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The £100million blueprint, designed to breathe new life into the town centre, was first unveiled back in January 2013.
The first phase of the scheme has been the creation of a new library and digital media centre, known as The Word, which is scheduled to open its doors in autumn.
Planning permission has been granted for a new transport interchange, which will include a new bus concourse and Metro platforms, while a third phase of the scheme - which includes a five-screen cinema, a 300-space multi-storey car park, 6,800 square metres of retail space and 1,400 square metres of café and restaurant space - has also gained outline planning permission and work is estimated to start in late 2018.
To achieve its plans, council bosses have begun buying properties in the town and as well as making a Compulsory Purchase Order for required land.
A report delivered to the latest meeting of the full council by Coun John Anglin, lead member for regeneration and economy, said the authority had 45% of land and properties it required.
The council is in talks with Job Centre Plus, Royal Mail and the Post Office about relocations in the town to allow the transformation of the twon to take place.
However, last month it was revealed that plans for a new 6,000 square metre food store in the town centre had been dropped from the 365 plan because of ‘limited operator demand’.
It comes after several years marked by high-profile retail closures in the town, including the departure of Marks & Spencer from King Street, and the imminent closure of BHS in Waterloo Square.
After the report, leader Coun Iain Malcolm hailed progress made to date but stressed to colleagues that things would “take time”.
He said: “I’d like to congratulate Councillor Anglin and senior officers for the work they have been doing on the South Shields 365 regeneration programme.
“We knew when the project commenced that it would be an initial 10-year project.
“You’re not going to be able to turn around a town centre as big as South Shields overnight. It does take time.
“We’re trying to deliver this with an ever-decreasing financial envelope. It’s a real challenge for us.
“It’s a long-term vision for the future of South Shields.
“We can do without pie in the sky schemes and naive comments that somehow we can wave a magic wand and somehow this is achieved overnight.
“It will take time, but I am absolutely determined to see this job through, and I know Councillor Anglin, senior officers and this council are, too.
“We will only do it by working together to deliver that ambition.”
Following the recent collapse of BHS, which has a store in Waterloo Square, South Shields, Coun Malcolm – who was applauded by fellow councillors after his speech at Jarrow Town Hall – also warned that town centres had to change.
He added: “We accept, as Councillor Anglin would agree, that town centres are changing.
“Retail across the country is changing because of market forces, and because of the rise of the internet.
“We are seeing high street brands going to the wall because of those changing demands and changing economies.
“I think we are doing extremely well on South Tyneside and being driven by Councillor Anglin in terms of getting the region behind the (365) initiative.
“The region will deliver a lot of the financial support we get in terms ot the transport interchange and encouraging investors to come to South Shields.”
Coun Malcolm also spoke about plans for South Shields’ Holborn Riverside, with plans in place for a 1,700 job site specialising in marine, offshore and energy services.
He said: “The riverside is an integral part of what we are trying to deliver.
“The enterprise zone will allow us to attract investment, which will lead to more jobs and increased footfall for South Shields Town Centre, which will deliver a new retail offering.
“We have to accept that the traditional high street that we have grown up with is changing, and isn’t coming back.
“Town centres have to look at new ways to be a focal point of their local communities.
“Creating a new leisure offering and tourist destinations with The Word, and terrific buildings and jobs with the Holborn site, is going to help with that.
“That is the future of town centres, and certainly the future of South Shields.
“We need all the support we can get nationally and regionally as we seek to deliver on that.
“I’m delighted by the support we receive from the retail sector and private sector, and the public.”


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TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s factory output is expected to have slipped for a second straight month in December, a Reuters poll found on Friday, in yet another sign slowing global demand and trade frictions would hobble the economy for much of this year.
Industrial production was forecast to fall 0.4 percent in December from the previous month after a 1.0 percent decline in November, the poll of 16 economists showed.
“The trend of factory output is not strong,” said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
“Exports are at a standstill because external economies are slowing down, so there is a chance that the factory output will stagnate.”
Worries are growing about the repercussions on Japan’s economy from trade frictions between the United States and China. Already, there are indications businesses will be facing increasing pressure to safeguard margins and profits, with Japanese exports in December falling the most in more than two years, dragged by plummeting shipments to China.
The world’s third-biggest economy contracted in the third quarter and though a recovery is widely expected to have taken root, many analysts believe the external pressure will keep growth below-par.
“Exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipments and autos are weakening especially to China amid the global economy is decelerating,” said Asuka Sakamoto, economist at Mizuho Research Institute.
The trade ministry will release the factory output data at 8:50 am. Jan. 31, Japan time (2350 GMT Jan. 30).
Next week’s data also include Wednesday’s retail sales, which is forecast to increase 0.8 percent for December from a year earlier, the poll showed, slowing from a 1.4 percent rise in November.
Decline in prices for gasoline and food weighed on the retail sector, while sales of winter clothing underwhelmed due to warm weather, analysts said.
A slowdown in retail sales, which track the performance of department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, would add to the worries about a hit to consumption from a planned sales tax hike in October.
The poll predicted the nation’s jobless rate fell to 2.4 percent in December, improving from 2.5 percent in November, and the jobs-to-applicants ratio was seen steady at 1.63 last month, not far from over 40-year high at 1.64 marked in September.
The government will publish jobs data at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 Friday (2330 GMT on Jan. 31).
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The head of management committee of Salman Yousuf, the COO of ABTACH had a lot to say about their newest ventures in the online world. “We have become one of the leading names in our industry over year of hard work and competence.” He nodded to the fact that ABTACH LTD is widely hailed as the fastest growing IT company, as well as the leading name for many digital situations in the region. “So, it is imperative that we make our intentions clear about our future ventures.”
The company which comprises of over a thousand employees, has always been in the lead regarding digital solutions. Part of the reason behind that is their international dexterity as well as their global clientele.
Salman Yousuf mentioned:
“Our company wishes to fill in the gap left by Covid as well as years of struggle of our local technology industry. The intentions of our company is to expand our business further in the international market.”
Their recently acquired offices in six various countries make it clear that their intentions are central Asia, Europe and North America. “We have a presence in six different regions around the globe. Through which we have acquired a satisfied international clientele, whom we have been serving for years and bringing business to our country.” So, the company isn’t only an essential part of the businesses for their clients, they have also become a key player in the local IT industry.
The COO (Chief Operating Officer) Salman Yousuf said:
ABTACH LTD is the Company That Dominates Local Regions Aims to Conquer the Landscape Worldwide. It is important to bear in mind that ABTACH LTD is less than 7 years old, which is remarkable considering many of the global names have been around twice as long as that. When asked about it, the rep had this to say, “The reason behind our ‘overnight’ success has been the ability of our workforce. Each individual working for us is a master in their particular department.” The company has one of the leading hiring tactics in the country, as many of the young generation strives to work for them. “We started with less than 50 and now we are over a thousand in various cities. So, if anything, that indicates the growth rate of our remarkable agency.”
The company’s announcement seemed deliberate, at a time when most of the local and international businesses are struggling and being very vocal about it, ABTACH LTD’s courage and ability is apparent by their restored approach.
“There is no point in cowling over bygones, and future is always the focus in our industry.” Salman Yousuf added. “So, our goal is to provide our clients with the best services that they could find, and for the best prices that we can provide.” The company also unveiled their refurbished line of services, which included full-scale digital marketing strategy, so everything your business needs will be found there.
They also expounded on their newest web design and development department extensions, which would now allow them to provide website solutions rapidly. The other departments that are seeing similar changes and extensions include application, search engine optimization, content management system as well as application development. So, the bottom line is that ABTACH LTD is serious about their local economy and they are surely looking to bring a lot of business into the country. So, their new internationally-focused approach is surely going to be something to behold in the coming months.


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Local shops celebrate Free Comic Book Day
Get free issues at stores on May 2
It doesn’t matter how much you know (or don’t know) about Superman’s history, the Avengers or even comics in general; Free Comic Book Day is for everyone.
Free Comic Book Day, which takes place Saturday, has been an annual event since 2002, when it was established to coincide with the release of the first “Spiderman” film. Customers are welcome to come to their local comic shop, where a selection of free comics produced exclusively for the day are available to pick up.
Two local stores, Buy Me Toys and Knappy’s Komics and Kollectibles, will be participating in the international event. Buy Me Toys has participated every year, co-owner Kelly Heying says.
“I think this year will be the biggest one yet,” she says. “We see it grow every year. It’s very exciting.”
Heying says the event was originally developed by a group of comic stores to attract new and lapsed readers and to energize longtime fans.
“It’s one of our biggest days,” she says. “People of all ages enjoy it. There really is something for everyone.”
Heying estimates that millions of comics have been given away worldwide since the beginning of the event, which was inspired originally by Baskin-Robbins’ Free Scoop Day. Free comics this year include a preview issue of Marvel’s “Secret Wars,” a preview issue of the new Avengers team and storyline, and DC’s summer preview for three new storylines for their characters, among others. There will be at least 60 different options at her store, Heying says. Comics featuring SpongeBob Square-Pants, Pokemon, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and other cartoons will also be available — truly something for all ages, Len Knappenberger, owner of Knappy’s Komics and Kollectibles, says.
Although Buy Me Toys has 13 Free Comic Days under its belts, this is only Knappenberger’s second event. He said he plans on making the day parent-friendly, by keeping the event on the basement floor of his shop, while keeping the first-floor store open to all to browse his comic selection.
“The parents should really be excited by the children’s titles,” Knappenberger says. “I think it’s a good push from the industry to get kids involved.”
It could even serve as a way for parents to get their children interested in reading, he says.
“The challenge for today’s parents is to get them off of the electronic devices and getting a bound book with a paper story in their hands,” Knappenberger says. “That’s why I like Free Comic Book Day.”
The free comics aren’t the only draw that day. Knappenberger says his store will feature some sales on comic issues, while Buy Me Toys will have an appearance from members of the 501st Legion Northern Darkness Garrison — an organized group of fans dressed as Imperial Army members from the “Star Wars” franchise. The Storm Troopers will be at the store from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and will pose for pictures with customers.
Something the public might not realize is that stores do actually pay a portion of the cost for the free issues. Heying says it’s worth it to her and her husband to split the cost with the printers, publishers and distributors.
“We’re celebrating the original American art form,” Heying says. “The whole day is about opening up comics to people not familiar with comics, or readers who have lapsed, or even for longtime readers to try something new.”
The growth in popularity of Free Comic Book Day also shows how the interest in comics overall has grown, Heying says. The popularity of comic-based films, such as “The Avengers,” “Batman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” has brought all sorts of fans into her store to find something new to read. It’s also opened up comics to women, she says — which wasn’t always the case.
“Twenty years ago, to see a woman behind the counter or even reading comics was a strange thing,” she says. “Now, it has become so open for everyone.”
• Buy Me Toys: 4615 Grape Road, Mishawaka. Opens at 10 a.m. Saturday. Five free comics per person. Members from the 501st Legion Northern Darkness Garrison — a “Star Wars”-inspired costume group — will be at the store from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Knappy’s Komics and Kollectibles: 513 E McKinley Ave., Mishawaka. Opens at 11 Saturday. Two free comic books per person, plus an extra book if you bring a nonperishable boxed or canned food item for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Will have other sales at store.
For more information about Free Comic Book Day, including a full list of free titles, visit freecomicbookday.com. Selection of free comic books varies by store.


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RT @LDN_pressoffice: .@mayoroflondon meets students at @SouthThamesColl to launch £114m Skills for Londoners Capital Fund https://t.co/L7kg…
Dec 13, 2016 · http://techcitynews.com
UK clean tech startups could benefit from a $1bn investment global fund announced by Bill Gates.
Gates will lead a group of heavyweight investors – whose combined wealth totals approximately $170bn – including Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Jack Ma, the founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.
Microsoft’s co-founder told Quartz that the fund, called Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), could invest in "anything that leads to cheap, clean, reliable, energy".
"People think you can just put $50m in and wait two years and then you know what you got. In this energy, space, that’s not true at all," the billionaire entrepreneur added.


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Virgin Voyages offers glimpse of first ship set to launch in 2020
It’s a long wait until 2020, when Virgin Voyages debuts its first ship.
But we’re learning bits and pieces of what to expect, as the cruise line recently released renderings of some of its exterior public spaces and interior designs.
The concept centers on the theme “Modern Romance of Sailing” for this adults-only ship that will spend its inaugural sailing season in PortMiami.
Suite guests — or sailors, as the cruise line calls them — will be able to access an exclusive area on the top deck known as Richard’s Rooftop and enjoy its circular loungers, large umbrellas and glass accents that are designed to add rainbow reflections to the ambiance. The “Richard” is for Virgin founder Richard Branson, of course.
The Athletic Club is another outside space that will feature what the cruise line calls “the largest daybed at sea.” I can get behind that. The semi-circular bed, in Virgin signature red with white stripes, is adjacent to a 220-square-foot area of triple-netting, where guests can lie and look down on open space and decks below. It’s a catamaran experience on a cruise ship.
Other ship teases: an upscale Mexican restaurant named Pink Agave; The Manor, which will be the line’s signature nightclub, inspired by Branson’s history in the music industry; The Dock, an outdoor area on the aft with the flavor of a seaside getaway; and Test Kitchen, a restaurant with a laboratory-like environment, accented by metallic furniture, sleek clean lines and whimsical touches such as beakers and test tubes.
Virgin promises more revelations over the coming months. Keep up with the latest news at www.virginvoyages.com
MORE CHAMPAGNE: The new ships keep coming, and so do the festive christening ceremonies.
For Carnival Cruise Line, it was Queen Latifah doing the godmother honors in New York, as Carnival Horizon was officially named.
Sharing center stage with Latifah were several youngsters from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital whose artwork appears on Dreamscape, a three-deck-high LED sculpture in the ship’s atrium. During the festivities, Carnival presented a $100,000 donation to the hospital, part of the line’s ongoing support of St. Jude.
Carnival Horizon, the second ship in the Vista Class, introduces a Dr. Seuss water park for the kids — and for grown-ups, the Smokehouse Brewhouse, which combines barbecue favorites and four craft beers brewed onboard.
The newest ship in the Carnival fleet will operate four- and eight-day cruises from New York through September, before repositioning to its new home at PortMiami for year-round Caribbean cruises.
Crystal River Cruises welcomed Crystal Debussy to the river ship family during a ceremony in Amsterdam on May 28. Broadway star Rachel York handled godmother duties for the 106-guest ship, which will sail seven- and 10-day voyages between Amsterdam and Basel along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, visiting Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
Talk about luxury — Crystal’s river ships are all-balcony, all-suite, all-butler vessels, and many of the staterooms feature walk-in closets.
Breaking with tradition, Royal Caribbean International will have a “godfamily” christening its newest — and the world’s largest — cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean popped the question recently while actors Carlos and Alexa PenaVega, along with their 17-month-old son, Ocean, were aboard Harmony of the Seas filming Hallmark Channel’s “Love at Sea.”
The couple has celebrated milestones on Royal Caribbean ships, including getting engaged on Oasis of the Seas and enjoying a “babymoon” on Allure of the Seas. Their son became a cruiser at 13 months.
The festivities will take place in November when the ship arrives in its year-round home port in Miami.
Symphony of the Seas will offer seven-night Caribbean cruises, which will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private destination in the Bahamas opening this fall.


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Golden age for fashion is 33: Men and women both say this is the year they feel most stylish
- People comfortable with their style at 33, study by M&S and Oxfam shows
- Women least confident about their fashion choices aged 24, with 40 per cent of fashion blunders made in teens, the study claims
- 45 per cent of people have 'de-tagged' pictures of themselves on Facebook because they are embarrassed of their outfit choice in photo
- Only 38 per cent of people wear half the clothes in their wardrobe
- Flares, shell-suits and shoulder-pads most popular items people hold on to
Siren: Glamorous style icon Kelly Brook is a fashion inspiration aged 33
THEY say fashion is a young person’s game, but many of us hang our heads in shame at the memory of the outfits we chose in our teens and 20s.
Now research has shown we become comfortable with our personal style only at the age of 33.
Before then, a lack of confidence or even trying too hard means many of us end up wearing clothes we will regret.
The study by M&S and Oxfam’s Shwopping Initiative shows women are least confident in their fashion choices aged 24.
It proved that inexperience led to fashion faux pas, with 40per cent saying they made most of their fashion blunders as teenagers.
That’s not to say the regrettable outfits were thrown away- 25per cent went on to reuse the outrageous outfits as fancy dress costumes.
And even with a strong sense of personal style, only 38per cent of us like and wear half the clothes in our wardrobe.
Rather than buying selectively, 48per cent sad they regret buying items of clothes just one week after they take them home.
Social media sites are now the port of call for fashionistas looking for inspiration, with 11per cent using Facebook and Instagram to learn about current trends and 21per cent of men following celebrity profiles for advice.
Fashion-forward: Looking fabulous at 33, Katherine Jenkins has a distinct personal style
But the sites can also be a reminder of fashion disasters from the past, with 45per cent saying they have ‘de-tagged’ Facebook pictures because they’re embarrassed about the outfit they are wearing.
And a further 15per cent ‘de-tag’ photos because they don’t want to be seen in the same outfit twice.
Flares, shoulder pads and shell suits top the list of fashion disasters from the past that people have held onto.
Clothing choices differed between the sexes, with 40 per cent men wearing whatever is easy and comfortable and 33 per cent of women trying too hard to fit in with trends regardless of whether they suit them.
What to wear: 38 per cent of us only wear half of the items in our wardrobe. Flares, shoulder-pads and shell-suits are the questionable items people tend to hold on to
As part of its One Day Wardrobe Clear Out Shwopping event on Thursday 3rd October, M&S is asking the nation to ditch the bin and ensure their unwanted clothing choices can have a second life by Shwopping in-store to receive a £5 money-off voucher when they spend £35 or more on fashion
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It has been very obvious that Sony continues to be one of the strongest performers in the video game market. Analysts note that the PlayStation 4 and its variants have continued to dominate the console market since it was released. One of its competitors, Nintendo, has already released the Switch to recover its ground after the Wii U failed to take off. Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to release its new flagship platform called Project Scorpio. However, it seems like Sony continues to attract the hype as it prepares for E3 2017.
In the meantime, industry experts pointed out that despite the Japanese electronics juggernaut's overwhelming success, it has started to lose consumers in their homeland. Japan is evidently one of their biggest markets and it is surprising to know that consumers are starting to lose interest on the PlayStation 4 and its variants. Instead, most gamers have shifted to gaming on their mobile devices, says Game Rant. Nevertheless, the company believes it can draw Japanese players back to console gaming, especially this E3 2017.
Speaking ahead of their E3 2017 press conference, Sony executive Shawn Layden said, "I think a lot of Japanese developers lost their way chasing the mobile games yen." He also hinted that these game studios are "coming back to the console in a major way." Finally, Layden announced that they will "have some big announcements at E3 in that precise vein," according to a report from Gematsu.
Financially speaking, it is understandable why a lot of Japanese game developers shifted to mobile game development. Hit games like Pokemon Go and Candy Crush are prime examples of revenue generating mobile games. The market for mobile games is currently super saturated with different developers and their games. Meanwhile, Sony has revealed that it has over 26 million PlayStation Plus subscribers, which could attract developers back to console games development. It remains to be seen what Sony will showcase at their E3 2017 press conference.


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McDonald's are pushing soft porn to kids by screening hyper-sexualised content on their in-store TV screens throughout restaurants across Australia.Read more
A NSW father has spoken out against the hyper sexualised music videos displayed in McDonald's restaurants across the country. He was with his six and eight year old children when they were exposed to sexualised content via the in-store TV screen.Read more
From an ex employeeRead more
“I came across an advertisement on Child Sex Dolls while looking at Japanese news online. Who would think such a heinous insult to the sanctity of children would exist?”Read more
We were recently alerted to a petition started by students from a Melbourne girls school. The petition calls for Klara Cosmetics to pull its "just kiss me don't ask" ads which also includes the phrase "Be passionate and leave no evidence."Read more
Marketing coordinator for a non-profit organization, Laura Pintur, 23, has launched a Change.org petition directed at the CEO’s of Woolworths and Coles, Grant O’Brien and John Durkan, calling on the big two supermarket chains to stop selling Zoo Weekly.
Ms Pintur said the so called ‘lads mag’ encouraged the sexual exploitation of women and girls.
“Zoo contributes to a culture that is hostile and threatening to women”,” she says.
”When big supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths sell Zoo it normalizes harmful attitudes to women.
The petition refers to a 2011 study comparing lads mags’ (including Zoo) and statements from convicted rapists. It found many people could not distinguish the source of the quotes.
“Zoo Weekly uses the same language as rapists in its magazines,” said Ms Pintur.
Zoo also gives tips to young readers on how to coerce drunk women into sex.
Sexually objectifying imagery and demeaning content feature on Zoo’s social media. This has included an image Zoo shared with its Facebook supporters of a woman’s body cut in two with the question, “Which half do you prefer?” Young readers described their various pornographic uses for the woman’s top half and/or her bottom half.
Zoo magazine is unrestricted, meaning there are no age restrictions on who can purchase the magazine. Bauer’s statistics indicate that 36,000 boys aged 14-17 read Zoo.
“Zoo teaches boys that women should submit to their demands. Do Coles and Woolworths, which pride themselves on their corporate ethics and support for communities, share this view? If not why spread it?” Ms Pintur said.
“I have seen and experienced first hand the detrimental costs of what this magazine endorses, not only in my life but the lives of other young people.
“What chance does my generation, and those younger than me have when such major corporations help groom boys to treat us badly?”
“It’s time for these company’s to stand up for the wellbeing of women and girls and against discrimination, harassment and violence.
Graphic adult content from inside Zoo magazine: http://www.collectiveshout.org/zoo_weekly
Released May 10, 2015
What would you do if you found this flyer on your car?
Adelaide resident Rebekah Reilly had heard about Adelaide's "Bikini Massage" parlour and like many residents, was concerned about the nature of the business and the explicit shop front advertising.
When visiting a local shopping centre, Rebekah found that the business had distributed hundreds of flyers to cars in the car park. The flyers featured explicit images and text advertising "bikini massage" services and recruiting "girls" for employment. The flyers were removed by Castle Plaza Shopping centre management following complaints from shoppers.
Following community outcry, Aussie Bodies has announced it will withdraw an ad campaign that tied "self esteem" with physical appearance.
In a statement announcing that the ad would be withdrawn, Aussie Bodies said it hadn't understood the "harmfulness" of the campaign, but we're not buying it!
From Talitha Stone's petition on Change.org:
*Trigger Warning* graphic descriptions of rape and violence against womenRead more


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EV MANUFACTURE: SA motor industry relief as electric vehicle manufacturing plans start to take shape – Daily Maverick
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They’re soiled and shortly nobody will need them. Conventional inside combustion engines (ICEs) are being phased out in South Africa’s greatest markets — Britain and the EU — and if the native automotive sector doesn’t change gears from ICE manufacturing to new vitality autos (NEVs), it would as nicely shut up store.
Britain and the EU have set aggressive targets to part out ICE autos: by 2030, neither will permit gross sales of such autos and they’re additionally planning to introduce heavy carbon taxes on imports.
That’s lower than eight years away and South Africa’s motor business has not rolled a single electrical automobile (EV) off the manufacturing facility ground, and just a few producers, together with Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are producing hybrids, that are categorized as NEVs.
The motor business has been nervous concerning the challenge for years, elevating considerations that the marketplace for ICEs was getting progressively smaller and the federal government’s promised EV roadmap to hurry up gross sales and manufacturing was progressing at a snail’s tempo.
On 18 Might 2021, the Division of Commerce, Business and Competitors revealed the Inexperienced Paper on Advancement of New Power Autos, after in depth business consultations and with an endeavor to challenge a White Paper by the top of the yr.
The Inexperienced Paper explores ranges of assist and infrastructure funding wanted to encourage electrical automobile uptake, throughout the context of wider financial restoration efforts by way of market stimulus and provide chain assist measures.
It seems to be at an funding and tax system to construct a resilient uncooked materials provide chain to assist the nation’s efforts to be a world participant in NEV manufacturing in addition to methods to retain preferential entry to main buying and selling companions to permit the nation to take care of world competitiveness and foster innovation.
It’s September 2022 and there’s nonetheless no White Paper.
Go to Daily Maverick’s home page for extra information, evaluation and investigations
However the Automotive Enterprise Council, also called Naamsa, is bullish about developments after Commerce, Business and Competitors Minister Ebrahim Patel launched particulars of a “working doc” on the Presidential Local weather Fee, making a “compelling” case for South Africa’s shift to NEVs.
Patel, as reported in Engineering Information this week, insists the NEV roadmap is taking form and will likely be led by manufacturing relatively than consumption.
That is important as a result of the present marketplace for NEVs in SA is nearly nonexistent due to lack of demand — primarily due to the eye-watering price of those autos, that are imported for the premium market. Additionally, there are plans for carbon taxes on imports.
Patel reportedly instructed the fee: “We’ve got not closed our eyes to the opposite choices; we’ve checked out them and we’ve concluded that it will be in South Africa’s finest curiosity to maneuver to electrical autos.”
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana just lately met the automotive sector to debate the Treasury’s strategy to NEV manufacturing.
There’s a large tax burden on all new autos produced in South Africa — in whole, the Treasury lumps 42% in taxes on each automobile bought, together with 15% VAT, advert valorem tax (as a result of autos are deemed to be luxurious gadgets) and carbon emissions taxes.
Patel recognised the necessity for a assist framework. Not creating it will put lots of GDP in danger. He reportedly mentioned the federal government meant to go for a production-led mannequin, relatively than a consumption-led technique advocated by some stakeholders, whereby development in home demand, supported by decrease tariff boundaries, triggers funding.
Mike Mabasa of Naamsa mentioned not releasing the White Paper created important uncertainty available in the market. However Naamsa is conscious authorities officers have been working behind the scenes on choices and, based mostly on the dialogue and suggestions, the organisation and others are comfy that the division will “get us to the end line”.
“We’re hopeful that earlier than the top of this yr South Africa will definitely be capable of announce very firmly the route we’re taking…”
Motoring skilled Mark Smythe says, although there was delay, there may be now a realisation that one thing must be finished urgently. Time is of the essence. SA’s greatest markets have already determined to ban imports of ICE autos inside lower than eight years and the common lifecycle of a brand new mannequin automobile is between 5 and 7 years when it comes to growth time.
Smythe says most producers have already invested in new crops, with different crops coming remarkably near ending their tenure and being in danger in the event that they fail to change shortly.
The business has change into reliant on ICE and South Africa has been capable of provide uncooked supplies reminiscent of platinum catalytic converters utilized in petrol and diesel autos, nevertheless it has not one of the uncooked supplies required for switching to electrical autos.
The producers have invested important quantities of cash and assets in creating new amenities for EVs to have the ability to meet the demand, says Smythe, however there are already shortages worldwide, together with chips and wiring harnesses from Ukraine.
It’s moreover unsure whether or not the South African authorities will stump up monetary assist.
The automotive sector is a crucial pillar of the South African financial system — one of many nation’s largest financial sectors by income with 4.3% to GDP (2.4% manufacturing and 1.9% retail). It accounts for 17.3% of producing output and 18.1% of whole exports.
A complete of 298,020 autos, value R138.3-billion, and R69.2-billion in automotive parts, have been exported in 2021.
No less than 110,000 individuals are straight employed within the sector and the livelihoods of greater than half 1,000,000 extra folks depend upon it. In October final yr, Mabasa warned that, by 2030, 40% of all automobile gross sales in Europe could also be EVs, and that his affiliation believes the quantity may enhance to 80% by 2040.
“It’s clear that we can’t ignore EVs if we need to proceed doing enterprise with Europe. It would have a big impact on the nation if we lose R201-billion in export earnings a yr.
“We don’t need our foremost export markets to say that they’re not considering ICEs due to their emission targets, and that they’re taking their enterprise elsewhere. We have to stay related.
“The change in our business goes to be pushed by how we redefine mobility; the convergence of connectivity; electrification; and altering buyer wants — not only for our native consumption wants, however for different markets around the globe as nicely.” DM168.
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Landover and Baltimore, Md. (August 10, 2010) –Giant Food of Landover, Md., and the Baltimore Ravens today announced a new partnership for the 2010 season at a briefing held at the Westminster Giant. The Ravens named Giant Food as the official supermarket partner, and the two organizations kicked off a season-long giving campaign benefitting the Maryland Food Bank. With the announcement of their new partnership, Ravens President Dick Cass and Giant Food of Landover Regional Vice President Rob Harman together unveiled a brand new tailgating logo, which vibrantly displays each organization's primary marks with a fiery, tailgate grilling theme.
"We are extremely pleased to have Giant Food as our official supermarket partner. Giant is an outstanding organization with a strong presence in the community," said Cass.
"Giant is thrilled to be the official supermarket partner of the Baltimore Ravens. Who better than Giant to bring together great food and fun for all football fans to enjoy," said Robin Michel, president of Giant Food of Landover. "Through our partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, we will continue to focus efforts on the communities we serve and help combat hunger. I'm confident in the Ravens' and Giant's ability to make a difference together working with the Maryland Food Bank."
In addition to the designation as official supermarket of the Baltimore Ravens, Giant Food will be the Ravens' Tailgating Headquarters for all tailgating needs. Throughout the season, the Tailgaters program will feature the opportunity to win unique Ravens prizes and experiences when picking up key consumer products in-store to better prepare fans for game day, both home and away. The partnership will be featured through multiple media channels, including radio, television and internet, as well as other advertising and event assets, including Ravens Walk.
Giant will support the team's annual "Ravens Family Food Drive" at Baltimore-area stores from Nov. 7-28, culminating with the Nov. 28 Giant Food Game Day Sponsorship at M&T Bank Stadium when the Ravens host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Ravens and Giant hope to donate more than 40,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Maryland Food Bank. At today's tailgating kick-off event, attendees had an opportunity to throw footballs at a dunk tank for $1 donation to support the Maryland Food Bank.
"The Maryland Food Bank has a nearly 60-year combined partnership with Giant Food and the Baltimore Ravens," said Maryland Food Bank CEO Deborah Flateman. "We are incredibly grateful to stand shoulder to shoulder with Giant and the Ravens in the fight to end hunger in Maryland. Together we will strengthen our efforts and broaden our reach to ensure that no Maryland man, woman, child or senior citizen has to wonder where they will get their next meal."
Throughout the season, Baltimore-area Giant stores will "Paint the Town Purple," support the Ravens, offer special tailgating food items and serve as Ravens fans' one-stop shop for all of the perfect game-day necessities. Giant and the Ravens will also team up to support community events, including breast cancer awareness and prevention efforts in the month of October.
*About Giant Food
Giant Food LLC, headquartered in Landover, Md., operates 180 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs approximately 22,000 associates. Included within the 180 stores are 163 full-service pharmacies. For more information on Giant, visit www.GiantFood.com. *
*About Baltimore Ravens
Entering their 15th year of existence, the Ravens have made the NFL playoffs three of the last four seasons. Under head coach John Harbaugh, who has compiled 23 total wins in just two seasons, Baltimore produced its sixth playoff team of the decade (2000-09) during the 2009 campaign. For more information, visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com.*


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Developers pull Lake Zurich gun range plan
The company that proposed building a shooting range and gun store in Lake Zurich this week has now dropped the proposal.
Sarosh Saher, the village's community development director, said the Shoot Point Blank representative he spoke with Friday morning said the company made the decision after hearing the feedback from the village board Monday during a courtesy review.
Representatives from the Ohio-based company wanted to construct a 15,000-square-foot building at the southeast corner of Enterprise Parkway and Oakwood Road. In addition to 20 shooting lanes, the building would feature a 3,000-square-foot retail area and classrooms for gun-safety training.
The gun range would have been in an industrial park, but some residents objected to it being about a mile from Lake Zurich High School and May Whitney Elementary School.
Several village board members said they had issues with the location of the proposed gun range.
"If you're set on that location, there's going to have to be a lot of concession," Trustee Jonathan Sprawka said.
Other issues Sprawka said he had with the business included the name and size of the sign.
"The Shoot Point Blank name gives me some pause," Sprawka said. "Several children, including mine, go by the gymnastics facility (nearby). We would have to have a conversation about that obviously."
Kevin Allee, vice president of real estate for Shoot Point Blank, said the company would not change the name.
"We can't spend $4 million and not have our name on the building," Allee said.
When village officials asked if the company would consider a different location in town, Trey Smith of Shoot Point Blank said they'd already done an exhaustive search.
"We'd prefer to be on (route) 22 and we were told that's not a good idea. We were told it's better in the industrial park, and that's why we ended up in this site," Smith said. "We've been looking at lots for three months, and this is the one that was viable.
Saher said Friday the company representative gave no indication they will pursue another location in Lake Zurich.


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Agility confirms merger talks with Panalpina, says no agreement yet
Kuwait-based logistics giant Agility has confirmed that it is exploring the possibility of a merger with Swiss-logistics group Panalpina.
In a statement, Agility said that it was in discussions as part of an exploration of new opportunities to grow the business, but added that no agreement has yet been reached.
“Agility confirms that it is in early discussions with Panalpina about partnership opportunities between the logistics businesses of the two companies,” the statement said.
“Agility is always exploring opportunities to grow its business and maximize shareholder value. No agreement has yet been reached and there are no guarantees that an agreement will be reached,” it added.
The statement was released ahead of Agility’s earnings results for 2018, which showed a net profit of AED 981.29-million, an increase of 18.4% compared to 2017, against revenues of AED 18.8-billion.
Panalpina’s 2018 financial results haven’t been released yet, but in 2017 the company made revenues of AED 20.5-billion.
A merger between the two would give Agility significantly expanded global reach, especially in the air freight sector, where Panalpina has a very strong offering with its own 747 freighter and several aircraft on long-term wet lease charters.
Panalpina transported 995,900 tons of air freight in 2017, just under half of all the air cargo transported by Emirates SkyCargo during the same year.
For Panalpina, the tie-up would give it an unrivalled Middle East network, combining its hubs at Dubai International, DWC and Jebel Ali with the 13 DCs and offices that Agility has in the UAE alone, as well as on-the-ground facilities in 15 other countries in the MENA region.


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The Bishop Cotton High School play area, which is close to the former VCA stadium, is where THE Kamdhenu Khadi Wool is holding its New Rajasthan Cotton Fab Exhibition and Sale.
The response from visitors to the handloom exhibition has been overwhelmingly positive. A wide selection of luxurious and appealing items are available at the Diwali special exhibition.
Rajasthani Kota, Diriya, and Bhandhani sarees, as well as bed linens, dupathas, kurtas, and kurties, fashion jewellery, and home décor items are all available. The expo, which began on October 1, will last until October 30.
The exhibition is open to the public from 11 am to 10 pm and admission is free. Additionally, according to a press release from the organisers, there is enough room for parking cars.


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Their public stocks may be cratering, but the online lending industry they're a part of is booming.
That's the backdrop for this week's LendIt conference, an annual gathering of emerging technology-powered financial institutions. Far from the inaugural event in 2013 held for a few hundred people in a stuffy mid-Manhattan conference room, LendIt's attendance has surged to about 3,500 and fills out much of downtown San Francisco's Marriott Marquis Hotel.
The mood, however, is very different from last year.
LendingClub, which pioneered peer-to-peer consumer loans, and On Deck Capital, an online business lender, are the flagship publicly-traded companies at the conference. Shares of each plunged by more than half over the past 12 months and are among the 10 worst performing tech stocks that debuted in the U.S. since the beginning of 2014, according to FactSet.


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Valley Forge founders pass along presidency to the second generation
Home & Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, November 18, 2011
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - Valley Forge Fabrics, the more than 30 year-old family-owned supplier of decorative textiles for the hospitality industry, is passing the torch to the next generation.
Founders Daniel and Judy Dobin recently hosted a companywide celebration to announce that their children -- Diana and Michael -- have been named co-presidents.
Still very much active members of the company, the Dobins will still maintain "vital roles" at Valley Forge, the company noted.
"This transition from acting like a president of a company to being formally named and installed as the president has been in the works for several years," said Dan Dobin. "A quiet transition has been taking place and the time came to make it official. While Judy and I will not be stepping down anytime soon from our regular day-to-day responsibilities, we are delighted to see the torch passed from generation to generation. Like the rest of our industry, we expect great things from Diana and Michael and look forward to a bigger and brighter future for our company and our industry."
Siblings Diana and Michael together have been raised in the family business and each bring "tremendous passion and vitality to Valley Forge," the company said.
Diana brings 18 years of experience and Michael has garnered 14 years of experience, both of them having held international postings in Asia, sales management of various domestic and international territories, product development and team building.
Diana's current responsibilities include direct supervision of all sustainability, design, graphics and public relations; Michael is, at the moment, responsible for direct supervision of all product development and sales of Valley Forge's expanding and international textile manufacturing business. Both share the responsibility of strategy, planning and business development.
Over the last few years, Diana and Michael have gradually taken leadership responsibilities as they have worked to re-brand Valley Forge as a leader in sustainable textiles while still maintaining the company's position as a major producer of decorative fabrics for hospitality.
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The last book in the Harry Potter series is considered within the industry to be the most environmentally friendly in publishing history with 16 countries printing the book on eco-friendly paper up from one publisher in 2003, said Markets Initiative, the Vancouver-based environmental group that worked with J.K. Rowling.
The English-language editions of the latest book result in a savings of 197,685 trees (an area equivalent to 2.5 times the size of New York’s Central Park) and 7.9 million kilograms of greenhouse gases (equivalent to taking 1,577 cars off the road).
“The world of publishing may never see the likes of Harry Potter again, but that doesn’t discount its importance to readers, to booksellers and to the way publishing has melded its needs with that of the environment,” said Sarah Nelson, Editor in Chief of Publisher’s Weekly. “To think that Potter is the largest print run in history and may have actually helped the planet.”
According to Markets Initiative, the series helped shift 300 publishers around the world to print a growing number of their book titles, including Margaret Atwood’s Blind Assassin on eco-friendly papers. Six new eco-papers were developed specifically for the Potter titles. Thirty-two new Ancient Forest Friendly and eco-friendly papers have also been produced for book publishers in North America, as a result of this shift.
The company said that 84 printers across North America now stock Ancient Forest Friendly or eco-friendly papers for the first time because of Harry Potter’s lead.


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Kantar Worldpanel, the global expert in shoppers’ behavior, recently revealed a 3 percent growth in the total FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) market in Asia in the past 12 months ending June 2017 (July 2016 to June 2017). This is based on data tracked by Kantar Worldpanel for its Consumer Insights study, which covers households in Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The personal care category (e.g. hair care and skin care products) registered the highest growth in the continent at 7.4 percent. Home care (e.g. detergent and dishwashing soap) spend was ranked second with an increase of 2.8 percent, while dairy (e.g. cheese and milk products) and food (e.g. canned food and chips) categories followed closely with 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent growth, respectively. However, beverage (e.g. alcohol and juice products) was the lone category that experienced a 0.4 percent decline during the period covered by the study.
Southeast Asian Situation
In Southeast Asia (specifically Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines), the total FMCG value spend grew by 2.4 percent in the same period as compared to the previous year. Additional data from Kantar Worldpanel showed that home care ranked the fastest growing category with 4.1 percent followed by food with a 3.2 percent increase in value spend. Similar to the rest of Asia, the beverage category decreased by 0.2 percent based on combined data from all four countries in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, the Philippine FMCG market, ranked second in Southeast Asia, with a 3 percent growth in the second quarter of 2017, following Vietnam with a 4.9 percent growth in the same period. Thailand’s FMCG shopping value spend increased by a modest one percent, while Malaysia dipped by 0.5 percent.
The Philippine Scene
In the local front, the Kantar Worldpanel Consumer Insights study revealed that the FMCG value spend in nearly all categories has shown steady growth. Confirming that Filipinos love to eat, the Philippines saw a growth of 4.3 percent in the food category and 4.4 percent in the dairy category. Homecare saw an even higher percentage growth in value spend at five percent, while personal care increased by 3 percent. Beverage purchases in the country also declined by 1.5 percent, although still higher than the rest of Asia.
“While Kantar Worldpanel research shows that Philippines consumers are a bit more cautious with their grocery spend today compared to previous years, Filipinos are still spending more than most of our Southeast Asian neighbours. This is not surprising as our economy remains vibrant with forecasts of continued economic growth in the next few years,” Lourdes Deocareza, Kantar Worldpanel New Business Development Head, said.


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KIGALI, Rwanda, Jul 4 – Airtel on Wednesday launched its 3G network in Rwanda, on its 3.75G platform.
The improved technology will enhance multimedia functionality, high speed mobile broadband and internet access; allowing users to make video calls, watch live TV, send and receive emails and download music from the devices.
Airtel Rwanda Country Manager Marcellin Paluku said the technology will initially be available to Airtel customers in Kigali, but will become available to other parts of the country over the course of the month.
Customers will receive introductory free 3.75G internet for the first two weeks where every customer will receive 1 GB free every day until July 17.
When the offer period expires, customers will pay 20 Rwandan Franc per MB from 6:00 hrs to 00:00 hrs and 10 Rwandan Franc from 00:00 hrs to 5:59 hrs.
He added that the new network will be enormously beneficial for a variety of users, which include large Corporates, Small or Medium Businesses and the Youth.
“The technology on our 3.75G network will give our customers the opportunity to interact with data in a different way,” explained Paluku.“This is why Airtel doesn’t see 3G as a product but a platform that enables the community to expand its social and commercial horizons, alongside the rest of the world.”
Airtel has teamed up with world-class service provider, Ericsson, to ensure seamless upgrade of the existing network to the 3.75G network.
“We are pleased to have been selected by Airtel for the upgrade of their network in Rwanda, and see mobile broadband as key to realizing our vision of the Networked Society,” said Lars Linden, Head of Ericsson sub Saharan Africa.
Ericsson sub Saharan Africa is the Supplier of telecommunications equipment and services to mobile and fixed network operators in the region.


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Samsung invests $25 million in its new U.S. patent business
Samsung is investing $25 million in a new company which is designed to help protect intellectual property. The money is being used to form Intellectual Keystone Technology (IKT) based in Washington-DC, which will function as in an independent body dedicated to developing and trading technology patents. According to Korea Times, the business started operations back in March.
A spokesperson form Samsung had this to say on the opening of the new patent business:
[quote qtext=”Patents are a good source of innovation and we also need to protect our intellectual property by strengthening our patent-related business.” qperson=”” qsource=”” qposition=”center”]
Interestingly, the company is said to be focusing on display technology patents, particularly patents related to OLED and LCD technology. IKT has already purchased display related patents from Japanese firm Seiko Epson, and will continue to stock up on patents to protect one of Samsung’s most dominant business arms.
You can’t really blame Samsung for the decision. After all, the company has been engaged in a wave of lawsuits with virtually all of its competitors over the past few years. Combine that with the billion dollar defeat to Apple in the U.S. courts recently and you can understand Samsung’s need to bolster its protection against further lawsuits.
But as well as protecting Samsung from potential disputes in the future, the new company is also likely to be used to extract licensing fees from other competitors using Samsung’s patents and may also be in charge of deciding which patents Samsung should acquire licenses for. Samsung is one of the key players in the mobile display market at the moment, and is no-doubt keen to strengthen its grip on this section of the industry.
If you ask me, it seems like a bit of a waste when a company has to spend $25 million in legal matters when the money could be put to better use investing in new products and technologies. But unfortunately this seems to be a necessary cost of doing business in an industry which appears to be increasingly hostile over intellectual property disputes.


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Some of it useless.....
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota is the top turkey-producing state in America, with a planned production total of 52 million in 2009. Just six states—Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri and Indiana—will probably produce two-thirds of the estimated 272 million birds that will be raised in the U.S. this year.
The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 240 million consumed in the United States in 2008—were eaten at Thanksgiving.
In a survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans said they eat turkey at Thanksgiving. The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds, which means some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2008.
The cranberry is one of only three fruits—the others are the blueberry and the Concord grape—that are entirely native to North American soil, according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.
Now cook the turkey, make the pie, consume a obscene amount of calories and promise to go on a diet after the 2nd piece of pie......
Remember that this day is one which we should observe more than just in November, we should be thankful through out the year. There is always something to be thankful for!


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Retail sales rebounded in May after an unprecedented fall in April as DIY stores and garden centres reopened and supermarkets continued to perform strongly, according to official figures.
UK sales rose by 12% last month as the easing of the lockdown spurred demand for paint, garden equipment, electrical goods and homewares, increasing the amount bought in non-food stores by 24%.
A rush back to DIY shops, where sales jumped by 42%, gave the biggest push to overall sales, according to the figures from the Office for National Statistics.
It followed an 18.1% fall in retail sales during the first full month of lockdown in April, which was the biggest drop on record.
Despite the bounceback in May, high street sales were not back to pre-lockdown levels.
“Sales were still down by 13.1% on February before the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the ONS said.
In a clear message that shoppers have changed their habits during the lockdown, the biggest gains went to online shops, which accounted for 33.4% of all spending in May, compared with the 30.8% reported in April and an average of 18% seen last year.
Last month, the British Retail Consortium, which represents high street stores, warned the lockdown had cost non-food shops £1.8bn in lost sales each week and many retailers would not bounce back.
Neil Birrell, the chief investment officer at the asset manager Premier Miton, said the sales figures showed the UK was following the rest of Europe out of the lockdown period. “Retail sales for May surprised on the upside, showing a much bigger recovery than expected, month on month.
“This data does not include the effect of reopening the high street this week and it gives the optimists renewed hope that the recovery in the UK will come through as it has in other countries as lockdown eases.”
However, Samuel Tombs, the chief UK economist at the consultancy Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the picture remained grim for most retailers as many households hoarded cash.
“Unofficial indicators of households’ overall spending remain very weak; Barclaycard, for instance, reported that spending fell 26.7% year over year in May, not vastly better than April’s 36.5% decline,” he said.
Jeremy Thomson-Cook, the chief economist at the money management firm Equals, warned the bounceback in sales could evaporate if the government failed to maintain the momentum of last month from shops reopening.
“We can see that consumption has risen on three factors: access to more retailers, the need to treat oneself and likely boredom. How long these drivers can remain positive depends much more broadly on the jobs market moving forward with cliff edges seen as the furlough scheme winds down and some consumers face claiming universal credit instead of their government-supported wage.”
Petrol sales also played a part in the recovery after the biggest fall in consumption on record in April.
Petrol usually makes up about 10% of retail sales but that has fallen back to nearer 5% in the pandemic as people use their cars less.
The ONS said the last two months revealed wild swings in the levels of consumption, with a large recovery after travel restrictions began to ease in May. It said fuel sales increased by 49.1% when compared with April but this was still down 42.5% when compared with February, before government travel restrictions were in place.


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Desk Report: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president said, due to recent diesel price hike will affect the RMG sector and production cost will be increase around 5 percent . He urges garments makers not to take work order of any item below their production cost. “Faruque Hassan said that, please do not negotiate the prices of apparel items below the production cost anymore as we are receiving adequate number of work orders but there is a fear of the return of a crisis in the supply chain.
The local garment makers have been receiving higher prices and work orders with the gradual reopening of the advanced economies, he said at a press conference at Amari Hotel in Dhaka. on behalf of Uk, Belgium, Scotland business tour .
Besides apparel manufacturers have been fearing the return of a crisis situation in the global apparel supply chain as the rate of Covid-19 infections has started spiking in different countries in the Europe, Hassan said. The international retailers and brands have been paying higher prices because of a hike in raw material prices and freight charges, he said. On the business tour BGMEA president urges to Uk buyers for increasing clothing prices, BGMEA president added
BGMEA President said, yarn price increased by 60 per cent, container freight charge by 350 per cent to 500 per cent, dye chemical by 40 per cent and electricity by 13 per cent ,diesel 23 percent in the last one year when gas also became costlier, Many of the local suppliers received the work orders last year at below production price mainly to keep continuation of their business during the pandemic time even with losses, he said.
Syed Nazrul Islam, First Vice President ;Mr. S.M. Mannan (Kochi), Senior Vice President, BGMEA; Mr. Md. Shahidullah Azim, Vice President, BGMEAMr. Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President (Finance), BGMEA; Mr. Miran Ali, Vice President, BGMEA; Mr. Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Vice President, BGMEAMs. Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Asif Ashraf, Director, BGMEA;
Mr. Md. Mohiuddin Rubel, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Md. Khosru Chowdhury, Director, BGMEA ; Mr. Faisal Samad, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Abdullah Hil Rakib, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Haroon Ar Rashid, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Rajiv Chowdhury, Director, BGMEA; Ms. Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Md. Imranur Rahman, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Mijanur Rahman, Director, BGMEA; Mr. A.M. Shafiul Karim (Khokon), Director, BGMEA; Mr. Md. Hassan (Jacky), Director, BGMEA; Mr. M. Ahsanul Hoq, Director, BGMEA; Mr. Mohammed Meraj-E-Mostafa (Kaisar), Director, BGMEA were present at the press conference.


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RIYADH: Almunajem Foods, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest private food companies, has reported a successful 2020 and is maintaining a positive outlook for 2021, despite the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect the economy on a global scale.
The company, which has more than 70 years of experience in the Saudi food market, serves more than 22,000 customer outlets including retail, food services and wholesale channels. Their expertise lies in importation, marketing and the distribution of frozen, chilled and dry foodstuffs.
Almunajem operates 14 branches, 12 of which are equipped with temperature-controlled warehouses. They also work with more than 60 suppliers, and brands under the company’s umbrella include household names such as Coopoliva olives, President dairy products and their own in-house brand, Dari.
Thamer Abanumay, CEO of Almunajem Foods, told Arab News that business was flourishing despite the setbacks posed by the pandemic in 2020 and said the company had managed to minimize interruption of services.
“Our business was put to the test in 2020, but I can confidently say that on all fronts we performed exceptionally. Our operations maintained a high level of resilience despite the obstacles caused by COVID-19. Thanks to our strong logistical abilities, backed by technology, data and tools, we were able to move our products safely and in a timely manner,” he said.
Abanumay predicts significant growth in the food market as a whole over the next few years, and sees many potential opportunities to capitalize on. “The participation of women in the labor force, as well as the rapid growth of the inbound tourism industry in the Kingdom, will have a significant impact on the food consumption and food service industries. We will also focus on increasing our backward integration and produce more products in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The company has also managed to forge new business deals with international partners, despite the uncertainty plaguing international trade.
The company on Sunday announced an expansion to its longstanding collaboration agreement with Seara, a subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS, the world’s leading chicken and beef producer. The agreement forms part of Almunajem Foods’ diversification strategy to service its business-to-business customer base across the Kingdom and to meet the increase in demand from the food industry.
The agreement includes Almunajem Foods distributing a wide variety of poultry products, including whole chicken grillers, chicken parts and other processed products.
Abanumay told Arab News that demand for poultry in the Kingdom, both for whole griller chickens as well as parts, would likely mean that despite fluctuations in the market there was strong demand for their produce.
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association reported in January that while poultry exports from Brazil had experienced a decline, some of the leading Arab importers “stepped up” their purchases. The figures showed that 35,800 tons of poultry was shipped to Saudi Arabia, up by 2 percent, with revenue climbing 4 percent year-on-year to $58.5 million.
Saudi Arabia was the premier Arab importer of poultry from Brazil in January, with the UAE ranked second. Total global raw and processed poultry exports from Brazil fetched $434.4 million in Jan. 2021, down 17.9 percent from Jan. 2020.
Abanumay said that the company was already making headway on plans to introduce new products to the market in 2021, as well as to bring new suppliers on board over the course of the year.


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Girls who regularly ate breakfast, particularly one that includes cereal, were slimmer than those who skipped the morning meal, according to a study that tracked nearly 2,400 girls for 10 years.
Breakfast consumption dropped as the girls aged, the researchers found, and those who did not eat breakfast tended to eat higher fat foods later in the day.
"We think it kick-starts your metabolism because you've eaten something," Barton said. "When you get to lunch you're not starving and you can make reasonable choices for lunch and dinner."
John Kirwan, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University's Schwartz Center for Nutrition and Metabolism, said the findings may be "more reflective of overall eating habits and quality of food consumed."
"Those who eat breakfast on a regular basis are more likely to have a structured eating plan throughout the day and consequently are less likely to snack between meals and consume empty calories," said Kirwan, who has studied the effect of breakfast consumption on exercise performance and was not involved in the study.
In short, eating good food prevents people from eating bad food. I suspect that the lesson is a generally applicable one. Teenage girls aren't the only people who skip breakfast and probably aren't the only ones who get fat from the snacks that follow.


text: Revamped videoconferencing app opens for beta testing Jun 15, 2017 Business Cloud | Katherine Lofthouse Lifesize®, a global innovator of video conferencing technology, is launching a phased beta program for its newly redesigned Lifesize app. The app is a cloud-based collaboration platform that delivers exceptional high-definition audio, web and video conferencing. The Lifesize app has been rearchitected to focus on an intuitive, effortless experience and now includes a new user interface (UI) and features like smart matching search and one-click calling to deliver easier, smarter and more flexible communication and collaboration. “Collaboration delivers amazing results for businesses. It drives creativity, productivity and efficiency and should be simple and intuitive,” said Lifesize CEO Craig Malloy.


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Business sector representatives are again appealing to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to allocate a portion of the 150,000 metric tons (MT) of imported refined sugar solely for the use of local food exporters.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization Inc. (Philfoodex), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) are also pushing for the inclusion of a business sector representative in the SRA Board.
“We again appeal to SRA for a [refined] sugar allocation which is only .3 percent of the 150,000 metric tons approved for importation this season,” Ruben See, Philfoodex President said, adding that requests have been sent to SRA and the Department of Agriculture (DA), but no action has yet been taken.
PCCI, Philfoodex and Philexport have been making the request for sugar allotment, which they said would make local food exporters competitive, over the last five years.
Over the past five years, the three business groups have been requesting for sugar allocation for local food exporters so they can compete in Asean.
Last week, the SRA board issued two Sugar Orders (SOs). Under SO 1, the SRA board allocated all raw sugar production for the current crop year for domestic use.
Under SO 2, the 150,000 MT of refined sugar imports would be equally divided between industrial users and consumers.
SO 2 defined industrial users as food, confectioneries, biscuits, bread, candies, milk, juice, and beverage manufacturers that use refined sugar in the production of their finished products for sales exclusively in the domestic market.
“The sugar importation should be done through the Philippine International Trading Corp. to ensure monitoring and accounting for the release of imported sugar,” PCCI said.
Meanwhile, consumers, based on SO 2, shall refer to wholesalers and traders engaged in selling sugar in bulk to retailers and retailers refer to individuals selling sugar in small quantities to the general public for consumption.
Apart from the sugar allocation request, PCCI has proposed to the SRA the designation of a representative from Philfoodex to participate in the SRA Board consultative meeting.
Paul Cuyegkeng, chairman of the PCCI Agriculture Committee, said that the proposal is “essential” to strike a balance between the needs of farmers, millers, and food manufacturers, which are mostly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“We believe that all sectors must be heard. Our local food processors and manufacturers, which are mostly MSMEs, have long been burdened with the high cost of refined sugar and sadly, they are not able to compete with our counterparts in Asean, whose sugary-made products are sold way cheaper than ours,” Cuyegkeng said.
The committee said the government should engage the private sector to determine the requirements of these small merchants and consider them in the import request in order to continue operations.
It also urged the government to look into modernizing the milling industry to increase production and provide incentives to attract investments in the agriculture-related manufacturing sector.
Image credits: Bloomberg


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McDonald’s is changing its Happy Meal menu to improve nutrition across 120 markets worldwide, including Canada.
By 2022, 50 per cent or more of the Happy Meal bundle offerings will meet the following criteria:
- Fewer than or equal to 600 calories.
- Less than or equal to 10 per cent of calories from saturated fat.
- Fewer than or equal to 650 mg of sodium.
- Less than or equal to 10 per cent of calories from added sugar.
“Families are at the heart of our business and Happy Meals are a huge part of what kids love about us,” says Antoinette Benoit, chief marketing officer (CMO) at McDonald’s Canada. “These changes are about continuing our brand’s evolution, meeting the needs and wants of our customers and using our reach to have a positive impact in communities coast-to-coast.”
In recent years, McDonald’s Canada has added yogurt and apple slices as Happy Meal options, limited beverage options to milk, water or juice and displayed nutritional information in restaurants, online and on its mobile app.


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Ford India Bins Base Model Of Endeavour
- by Rachit Shad Trehan
- Oct 5, 2016
- Views : 3758
Only five variants now remain: three with the 2.2-litre engine and two with the 3.2-litre engine
Lately, Ford has been spending much of its time deciding what to do with its Endeavour SUV. In the month of August 2016, the Indian arm of the American car firm decided that all variants of the Endeavour require new price tags and went on to hike its prices by up to Rs 1.43 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai, as Delhi had the diesel-ban instated then). Last month, the automaker realised that the previous revision of prices doesn’t bolster its purpose of capturing the market in the SUV space and quietly slashed the prices of three out of the then six variants available by up to Rs 2.82 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
In its latest development, Ford has narrowed the variant list down from six to five by binning the 2.2-litre 4x2 MT Trend variant of the Endeavour. This means the SUV retains both variants powered by its 3.2-litre mill and three variants with the 2.2-litre motor. Both the 2.2-litre 4x2 AT Trend and 2.2-litre 4x4 MT Trend variants wear the same price of Rs 23.78 lakh. While the 2.2-litre 4x2 Titanium version, with all the gadgetry stuffed on-board, is priced at Rs 27.50 lakh, the more powerful 3.2-litre 4x4 AT Trend wears a Rs 25.93 lakh price tag. The top-of-the-range variant is the 3.2-litre 4x4 AT Titanium and it is priced at Rs 29.76 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi).
Ford’s biggest rival in this segment is the Toyota Fortuner. While the American car firm has managed to clock good sales figures with the new Endeavour, it is bound to face a heated competition from the Japanese carmaker Toyota, which is readying itself to launch the new Fortuner in India on November 7, 2016.Recommended Variant : Endeavour 3.2L 4x4 AT Titanium


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FMCG major Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) on Wednesday reported 38.88 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 199.23 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, on account of healthy volume growth in core categories.
The company had reported a net profit of Rs 143.45 crore in the corresponding period last year, GCPL said in a BSE filing. During the period under review, the company's total income from operations stood at Rs 2,097.66 crore, up 11.07 per cent, against Rs 1,888.51.01 crore last fiscal.
Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej said, "We continued to strengthen our leadership position across our core categories. In the first quarter, our India business branded net sales grew by 13 per cent. This was driven by a healthy volume growth of 13 per cent."
"GCPL's international business (in organic constant currency terms) too grew by 13 per cent, despite the macro challenges and slowdown in a few of our larger markets," he added. On the outlook, Godrej said, "We are seeing early signs of consumer demand picking up in India. We remain optimistic that as the economy continues to gain pace, the growth in the FMCG sector this year will be better than last year."
However, he also added that though the macroeconomic environment in some of GCPL's international markets remains challenging, the company is confident of delivering ahead of market, profitable growth in these geographies.
"We will accelerate the pace of new launches and enhance our go to market infrastructure. We will also continue to manage our costs prudently in the near term, while investing for the future. Overall, we will strive to deliver a stronger operating performance in fiscal year 2016," he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate filing GCPL informed that its board in a meeting held on Wednesday approved acquiring the remaining 40 per cent stake in Cosmetica Nacional, a market leading Hair Colorant and Cosmetics company in Chile. It also informed that its board in a meeting held on Wednesday declared an interim dividend of Re 1 per share for FY2015-16.


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For Immediate Release
Retailers Experience Record Consumer Demand for iMac
Apple to Refill Dealer Shelves by this Weekend
CUPERTINO, California–August 19, 1998–Reports from Apple Computer
Inc.’s retail channel indicate record consumer demand for iMac which hit
retail store shelves on Saturday, August 15. Many retailers reported
complete sell-outs and many took orders for iMacs scheduled for delivery
this weekend and beyond.
“iMac has been the biggest computer launch we’ve seen in our history,”
said Jim Halpin, CompUSA president and CEO. “Apple is back, and iMacs are
flying off CompUSA store shelves across the U.S.”
“It’s Christmas in August!” said Paul Ramirez, vice president of
marketing for ComputerWare. “ComputerWare sold more iMacs on Saturday
than all desktop PCs combined in the month of July.”
“iMacs sold out at most of our dealers this past weekend,” said Steve
Jobs, Apple’s interim CEO. “We are refueling them with tens of thousands
more for this weekend.”
Apple is supporting iMac with the largest marketing campaign in the
Company’s history, including more than $100 million in paid media
advertising this calendar year.
Along with being attractive, affordable and extraordinarily easy to
set-up and use, the processor in iMac is more than twice as fast as the
processor in comparably-priced consumer PCs, and 40 percent faster than
the fastest PC money can buy, based on a recent BYTEmark integer test.
With built-in 100MB Ethernet and a 56K modem, iMac also provides the
fastest connectivity available anywhere. At $1,299, iMac combines speed,
simplicity and style, making it the ideal consumer computer.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the
1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the
1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original
mission–to bring the best personal computing products and support to
students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons
and consumers in 140 countries around the world.
Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc.
News and information are available at Apple’s Public Relations website
(www.apple.com/pr/) or by calling Apple’s Media Helpline at (408)
– 30 –
Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks and iMac
is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product
names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual
companies and are respectfully acknowledged.


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By Mike Musgrove and Yuki Noguchi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
If the consumer electronics industry is right, we will soon be receiving weather advisories from our coffee makers every morning before we hop in the car to watch some satellite TV, all the while surfing the Web on our cellphones. If the carpoolers in the back seat don't like what's on, they can always watch David Letterman or "CSI" on their own phones. Consumer electronics makers are showing off the latest software and gadget tricks from their research-and-development teams at the Consumer Electronics Show, which opened yesterday in Las Vegas. And because the expo is designed to be a showcase for everything electronic or digital, its floor -- with 2,700 exhibitors -- can be a strange mix.
In one corner, a software company is showing off the latest data backup product; in another, an audio equipment company has rolled in monster trucks to show off the chest-thumping bass of its new car stereo systems.
Some of the new devices and services being showcased this week are actually already available in some form. But some of the pie-in-the-sky technologies that will generate a buzz at the conference may never make it to market or may fizzle without much fanfare on retail shelves.
Regardless, a peek at something new at CES, no matter whether it makes it commercially, gives the world a chance to see what innovative minds in the industry are working on. Eventually, that's good for consumer choice, said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association, the Arlington trade group that produces the event.
"What almost all of these products, technologies and announcements have in common is that they change the status quo," Shapiro said in his keynote speech yesterday. "They create something new, and by doing so they challenge something old. They give consumers a new choice."
This year, the consumer technology industry seems determined unlock the entertainment that's on a computer and deliver it to the living room TV set. There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how to do that, as companies from Sony to SanDisk all pitch their own technologies -- incompatible with their competitors', of course -- to bridge the computer-to-TV gap.
It's also an issue that many analysts and techies are expecting to hear about soon from Apple, which has its own trade show this week in San Francisco.
Chief executive Steve Jobs is scheduled to speak this morning at the show, Macworld, and many expect him to launch iTV, a product he announced in that fall that will connect iTunes downloads to the TV set.
One of the most popular rumors, though not a new one, is that the company is also going to roll out a mobile phone that doubles as a music player.
So hot is connectivity to TVs this year that, at the consumer show, Microsoft's Bill Gates highlighted the company's vision of consumers using their Xbox 360 video game consoles to watch videos from the Web via Internet protocol television.
And why not watch that programming on a nine-foot television set? There's an informal competition of sorts at CES every year among companies trying to display the biggest TV. This year's winner seems to be Sharp, with a 108-inch LCD screen. The company was mum about how much the giant set would cost but said it should be available this summer.
Microsoft's crowd pleasers yesterday included Sports Lounge, software for Media Center PCs that delivers Fox Sports news and statistics around a TV broadcast of a game.
There was also software from Microsoft that allows photographers combine pictures to produce better images, instead of the less-desirable images that, say, capture family members with their eyes closed.
Last year's new rivalry still poses the biggest question in the consumer technology industry: Which format will replace the DVD as the high-definition standard now that DVD sales have flattened out? Advocates for both of the next-generation DVD movie standards -- HD-DVD and Blu-ray -- held news conferences yesterday, each declaring an early victory for their formats.
As CES continues this week, the waves of announcements can generally be classified into a few categories:
The weird: Sears said it is opening a virtual showroom in the Second Life online world, allowing do-it-yourselfers to fix up virtual versions of their homes. The company is hoping the virtual space will spark real-world sales.
The useful: A few companies are showing off wireless speaker systems designed for iPods so that music lovers don't have to string wires through their homes.
The somewhere-in-between: DirecTV revealed a suitcase-size satellite system that can travel with you and pick up signals on the go. And the $200 "Melitta Smart Mill & Brew 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with MSN Direct Weather" receives forecasts via FM.
Noguchi reported from Las Vegas.


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United Biscuits (UB) has announced the launch of new McVitie’s ‘to go’ snack packs.
The twin packs, McVitie’s first on-the-go sweet biscuit range, mean shoppers will now be able to eat their favourite classic McVitie’s biscuits in a modern format, wherever and whenever it suits them.
The ‘to go’ range will be available to stock in two formats; a multi-pack and individual on-the-go portion packs. Within the multi-pack range – each containing six twin packs – shoppers will be able to choose from four variants – Original, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Digestives, as well as Milk Chocolate Hobnobs. The individual on-the-go packs of two biscuits will be available for Milk Chocolate Digestives and Milk Chocolate Hobnobs.
Rolling out from early June across grocery, convenience and forecourts, the range will be fully supported by high impact in-store activity as well as a new TV advertising campaign due to launch later in the year, using the popular ‘Sweeet’™ strapline. Significant investment has also been made into new production line technology at UB’s Harlesden factory to support the new format.
Nielsen data shows on-the-go consumption of biscuits growing ahead of the total on-the-go category (+6% vs. 0.5%, Nielsen), however only 5 per cent of all biscuits are currently available in portion packs. This flagship NPD from UB therefore marks a commitment by the business to meet growing consumer demand, and to support retailers in unlocking category growth – identified as a potential £102 million opportunity in UB’s new category strategy.
Kerry Owens, McVitie’s brand director at United Biscuits, said: “Our new ‘To Go’ range for McVitie’s marks an exciting innovation path for us. The way people are consuming snacking products has shifted in recent years, and we have invested significantly in research and shopper insights across all channels, to build and evolve our understanding of this. Busier lifestyles and an increasing decline in the traditional three-meals-a-day, means snacking behavior is mirroring these changes, with shoppers today valuing convenience and portability in products, to make life that little bit easier.
“McVitie’s is now primed to also capitalise upon this on-the-go trend. As the number one brand in sweet biscuits, this launch demonstrates our commitment to driving forward category growth in this new area, and we are confident that shoppers will be excited to see their favourite biscuits in this grab-and-go format.”
The launch of McVitie’s ‘To Go’ follows an extremely successful period for UB, following the relaunch of its McVitie’s masterbrand in 2014. It represents the latest step by UB in unlocking new consumption occasions for the biscuit category as part of the business’ new category strategy which aims to help retailers double category growth by 2020.


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Kymco Quannon 150 Unveiled
Coming to America
Taiwan-based Kymco unveiled three new products earlier this month at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, CA., including the Quannon 150. The air-cooled 149.3cc single-cylinder “sportbike” weighs 299 lbs and produces 14 hp allegedly allowing it to reach speeds of 72 mph. Speed is unlikely to be the main goal for beginners or commuters who purchase such a bike, but the claimed 70-75 mpg fuel efficiency will surely strike their fancy. As will the range of over 250 miles from the 3.6-gallon tank.
In order to truly challenge the venerable Kawasaki Ninja 250R as an entry-level sportbike, Kymco will offer the Quannon 150 at an MSRP of $3,449 – $550 cheaper than the Ninja 250R (the Ninja saw a $500 price bump this year).
Will the underdog newbie from Taiwan be able to take on the previously uncontested champ of the entry-level sportbike? While only time will tell for sure, my guess is that Kymco may take attract some buyers their way but we won’t be crowning a new champion anytime soon. Besides, a little competition will keep everyone on their toes – which is never a bad thing.


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The outbreak of avian flu that has hit the Midwest hard may cause a shortage of one of the country's favorite foods: eggs. Millions of egg-laying hens in states have been killed or are about to be killed to try to stem the outbreak that may have arrived on the wings of migrating wildfowl. That is about one fourth of all the hens who lay eggs that are used fresh or are dried or frozen to use in homes and restaurants or in baked products and other foods.
Egg supplies in the United States have already tightened and prices have started to rise. According to Reuters, the price of a dozen eggs has risen from $1.19 in late April to $2.03 this week.
Some companies that use large amounts of eggs are looking at egg substitutes that are made from plants. A company called Hampton Creek has shipped thousands of pounds of its egg substitute product to General Mills, for use in baking mixes, according to the New York Times. Hampton Creek has been working on egg-free mixes for muffins and pancakes for some time and has accelerated that effort.
About 39 million infected chickens have been culled so far in this outbreak, with 33 million of them being egg-laying hens.
While eggs are nutritious and popular as a food, they are not a necessity for most people. However, a shortage of eggs will be a hardship for the vaccine industry, which uses fertilized eggs to incubate vaccines. Merck & Co. maintains their own flock of laying hens to produce eggs, with tight biosecurity and continuous monitoring. Other vaccine producers are keeping a tight watch on their suppliers as well.
Avian influenza has spread through chicken and turkey farms throughout the Midwest. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that it does not think that this strain will spread to humans, but all strains of flu mutate rapidly.


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Beer Hawk – the craft beer distribution arm of AB InBev – has launched a new chilled distribution service called Beer Hawk Fresh.
It will deliver cold-chain beer in kegs, cans and bottles, offering same-day delivery to businesses across London, operating from a refrigerated warehouse the brewing giant purchased from collapsed indie retailer The Bottle Shop when it called in the administators in July.
Breweries supplying Beer Hawk will be given seven-day credit terms rather than the standard 30-day terms. It is offering £50 credit to retailers as an opening offer.
Craft brewers to sign up as suppliers already include Modern Times, Fourpure, Little Creatures, Voodoo and Brewski.
Former Bottle Shop boss Andrew Morgan has joined Beer Hawk to lead Beer Hawk Fresh.
Morgan said: “Simple science dictates that beer is happier when it’s stored below 6°C. It keeps the flavour as the brewer intended and stops beers refermenting, which means more beer is poured rather than fobbing foam down the drain.”
AB InBev (through its inncubator wing ZX Ventures) did not purchase The Bottle Shop business, but swooped for much of its assets, including the refrigerated warehouse and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stock.
Proceeds from the stock sale would be redistributed to The Bottle Shop’s creditors, Morgan stated at the time of the administration.


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Liam Fox's 'error' in admitting no Brexit trade deal would cost British firms a fortune
Local MP and Brexit trade minister Liam Fox has had to embarrassingly withdraw a statement after he admitted British businesses could end up paying ‘devastating’ 12 per cent tariffs on goods they sell to France, Germany, Ireland and the rest of the EU.
The North Somerset MP, who has been appointed to head the trade department, issued a press statement aimed at reassuring businesses that they would still be able to trade with other EU countries.
But it ended up doing the exact opposite, after Mr Fox’s statement candidly admitted that if no deal can be struck with the EU over free trade before Britain leaves the European Union, then trade arrangements will revert to the default World Trade Organisation standard.
The press release posted on Mr Fox’s department website initially said: “If the UK does exit the European Single Market, it will be governed by World Trade Organization (WTO) rules until any new trade deals are negotiated.
“We’ll remain a competitive player on the global stage because all major economies and most minor ones are members of the WTO. The WTO requires each member to charge the others the same tariffs and grant them ‘most favoured nation’ market access,” it added.
Labour’s Chuka Ummuna immediately pointed out that this would severely damage Britain’s businesses that export abroad, adding ten or 12 per cent onto the price of goods like cars and clothes, forcing the price of a £20,000 car made in Britain and sold in Germany up by £2,000.
“To put Liam Fox’s announcement today in context, trading under WTO rules with the EU means 10 per cent levy on cars, 12 per cent on clothes and more. Crazy,” said Mr Umunna. “Fox’s WTO strategy would devastate vital export industries, like car manufacturing, and lead to higher prices in the shops for families.
Read more: Liam Fox MP launches Tory leadership bid
“Trading with the EU under WTO rules would be a hammer blow for the economy, and would demonstrate the hollow nature of Vote Leave’s promises,” he said.
“Ministers should be doing everything they can to stay in the Single Market and get the best trade deal for Britain not throwing in the towel. Leave campaigners promised repeatedly we would get a free trade agreement with the EU – now Fox seems to admit this will not be achievable,” added Mr Umunna.
Leaders of countries in the European Union have consistently insisted that one of the non-negotiable parts of any Brexit deal will be linking Britain’s continued free trade with EU countries to the free movement of people. Last week, Norway – a country which is outside the EU but has a free-trade, free movement of people deal with the EU – declared it would not agree to or allow Britain to negotiate a different deal with the EU which limited possible migration but allowed free trade.
Mr Fox’s statement on Brexit was pulled from his department’s website within hours, and officials admitted it was ‘a draft which was published in error’, even though the statement on the WTO was factually accurate.
A Department for International Trade spokeswoman later said: “Our priority will be to get the best deal for Britain, and this includes allowing British companies to trade with the single market in goods and services.
“There will be a process of negotiation and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance or speculate on what our future trading relationship will be with the EU,” she added.


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Norwegian seafood exports set a new record, beating the old 2019 export value record of NOK 107.2 billion.
“Before the first eleven months of the year are over, according to our calculations, we already surpassed the export value from the record year 2019 of NOK 107.2 billion.
“It makes me incredibly proud on behalf of the entire Norwegian seafood industry,” CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, Renate Larsen, said.
The official export figures will be published in a week.
In eleven years, seafood exports have more than doubled, from NOK 50 billion in 2010 to what will probably be well over NOK 110 billion at the end of the year, Larsen added.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayFinance
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