text:
In what would potentially become the million-dollar move in India's consumer online delivery, food delivery company Zomato is considering in talks to buy SoftBank-backed online grocery startup Grofers. The demand for e-grofers has seen a spike in the past few weeks due to coronavirus lockdown in India.
According to Economic Times reports, Grofers is expected to be valued at around $750 million (around Rs 5,700 crore). Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, the largest shareholder in Grofers, may look to invest around $100-200 million in the merged entity through venture capital arm Vision Fund, reports added.
Recently, SoftBank also invested in Uber. In February, Uber sold its India food delivery business UberEats to Zomato.
The deal talks come soon after Zomato and Grofers announced a partnership to deliver essential items during the nationwide lockdown, which has now been extended to May 3. Zomato Market was launched around the country amid the lockdown.
The two Gurugram-based companies have been in talks for the past few weeks, a source told The Economic Times.
"Their pilot run across Delhi NCR seems to have clocked high order numbers to start with, further strengthening the ongoing negotiations," the source added.
"We have partnered with Grofers, along with FMCG companies, local grocery stores, and modern retail chains, to pilot our grocery delivery service. We are not aware of any other conversation with Grofers," a Zomato spokesperson told the newspaper.
One of the most valued startups in India, Zomato has a valuation of about $3.2 billion. Grofers, which counts the likes of Alibaba-backed BigBasket among its rivals, is valued at $650 million. Currently, Zomato and Swiggy have consolidated the Indian food delivery market.


text:
In addition to its uniquely innovative culture of providing premium brands and products, Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (OTCMKTS:SPRWF) has achieved another milestone. The Canadian licensed cannabis producer has broken the record of having secured distribution channels of six Canadian provinces. The impressive achievement will allow the company to sell adult-use recreational cannabis directly to consumers. It has also agreed to supply medical cannabis products to Tilray.
The agreement gives 7ACRES, a federally licensed producer of cannabis, a greater connection with the market. The company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Supreme Cannabis Company operates in Kincardine, Ontario inside a 342,000-square-foot facility.
Supreme Cannabis Company has set its standards for innovation in the industry
It is worth noting that the cannabis industry is one of those that are experiencing rapid growth and expansion. There has been enormous investment from a number of investors seeking to be part of the market. Continued legalization of the use of recreational cannabis has also played a significant role in the growing interest of the industry.
The Supreme Cannabis Company has set its standards. It has not only embraced a unique culture but it is also banking on innovation for operational excellence. The company has invested in the development of facilities that adhere to industry needs. It has also continued to grow its portfolio of its products, which proudly reflect the needs of its consumers. The growth also includes long-term global distribution arrangement with Lesotho-based Medigrow.
7ACRES’s recognition as the Brand of the Year 2018
Every year, the Canadian Cannabis Awards celebrate Canadian cannabis, people, companies, and products, which have made the industry proud. In the 2018 Canadian Cannabis Awards, 7ACRES stood out. The company’s recognition was as a result of its enormous efforts in creating a brand, strategy, culture, and image, which are in line with the public consciousness.
Speaking during the 5th Annual Canadian Cannabis Awards ceremony, the Founder of Supreme Cannabis, John Fowler stated, “Since our founding, our organization has been dedicated to ensuring the highest quality product and innovation, developing an industry-leading team, and incredible corporate culture.”

domain: news


text:
Thursday, October 15th 2020, 5:41 pm
By: Sawyer Buccy
MCALESTER, Okla. –
A McAlester business has been caring for families hit hard by the pandemic with a cash free grocery store.
Mike’s Club is a consignment store but has created a special area for anyone who needs baby food, diapers or groceries to stop by and grab what they need for free.
There are some people who see a need and immediately work to fill it. These are people who help when helping wasn’t part of the plan.
“People are donating so fast that we are having to add more shelves,”
Michael Brown is one of those people, a helper.
“I have spent my life in the military. I am retired Air Force. I spent most of my time overseas,” said Brown. “I know what poverty looks like.”
He owns Mike’s Club in McAlester.
“First and foremost we are a consignment store,” Brown said. “We have clothing, furniture, Knick knacks, hardware, pretty much everything you might need.”
There is a little bit of everything. Brown also does little things that make big differences for people struggling financially. He charges $5 and people can fill a grocery bag with clothes. He has a membership club where people can pay $10 a month to borrow yard tools and equipment.
“Instead of renting or buying, they simply come in and check things out. Think of it like a library,” said Brown.
He just started a corner of kindness.
“This is what we call a cashless grocery,” Brown said. “It is very, very small right now, you can see it is only a few racks.”
A place where families in need can come and pick up groceries, without being questioned.
“We have got a little bit of diapers, toilet paper, we are always in need of things like that,” said Brown.
He said when the pandemic started some of his customers took major hits- this is his way of doing what he can to help.
“Dignity is a part of what we are trying to include here you know?,” said Brown, “I don’t ask anyone to prove that they have need. If somebody comes in and says they need groceries, then they need groceries.”
Families can come by anytime the doors are open and drop off donations. Brown said the need for food in his community is there and the people of McAlester are stepping up to make sure others are provided for.
“Not everything has to be about raking in money,” said Brown. “It is really all about meeting people’s needs and doing it in a dignified way.”
You can visit Mike’s Club Facebook page here.


text:
Why Are Used Cars So Expensive Right Now 2022?
With record unemployment rates and financial uncertainty, more people are buying used cars instead of new ones. This way, they can save money and keep their old car until the economy starts to improve. But with fewer used cars available on the market, prices are skyrocketing. Because the supply is less than demand, prices are higher than they would otherwise be. That’s good news for buyers. The bad news for sellers is that more people are trying to buy used cars.
Why are used cars so expensive? – Expensive Used Cars
The price of new vehicles continues to go up, and used cars are no exception. The last major recession slowed the sales of new vehicles, and used car prices increased at a rapid rate. A combination of the global chip shortage and increasing consumer demand has caused the used car market to boom. Here are a few reasons why. And if these factors don’t make sense to you, read on. Hopefully, this article will help you decide whether a used car is right for you.
Rising costs are another factor that drives up the price of used cars. The cost of raw materials and labor has gone up as well. Manufacturers are unable to keep up with demand and are forced to charge more to meet demand. Often, these cars are older models with lower gas mileage and poorer fuel economy. In addition, new technology is driving up the prices of all types of cars. Advanced driver assistance systems, which use strategically placed cameras and radar, cost more to produce.
New cars are becoming more sophisticated. Today’s vehicles are designed to be safer in collisions than cars built ten years ago. New cars have lighter, stronger frames. The larger the vehicle, the more raw materials it requires. New cars also cost more because of this. And the newer the car, the more sophisticated the features are. That’s why used cars are more expensive than new cars. This makes it important to purchase used cars.
As the calendar turns to 2021, used car prices are likely to fall. This means a drop in prices until used cars are priced to reflect this. The market will likely stabilize in the fall of 2020 and beyond. But in the meantime, a few factors will continue to drive prices down. But a major factor is the lack of new vehicles for lease. Several studies have shown that used vehicle prices are likely to drop 20% to 30% by 2024. And these drops could be detrimental to people who are still paying on their vehicles.
Why are used cars so expensive right now 2022? – Used Cars 2022
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has made buying used cars an even more difficult experience. The disease has disrupted manufacturing and supply chains, as well as caused a shortage of labor. While bargaining used car prices was always a viable option, the COVID-19 pandemic has largely eliminated this possibility. Buyers are now lucky if they find a car they want without having to wait months for it to sell.
The shortage of chips and the lack of supply have driven up used-car prices significantly. Some car buyers are willing to pay a premium for the 2021 model, even though the 2022 model will take longer to ship. While some of the supply-chain issues are unavoidable, some consumers are willing to pay more for the 2021 model. Currently, a used car can sell for a price more than twice the MSRP, and some buyers are willing to pay a premium for it.
When the time is right, make a deal with a reputable dealer. A good used car can fetch a fair price, so it’s worth waiting for it. Until then, however, buying a new car is even more challenging. As the spring months begin, American consumers begin to spend their tax refunds. If prices rise even slightly in the years to come, it will be an expensive time to purchase a used car.
The rising consumer price index was the largest driver of increased used vehicle prices in early 2021. The pent-up demand for new cars slammed into a global semiconductor shortage, which crimped the supply of both new and previously owned vehicles. This caused a massive spike in prices, with used car prices jumping as much as 37% in just a year! These prices are now higher than they’ve been in 40 years!
Why are used cars so expensive in Canada? – Used Cars Canada
New vehicles are priced higher in Canada than they are in the U.S., which is partly due to the high supply of used vehicles. Prices in Canada have risen by as much as 20% in recent years, with the average new car priced at more than $50,000. The COVID-19 pandemic has also put the world’s supply chain under strain, causing used car prices to rise as well. In some parts of the country, like Quebec, the demand for used cars is higher than the supply.
In June, Statistics Canada began tracking inflation for used vehicle prices. It now includes the cost of lightly-used vehicles as part of its consumer price index. In the past, it has relied on new vehicle prices to measure inflation in the car market. However, this did not make sense because new and used car prices usually rise and fall at about the same rate. This change in the CPI basket makes it easier for Statistics Canada to compare used vehicle prices with new vehicle prices.
In recent months, the used car market has become so hot that the average price of a nine-year-old car increased by 40 percent, the highest ever recorded. The average used car in June was priced at $13,250, a 30% increase over June 2020. Used cars in Canada are also much more expensive than in the U.S. and Europe, and the price of a five-year-old model has increased by almost $6,000 compared to a year ago.
While the supply of new cars is low in Canada, the demand for used vehicles is rising, mainly due to the global labor shortage. However, some businesses are already positioning themselves to capitalize on the growing demand for used vehicles. One such company went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange last week. Its IPO is expected to close in November. Clutch Canada Inc., a leading online car retailer, is continuously adding used cars to its inventory in many provinces.
Why are used cars so expensive UK? – Used Cars UK
As the demand for personal vehicles increased, so did the cost of used cars. Prices soared by up to 41% in November 2021 – a drastic increase from the previous year. The market could see a return to normal by the end of this year, however, it is likely to be delayed until the second half of 2022. Ideally, 2023 should be a good year to buy a used car or a new one.
This influx of second-hand car sales has led to a shortage of stock. The monetary policy committee at the Bank of England recently suggested that interest rates will need to rise further to combat runaway inflation. Likewise, a shortage of supply of two to three-year-old cars is likely to hit the market in the coming years, causing prices to fall. As a result, used car prices are at an all-time high.
The cost of used cars has reached unprecedented levels in the UK, with prices rising for the second year in a row. The recent Covid-19 lockdowns have pushed up the price of some popular cars. A three-year-old Ford Fiesta with 30,000 miles was worth PS9,400 last year, but today it is worth PS13,042 – an increase of 39%. The problem is a combination of global economics, poor demand and an inflated pound.
Despite this, the UK car market is still transparent and can be accessed at any time with the click of a button. However, it is important to note that many used car prices are still extremely high, despite the fact that manufacturers have warned consumers of long waiting periods and a glut of new vehicles. Ultimately, the price of used cars in the UK is much higher than in the US, mainly due to higher interest rates and fewer part-exchanges.


text:
While Under Armour is still a long way from catching up to Nike in the race for global sportswear dominance, at least its employees have the benefit of a three-hour head start on each day.
A reminder of that appears in the brand's company gym at its headquarters in Baltimore, where the phrase "They're still sleeping in Beaverton" appears on the wall, Beaverton of course being the location of Nike's world headquarters in Oregon.
Under Armour's headquarters on the East Coast is three hours ahead of Nike's on the West, hence the latter "still sleeping" when UA starts its day.
Words like "young," "agressive" and "fearless" also decorate the walls at the gym and serve as a reflection of brand ethos.
Under Armour's corporate gym is a 35,000 square foot space that's open to the public for $65 a month.


text:
- cialis tadalafil 4 pack overnight
- what is generic cialis
- cheap cialis overnight no prescription
- generic viagra free pills worldwide
- fast delivery cialis
- generic cialis online
The rankings are based on a survey of approximately 15,000 senior executives, outside directors and industry analysts. Companies were evaluated based on the following criteria: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, quality of products/services, long-term investment and global competitiveness.
“We are honored that our peers have again selected FMC as the world’s most admired company in our industry,” said John Gremp, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Technologies. “Our employees strive to deliver customer success each day, and I am pleased their efforts and the reliability of our innovative technologies and services have made a strong impression in the market.”


text:
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show is one of the annual highlights in Las Vegas where companies show off their latest technology related to broadcasting and media. I was among the 90,000 attendees at the show and if you were wondering why CloudCar was there, it was because NAB introduced the In-Vehicle Experience for […]
On April 9, 2019, VoiceFirst Events hosted The Voice of the Car Summit in San Francisco. Voice is an integral part of the CloudCar strategy, so I attended to learn about the latest trends and discover new technologies that could help expand our infotainment platform.
The agenda offered up a rapid-fire series of short talks by […]
Santa Clara, Calif. (April 2, 2019) Connected cars, autonomous driving, shared mobility and electric vehicles are transforming the automotive industry. It’s clear the way we are using cars are changing and technology is advancing on wheels.
On March 7, VP of Business Development & Sales Julien Masson joined a panel of experts at the Symposium on the […]
We returned to Las Vegas to showcase CloudCar’s latest technology and solutions at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019. While the show is largely known for innovations and the current trends, it’s also a valuable place to build business relationships. It’s an opportunity to network, share information and learn more about the people and companies […]
On June 6-7, CloudCar joined all the major players in the car industry at this years TU Automotive Detroit, the world’s biggest conference and expo for autonomous and connected cars.
I arrived in Novi, Michigan, just about 30 miles away from Detroit. Before entering the Suburban Collection Showplace building, large tents and colorful feather flags caught […]
For the second consecutive year, CloudCar participated at the annual Connect Car California conference, an event hosted by Automotive Megatrends on April 26 in Santa Clara, California. This year, our Director of Product, Ahmer Khan, gave a talk during the afternoon UX session.
“How many of you hop in your car and still use your phone?” […]


text:
in choppy waters
Article appeared in issue 6, 2022
Ireland’s seafood industry, like so many others, has had to navigate the choppy waters of Covid-19 over the last few years. In the wake of the pandemic, opportunities certainly exist but the voyage ahead looks challenging, Senior Manager Alcohol and Seafood, Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), Michael Hussey tells Irishfood
According to Bord Bia’s Performance and Prospects Report 2021-2022, overall exports of primary Irish seafood returned to growth in 2021 – up by 12% and reaching €514 million when compared to 2020. Exports to the EU in 2021 were up by 13%, from €285 million in 2020, with the post-Covid-19 reopening of foodservice playing a large part here. Asian exports grew by almost 51% last year, shellfish exports were up by 44%, and pelagic exports recovered well also. This growth represents a recovery from a very difficult 2020 due to disruptions caused by pandemic lockdowns.
While these figures are for primary seafood exports, added-value seafood increased by almost 27% in 2021, to €96 million, when compared to 2022. These added-value products include smoked salmon and retail-ready – cooked or otherwise – added-value seafood. This sector has been performing strongly in recent years in response to consumer demand and this trend looks set to continue in the years ahead, returning a much higher price, per kilogramme, to the sector.
Irish seafood markets in 2021
China, Japan, and Hong Kong Exports accounted for over €38 million
Africa Exports were up by 5% to just over €97 million, with pelagic species performing well
UK Primary seafood exports were down by 9%, to almost €38 million, with a fall of almost
43% in the value of whitefish exports, but growth of 38% in freshwater exports
This return to growth is very positive but, Michael explains, it exists alongside real challenges to the industry too. Rising energy costs are affecting both seafood processors – especially those who are cooking product or adding value to product – and fishermen.
“They aren’t going out as often because of the cost of marine diesel, and when they are going out, they aren’t going out as far,” he says.
“It emphasises, for us, the need to add value to the product that it is caught [here]. We are still seeing quite a lot of product – frozen, head-on, both white fish and pelagic species – being sent abroad for processing to the likes of China.
“So, we see opportunity in adding value here in Ireland – gutting, filleting, and putting it into consumer-ready packs so that it can be exported as it is with value added in Ireland,” Michael explains, adding that the reduced catch volume recorded in 2021 is likely to be repeated once again in 2022.
Making more from less
Adding value to a smaller catch will become increasingly important in light of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), part of which has established new management of, and quotas for, shared fish stocks in EU and UK waters.
According to Bord Bia’s Performance and Prospects Report 2021-2022, Ireland’s pelagic sector experienced a ‘difficult 2021 with a cut to the all-important mackerel quota’ as a result of the TCA.
“The quota that is allocated to Irish fisheries [for mackerel] will fall by 26% by 2025. That’s quite a large amount and it’s already having a significant impact on the amount of product being landed,” Michael says.
“White fish species are also being badly affected by the TCA, which means there is less product available for export and for processing,” explains Michael.
The quota reductions for Ireland have been described by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland, Charlie McConalogue, as being ‘disproportionate compared to other Member States and will lead to an estimated loss of €43 million per year in fish quotas when the reductions are fully phased in by 2026’. With less product available for export and for processing, making more from less will be a key priority for the seafood industry.
The impact of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Ireland’s fish quotas
A 26% reduction in Ireland’s western-mackerel quota share;
A 14% reduction in Ireland’s largest non-pelagic (prawns) quota share;
Notable reductions in hake (Celtic Sea) 3%; haddock (Celtic Sea) 11%; haddock (Irish Sea) 16%; haddock (Rockall) 22.6%; megrim (Celtic Sea) 8%; megrim (West of Scotland (19%); anglerfish/monkfish (Celtic Sea) 7%; anglerfish/monkfish (West of Scotland) 20%; and Pollack (Celtic Sea) 9%;
A reduction of 96% for herring (Irish Sea).
Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland.
One way that the industry can offset the impact of the TCA is to ‘attract foreign landings’ which can help Ireland to move away from dependency on the Irish quota-catch volume. “This is where you have, for example, Norwegian or Scottish boats fishing in the Irish seas, and you give them the option to land in Irish ports, so their catch is processed in Ireland,” Michael explains.
“It is one way the industry is aiming to keep factories busy. We attracted 110,000 tonnes of foreign landings last year and the hope is that this will continue.”
The industry is rising above other challenges too. Even though export volumes are down, export values are moving in the right direction, he says.
“Looking at the Central Statistics Office export figures from January to August [this year], they are up about 6% year-on-year in value, but the volume is well down on the previous eight months. What we are seeing is a substantial rise in the price per kilo. This is to be welcomed given the rise in input costs for both the fishermen and processors,” Michael says.
One of the main reasons for this increase in price is the strong consumer demand for a product that is healthy and nutritious. “We expect volumes to remain substantially lower for the rest of this year, but the value should stay ahead for the full year.”
Sustainability is proving to be a key consideration for consumers of seafood and the more the industry responds to this, the better it will be for it.
“The industry operates to the strict quotas that are applied – so that the stocks are maintained for future generations – as well as regulations laid down by the Seafood Protection Authority also,” Michael explains.
“And most Irish seafood companies working with Bord Bia are members of Origin Green (Ireland’s national food and drink sustainability programme), so they have their sustainability plans in place, and they recognise that when they are talking to customers, they have to have a sustainability plan that they are working to.”
Bord Bia’s Performance and Prospects Report 2021-2022 states that the industry remains positive about its ‘ability to grow in an increasingly diverse range of markets across the EU27, Africa and Asia as normal business resumes’.
“There are new product-development opportunities in the retail channel, with growing consumer demand for more ready-to-cook whitefish product formats, particularly in traditional seafood markets,” according to the report, and this is key to further success for seafood companies at home and abroad.
Seafood companies like Keohane’s and The Good Fish Company are some of the Irish innovators that are adding value to their product by making fish meals available to the consumer that are healthy, simple to prepare and cook, and delicious to eat.
Market diversification is also a key aim, Michael explains: “There has been an emphasis within the industry on moving away from the UK markets given the regulations around the Brexit agreement. We have been more focussed on European markets, such as the French and German markets for fresh salmon. We have successfully opened more markets in Asia, and Vietnam has really come on stream in the last three to four years. It is a good market for lobster and crab.”
Salmon is Ireland’s primary export product for the Middle East; it is not a huge market and is quite competitive. “We are up against Scotland and Norway and, last year, we had an issue with supply but this year we are hopeful that the volumes will be back up to even above where they were in 2019.”
According to Michael, the biggest opportunities for Irish shellfish in the EU lie in foodservice channels in French markets, in particular, while for salmon, the retail route is key, particularly in Germany and France. And there are further opportunities to grow these markets.
“We are selling a fully organic [salmon] product and all product coming out of Ireland for salmon is certified organic, so we command a premium for it. We see further opportunities in those markets. We promote the product through key retailers and into the trade as well.”
In terms of the higher-value Asian markets – Japan, Korea, Vietnam and China – foodservice is also key and Bord Bia is ‘constantly looking at opportunities in those markets’, Michael says.
“We do that in a number of ways. We attend key trade shows, organise and execute online-media campaigns targetting key buyers and influencers, and we run chef-ambassador programmes where local chefs endorse Irish products and use them in their recipes, and we then run online campaigns around that.”
Research to reap rewards
Research recently carried out by Bord Bia, contained in the Seafood Futures: Four Marketplaces of Tomorrow report, unveiled four strategic priorities for the seafood sector to help it deliver on its vision: that customers around the globe recognise that Irish seafood is world-class, that it is truly different, that it offers a wealth of benefits – among others. A synopsis of the four areas, are featured below.
Greater investment in technology and innovation can help Ireland meet existing or new trends like convenience, with smart solutions across taste and indulgence. Greater digital investment can ensure that Ireland’s seafood story is told in a more targetted and efficient way, and by imitating the success of Ireland’s organic salmon sector, the role of Irish seafood and its specific benefits will be clear and understood.
There is a recognition that the sustainability agenda has accelerated rapidly and getting ahead of this trend will provide a premium differentiation opportunity for seafood from Ireland. Across many retail markets and increasingly the foodservice channel, increasing numbers of customers are insisting that a sustainable certification will be required to maintain market access. The Irish seafood industry has made good strides with the development of the Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) in 2017, but much more will need to be done to increase membership, to broaden the FIPs to include all key species exported from Ireland, and to embrace new digital technologies to demonstrate the traceability and provenance of Irish seafood caught and processed by FIP members.
Ireland needs to position Irish seafood as a nutrient-dense, high-quality and lower-fat protein communicating both nutrition and sustainability-led benefits. Value-added products with these messages will offer the greatest potential for premium differentiation. Animal welfare will become an increasingly important decision-making factor within the marketplace demanding that seafood is produced in a way that respects both the life and the death of the species.
Optimising re-imagined channels
As the e-commerce channel continues to evolve and the foodservice industry starts to pick up again, there are further opportunities to explore and new customers and consumers that the sector can target. Successfully targetting these channels and customers will require the sector being able to offer something different with a view to delivering additional benefits. This could be through digitisation, supply-chain innovation, sustainability or efficiency technology. Bord Bia recognises the need to ensure that it delivers insight-led innovation built upon market-led and verified consumer needs, and its innovation strategy seeks to strengthen the synergies with other Irish state agencies.


text:
US sanctions not able to curb Iranian exports – Tajik envoy
Tehran, Iran, July 26
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
Tajik Ambassador to Tehran Nematollah Emamzadeh said the US sanctions against Iran would not be able to curb the export of Iranian goods to other countries, particularly those in the region.
“Many of Iranian products and goods have high quality and the sanctions would not be able to curb their exports to other countries,” Emamzadeh told IRNA news agency on July 26.
He added that Iranian goods have their own customers everywhere there is not much of concern about their future sale.
US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May, and Washington now plans to reimpose sanctions on Tehran next month. The first round of US sanctions on Iran goes into effect in August, followed by ones targeting Iran's oil exports in November.
Referring to old-age relations between Tehran and Dushanbe, he said, “Expansion of economic ties between the two countries is top of the agenda.
He added that Iran and Tajikistan should work together to boost their tourism industries as both of them have numerous cultural and religious commonalities.
Emamzadeh concluded that the export of Persian rugs will be never halted, and that Tajikistan will enhance its cooperation with Iran to produce rugs.
Recently, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, a division of the US Treasury Department, said on its website that US rug dealers must wind down their Iranian imports by Aug. 6. They will not be allowed to import Iranian-made rugs from other countries either, even if those rugs have been out of Iran for decades. Dealers will still be permitted to sell Persian rugs that are already in the United States.


text:
Survey Shows Impact of Streaming Video Services
In the survey titled Going with the Flow: How to Captivate Video Streamers, The Diffusion Group (TDG), on behalf of CSG, polled nearly 2,000 consumers across the United States who regularly use streaming services to watch video. Survey respondents reported their opinions about watching short- and long-form video content including movies, TV shows, sports and other content across devices and from multiple providers.
Among the most notable findings:
Streamers report watching more than 26 hours of television each week, with half of this time spent viewing subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Notably, streaming services with the highest subscription rates offer original content and sports content. To align with these trends, the ability to offer new skinny bundles and innovative OTT-like services will become increasingly important for Pay TV providers.
CSG Systems International Inc. (Nasdaq: CSGS)


text:
Page Six Starts a Rumor That Lucky Mag Will Be ShutdownLatest
Page Six is reporting that Condé Nast is considering shutting down Lucky Magazine. What?
There’s a few reasons this gossip makes little sense. First, the company denied the claims to the New York Post, which would normally not mean much except that they pointed out that Lucky‘s ad sales for May are up 19 percent. Secondly, as we’ve mentioned before, Condé Nast has been giving a ton of attention to Lucky, moving new editor Eva Chen to the publication last year from Teen Vogue. Chen has been well-received for injecting a new energy into the magazine and has gotten lots of positive press for her impressive Instagram presence. She’s also already subtly denied the claims on Twitter.
And thirdly, Lucky – a women’s magazine very much focused on fashion – is exactly the kind of brand Condé Nast wants right now: one that is blatantly connected to buying things (their tagline is “The Magazine About Shopping”). That’s a direction Condé’s other publications are going in; why would they want to get rid of the one already set up to achieve that goal?
Images via Lucky and D Dipasupil/Getty


text:
Ted Baker has launched an emergency cash call for at least £95 million to tide it through the crisis on the high street.
The fashion chain is tapping large institutions for £75.9 million through a placing, from which individual shareholders are excluded. It will raise £19.1 million through an open offer pitched at 75p a share — a 50 per cent discount to the close price last week — and hopes to sell a further £10 million through a subscription open to new and existing investors.
The move is the latest setback for the fashion brand, which was struggling to recover from a series of scandals even before it was forced to close all of its stores in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company has lost more than 95 per cent of its value over the past two years after it discovered irregularities in its accounts and its founder, Ray Kelvin, resigned in the wake of allegations about his personal conduct. Mr Kelvin, who denies acting improperly, owns 35 per cent of Ted Baker, but his stake is expected to be heavily diluted once its secures its lifeline.
Ted Baker is raising considerably more cash than its £63 million market value, underlining the scale of the financial crisis engulfing the brand. It lost £80 million in the 12 months to the end of January, and with net debts of £127 million it was likely to have breached the terms of bank facilities without an injection of fresh capital. In March Ted Baker sold its London headquarters, called The Ugly Brown Building, for £79 million.
Mr Kelvin, 64, opened the first Ted Baker store in Glasgow in 1988. He turned the brand into a worldwide business selling fashion, home fixtures, luggage, watches, jewellery, sunglasses and spectacles. The name Ted Baker is a reference to Mr Kelvin’s alter ego, which he has described as an “intrepid aviator, an all-round sportsman and the consort of princesses and Hollywood beauties”. Throughout his career, the entrepreneur cultivated a renegade persona and has rarely been photographed without a prop covering his face.
In 2018 former employees accused Mr Kelvin of forcing them to hug him against their will. They further alleged that he “stroked people’s necks” and made sexual innuendos in the office. Mr Kelvin denied misconduct but in March last year he stepped aside, saying that his departure would be “in the best interests of the company”.
In further blow to its reputation, Ted Baker had to call in forensic accountants after admitting that it overstated the value of its inventory by £58 million. KPMG, which was fined £2.1 million by the accountancy watchdog for its work for Ted Baker in 2013 and 2014, is standing down as its auditor. It will be replaced by BDO.
Lindsay Page, a company lifer who replaced Mr Kelvin as chief executive in April last year, and David Bernstein, its chairman, resigned in December. Rachel Osborne, 55, who previously oversaw a restructuring at Debenhams, is now chief executive.
Ted Baker employs 3,600 people globally and runs 416 stores. It has furloughed about 85 per cent of staff, cutting its overheads by £17.2 million. Revenues fell 36 per cent in the 14 weeks to May 2, the company said this morning.
“The board recognises that last year’s performance was disappointing for all of Ted Baker’s stakeholders, reflecting a challenging external environment as well as significant internal disruption, driven by a number of senior leadership departures,” it said in a statement.
Ms Osborne is hoping to revive Ted Baker’s fortunes by cutting head office costs, both in the UK and North America, and leaning less heavily on third-party retailer, such as department stores, to reach customers.


text:
Cashflow planning software provider CashCalc has teamed up with former FCA technical specialist Rory Percival to launch a TVC/APTA-compliant tool ahead of new regulations being introduced in October.
The tool will be launched prior to new regulation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) set to be introduced on 1 October, which will see transfer value comparator (TVC) and appropriate pension transfer...
Dunstan Thomas report
Cutting delivery costs is key
'Solutions to pressing business needs'
A truly 'sticky' digital experience
Liquidation fees have risen to over £15m
The Great British Sustainable Savers Census 2020
Celebrating the industry's future leaders
David Montgomery named MD


text:
The out of home (OOH) advertising industry honored seven leaders at its national convention on Tuesday. Richard Schaps, chairman and CEO of Van Wagner Communications based in New York, won the highest honor, the Distinguished Achievement Award of Excellence for long-time extraordinary contributions to the industry.
The seven awards were presented by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) on the last evening of the 2013 OAAA/TAB National Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles.
For more than 40 years, Schaps has served the OOH advertising industry as a leader, innovator, philanthropist, and trend setter. He began his career by purchasing a stake in Van Wagner in 1971. By the early 80s, Schaps was helping revive outdoor advertising in Times Square. He is now CEO and principal shareholder of a successful OOH company that employs more than 400 people across the country.
Schaps has held multiple volunteer leadership positions at the industry’s trade association, OAAA, and is active in the industry’s political outreach. He has also served on the Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) Board of Directors for more than 10 years.
“The ‘P’ in Schaps is for persistence,” said OAAA President and CEO Nancy Fletcher. “Yes, Richard is competitive. But when it comes to the industry, he’s always there.”
Schaps accepted the award from the 2011 recipient, Fairway Outdoor Advertising CEO Mark Moyer, who said: “Richard has been at the forefront of innovation for more than 40 years, while also proving it’s possible to thrive and still demonstrate immense personal generosity.”
The Marketing Award of Merit, the industry’s top marketing award, was presented to Jodi Senese, chief marketing officer at CBS Outdoor. Senese began her OOH career in 1981 at New York Subways, where she repositioned NY subway media. She went on to help transform commuter rail advertising and street furniture across the country, ensuring its permanent acceptance and respect in the larger OOH community.
Senese has served on the OAAA Marketing Committee more than a decade, most recently helping to navigate the industry through a brand-realignment, and she has been one of the most vocal supporters of TAB OOH Ratings, the industry’s new audience measurement system.
“Jodi is a true marketer in every sense of the word,” said OAAA Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Freitas. “Her love of transit and the OOH industry as a whole is obvious in her dedication to provide consumers with a positive advertising experience, and her commitment to excellence is unwavering.”
Andrea MacDonald, CEO of MacDonald Media and recipient of the 2011 Marketing Award of Merit, presented the award to Senese, commenting, “Jodi has moved the OOH industry forward with a tireless desire to constantly improve the effectiveness and quality of the medium.”
OAAA also inducted five industry leaders into the OAAA Hall of Fame:
Scott Butterfield, Lamar Advertising Company: Butterfield has nearly a quarter century of managerial and executive experience in the OOH advertising industry. He began his career with Whiteco in Tucson, AZ, and later formed Northwest Outdoor, which was purchased by Lamar. Butterfield has been instrumental in seeking and implementing digital billboard technologies and successfully advocated for legislation to protect property rights for billboards and landowners in Idaho. Butterfield is Lamar’s regional manager based in Boise, ID.


text:
In today’s video gaming news, learn more about Trombone Champ, a musical computer game, has gained more than 20,000 downloads since last week and went viral in social media. Meanwhile, Security researchers have determined that Minecraft is the game most frequently exploited by hackers, who use it to trick unsuspecting gamers into installing malware. Lastly, the mention of something related to Suikoden is causing fans to become enthusiastic, but they might be let down.
How Trombone Champ Became a Viral Hit
Trombone Champ, a musical computer game, has received more than 20,000 downloads since last week. Gameplay videos show beloved songs ruined by bad trombone playing.
It’s like Guitar Hero with your mouse as a trombone. Up and down simulates the slide, and clicking blows the horn. Play Beethoven’s Fifth, Hava Nagila, and Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
The game is a joke first and a game second, says creator Dan Vecchitto, who is “surprised and happy” at the popularity. I don’t know why there’s not more comedy in games, because they’re funny.
Also hard. It’s harder than it sounds to align your cursor with the flying notation, especially since you can’t hold the mouse button down forever – that will make your character out of breath. On the A-F scale, I got a C. My virtual trombone playing sounded like a third-grader practicing for a recital, honks and squawks ruining an otherwise flawless backing track. The game’s joy is how silly it sounds.
When you start, a voice says, “One day you will rip the fabric that binds this land… but until then, you must toot. Toot your trombone, brave soul, and you may become Trombone Champ. A mysterious “baboon” mode rewards deeper investment in the game – baboon is a “naturally funny word,” says Vecchitto – and players can summon a “demon.”
Vecchitto, 38, isn’t a trombonist but a musician. Instead, he was struck by a mental image of an arcade-game cabinet with a rubber trombone, where people would “flail around” and make bad music. Later, he mimicked the trombone with a mouse.
His wife, Jackie Vecchitto, contributed art, and Max Tundra added a musical track (most of the music is public domain material). He thought the project would take six months; it took four years, including working around his day job as a UX/UI web designer. Half of 2020 sucked.
During his work, he worried that others wouldn’t understand. “It’s hard to sell a game if the concept is: you can’t do it well,” he said.
He “never expected a breakthrough” Before Trombone Champ, Holy Wow Studios had made a few games that were “decidedly small,” he says. It was “surprising that it’s leaving its niche”.
I’m glad the game made people laugh and smile.
He hopes his success will let him focus on game development. Others have suggested it would work well in VR. He wants to create an arcade version of the game. He plans to add more songs and make a Mac version of the PC game.
Vecchitto was worried about how trombonists would react. They loved it, so he had nothing to fear. I didn’t know trombone streaming was so popular. I was contacted by three trombone streamers, which I didn’t know was a thing.
Indeed, Colleen Wheeler of the International Trombone Association (ITA), a 4,000-member community of trombone players in 74 countries, says, “This is the finest game ever created.” She notes that the game is “impeccably timed” for the ITA’s 50th anniversary, which it hopes to use in its celebrations.
If having the time of your life counts, it’s the same, Wheeler wrote in an email.
I recommend everyone on earth get the game and practice immediately. We hope you can’t resist the siren call and purchase a trombone. She added, “Your best days will be making music.”
Why not add a trombone to your life if this game brings you joy?
Hackers Use Minecraft to Hide Malware
Original Source: Minecraft is hackers’ favorite game title for hiding malware
Security researchers found that cybercriminals use Minecraft to trick unsuspecting players into installing malware.
The security firm found that between July 2021 and July 2022, Minecraft-related files accounted for 25% of malicious game brand abuse files, followed by FIFA (11%), Roblox (9.5%), Far Cry (9.4%), and Call of Duty (9%).
Other games with high abuse rates include Need for Speed, GTA, Valorant, The Sims, and GS:GO.
Mobile distribution volumes were much lower than PC gaming. Still, Minecraft dominates this category with a 40% share, followed by GTA (15%), PUBG (10%), Roblox (10%), and FIFA (5%).
Compared to 2020, Kaspersky reports a 30% drop in distribution volumes and a 36% drop in affected users.
Why hackers use game lures
Some recent examples of hiding malware in game cheats, installers, keygens, or games themselves are as follows:
Minecraft alt lists dropping Chaos ransomware
NPM packages posing as Roblox libraries deliver ransomware, password stealers
Microsoft Store games with malware loaders
Valorant cheats on YouTube drop malware
Because game titles attract tens of millions of people, hackers use them to lure victims.
Modern games almost always involve in-game economies, so promises of “easy progress” through hacks, valuable items, and cheats are enticing to users.
Kaspersky highlights fraudulent in-game stores that cloned originals, tricking players into paying for items they’ll never receive and phishing their account credentials.
People who can’t afford games often turn to pirated versions. Other games are in closed beta, excluding many interested users and forcing them to seek alternative ways to play. Hackers offer pirated versions of fake beta testing launchers.
Many game mods, cheats, and tools are unofficial one-person projects and face false positive security detections, so developers warn users to disable antivirus before installing them.
So, gamers may ignore AV warnings and run malware on their systems.
88.5% of all detected infection cases are downloaders, according to Kaspersky.
Adware (4.2%) and trojans that steal user data or allow remote access to the host machine (3%).
Downloaders take the lion’s share because they pass security scans but fetch riskier payloads when the user runs the program.
According to Kaspersky, info-stealers, cryptocurrency miners, or both are dropped on victims’ computers.
Always be careful when downloading free software from the Internet.
Moreover, if a developer says you must disable antivirus to run the program, stay away from it because malicious behavior is limitless.
Suikoden Fans May Be Disappointed by an Announcement
Tokyo Game Show Konami event has become a Rorschach test for video games. Everyone looking at it sees something different: surely it’ll be about Metal Gear remasters or Silent Hill remakes, or maybe they’ll port Symphony Of The Night to PC (it won’t be this, but it should be).
Slowly growing circumstantial evidence has one neglected community excited for a new entry in a series that’s been silent for a decade. Suikoden hasn’t seen a new game since 2012’s Suikoden: Woven Web Of The Centuries, but fans hope the “world-loved series” getting a new game at TGS will be the JRPG cult classic.
Reasons abound. First, Yuki Kaji, a prolific voice actor, will host the Konami show to represent fans of a popular series. Kaji has appeared in three Konami games, two of them Suikoden games (and the third of which is not “well-loved around the world”). Second, VGC reports the announcement will be about a “smaller project” than Metal Gear and Silent Hill.
The success of Eiyuden Chronicle’s Kickstarter campaign may have reminded Konami it still owns the game’s license. The Eiyuden Chronicle raised $4.5 million, nine times its initial $500,000 goal. It’s due next year.
No smoking gun. The announcement won’t be about Suikoden just because rumors say it won’t be about Metal Gear. Eiyuden’s Kickstarter was successful in part because of Yoshitaka Murayama and Junko Kawano. Yuki Kaji is there to “represent fans,” so he may not be involved in announcing the game. Recent reports that the series’ trademark was renewed don’t tell us much either, as they only pertain to Mexican merchandise (opens in new tab).
But it’s the brightest spark of hope the Suikoden community has had in a while, and subreddits are already abuzz with arguments about what this could mean. I hope they’re excited because I’ve wanted to play Suikoden for years and the potential for heartbreak is too much to bear. Remakes and remasters of Konami’s most famous franchises seem inevitable, but niche classics like Suikoden could be forgotten. We hope a monkey’s paw doesn’t curl and deliver a microtransaction-filled Suikoden game for iOS and Android next week.
Summary of Today’s Computer Gaming News
Overall, Trombone Champ, the musical computer game, has gained over 20,000 downloads since its release a week ago, and gameplay videos depicting beloved songs destroyed by horrible trombone playing have spread around social media. In truth, “it’s a joke first and a game second,” says the game’s designer, Dan Vecchitto, who is “surprised and delighted” by the outpouring of support. I don’t understand why there isn’t more comedy in video games, because they are so funny.
On the other hand, security researchers have determined that Minecraft is the most frequently exploited game by hackers, who use it to trick naive gamers into installing malware. According to data collected by the security firm between July 2021 and July 2022, Minecraft-related files accounted for almost 25% of dangerous files transmitted through gaming brand abuse, followed by FIFA (11%), Roblox (9.5%), Far Cry (9.4%), and Call of Duty (9%).
Finally, slowly increasing circumstantial evidence has one neglected group ready for a new episode in a series that’s been silent for a decade. Suikoden hasn’t seen a new game since 2012’s Suikoden: Woven Web Of The Centuries, but fans hope the “world-loved series” getting a new game at TGS will be the JRPG cult classic. Just because rumours say the announcement won’t be about Metal Gear doesn’t mean that it will be about Suikoden. But it’s the brightest spark of hope the Suikoden community has had for some time, and the subreddits are already abuzz with arguments about what this could mean.


text:
CHICAGO – Kmart Corp. , the No. 2 discount chain behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc., on Wednesday said sales at its stores open at least a year during the holiday came in a the low end of its forecast.
Troy, Michigan-based Kmart said in a recorded message for investors that sales from Nov. 22 to Dec. 26 were at the low end of its plan for sales growth of zero to 2 percent.
The retailer cited a reduction in the number of advertising pages in newspaper circulars in November and December compared with a year earlier as a reason for the shortfall.
In contrast, rival Wal-Mart said its same-store sales for December are expected to come in a the high end its forecast for growth of 4 percent to 6 percent.
Shares of Kmart rose 7 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $5.22. Shares of Wal-Mart rose 98 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $58.10.


text:
One of the initiatives - creation of nano-factories within its large manufacturing units to speed up innovation with faster product rollouts - is now being taken to other countries by parent Unilever, said Willem Uijen, executive director, supply chain, at HUL.
Hindustan Unilever has saved nearly 8% of its annual turnover, or roughly $1 billion, over the past two years after it tightened supply chain operations, tweaked manufacturing lines, and shed its dependence on imported raw materials, a senior executive told ET.
One of the initiatives – creation of nano-factories within its large manufacturing units to speed up innovation with faster product rollouts – is now being taken to other countries by parent Unilever, said Willem Uijen, executive director, supply chain, at HUL.
“We are now rolling that out in other Unilever markets because it has been so successful in bringing innovation lead times and cost down, whilst giving us the agility to react to what is happening in the market,” he told ET. “Clearly, we see a shift happening from large-scale manufacturing sites to still large-scale manufacturing sites, but with multiple units producing different products.”
Uijen said nano-factories have helped India’s largest consumer goods company ensure required agility and resilience in its network. “The rate of innovation is higher than ever before,” he said. “To keep pace, we have become much faster in taking innovations that do not work out of the market and rapidly adjusting and scaling up the ones that do work. And this stems from consumer demands, which are also rapidly evolving.”
With annual sales of Rs 46,000 crore, HUL’s performance is considered a proxy for broader consumer sentiment in the country.
During the first wave of Covid-19, the maker of Rin detergent and Dove soap tweaked its manufacturing lines to make higher quantities of hygiene products such as handwash, sanitisers and floor cleaners. The number of HUL facilities that make multiple products across personal, home and food segments has gone up by a quarter over the past two years, which helped reduce small-scale innovation lead time by over 70% in many cases.
Having global supply chain systems is not good enough anymore to provide agility and resilience to a business in a fast-evolving geopolitical situation, the company said, citing the crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and, before that, tension between India and China.
This meant redesigning its supply chain completely different from traditional setups. For instance, HUL can now combine a smaller scale factory for homecare with a smaller scale factory for beauty and personal care, and even a factory for nutrition or ice-cream. This helps it build resilience into its network that includes multiple factories across the country to serve demand.
“It is critical to build in resilience into your value chain so that if some disruption takes place, you will be able to pivot and continue to supply the market,” Uijen said. “Digital technology has allowed us to replicate the efficiencies of large-scale manufacturing into a set-up that is much smaller,” he added.
Uijen cited the firm’s site in Dapada near Silvassa where the innovation time has come down by 50% and productivity has improved by 800 basis points over the past two years. The Dapada factory has also become India's first FMCG factory to be recognised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as an ‘Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution Lighthouse’.
A recent report by Centrum said HUL has managed the price versus volume equation well, but warned that inflation risk is higher this time and can strain margins.
There’s high material cost inflation because of the Ukraine crisis and multiple global supply imbalances, and the price pressure is not coming from one material like crude oil. It’s coming through in power, in soda ash, in agricultural crops such as coffee where prices have gone up globally by about 200%, and so on. It’s all coming through at the same time.
HUL said price hike is the last option for the company to deal with rising costs. Instead, it is looking to drive efficiencies and save across all cost buckets – trade terms, making sure marketing spends have the right return on investments, and relooking formulations of products and distribution network.


text:
Data Zoo has launched idux, a new digital identity solution designed to build mutual trust throughout the entire customer journey while guaranteeing end-to-end privacy and security.
Digital identity technology is increasingly coming to the attention of business and technology leaders, accelerated in part by COVID-19’s effects on businesses. Yet, digital identity requires trust and security. According to research by Deloitte, 42% of businesses believe their systems and technology are insufficient to meet the increased demands for compliance.
Dr Memoona J. Anwar, head of compliance and digital strategy, Data Zoo, says businesses can confidently verify customers to meet compliance needs and to prevent fraudulent account takeover through idux authentication processes.
“The power of idux starts with the orchestration of smart and modular tools for fraud detection, identity proofing and user authentication,” Anwar said.
“When it comes to increasing trust in online interaction, businesses can build confidence at every touchpoint with their customers through components like identity verification, document authentication and watchlist screening, as well as advanced biometric capabilities that provide facial and voice matching and passive liveness. By tightly integrating these tools, you have complete control and the flexibility to evolve as the threat landscape changes.”
Additionally, idux provides an identity layer to aid trusted and legitimate customers easily pass through, without it feeling burdensome.


text:
Ever since the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh in April of 2013, businesses have finally started dedicating resources to audit factory conditions. Factory-inspecting organization AsiaInspection has since last year seen a large rise in businesses’ willingness to spend large sums on their services, according to Robert Bowman in an article for Forbes.
The Invisible Love Tap
For years, stories of poor factory working conditions overseas have sprinkled into the media, but it used to be that these stories would then get swept under the rug once the next news cycle started. But the Rana Plaza collapse was severe and startling enough that “H&M, Zara, C&A, Tesco, Carrefour, Primark and PVH (parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein) signed a binding accord on fire and safety codes. In addition, some 123 investor groups called for ‘zero-tolerance policies on global supply-chain abuses.’ ” These agreements have likely risen both for humanitarian and financial reasons, as Bowman notes that the upcoming generation of consumers legitimately wants to know whether the things they buy are negatively impacting people or the environment.
China Still at the Core
Even though 3 to 5 percent of production has relocated in the wake of rising costs, the brunt of manufacturing still occurs in China. Items such as underwear, which require close proximity to wool, ensure that supply chains will rely on China for years to come. With a drive toward social responsibility, Chinese factories will hopefully become both safer and more effective. Read the original article here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertbowman/2014/03/11/is-this-the-year-when-supply-chains-become-socially-responsible/


text:
Manali Petrochemics Limited is now part of Honam Petrochemical Group
Honam petrodecks, the Philippines-based petro chemicals company that has grown to become one of the world’s largest petrochemisties, will now be part of the Honam Group.
The Honam family, which includes Honam Co., Honam Industries Limited and Honam Oil and Gas Limited, has a total of over 20,000 employees worldwide.
The move to HonamPetrochemicalGroups is part of a restructuring of HonamiPetrochemical’s operations, which is part and parcel of a comprehensive plan to modernize and expand its operations.
Honami PetroChemicals Limited has grown in its last three years, and is one of two petro chemical companies in the world that also sells chemicals as well as other petroleum products.
Honam has about 80 percent of its products sold in Asia.
In the HonamiGroup, Honam is the sole supplier of HonaminaPetroChemical products, including Petrol, Gasoline, Liquids, Electricity and Nuclear Fuel, and the majority of its gasoline.
The Honam group has an operational base of about 10,000 square meters, and has a workforce of about 400 people.
The new Honami Group will be led by Honami CEO and Chairman Masao Honami, who will be the senior director of the company, and Honami President and Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director.
HonamyPetro chemicals also announced the acquisition of Honman Petroleum, a company that had an operating base of 1,600 employees in the Philippines.
HonmanPetro Chemical also announced a merger of its Petrol subsidiary with Honami-Petro Chemicals.
HonmakPetro, a joint venture between Honami and Honman, is the company’s largest shareholder.
HonamiPetrophenics Limited will be a wholly owned subsidiary of HonamePetroCo., and the Honamic Group, which has an overall portfolio of more than 80 companies.
Honamic will have access to the Honame Petro Chemical Group, and will also operate the HonamaPetro chemical brand.
HonamPetrodeck, the company Honam bought in 2012, has been expanding its operations globally.
The company is now working on a range of new products, and it is planning to expand its products to China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.
The Petrol segment is a major focus, with the Petrol division currently producing more than 100 million liters of Petrol every year.
Honamarol and Petrol have a strong presence in China, where they have developed their own brands of gasoline.
The petro-chemical industry in the Middle East is also seeing a boom.
It has been the target market for Honam’s Petrol products since at least 2010.
The group is also looking at expansion in India, which the group has already announced plans to invest $20 million in a refinery, Petrol Refinery Limited.
Honamarol has been investing in refineries in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and UAE, and recently opened a refinery in Iran.
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Petrocorp Group, Inc., which has a net worth of $2.3 billion.
The PetroCorp Group has a combined portfolio of about 80 companies, and employs about 7,000 people.
The group has more than 2,600 facilities across 20 countries.
Honmarol is the largest petrodexer in the United States, and currently has its operations in New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
Honmarol’s headquarters are in New Jersey, with a headquarters in California.
The announcement that Honam will become part of HonoramPetrol was made on Tuesday, March 19.
The news comes as Honami is looking to diversify its operations, including by expanding its refinery operations.
The Philippines-headquartered HonamCo., a joint ventures between Honam and Honaminco, has about 10 million litres of Petropetrol shipped annually to markets around the world.
The company has been operating in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
HonomPetro is the parent company of HonaminPetroco, and of HonamoPetro Co., the parent of HonmamPetronom.
HonaminCo., which includes the Honmarole Group and Honamarrol, has an operating capacity of 1.3 million litre per day.


text:
Christmas parties find their star of the show
Maybe it was the name, maybe it was the heady mix of vanilla vodka, passion fruit and a shot of prosecco, but there was little doubt that the Pornstar Martini was star performer for Britain’s biggest cocktail bar operator yesterday.
Be At One reported a record December, with like-for-like sales at its 33 bars up 12.6 per cent, exceeding £5 million for the first time during what is always its busiest month of the year.
During that period, it sold 500,000 cocktails, the most popular being the Pornstar Martini. It sold more than 67,000 of them.
Be At One, which is backed by Piper, the private equity firm, has 17 bars in London. It was founded in 1998 by three former TGI Friday’s bartenders —


text:
California Dairy Farmers Face High Feed Prices, Low Milk Prices
Being a California dairy farmer is no walk in the park right now, with high feed prices and low milk prices. One farmer calculates he's losing 50 cents on every gallon of milk produced. The Sacramento Bee has the story:
California's dairymen are in an especially difficult position, because there aren't enough processing facilities in the state for all the milk that dairy cows here produce. Stringent permitting requirements often lead processors to build new facilities in other states, leaving California with an oversupply of raw milk. As a result, farmers are at a disadvantage in negotiating better prices from California processors.
Last month, in response to a petition from farmers, state Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross changed the formula that determines the price cheese manufacturers must pay for the whey component in milk. The adjustment immediately raised the price about 4 cents per hundred pounds of milk, an increase of less than 1 percent.


text:
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., the drug maker that last month restated earnings back to 1999, said first-quarter profit fell 11% as costs rose and generic rivals eroded sales of some former top sellers.
Net income at the fourth-biggest U.S. drug maker slipped to $761 million, or 39 cents a share, from $856 million, or 44 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 1% to $4.71 billion, the New York-based firm said.
Bristol-Myers spent more to market a new schizophrenia drug, Abilify, hoping to help make up sales lost to generic versions of the cancer medicine Taxol and diabetes pill Glucophage IR. Sales of the heart drug Plavix also fell.
Its shares rose 85 cents, or 3.5%, to $25.21 on the New York Stock Exchange.


text:
Advertising can’t work if it doesn’t connect with the brand in some way.
The U.S. Breakthrough Innovation Report 2015 A visual assessment of Breakthrough Winners reveals no telltale markers of their high achievement. In many ways, lining up the 2015 U.S. Breakthrough Innovation winners creates somewhat of a cross-section of the average store. So what propels them ahead of the pack and makes them so notable?
The Total Audience Report: Q1 2015 As we continues to move toward total audience measurement it is vital to find a way to compare platforms by using common metrics that allow the industry to equate and analyze users and usage of these different platforms in a fair, standard and appropriate way.
Looking to Achieve New Product Success? Around the world, more than six-in-10 respondents say they like when manufacturers offer new products, and more than half say they purchased a new product during their last grocery-shopping trip.
Revolutionizing Data Collection Nielsen and the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP), the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, worked together on a year-long pro bono project to revolutionize WFP’s mobile data collection.
When it comes to taking a risk on a new product purchase, why do consumers choose one product over another? What needs and desires drive new product purchasing, and which attributes are most influential in the path to purchase?
Over the past five years, 45% of consumer packaged goods categories had flat or declining sales. New, smaller retail formats, aggressive competition and consumer rejection of a “one size fits all” mentality are leading manufacturers and retailers in search of alternative growth strategies, and many are turning to localization.
At Nielsen’s annual Consumer 360 Conference, Nielsen CEO Mitch Barns and Daniel Zhang, CEO of China-based Alibaba, sat down to discuss how global companies are leveraging digital and big data for commercial gains amid growing fragmentation, technological developments and evolving consumer demand.
During the past four years, U.S. fresh food sales have increased 5%, along with consumer buzz and interest in eating and living well. This growth can implications for the entire store, but its relationship with the center store is often more complicated than simple rivals.
When it comes to hot topics in the media realm, it doesn’t get much bigger than cross-platform audience measurement. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. To iron out the specifics, a distinguished panel of industry experts at this week’s Consumer 360 event offered clarity around what it means and the challenges involved.
Innovation is alive and growing. That’s not to say, however, that it is easy or always garners runaway success. But for the companies that preserve and strive to deliver on unmet consumer needs, the rewards can be brand-building and financially rewarding.
Innovation matters. In the consumer product realm, it can drive profitability and growth, and it can help companies succeed—even during tough economic times. On the opposite side of the sales counter, consumers have a strong appetite for innovation, but they’re increasingly demanding and expect more choice than ever before.
Measuring the value of users across different devices have not historically aligned. But our Q2 Total Audience report focuses on the reach of audiences on different devices, as well as how often consumers are utilizing these devices and how long they are doing so.
Today's dads know the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, and these new “fit fathers” are replacing old stereotypes of beer guts, sloppy shirts and ugly ties. With Father’s Day around the corner, recent analysis can help retailers and consumers alike—with crafting promotional ideas and whittling down gift choices, respectively.
Does the lowest price always win? In Europe's sluggish economy, it can certainly seem that way. But a recent Nielsen study found the three things topping consumers' shopping lists were convenience, shopping experience and quality products.
To find out what dads are really paying attention to, Nielsen recently analyzed the top ads among dads in the U.S. over the first half of 2015. And one thing is certain—advertisements that promoted service-based companies were a big hit among fathers.
Music fests attract a large, youthful, audience: approximately 32 million people attend at least one U.S. music festival each year, 46% of whom are Millennials aged 18-34. So, which product categories do these festival fans favor, and what types of brands can benefit from sponsorships and tie-ins?
Asian-Americans take a holistic approach to beauty, spending more than average on fresh foods, as well as in the health and beauty department. In fact, Asian-Americans spend 70% more than the average share of the U.S. population on skin-care preparation products.
For video consumers, choice is rampant—in both content and platform. In fact, Tremor Video CEO Bill Day says the current environment has created what he deems the golden age of video. That choice, however, is a challenge for marketers. But it’s one Mr. Day expects will be a short-term one.
Although American Pharoah’s Triple Crown win is now in the rearview mirror, the race for radio’s summer format winner is just entering the first turn. Last month we reported that Hot Adult Contemporary (AC) and Country were sticking their noses into the race, and with the release of Nielsen’s May portable people meter results, we see that the field of contenders has gotten even more crowded.
Diverse and deeply rooted in their cultural traditions, today’s Asian-Americans value high-quality products and services and are brand loyal shoppers. And their unique consumption and media habits that are helping to redefine the American mainstream.
While the number of apps people are willing and/or able to actively use each the month has held steady, the time they spend engaging on those apps has increased. What apps are capturing consumers attention?
Dr. Robert Heath is a professor at the University of Bath and a pioneer in establishing the value of emotion in advertising. We recently talked to him about emotional resonance, its importance and how it can be used in improving the effectiveness of advertising.
In the candy business, it takes more than a sweet product to generate savory sales. In fact, candy manufacturers need to invest millions to build brand equity and distinguish their confections in a crowded marketplace. And to ensure a sweet outcome, marketers need assurance that they’re spending their dollars in the right places and at the right time.
The highly anticipated 2015 NBA finals are underway, featuring two of the hottest players in the league: Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Both have multiple endorsement deals and already draw the attention of the masses. So while the battle on the court should be a thriller, advertisers are hoping fans will be spending big at the checkout counter.
It’s easy to lose sight of the long game when it comes to the effect of advertising. Truth be told, however, advertising can be just as effective—if not more so—over the long haul than it is at the time it launches.
There’s very that little pet owners won’t do for their furry friends. In fact pet owners' willingness to open their wallets for them is often unwavering. Even in times of economic strife, worldwide pet food sales have been steadily growing over time, but the pockets of potential in this category are narrower than one might expect.
By mid-century, the U.S. will be a “majority minority” nation. By 2060, fewer than five in 10 will be white non-Hispanic. This level of demographic change represents a remarkable challenge for retail real estate investors, developers, advisers and retailers. It’s also a remarkable opportunity.
Reaching the right audience in the digital arena has proven challenging for many marketers. In fact, more than one-third of digital impressions don’t go to the right audience. Nielsen's Randall Beard explains the complexities and how marketers can improve their efforts.
Canadian consumers love music, and they’re spending more time with it in more ways. This is particularly the case with Canadian teens. According to Nielsen’s Music 360 Canada report, teens report listening to 40% more music than they did in 2013. So what’s driving the surge?
Whether to celebrate a game winning shot, mourn a fallen character or gasp at a scandalous plot twist, thumbs across the U.S. tapped furiously this season, sending millions of Tweets and generating over a billion impressions on average each week.
Consumer confidence in the Latin America region has been on a slow decline for about two years now, dropping two additional index points in the latest first quarter results from Nielsen’s Global Consumer Confidence Survey. The regional index of 86 is the lowest score since 2009.
Despite evidence that the rise of digital shopping has become an influential factor in the changing retail landscape, consumer shopping channel preferences continue to shift. A review of sales trends for select FMCG around the world reveal that when it comes to trade channel importance, there is no single answer that’s right for all.
U.S. consumer confidence increased one index point in the first quarter to a score of 107, maintaining an above-the-baseline optimism level for a year now. Conversely, confidence declined six points in Canada to a score of 96, marking the country’s lowest score since 2012.
After peaking at 50% in 2007, the Hispanic home ownership rate in the U.S. now stands at 45%—and it’s declining. While most Hispanics say they plan to buy in the next five years, less than one-fourth say they’re prepared to do so.
Touted as the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, multicultural consumers have another advantage in the marketplace: They’re young and living longer. With a growing youthful and receptive audience, marketers can cultivate and build relationships early—establishing trust and brand loyalty.
Recession-minded Europeans found a silver lining in the first quarter of 2015 for, despite the fact that the region remained the least optimistic globally with an overall consumer confidence index score of 77. And Nielsen’s Global Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions Survey showed that job confidence rose quarter-over-quarter in 15 of 32 European markets measured.
In the U.S. retail market, the word luxury doesn’t have the same connotation that it once did. Or perhaps it’s just that the consumers who shop for luxury goods aren’t who they used to be. Either way you look at it, defining luxury today is no easy task—and neither is identifying how people view the term.
Despite the changing media environment, however, one such pre-placement decision is nothing new—whether to have someone endorse the product. Still, a celebrity endorser can be a major investment for some advertisers, so understanding how potential customers view that person is key.
Consumer confidence in Asia-Pacific increased in nine of 14 markets measured by Nielsen in Q1, compared to only three that rose in Q4 2014. Nine markets in the region remained at or above the 100-baseline level of optimism. At 130, India reached its highest level since 2011—up one-point from Q4. Confidence in India has been on the rise for six consecutive quarters.
In Q1, Millennial respondents were more eager to spend—especially those in the 25-29 age range. In fact, their spending intent for holidays/vacations, new clothes and out-of-home entertainment exceeded the global averages by as much 10 percentage points.
While some consumers like to stick with what they know, others are more adventurous—even in the alcoholic beverage aisle. In February 2015, Nielsen fielded an English-only survey of more than two thousand adults in an attempt to determine which alcoholic beverage drinkers are the most open to trying new brands—beer, wine or spirit drinkers.
Starting the year positively, global consumer confidence saw an increase of one point from fourth-quarter 2014, with an index score of 97. After a slight dip at the end of last year, when all regional confidence scores declined, it was a more upbeat start to the year, as confidence increased slightly or remained stable in every region except Latin America.
Perception is everything, and that couldn’t be truer for radio advertisers whose goal, like most marketers, is brand lift and increased profit. Measuring key brand metrics that affect perception is vital, and for American Family Insurance, the power of radio to positively raise brand awareness was undeniable.
Social media can be a powerful tool for networks and agencies because it illuminates viewer engagement. Then there’s the connection between program buzz and tune-in. But can we identify what makes a program social? New research shows that we can.
With summer right around the corner, what format will jockey for the lead during this hot listening season? In March, we saw Pop Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) and Classic Rock bolt out of the gate strong, but with the release of Nielsen’s April portable people meter (PPM) results, Hot Adult Contemporary (AC) and Country are also looking to show in the race for summertime success on the airwaves.
There’s not just one thing that drives good advertising. In a sense, there’s really three things: reach, resonance and reaction. And while it’s critical that advertising reach the right audience, it’s just as important for messages to mean something to the audience when they’re delivered.
With over two billion active mobile phones users in countries like India and China, nonprofits can poll workers directly to get real-time data on whether they feel safe at work and are treated with respect. But getting quality data starts with asking the right questions.
In today’s world of growing content options across devices and platforms, reaching the audiences that matter most is paramount for both TV networks and advertisers. In an increasingly ROI-driven world, marketers are charged with generating revenue growth as efficiently as possible.
Spend more than a few minutes in a conversation with someone in the CPG industry and you’ll almost inevitably find yourself discussing the spiraling cost of trade promotion. In Europe, decent returns on trade promotion spend are increasingly hard to generate. So how can we turn things around?
For retailers, e-commerce is only one part of the digital picture. A complete digital strategy includes interaction at every point along the path to purchase. Digital touch points occur both in and out of stores, and consumers are increasingly using technology to simplify and improve the process.
While water doesn’t have the flair of a beverage that’s infused with super fruit nectar, it is after all, the drink of life. And with the right marketing campaign, research shows that water can stand out and generate thirst-quenching sales.
Myanmar’s booming economy, young population and rising disposable incomes represent a significant opportunity for any company looking for new growth markets. In addition to appealing to local and Asian companies, Myanmar’s allure is ripe for global multinationals as well, particularly consumer product and telecommunications companies.
While the appetite for buying groceries online is at high levels around the world—more than half of global respondents are willing to give it a try—digital natives are leading the charge. These consumers have an unprecedented enthusiasm for—and comfort with—technology, and online shopping is a deeply ingrained behavior.
While fresh meat is still a vital component of retail store health, accounting for 11% of store sales, consumers are shifting their purchasing behaviors and attitudes about meat as they adjust to recent price pressures. So what does the shift mean for retailers?
Imagine a grocery store where you can receive personal recommendations and offers the moment you step in store, your checkout takes seconds and you can pay for groceries without ever taking out your wallet. Sound far-fetched? It’s closer than you think.
From search engines to social networks, people around the globe mostly use electronic devices for three primary purposes: relationship building/maintaining, information gathering and entertainment viewing. But what does the future use of electronic devices look like, and where are the best opportunities for growth?
On May 2, 2015, six key sporting events will take place. And according to a recent study, over half (52%) of U.S. adults say they plan to watch, listen to or attend at least one of the events. We also looked at how they plan to celebrate—from the food they'll eat to the how they'll follow the lineup online.
Canadians are busy adjusting their shopping and buying habits as new channels and technologies emerge. And as they explore, they’re developing preferences about which products they want to buy and research online—preferences that will shape which types of online marketing outreach will resonate with them the most.
Advertisers try to make their ads hit home with audiences as much as possible—but there's room for improvement. Investing a little more heavily in determining how much ads resonate and working to improve campaigns accordingly have the potential to dramatically improve overall advertising effectiveness.
There are literally thousands of data providers out there who will likely tell you that using their insights will help you to find the perfect audience. But which choice will make you a winner? Assuming you don't have enough time or money to do try them all, here are 10 questions to ask before buying data.
In today’s connected world, where consumers can use social media to immediately share their experiences and opinions with friends and followers, a key objective for advertisers can be to turn paid media into earned media. For Microsoft, this meant optimizing its TV advertising to drive social activity around its brand.
More than 40% of U.S. TV homes have at least one SVOD service, clear evidence that consumers are taking advantage of burgeoning diversity of choice they have right at their fingertips. So who is the current SVOD consumer? Peter Katsingris offers some key insights.
We love our pets—perhaps even more than we love some of our human family members. And as the U.S. pet product industry may eclipse $60 billion this year, retailers and manufacturers are purring over rising sales in hot categories like pet medicine, pet grooming, cat litter, dog treats and pet houses.
Any multinational looking for solid growth should be taking a hard look at India. In 2015, India’s economy will grow faster than China’s for the first time in 16 years. In fact, the IMF forecasts India’s GDP growth to expand by 7.5% this year and next.
With spring in full bloom across the U.S., radio listening habits are beginning to fall in line with summertime trends. As the weather warms up and winter snowdrifts fade to memories, Nielsen’s March portable people meter results show how Pop Contemporary Hit Radio and Classic Rock continue their recent runs of success.
If there are any doubts that connectivity is increasingly affecting consumer behaviors and beliefs, the data should quickly put them to rest. But how important is our growing digital dependence? According to respondents in a recent Nielsen/IAB Canada study, the answer is very—and it’s only going to increase going forward.
First it was 8-track tapes, then cassettes, then compact discs and now, it’s digital. And for a long time, it looked like digital auditory advancements would ultimately kill off vinyl. But when we look at the music landscape, we see that vinyl is not only viable, but that sales are growing.
It’s easy to paint the U.S. media consumer with a broad brush. We know they enjoy hours of video content each day, but all the while more entertainment choices are seeping in—over the top, under the bottom and, really, from either side.
For most of us, Memorial Day unofficially marks the start of summer. For music fans, summer starts when music festival season gets under way—and this year’s roster is chock-full of variety. So who goes to these grand events, and how do they factor into fans’ overall music consumption diets?
What’s your go-to device of choice for watching your favorite show? Device proliferation has afforded more choice than ever before, but TV remains the preferred device—and by a wide margin according to global online respondents in Nielsen’s Digital Landscape Survey.
Gaming consoles are no longer just for gaming. In fact, console owners actively use their devices for a wide range of activities including viewing TV, streaming video, watching Blu-ray discs and exploring the Internet. In fact, gaming accounts for only half of the time they spend on their consoles.
Tax time is no picnic. It’s also a time when consumers take stock of their personal finances, begin to plan budgets for the rest of the year, and often look to banking tools for guidance. And today’s digital age puts those tools right in the palm of their hands.
How long has it been since you’ve heard the term programmatic? Probably not that long. You might even be tired of hearing about it. Even so, programmatic is here to stay and will continue to broaden its reach across the ad landscape going forward. The rub, however, is that programmatic alone isn’t equipped to tell advertisers who’s watching.
Chocolate bunnies, candy hearts, candy canes or candy corns—confections quickly bring to mind some of Americans' favorite holidays. When we look at sales, there's a good reason for this association. While everyday candy purchases lead in dollar sales, seasonal buys—those during the week of a national holiday—are growing.
From keeping tabs on friends via social media to skipping lines at the store by shopping online, technology continues to reshape our everyday habits. And it's changing when, where and how we watch video programming.
While the “big dance” in college basketball is winding down, even underdogs on the court can still win with fans. Knowing where engaged fans reside presents an opportunity for companies to show their own support—in the form of advertising, sponsorships and merchandise.
Advertisers have long believed in the power of radio advertising, but many struggle to justify their campaign metrics. The days of not being able to justify spending are over, however, and a top telco company recently garnered a $14 ROI for each dollar spent on a notable radio campaign.
What are today's Future Talent—students close to graduating or college-educated, newly working professionals—looking for when seeking employment or making purchases? A recent study on corporate reputation explores the factors these young future leaders consider.
TV advertising effectiveness is more important than ever. Advertisers must grab the viewer’s attention and give them a reason to watch the ad—as well as pay attention. Today, Nielsen announced the winners of its Ninth Annual Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards, and Volkswagen’s "Wings" spot was recognized as the Automotive Ad of the Year.
We’re living in a world of 24/7 connectivity, accessing our content on our own terms, and we like it that way. Around the globe, 76% of respondents in a Nielsen online survey say they enjoy the freedom of being connected anywhere, anytime. While consumers love this flexibility, it represents a huge challenge for brands and content providers vying for our attention in a fragmented viewing arena.
Heavy viewers and listeners are often considered the ‘super fans’ of the media ecosystem. These power users devote significant hours of their lives to one medium or another and are the most likely to consistently engage with content and advertising found on those channels. But heavy radio listeners and heavy TV viewers are, for the most part, mutually exclusive.
For some, April Fools’ Day is a fun-filled 24 hours of pranks and mischief. But others dread gags gone wrong or believable bad news that turns out to be a poorly planned joke. To fool your friends with the truth, we've compiled a list of interesting facts that sound false but actually aren’t.
What traits lead to a strong corporate reputation? Is it thought leadership? A diverse product line? Innovation? Corporate social responsibility efforts? While many are divided on specifics, most would likely agree that reputation is built on a smattering of all of these, along with a few others as well. The one characteristic that might not be as expected, however, is location.
Advertising, although inherently a creative process, offers many opportunities for greater efficiency. Advertising Process Control highlights the many non-creative areas that advertisers, publishers and agencies could and should work to control better to consistently improve their performance across advertising campaigns.
Planning and buying advertising is no easy feat these days, thanks to a rapidly changing media landscape and a shifting population base. And no discussion about advertising would be complete without factoring in the evolving online landscape, particularly as topics like programmatic and viewability dominate so many of today’s conversations.
With the buying power of the U.S. Hispanic market now eclipsing $1.2 trillion annually, marketers are more focused than ever on attracting this lucrative consumer segment to their brands. However, as the number of payment options available increases, the connection between purchase and payment has far-reaching implications.
With the bevy of buzzwords trolling the beauty aisle, choice and variety can make it complicated for shoppers to zero in on just the right product. It can also be tough for brands to know which messages and claims matter most to consumers. So which messages do resonate?
From hedgehogs to soldiers and spies to princesses, many video games give players the chance to assume fantastical roles. However, sometimes players look for the option to be characters who reflect who they are IRL (in real life). But do video game characters reflect the diversity of players today?
Twitter has quickly become the modern water cooler for TV audiences across the U.S., but it’s also proven to be a viable gauge for things like tune-in and brand awareness. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, recent Nielsen research found that social TV can tell them more than just who’s tuned in—it can tell them how engaged audiences are with the shows they watch.
Many major radio formats across the country are tracking the seasonal changes in audience listening as winter winds down and spring begins to appear on the horizon. In looking at the tune-in over the past three months, we see changes—some subtle and some not—that have proliferated after Christmas programming went off the air.
Millennials comprise about one-third of “Opinion Elites,” an influential subset of the public who are highly informed, engaged and active when it comes to social and business issues. And just as Millennials' shopping, dietary and financial decisions differ from those of older generations, younger Opinion Elites (aged 18-34) focus on different qualities than their older peers when assessing a corporate reputation.
Nearly half (49%) of global respondents in Nielsen’s Global Health & Wellness Survey consider themselves overweight, and a similar percentage (50%) is actively trying to lose weight. But men and women are not necessarily aligned with the steps they take in the battle of the bulge.
The current state of the media universe is much like that of the cosmos. The rise in technology and TV-connected devices has given consumers—and thus programmers, marketers, agencies and advertisers—a vehicle for boundless choice.
Advertising Process Control is an advanced state to achieve. Before you can start managing your advertising production process, you need to accurately assess where your organization is on the Advertising Process Control continuum.
With expansive buying power and unique consumption habits, multicultural consumers are an emerging consumer force in the country. And multicultural consumers can fundamentally transform categories when you consider Super Consumers. But understanding the cultural essence that drives multicultural consumer behavior today will be key to building long-term relationships with these growing consumer bases.


text:
United Utilities pays the price for cutting water bills
Cuts to water bills, the cost of supporting struggling households during the pandemic and spending on IT to allow 3,000 of its staff to work from home have hit profits at United Utilities.
The supplier of water to the northwest of England said yesterday that revenues had fallen by 4.4 per cent year-on-year to £894 million for the six months to the end of September. Underlying pre-tax profits fell from £244 million to £213 million.
Despite the decline to profits, the group increased its interim dividend by 1.5 per cent to 14.41p in line with the rate of the CPIH measure of inflation, which includes consumer prices inflation plus owner-occupiers’ housing costs.
United Utilities is a FTSE 100 company valued at more than £6.1 billion.


text:
The Chinese billionaire behind TikTok is Zhang Yiming’s a 36-year-old tech guru whose eye for trends and use of AI has made the app a global phenom. His Company Bytedance is also working with the government to control content within China.
His Beijing-based startup, Bytedance owns TikTok, whose trendy feeds of 15 to 60-second clips features everything from hair-dye tutorials to dance routines and jokes about daily life.
Since its 2017 launching, TikTok has received more than 1.5 billion downloads, according to Sensor Tower a US-based research agency. The app is very popular in India, the US, and Indonesia.
Its rise has also raised security concerns and last month 2 US senators said it could leave users vulnerable to spying by Beijing.
Bytedance, founded by Zhang in 2012, uses artificial intelligence to tailor newsfeeds to users’ interests.
“The new generation… want to share their real feelings, whether good or bad. They are more direct and expressive,” according to Bo Ji, Cheung Kong’s Graduate School of Business assistant dean.
TikTok Begins Testing Link In Bios
Antikythera Island In Greece Wants To Pay People To Move There
Black Friday: 10 Tips to Get The Best Deals
The company experiences “huge and immediate success” because it pays close attention to its young users, he said.
TikTok is Bytedance’s most popular app, while its other products in China and abroad include news aggregators and productivity tools.
Together they have made Zhang a former programmer, a billionaire.
He was listed in the top 20 of the Hurun China Rich List with $13.5 billion in wealth in 2019, surpassing more established tech tycoons, such as the founder of search giant Baidu.
The Unusual Entrepreneur
Zhang’s fortunes were given a huge boost with Bytedance’s 2017 acquisition of lip-syncing video app Musical.ly. It later merged with TikTok, in a deal reportedly worth around $1 billion.
“Mr Zhang is unusual Chinese entrepreneur,” said Bo.
“He built something for the world; he understands the young people and their psychology.”
Make sure to follow Plat4om on Twitter @Plat4omLive, on Instagram @Plat4om, on LinkedIn at Plat4om, and on Facebook at Plat4om. You can also email us firstname.lastname@example.org. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.