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With everything being online these days, Coca-Cola Malaysia with support from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will be taking Coca-Cola Komuniti Usahawan (Coca-Cola KU) online.
It is part of the Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by 2020, through an initiative known as 5by20.
Since its inception in 2017, Coca-Cola KU has supported almost 16,000 women participants in Malaysia.
The introduction of Coca-Cola KU’s e-learning platform is to enable budding entrepreneurs to learn how to manage their business from the modules available on the website.
They will be able to access Coca-Cola KU’s training modules for free and conduct their own training at their own pace and time.
The online entrepreneurship programme is open to all, especially those who wish to acquire new skills and would like to start their own business.
A registration drive for Coca-Cola KU will be conducted at key locations throughout five states in Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan – from now until Dec 31.
Exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise will also be given to those who sign-up for the online programme at the registration drive.
Alternatively, the public can register for the programme at https://ccku.coca-cola.com.my to enjoy the free training modules.
“We are delighted to extend the Coca-Cola KU entrepreneurship programme online, ” said Bottling Investments Group Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei chief executive officer Barry O’ Connell.
“Over the years, the Coca-Cola KU programme has been highly effective in unlocking entrepreneurial potential as well as empowering participants to turn their ideas and passions into profitable businesses.
“We believe that the Coca-Cola KU programme is even more relevant in the current environment as participants gain new knowledge and skills.
“Additionally, it will allow them to rethink their goals and capitalise on entrepreneurial options. Our objective is to equip individuals with the skills and tools to act with the future in mind.
“Women and youth have proven to be powerful agents of change. The Coca-Cola KU programme has had a meaningful impact on their lives across Malaysia, helping them to overcome social, economic and technological barriers.
“Their success has not only benefitted them, but also supported the needs of their family and created jobs for the communities around them.
“That’s why we believe that empowering individuals will contribute towards the creation of more sustainable communities, and in turn strengthen the country’s socio-economic growth over the longer term, ” said O’ Connell.
Coca-Cola KU participant Zubaidah A. Aziz said: “When I heard about the Coca-Cola KU programme in Terengganu, I signed up for it. I learnt about marketing techniques, various technology platforms, the financial aspects of business, finding new business leads and so much more.
“Thanks to the Coca-Cola KU programme, I was able to manage my business a lot better than before and even managed to gain a lot of new customers in the process.”
Ministry Business Development Division director Ismainur Hadi Amat Bakeroncommented: “Despite the economic challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, small to medium enterprises continue to be one of the key drivers fuelling Malaysia’s economic growth and employment opportunities.
“Against this backdrop, we believe this year’s Coca-Cola KU programme will allow Malaysians, especially women and youth, to uplift their livelihood and improve their quality of life by starting their own business.
“This will help increase local talent and create a dynamic entrepreneurial culture, in line with Malaysia’s aspirations to become a high-income, entrepreneurial nation.”
The Coca-Cola KU online programme consists of five modules that focus on three key areas: business skills; access to credit; and, the creation of a micro-entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures peers and mentoring.
Through the online modules, participants will learn the basics of business – from developing a business plan, managing cash flow and credit, techniques in providing and sustaining innovative services and the latest technologies, to developing marketing plans.
Participants will also be exposed to the numerous business-related regulations, policy, ethics and even micro-financing platforms available.
Upon completion of each module, they will be tested on their level of understanding and will be awarded a certificate, certified by the Ministry.
For more information about the Coca-Cola KU programme, go to https://ccku.coca-cola.com.my.
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A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that Procter & Gamble, Pfizer and the parent company of Arm & Hammer all acquired dietary supplement companies last year. Is this a signal that more pharmaceutical giants and big CPG companies were looking at the nutrition space?
When assessing the potential, it’s wise to keep some fundamentals in mind, said Tom Aarts, founder of Nutritional Capital Network, a company that matches early state growth companies with investors.
“If we go back to the basics in economics in supply and demand, there are going to be deals done in the dietary supplement space with big pharma companies if the deals themselves are big,” Aarts told NutraIngredients-USA
“The pharma companies need scale because of the scale of their own businesses. The big entities that they could go after are in short supply now because they have been bought.
Not many from which to choose
Two of those entities that have been snapped up were Schiff, which fetched $1.2 billion in the sweeter deal offered by Reckitt Benser, and New Chapter fetched an undisclosed sum from P&G. But the dietary supplement business only offers so many targest of that scale, Aarts said.
“The big entities that they would go after they are short supply right now. If you look at the supplement companies there are only about 15 that are bigger than $100 million,” he said.
The dietary supplement space has returned reliable growth throughout the recession, providing one reason why a big consumer products company might want to put their money to work there. But these companies also have vast distribution networks, and observers have commented that they could use those networks to help grow the supplement brands they acquire.
“That’s the theory. I think it’s a little simpler as to why those companies are interested in purchases. They are very interested in large brands that they can leverage,” Aarts said.
“They are large multinational companies with international distributions. Another reason these guys are interested is they can take the brands overseas. A smaller company has a little bit more challenge to that,” he said.
Many of the supplement brands of a size that would perk up the M&A attennas of the big CPG and pharma companies probably already have wide domestic distribution, Aarts said, limiting the amount of growth possible there.
“I think the real drivers are buying a brand that they can manage better. Most of the synergies at the revenue level are going to come from international distribution,” he said.
Supplement brands bolstered with patents are attractive to these large players, Aarts said. But what really gets attention is a strong package of scientific evidence.
“Everybody is always interested in IP. But at the end of the day the power is in the brand. These big companies are interested brands that have science that can support claims,” he said.
Long term trends drive M&A activity
Long term, Aarts said, the trend of big companies, especially in the pharma space, moving into dietary supplements will continue. Drug makers have been under financial pressure for 15 years or more, he noted. They are still making money, but they are not growing as fast as they feel they need to, and the costs of bringing drugs to market (and the attendant risks) continue to spiral upward.
“Fifteen years ago it used to be around $400 million not it’s more about $800 million (to bring a drug to market),” Aarts said. “And consumers are a little less interested. They are moving away from drugs.”
Another long term trend that bodes well for the supplement space (and its attractiveness as an M&A target) has to do with the costs of health care, Aarts said. If, as some observers believe, the new comprehensive health care law causes health insurance costs to rise, employers and individual consumers will be looking at ways to ameliorate those costs.
“How is that going to affect supplements? I think it’s going to be good for supplements,” Aarts said. “You are going to be more concerned about prevention. Where are you going to turn?”

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Copy-Goodbye: AOL discontinuing pioneering Instant Messenger
NEW YORK (AP) - AOL has announced that it is discontinuing its pioneering Instant Messenger chat platform after 20 years of service.
An article on AOL's website posted Friday says AOL Instant Messenger will be discontinued on Dec. 15. AOL says it's shutting down the program because its focus is "on building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products."
Users can still use the program until Dec. 15. After that date, users won't be able to sign in.
AOL Instant Messenger was wildly popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s and claimed more than 100 million registered users in 2001. Its popularity as a communication tool waned amid the rise of text messaging, Google Chat and social networking sites.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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This is an article written as part of a Playcrafting class on game journalism.
Blizzard today introduced a new map to the Overwatch public test realm as part of a larger update to the class-based shooter.
Horizon Lunar Colony, an assault/defense map, tasks players with controlling capture points on a moon base referenced previously in the game’s lore. The new area is the first to introduce low gravity gameplay, albeit only in a small portion of the map.
Additional hints to the evolving backstory of the game are featured throughout the map, primarily focused around primate character Winston. Blizzard teased the map’s release in previous changes to the base game. In a patch released last week, incidental new voice lines for characters that referenced the moon were added unannounced. The update also switched generic posters and computer screen art on certain maps from generic images to schematics of the moon base.
Finally, Blizzard introduced character balance changes in the update, including an overhaul of offense hero Reaper’s healing ability from collecting souls from fallen enemies to an percentage of damage inflicted. Offense hero McCree also received a faster damage charge time for his ultimate ability, while Tank class character Roadhog received a damage reduction.
Overwatch celebrated the one-year anniversary of its original launch on May 24. Blizzard marked the occasion with an anniversary event including a free-to-play weekend as well as the addition of new skins for many characters and dance emotes for every hero. The items are available to earn only during the event which began March 23 and runs until June 12.


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Well, its kinda weird when I first read the article about the contest. And the prize will be a fully loaded MacBook Pro.
The organizer, CanSecWest, will host two MacBook Pro computers with default Apple installation. And the first person who can break into the system with their unique exploits will bring the computer home.
The contest will take place at the CanSecWest conference in Vancouver starting April 18. And I’m wondering if any Malaysians want to participate in the contest. 😕
Hacking contest takes aim at Apple [via SecurityFocus] [tags]apple, hacking, exploit[/tags]


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Drinking light drinks instead of those stuffed with sugars would not be beneficial in terms of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, whether the beverages are light or not, the probability of the appearance of the disease is doubled. in people consuming more than two cans daily.
This is the result and the conclusion formulated by Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, whose study was published in the European Journal of Endocrinology. To reach this conclusion, they observed the consumption and health status of 2,800 people, average age 68, sugar drinkers and, for some only, diabetics.
The sweeteners of light drinks would be responsible for disrupting certain bacteria in the intestine
Results of the study: among people consuming at least two cans of light drinks, the risk of diabetes is multiplied by 2.4, and even by 4.5 for those who drink more than five. In general, each dose of 20 centilitres of a light drink increases the risk of the pathology by 18%. This is a fairly small difference compared to non-lightened drinks, for which the risk is increased by 21%.
The reasons for this: according to the researchers, artificial sweeteners could disrupt the action of certain bacteria of the intestine, thus promoting the development of diabetes. The consumption of light drinks could also be the cause of a sensation of hunger, pushing people to turn to sugary foods.


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Much has changed in the half decade and more since we last put lagers to the blind taste test. For one, there's bloody loads of them, but who's brewing them really well? We compiled an expert panel to find out.
He gets to play around with new ingredients and techniques as much, if not more, than any brewer in the country, yet you'll never taste his beers. We spent A Day In The Life Of Ellerslie Hop's technical brewer Glenn Harrison.
It was a year nobody could foresee and nobody wanted, yet the worst fears of March 2020 haven't been realised. Over two features, we take on in-depth look at the local beer industry 12 months on from the nationwide lockdown.
Beer Swag Day was a day of celebration that ran as part of the Keeping Local Alive campaign in the early weeks of the national lockdown. And now it's back – on the anniversary of the lockdown so we can mark that dark day with a smile.
Readers will know Corinna Steeb and Frank Samson through the beers of Prancing Pony, but it's only one of their passions. They met through a shared love of motorbikes and next month Corinna will attempt to break her own land speed record.
In a normal year, brewers and other beer industry people would be preparing to visit the Southern Hemisphere's hop farms for harvest. It's not a normal year, however, leading Hop Products Australia to invite guests to join them online.
They're hazy. They're pale. They're all the rage. But who's doing them well? For our first blind tasting of 2021, we got our hands on a stack of Aussie examples, amassed some expert palates, and put them to the test.
It might have been a year to forget in many ways, yet there was still plenty to admire and celebrate in Victoria's beer scene in 2020. Join us as we try to make sense of the madness.
Well, who saw that coming? We kick off our end of 2020 coverage with a look back at some of the biggest trends and standout moments of the past twelve months.
For our first and only blind tasting of 2020, we went with a suitably 2020 lineup: non-alcoholic beers. They may well ruin the pun in the series title, but how do they stack up in front of our panel of industry experts?


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Gildan Activewear is taking over a major U.S. retailer.
The T-shirt company announced Monday that it had signed an asset purchase agreement (APA) to acquire American Apparel’s assets and worldwide intellectual property rights for approximately $66 million—the same day the Los Angeles-based brand filed for Chapter 11 for the second time in little more than a year.
Gildan will purchase American Apparel inventory separately, as the company prepares to incorporate the brand into its printwear business.
According to Gildan, American Apparel would be a strong addition to its diverse brand portfolio. The acquisition will foster revenue growth and enable Gildan to boost its distribution network in North American and international printwear markets. In addition, American Apparel will provide Gildan the opportunity to sell its branded apparel products to a new consumer demographic.
The acquisition came on the heels of American Apparel hiring investment bank Houlihan Lokey Inc. in August to start a confidential sale process, after the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February. Last month, several licensors, including Authentic Brands Group LLC and Iconix Brand Group Inc., expressed interest in acquiring American Apparel. On Wednesday, the retailer reportedly re-engaged talks with Sequential Brands Group LLC, after its negotiations with ABG ended.
American Apparel is also experiencing issues overseas. The company entered into administration in the U.K. last Tuesday, which put 13 stores and their employees at risk. The next day, Ireland’s High Court appointed a provisional liquidator to American Apparel’s Dublin city center store.


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In a bonanza for TV viewers, whether cable or direct to home (DTH), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has issued an order whereby consumers can view 100 pay or free channels by paying just Rs 153.40 per month (including GST). According to a Trai press communique, consumers should choose these 100 channels before January 31 as the new system will start from February 1.
As per Trai, the base pack does not include high definition (HD) channels. However, some media agencies have reported that HD channels can also be chosen and one HD channel will be equivalent to two non-HD channels. Consumers should enquire with their service provider.


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Phishing Alert: Star Networks
WebsenseŽ Security Labs has received reports of a new phishing attack that targets customers of Star Network. Users receive a spoofed email message which indicates the user must sign up for another account as a result of a recent security system upgrade. Users are instructed to click on a link contained in the email to begin this process. Users are then taken to a phishing site that requests their ATM card information.
The phishing site is hosted in the United States and was up at the time of this alert. WebsenseŽ - Security Labs Alert: Star Networks
Back to: PC Security, privacy news


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Planning for a car retail group’s recovery from the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown has been likened to “starting a completely new business with your hands tied behind your back".
As Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester told AM of his hopes that the sector’s recovery phase would bypass the need for a supermarket-style ‘click and collect’ process by moving straight to showroom re-openings, Clive Brook Volvo managing director, Clive Brook, outlined plans to redesign his business for a new trading environment.
- AM is urging retailers to share their experience of trading during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak via its two-minute, quick-fire ‘COVID-19 car retail recovery survey’. Click here to take part.
Top AM100 retail group, Vertu, now has around 1,000 of its 6,000-strong workforce providing aftersales services and limited vehicle deliveries to keyworkers but is slowly returning more employees to work as demand begins to rise.
Forrester said: “The fact is that the government can’t simply pay for people to stay at home for months and months and months on end.
"You could just sit tight like traders in hybernation, and that might be the best thing to do, but from a moral point of view and from the point-of-view of some of our customers - who need cars and an aftersales service - we need to be open."
Forrester told AM that the group, which has paid its staff 80% of their average earnings, including commission payments, during their furlough period, would have to balance consumer demand with its desire to return staff to work.
Demand dictates return to work
However, the business has seen rising levels of enquiries and trade and has already set a "proxy re-opening date of May 11", according to Forrester.
Vertu sold 76 retail cars and 10 vans on Tuesday (April 28) and Forrester said that he was signing-off all sales personally.
He said: “Our deliveries are being handled by a logistics company in terms of longer distance sales. Our dealership staff may deliver a car if it’s required by an immobile NHS keyworker living nearby, however. It wouldn’t be in the public interest not to complete that kind of transaction.”
Forrester said that social distancing and vehicle sanitisation would mean that dealership standards were “very different” following the COVID-19 pandemic.
While measures being discussed the group include the removal of newspaper and customer coffee provision from showrooms, Forrester revealed that Vertu’s valeters had also remained away from the business as car vacuuming and washing processes had been removed from the aftersales process.
He said: “The focus is very much on cleansing the car and technicians are doing that as part of their roles. The cosmetic side of the aftersales process has been removed and I think our customers understand why that is.”
Vertu is also leaving part-exchange cars to stand for 24 hours before allowing staff to enter them to complete appraisal and valuation inspections.
Forrester said that the industry’s outlay on personal protective equipment (PPE) would be “not insubstantial”, adding that it would be a “major cost” to the sector as showroom re-opening commences.
Vertu will also ramp-up its investment in marketing, with increased digital marketing and return to TV next month to emphasise its efforts to enhance health and safety and the extent of its 'open for business' status.
Aversion to supermarket-style sales
While both are determined to achieve high health and safety standards, Forrester and Yorkshire-based Volvo retailer Brook voiced a desire to avoid the retail experience of supermarket visitors in recent weeks.
Forrester said that he hoped to bypass a “click and collect” partial re-opening of sales sites, while Brook said that the thought of customers queuing outside dealerships ahead of scheduled sales appointments was “absolutely terrible”.
“There is every chance that the majority of dealer visits will have to be by appointment, but we’ll have to manage that very carefully,” said Brook.
“If we can’t set our customers at ease when restrictions are eased and continue to make the experience of visiting the showroom as stress-free and fun as possible then we’ll be in real trouble.”
Brook currently has 43 of his business’ 65 staff on furlough and 22 at work.
His workshops at both his Huddersfield and Bradford retail sites are operating at 60% as staff get used to new distance and hygiene processes, with a view to being 100% operational within two weeks.
He also has a sales manager and consultant working full-time at each site to handle online sales enquiries.
Reopening 'more painful than being closed'
Brook described the recovery process as being “financially more painful than being closed” but said that the alternative – waiting until the lockdown is fully lifted – would create its own issues.
While Brook said that returning previously furloughed staff to dealership sites experiencing the current slump in trade was “a very delicate balance both ensuring we are all safe but economically remaining viable”, he said: “We’ll need to hit the ground running when the situation changes and I think a lot of businesses could return to find an awful lot of jobs need doing to get furloughed staff trained and re-established in the new trading environment and also to get the site back up to standard after weeks of lockdown.”
In coversation with AM, John Clark, chairman of the Aberdeen-based John Clark Motor Group, described his group's planning process for a return from the COVID-19 lockdown as being akin to "pushing the re-set button".
Brook described his plan for re-opening as “like starting a new business with your hands tied behind your back”.
But he was determined to make the right decisions in order to merge with a business primed to cater for customers in a completely new trading climate.
“So many lessons being learnt but I’m really clear that I wouldn’t rebuild my home exactly the same if it burnt to the ground and I’m not going to do that with my business,” he said.


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The rescue boats are working to drift and launch the Ever Given, a 59-meter-wide (193.5-feet) vessel that ran aground after 40-knot winds and a sandstorm prompted low visibility and poor navigation, the Suez Canal Authority stated in an announcement Wednesday.
The 224,000-ton vessel, crusing below a Panama flag, was en path to the port of Rotterdam within the Netherlands when it was knocked off track.
The ship — which at 400 meters is nearly so long as the Empire State Constructing is tall — is wedged throughout the important commerce passage on the canal’s 151-kilometer (94-mile) mark, the vessel’s working firm stated in an announcement.
The container ship entered the essential East-West commerce route on Tuesday morning and ran in to hassle when it was roughly 6 nautical miles from the southern finish of the estuary, Evergreen Marine stated.
Tanker Trackers, which screens vessels by means of satellite tv for pc and maritime information, stated the incident had prompted tailbacks of different vessels close by. “Tankers carrying Saudi, Russian, Omani and US oil are ready on each ends,” it stated.
Fifteen different vessels in a northbound convoy behind the ship have been held at anchorages whereas the canal is cleared, GAC stated on its web site. A southbound convoy can be blocked, it stated.
The passage accounts for roughly 30% of container ship site visitors globally every day, based on Reuters, with the choice delivery route between Asia and Europe — navigating across the African cape — taking every week longer.
Almost 19,000 ships, or a median of 51.5 ships per day, with a internet tonnage of 1.17 billion tonnes handed by means of the canal throughout 2020, based on the Suez Canal Authority.
Maersk, the world’s largest container delivery firm stated seven of its container vessels have been affected by the blockage, with 4 of its vessels caught within the canal system whereas the remaining are ready to enter the passage, the Danish firm stated in a Wednesday assertion.
Re-floating the large container vessel is “technically very sophisticated” and will take days, a senior canal pilot on the Suez Canal Authority informed CNN.
The official — who spoke on situation of anonymity as he isn’t approved to talk to the media — stated that the gear to drift a ship is obtainable nevertheless it is determined by how it’s used.
“If the tactic just isn’t right it’d take every week, and if it is executed effectively it’d take two days. But when it had been right [in the first place], then the disaster might have ended yesterday,” the pilot stated.
The official stated that, because of the harm, the Ever Given is unlikely to have the ability to sail now and can in all probability must be towed to the closest parking website, the Nice Bitter Lake District, about 30 kilometers to the north.
Afterwards it is going to possible be towed with its cargo to the closest port — both Sokhna port 20 kilometers south of town of Suez, or Port Mentioned, 100 kilometers to the north. There the cargo could be offloaded and the ship would endure minor repairs. If the harm seems to be extra critical, the vessel could be towed to a marine shipyard.
The official stated that “at current, the variety of ships ready might attain 100, which is able to improve over time.”
“The disruption of navigation is predicted to trigger ship congestion, which takes two to 3 days to usually restore site visitors order,” he added.
The affect on oil and gasoline flows will rely upon how lengthy it takes to clear the container ship, business sources informed Reuters.
“If it extends to, say, weeks it is going to after all disrupt all delivery in a serious manner,” stated Ashok Sharma, managing director of Singapore-based shipbroker BRS Baxi.
“However I feel there ought to be adequate assets out there and just about in shut proximity to cope with the state of affairs rapidly, in days fairly than weeks,” Sharma stated.
Journalist Magdy Samaan reported from Cairo, Egypt. CNN’s Shawn Deng contributed to this report from Beijing, Sarah El Sirgany and Mostafa Salem from Abu Dhabi, Sharif Paget in Atlanta and Schams Elwazer from London. Lauren Mentioned-Moorhouse wrote from London.


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Shoppers can already purchase a variety of juices from Whole Foods, but soon some customers in Southern California will be able to make — and then buy — their own juice at stores. [More]
Last year, people who purchased Naked Juice drinks like “Kale Blazer” thinking that the main ingredient would be kale, or who bought Naked products labeled “no sugar added” believing the drinks were low in sugar, sued Naked’s parent company PepsiCo, alleging they were misled. Now comes news that PepsiCo has agreed to close the books on this dispute by using labels that more accurately reflect Naked’s ingredients. [More]
While your morning glass of orange juice won’t taste any different, it’s got more oranges than usual in it. Thanks to a water problem, the world’s largest exporter is having to squeeze many more fruits just to make you the same amount of juice [More]
POM Wonderful snagged a legal win today in one of its two ongoing cases: The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the juice maker in its decision, which said that POM can proceed with a lawsuit alleging that the label on Coca-Cola’s “Pomegranate Blueberry” is misleading because most of the drink is actually made of grape and apple juice. [More]
As the top judicial body in the land, the United States Supreme Court has asked some pretty tough questions in its day. But yesterday the justices had a question for Coca-Cola that doesn’t seem like it should be so tricky: Shouldn’t a juice labeled as “pomegranate and blueberry” actually include a fair amount of, um, pomegranates? And blueberries? [More]
It’s been three months since a judge tossed out New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces, calling the regulation “arbitrary and capricious.” Today, a state appeals court panel heard arguments for and against the ban, but it doesn’t look good for Mayor Mike. [More]
The Honest Toddler, fictional brat and online darling of parents and humor fans alike, recently pleaded with the mysterious figure who is the CEO of Juice to start lying to his or her customers already. Why are parents so concerned about sugar and corn syrup, anyway? “‘Is it 100% juice?’ It’s 100% something!” [The Honest Toddler]
In the wake of a recent Consumer Reports investigation that found high levels of arsenic and lead in a number of fruit juices, Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro today announced the “Arsenic Prevention and Protection from Lead Exposure in Juice (APPLE Juice) Act of 2012,” which would require the Food and Drug Administration to set standards for arsenic and lead in fruit juices.
While federal standards set limits for the amount of arsenic and lead in tap and bottled water, but no such hard line exists for fruit juices, even though such drinks are dietary staples of children. Thus, our cousins-in-arms at Consumer Reports set to testing some juices, only to turn up results that should cause concern among parents and lawmakers.
Tired of selling someone else’s juice, Starbucks has not only purchased a juice company, but also plans to branch out into a separate retail juice business.
A reader was curious as to why Snapple’s Apple Juice Drink, despite having pictures of cut apples on the front, did not have “apple” in the list of product ingredients. Instead, they have “filtered water, sugar, pear juice, concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors” and “vegetable and fruit extracts (for color).” So I emailed Snapple customer service asking them them why, and also if they mainly used pears instead of apples. Here is their reply, which contains the words “promulgated” and “proprietary.”
Myron Reducto is at it again, turning his Grocery Shrink Ray Gun on Odwalla juice, zapping it down to 12 oz from 15.
The price is the same Odwalla has lowered the suggested retail price for the bottles, but some retailers have opted to keep the price the same. Like other food packagers, Odwalla is combining the shrinkage with a packaging redesign that it hopes will get more press. In this case, they are simultaneously rolling out bottles that are made from 100% plant based HDPE plastic.
Steroids — they’re not just for linebackers anymore. Some police officers, presumably seeking to get any edge they can to survive on the streets, are getting busted for ‘roiding it up in increasing numbers.
Orchida Coconut Juice displays nutrition data in both English and Spanish, but the values aren’t the same. The English nutrition panels claims that the juice has 240 calories and no fat. Apparently, our Spanish-speaking friends are supposed to read that as 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Pictures of the strange panels, inside…
Forget all that spin about listening to customer complaints: it looks like the real reason Tropicana killed off its rebranding push after only two months is because sales dropped by 20% during that period, while some big competitors posted double-digit gains. We have a feeling Tropicana is going to end up in a lot of business and marketing textbooks in the future. [AdAge] (Thanks to Ross!)


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We have already discussed how the unique circumstances of 2020—especially related to the coronavirus pandemic—have affected the news cycles regarding small business telecommunications and VoIP technologies. As we continue this exploration, let’s turn our attention to some news items that look forward—predicting how the events of 2020 will affect small business IT and VoIP use in the coming years.
Increased Mobile Marketing
Inc. recently published an article describing several small business trends of 2020 while looking forward to 2021. Among these trends: an expanded focus on mobile marketing. This trend is significant for two reasons. First, it highlights that small businesses can use VoIP not just for communicating with customers, but also for marketing to them via their smartphones. Second, with more people staying home (and often bored), folks are spending a lot more time on their smartphones and devices these days. Small businesses who invest more time, money, and energy into marketing pushed to mobile devices are likely to experience more growth in the days ahead.
Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI technology is already revolutionizing the business world in many ways, but Financesonline recently predicted the increased use of AI with VoIP technology as a trend to watch—specifically, integrating AI into customer service through chatbots and incoming calls. Experts expect up to 85 percent of customer interactions to be handled without humans by the end of 2020 alone. Orange County business owners are also discovering other applications for AI as they explore new ways to automate—from employee scheduling to identifying best times for team meetings to cybersecurity enhancements.
Use of Blockchain in Telecom
Blockchain technology is effectively an open-source, permanent ledger system that instantly records transactions and propagates them across the network. For years, blockchain has been valued as a secure, un-hackable ledger to record cryptocurrency transactions and exchanges. But as Capacity recently reported, the telecom industry is eyeballing blockchain as a secure, effective way to standardize and optimize communications across devices and networks, potentially making telecommunications more streamlined and efficient than ever before. Look for more networks to begin implementing blockchain technology in the days ahead.
Regardless if these trends come to pass as predicted, it’s undeniable that VoIP technology and IT have become more critical for Orange County small businesses than ever before. NetServ can help you design and manage a VoIP system perfectly suited for your business’ needs, even in the midst of our changing circumstances. Call 1-877-NetServ to learn more.


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Using Your Noodle
Pasta and other noodle dishes provide filling, value-added options.
The Power of One
Operators rely on an extra staff member to up their customer-service game.
You’ve Got to Start Somewhere
Women plant their roots in foodservice to prepare for a career climbing the ladder.
Why You're Responsible for Growing the Brand
The CEO is responsible for the health of his brand and steering it toward growth.
A Super-Sized Dilemma
Fast food customers love big portion sizes, but with nutrition and obesity under more public scrutiny, quick serves are left to decide whether to listen to their customers or to their critics.
Some operators are finding that bringing a full-service approach to quick service is boosting customer satisfaction—and the bottom line.
Fazoli’s Introduces Nutella Cheesecake
Fazoli’s formed an agreement with Ferrero U.S.A Inc., makers of Nutella hazelnut spread.
Venti Tre Concept From Fazoli’s Modernizes Italian Fast Casual
The new Italian fast-casual concept Venti Tre Modern Italian, developed by quick-serve giant Fazoli's, has been a hit with consumers since opening its...
Fazoli's Welcomes New Marketing VP
Jonathan Quinn has joined Fazoli's, a premium Italian quick-service restaurant chain, as vice president of marketing.
Fazoli’s Enhances Online Catering with New Platform
Fazoli’s announces an enhanced online and mobile ordering platform, powered by Olo, perfect for guests looking for quick and easy catering. ...
Fazoli's Announced Partnership with Ghirardelli
Fazoli's, the Italian quick-service restaurant, launched its first partnership with Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.
Fazoli’s Celebrates Mothers-In-Law
There’s Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, even Aunt and Uncle Day. So why not Mother-In-Law Day?...
Fazoli's Signs Development Agreement for Kentucky
Fazoli's announced it recently signed another development agreement. Dan Markwell of Employer Consulting LLC will open restaurants in Morehead, Mt.
More Details Emerge on Fazoli’s Fast Casual
More details on Fazoli’s new fast-casual concept were revealed at an event for The Shops at Canton Crossing in Baltimore earlier this week.
Fazoli’s Debuts Fab Five, Raises Funds For Cancer
Fazoli’s launches its second-annual breast cancer awareness fundraiser on September 30, 2013.
Fazoli’s Awards More Than $25,000 in Scholarships
Fazoli’s, a premium Italian quick service restaurant ranked #2 overall among large national fast food chains in the Zagat Survey, recently sent 26 col...
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Dickey's Continues Expansion in California
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Whataburger Kicks Up the Flavor with Buffalo Ranch Chicken
Domino's Sends Firetrucks for Delivery, Safety Education
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Ones to Watch


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By Hallie Forcinio, writer, PostPress
When the pandemic curtailed in-person events and meetings, marketing tactics shifted to include greater use of digital communications such as social media, e-newsletters and websites. With face-to-face meetings returning, these tactics remain essential components of marketing programs, along with focused messaging, new products and product samples.
The pandemic also forced companies to be more proactive. Sam Michaels, creative manager at Studio On Fire, a supplier of impression-based printing, including letterpress, foil stamping and embossing, recalled, “Working with existing customers during COVID-19 became an exercise in communication about safety protocols and supply chains. Things that had never been worries previously had to be planned for: Our conversations had to start much sooner for re-orders. Pivots had to be made as material availability waned. We tried to really amp up our transparency and alert our clients about the roadblocks we were facing.”
More digital communications
Without in-person events such as sales calls, conferences, tradeshows and shop tours, service providers increased emphasis on digital communications. “The restrictions of the pandemic pushed us further onto the internet than ever before: Google Meets, TikTok, email newsletters, etc.,” Michaels said.
LinkedIn has become a favorite social media outlet for Phillips Graphic Finishing, a trade binder and finisher, which serves printers in eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Maryland. “We post in-house-created content as well as links to interesting developments in the industry,” said Andrew Hoffman, president and CEO at Phillips Graphic Finishing.
The company also publishes an e-newsletter called “Finishing Touch.” After emailing monthly for the past two years, it’s currently on hiatus before it shifts to a quarterly schedule in 2023. Each issue includes four links to outside content plus one article written in-house, which also is posted on the company’s website.
Studio On Fire focuses its e-newsletter content on events it is hosting/attending, interesting projects and educational articles about in-house capabilities. Newsletter and social media content is created in-house with everyone participating to identify interesting examples to film, photograph and write about. Michaels said, “We post social media content a few times a week. People love videos of machines. TikTok especially loves the paper cutter.” Although the company does some cross-posting, it avoids posting the same item on all channels so readers don’t find the posts annoyingly repetitious.
Digital Marketing Services, Inc. (DMS Color), a digital printer that supplies collateral materials, packaging, promotional items and other printed products, takes a more personal approach. Its in-house-generated e-newsletter typically posts every 60 days and announces employee work anniversaries, birthdays and employee of the month as well as content about products being produced and common obstacles. “It’s always good to humanize the company,” said Matthew Greer, CEO/CTO at DMS Color.
At DataGraphic, a supplier of printing and printing-related services including offset lithography, digital printing, letterpress, screen printing, custom book printing and bookbinding, bi-weekly e-blasts with professional photography showcase noteworthy projects. “We want to stand out from the crowd whenever we can,” said Glenn Schuster, president of DataGraphic. “As a result, we tend to get some difficult projects that other printers would turn down.”
An enhanced website features new landing pages, new content, hyperlinks and better calls for action. DataGraphic also has beefed up its social media presence by tagging posts and is working to improve search engine optimization (SEO).
Although the pandemic brought disruption, it also proved to be a good time to introduce new products/services. Studio On Fire launched Craft Lock Box certified child-resistant, all-paper packaging for cannabis applications. Michaels said, “Marketing a product vs. a service is a new endeavor altogether. Marketing to a cannabis client means you might be talking to a farmer, not a designer. It’s a higher level of client education, but we actually enjoy that.”
DMS Color pivoted during the pandemic to produce personal protective equipment and also launched a new division, Gold Leaf Packaging, to serve the cannabis industry. “Having a separate division helps focus the message and generate demand,” Greer said. “We had to make sure our SEO was right and that we were guiding people and having the right conversations. We really doubled down on our marketing efforts and positioned ourselves as thought leaders and content matter experts.”
Traditional marketing continues
Traditional tactics, word-of-mouth and cold calling remain important marketing tools. Michaels said word-of-mouth is “our most successful way to grow. Our team spends a lot of time working directly with clients, developing their projects, creating dielines, optimizing art, tracking down the perfect materials (and, of course, providing the highest level of printing); it’s a level of service that is easy to recommend to others. We also have developed a level of expertise in several consumer niches, especially packaging within the cannabis market. Having folks on our team who understand the restrictions/guidelines to be aware of as additional states legalize, that’s not something every printer has.”
At DataGraphic, although it receives many referrals via word-of-mouth recommendations, the company also takes a direct approach and reaches out to clients via phone and email.
With the launch of its Gold Leaf Packaging division and face-to-face interaction curtailed by the pandemic, DMS Color focused on cold calling and identifying what vehicles (phone, email, Zoom meetings, etc.) worked best. Although cold calling is essential, Greer noted, “It can be hard to reach the right person.” As a result, whenever possible, he favors events. “Events bring decision-makers and executives into one place,” he explained.
Importance of samples
Studio On Fire maintains an inventory of samples of client projects as well as in-house promotional samples created to show the company’s capabilities. Michaels noted, “One thing remains true, getting to touch/feel the printing still helps, thus we mail out more sample boxes than ever before. The printing we do sells itself when you can feel it.” Seeing and touching samples sparks ideas and helps prospective customers understand processes that they may not have worked with before. Samples can eliminate the need for prototypes and save the time and money associated with prototype tooling and press setup.
Seeing and feeling the quality of the work is key. “Samples can bring clients over the finish line by providing a better understanding of what they are ordering and confirming that print can do what they are trying to do,” explained Nicole Cappiello, a member of the sales and business development team at DataGraphic. Samples also reveal the clients a company serves and “lend credibility,” added Schuster.
At Phillips Graphic Finishing, a box of samples goes on sales calls. The company also relies on its website to present examples of its work.
Key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards and other analytics help track marketing efforts. Phillips Graphic Finishing tracks KPIs and identifies customers gained via marketing efforts. It also compares revenue from resulting projects vs. revenue from existing customers.
DataGraphic studies analytics to see what information customers are looking for and find interesting. “We have our own customer relationship management (CRM) program and know who responds,” explained Schuster.
“We also are taking a closer look at how customers find us,” Cappiello said.
“Google Ad Words, Instagram, assorted social media efforts all have dashboards, but they don’t always tell you what you need to know,” Michaels said, adding, “In the end, we can tell if we’re succeeding by what jobs hit the production floor. When we market our capabilities well, you can hear it: The machines are running, and the shop is abuzz with activity.”
Greer looks upstream to the pipeline to gauge success. “The level of business coming in is the leading indicator of what’s to come,” he said. To closely monitor the sales process, DSM Color uses CRM software and recently hired a vice president of Sales and Marketing.
Like every year, 2023 will bring challenges and opportunities. Challenges relate primarily to turnaround time, supply chain issues and rising costs, particularly for paper. “We used to buy paper a la carte for each project,” Schuster said. “Now, we are stocking up when we can so we have stock on hand. Where customers used to be dead set on a brand and type of paper, they now definitely need to look at alternatives.”
Another huge challenge is teaching customers how to set up and work with files for embellishment processes. “A good design workflow and prepress workflow are essential,” Greer said. But, a lot of designers are not familiar with what is needed and not all design programs provide sufficient support.
Opportunities rely largely on diversification and communication. “The world changes so quickly, we’ve learned not to put too many eggs in one basket,” Michaels said. Cappiello agreed, noting DataGraphic is looking beyond current customers to new markets as well as for new customers in existing markets.
DMS Color is taking a similar tack and expanding its web-to-print process shop site by developing a web interface for packaging. The web-to-pack site will present 100 different packaging options for the cannabis/CBD markets. To complement its digital foil equipment, it also has installed a traditional machine for higher volume jobs.
To foster communication, Phillips Graphic Finishing plans to do more email marketing in 2023. Hoffman explained, “The more you communicate with customers, the more they understand your capabilities. People get distracted and forget. Using LinkedIn and the e-newsletter to promote name recognition and keep our capabilities fresh in people’s minds helps attract business.”


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By Janet Jacobs
Corsicana Daily Sun
The spring tax break doesn’t get as much fanfare as the fall back-to-school sales tax holiday, but it can be the better bargain.
This weekend, from Saturday through Monday night, people buying energy efficient appliances and air conditioners don’t have to pay the additional 8.25 percent sales tax. For an air conditioner priced at $1,000, that’s a savings of just over $80.
Basically, it includes energy efficient air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less; refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less; ceiling fans; fluorescent light bulbs; dishwashers; dehumidifiers; and clothes washers. Clothes dryers aren’t included, because they’re not Energy Star certified.
Energy Star is a certification system that helps consumers know when an appliance is energy efficient.
The state’s comptroller has compiled a list of purchases included in the tax holiday online at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx96_1331/.
Sears in Corsicana will have a Memorial Day sale that coincides with the sales tax holiday, which works out well for customers, according to Ronnie Guillory, manager.
“The Memorial dales are going to be busier than normal (because of it),” Guillory said. “This is more like a special sale with the tax free on Energy Star appliances.”
Home Depot is also offering a 10 percent off sale and special financing, according to spokeswoman Margaret Watters, with Home Depot.
Area Wide Services is primarily an air conditioning service company, but they do sell replacement units, explained James Grigar, CEO. However, he doesn’t expect a big rush on a/c units.
A much better bargain is to get a high-efficiency unit and take advantage of a different kind of tax break, he advised.
“The higher efficiency, those do get a tax credit worth anywhere from $150 to $500, depending on the efficiency of the equipment,” Grigar said. “And we have some geothermal equipment that qualifies for a full 30 percent tax credit.”
The tax credit on geothermal is a federal tax credit, so it comes off the buyer’s income taxes, making it more valuable than a rebate, he said.
Janet Jacobs may be reached via email at firstname.lastname@example.org. Want to “sound off” to this article? Email: Soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com


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Manipur: Huge cache of contraband items seized in Chandel
The Assam Rifles, on March 24, foiled a major smuggling attempt in Manipur's Chandel district.
Acting on a tip-off, the troops carried out an operation and recovered a vast quantity of smuggled goods including poppy seeds, furniture made of Burmese teak, betel nut and Chinese cigarettes in five pickup trucks.
The smuggled items were estimated to be valued at Rs 4.01 crore.
The security forces also apprehended 11 smugglers.
The smugglers along with the items were handed over to Chandel Police Station for further legal action.
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)


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Do You Want to Be On 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'?
Casting is now open for individuals and families interested in appearing in the new incarnation of the iconic home-makeover series — to begin airing on HGTV in 2020.
With the return of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, we're looking for deserving people who are on a quest for their perfect home. The new update on the classic series is in search of those who, in particular, have given back to their community in a substantive way despite personal challenges, who have an inspirational, uplifting story to tell — and who would love to move into a beautiful new place to live – custom created for them by a team of design experts.
In a new twist, the revived series is expanding its search for participants beyond current homeowners looking to remodel their home — and is encouraging renters and people interested in relocation to apply.
If this sounds like you, or someone you'd like to nominate, go to www.emhe.tv for information on how to apply.


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Fareva to purchase Pfizer plant in Henrico
Company plans to invest $42M, bring 90 new jobs to county
Fareva, a privately-held international contract manufacturing firm that operates in four business segments—homecare and industrial, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food, will acquire and invest $42 million in Pfizer’s consumer products manufacturing site on Darbytown Road in Eastern Henrico County, state and local officials announced this morning. Fareva will continue to operate the facility, which manufactures and packages brand-name products such as Advil, Chapstick and Robitussin.
Pfizer and Fareva also have reached a manufacturing and supply agreement that will enable the plant to continue production of Pfizer consumer products for the global marketplace. All of the nearly 500 Pfizer colleagues that are employed at the site will transfer to Fareva, and an additional 90 positions will be added.
“Fareva’s acquisition of the Pfizer plant and retention of approximately 500 jobs is tremendous for Henrico County and the Commonwealth," Gov. Bob McDonnell said. "This project is also significant because well-known Pfizer products will continue to be manufactured at the facility as Fareva expands into the North American market with its first U.S. site.”
“We are thrilled that Pfizer and Fareva were able to strike this agreement and both retain and expand the Henrico County manufacturing plant,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “I look forward to the inevitable growth of this partnership that builds on Pfizer’s brand success while opening Fareva to the U.S market.”
Headquartered in Luxembourg, Fareva employs 5,500 colleagues and reported $1.2 billion in revenues in 2010. The company operates 28 manufacturing facilities in Europe and emerging markets.
Speaking about the pending acquisition, Fareva’s Chief Executive Officer Bernard Fraisse stated, “We have been looking for the right opportunity to expand our manufacturing footprint into North America and establish our pharmaceutical and cosmetics businesses in the United States. The Henrico County site has a talented and motivated workforce and state-of-the-art manufacturing, packaging and warehousing facilities that are a perfect fit for growing our commercial portfolio in this region.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Henrico County to secure the project for Virginia. McDonnell approved a $650,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henrico County with the project. McDonnell also approved an $800,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment, training and retraining activities.
“Henrico County is very pleased to welcome another international company to our community,” said Frank Thornton, chairman of Henrico County Board of Supervisors. “We are grateful to Fareva for acquiring this plant and saving important jobs, and we look forward to partnering with the company as they add additional jobs and investment. Their plan to diversify the plant’s product mix by adding cosmetics is a real plus.”
The 10th Annual Filipino Festival will be held Aug. 7-8 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 8200 Woodman Rd., beginning with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. Friday and continuing with live entertainment, food and exhibits until 10 p.m. On Saturday the festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a full schedule of performances featuring traditional Filipino dance, music and song.
Filipino cuisine, including BBQ, pansit, lumpia, adobo, halo-halo, lechon, empanada and leche flan, will be available for purchase. The festival will also feature a children's area, church tours, exhibits, and health screenings. > Read more.
The Children’s Museum of Richmond last week opened its new Short Pump location at Short Pump Town Center, to the delight of children who attended a sneak preview of the location July 10. The new facility, located under the forthcoming LL Bean store (formerly the food court) is 8,500 square feet in size – much larger than CMoR’s former Short Pump location at West Broad Village, which opened in 2010. The new space includes The CarMax Foundation Service Station, the Silver Diner, a grocery store, a performance stage and an art studio, as well as a giant Light Bright Wall. > Read more.
The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Henrico Police are both presenting community events tomorrow, Aug. 1. The Feria Community Resource Fair at Richmond International Raceway brings together community service providers, embassies/consulates from Latin American countries, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and corporations that impact the Latino community. The Division of Police’s Community Day will feature demonstrations and displays from police, fire, animal protection and sheriff’s office, as well as family activities, food, entertainment and more. Other events this weekend include wine, chess and theatre! For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.
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Increasing import safety is urgent need
Published 7:00 pm, Monday, November 5, 2007
Here are two new buzz words to keep track of Import Safety.
Who can keep track of all of the recalls issued in recent months? That alone probably could be a full-time job if it isnt already. And wed be shocked if the recalls come to a screeching halt anytime soon. But make no mistake, import safety is a serious issue one that will only grow in importance as the global economy continues to expand.
An advisory commission is expected to make recommendations to President Bush today about ways to improve import safety. The commission, created following recalls of toys, toothpaste and dog food, wants to give the FDA the power to implement mandatory recalls of items. That seems to be a good move, especially considering the number of times weve heard about recalled items still appearing on store shelves and being sold.
Among the dozens of recommendations the commission will put forth, is a call for increasing the number of inspectors to ensure the safety of imports entering our country. The commission also is looking to beef up legal options for those who knowingly violate recall orders.
Import safety is no small matter, especially since the number of imports are expected to continue increasing in coming years. Taking swift and thoughtful action to protect United States citizens is critical as we move ahead.


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GERMANY, Bonn. In Germany, the share of household spending on food in 2019 was below the EU-28 average.
As reported by the Federal Agricultural Information Center (BZL) in Bonn with reference to data from the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the share in question amounted to 9.6%, which was 1.4% points less than the Community average. Consumers in this country also benefited, among other things, from the fact that food prices were only slightly above the EU average and per capita income was well above the corresponding average.
Only in Austria, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK would households have spent proportionately less on food in 2019. On the other hand, the United Kingdom, which brings up the rear with a share of just 7.1%, contrasts with Romania, where 24.7% of household spending was spent on food. In the Netherlands, it was 10.4%, in Spain 11.5%, in France 11.9%, in Italy 13.1% and in Poland 14.9%, according to BZL.


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ATLANTA — Atlas Roofing Corporation’s production on a new state-of-the-art shingle laminating line at its Ardmore, Okla. facility is on track for completion in the fourth quarter of 2021.
“We are in the first phase of construction on the project, where we are constructing the laminator for our HP42 shingles and working on all of the electrical components for it,” said Rick Stevenson, manager of Atlas Roofing’s Ardmore plant. “The second phase will be completing the test runs, which we are on schedule to begin in late October. Materials should hit the market in the first quarter of next year.”
The Ardmore plant has been operating since 1960, and asphalt shingle production technology has come a long way since then. The new laminating line now allows for a significant increase in Atlas’ overall laminate shingle capacity and creates efficiencies throughout the facility to help increase overall throughput.
“The new line is a game changer for Atlas,” said Stanley Bastek, vice president of sales and marketing for Atlas’ Shingles and Underlayments Division. “We are especially excited to be able to expand our Pinnacle Pristine line of Scotchgard Protector products. We are also anxious to explore opportunities for new product innovations at the Ardmore plant.”
The increased capacity in the Ardmore facility is a significant contribution to the manufacturer’s family of products, including its designer shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector. The new capacity in laminate shingles will allow Atlas to better serve customers across the country. Atlas will provide additional updates as the project progresses.


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Now you can lease the latest smartphone
But it won't be cheap
LOS ANGELES — For years, flip phones, stick phones and lower-end smartphones — but not iPhones and other top-of-the-line models — were Gary Fuentes’s best-sellers.
His family’s La Fiesta Wireless prepaid-phone shop in El Monte tried selling pricey models such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, which came out in 2012 and retailed for more than $400. But the shop’s working-class customers weren’t interested.
“We would probably stock no more than five or 10 of the expensive phones,” he said. “Customers were focused more on the $100 phones, the $150 phones.”
The highest-end smartphones haven’t gotten cheaper — if anything they are more expensive — but Fuentes is now seeing many more customers willing to shell out for the latest iPhones and Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S7. They’re just not doing so all at once.
A growing number of prepaid phone users are financing their phones, choosing rent-to-own plans that enable them to pay over several months or a year. That’s relatively new in the prepaid market, where customers have generally bought phones outright and where inexpensive phones still dominate.
Big-name phone carriers such as Verizon and AT&T will sell customers a phone and let them pay for it over a few years, usually without any interest or markup over the retail price. Such deals, though, are available only to customers with decent credit who sign up for a standard monthly service plan.
But these new payment plans, aimed at customers with bad credit or no credit, come at a cost. Spreading out payments can mean paying more than $1,500 over the course of a year for an iPhone 6 Plus that retails for $750.
Though the plans technically aren’t loans, payments at leasing companies with pricier terms can be the equivalent of borrowing at interest rates topping 200 percent.
“Some customers come back and say they did the math and realized this was kind of expensive. They realize they could have bought two phones for that,” Fuentes said.
As the plans are structured as leases, customers can return the phones — typically after a minimum rental period of a few months — and be off the hook for the remaining payments. Still, consumer advocates warn that these plans, similar to rent-to-own arrangements used to buy furniture and appliances, encourage customers to get things they really can’t afford.
“Is it a good idea for consumers to get a phone when they end up paying 100 percent interest for it? I wouldn’t do it,” said Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director at U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “Rent-to-own companies make the promise of the American dream — that you can own anything — but the price is high.”
Most prepaid customers — about 86 percent — now have smartphones, according to research company NPD Group.
But the vast majority of those phones are models that cost $150 or less, according to consulting firm IDC Research. That includes lower-priced phones from LG, Samsung, ZTE, Huawei and Kyocera.


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Becoming “customer obsessed” and adhering to three key value-points is essential to succeed in marketplaces, an Amazon executive told the New Retail 19 conference.
With the growth of e-commerce, retailers are under increasing pressure to provide customers with an unparalleled customer experience, Fabio Bertola, head of seller services at Amazon Web Services told the audience on Monday.
Marketplaces give retailers an opportunity to provide this seamless service at various touchpoints while creating a new revenue stream and growing retailers’ customer base.
Retailers can access customers at multiple times during their shopping journey through marketplaces, Mr Bertola said, without the need for costly upfront investment in web infrastructure or fulfilment.
For a successful marketplace strategy, it is essential that retailers become “customer obsessed” and connect with customers at every part of their journey.
This means “always trying to invent something on behalf of the customer,” he said.
Providing selection, value and convenience are the main factors for retailers and brands to succeed on marketplaces – says Fabio Bertola from @AmazonAustralia #Amazon #NewRetail19 @channeladvisor @AkoladeRetail pic.twitter.com/mhYeI4nyB6
— Helen V. de Souza (@helensvds) February 24, 2019
Three pillars to success
Amazon measures its success according to three key pillars of success and it is these three pillars that retailers should use to steer their success in marketplaces, according to Mr Bertola.
Having a broad selection of items with competitive value and which can be conveniently delivered is essential to succeed in marketplaces, he said.
The first key determinant of success, selection, is two-pronged, Mr Bertola argued.
Firstly, retailers must ensure they have a broad selection of products, he said.
“There is a direct correlation between the number of products you sell and how successful you are,” he said.
Secondly, retailers need to ensure that this selection of products is high quality. But this also means ensuring that the product data that is on the marketplace is also good quality.
Customers are hungry for high-value products, and ensuring value is essential to success on marketplaces.
This means ensuring that value is consistent across all channels that you are selling products on, he said.
“Consistency in value is the most important thing you can do in making sure you maintain customer trust.”
Maintaining high standards of convenience is the third pillar to success in marketplaces, Mr Bertola said.
Everyday, customers want a faster fulfilment experience, and retailers need to be keeping up with this expectation, he said.
This means ensuring fast delivery, and full oversight of the delivery process, he said.
Retailers who focus on these three key pillars in their marketplace strategy are those who succeed, according to Mr Bertola.


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August 24, 2016
Report: Apple Takes Bite Out of NFC
Dec. 10, 2012
Based mainly on the fact that Apple did not include support for NFC in its iPhone 5, a U.K.-based research firm has scaled back its estimate of mobile payments growth in the near and medium term. Juniper Research said it expects the value of NFC retail transactions to grow to $110 billion by 2017 rather than $180 billion, which the company forecast in an earlier report. Researchers feel Apple’s decision will negatively affect retailer confidence in the technology, entrenching their reluctance to invest in POS upgrades and delaying widespread NFC adoption in North American and Western Europe for an additional two years.
“While many vendors have introduced NFC-enabled smartphones, Apple’s decision is a significant blow for the technology, particularly given its previous successes in educating the wider public about new mobile services,” said Dr. Windsor Holden, research director of Juniper Research and author of NFC Mobile Payments Market Update. “Without their support, it will be even more difficult to persuade consumers—and retailers—to embrace what amounts to a wholly new means of payment.”
Whereas NFC adoption in the western hemisphere remains in question, the report said forecasts regarding retail transactions using the technology in Japan and Korea, where NFC has already gained a foothold, remain unchanged.


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With rapid rate of evolution within technology, why are we still using passwords? The answer lies in the simple, positive attributes of passwords that are not found in other authentication methods: affordable, easy to replace, universally compatibility, privacy safe and no false positive. This closer look highlights the gaps in other methods that will make it hard to get past the password.
Hackers are actively targeting those 3rd party sellers using stolen and compromised credentials (a password and user name combo) to gain access to the seller’s accounts, costing them tens of thousands of dollars.
Back in August, a hacker named peace_of_mind claimed to be selling a database containing credentials for 200 million Yahoo accounts.
At the time Yahoo indicated they were investigating the matter, but could not confirm.
Today, Yahoo confirmed that 500 million accounts were compromised in what we believe is the largest known data breach in history.


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Food predictions are wonderful forays into what our palates “might crave for” during the year. Much like flavors of the month, food predictions may or may not actualize into being or come into fruition, as we can say. So it is really up to us to see if the food predictions for the year 2010 happened.
Home-Style Cooking Will Be In
Comfort food became number one in each food fanatics’ list. Southern food, family dinners, anything that would do away with the formal set up of curries Indian restaurant became a thing of the past, and they said that home style cooking would be in.
As the year 2009 attested, consumers and food suppliers alike became more aware of the foodstuff people will be taking in. People became more aware of their health and especially gave importance to their food source. This could by why there is an advent of the do-it-yourself food preparation, heritage breeding, roof gardening, and organic farming that might very well define the consciousness of the year 2010.
As obesity and other illnesses related to food steadily escalate, so will the consumers’ need for healthier foodstuff erupt this year 2010. The First Lady Obama joined in the bandwagon of promoting healthier food especially focused on the youngsters, and this might very well channel the government’s attention towards what the people are taking in. Legislations on improving our health and health programs focused on eradicating health illnesses came into fruition this year.
This may also give rise to campaigns for better food monitoring from the consumers. The FDA took great leaps to overcoming the lags it had before when it comes to food monitoring. The year 2010 showed a promise of bringing the food industry to attention in implementing acts directed towards food safety and cleanliness.
Food Trucks are In
As street foods become quite the range, 2010 also shows promise of bringing in the food trucks that will culminate into cheap and delicious chows. Street foods such as the Korean tacos, the tamales and other culture-based cuisines might reach dizzying heights during this year. More and more people might very well support the “anti-formal” and “anti-expensive” movement of the food industry. The rising cost of our living alone can attest to the fact that people might turn to simple yet delicious and sumptuous dishes that are served in styros and cups than on dinnerware more expensive than the food itself.
Food Going Online
The net, and especially social networking, opened up a lot for the food industry as well. The year 2010’s food forecast showed online food delivery, online reservations, and online restaurant advertising to rise up to the challenge of our times. What better way to get what your palate is craving for with just a few clicks of your fingers?
Indeed, the year 2010 revolutionized the food industry in seemingly small ways but with bigger impacts than ever. Not only will food become more tempting, interesting, and accessible, but it will also be safer and healthier than before.
These were just some of the food forecasts that were received for the year 2010.
Now, the big question is…did it happen?


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Originally printed in the June 2018 issue of Produce Business.
Surrounded by agriculture, Indianapolis is longtime adaptor of farm-to-table.
Indianapolis should be at the top of any list of the Midwest’s finest produce cities. Its central location means it’s a key transportation hub. Local consumers are excited to purchase fresh, healthy food, which means plenty of trips to produce departments at both national grocery chains and small, locally owned markets. An exploding restaurant scene is drawing tourists and giving visitors to the country’s No. 1 convention city plenty of good places to eat when they’re in town. Though challenges do exist, local wholesalers, retailers and foodservice professionals see bushels of opportunity in America’s heartland.
Indy At A Glance
Indianapolis is home to approximately 843,000 people, making it the 12th largest city in the United States. The metropolitan area is made up of 10 counties and has a population of closer to two million, which means it is the 23rd largest metropolitan region in the country.
Major industries in Indianapolis include insurance and financial services, tourism and hospitality, health care and medical equipment manufacturing, and other types of manufacturing. The median hourly wage is $17.68, and the mean wage is $23.09. The unemployment rate is 3.4 percent, which is lower than the state average of 3.7 percent and the national average of 3.9 percent.
Agriculture is also a big employer. The sector provides jobs for more than 400,000 people every year. Soybeans, grain corn, wheat and hay are the main crops grown in Indiana. There are several large hog operations, as well as a significant number of beef and dairy cows. The state’s farms also produce numerous fresh fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes are the most sizable crop, but farmers also grow melons, pumpkins, sweet corn and snap beans in large quantities.
Indiana earned the nickname “Crossroads of America” because it has access to a number of important transportation resources. More interstate highways cross Indiana than any other state in the country, and six major interstates run through or near Indianapolis. The city has the sixth-largest cargo airport and is fourth in total freight railways. Five major carriers, including CSX and Norfolk Southern, serve the community.
In terms of the grocery market, Kroger (including Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Pay Less Supermarket and Jay C Food Stores) has the largest market share with 31.4 percent, according to Tampa, FL-based Chain Store Guide. Walmart Supercenter and Walmart Neighborhood Market hold the second spot with 21 percent. Meijer and Marsh Supermarkets (which operate under the banners Marsh Hometown Market and O’Malia Food Markets) both have 10 percent of market share. Costco, Sam’s Club, Target-branded stores and Aldi are smaller players.
Local residents exhibit a growing interest in healthy, locally grown produce. The community has dozens of farmers’ markets, including the year-round Indianapolis City Market in downtown. Its first Whole Foods recently opened in the downtown core.
“The demand for fresh food has created an expansion of retailers in Indianapolis,” says Rocky Ray, vice president of Ray & Mascari Inc., a fourth-generation, family-owned company that specializes in tomato repacking. “Our city is a hotbed of competition, with all of the major retailers, as well as many independent markets, focusing on fresh produce. We have seen this excitement spill over into our restaurant scene.”
“It’s a fun time to be a foodie in Indianapolis,” says Morgan Snyder, director of public relations for Visit Indy, the local tourism and promotion board. “Twenty-eight million people are coming into Indianapolis annually to visit. Of the $5.2 billion in visitor spending, 26 percent is on food and beverage, which has become the highest spending in any category in visitor spending. Sixty-four percent of downtown restaurants are owned locally.”
Greg Corsaro, chief executive of IF&P Foods, a holding company that owns several of the city’s largest wholesale produce companies such as Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce, confirms the city’s restaurant scene is thriving. He has a business partner who lives in Washington DC who visits on a regular basis. “He told me he’d come to eat at our restaurants before Chicago or New York,” he says. “There are national name-brand high-end restaurants, casual dining restaurants, and our independent group of restaurants right now is second-to-none.”
“We’ve forever been known as a meat-centric city, but there has been a shift in people appreciating the local produce and farms,” says Snyder. “We always say as a city we’re kicking ourselves for not coining the term farm-to-table because Indianapolis is a city that’s surrounded by agriculture, so we’ve been doing this for decades. It’s in our blood. It’s a Hoosier way of life.”
The produce wholesale business in Indianapolis is fairly concentrated. IF&P Foods’ Indianapolis Fruit was founded in the mid-1940s at the Indianapolis Produce Terminal and works mainly with retailers. The company carries a full line of produce and non-produce items and prides itself on providing merchandising support to all customers that request it.
IF&P Foods also owns Circle City Produce and Papania Produce, which focus on the foodservice industry as does Piazza Produce. In addition, the company has a fresh-cut processing business called Garden Cut and a tomato-repacking arm called Tomatoland’s Best.
According to Corsaro, IF&P Foods sold the majority of its ownership interest to Rotunda Capital Partners, a private equity firm, in 2017. “They left the management structure in place and let us continue operating, so they’re a source of capital and business expertise in the distribution space. They’ve been able to give us advice on servicing our customers better,” he says.
Indianapolis Fruit’s distribution area covers more than 14 states and stretches from Minnesota to the southeastern United States. Its main Indianapolis warehouse is approximately 100,000 square feet. Between Indianapolis Fruit and facilities in other areas, the company has close to 250,000 square feet of warehouse space.
“We continue to enhance our warehouse technology,” says Corsaro. “We now have remote mobile ordering capabilities for customers at all our facilities. We’ve really built up our technology base, and going forward one of our primary focuses is an enhanced digital strategy. I want it to be easy to do business with us.”
This is a great time to be involved in the produce industry, says Corsaro. “Everything now is focused on fresh, local, unique and healthy, and produce and produce-related items really fit in that space.”
Indianapolis Fruit sources local produce whenever possible because there’s so much demand for it. However, that isn’t always an easy proposition. “It’s getting better as we move through time, but sometimes your local growers are not fully up to speed with good growing practices, so from a food safety perspective they don’t dot all their I’s and cross all their T’s,” says Corsaro. “We’ve been able to help some of them get GAP-certified to help with that.” Besides buying from local farmers, 33 percent of the produce the company sells is organic.
Bob Kirch, executive vice president of SpartanNash and president of Indianapolis-based Caito Foods, also sees strong interest in local and organic produce. Caito Foods started in Indianapolis more than 50 years ago as a distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables. It since has expanded to offer fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, meal replacements, floral items and complementary items such as juices, snacks and nuts.
SpartanNash acquired the company in 2017. Also located in the Indianapolis area is BRT, which is part of SpartanNash’s managed freight business. It specializes in dry and refrigerated freight services for produce and perishable goods.
“The interest and consumer support for both organics and locally grown fruits and vegetables continue to grow significantly, though the interest for local foods seems to be growing at a higher rate,” says Kirch. He attributes that largely to the growth of Millennial and Gen Z shoppers. “The affinity for both organics and locally grown/produced fruits and vegetables comes down to a concern for our planet, for the sustainability of smaller farmers and an appetite for freshness.
“We are learning consumers want to ‘know the story’ of the growers and producers they patronize,” he adds. “They expect those companies to treat the earth with respect, as well as treat their associates and customers with respect. … We’re becoming aware food is more than sustenance; it is reflective of our social tapestry. The decision of ‘what’s for dinner’ has evolved into a decision about environment, sustainability and transparency.”
Ray & Mascari is another player in the Indianapolis wholesale market. The company operates from a 70,000 square foot facility in downtown Indianapolis, as well as a repacking facility in Lakeland, FL.
Rocky Ray thinks there’s a place for small, family-owned companies like his. “We have state-of-the-art grading and washing equipment that still enables us to pack all of our tomatoes by hand,” he says. “We think this sets us apart from our competition, as our tomatoes are handled gently, which improves the quality and shelf life of our fruit.”
Ray cites competition within the local produce industry as a major problem, as does Corsaro, who says recruiting good employees is his second-biggest worry. “It’s hard to find labor, whether it’s warehouse labor or distribution labor. It’s a cold environment and you’re working at night, and no one wants to do that.”
Transportation is another challenge facing Indianapolis companies. “It will be interesting to see what happens with the new electronic log initiatives,” says Ray. “Although we do very little LTL shipments, I think this will impact those that are dependent on them.”
A challenge that’s also an opportunity is keeping up with the ever-changing demands of consumers. “Indianapolis is truly the ‘Crossroads of America,’ not only from an infrastructure standpoint, but also culturally and ethnically,” says Kirch. “Simply put, we have a diverse population that reflects consumer needs for a wide variety of products. … As the American culture continues to be that melting pot of diversity, the culinary world reflects that. To grow as a supplier, whether distributor or merchant of fresh foods, is to be constantly aware of the changes coming our way.”
In Caito’s early years, its product offerings totaled around 100 item options. It’s now many times that number. “Much of that is reflective of consumers who have redefined eating occasions to include healthy snacking and on-the-go eating,” says Kirch.
As the way people eat changes, produce wholesalers and retailers must adapt. “We are seeing more pre-prepared and grab-and-go items ruling the retail shelves,” says Ray. “Convenience, coupled with the ability to eat healthy, is just what today’s consumers demand.” Companies that can meet these demands have even more opportunities to be successful.


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Travelling to more destinations across India from Dubai has just got a whole lot easier as passengers can now book one single ticket, instead of booking two separate tickets, to destinations that do not have direct flight links from Dubai.
Dubai based Emirates has signed a codeshare and interline agreement with India based SpiceJet to give travellers to and from India seamless access to a wider route network.
From early 2020, customers travelling to India can take advantage of flight options on routes common to both airlines, inlcuding Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Cochin and Delhi. Emirates’ customers can conveniently book and connect seamlessly in Dubai on direct services to Amritsar, Calicut, Mangalore, Madurai, Jaipur and Pune, the routes served by SpiceJet.
The codeshare agreement means travellers from across the globe can book a single ticket to any of Emirates’ nine destinations across India and connect onwards to 172 domestic routes that are part of SpiceJet’s network. SpiceJet’s domestic network includes popular destinations like Goa, Dehradun, Dharamshala, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Guwahati, Pondicherry, Port Blair, Shirdi, Tirupati, Udaipur and Varanasi.
In this first phase of the interline agreement, customers can start booking flights from now for journeys planned from 15 December 2019.


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The US-style diner experience was a great idea that had never reached its full potential,” Guy suggests. But now were the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the UK. And were opening ten sites this year alone.
It seems that the secret formula is having an unchanging brand.
“We did some customer research in 2012 and found that our number one selling hamburger was the bacon cheeseburger,” said Guy. Our Soho general manager, who has been with the company for 18 years, said, ‘Thats funny, that was the number one when I joined the company .
“We added a barbecue pulled pork burger last year because everyone wanted pulled pork, but that was the only thing we ever changed in the menu.
Other brands have destroyed themselves by having radical menu changes that were supposed to revitalise the business but actually did the reverse. We may introduce specials for short periods but how can you make a fad out of something when you’re a restaurant thats pretending to be 50 years old Were not evolving.
“We dont even send out that many offers. But people can answer questions about Fifties music and win a meal.
Don’t believe that this trick could work In 2013, Ed’s doubled doubled their turnover to 17.6m and are set to hit 26m this year.
All financial data for the Hot 100 was provided by Jordans.


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Investors placing capital in earlier and earlier tech deals has been a historical trend for the last few years, but this strategy was generally reserved for the traditional, “high-growth” VC arena. VCs needed to snag earlier ad earlier deals, otherwise they would be diluted at a later stage. But with startups coming up with models that can book revenues faster, they have increasingly less need for the VC deal, which typically leaves founders with less control and less equity than the newly ensconced VC on their board. That said, capital at this early stage for “growth-based” startups was often hard to come by. Thus, the “early growth fund” has been invented to address this issue.
Now, the latest arrival in this arena is Balderton, one of the Europe’s top VC funds, with may unicorns under its belt.
Balderton has now launched a $680 million “early growth” fund to invest in high-potential tech companies, targeting around 15 companies at the early-growth stage (sector agnostic).
It plans to invest between $25 million and $50 million per company through both primary and secondary investments. The fund will be lead by Bernard Liautaud, David Thévenon and Rana Yared.
Since its founding in 2000, Balderton has raised $4 billion to invest in European startups and backed more than 230 companies, primarily at the Series A stage. Its investments include Depop, GoCardless, Infarm, Revolut, THG, Vestiaire Collective and Zego. The firm’s “Liquidity I” portfolio also includes Darktrace, Flywire, Graphcore and Truecaller.
Bernard Liautaud, managing partner said: “I’ve been an investor at Balderton since 2008, and it has been incredible to see the increasing number of ambitious European founders, and to be able to support them financially through those critical first three to five years with our early-stage funds. With this Growth Fund, we can now support them as they scale to become global industry leaders. We predict a $50 billion growth opportunity in Europe in the next three years alone, and we want to be the first choice for those ambitious founders.”
Rana Yared, general partner, added: “Our approach for this fund will be ‘one of few’. This means personalised attention from the entire partnership, plus access to Balderton’s leading platform team. We’re looking for 15 or so really exceptional companies that have the potential to be sector leaders and disrupt global industries.”


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Over 20,000 PETA Supporters Called For McPlant – Now, It’s Finally Here
Over 20,000 PETA supporters urged McDonald’s to release a vegan burger, and our call has finally been answered.
Great News! No Animals Killed in 2021 Cobra Gold Exercise
It’s been confirmed: no animals were killed in survival drills in this year’s Cobra Gold exercise in Thailand.
Good News! Irish Stores Arnotts and Brown Thomas Ban Exotic Skins
No kind shopper today would dream of wearing a snake’s skin or a fox’s fur.
Club Med Says ‘Au Revoir’ to Cruel Attractions Like SeaWorld
Club Med, the French travel provider, will stop promoting cruel attractions like SeaWorld, elephant rides, and much more after hearing from PETA France.
Great News for Rabbits! Valentino Bans Angora After Talks With PETA
After talks with PETA, Valentino has confirmed it won’t use angora in the future, starting with its 2022 autumn/winter collection.
Global Progress Made as Skin Allergy Tests Go Animal-Free
A new, compassionate testing method is set to shift skin allergy tests away from using animals.
Great News! Carolina Herrera, Paco Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Nina Ricci, and Dries Van Noten Ditch Exotic Skins
We applaud this compassionate decision and encourage other brands to follow their example.
Victory! Doncaster Council Rejects Pig Farm
PETA is celebrating Doncaster Council’s decision to reject a planning application that, if approved, would have seen almost 3,000 pigs a year sent to slaughter.
History in the Making! European Commission Commits to Banning Cages for Animals on Farms
The European Commission has announced a historic decision to “End the Cage Age” for over 300 million hens, mother pigs, calves, rabbits, ducks, and geese.
MASSIVE NEWS! Canada Goose Is Dropping Fur After Years of Pressure From Animal Rights Activists
Canada Goose has announced it will stop buying fur by the end of 2021 and stop producing items containing by the end of 2022.
Rosita Celentano and PETA to Milan Fashion Week: Get Fur off the Catwalk
Here’s What PETA Gave Lucy Watson and James Dunmore for Their Wedding!
PETA Makes a Splash in Bristol With Drowning Rat Billboard
London Fashion Week – Chloe Ross ‘Dies’ for a ‘Snakeskin’ Bag
Historic Moment for Animals! EU Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly In Favour of Plan to End Cruel Experiments
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Shimla: Disruptive e-Commerce platforms bringing the merchandize right into your office or home by shopping with a click of mouse on online stores has physical retailers in this hill town up in arms, demanding state intervention to protect their business and booking the e-Merchants for evading taxes.
The Shimla Information Technology Dealers Association (SITDA) across the city shut down their computer and computer related hardware stores and shops for the entire day in protest against e-Commerce outlets eating into their business.
Jayant Upadhyay, president SITDA asked for regulation and imposition of taxes of online shopping. “Online stores are evading taxes, harming the state exchequer and are also causing heavy revenue losses to physical retailers,” he said.
Online markets was a form of ‘black marketing’ as they paid not taxes to the government but were luring people with very low prices or very lucrative offers. These virtual stores provided no product guarantees, which was a violation of consumer protection laws, he added.
The association has appealed to Himachal Pradesh chief minister to frame a suitable policy, regulate online shopping and impose taxes on the sales conducted by them.
“After seeing revenue loss it was causing to the state exchequer, Kerala has banned online shopping,” claimed Upadhyay. “If Kerala can ban it, why not Himachal,” he said.
Another trader body, last month, had demanded that the government impose taxes and regulate online shopping.
“We pay taxes ranging from 5 to 13.75% on various products but the online shoppers conveniently pay nothing,” says Inderjeet Singh president of the other traders organization
The reputed shopping arcade The Mall, which has many shops of many reputed brands, has reported a drop in sales and a lot of the shop owners blame online shopping hitting them hard.


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UK: Dairy Crest eyes formula with Fonterra, Fayrefield Foods
Fayrefield FD John Beech, Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings and Dairy Crest CEO Mark Allen
Dairy Crest's deal with Fonterra will see the New Zealand dairy giant sell the demineralised whey powder made at the UK firm's site in Davidstow in Cornwall.
The company is also spending GBP20m at Davidstow to produce galacto-oligosaccharide, a lactose-based prebiotic used in infant formula. UK-based dairy firm Fayrefield Foods will supply an enzyme used in the ingredient and "other intellectual property". Fonterra will provide the lactose and market the prebiotic.
Commercial production of the whey powder is expected to begin "early" in Dairy Crest's 2015/16 financial year. Dairy Crest will start manufacturing the galacto-oligosaccharide later that year.
Mark Allen, Dairy Crest's chief executive, said the deals gave the owner of UK brands including Frijj milkshake and Country Life butter "exposure to global growth opportunities".
"Demineralised whey powder and GOS form an important part of Dairy Crest’s strategy to grow added value sales," he said.
- General Mills sales woes continue - analysis
- Why personalisation will take-off in US food
- Comment: Meal kits in US - don't believe the hype
- US food next wave on display at Winter Fancy Food
- Column: Kraft Heinz, Unilever and sustainability
- Unilever 'lining up spreads sale'
- UK own-label firm Park Cakes sold in MBO
- Kraft Heinz cuts jobs in US, Canada
- Immigration crackdown "risk" for US dairy industry
- BRF plant suspended amid bribery allegations


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Cox Automotive has announced the rollout of a solution that will help fleets sell their used EVs to buyers with confidence. It will measure the EV battery health for each specific vehicle VIN across Manheim Auctions, as well as expanding its LotVision system of reporting for battery health.
The VIN-specific solution, developed by Cox Automotive’s EV Battery Solutions team, uses Manheim’s LotVision technology to quickly assess the battery in each unique vehicle and automatically transmit in-depth battery health information to condition reports (CRs) and vehicle detail pages (VDPs) on Manheim websites.
Created in partnership with Cox2M, the commercial IoT business line within Cox Communications, LotVision is a wireless tracking device placed in a vehicle that helps dealers, transporters and team members accurately locate vehicles on Manheim lots to within 10 feet.
Cox Automotive’s decade-long history of assessing EV battery state of health has shown that while most used EV batteries are relatively healthy, the outliers tend to be significantly degraded, highlighting the importance of measuring each individual vehicle.
“EV battery health scores that are based on make/model averages are just that…average,” said Cox Automotive President, Steve Rowley.
“That’s why we continue to invest in innovations that help our clients make important decisions affecting their businesses.”
Cox Automotive believes that VIN-specific battery state of health will set a new standard across the used vehicle market and the firm plans to position itself as a leader in EV battery health with its solutions.
“At Manheim, we have more experience than anyone in driving confidence in the wholesale marketplace—and one thing we know for sure is that nobody likes surprises,” said Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions President, Grace Huang.
“With this innovative new use of LotVision, we’re giving clients exactly what they need: the most detailed information possible on each individual EV so they can make informed buying and selling decisions.
“Ultimately, transparency drives confidence in the wholesale marketplace, and that’s why we have been—and will continue to be—committed to giving our clients VIN-specific battery health information.”


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Yahoo and World Wide Web Foundation also buy wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.com to ce...
The dark and anonymous underbelly of the internet iceberg.
The cost of a ticket is $250,000 with commercial flights scheduled to start in 2014
Verizon has recently acquired Intel's OnCue service
Over 400 people ready to join the class action.
‘Flexcoin’ robbed of all virtual currency, while Poloniex lost 12.3% of assets.
The decision comes days after Mt Gox filed for bankruptcy.