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1 in 3 Koreans live alone, family types becoming diverse
Korea, Japan finance chiefs vow to tame rampant FX market volatility
US 'incredibly concerned' about suspected NK-Iran military ties
K-pop group's manager dismissed for setting up spycam in theater dressing room
K-pop singer lost consciousness after being hit by foul ball, cancels show
Korea braces for next industrial trends in 2017By 원호정
Published : Jan. 1, 2017 - 14:53
The year 2016 was an opportunity for general consumers to familiarize themselves with the innovative concepts of technologies. And the year 2017 is likely to see some of these technologies become reality.
The convergence of the automotive industry with technology will speed up along with a transition to green cars, amid the growing competition in the battery market and the rising price of oil.
Devices including smartphones and home appliances operated by artificial intelligence will come to the fore, with virtual reality and augmented reality technologies becoming mainstream in the tech world.
The shifting technologies are also expected to affect the retail market with consumers looking for products that offer experience and value beyond a simple price benefit.
AI to be next big thing in the tech industry
Artificial Intelligence, which astonished the world in a match with the top Go player Lee Se-dol, is expected to become the next big thing in the smart device and appliances industry in 2017.
The nation’s largest tech company Samsung Electronics, which acquired the AI startup Viv Labs in October, seeks to recover from the note 7 debacle with its new AI-based smartphone Galaxy S8, which is set to be unveiled early this year. Viv Labs is the US tech firm set up by Apple’s Siri developers.
Samsung Electronics’ Vice President Rhee In-jong said in October, “Galaxy S8 will be Samsung’s first platform, which adopts AI-based voice recognition technology,” adding that the technology has reached close to the level of the understanding humans.
Korean tech firms -- both smartphone makers and mobile carriers -- are spurring AI development as the technology will ultimately be used to connect and control all home appliances and electronics.
Samsung is set to unveil more advanced AI-based home appliances, which can be connected via Wi-Fi technology and controlled through smartphones, at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January.
LG Electronics is also slated to unveil AI-based home appliances, which adopt deep learning technology at the upcoming show. The deep learning technology enables products to provide customized services and functions by learning users’ habits and surroundings.
The nation’s largest telecom carrier SK Telecom is also upgrading its AI-based speaker NUGU after first launching it in August. This device figures out users’ taste to recommend music, control home appliances and provides customized information such as weather and schedules based on their preferences.
Market consulting firm IDC predicted that the global AI market would grow 55 percent on average annually from $8 billion in 2016 to $47 billion in 2020.
AR, VR to gain bigger presence
Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are geared to gain a bigger presence in the tech world in 2017, building upon the landmark developments made in 2016.
VR is a technology that completely immerses users in computer-generated virtual worlds via a head-mounted display, while AR technology overlays, or augments, digital images onto a person’s view of the world.
The year 2016 saw the release of next-generation VR headsets such as the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift and Sony’s Playstation VR, which prompted the emergence of thousands of VR video games and mobile apps.
The explosive popularity of AR-based mobile game Pokemon Go also highlighted AR’s potential to appeal to the masses on the mobile platform.
The two cutting-edge technologies are geared to further advance and draw closer to the public in 2017 as the price of VR headsets further drop to boost the VR gaming sector, and as AR technologies are embraced by more industries.
“After several years of hype, the operative reality behind virtual, augmented and mixed digital worlds is set to manifest more fully in 2017,” IHS Markit said in a recent outlook report.
The firm expects AR and VR technologies will “advance significantly as Facebook, Google and Microsoft consolidate their existing technologies into more exhaustive strategies.”
According to tech market intelligence company IDC, worldwide revenues generated by the AR and VR market will jump from just $5.2 billion in 2016 to more than $162 billion in 2020, as the two technologies expand their applications across diverse industries and services.
IDC predicts that revenues generated by VR systems will surpass that of AR-related revenues until 2017, due to rising consumer uptake of VR-based video games and paid contents.
After 2017, AR revenues will grow bigger as AR technology finds mass applications across areas such as healthcare delivery, product design and management tasks, it said.
Just about every major tech company in the world has already entered the race to secure its place in the approaching era of VR and AR technologies. In the lead is Facebook-owned Oculus, Google and Microsoft, with Apple and Samsung Electronics working to catch up.
Auto industry to face unprecedented race
It was a tough year for the auto industry in Korea with an emissions scandal, strikes, low demand and negative growth.
With the auto market expected to continue negative growth next year, carmakers will face unprecedented competition in the industry where automotive and technology are converging rapidly.
South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor conducted a survey on the most anticipated technology next year. Almost 76,000 of 320,000 voters picked the autonomous driving technology. Although self-driving cars won‘t populate the road next year, most of the major carmakers and tech companies are putting all-out efforts to commercialize the self-driving technology.
The debut of US electric automaker Tesla Motors and Chinese electric car maker BYD Auto will likely boost the EV market in South Korea, giving customers more choice in this growing segment. Tesla is set to open its flagship store in Korea and BYD officially launched its Korean office in Jeju Island in October.
Backed by growing popularity, sport utility vehicles will remain as the silver lining for the sluggish auto market, which is expected to decline 1.2 percent on-year.
Domestic carmakers, especially Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp, will face fierce competition in 2017 in the Korean market as imported cars expand its market share. Currently, imported carmakers take up 13 percent of the total market.
Outside Korea, South Korean automakers will struggle to thrive in mature markets, like the US and EU where analysts expect a zero growth next year, and in China where they saw disappointing sales figures in 2016. China’s auto market is expected to grow 4 or 5 percent in 2017 while other developing markets, like Russia and East Europe, will recover from the 2016 slump.
China looms over Korean battery makers
For Korea’s major battery makers -- Samsung SDI and LG Chem -- concerns over their performance in the Chinese market are likely to persist next year amid the neighboring country’s stricter rules on providing battery certification.
The two companies have been dealt with a blow after the Chinese government suspended subsidies for electric vehicles using batteries produced by the two firms earlier this year. The two were excluded from the subsidy list as they failed to acquire the battery certification amid tightened regulations in China’s alleged protectionism moves.
Unless China changes its policies, the Korean battery makers are unlikely to see improvement in their business there, the companies said.
“While (the company) had anticipated the EV battery certification process will resume in the third quarter, (the Chinese government) did not carry it out. It is difficult to project an accurate timing,” a Samsung SDI official said in the third quarter’s conference call.
LG Chem shared a similar view.
“The biggest variable for the company’s sales growth for next year is China. If the status quo continues next year, the automotive battery business growth rate will be around 30 percent. If (the certification issue) is solved, the growth rate will possibly jump up to 60 percent.”
Amid the higher threshold to the Chinese market, Korean battery makers are seeking to sustain their top position in the global ESS market next year.
LG Chem topped the global ESS market share with 21 percent this year, standing at No.1 for two years straight, followed by Samsung SDI with 19 percent.
“Amid the three-party competition of LG Chem, Samsung SDI and BYD Auto in the market, Tesla has risen as the new competitor. As the supply amount of the two Korean companies is projected to surpass 2 gigawatt hours next year, the two are likely to make up half of the market in total,” SNE Research forecasted.
LG Chem has made aggressive ESS moves with supplying ESS for California’s largest power company SCE and other European companies.
In 2016, the retail sector saw consumers shifting their focus to stores and products that offer value and experience, rather than simply low prices.
Despite the stagnant economy, brands saw consumers reaching for premium and healthy products, packing newly opened malls offering experience-based stores.
In “Trend Korea 2017,” Seoul National University consumer studies professor Kim Nan-do dubbed this the “YOLO,” or “you only live once,” trend.
“Consumers who used to think of restraint as a virtue are now enjoying and challenging themselves each moment, and spending money on simple, clear value,” he said.
The most notable examples of YOLO spending can be found in travel, with consumers facing record-low interest rates choosing to spend money on meaningful experiences rather than saving it away. All retail sectors, meanwhile, have seen consumers choosing to open their wallets and enjoy the “here and now.”
For example, consumers are buying more decorative products for the home to create better surroundings for themselves. According to the online open market Auction, sales of products like sculptures and music boxes from January to November rose by over 200 percent on-year. Hobby-related products such as classical guitars and model buildings and model airplanes also nearly doubled on-year.
The Samsung Fashion Research Institute saw “selfness,” or the importance of brands‘ personalities matching those of consumers, to be a major factor moving the fashion industry in 2017.
Starfield Hanam, a shopping mall featuring stores that allow consumers to experience products as well as buy them, saw nearly 2 million shoppers each month since it opened in September. Starfield Hanam’s popularity during a year when department stores struggled to maintain sales indicated that consumers are visiting and spending money at places that have an element of entertainment, rather than simply shopping options.
“In an ‘experience economy,’ it will become more important for brands to find new marketing strategies that can satisfy the now-focused experience consumption of the YOLO consumers,” Kim wrote.
By Cho Chung-un (email@example.com), Park Ga-young (firstname.lastname@example.org), Shin Ji-hye (email@example.com)
, Lee Hyun-jeong (firstname.lastname@example.org), Sohn Ji-young (email@example.com) and Won Ho-jung (firstname.lastname@example.org)
Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?


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- POSTED: 15 May 2014 21:39
US consumer prices edged higher in April, led by rising costs for gasoline, shelter and food, Commerce Department data released on Thursday showed.
WASHINGTON: US consumer prices edged higher in April, led by rising costs for gasoline, shelter and food, Commerce Department data released on Thursday showed.
The consumer price index advanced 0.3 per cent in April, ticking up from a 0.2 per cent increase in March.
The year-over-year CPI increase in April was 2.0 per cent, the largest 12-month increase since July. The advance marked a sharp acceleration from March's 1.5 per cent annual gain.
Energy prices rose 0.3 per cent for the third consecutive month. Gasoline prices jumped 2.3 per cent after falling the previous three months.
Food prices climbed 0.4 per cent for the third month in a row.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI rose 0.2 per cent, matching March's gain, and was up 1.8 per cent from April 2013.
April's CPI data reflected a slight pick-up in price increases although inflation remains subdued almost five years after the slowly recovering economy exited severe recession.
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure shows consumer prices rose at an annual rate of 1.1 per cent in March, well below its 2.0 per cent target.

domain: news


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Courtesy of Door Dash
You and your pup now can each enjoy a refreshing brew at home, and you won't even have to leave your house to get it.
To celebrate National Dog Week—which officially is Sept. 20–27 and unofficially every week here at Daily Paws—Doordash is offering free Busch Dog Brew delivery to members of its DashPass membership program. Normally, it can only be shipped to you after an online order.
In a news release, DoorDash said its DashPass members can get a free, BOGO pack of the non-alcoholic Dog Brew when they buy their first pack through DashMart and use the code DOGBREW at checkout. Members of DashPass, which offers zero delivery fees for $9.99 per month, were able to begin ordering the dog beer on Monday.
Only DashMarts in 13 U.S. cities are participating: Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, Baltimore, East Bay, Calif., San Diego, Sacramento, Calif., Columbus, Ohio, Philadelphia, Nashville, Tenn., and Seattle. The promotion lasts for a "limited time."
"We knew we wanted to extend the campaign into real-world benefits for our members, so we brought the membership experience to life … by launching a DashPass-exclusive of Busch Dog Brew," DoorDash's Head of Brand Marketing David Bornoff said in a statement.
Busch released the Dog Brew on National Dog Day in 2020. It's basically broth, but if you want to know more about what it tastes like, we've got you covered. And remember, no real beer for dogs. Cheers!


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Nissan’s Ambition 2030 calls for building 23 electrified models for the Nissan and Infiniti brands globally, including 15 all-electric vehicles, by 2030. The company has announced that its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi will become a center for US electric vehicle (EV) production and that the plant will be updated with the latest in EV manufacturing technology to support the production of two all-new, all-electric vehicles.
Here are the highlights of Nissan’s announcement:
- Nissan to invest $500 million to transform Canton assembly plant to build all-new Nissan and Infiniti EV models starting in 2025; the company has now invested $13.5 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations
- Investment supports retraining and upskilling nearly 2,000 jobs, transforming the Canton plant into a center for EV manufacturing and technology
- EV investment one of several in the U.S. over the next five years; by 2030, targeting 40% of US vehicle sales to be fully electric, with even more to be electrified
“Today’s announcement is the first of several new investments that will drive the EV revolution in the United States,” said Ashwani Gupta, chief operating officer, Nissan Motor Corporation, Ltd in a Nissan news release. “Nissan making a strong investment in Canton’s future, bringing the latest technology, training, and process to create a truly best-in-class EV manufacturing team.”
The Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant is celebrating 19 years of manufacturing operations in 2022. The plant employs approximately 5,000 people and has built nearly 5 million vehicles since opening in 2003. The plant currently builds four models: Altima, Frontier, TITAN, and TITAN XD. With this announcement, Nissan now has invested $4 billion in the facility.
Kevin Clemens is a Senior Editor with Battery Technology.


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Nike Vapormax Black And White
Because the BPA used in thermal paper is not chemically bound, it is Nike Vapormax Black New
BPA was found in 21 of the 22 bills tested.
However, he says, there is no reason for concern. "Recent scientific studies indicate that to the limited extent BPA is absorbed through the skin, it is converted to a biologically inactive metabolite that is rapidly eliminated from the body."
BPA Industry Responds''Some receipts made from thermal paper can contain low levels of bisphenol A (BPA)," Steven G. Hentges, PhD, senior director of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, says in a statement.
As a result of the investigation, Schreder recommends people handle receipts as little as possible. But a spokesperson for the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group says there is no reason to worry. The sites included grocery stores, home improvement, discount, and retail stores.
BPA Can Rub Off From Receipts
BPA was found in what Schreder calls very large quantities in 11 of the 22 receipts in amounts up to 2.2% of the total weight.
And rubbing the receipt similar to scrunching it or fiddling with it Nike Air Vapormax Mens White
Her organization is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to the most hazardous chemicals.
BPA on Receipts, Money: PerspectiveThe new report ''shows that a significant amount of BPA comes off the receipt and onto the skin," says Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, a public and environmental health advocacy group. He conducted an editorial review of the report for the researchers.
Dec. 8, 2010 Bisphenol A or BPA, a common chemical found in plastics and other consumer products that's been linked to reproductive harm and other ills, can also be transferred to the skin from cash register receipts and dollar bills, according to a new investigation by two environmental advocacy groups.
''It could turn out that skin exposure could be Nike Vapormax Black And White an important pathway," Schettler Nike Vapormax Off White 2018
BPA Exposure: How to MinimizeWhat's needed, in Schreder's view, is for Congress to make reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act a top priority. Bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate to update the law, she says.
BPA Can Rub Off From Receipts, Money, Study Finds
The big concern is overall exposure, she says, with BPA from receipts and money adding to the total.
Together with the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, the Washington Toxics Coalition researched the extent to which thermal paper containing BPA has permeated the market, whether BPA also escapes onto money that is usually close to those receipts in the wallet, and whether the chemical easily transfers to skin.
"BPA is on that list," she tells WebMD.
More research is needed, he and Schreder say.
And, he says, the trace levels of BPA claimed to be present on dollar bills are not significant.
BPA Can Rub Off From Receipts, Money, Study FindsEnvironmental Group Suggests Less Handling of Receipts, but Industry Says Chemical Exposure Is LowWebMD Medical News
To see how easily it may transfer, researchers conducted tests mimicking a typical handling of receipts. BPA was transferred from receipts to fingers. Just 10 seconds of holding a receipt resulted in a transfer of up to 2.5 micrograms, the researchers found.
transferred about 15 times that amount.
More from WebMD Cancer Death Rate Continues to FallNew Campaign to Curb Radiation From CT ScansAspirin Cuts Death Rate From Several Common CancersBone Drug May Help Treat Multiple Myeloma
Meanwhile, she suggests minimizing exposure to receipts. "Refuse it if you can," she says. If not, store the receipts separately in your wallet, away from your currency.
a concern, Schreder says. "We are definitely concerned about these levels of BPA in receipts because BPA is present in an unbound form, where it can easily transfer to our skin."
"BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical," Schreder says, capable of causing problems such as reproductive harm, early puberty, and infertility.
Nike Vapormax Black And White
Nike Air Vapormax Laceless Pure Platinum


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Libereum, a Dutch cryptocurrency company, announced through a press release dated 26 December 2018, the acquisition of Spanish football club Elche CF.
Libereum stated the deal was for a whopping 4.9 million U.S. dollars. This amount was only for the initial down payment.
According to the published report, the venture’s ambitious plan is to make its ERC20 token, Liber, a mandatory form of payment in the stadiums of those clubs it owns. Libereum stated that it secured its purchase of the Segunda Division (second division) A club.
Libereum had also intended to purchase Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade, but that deal did not go through. Earlier Elche CF was demoted from Spain’s premier division due to unpaid tax debts and economic mismanagement.
Libereum’s official statement highlighted the company’s aspiration to restore the club to its lofty position through its Liber digital coins,
“We want the [Libereum token] to gradually become part of the financial policy in and around the club, so that everything – on the term – can be paid simply, in an easily accessible way, with Liber. Think of sponsor and transfer deals to ticket sales, merchandising items and catering in the stadium.”
Libereum’s Liber is an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency. The company claimed that it “will become one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies within the first twelve months after we have gained ownership of the first club.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Cem Kumlar, the founder of Libereum said, “The purchase of Elche CF, a beautiful football club that shares our vision of a cryptocurrency future and is willing to actively communicate it to its supporters, is fantastic news…”.
Kumlar further added, “The purpose of this takeover is twofold: on the one hand, we want to bring the club back to the Primera Divison. This requires financial injections. And that is where our digital coin comes in. We want the coin (token) to gradually become part of the financial policy in and around the club, so that everything in due course can be paid simply, in an easily accessible way, with Liber.”
Libereum has also hinted this week towards a secretive deal to purchase another football club for an estimated worth of 80 million Euros, although the details of this are not officially available on the company’s site.
Football being a widespread form of recreation, crypto integration will make it more enjoyable. When crypto tokens slowly enter into domestic transactions, we will appreciate the cashless benefits it has to offer.


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Portland, Oregon food company Thrilling Foods announces it has received a US patent for its novel fatty and lean protein-streaked vegan bacon, known as Bakon. The innovation covers a breakthrough protein structure that releases fat during the cooking process, in much the same way as conventional bacon. The company is also planning to open a third production facility to keep up with soaring demand.
“If it’s not cured, it’s not going to taste right!”
The US patent covers Thrilling’s techniques that harness the genuine flavor and texture of pork bacon, specifically its proprietary use of “protein-bound fat layers” that alternate with ultra-lean meaty layers, and the company’s use of the natural umami flavors found in certain proteins.
These special processes allow the product to render and fry in its own fat, just like traditional pork bacon. The company claims to have several more US and international patents pending.
According to Thrilling, Bakon is the only dry salt and smoked-cured plant-based bacon on the market that is low-carb and high-protein. Bakon was developed to be a wholesome protein, and is made from non-GMO soymilk, RSPO-certified palm oil, yeast extracts, sea salt, maple syrup, citric acid, black pepper and natural food colorings.
Bakon’s founder, David Jones, is a lifelong cook and culinary innovator who created the product during 18 months of COVID lockdowns.
The company says it is experiencing “exploding” demand for the product, which is currently sold in over 200 locations across the US. In addition, Bakon is reported to be the 8th-ranked vegan breakfast meat in high-end health food markets despite being in only 3% of those stores, and has emerged as the #2 alternative protein overall at a top grocery chain in Southern California.
Among its customers, 66% of repeat Bakon buyers self-identify as omnivores. Thrilling says it is already planning to expand to its third production facility, which at scale will produce over two thousand pounds of Bakon per day.
In October 2022, Thrilling was one of 17 companies chosen to receive pre-seeding funding and mentorship via Big Idea Venture’s food accelerator.


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Sinclair took home two trophies and one highly commended mention at the Mumbrella Asia Awards 2018, held on Thursday 15 November in Singapore. The wins for work and people showcase the integrated agency’s strengthening reputation as it continues its expansion in Greater China.
Sinclair was crowned Independent Agency of the Year for its #WeInfluence campaign along with team development and business initiatives across industry and sector. A milestone year with a new name and brand identity, Sinclair has seen significant new client wins and a high percentage of retainer re-signings gained by repositioning the agency from a lifestyle-focused to a full-service corporate and consumer brand consultancy.
Founder & CEO Kiri Sinclair was named Agency Leader of the Year, which comes of the back of multiple awards this year including at the recent Campaign Asia PR Awards Asia, where she was named Agency Head of the Year.
Sinclair’s dedication to its team of talented professionals inspires action, changes perception and creates business impact. This was noted again last night as Associate Director, Eleanor Porter was highly commended as Under-30 Achiever of the Year. This is her second accolade this year after winning Rising Star at the Marketing Interactive PR Awards 2018. Head of Marketing & Development, Sai Roshini Daswani, was also shortlisted for Mumbrella’s Under-30 Achiever of the Year.
30 Jun 2020
After an intense and challenging twelve months, we are thrilled to have our hard work, professionalism and passion acknowledged at Marketing Magazine’s Agency of the Year Awards 2020.
21 Apr 2017
Sinclair was named winner of the Travel & Tourism category at the Asia-Pacific Excellent Awards 2016 in Hong Kong, given for Singapore Tourism Board’s Your Singapore Summer.
25 Jun 2021
The team at Sinclair have been celebrating a number of award wins over the past few weeks, including silver for ‘Public Relations Agency of the Year’ at Marketing Magazine’s Agency of the Year Awards 2021.


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USDA establishes GMO law implementation panel as controversy continues
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- The Agriculture Department has already established an interagency working group to implement the law requiring labeling of genetically modified products that President Barack Obama signed on Friday, a key USDA official tol...
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - The Agriculture Department has already established an interagency working group to implement the law requiring labeling of genetically modified products that President Barack Obama signed on Friday, a key USDA official told the American Sugar Alliance here today.
Alexis Taylor, the deputy undersecretary for farm and foreign and agricultural services, said in a speech that USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will be in charge of the implementation.
A USDA spokeswoman also told The Hagstrom Report that the law already has a section on the AMS website (See link below) and that the working group will include representatives of the Foreign Agricultural Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service as well as other subagencies.
“Fortunately Congress recognized the importance of a national law "rather than state-by-state laws, said Taylor, who has assumed the duties of the Agriculture undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services since Michael Scuse, the undersecretary, has become the acting deputy secretary.
The law preempts state labeling laws such as the one that went into effect in Vermont on July 1. The USDA’s General Counsel’s office has said that the preemption is immediate, but some companies have said they will continue the labels they came up with in order to comply with the Vermont law.
Today Just Label It, a group that has called for on-package labeling and did not endorse the compromise bill worked out by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Senate Agriculture ranking member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., called on food companies to maintain those laws.
“Consumers have already begun to see GMO labeling disclosures on many familiar food packages as companies prepared to comply with Vermont’s groundbreaking law,” said Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Just Label It and Stonyfield Farm.
“In the wake of the creation of a national, mandatory labeling system, Campbell’s, Mars and Dannon have already publicly committed to keeping this simple disclosure on their packages as USDA sorts out the rules for implementation of this new law. I have sent a letter to other industry leaders asking them to publicly commit to keeping consumers out of the dark when it comes to GMOs in our food.”
“In recent months, we have seen real-world examples of how clear, on-package labeling can work for both consumers and industry. It is my hope that food corporations reject high-tech gimmicks, like QR codes, and stick with the simple, nonjudgmental disclosures we have already seen popping up on shelves across the country,” Hirshberg added.
The White House did not make a big deal of Obama signing the bill. Rather than the signing statements that accompany some bills, the White House Office of the Press Secretary said simply that Obama had signed “S. 764, which directs the secretary of Agriculture to establish a national mandatory bioengineered food disclosure standard,” along with a list of other bills, including the naming of post offices.
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food praised Obama for signing the bill.
“We are very pleased that President Obama has signed this vitally important legislation into law, creating a sensible disclosure standard that is transparent and consistent across all 50 states,” said Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and CFSAF co-chair.
“Over the last two years, our growing coalition of agriculture and food groups from farm to fork has proven to be a strong and effective advocate before policymakers on this issue.”
“As Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has observed, America’s food producing community has never been more united behind an issue,” said Chuck Conner, CFSAF co-chair and president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
“As this law enters the rule-making process at USDA, the same farm to fork coalition that helped get this bill enacted into law will work to ensure that implementation is squarely in line with Congressional intent and in a manner that best serves consumers, farmers and food companies.”
American Soybean Association President Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Del., said “This law will provide stability in the marketplace for both producers and consumers, while avoiding a messy patchwork of state laws.”
Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, said Obama had “capitulated to Big Food” by signing a bill that “does not mandate recalls, penalties or fines for noncompliance, and many loopholes in the bill will likely leave plenty of GMO ingredients exempt from any labeling requirements.
Under the law, USDA has two years to implement the law. It will require formal comment periods and promises to be highly complex because Congress left a lot of decisions about the labeling program up to USDA.
The law requires “mandatory disclosure” of genetically modified ingredients, but leaves it up to the companies to decide whether to use on-package labels, a symbol that USDA has yet to develop, or a link to a smartphone app or website that will provide further information.
Another uncertainty is whether USDA will require labeling if the ingredients do not have any traces of genetic modification but came from the planting of genetically modified seed, as would be the case with beet sugar.
The law says that products containing such ingredients would not need to be labeled, but the USDA General Counsel’s office has said the final decision would be up to the Agriculture secretary when the law is implemented.


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The Biggest Problem with Recalled Toys
Posted by PKSD Law Firm on Nov 11, 2008 in Product Recalls
Whats the biggest with recalled toys? The biggest problem with recalled toys has been getting the shops and consumers to return them. According to toy manufacturer Mattel, only 6% of the recalled toys are returned. If you were apply that math to the recent recall of 2.2 million Chinese-made toys contaminated with lead paint, that would mean only 132,000 toys were returned.
So what happens to the other 94%? Unfortuantely, some remain in the childs toy chest because their parents missed or ignored the recall. Some make it to internet auction sites like eBay or business-to-business sites before inevitably landing back in the hands of consumers.
There is no federal law or regulation against reselling recalled toys. However, eBay has agreed to keep recalled products off its auction web site.
The fact that these toys got out there for sale in the first place is the real shame. Regular exposure to lead or lead paint has been shown to lower IQs and learning disabilities as well as behavioral problems.
If youre in possession of a recalled item, you can probably return it to the store where you purchased it or you can mail it back to the manufacturer. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) web site for details on how to return the product.
If youre in possession of a hazardous material, you can drop it off at your local municipal hazardous waste collection facility. Go to www.earth911.com to find a hazardous waste facility near you.


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We’ve recently added a new feature to the Avista Utilities website that allows you to report a power outage. Of course, you’ve always been able to call our 1-800-227-9187 customer service number to report an outage, but many people like quick web interactions and we’re serving that need.
“Several years ago, when we were planning what to offer on the web, we looked at the E Source survey results info to determine what customers want on a site,” said Systems Business Analyst Janna Leaf. “Customers clearly indicated to E Source that they want the ability to report an outage on the web. So it's always been our intention to offer the service to our customers, and I believe this will be a great option for our customers.”
In today’s age of technology, it simply makes sense to be able to report an outage on the web.
The new feature offers the same self service options as the current telephone outage reporting system. The customer goes here
and reports the outage using an address, phone number or account number. The information provided must match an Avista customer with electric service. We’ve also placed safeguards on information to ensure privacy.
You also get the opportunity to provide detailed outage information, such descriptions of what you saw or heard such as “saw arcing wire” or “heard loud bang” to better assist dispatchers.
Another feature with reporting an outage includes the option of a call back request if there is a change in resolution time or when power is restored. You can also view maps of your area to see how many outages are around you.
No power, no access right?
We all know you can’t use your desktop computer if your power is out. With today’s wireless culture, the new outage reporting function serves the needs of customers who prefer instant online communication and are wireless. The person making the outage report could also be a third party reporting on behalf of the customer.
Reporting an outage on the web is a great option for customers with internet on a mobile phone or wireless laptops. The site may not work on all mobile browsers. In that case, the 1-800-227-9187 number is the best bet.
Another good example of reporting an outage online is when a child comes home after school and there is no power, they can call a parent who can report the outage from their computer or phone.
Avista strives to keep in step with the technology that is being used by our customers. Having the option to report an outage online is another step forward in the right direction.


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Leviton’s Renu switches deliver color control
Levitons’s new line of Renu decorative switches, outlets and wall plates is designed to give new control to DIYers when matching these products to the colors of their rooms.
The Renu line comes in 20 different colors including basics such as "white on white" and more colorful hues such as "red delicious" and "toasted coconut." The faceplates are easily interchangeable, snapping in and out as needed without touching the electrical parts behind the wall, according to Leviton.
Home builders not surprised by lackluster starts
The housing starts pace of 529,000 was the lowest since October 2009, and consistent with what builders have been saying in recent surveys, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"While builders remain extremely cautious about new construction at this time, they are looking forward to putting their employees back to work as economic conditions improve over the new year – assuming they can obtain the necessary financing for new-home production," said David Crowe, NAHB chief economist.
And while building permits increasd 16.7% in December, Crowe noted that the rate received a boost due to building code changes that were expected to go into effect in several states this January.
"The latest government report indicates that builders are preparing for an anticipated improvement in buyer demand in the spring buying season by pulling more permits in hopes of soon replenishing the very tight inventory of new homes for sale," said Bob Nielsen, NAHB chairman and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "That said, it remains to be seen if the availability of financing for new construction and existing viable projects will improve in order to make building feasible and facilitate a housing and economic recovery."
NAD recommends Sherwin-Williams modify ‘no-VOC’ claims
The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Sherwin-Williams modify or discontinue advertising claims that its Harmony paint line is completely free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The NAD, which is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory forum, reviewed claims made by Sherwin-Williams in Web and print advertising following a challenge by Benjamin Moore & Co.
Specifically, Benjamin Moore challenged Sherwin-Williams’ claims of “No-VOC formula,” “Zero-VOC formula,” and “Formulated without silica and without VOCs for better indoor air quality.”
The NAD also reviewed the implied claim that the full line of Sherwin-Williams Harmony paints, including base paint and paint containing color, contain no VOCs.
For purposes of this challenge only, both the NAD and Benjamin Moore agreed that a “zero-VOC” or “no-VOC” claim is substantiated if the VOC content of the paint contains less than 5.0 grams per liter VOC.
The NAD said that based on Sherwin-William’s Material Safety Data Sheets and Technical Data Sheets, certain colors in its Harmony line would exceed the 5.0 g/L VOC threshold when its deep base paint was mixed with conventional colorants, but the majority of the paints in its Harmony line would yield less than 5.0 g/L.
The NAD also reviewed the results of testing commissioned by Benjamin Moore on selected colors of Harmony paints. According to those tests, after the addition of conventional colorants to Sherwin-Williams’ deep base paint, VOC levels ranged from 42 to 112 g/L for “Coating” VOCs.
In response, Sherwin-Williams questioned the testing and maintained that because the majority of its paints in the Harmony line fall below the 5.0 g/L threshold, its zero-VOC claims are substantiated as to its entire line of Harmony paints.
As a result, the NAD recommended that the claim be discontinued or modified to clearly convey to consumers that Harmony deep base paint may result in higher levels of VOCs for some colors.
According to a release by NAD, Sherwin-Williams responded to the recommendation by saying the company “is disappointed that the NAD did not agree with its position that both consumers and the industry understand zero-VOC claims to pertain only to the majority of colors in a paint line, as opposed to being a 100% ‘line claim.’ However, out of respect for the self-regulatory process, Sherwin-Williams will accept the NAD’s decision and will take the NAD’s findings into consideration in its future advertising for Harmony.”


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Friday, October 5, 2012
Owner calls new store "the farmers' market of retail."
When Ian and Barbara Scofidio were looking for a place to relocate their Groton-based artisanal gift shop, noa, they wanted a place that hadn't been overrun by chain stores but rather valued independent retailers. Charles Street, they said, stood out as a "genuine Main Street" in the city. Today marks one month since noa opened its doors at 88 Charles St., where Good used to be. "A whole new group of retailers are choosing Charles Street because of Beacon Hill residents' support of local retail – and shoppers are noticing the new vibe alone what used to be antiques row," Barbara Scofidio said in an email "The reception has been almost magical," Ian Scofidio said at noa Thursday. "We are just so thrilled to be here. We never imagined we …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Check out these displays and discounts without leaving home.
We walked the street for you, taking a look in the windows and seeing who is offering sales on what. Take a look to see what we found! We'll start with new notable sales and displays and then go through continuing sales.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
City Councilor Mike Ross said Charles Street on Beacon Hill is an example of a business district where retail is being strangled by too many street-level banks.
Clusters of banks can strangle the retail vitality of certain Boston streets, warned City Councilor Mike Ross. Ross said Charles Street is an example where too many "big box banks" are buying up storefronts at inflated prices mom and pop shops can't afford. The resulting row of banks deadens what could be lively retail zones. "It’s not right for every street to make this 'No Bank First Floor' zoning change, but I believe it’s right for Charles Street on Beacon Hill," said Ross, who represents District 8. Ross said that banks close at 5 p.m. and aren't open on weekends, all of which has a deadening effect for the neighborhood businesses. He made his remarks at Wednesday's City Council meeting. The matter will be taken up by the Committee on…
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Check out these sales and specials without leaving home.
We walked the street for you, taking a look at who is offering sales on what. Flip through the photos to see what's on offer.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Long-time Beacon Hill business to move to an attractive space in the Innovation District.
After 21 years on Charles Street, Beacon Hill Framery will close by the end of the month to move to a large new space in the Innovation District. For less than half the rent she pays at her small shop at 107 Charles St., owner Victoria Spoor will be getting more than three times the space in a pristine building in Fort Point. She opens at 840 Summer St., Suite 305, on March 1. "I'm so excited about it. It's going to be such a great space," said Victoria Spoor, who bought the business three years ago. The decision to move came at the end of January, after rent negotiations with the landlord fell through. She had a month to find a space and one of her customers, who happens to be the administrator of the federal Small Business …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A boutique owner says she's shuttering her business because of challenges she faces on Charles Street. Do you think this closure is one part of a bigger trend?
"There's no way to survive doing commerce in that neighborhood," boutique owner and clothing designer Sara Campbell said of Charles Street in a recent Patch article on the closing of her Charles Street boutique, Sara Campbell. She also said: After the first block, it just becomes a rambling of assorted stuff. You don't need seven nails salons, you need two ... You need more stores like the darling little chocolate shops. It was supposed to be a neighborhood shopping street. I feel bad for Charles Street because it was so special, it was such a special street to shop, and now it's eroding. Other stores on the street are closing or have closed already, including Cibeline, Judith Dowling & Polly Latham Asian Art, Leslie Linsley Nantucket …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Amid news that some small businesses are closing, John Corey points out what the street is doing well.
Despite the news of several small shops leaving Charles Street, Joint Charles Street Co-Chair John Corey says it's not "all gloom and doom." Below is a list he sent to Beacon Hill Patch about positive developments on the street: There are lots of exciting things happening on Charles Street and more to come with enhanced cooperation between the residents, business owners and of course the City of Boston. Here are a few of the recent developments:
Monday, February 6, 2012
Her other shops are thriving, but the designer said it's just too difficult to succeed on the Hill.
After less than two years on Charles Street, Boston designer Sara Campbell has decided to close her store amid what she describes as a very hard environment for small businesses. "It's been a disappointment," Campbell said of the Beacon Hill store. "There's no way to survive doing commerce in that neighborhood." The store's last day is Feb. 18. Campbell's other stores – the flagship boutique in the South End, the others in Wellesley, Concord and Hingham – are thriving, she said. Campbell is even opening a new store outside of Chicago and eyeing spots in Greenwich, Conn., and Palm Beach, Fla. She also has season stores in Nantucket and Newport, R.I. But Beacon Hill has been exceedingly difficult. "I threw everything at it. It's my least …
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Board voted against plan to move Capital One into 62-66 Charles, supports proposal to make all first floor commercial zoning conditional.
Showing a strong allegiance to its residents and local businesses, the Beacon Hill Civic Association unanimously passed two motions designed to control commercial growth along Charles and Cambridge streets. The votes were made at Monday night’s meeting, the board's first of 2012. Zoning and Licensing Committee co-chair Tom Clemens spent the first half of his report discussing the ongoing battle over a Capital One bank moving into 62-66 Charles St.—a storefront occupied by the popular Charles Street Market. In order to move in, Linear Realty Properties applied for a “change of conditional use” permit, which would reclassify the location from a convenience store to bank. “There was a high level of support—and virtually unanimous support from…
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Boston ice cream company now looks for the approval of the zoning board and the Beacon Hill Civic Association.


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“We are proud of the hard work of everyone here at Goodway Technologies to support the continued and sustainable growth in our export sales,” said Tim Kane, president and CEO of Goodway Technologies.
STAMFORD, Conn. (PRWEB)
November 12, 2021
Goodway Technologies, a global leader in manufacturing and distributing innovative technology-driven maintenance cleaning and sanitation solutions, has been awarded the President’s “E” Award for Exports from the United States Department of Commerce. This is the highest honor given to U.S. exporters and acknowledges Goodway Technologies’ achievement in making significant contributions to an increase in U.S. exports.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves presented Jesus Tueme with the “E” Award during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. on November 5. Tueme is an International Sales Manager at Goodway Technologies.
“Goodway Technologies’ achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in her congratulatory letter to the company announcing its selection. “The company’s customization of products for export markets was also particularly notable.”
For 55 years, Goodway Technologies industrial maintenance solutions have been used worldwide for commercial HVAC, facility management, manufacturing, food production, power generation, maritime, and other industrial markets. The innovative, technology-driven products help to perform routine maintenance duties faster, easier, safer and more efficiently.
“We are proud of the hard work of everyone here at Goodway Technologies to support the continued and sustainable growth in our export sales,” said Tim Kane, president and CEO of Goodway Technologies. “Our team has proven to be able to quickly adjust to successfully sell into the international marketplace—from product design changes to new product introductions.”
Goodway Technologies strives to exceed customer expectations by providing the best-valued products and services, and continually improving upon them. Goodway Technologies equipment is exported to more than 125 countries and on every continent, including Antarctica.
In total, the Department honored 70 U.S. companies and organizations from across the country for their role in strengthening the U.S. economy by sharing American ingenuity outside of our borders. The ceremony was held to jointly recognize awardees from 2021, (32 organizations) and 2020, (39 organizations).
In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America’s exporters. Criteria for the award is based on four years of successive export growth in one or more international markets.
U.S. companies are nominated for the “E” Awards through the U.S. Commercial Service, the export promotion arm of the Department’s International Trade Administration. With offices in over 100 cities across the United States and in 75 markets around the world, the International Trade Administration is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace.
For more information on Goodway Technologies, visit http://www.goodway.com.
About Goodway Technologies
Founded in 1966, Goodway Technologies has been delivering better maintenance solutions for more than 55 years. Goodway Technologies provides innovative maintenance solutions for a wide variety of industries including commercial HVAC, food and beverage processing, power generation and manufacturing. Over the decades, Goodway has worked with our customers to create better solutions for tube cleaning systems, industrial vacuums, cooling tower maintenance systems, dry steam solutions, descaling systems, coil cleaning products and practically everything else for the care and maintenance of HVAC systems. Further information is available at http://www.goodway.com. Goodway is recognized as an ISO 9001:2015 certified company.
About the “E” Awards
In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America’s exporters. Criteria for the award is based on four years of successive export growth in one or more international markets. For more information about the “E” Awards and the benefits of exporting, visit http://www.trade.gov.
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Arts & Life
Kiraca-Holding Latest News, Top Stories - All news & analysis about Kiraca-Holding
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Turkey to unveil prototype of first indigenous car in December
Locally-made electric car to hit the roads in 2022
Turkey sets up firm for 'indigenous car'
Investment in first indigenous car amounts to $3 billion: Minister Özlü
Turkey’s indigenous cars to be ready for sale by 2021: Turkish PM
Turkish local consortium working on three electric car models
Turkish firm to install Tesla’s supercharging stations
Turkey working on launching first astronaut into space
President Erdoğan, Elon Musk discuss Tesla cooperation with Turkish firms
Erdoğan meets Musk amid local car efforts
Turkey launches joint venture for first indigenous car
CEO of Turkey’s ‘indigenous car’ venture to be announced


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A seasonal business, www.christmastreeforme.com sells the majority of its products in November through December each year, so adjusting its systems to handle big spikes in demand was essential. The retailer signed on with the OnSIP hosted IP PBX service from Junction Networks in March of 2008 and has not only reduced its phone bills by 60% but also provided needed flexibility to serve an increased flood of customers for its seasonal business.
The retailer’s previous phone provider required Christmas Tree for Me to commit to monthly charges even when the phones were barely used. “If we needed five users during the busy season we had to sign a contract for three years for those five users, even if we only needed the maximum five users for only 10 weeks,” explains Bill Quinn, the company’s president.
Junction does not charge per user, per phone or per extension. A typical package for a small company with approximately five users may include three auto attendants, three ring groups and five voice mail boxes. Junction also does not require companies to sign a contract or make a long-term commitment. Companies pay on a month-to-month basis and can discontinue the service at any time.
By switching from a traditional landline-based phone system to a pay-per-minute Web-based VOIP system, the Christmas Tree for Me company is spending 60% less on its annual phone bills. “I won’t be looking around for another phone service,” “and that is the first time I’ve ever made that statement.” Quinn, who founded Christmas Tree for Me in 2004, previously sold phone systems.
Savings by the Minute
Surprising to Quinn, Junction Networks’ pay-by-the-minute service has saved the retailer significantly, compared to previous services that charged a monthly rate plus overages. “It was very hard for me to adjust to an unknown cost per month, but when I did the math it was eye-opening,” notes Quinn. “Junction’s service was a great deal for us.”
In addition to paying by the minute, Junction’s service provides the ability for retailers to add or remove services as needed. For Christmas Tree for Me, call queuing is necessary only for the busy season. “We turn on call queuing on November 1 and turn it off in February,” says Quinn. “For us, that is probably the coolest service Junction provides.”
Ease of Implementation
With Junction’s Web-based system, retailers can easily add and remove users and their phones. “I simply go into the Web browser and create a user, and within about 15 minutes I can have a new phone set up anywhere in the world,” says Quinn. “With our previous provider, I had to create a ticket and wait for the provider to provision the new phone.”
The service offered by Junction Networks is consistent and reliable across geographic locations. Employees can receive voice mail via email and pick them up at their desktops or on smartphones. They also can forward their extension calls to their mobile phones. Three-way conference calling is included in the service. And Christmas Tree for Me also has enabled a click-to-call feature for communicating with customers from their hosted CRM application.
Quinn says it is most important to understand the billing and potential overage charges. “If a provider says they will charge you $50 per month per line for unlimited usage, you really need to read the contract and look for overage charges,” Quinn explains. “We had signed a contract that required a monthly payment, even if we were barely using the service, then we were charged an overage charge during our busy season. I was livid. Make sure you are not surprised by the charges.”


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Skill gaming startup Hold Gaming has launched the first competitive skill-based casino games that can be played for cash prizes, combining social casino, iGaming and esports to create an entirely new gaming genre.
Targeted towards the next generation of gamers, Hold Gaming unlocks an untapped market for operators with gameplay possible in up to 40 US states and across more platforms including mobile, web browser and the App Store.
Hold Gaming founder and CEO Phillip Runyan said the seed-stage startup’s first game, Blackjack Fire, already available through the App store, had racked up more than 20,000 installs and handed out more than $10,000 USD in cash prizes since its launch just four months ago.
“We created the first viable platform where the end-to-end experience for the player is based on skill, rather than chance so there’s no more losing to the house,” Mr Runyan said.
“The format of the games means we’re increasing by tenfold the US states where iGaming is available and making them accessible on more platforms than ever before.
“We are built for the next generation of gamers. We have a highly competitive target market who have grown up in the digital world. It’s not enough to simply win anymore, players want the glory, they want their spot on the leaderboard for the world to see and they want to get paid.”
Mr Runyan said the company’s proprietary platform was designed with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) compliance front of mind to ensure that only verified players could access game content.
“By building compliance into the platform from the ground up, we’re able to provide a smooth on-ramp to verify customers instead of adding these necessary checks and balances as an after-thought.” he said.
Hold Gaming is backed by industry innovators, drawing experience from Draft Kings, Double Down Interactive, EA Sports, International Game Technology and Blastworks.
“We’ve been operating largely in stealth mode to-date, refining our game play and making sure we have the absolute best experience for players,” Mr Runyan said.
“Based on the success of Blackjack Fire, we are in the process of releasing the game across more platforms including web and mobile channels. We have several new game launches in the pipeline and are looking at enhancing gameplay through live events and tournaments.”
“We’re also looking to expand the offering into other markets such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.”
With products already in-market, Hold Gaming is currently undertaking a Seed round fund raise. Blackjack Fire is available for download on the App Store. To find out more about Hold Gaming visit www.holdgaming.com.


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This July, Gionee had charted out plans for manufacturing phones in India on a contract. Fast forward to September, the Chinese handset manufacturer announced that they are teaming up Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest contract manufacturer and Dixon Technologies to start manufacturing phones in India by October. According to Gionee, Foxconn will begin their operations at its Sri City plant in Tamil Nadu, which coincidentally also houses assembly lines for larger competitors like Xiaomi. The Noida unit will be handled by Dixon Technology with them promising the factory to be ready by October 5th.
This is a part of Gionee's 'Make in India' plan as they are looking forward to an investment of $50 million (approximately INR 330 crore) in the next three years on manufacturing in India by Foxconn and Dixon Technologies. Reports say that Foxconn will be making Gionee's F series and P series smartphones while Dixon will mainly focus on feature phones and other low-key smartphones introduced by Gionee. Gionee plans to begin commercial production as early as October 16th according to Arvind Vohra, CEO and Managing Director of Gionee India. The combined capacity of the two factories is expected to reach a production of more than 1.2 million units per month. This will help Gionee save up on a lot of additional cost and import duties, as the company intends to make India a manufacturing hub for other African countries and members of SAARC, and also help them introduce devices quickly and reduce cost for customers, which will ultimately boost sales.
Gionee is also planning to increase the investment in research and development team in India, which will be working on personalizing Gionee's custom UI, named Amigo, and making it more suitable for the Indian market. According to William Lu, president of Gionee, India's market is a second home to Gionee after China, and the investment in Indian manufacturing is just another step in a line of much more to come for the Indian market and customers. Studying the success of online retailing over brick and mortar stores for over two years, Gionee also has plans to embrace the online sales route. They are holding discussions with major online retailers in India, including Flipkart, Amazon, and Snapdeal, and they have plans to introduce one model each month.
This announcement by Gionee follows a trend as many major companies are seeking to open manufacturing units in India. Last week, Sony had announced its plans to assemble Xperia and budget phones in India, in partnership with Foxconn. Lenovo and Motorola have already started manufacturing phones in India, along with Xiaomi while Vivo, HTC, Microsoft, LG, Motorola are some of the international manufacturers who have expressed significant interest in manufacturing phones in India.


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New research by the Environmental Investigation Agency names Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose as leaders in alternative refrigerant use
UK supermarkets including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose are leading the charge away from harmful refrigerants toward more natural alternatives, in doing so curbing emissions and saving energy. ...
BusinessGreen brings you the latest green business news from around the world
This issue isn't going away for the e-commerce giant - and other industry leaders should consider themselves on notice
It's the largest purchase order by any company in the US
BREAKING: PM to resign leadership of Tory party on June 7, with Boris Johnson is favourite to win leadership election


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BARCELONA: BUDGET SMARTPHONE MAKER Alcatel has become the latest manufacturer at MWC to join the competitive 7in tablet race, launching the Android powered One Touch Tab 7HD.
The tablet, which is destined to compete with the Google Nexus 7 and HP Slate7, features a 1280x800 resolution touchscreen, a dual-core 1.6GHz processor and 2MP and 0.3MP dual cameras.
We take a hands-on look at the Alcatel One Touch Tab 7HD to see how it stacks up against its rivals. µ
Something else for carriers to blame poor reception on
Will it work on Songs for the Deaf?
What took so long?


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The United Arab Emirates stands at a pivotal juncture in its financial journey. Driven by ambitious visions for a cashless society and the relentless march of technological innovation, the nation’s payment landscape is undergoing a dynamic transformation. While cash still holds its ground in everyday transactions, the tide is steadily turning towards cards and digital payment solutions, promising greater convenience, security, and efficiency.
Future of Payments In UAE several key factors:
Government Initiatives: The UAE government has implemented numerous initiatives to promote cashless transactions, including the Smart Dubai 2021 strategy and the Abu Dhabi Digital Strategy 2021-2025. These initiatives aim to create a seamless and secure digital infrastructure that drives innovation and fosters financial inclusion.
Increased Card Adoption: The UAE boasts one of the highest card penetration rates in the Middle East, with over 13 million cards issued, 60% of which are debit cards and the remaining 40% are credit cards. This widespread adoption reflects the growing preference for the convenience and security offered by cards. Additionally, it’s very easy to Check the “PPC Bank Balance Online” In UAE Anytime without hassle.
Rise of Digital Wallets: Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are gaining significant traction in the UAE, offering a swift and contactless payment experience. These wallets are further integrated with loyalty programs and other financial services, enhancing their value proposition for users.
Blockchain and AI Integration: The UAE is exploring the potential of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence to revolutionize the payments industry. These technologies offer enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency, paving the way for innovative payment solutions.
Despite the rapid adoption of digital payments, cash is not disappearing entirely. It continues to hold relevance for specific segments of the population, particularly:
Small Businesses: Many small businesses In the UAE still rely heavily on cash transactions, as digital payment infrastructure might not be readily available or affordable for them. As new ways to make money online in the UAE are on the rise, so too are online payment methods.
Low-Income Individuals: Individuals with limited access to bank accounts may find cash more convenient and accessible than relying on formal financial services.
Cultural Preferences: Some cultural norms and traditions favour cash payments, particularly for social gatherings and gifting occasions.
Therefore, the future of payments in the UAE will likely be shaped by a hybrid approach, where both cash and digital solutions coexist and complement each other. This will require a continued focus on:
Financial Inclusion: Initiatives aimed at providing access to financial services and digital literacy are crucial to ensure that everyone can participate in the digital economy.
Innovation and Security: Continuous investment in innovative and secure payment technologies will be essential to build trust and encourage wider adoption.
Regulatory Framework: Robust regulations and frameworks are needed to ensure fair competition, protect consumer rights, and mitigate potential risks associated with digital payments.
Consumer Education: Raising awareness about the benefits and safety of digital payments will be key to encouraging individuals to embrace new technologies and transition away from cash reliance.
By embracing a balanced approach that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and security, the UAE can solidify its position as a global leader in the digital payments landscape. This will not only contribute to a more efficient and convenient financial ecosystem but also unlock opportunities for economic growth and social progress.
Scenario 1: The Seamless Cashless Future
In this optimistic scenario, the government’s initiatives, coupled with continued technological advancements, lead to a widespread adoption of digital payments. Cash has become increasingly marginalized, used only for small transactions and specific cultural contexts. This cashless system offers numerous benefits, including:
- Increased efficiency: Transactions become faster and more convenient, leading to improved productivity and reduced transaction costs for businesses and consumers alike.
- Enhanced transparency: Digital payments leave a clear audit trail, allowing for better tracking and management of finances, both at the individual and national level.
- Financial inclusion: Increased access to digital payment solutions can empower individuals who were previously excluded from formal financial systems, promoting financial inclusion and social progress.
Scenario 2: The Hybrid Reality
In this more realistic scenario, a hybrid model emerges where both cash and digital solutions coexist and cater to different needs and preferences. Cash continues to be relevant for specific segments of the population, while digital payments become the dominant choice for everyday transactions. This scenario requires:
- Continued efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone has access to the necessary resources and skills to participate in the digital economy.
- Ongoing innovation and development of secure and user-friendly digital payment solutions to address the evolving needs and preferences of users.
- Collaboration between government, financial institutions, and technology companies to create a robust and interoperable digital payments ecosystem.
Challenges to Overcome
Despite the potential benefits, the transition towards a digital payment society in the UAE also faces certain challenges:
- Digital divide: Not everyone has equal access to the necessary technology and infrastructure to utilize digital payments, creating a risk of exclusion for vulnerable populations.
- Cybersecurity threats: The increasing reliance on digital payments necessitates robust cybersecurity measures to protect user data and financial transactions from fraud and cyberattacks.
- Privacy concerns: Users may have concerns about the collection and use of their data by financial institutions and technology companies.
- Resistance to change: Some individuals and businesses may be hesitant to adopt new technologies and prefer the familiarity and convenience of cash transactions.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach:
- Investing in digital infrastructure and ensuring its accessibility to all segments of the population.
- Implementing robust cybersecurity measures and fostering awareness about data privacy and security practices.
- Promoting transparency and building trust among users by providing clear information on how their data is collected and used.
- Educating and engaging the public about the benefits and safety of digital payments to encourage wider adoption.
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Payments in the UAE
The future of payments in the UAE is characterized by immense potential and exciting possibilities. By embracing innovation, prioritizing inclusivity, and addressing potential challenges, the UAE can pave the way for a more efficient, convenient, and secure financial ecosystem that benefits all residents. This journey towards a cashless future is not simply about adopting new technologies but also about building a more inclusive and prosperous society for all. As the UAE continues to lead the way in this transformative process, it serves as an inspiration for other nations around the world seeking to embrace the potential of digital payments and shape a brighter financial future.
The story of the future of payments in the UAE is not yet written, but the first chapters are being penned with each innovative solution and each individual choice to embrace the digital world. This story promises to be one of progress, collaboration, and a shared vision for a more inclusive and prosperous financial future for all.


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The inflation rate in the Twin Cities has decreased to 1% in the past year. This represents a noteworthy decrease from May when the Twin Cities became the first urban region to experience a drop in annual inflation. Although the inflation rate in the Twin Cities is the lowest among major cities, residents may not perceive it as such, especially considering that increasing interest rates and the scarcity of housing in cities like Miami have caused inflation rates to soar in other parts of the country.
Tyler Schipper, who is an economics professor at the University of St. Thomas, has provided insights on how the Twin Cities' inflation compares with that of the rest of the country. Despite the relatively low inflation rate in the Twin Cities, it remains crucial for residents to be aware of its potential impacts on their finances. Inflation may trigger an upsurge in the cost of goods and services, thereby making it more difficult for people to afford basic necessities.
The development of new apartment buildings is one factor that contributes to the Twin Cities' low inflation rate. The cost of rent has remained relatively stable as more apartments become available, which has helped keep inflation under control. Nevertheless, it is vital to note that this trend may not persist indefinitely. The increase in demand for apartments could cause the cost of rent to rise, which, in turn, could lead to higher inflation rates.
Twin Cities' current low inflation rate highlights the importance for residents to remain vigilant about the impact of inflation on their finances. Residents can mitigate the impact of inflation on their daily lives by staying informed and managing their finances effectively.


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Despite a well-publicized controversy surrounding the creation of a new political action committee, American International Automobile Dealers Assn. President Marianne McInerney’s abrupt resignation this week to pursue other opportunities caught the group’s board members off guard.
“We were surprised,” Don Hicks, chairman of the association, tells Ward’s, disputing speculation McInerney was fired. “We had hoped she would stay. Remember, we recently negotiated a new 3-year contract with her.”
According to Hicks, in her three years at the helm, McInerney breathed new life into the organization, which represents more than 11,000 import dealers.
AIADA Chairman Don Hicks
“Before Marianne, AIADA had become a really sleepy organization,” he says. Other problems included poor communication with its dealer members and poor management of finances, which resulted in more expenses than revenue.
“All that changed under Marianne,” says Hicks. “Including getting the revenues to exceed our expenses.”
When asked what kind of person he would look for to replace McInerney, Hicks says, “I’m looking for another Marianne McInerney, or at least a reasonable facsimile of her.”
AIADA’s board is forming an executive search committee this week and will use Washington D.C. search firms that specialize in trade association leadership, according to Hicks.
Hicks, talking with Ward’s as he was taking care of last-minute details at a new Porsche dealership he is opening in Colorado on March 11, admits it is important to keep the association on track, and that he hopes to have a new president in place by the association’s annual Automotive Congress in late May.
“Everyone on the staff told us they are staying and that they plan on putting on the best congress,” he says.
McInerney’s resignation is the latest in a string of challenges for the AIADA, beginning with former President Walter Huzienga’s lawsuit resulting from the trade association not renewing his contract three years ago – a lawsuit recently decided in favor of the AIADA.
Last August, then-chairman Jim Evans resigned both from AIADA and his position of market president for AutoNation Inc., thrusting Hicks into the role several months earlier than planned. As a result, Hicks will have served as chairman for an unprecedented 17 months. (See related story: Evans Resigns From AIADA)
While dealing with all of the challenges thrown at him as AIADA chairman, Hicks still is actively involved in his Aurora, CO-based Shortline Automotive Inc., which sells Subarus, Suzukis, Hyundais, Kias and Porsches – once the new store opens.
The PAC issue has been particularly challenging.
McInerney became a polarizing figure when the association began plans for a new PAC late last summer, a move that ultimately split AIADA’s leadership.
The National Automobile Dealers Assn., which operates the Dealer Election Action Committee, argues that another PAC could put dealers at risk legally with potential campaign finance law violations.
Another concern is that a second trade association-run PAC could weaken dealer political strength by dividing resources and efforts. While dealers can give to as many PACs as they desire, they can designate only one PAC that is able to solicit funds from them.
AIADA claims that is a non-issue because more than 80% of its members do not contribute to the DEAC or to the independent Automotive Free International Trade Political Action Committee (AFIT PAC), a PAC which has been closely associated with AIADA in the due its support for free trade.
The import dealer group’s board voted twice to implement the PAC – “overwhelmingly,” Hicks says. The board voted 14-4 last November in favor of the PAC and again in favor 12-7 earlier this year.
A former chairman of the association, who asked not to be named, admitted during the recent NADA convention that he finds the situation frustrating, especially after spending several years devoted to the group’s success.
According to Hicks, many of the dealers opposed to the PAC are associates with the AFIT PAC. The issue, as Hicks and other AIADA members see it, is that AFIT PAC focuses only on free-trade issues.
“While free-trade still is the foundation for us, our dealers have told us they want to focus on other issues that are also important,” Hicks says. The issues include elimination of the estate, or so-called “death” tax, and the 25% “chicken” tariff on pick up trucks imported into the U.S.
AIADA was formed in 1970 by Volkswagen dealers to lobby for the elimination of the 25% tariff that President Lyndon Johnson levied in 1963 on various imported products, including light-duty pickup trucks, to retaliate against Europe for obstructing U.S. exports of frozen chickens.
The only tariff remaining from that dispute is the one imposed on the pickup trucks. The tariff, still at 25%, is almost 10 times the average tariff imposed by the U.S.
AIADA sent a delegation to Thailand in January to participate in the sixth round of negotiations on a free-trade agreement with that country. The purpose of the trip was to educate Thais on the efforts made by import auto dealers to repeal the tariff.
Complete elimination of the death tax has been a top priority for AIADA for several years. The association was instrumental in 2001 in securing passage of a bill that repealed the tax until 2010. But it is scheduled for reinstatement in 2011.
The 55% tax was levied on all estates valued at $675,000 or more once the owner died. The tax was especially burdensome for small businesses, including automotive dealerships.
The House of Representatives passed a bill last year that completely eliminates the tax, but the bill has not made it to the Senate floor yet, because it likely cannot get the 60 votes necessary to avoid a filibuster.
But there are rumors the tax may actually be voted on by the Senate as early as May, possibly around the time of AIADA’s annual Automotive Congress.
AIADA is feeling the pressure because President Bush likely will sign a bill if it is passed. And with the congressional elections this year and the possibility of the new Congress being unsympathetic to its issues, AIADA clearly is focused on delivering for its members. (See related story: Full Court Press for AIADA)
The staff and board want to keep momentum while increasing lobbying its efforts. One key initiative is AIADA’s Adopt-A-Candidate program, in which the group is helping dealers organize events for candidates in key battleground states.
Hicks also is concerned about guarding against potential backlash against import auto makers and their dealers as the domestic franchises continue to have challenges. He cautioned members in February to be wary of efforts to increase trade protectionism in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Hicks says he does not think McInerney’s resignation will result in any of the departed board members returning.
“I doubt it,” he says. “You’re either for the PAC or you’re not. The terms were up for many of the board members who left, except for Bradley Hoffman (who was slated to be chairman in 2007). It just made their decision easier.”
Kelly Martin, director-member services, is running the staff until McInerney’s replacement is found. Also, four members of the executive committee will rotate turns in the office, ensuring at least one member is on site at all times.


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390 Adventure latest price hike is within four months of its launch. The other 390s have also received a substantial increase in their prices…
The much awaited KTM’s 390 Adventure is already here – it was launched in January 2020 at a price tag of Rs 2.99 Lakh ex-showroom. It also gave KTM a 2.5 times increase in 390’s sales. However, within a span of four odd months, prices of all KTM motorcycles have gone north, including the 390 ADV.
390 Adventure Latest Price
|390 ADV||Rs 3,04,110|
The 390 Adventure has received a fairly significant price hike of Rs 5109 which is about 2 percent of the older cost of the motorcycle. Since the baby ADV was already BS6 compliant, this price hike can not be linked to the BS4 to BS6 transition.
This price increase will take the on road price precariously close to Rs 4 Lakh, specially in cities like Bangalore where the levies are higher.
This will also give BMW a chance to up its ante with the new G310 GS which is already under tests. The BS4 compliant baby GS was being offered at around Rs 3.50 Lakh on road after various offers.
Along with the ADV, the other 390s – 390 Duke and RC390 have also received substantial price hikes in this round. Here is where they stand…
|Motorcycle||BS6 Launch Price||Latest Price (May 2020)|
The costlier 390 Duke has received a relatively lesser price hike of ₹4978 whereas the faired sportster RC390 has become costlier by ₹5109 – the same amount as the ADV.


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With a thriving scene of financial companies in the North East and a wealth of support mechanisms in place, the region is perfectly placed to build a fintech business and there’s no longer a need to be based in London, writes Aaron Holmes, CEO and Founder of Kani Payments.
Northshoring can be defined as a business moving all or part of their operations from the South to more cost-effective locations in the North. With typical business hubs like London coming with astronomical costs for businesses large and small alike – and with new economic pressures driving those costs up even further – more and more companies are looking for alternative industry hotspots to relocate or start their business in.
One clear example of this is the UK’s fintech industry. When you think of UK fintech, your mind likely goes straight to London. But Newcastle has put itself on the global fintech map and is fast becoming one of the most exciting and appealing locations for dynamic financial services and fintech players.
Driven by a rich heritage in tech development and lower cost business conditions, Newcastle is proving to be a major pull for start-ups. Regional fintech hubs like these are all helping the UK to attract record levels of investment, with a massive £2.4 billion in equity funding secured just in the first quarter of 2022 alone, on the back of a record year for fintech acquisitions in 2021.
And, having built my own company from my Northern hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, I strongly believe that you don’t need to be based in London to make it in fintech – with the right disruptive idea, budding firms can make it anywhere.
How Newcastle established itself as the biggest fintech hub outside London
Newcastle has been the home of a thriving financial economy for generations. The city is home to some well-known names in UK financial services and technology, like Newcastle Building Society, Virgin Money (formerly Northern Rock), and software giant Sage, the UK’s second-largest technology company.
Newcastle’s historic financial services market has helped to create what is now a thriving fintech ecosystem – drawing from a wide range of technology and data skills, professional services, and a strong support environment. It is also being driven by the lower cost of doing business; the convenient location between the existing finance hubs of London and Edinburgh; a diverse pool of talent; and an existing reputation for tech and data research, the region is massively growing its roster of fintechs.
Newcastle and the wider North East area have long been hotly tipped as the places to be for operational fintechs, thanks to Newcastle’s reputation as a UK Science City – which boasts four national centres of excellence specialising in big data, energy, ageing and marine science, and two world-leading universities. It is also now the best represented region outside of London for Tech Nation’s Fintech Growth Programme initiative, and was even named as an emerging fintech hub in the 2021 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech.
With the North East Fintech Strategy 2022-25 from industry analysts Whitecap Consulting now published, the growing importance of the area to the UK’s fintech industry is abundantly clear and the success of its companies demonstrates that you don’t need to be based in London to make a mark.
The North East comes with a host of incentives for businesses
The North East’s many economic and social advantages are also fresh incentives for organisations in the area to ramp up skills training relevant to fintech companies. We’ve got a critical mass of fintech firms in the North East and local infrastructure that can support businesses to grow and put graduates in jobs.
Local universities such as Northumbria University and Teesside University have even started fintech courses, which will be a strong pull for people to the region, in turn supporting new businesses as they grow.
I believe that businesses across the North need to collaborate, not compete, and learn from other regions and organisations so that our post-Covid-19 economy can come back even stronger. What’s more, the fintech scene is only going to accelerate – and I’m proud that my company, Kani Payments, is in a really strong position to be a key part of that.
A strong Northern economy is critical for Kani Payments, its employees and the wider industry. Named with a nod and a wink towards the “canny” Newcastle term, and which also means to be good with money, we are a software as a service (SaaS) platform which exists to reduce payments data complexity. I currently lead Kani from its Newcastle upon Tyne head office and am an enthusiastic supporter of the North-East fintech hub.
Leading by example
Kani’s objective is to make life easier for disruptive fintech and payments businesses, by giving them a system that’s capable of ingesting data from any company that they work with in the payments ecosystem, and giving them the tangible outcomes that they need. We take raw file data, which is very difficult for a human to interpret and figure out what’s going on, and we translate it into a much more understandable format.
We also have a business support layer that helps fintech businesses better understand the complex payments ecosystem through payment reconciliation technology and upskilling in-house finance teams.
Supporting the growth of the Northern economy will also help to solidify the future of our sector in the North East and ensure that me and my team can continue to help companies all over the world – from our small corner of the globe. In just under four years, Kani has already reconciled over €15 billion in transactional payments data for our customers, and our success is taking us global.
We now work with fintechs, challenger banks and payment players all over the world to disrupt decades-old data reconciliation processes. I’m proud to say that my company is a fintech success story – and I hope that we can use our growth to guide other companies on a similar path.
I want to give back to the area that has given so much to me by creating jobs and opportunities that stimulate further growth. In our own way, we’re contributing to the growth of Newcastle and the North East as an area ripe with opportunities for dynamic fintech businesses.
Clearly, the North East has an incredibly bright future ahead, and it’s a real privilege to play a part in the region’s upward trajectory. I am confident that our region will continue to have a bright fintech future, driven by the support of organisations such as Dynamo North East, Sunderland Software City, Invest Newcastle, Innovation Centre for data and Newcastle University, as well as companies like Kani Payments.
In this way, I am confident that we can inspire other fintech entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality, and showcase that you don’t need to be down south to go global.


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Package Holiday firm Truly Travels exposed over 200,000 customer phone call recordings and data files on a publicly accessible server.
Over 530,000 data files were discovered in an unsecured Amazon Web Services server. Of these files 212,000 were audio files that held recordings of Teletext customers who had contacted the firms India-based call centre.
The stored audio files contained customer calls to the data centre that occurred between the April and August of 2016. The calls appear to be from UK customers and vary in length from minutes up to an hour. The recorded conversations are predominately related to the booking of a holiday or customer complaints, some contain partial credit card details.
Truly Travels, which trades as Teletext Holidays, was created back when television information text services were frequently used for information queries. The company now advertises package holidays that are booked via a phone or online. The three digit CVC number is input via the keypad so it is not recorded in the calls.
The discovered audio files were stored in a repository named ‘speechanalytics.’ Verdict who discovered the files also noted that they found 9,000 VTT files. Web Video Text Track files or VTT is a popular file format used to add captions to audio files.
In a statement to Verdict, who first broke the breach, a Truly Travel spokesperson commented that: “We are in the process of reporting the matter to the ICO, and we will fully comply with our wider legal obligations. The company is taking all appropriate steps to ensure that this situation does not occur in the future.”
Misconfigured Server Caused Teletext Data Breach
Misconfigured cloud services continues to be a major problem for companies using cloud services as companies using infrastructure and platform as a service offerings from IT firms have left themselves vulnerable as to an average misconfigured 14 instances.
This is according to cyber security firm McAfee who in its Cloud Adoption and Risk Report found that enterprises are still leaving services in misconfigured states, despite recent high-profile breaches due to misconfigured cloud storage.
The report found that over 20 percent of all files stored in the cloud contain sensitive data, while the amount of files with sensitive data shared in the cloud has increased by 53 percent year-on-year.
McAfee have found that over 5 percent of all AWS S3 storage buckets are set to a ‘world read’ permissions configuration.
Stuart Reed, VP of Cyber Security at Nominet commenting on the Teletext data breach stated that: ”Teletext is an example of why companies should not become complacent with their use of the cloud. Cloud services are is not secure by default, and privacy settings on cloud storage services have to be configured to protect the sensitive data they hold. In this case, Teletext have put the names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth of more than 200,000 customers at risk.”
“All of these details are considered to be Personally Identifiable Information (PII) under GDPR and placing the calls in the cloud does not mean the data it is no longer the organisation’s responsibility. Companies have exactly the same responsibility to secure data in the cloud as they do with the data they hold on premise.”


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Still think Snake is as exciting as mobile gaming gets? Think again. The last year has seen hundreds of high-quality downloadable games released, taking in console conversions, movie games and entirely original titles. And a new version of Tetris, obviously.
So what are the best ones? UK website Pocket Gamer has just compiled its Festive 50, which ranks the best games of 2006. Some of them you’ll know from the console world: Project Gotham Racing, FIFA 07 and Splinter Cell Double Agent all make the top 10.
But others are entirely new, including the likes of Stranded, Turbo Camels: Circus Extreme, Super KO Boxing and chart-topper Tornado Mania.
(via Pocket Gamer)


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visited with owners of a few local food establishments that opened during the pandemic or morphed the way they do business to accommodate change. The result is a series of stories featuring Tampa Bay foodie entrepreneurs who have survived and are thriving. Below is the first in a series.
The spring of 2020 found many independent restaurants closing their doors, some for good, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. For meal kit delivery service Chef Ami, the pandemic had the opposite effect -- its business structure was tailor-made for these unprecedented times.
It still didn't ease the mind of its co-founder Elijah Dickhaus.
Chef Ami had only just launched its Tampa location in 2019. Dickhaus calls the pandemic and potential repercussions on his business alarming. "The majority of food businesses go bankrupt in the first three years, and with the economy shutting down and us barely breaking even, it was easy to imagine we were doomed," says Dickhaus.
The worry soon subsided.
"You would have a hard time finding a business more suited to the broad societal shifts that occurred as a result of the pandemic," Dickhaus says.
For weeks and even months, people were stuck at home with extra free time on their hands. They were unable to dine at restaurants, and some had no idea how to cook. "Many were more concerned than ever about maintaining their health as they were unable to go about their usual activities," says Dickhaus.
Chef Ami, the first of its kind in Florida, is packaged with locally-sourced, farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients. What sets Chef Ami apart from the big, national brands is that it serves two counties, Hillsborough and Pinellas, and hand delivery is free. Delivery also includes the pick-up of reusable packaging.
"You can't compete with the freshness of ingredients that are coming farm-to-table in 24 hours, which just isn't possible when you're trying to send hundreds of thousands of boxes all over the country from one city."
All in the family
Chef Ami got its start in Gainesville in 2013. As popularity skyrocketed, the company expanded south to Tampa Bay in 2019.
Dickhaus's brother, Matt, founded its original location with his wife, Johana. As the company grew, Elijah was asked if he wanted
to help open the Tampa location.
As the pandemic dragged on and people ate more often at home, Chef Ami adjusted by adding a fourth recipe to the usual three weekly recipes to meet increased demand.
The weekly rotating menu has healthy and tasty recipes for two, four, or six people. And no need to fret if you don't particularly like to cook. Chef Ami's recipes are easy and can be completed in an average of 30 minutes.
Chef Ami's good fortune -- the surge in the service's subscribers -- was the gain of another organization -- Feeding Tampa Bay. "We were very grateful and conscious of how lucky we were, and for that reason, during the worst months of the pandemic before things opened back up again, we doubled our donations to Feeding Tampa Bay for a five-month period.
In 2020, Chef Ami was able to donate 22,000 meals to local families through the partnership.
Just as those who Feeding Tampa Bay serves, Chef Ami's partnership with the non-profit means a great deal.
"My brother and I have both spent a good amount of time living and traveling in nations much poorer than we are here," Dickhaus says. "Or so you think until you see the statistics and realize that a huge percentage of the population is living in hunger right here in our own neighborhoods."
Feeding the hungry
Florida ranks fourth in the nation for family hunger. Twenty-five percent of children and 15 percent of adults are food insecure in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
"I love the balance behind the formula that we donate a meal for every meal bought so that whenever you sit down to eat a Chef Ami meal, you know someone else is sitting down to a meal as well, thanks to you."
Dickhaus says Feeding Tampa isn't the only rewarding aspect of Chef Ami. He says he often receives emails from customers expressing the joy, happiness, sense of accomplishment, and impact that Chef Ami has had on their lives.
"I get moms thanking me for breaking the stranglehold that chicken nuggets and mac and cheese had on their kids," Dickhaus shares, "older ladies writing in shock that her husband had a meal waiting for her when she came home for the first time in 60 years of marriage.
"Kids or husbands giving mom a night off each week as they prepare a gourmet meal for the whole family all by themselves," he continues. "Couples are finding a new spark in their relationships as they turn a cooking journey into a weekly date night ritual."
"I've literally been hugged by a mom and mobbed by her kids at a gas station when they saw the truck outside thanking me for the food. It's awesome."
For more information or to sign up for the hand-delivered meal service, visit Chef Ami.
Related story: Creators of Pasta Packs create new dining concept optimized for a socially distant world