from bricks and mortar stores to an increased online
GreyOrange, a global software provider that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning and smart robots to optimise fulfilment operations, today announces the results of a new study which reveals that almost half (45%) of consumers across EMEA expect online orders to
Younger generations were more likely to visit non-essential retail stores since they re-opened on 12 April, Adyen shows
New data released today by Adyen, the global payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, reveals that millennials were most likely to return to physical stores after non-essential retail opened in England on 12 April.
According to the latest Shopper Confidence Index from IGD, shopper confidence has risen to its highest level in the last five years, driven by the further easing of lockdown restrictions, a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases and the rapid rollout


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General Electric has transformed in the past decade. The Fairfield, Connecticut, company slimmed itself down from a massive conglomerate that made microwaves, movies and jet engines to a trimmer company focused on its industrial business. It has sold or spun off businesses that don't fit with its industrial goals, such as NBC Universal and its credit card business.
On Friday, GE announced its latest deal: It will sell most of its financial business, GE Capital, over the next two years for about $26.5 billion.
Also read: GE Shares Have a Second Bad Day


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Jollyes has announced a unique tie-up with the Stroke Association in Scotland that will celebrate the calming role pets play people’s lives.
Making its debut at its new Stirling store at Unit 3 on the Burghmuir Retail Park will be a jointly branded vehicle where, thanks to the generosity of Stroke Association pet lovers in Scotland, customers can come and stroke some of the most loving pets in and around Stirling.
Dubbed Jollyes’ ‘fur-th emergency service’, its Stroke Squad’ van has been kitted out after hearing of the beneficial role pets have played in many of the Stroke Association members’ lives in the last few years.
The formal opening of Jollyes’ latest store will take place at 10am on Saturday, June 11.
Kerry Midgley, regional manager at Jollyes, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our third store in Scotland, and because we’re proud to call ourselves ‘The Pet People’, what better way to do so than celebrating the amazing ways in which pets help look after us.
“We can’t wait to open our doors and support the pet-lovers of Stirling.”
Jolene Lornie, engagement officer for the Stoke Association in Scotland said: “The Stroke Association Scotland is passionate about rebuilding the lives of stroke survivors. We are committed to partnering with local communities and to ensure every stroke survivor have access to support and rehabilitation for as long as they need it.
“Pets can be such a source of comfort and pleasure and can really assist in the recovery and rehabilitation after stroke.”
After making its debut at Stirling, Jollyes’ fur-th emergency service vehicle will tour the UK offering those in need of pet companionship, the opportunity to benefit from its Stroke Squad, the retailer said.


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WORK has begun on a major retail development which aims to transform Altrincham into a new-look shopping haven.
Up to £40m is being spent on redesigning the outdated Stamford shopping centre on George Street, Stamford New Road and Brewary Street.
The centre, built in 1976, is being partially demolished, revamped and then re-launched as the Stamford Quarter.
The start of demolition work comes just days after another developer said it had finalised contracts for a £150m project nicknamed Station Location, which will include an extreme sports centre, a hotel, shops and a new ice rink.
Coun Susan Williams, leader of Trafford council, said: "I am sure the results will be superb."
The Square shopping centre at Sale has been sold for £40m after a £7m refurbishment.
Newcomers to the centre include New Look, Costcutter, Toykingdom and Wilkinsons.


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Mercedes-Benz India opens new 3S dealership in Mysore
German luxury car manufacturer has increased its presence in India by opening a new 3S dealership in Mysore. The new dealership, Akshaya Motors, is located in Hebbal industrial area. Besides offering its services to the customers in Mysore, the dealership will also reach out to the other areas close to it. Present at the dealership inauguration was Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.
The workshop is spread over a cumulative area of approximately 34,000 square feet and has 45 professionally trained staff. The dealership houses a five car display and five bays that will take care of maintenance and repairs. The entire range of Mercedes-Benz cars will also be on display at this dealership.
Presently, Mercedes-Benz has a total of 87 outlets that are spread across 42 cities making it the only luxury car manufacturer with a strong presence. Further, the automaker has plans to expand into the North Karnataka region. The company states that the expansion plans will not only help the brand attract new customers but also offer a more assured service to the existing clientele.
In terms of new car launches, Mercedes-Benz will be launching the GT R and Roadster models in India on August 21. Both cater to the niche enthusiasts looking for performance with luxury. Stay tuned to OVERDRIVE as we bring the launch updates from the venue.
Starts Rs 2.09 Crore
Team OD | 19 Feb 2018
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The road to meat industry reform is littered with the bodies of those who have tried to make the business more profitable for farmers and processors alike.
It's an area that for decades has been fraught with infighting, petty jealousies and inter-regional rivalry. Offshore, exporters have been known to undercut each while at home, farmers typically play the meat companies off against each other to get the best price for their stock.
There is overcapacity in meat processing and too many middlemen, insiders say. Farmers feel they are not getting their fair dues for what they see as a superior product.
After years of sub-standard returns, farmers are taking a more than casual interest in the co-operative dairy giant, Fonterra, which has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2001. Few in the industry think the Fonterra model could be replicated for meat, but a rising tide of farmer opinion suggests that a more co-operative approach in the sector is long overdue.
"Global demand is there but the industry is struggling to translate that into value," says one market insider. "You've got to realise that they are men with knives," he says. "And it has always been that way - there has always been that internecine conflict."
It's no wonder that Fonterra is getting some attention from over the fence.
Not long ago - 2004 - the meat sector was level pegging with dairy in terms of the value of exports. Since then, dairy has taken off.
According to the latest data, the dairy sector accounted for $11.5 billion in exports in the 12 months to April, against just $5.4 billion for meat.
Even the relatively small subset of dairy sector - casein and caseinates - contributed $911m in exports for the 12 months, just below aluminium.
Comparisons with Fonterra only go so far. Fonterra stands over the industry like a colossus and is very much in charge of the process, from the farm gate to the market. There are other players, but Fonterra is essentially the New Zealand dairy industry.
Many in the meat industry see Fonterra as an example of what can be achieved. "Fonterra's relationship with their suppliers is magnificent," says Richard Young, who heads up the newly formed Meat Industry Excellence group pushing for a stronger red meat sector. "They are totally transparent in what they do. They give farmers sound indications on pricing, which enables their suppliers to budget.
"If prices come back, they give them price indications clearly and quickly." But Young and others point out that putting a Fonterra-style structure together would not be simple because of the ownership mix in the meat industry.
"Solutions must capture more value from the supply chain which, in turn, delivers more of the margin from the end product back to all stakeholders," Young told APNZ.
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Keith Cooper says Fonterra-fanciers are quick to forget that it took several years for the co-op to evolve into its current form. He points out that Fonterra has the luxury of capital and continuity of supply from its members. Cooper says red meat farmers would have to stump up about $1.6 billion to be on a similar footing to Fonterra. "They quickly go off the Fonterra model when you tell them that," he says.
The heavy hitters in the industry are the big South Island-based co-operatives - Alliance and Silver Fern Farms, which account for about 52 per cent of the market nationally.
Alliance is owned by about 5000 farmer shareholders and is the world's largest processor and exporter of sheepmeat. Silver Fern Farms, formerly the Primary Producers Co-operative Society, represents more than 20,000 sheep, cattle and deer farmers throughout New Zealand.
Unlike its southern neighbour, Silver Fern is a hybrid - half its suppliers are not shareholders in the cooperative. Next comes Affco, a meat company that is part of South Island food group, Talleys, and Japanese-owned Anzco.
Further down the food chain is Progressive Meats, then there are the likes of Blue Sky and and Greenlea. All up there are 16 processors and 27 exporters.
Fonterra's genesis came from the amalgamation of co-operatives over several years. If the same sort of aggregation were to happen in meat, it would require co-operatives joining forces with companies - a much more complex proposition.
Just over half the industry is under co-operative control, and the rest is occupied by a myriad companies, large and small, public and private.
Though Alliance and Silver Fern are sizeable, they are not regarded as being big to enough to effect any major changes to the sector by themselves. Together, they don't have the kind of sway that Fonterra, which collects 90 per cent of the country's milk, has.
Despite its problems, meat has its success stories. The industry collaborates in the North American lamb market, which is held up as being a good example of industry cooperation and a possible marker of things to come. The sector's close relationship with with McDonalds is also seen as a big positive. Individually, the meat companies have their wins too but in the big picture, the industry is just as dysfunctional as it ever was, market insiders say.
Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers' meat and fibre chairperson, who farms a sheep and beef property with her husband near Mt Hutt, says the problems are rooted here and overseas. The big meat companies have key markets they enter into exclusively, but there are others who float around the margins. Maxwell agrees parts of the industry are at odds, but she points to the North American experience, and the McDonalds relationship, as bright spots.
"It's not dysfunctional on all levels - just on some." She said good things could come from Meat Industry Excellence - which has been holding farmer meetings up and down the country - but that any solution would require greater farmer buy-in. "There is a lot of blame. The farmers blame the companies and the companies blame the farmers," she said.
Maxwell and others are optimistic that the industry is in the mood for change, but she says it has been a long time coming. "It comes up from time to time but this would be one of the few times that I have seen more openness, and more willingness to discuss it all round - and not just from grumpy farmers.
"This time, there is a much more genuine desire to have the industry change. It took Fonterra 32 years, so it's not going to happen overnight."
Ironically, New Zealand has a far more commanding position in sheep meats than it has in dairy. New Zealand is the world's biggest lamb exporter, representing 38 per cent of the global trade, compared with about 30 per cent of the global dairy trade.
According to New Zealand Beef and Lamb, there are 16 companies, with 36 plants, processing lamb and adult sheep.
For cattle there are 13 companies with 34 processing plants.
"The dairy industry has become a lot more profitable and it has given sheep farmers the option to move to a more profitable used of their land," Maxwell says.
Sheep numbers have dropped steadily over the years. "If we can deal with some of the inefficiencies, we can start becoming competitive with dairy again."
"We've got to do it sooner or later because if we continue the way we are, then the critical mass is going to be non-existent as far as lamb and beef is concerned. We are not going to have the ability to influence in the market and hold the value of our product up," Maxwell says.
"We have 27 exporters of meat all competing at the procurement and competing at the market place, so it all seems a bit wrong to me."
Silver Fern's Cooper says many of the industry's problems still come from the days when it was purely a carcass, or process-driven, industry. "I would argue that the industry is still coming to grips with how it needs to create value from the product in the market place.
"We as an industry we are very fragmented and disconnected from our supply base in terms of continuity of supply. None of us have that absolute commitment from our suppliers."
"It's very hard to rationalise the industry because if we bought another company tomorrow - 25 per cent of that company's suppliers may go off to supply another company.
"To me, the problem is that we don't have the locked-down relationship between the farmers and the meat companies. The meat companies are fragmented and there is no industry aggregation and and no collaboration in joint ventures because we are vicious competitors," he says.
Then there are the overcapacity issues. The processors are geared for a lamb kill of 35 million, not the present day crop of 20 million.
"The more throughput you get through a plant the lower the average cost of production is. It's not so much fighting, its just economics," he says.
But Cooper, like Maxwell, says there is more than a glimmer of hope that the industry may one day get its act together.
"I have never seen people so focused in agreement that there needs to be change," Cooper, a 33-year veteran of the meat industry, says.
Meat Industry Excellence's Young says an ideal scenario would be a processing and marketing structure that is controlled by farmers.
"I think that everyone accepts that the status quo is no longer an option,' he said. "Now it's a question of how the industry goes about finding a solution that is suitable for us all.
"We do have a superior product and it's just a matter of capturing the value out of it for those who process and produce it.
"None of us are making any money - we have one good year and two bad ones. No business can continue like that."
Jamie Gray is an APNZ business reporter