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Zentek Ltd (formerly known as ZEN Graphene Solutions and before that, Zenyatta Ventures) is a mineral exploration and development company based in Ontario, Canada. Zentek is developing the Albany Graphite Deposit â a rare hydrothermal graphite deposit with the potential to produce a natural, high-purity graphite that may compete in high-technology markets traditionally reserved for synthetic graphite.
The company's high crystallinity graphite can be upgraded without the use of aggressive acid (HF) or high temperature thermal treatment. Zentek has developed an environmentally friendly metallurgical process flowsheet that consists of grinding, flotation and caustic treatment using sodium hydroxide. The company states that it has been able to achieve an extraordinary carbon purity result of >99.9 percent in bench-scale tests, using this proprietary and environmentally friendly purification process.
According to Zentek, current end uses for its graphene materials include composites (concrete, rubber and plastics), energy storage and environmental applications but many more are under development.
1224 Amber Drive
Thunder Bay ON P7B 6M5
The latest ZEN Graphene news:
Zentek and Pattern Energy to collaborate on icephobic technology for wind turbine industry
Zentek has announced a collaboration with Pattern Energy Group to optimize, test and validate Zentek’s icephobic coating for the wind turbine industry. The partnership is being supported financially by both the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (“NSERC”) and PRIMA Quebec - Advanced Materials Moving Forward.
Pattern Energy develops, constructs, owns, and operates wind turbines and understands the lost efficiency and potential damage to the wind turbine itself and its surroundings that comes from ice accretion on these structures.
Zentek updates on graphene-based icephobic technology for drones
Following its September 2022 announcement on testing of icephobic coating technology, Zentek has now reported successful drone testing, where thrust was maintained under calibrated icing conditions of freezing drizzle and freezing rain in an outdoor, real-world environment. The drone with Zentek's icephobic coating applied to the propeller blades hovered under the outdoor icing rig and, on all tests conducted, maintained flight until the end of the battery life of the drone. The same drone with uncoated propeller blades rapidly lost the ability to maintain flight, according to the Company.
Zentek shared that the coating is a functionalized graphene oxide augmented elastomer.
Zentek announces new project for graphene-enhanced battery components for the automotive industry
Zentek recently announced the start of a 4-year, CAD$1,600,000 (around USD$1,172,000) research project in collaboration with Professors Mohini Sain and Ning Yan from the University of Toronto (“U of T”) and Ford Powertrain Engineering Research and Development Centre (“PERDC”).
Funding for the project includes CAD$1.2 million (around USD$879,000) from the Mitacs Accelerate program. Prof. Sain is the Endowed Ford Motor Canada Chair in Sustainable Materials where he is active in the field of light energy storage including cell chemistry and renewable fuel battery development at PERDC, and Prof. Yan is the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Bioproducts. Collaborating with the PERDC and testing at this facility is essential to demonstrate battery advances at a scale suitable for the automotive industry.
Zentek updates on testing of icephobic coating technology
Zentek recently announced the successful completion of sand erosion testing at the National Research Council (“NRC”) in Ottawa and rain erosion testing at the Anti-icing Materials International Laboratory (“AMIL”) in Quebec on Zentek’s patent-pending Icephobic Coatings. These results were said to demonstrate that the company’s icephobic technology is durable in adverse conditions for both wind turbine and drone industries, where Zentek is currently maintaining its focus.
“We are very happy with both the performance and durability test results for our icephobic coating and look forward to continued testing and demonstration of our technology,” said Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek. “Ice accretion is a significant problem in the drone and wind turbine industries with few robust solutions currently available. We believe our patent-pending technology may be a new innovative approach to addressing a significant global need and look forward to continued discussions with drone and wind turbine market participants who see value in potentially more effective icephobic technologies.”
Zentek announces manufacturing and supply agreement with Viva Healthcare Packaging for graphene-enhanced surgical masks
Zentek recently announced it has entered into a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement with Viva Healthcare Packaging (Canada) Ltd. ("VMedCare”) to manufacture and sell surgical masks enhanced with Zentek’s proprietary ZenGUARD™ antimicrobial coating. During the pandemic, VMedCare became one of the leaders in surgical mask manufacturing in Canada with production of between 15 and 20 million units per month. The partnership between Zentek and VMedCare will create a fully “Made in Canada” source of ZenGUARD™-enhanced masks for the Canadian market.
Under the Agreement, Zentek will provide ZenGUARD™-coated spunbond material to VMedCare, who will be responsible for manufacturing and packaging the ZenGUARD™ surgical masks. Zentek and VMedCare’s combined sales teams will work together to secure sales of the ZenGUARD™-enhanced surgical masks.
Zentek announces opening of its industrial scale ZenGUARD production facility
Zentek has announced that it will be opening its industrial scale ZenGUARD antimicrobial production facility in Guelph, Ontario on June 17th, 2022. This facility is claimed by Zentek to be one of the largest nanomaterials-based manufacturing facilities in the world.
The opening of this facility is an important milestone for our company as it represents our successful journey from the lab, through regulatory and now to industrial commercialization. I would like to personally thank all our employees and vendor partners who put in considerable time and effort to make this happen, said Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek. We’re now ready to begin meeting the growing interest and demand for our ZenGUARD coating.
Zentek’s rapid diagnostic platform receives two NSERC grants
Zentek has announced that McMaster University has received two Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Grants related to the aptamer-based rapid detection technology exclusively licensed by Zentek, pursuant to its license agreement with McMaster: The Alliance Missions Grant for the amount of CAD$1,000,000 (around USD$782,000) and an Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grant for the amount of CAD$350,000 (around USD$274,000) of which Zentek will make a CAD$140,000 (around USD$109,000) contribution. Both of these awards are the maximum awarded under each respective grant program, with disbursements delivered over the next two years.
The research team at McMaster University has achieved significant milestones for the rapid diagnostic platform including the creation of a new ‘universal’ aptamer with a high binding affinity to all known Covid variants, said Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek. Zentek is proud to continue working with the global-leading research team at McMaster University, with significant financial support from NSERC, which is a great endorsement of our technology and goal of commercialization.
Zentek to work with EkoMed on graphene-enhanced PPE
Zentek has announced it has signed a definitive supply agreement with EkoMed Global, a globally integrated manufacturer and distributor of personal protective equipment (PPE), according to which Zentek will sell quantities of its proprietary ZenGUARD coating to EkoMed for use on EkoMed’s surgical masks and potentially other PPE in the future. The agreement also stipulates that Zentek will purchase surgical masks manufactured by EkoMed, to be treated with ZenGUARD coating and resold by Zentek.
This agreement solidifies our relationship with an established and highly competitive player in the PPE space and a potential future innovation partner; both key elements of our global ZenGUARD sales strategy, said Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek. As we seek to gain access to new markets, reliable, high-capacity and high-quality production along with additional sales channels for our patent-pending ZenGUARD technology are crucial. We believe this agreement will establish a solid foundation for Zentek to expand access to ZenGUARD globally. As important, we look forward to working with the EkoMed team to explore incorporating ZenGUARD into other PPE products currently being manufacturing and commercialized by EkoMed.
Zentek announces the development of graphene-wrapped silicon anodes
Zentek has announced the patent-pending development of a graphene-wrapped silicon anode material, developed along with Prof. Michael Pope, an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, and in collaboration Dr. Marianna Uceda and Dr. Zimin She.
Zentek’s CEO, Greg Fenton, commented: We are very pleased to support Dr. Pope and his group at the University of Waterloo. Their innovation has the potential to improve the current lithium-ion battery by upgrading graphite to this graphene-wrapped silicon anode. Not only were the researchers able to demonstrate good performance with laboratory-scale half-cells, the performance was also validated with commercial lithium iron phosphate cathodes suggesting they could be a drop-in solution for enhancing already available battery technologies. We look forward to continuing our support of their research and development to potentially bring this technology to market. The company has begun discussions with a potential industry partner.
Zentek enters agreement with GMAF Circular Medico for graphene-enhanced Circular PPE
Zentek has announced that it has entered into a binding letter of intent with GMAF Circular Medico ApS (GMAF) to produce and sell ZENGuard-enhanced GMAF trademarked recyclable surgical masks (Circular PPE).
Zentek’s Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) allows the Company to work with other manufacturers and distributors around the world to sell Class I PPE products in the Canadian market. Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, ZEN and GMAF have agreed to negotiate a definitive agreement to bring Circular PPETM coated with ZENGuard to the Canadian market while also evaluating regulatory requirements in other target markets. Commercial sales of Circular PPETM with ZENGuard outside of Canada will be subject to applicable regulatory approvals.


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As a younger generation of manufacturing professionals prepares to take the reins, it brings forward new expectations for how facilities, sales teams and plants should operate.
It demands innovative methods of operation using smart devices that can talk to each other and produce real-time data. Using smart phones and living in smart homes, the new generation expects smart factories as well.
“IoT is a new but a very important element in manufacturing,” says Brooks Rhinehart, vice president of strategic accounts at Mutual Mobile, a global firm specializing in mobile development and digital innovation. “The new generation is moving in and asking ‘why don’t we have these types of systems in place?’ But some of these companies have developed processes that have been in place for 20 to 30 years and it’s incredibly difficult to get them to change.”
Austin, Texas-based Mutual Mobile specializes in product strategy, program management, user experience and visual design and digital product development – offering native and hybrid applications built for web, iOS and Android.
It has built more than 600 digital experiences for America’s top brands on-budget and on-time. “The tools we are creating for companies are making a huge and immediate impact on customers and entire industries,” Rhinehart says.
Southwire Company, one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers, partnered with Mutual Mobile to design and build a web app to redefine Southwire’s quoting, ordering and planning process for wiring materials.
The Configurator Plus app is a cloud-connected, username-specific, function-automating tool that allows the user to insert project requirements, visualize materials needed for a quote and make updates to feeder schedule by desktop, laptop or tablet.
“If you’re going to be ordering wire for a data center, it could take weeks to insert all the wiring requirements and job descriptions that would typically be inserted into an Excel spreadsheet,” Rhinehart says. “With so much data being added to a spreadsheet, it’s inevitable that there will be mistakes by simple human error. One small typo could cost as much as a million dollars.”
“Having built-in, sophisticated logic and business rules check your work and provide error messages in real time is a game changer,” Rhinehart continues. “In addition to the customer benefits, removing the need for Southwire resources to review, correct and re-submit a quote has been a tremendous value/cost savings to the organization.”
Designed for contractors, distributors, agents, engineers and sales teams, the app enables users to configure each wire pull by inputting the length, wire type/size, circuit ID/tag info and pulling sequence. Making corrections and adjustments to each process is simple and provides an uncomplicated method for communicating jobsite feeder pulling information.
Mutual Mobile first designed the Configurator app for Southwire in 2012. Last year, it was updated. Prior to the update, the app was only available on the iPad. The new, cloud-based platform can be used with almost any device and provides the user with greater accessibility, more functionality, faster quotes and direct wire requests.
“We can take the RFQ (request for quote) process that previously took weeks and consolidate it into five to 10 minutes with greater confidence in the accuracy of the quote,” Rhinehart adds. “Southwire had thousands of new users almost immediately after the updated release and that number continues to grow.”
Mutual Mobile has designed a number of other unique platforms. One of its partners, a bed manufacturer, wanted to create an app that would allow its customers to monitor their sleep patterns. “We created graphs and unique dashboard tools so they can use the application to monitor their sleep,” Rhinehart says. “But we also found that kids like to play with it and what they really wanted was a flashlight to look under their bed to find monsters. So we gave them a monster finder.”
When an online marketplace for car purchasers and sellers wanted a better solution for purchasing new and used cars, Mutual Mobile approached the challenge through the lens of simplicity.
“They had 99 features on their website,” Rhinehart says. “We asked them what were the four most-used features and created an app that has produced hundreds of millions in advertising revenue. We made it as simple as possible and provided the most value.”
Mutual Mobile also created sophisticated apps for two companies that offer a vehicle subscription service. Customers are charged a recurring fee for the right to use one or more of its cars. The package includes car insurance and maintenance.
“The apps are slightly different,” Rhinehart says. “But they are incredibly sophisticated behind the scenes. They can manage data and finances so the company can organize its business in a digital format. And the end user can use the mobile app to do everything from selecting and picking up their cars, making their payments and scheduling maintenance.”
Mutual Mobile’s design and engineering teams have built and launched some of the world’s most innovative products in industries that include healthcare, automotive, real estate and more recently – manufacturing.
“We can partner with anyone that has a large distribution channel, warehouses or a significant catalog of products that require configuration,” Rhinehart says. “We offer the most value to companies who need digital consolidation and transformation to delight customers and deliver on business goals.”
Although Mutual Mobile’s bread and butter has been mobile development, the company is aggressively scaling its virtual reality department as the market continues to grow.
“Using virtual reality for training is the next wave,” Rhinehart says. “For manufacturers that are looking for a return of investment, virtual training platforms are the way to go.”

domain: news


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Tesla promises to revolutionize the car. But the American manufacturer of high-end electric cars must constantly handle the great personality of his founder, Elon Musk.
Saturday he escaped the worst by signing a friendly agreement with the US stock market gendarmen, accusing him of fraud: he is Tesla's chief executive officer in exchange for his position as chairman of the board and a fine of 20 million.
At 47, the billionaire with whimsical genius will continue to lead the day-to-day business, for better or worse.
Elon Musk's ambition is to make the car a technological jewel that definitely changed to the future, both electrically preserving the environment and appearance of the car of the future, with autonomous management functions
. Tesla was born 15 years ago and greatly benefits from the enthusiasm for the personality of Mr. Musk, often viewed as visually visual and sometimes compared. to you another well-known boss: Steve Jobs, the mythical co-founder of Apple.
"Musk is actually Tesla," as Dawid Whiston, analyst at Morningstar.
Symbol of his company, which he owns 20%. – and his brand, he gives himself body and soul, responding directly to customers through his Twitter account, not hesitant to sleep at his Fremont factory near San Francisco to meet the production goals of his latest Model 3.
Bet according to Elon Musk, with the planned 5,000 vehicles manufactured every week since the end of June, after major delays in production. Victim of his success, it is currently experiencing delays in service delivery.
This car – whose price is currently $ 49,000 at about 75,000 for the Model S – is supposed to be Tesla entering the middle segment.
Result, even though Tesla is only 15 quarters in 15 years profitable and burns hundreds of millions of dollars every quarter. The market valuation is close to that of General Motors, the first American car manufacturer.
A couple of weeks passed without news from Tesla or his boss. The media has had a number of accidents, including fatalities, regarding Tesla and Autopilot driver assistance software in recent months, much to Musk's upset.
The billionaire is known for bloodshed and bloodshed. Perverse tweets, regularly sinned on the stock market.
As when he told financial analysts that their questions "bothered" or "pedophile" he treated a psychologist to save children in a
or when He laughed in the press in August, or in early September, smoking with cannabis for tens of thousands of Internet users.
But on August 7, it goes too far in the eyes of the authorities. In a tweet he mentions an exit from the Tesla Stock Exchange and a "secured" funding. The title Tesla jumps, those who fall into the decline of the game lose a fortune, but do not follow any concrete.
The American Securities Exchange (SEC) Gendarmen swore Elon Musk and demanded that it was not forbidden to list a company for life.
Finally, the friendship agreement will save for the most part Saturday. But this unrest is not necessarily the taste of all investors and customers.
This is Tesla's dilemma, because leaders of his leader are getting tired of Wall Street and costing him a lot. The stock has lost 43% since 7 August.
The SEC reacted on Saturday. Elon Musk, the founder, the main shareholder, is also the "soul" of the company and can continue to manage it day after day. But to isolate genius of its excesses and to "protect investors," she wants a more independent board of directors to oversee "Musk's communication with investors."
"Despite the volatile actions of Mr Musk recently, we think most investors would like to see it in business," said CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson before the deal.
They appreciate it at the stock market at a very high level due to the potential they subscribe to the ability of Mr Musk to grow the group, "he added.
In 1985 appealed to the board of Apple Jobs before appointing its CEO 12 years later.
Tesla investors can vote on the stock market on Monday.


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Jourdan Dunn is cool and casual in latest outfits for Next's sister brand Label
- Supermodel, 23, is clothes horse for Label, which sells designer clothes
- Shows off summer dresses and laidback styles
- Recently unveiled as Balmain model and partied at Wireless festival
Posing for a Balmain campaign with Cara Delevingne, boogying at Wireless with Nicole Scherzinger and modelling for Next's sister label - just a week in the world of supermodel Jourdan Dunn.
The hard-working, jet-setting supermodel, and doting mother to her four-year-old son, has managed to squeeze in yet another fashion shoot, this time for Label - a website full of designer brands.
The 23-year-old catwalk queen looks effortlessly cool and chic as she models feminine summer dresses, fitted snakeskin pencil skirts and casual sportsluxe-inspired looks.
Does this girl ever sleep? Fresh from her glitzy Balmain campaign and a weekend of partying at Wireless festival, Jourdan Dunn has been unveiled as the face of Label
Label called on Jourdan to help showcase the new additions to its website, which includes clothes from Coast, Carvela, Steve Madden, and Bertie, in addition to existing brands including Hobbs, LK Bennett, Warehouse, Oasis, Nike and Lipsy.
Earlier this year, the six foot clothes horse was unveiled as the new face of Maybelline New York, where she joins an elite group of models, including Christy Turlington, Adriana Lima, Erin Wasson, Emily DiDonato and Mollie King.
Svelte physique: Jourdan shows off the new additions to Label's website, which includes clothes from Coast, Carvela, Steve Madden, and Bertie
Sporty chic: Jourdan, who has a young son called Riley, looks fresh-faced and cool in the new campaign
As a British Vogue regular, who has worked for the likes of DKNY and Burberry, Jourdan was on the road to success very early in her career.
Speaking at the Vogue
Festival recently, Jourdan opened up about her insecurities growing
up: 'I was very tall and lanky and I wasn't really feeling myself when I
was growing up at all.
'Especially because, coming from a Caribbean background, curves are celebrated and me being really tall and skinny wouldn't [be]. So I was like... didn't want to go out or be seen or anything.'
Talents: In addition to being a model mother and philanthropist, Jourdan is a self-taught cook and hosts a lifestyle and cooking program titled 'Well Dunn with Jourdan Dunn'
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New home sales drop 11.2 percent, hit record low in January
WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes plunged to a record low in January, underscoring the formidable challenges facing the housing industry as it tries to recover from the worst slump in decades.
The Commerce Department reported yesterday that new home sales dropped 11.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 309,000 units, the lowest level on records going back nearly a half century. The big drop was a surprise to economists who were expecting a 5 percent increase over December's pace.
While winter storms were partly to blame, home sales have fallen for three straight months despite sweeping government support. Economists were already worried that an improvement in sales in the second half of last year could falter as various government support programs are withdrawn.
January's weakness was evident in all regions except the Midwest, where sales posted a 2.1 percent increase. Sales were down 35 percent in the Northeast, 12 percent in the West and almost 10 percent in the South.
The drop in sales pushed the median sales price down to $203,500. That was down 5.6 percent from December's median sales price of $215,600, and off 2.4 percent from year-ago prices.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


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KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to provide RM200 assistance for six months to padi farmers waiting for the harvest period, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
He said the assistance had been discussed with the finance ministry and would be included in Budget 2023 expected to be tabled in October.
“A total of RM200 (will be given) for three months for two seasons, which is six months, to help them while waiting for the padi to be harvested,” he said at a dinner before officiating the 48th annual general meeting of the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) here last night.
Ismail said that previously, rubber tappers received assistance during the monsoon season as they had no income for three months – November, December and January.
“At that time, I was a minister (of rural and regional development). Fishermen, including inland fishermen, also received allowances of between RM200 and RM300. I was surprised that padi farmers didn’t receive such aid,” he said.
On the issue of controlling chicken and egg prices, Ismail recommended that Nafas control the supply chain to help the government and prevent it from being “held to ransom” by suppliers.
“I agree on Nafas controlling the poultry production chain but I also hope it controls the supply chain for poultry production from feed to chickens.
“There are enough Nafas members, and they can venture into the market (as poultry supply producers),” he said.-BERNAMA


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St Anne’s Hall Fundraising Group in Earlham to hold car boot sale to help repair church hall devastated by arson attack
- Credit: Archant
A car boot sale has been organised by a fundraising team to help towards repairing a church hall in Norwich following a devastating arson attack which happened earlier this year.
St Anne's Church Hall in Earlham was devastated by the fire which happened on February 17, destroying windows, damaging the kitchen and ruining tables, chairs, toys, books and art equipment.
Now, in a bid to look towards the future, the St Anne's Hall Fundraising Group is holding the car boot sale this Saturday from 10am.
There will be outdoor car boot spaces on the car park and table top sales on the grass as well as outdoor activities for children and a bouncy castle. Refreshments will also be served.
• Stalls cost £5 and can be booked by ringing Clare on 07970 661534 or visiting Maxine at 180 Colman Road.


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Seagate Technology (STX), as expected, lowered expectations at its analyst day Friday, suggesting revenue would be at least 5% below previous projections for the September quarter.
Seagate now expects company revenue to be 5% to 7% lower than its $4 billion target. It also expects total shipments of disk drives by all companies would be about 10% lower than prior expectations. It expects the disk-drive market to be in the range of 140 million to 143 million units for the third quarter.
Western Digital (WDC), at its analyst conference last week, estimated 140 million total units.
Seagate expects industry revenue to grow at a compound annual rate of 5% over the next few years, above the 3% projection Western Digital provided.
Shares of Seagate were up 3% in afternoon trading Friday. Western Digital also were up 3%.
"Seagate appears to be more optimistic than Western Digital currently," wrote equity analyst Shebly Seyrafi at FBN Securities, in a research report Friday.
"This could be partly because Western Digital is busy running two separate entities," referring to its own operation and the recently acquired Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.
He maintained an "outperform" rating on Seagate, with a price target of 32 to 35. It currently trades below 31.
"Still, investors should be mindful that pricing has indeed become more aggressive recently," he wrote.
In the fourth quarter, Seagate expects disk-drive demand to be in the range of 150 million to 155 million units, below expectations of about 168 million.
Seagate and Western Digital supply about 80% of the global disk-drive market. The market is currently confronting head winds, such as a slowdown in PC sales, but demand looks strong overall for the rest of the decade, as IBD reported.


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Blizzard has outlined its plans for Hearthstone over the next couple of months.
THQ Nordic has added two more IPs to its growing catalog.
Square Enix has released a debut trailer for World of Final Fantasy Maxima.
The Battlefield V beta was all about team coordination—arguably too much so.
Fallout 76's consensual PvP mechanic should be in every online game, especially Red Dead Online.
Capcom Vancouver, the studio behind the Dead Rising games, has just closed its doors forever.
Nintendo is borrowing a few tricks from the most popular Pokémon mobile game for Pokémon: Lets's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!


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It may seem shocking, but apparently not everyone loves those “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.” A new report is telling us that only one in five millennials have ever eaten a McDonald’s Big Mac!
The Big Mac has been one of the top-selling sandwiches in the U.S.A. for decades, but today’s generation seems far less interested in the delectable burger. In fact, millennials seem less interested in many of the nation’s oldest fast food outlets, not just McDonald’s. But McDonald’s seem to have been particularly hard hit.
As McDonald’s becomes “less relevant,” only one in five millennials have ever even had a Big Mac and sales of the famed burger have been flat for the past few years. And even before that, McDonald’s financial reports show, the chain was only growing at a low 2 percent rate, Fox News reported.
It appears that McDonald’s is losing market share to more gourmet fast food start-ups like “Five Guys” and “Smashburger,” Mexican restaurant “Qdoba,” noodle outlet “Noodles,” Chinese-style restaurant “Panda Express,” and other higher end fast food shops that have proliferated in the last decade.
Unfortunately for McDonald’s, the chain has struggled to push its menu in a more gourmet direction. As Fox noted:
The mid-1990s Arch Deluxe, with a potato-flour bun and mayonnaise-mustard sauce, didn’t fly with a $2.49 price tag, then 32 cents more than a Big Mac, and was phased out in 1998. In 2009, customers found $4 to $5 for a line of Angus beef burgers too expensive. Last year, McDonald’s tried again to introduce a more-premium burger made from sirloin, a choicer cut of beef, but customers weren’t willing to pay $5 for that, either.
Even worse for the nation’s largest fast food chain, a recent survey of customers maintained that the quality of the restaurant’s burgers has slipped.
“The world isn’t waiting for another burger from McDonald’s,” one former senior McDonald’s executive told Fox News. “It’s waiting for a better burger from McDonald’s.”
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Was Mylan The First To Set Its Sights On Ranbaxy?
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Way before Sun Pharma swooped in to buy Ranbaxy, industry experts say Mylan may have taken a close look at buying the company. Although the world’s fourth-largest drug maker pulled out initially, sources say negotiations may still be revolving around sourcing raw materials for esomeprazole, an exclusive drug launch opportunity that could brighten Ranbaxy’s U.S. fortunes.
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Ranbaxy’s ability to launch generic versions of AstraZeneca’s blockbuster Nexium in the U.S. on May 27 was uncertain already. Sun’s proposed $4 billion acquisition of Ranbaxy could further distract the troubled Indian generics firm from achieving that goal.
A rising number of enforcement actions by major drug regulators like the U.S. FDA is slowly making investors cautious about the longer term repercussions on earnings of Indian drug makers.
In a bold move, little known Indian drug firm Lee Pharma has applied for a compulsory license for saxagliptin in India, contending that AstraZeneca sells the diabetes drug at an exorbitant local price and that it is not being made sufficiently available. Lee also says that the originator has not responded to calls to collaborate.


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Who doesn’t like slow smoked barbecue and free ice cream? Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Menomonie is the place to be on Friday, July 6. The first 100 customers will receive a free pulled pork big barbecue sandwich.”There is nothing better than Dickey’s slow-smoked barbecue, served fast,” said franchise owner Butch Berg. “It’s a fantastic franchise with great food.”
This new restaurant is located at 1320 North Broadway and the store phone number is 715-318-0988. Dickey’s is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
“We chose Menomonie because it has a good culture and is home to many great businesses,” said Berg. “There is always something you can do here and now you will be able to enjoy slow-smoked barbecue.”
Since 1941, the world’s largest barbecue franchise has offered free kids meals every Sunday and affordable family packs designed to bring the whole family together for dinner. Family packs come with a choice of two meats, three medium sides, six rolls and Dickey’s famous barbecue sauce.
Founded in 1941, Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants began in Dallas, Texas. More than 70 years later, Dickey’s is now the world’s largest barbecue chain. Currently, Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants is located in 43 states and over 230 locations nationwide. For more information on partnering with Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants in any location, call (866) 340-6188 or visit www.dickeys.com. Also visit our corporate Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dickeysbarbecuepit. Dickey’s: Passionate about the Art of Great Barbecue.
For Dickey’s franchise information, please visit www.dickeys.com/franchise/.


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The parent company that owns TikTok is far more than just short-span meme videos. ByteDance has shown a lot of interest in the gaming industry with some key staffing and investments in the past. However, its move this week may be one of the largest yet. Recently, ByteDance just announced acquisition of mobile game developer Moonton, which happens to run the highly popular mobile MOBA title Mobile Legends. The deal came out to the alleged tune of $4 billion.
ByteDance’s acquisition of Mobile Legends developer Moonton was reported on Reuters on March 22, 2021 by sources familiar with the deal. Mobile Legends is a highly popular game that enjoys a large player population worldwide, and especially in Southeast Asia. It’s the latest pickup by ByteDance’s growing gaming division known as Nuverse, which has stacked its staff with around 2,000 employees and aims to push into direct competition with fellow Chinese gaming company Tencent. With Mobile Legends having already crossed $1 billion in revenue, it’s a huge signal of ByteDance’s efforts grab a sizable place in the gaming scene, as noted by analyst Daniel “ZhugeEX” Ahmad.
Bytedance has been acquiring and investing in game related companies for a few years now, with Shanghai based Moonton being the latest one— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) March 22, 2021
Mobile Legends, which is popular in SEA, has over 90m MAU and nearly $1bn in revenue.
Our coverage: https://t.co/ohBM5IhghX
ByteDance didn’t share the full details on the acquisition, but it did share a statement with Reuters in response to the matter.
“Through cross-team collaboration and drawing on lessons and insights from its own rapid growth, Moonton provides the strategic support needed to accelerate Nuverse’s global gaming offerings,” ByteDance wrote.
Interestingly, Tencent itself made a huge bid on acquisition of Moonton as well, but ByteDance was not only able to outbid, but take the acquisition to the finish line. With TikTok as a notable source of conversation in pop culture and concerns of privacy, it found itself at risk of a ban in the United States last year, but was eventually able to partner with Oracle to sell off its sizeable North American operations.
With its latest acquisition of Moonton and Mobile Legends, ByteDance continues to signal that Tencent isn’t the only gaming behemoth in China, though it has often seemed like it. It will remain to be seen how much these supermassive groups continue to butt heads in the future as TikTok remains popular and both ByteDance and Tencent continue to acquire and invest in gaming studios left and right.
TJ Denzer posted a new article, TikTok parent company ByteDance acquires Mobile Legends dev in $4 billion deal
4 billion dollars, that's a lot of cash


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The tally of fake Apple stores in China keeps rising; at the latest count, there are nearly a half-dozen more of them.
According to Xinhua's English edition, the Chinese Administration for Industry and Commerce in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming have uncovered 22 additional stores using the Apple logo without authorization from the company.
The report confirmed that "the 22 stores have been ordered to stop using Apple's logo after Apple China accused them of violation of the exclusive use of registered trademark as well as unfair competition. The agency said it would open a complaint hotline and step up monitoring over market competition to prevent similar cases from occurring."
Initially, the "BirdAbroad" blog exposed the first of the fake Apple stores in a blog post entitled “Are you listening, Steve Jobs?” in which she described the impressive resemblance between the fake stores and real Apple Stores -- a level of detail that extended to the employees, many of whom were under the impression that they were actual Apple employees. The blogger stated that there were some telltale signs and some 'shoddy workmanship' that tipped her off
BirdAbroad went on to say that she'd left the store and found another two Apple Store facsimiles only blocks away. The response from both Apple and customers was swift and angry, with many wondering if the products that they'd purchased were genuine or also knock-offs -- a significant question that the authorities have yet to answer. The resulting investigations from local authorities uncovered even more fake stores, although some attempted to downplay the assertions, saying that they were simply awaiting authorized reseller licenses from Apple.
While China has strict laws that prohibit businesses from coming too close to the "look and feel" of another company, the country is also considered by several Western nations to have an insufficient record of preventing and policing intellectual property abuses.
James Lee Phillips is a Senior Writer & Research Analyst for IBG.com. With offices in Dallas, Las Vegas, and New York, & London, IBG is quickly becoming the leading expert in Internet Marketing, Local Search, SEO, Website Development and Reputation Management. More information can be found at www.ibg.com. GreenMonsterUSA.com offers renewable energy solutions from solar to the latest green technologies. Experience Green Monster today.


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As K-Pop stars continue to blaze a trail through the fashion world, French maison Givenchy announce Big Band member and solo artist Taeyang as their latest ambassador, and first male South Korean figure to take on the role.
Creative director Matthew M. Williams said of the announcement; “Taeyang is an inspiring artist – a music pioneer with an authentic, barrier-breaking way of expressing his own personal style, which perfectly fits with today’s Givenchy aesthetic.”
Dubbed “the kings of K-Pop”, Big Band were one of the first groups from the genre to break out worldwide, earning a reputation as one of the biggest boy bands of this generation. This newly appointed position comes at a time when Taeyang is ushering in a new chapter, forging a solo career with hit singles such as Vibe topping iTunes charts in over 600 countries and armed with an ever-growing loyal fan base. Taeyang said of his collaboration with the Parisian brand; “I am grateful to be able to start this new chapter of my life with Givenchy. It holds a special meaning to me, as Givenchy is a brand that has inspired me in many ways over the years.”


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Obama: US ending outdated approach to Cuba
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and an easing in economic and travel restrictions on Cuba.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 03/21/14 --
Companies that pride themselves on being eco-friendly may have conflicted
ideas between marketing with ad specialties and maintaining their green
NO CHARGES TO BE FILED AGAINST BILL COSBY IN MOLESTATION CLAIM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bill Cosby won't face charges in 2014 for an incident that allegedly took place in 1974.
PARIS (AP) -- It's a frozen proposal -- at one of the most romantic spots in Paris.
IN THE NEWS: APPLE PREVAILS IN iPOD CASE
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Apple has won a case in a lawsuit over one of its iPod music players.


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Sports Illustrated remained the most popular magazine for automaker advertising in the first half of 2004.
Car companies spent $75.8 million to advertise in the magazine between January and June, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. That was a 6.2 percent increase over the year-ago period.
Among enthusiast magazines, Car and Driver attracted $39.1 million in auto advertising during the first six months, 4.2 percent more than in the same period of 2003. The buff book ranked third in ad spending among all magazines.
Automotive advertising is growing most quickly - in both revenue and pages - in the category of magazines that includes women's, cooking, shelter, travel and entertainment titles. Car companies increasingly are working with food and travel magazines to sponsor consumer promotions and special events.
People Weekly, the largest magazine in that category, had $35.5 million in automotive ad spending in the first half of this year. That was a 23.9 percent increase from the year-ago period. People ranked No. 5 in spending in all magazines.
Among the top 50 U.S. magazines ranked by automotive advertising dollars, Cosmopolitan had the largest percentage increase in spending. The women's magazine attracted $6.51 million in auto ad spending in the first half of the year. That was a jump of 130.5 percent over the year-ago period.
The biggest loser, in percentage terms, was Travel & Leisure. The$8.7 million that automakers spent to advertise in the magazine in the first half of 2004 was 31.1 percent below the comparable 2003 total.
According to the annual National Directory of Magazines, 389 auto enthusiast magazines are published in the United States. That total reflects a loss of 91 titles since 2000.
Says Deborah Striplin, editorial director of the directory: "Magazines are becoming more focused."


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The global solution for payroll professionals, combines custom research, strategic white papers, country primers, webinars, and the expert guidance you’ve come...
By Jared Mondschein
Jan. 7— All tax payments must be paid online beginning July 1, 2016, the Indonesian Director General of Tax said in a Dec. 31 release.
The transition to electronic payments has already begun. Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the only remaining locations still permitted to accept manual tax payments are the four state-owned banks of Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia and Bank Tabungan Negara, as well as PT Pos Indonesia, the release said.
Previously, employers in Indonesia were required to manually submit tax payments at almost any bank or post office.
To access the online tax payment system, taxpayers must first register at http://sse.pajak.go.id with their tax number and e-mail address.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jared Mondschein at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Baer at firstname.lastname@example.org
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France has taken the next step into introducing mandatory B2B e-invoicing, which it plans to roll out in stages.
A bill has been introduced outlining the imposition of mandatory France B2B e-invoicing for large firms from 1 January 2023.
The e-invoicing requirement will extend to medium-sized companies in 2024 and small businesses in 2025.
Companies are advised to ensure they have effective automated systems in place to ensure they can easily comply when the legislation comes into effect.
As of 2017, France already requires e-invoicing for B2G transactions, requiring businesses to file invoices via the Chorus PRO electronic platform.
The Italian example
In order to comply with EU requirements, France is required to demonstrate the switch to mandatory e-invoicing will meet specified criteria, such as helping to reduce tax evasion.
France will not be the first EU state to require mandatory B2B e-invoicing. Italy successfully introduced mandatory e-invoicing in 2019.
It stands to reason that further EU states will follow suit, and businesses should keep up to with invoicing requirements as they evolve.
Vatglobal is closely monitoring invoicing and compliance regulations in every EU jurisdiction. Our regional experts are available to clarify any VAT filing queries you have.


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Huawei Operating System
Huawei Operating System; The Chinese company, Huawei launches its own operating system to rival Android. As the company faced the threat of losing access to the android system amid the US-China trade war. The head of the Huawei consumer’s business held the press conference and said that Huawei launches its own operating system and the new system would bring more harmony and convenience to the world.
The decision was much needed as there is a trade war between the US and China and the US threatened the company to remove its access to Google’s Android operating system. YU, the head of the company said that the new Huawei Operating System would be more smooth and secure and would be completely different from Google’s Android operating system.
Also read our articles on
- VR World: How Virtual Reality Works, Types and Benefits
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- What Is 5G? 5G Speed & How Does 5G Works? Everything You Need to Know About 5G Network
Huawei said that the Huawei Operating System would be launched at the end of the year. However, YU said, “If you’re asking when will we apply this to the smartphone, we can do it at any time,” he further added that they give a priority to use Google’s Android operating system as it is compatible to use. “However, if we cannot use it (Google’s Android) in the future, we would shift towards our own operating system”, he said.
Huawei is considered as the leader in the fastest fifth-generation (5G) technology and the second-largest producer of smartphones in the world. The company has been blacklisted by the US president, Donald Trump, and was being accused to provide a backdoor for Chinese intelligence agencies. However, the company denied the allegations.
As the company is blacklisted by the US government, the American companies are no longer allowed to sell technology products to the firm, but the US government granted a three months exemption period that would end the next week. However, Beijing is not happy with the US decision of blacklisting and called the decision as an “abuse of the state power.”
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The Essex County housing market surged again in the second quarter of 2017, with increases in both sales and prices coupled with another drop in available inventory.
Sales. Essex sales activity was up again, rising over 13% from the second quarter of last year. For the rolling year, sales are now up over 7%. Indeed, Essex closed over 5,300 units over the rolling year, the largest 12-month total since the height of the last seller’s market over 10 years ago, and up almost 70% from the bottom of the market in 2011.
Prices. Essex buyer demand is finally showing signs of an impact on pricing. Compared to the second quarter of last year, the average price was up over 2% and the median was up almost 4%. More importantly, we’re starting to see meaningful long-term price appreciation, with the average up almost 2% for the rolling year. With inventory continuing to fall and buyer demand relatively strong, we would expect prices to gain some momentum in the Summer.
Inventory. Essex inventory fell again, dropping over 24% from last year’s second quarter and now down to just about six months. We measure “months of inventory” by calculating the number of months it would take to sell all the available homes at the current rate of absorption, and generally consider anything below six months to signal a seller’s market that would normally drive prices up.
Negotiability. The negotiability indicators – the amount of time sold homes were on the market, and the rate at which sellers were able to retain their full asking price – suggested that sellers might be gaining significant negotiating leverage. Most notably, the listing retention rate crossed the 100% threshold for the first time in memory, rising over two percentage points to 101.8%. That’s remarkable. Similarly, the days-on-market fell by two weeks, and is now down to under four months of market time. Those are both positive signals of potential future appreciation.
Going forward, we expect that Essex County’s sales activity will continue to have a meaningful impact on pricing. With homes still at historically affordable prices, interest rates low, and a generally improving economy, we believe that low inventory levels coupled with stable buyer demand will drive modest but meaningful price appreciation through a robust Summer market and the rest of 2017.


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The world’s first electric fire engine was launched in Scotland earlier this month, manufactured by Cumnock-based Emergency One
, the UK’s leading manufacturer of fire, rescue and emergency vehicles.
The company has been supported by Scottish Enterprise
and is poised to target international markets with the new net-zero emergency vehicle.
The new ‘E1 EV0’ fire engine uses battery power for both its engine and water hose pump and is a direct result of significant development work by Emergency One.
Scottish Enterprise’s innovation teams worked closely with the company to support the project and awarded a £500,000 R&D grant last year as a contribution towards the company’s £1.7 million R&D investment in the new vehicle development.
Emergency One launched the new vehicle at a special online event on 9 October. Mike Madsen, Emergency One managing director said: “We are excited to unveil our E1 EV0 - the world’s first all-electric pumping appliance, and our innovative contribution towards a low-carbon economy. We look forward to seeing the reaction from our customer base and the wider public.”
Speaking following the launch, Michael Matheson, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, said: “Alongside our ambition to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, we have set out ambitious targets for the Scottish public sector to decarbonise their vehicle fleets.
“It is great to see Emergency One innovating to bring a cutting edge zero-emission fire appliance to market, manufactured right here in Scotland.
“I look forward to seeing further innovations in the zero-emission marketplace as we work towards our net-zero targets and air quality objectives.”
Linda Hanna, Scottish Enterprise managing director, said: “Emergency One is a fantastic example of a Scottish manufacturer with export ambitions. We want to inspire more businesses to explore innovation, sustainability and exporting because we know this will help both their business recovery and Scotland’s green economic recovery.
“Scottish Enterprise is proud to have worked with this company over many years and to have supported this project to create the world’s first net-zero fire engine, built in Cumnock, that will not only save lives in the role it will serve but also contribute to Scotland’s wider low carbon targets.”


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If you're the type of person who walks around with Hot Cheeto fingers, you're going to be stoked that a chipotle ranch flavor has hit store shelves.
As first seen at the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago this past May, the Flamin' Hot Chipotle Ranch Cheetos have hit stores sooner than expected, according to Junk Banter.
The new spicy snack was supposed to make its debut in July, but has been spotted in stores across the country, from Target, to Safeway, to Walmart, and even Ralphs.
As someone who despises ranch, I will not be taking the bullet to let you know how they taste, but I trust our buddy Ben at Snack Cellar when he said, "I didn't think it was possible to beat the GOAT Flamin' Hot Cheetos, but these new Chipotle Ranch Flamin' Hot Cheetos just might have what it takes."
So give these a try, ranch lovers. You just might have a new favorite Hot Cheeto.


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With record viewership expected, total consumer spending around the Super Bowl is expected to reach nearly $12.3 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). The average game watcher will spend $68.54 on new televisions, snacks, décor and athletic apparel, up from $63.87 last year.
The survey, conducted by BIGinsight, estimates that more than 179.1 million people will watch the game on Feb. 3, the most in the survey's nine-year history and up from an estimated 172.5 million last year.
Many of the purchases are tied to party planning. The survey found 39.4 million people (16.6 percent) will throw a party, and another 59.9 million (25.2 percent) will attend a party. Only 4.3 percent plan to watch the game at a restaurant or a bar.
Around purchases, the survey found:
Asked what was the most important part of the Super Bowl, only 45.3 percent said it was the actual game. More than one-quarter (26.2 percent) agreed it is the commercials; 18.8 percent, getting together with friends; and 9.6 percent, the Half Time Show.
But food takes center stage. Several surveys tout Super Bowl Sunday as the second biggest eating day of the year after Thanksgiving. The National Chicken Council predicts that 1.23 billion wing portions will be consumed over the weekend. The Hass Avocado Board estimates that 79 million pounds or 158 million avocados will be devoured during game gatherings this year.
Although articles are yet again already touting healthier alternatives for the day, Super Bowl Sunday remains a decadent food and drink day. "The dieter" — described as the "one counting calories on one of the most celebrated days of junk food" — ranked fourth in a survey of "most unwelcome" Super Bowl party guests, according to CouponCabin.com. A survey from Century 21 Real Estate found that 22 percent of 18-34 year olds plan to call in sick to work the next day.
What type of payback will retailers get from promoting healthier food options for Super Bowl Sunday?


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Hogwarts Legacy’s release has been a bit of a popular topic of conversation of late. Though some rumours had claimed that the game would be delayed, other developments have said that it’s expected to launch this year, and that its development is actually going well. The game’s publisher, meanwhile, has insisted on more than one occasion that it’s going to launch in 2022.
When exactly in 2022 though? Well, according to known leaker @accngt on Twitter, Hogwarts Legacy is currently targeting a September launch. Meanwhile, the game’s next trailer will apparently focus on “skills” and “abilities” and is expected to be shown at a PlayStation even in either February or March. This in particular is something that has been claimed in recent rumours as well.
It has been quite some time since Hogwarts Legacy’s reveal trailer, and in the time since then, official updates and details on the game have been scant, if that. If the game is indeed set to launch this year, we should hopefully be hearing more about it in the next couple of months.
Whenever it launches, Hogwarts Legacy will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
On Hogwarts Legacy because some people have asked about that, expect a September release, next trailer based on skills / abilities in February / March (PlayStation event in any case)
— AccountNGT (@accngt) January 29, 2022


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‘Weirdly’ Priced Out of Advertising Deals: ‘We Could Have Made a Lot of Money’
Bloomberg: We could have made a lot of money selling advertising on social media platforms like Twitter.
That’s the conclusion that many ad buyers have reached, but it is also a stark reminder of the challenge of navigating a new industry, where brands are increasingly struggling to sell their products.
The challenge is even greater for companies that have long sought to monetize their digital presence, such as the music streaming service Spotify, the travel site Expedia and the food delivery company DoorDash.
These companies also face pressure to maintain a steady revenue stream even as the number of users on their platforms continues to rise.
But it is a challenge that few are taking seriously.
Advertisers are starting to realize they can’t expect to get rich selling ads on Twitter or Facebook, said Jim Rennie, a former chief executive of ad agency DoubleVell and co-founder of Rennies Group.
“The reality is they’re doing the math and they’re starting to think about the fact that the average advertiser on Twitter and Facebook is not going to make any money,” Renni said.
That has been one of the most telling insights of the past year: The number of people who visit an advertiser’s Facebook page on a given day on average has grown by 25 percent since 2014.
That number is nearly twice what it was a decade ago, according to a study from the research firm Kantar Media.
The trend has been fueled by two key factors: a rise in the popularity of mobile devices and the rise of online marketing platforms like YouTube and Facebook, which have enabled marketers to leverage the power of their networks and create content for users to view on their devices.
While it’s unclear exactly how many people are using these platforms, the growth has led to an unprecedented surge in ad spend, which now accounts for about half of online ad spending, according the Digital Advertising Alliance, a trade group.
That money has helped drive the digital ad market to new heights, driven in part by the proliferation of social media advertising.
The total value of all the social media ads sold last year was $2.8 billion, up 22 percent from the same period a year ago, the industry’s biggest year-over-year gain in the history of online advertising, according of Kantar’s latest report.
Social media has allowed advertisers to reach an unprecedented share of the $3.7 trillion market for media in the United States, up from $2 trillion a year earlier, the association reported.
The growth is fueled by an explosion in online ad spend and, increasingly, the popularity and accessibility of mobile apps, which are increasingly used by millions of people.
“This is the first time we’ve ever seen that kind of growth,” said Rob Parnas, chief marketing officer at digital advertising company Avis Budgeting, which represents about 40 major advertising agencies.
“That is a lot more than just advertising, that is a way of life.”
The growth has come at a price, as the amount of money marketers are paying for digital ads has grown more than threefold since 2014, according and estimates by research firm comScore.
The median total revenue per user for digital marketers in 2016, a year that includes the social ad growth, was $1,542, according data from comScore from August through October.
That figure is up by about 40 percent from 2015, according ComScore.
Averages in 2018 were nearly $3,000 per user.
Ad dollars are on the rise at nearly the same rate.
In 2018, the average brand spent $10.85 on digital ads, up 13 percent from 2016.
“We’ve been paying more for content and for social media for years, but now we’re seeing it pay off,” said Jim Stahl, a partner at DoubleVells.
“They’re doing more and more digital ads on platforms that they can monetize, and now they’re paying the bills.”
The big winners, in a word: advertisers.
According to a report by market research firm Fulfillment.com, which tracks digital advertising revenue, brands are seeing the largest return on investment in digital ads ever, growing an average of 6 percent in 2017 and 6 percent last year.
That makes them the top-performing digital advertising advertisers in the U.S. They’re also the ones who have the highest overall returns on investment, with an average return of 9.8 percent, Fulfilment said.
“It’s a new revenue stream for brands and it’s going to help them continue to invest in new ways to reach new audiences,” said Chris Ries, an analyst at Fulfilled, who noted that social ads are now the fastest growing form of advertising.
That growth has helped advertisers generate a net gain of $1.6 billion in ad dollars in 2017, according Fulfills data.
That is a 15 percent gain from the previous year, which Fulfiller attributed to an uptick in online advertising spending


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iPhone assembler Foxconn has bought an EV factory in Ohio in a $230M deal. The purchase was made from electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors.
While a key Apple supplier buying an EV plant in the US will inevitably create speculation about potential Apple Car production, this appears unlikely …
The Verge reports that the deal will see the two companies work together to manufacture electric pickups at the plant.
Foxconn is buying an automotive factory from struggling EV startup Lordstown Motors for around $230 million, the companies announced late Thursday. Foxconn says it has agreed to build Lordstown Motors’ electric pickup truck at the plant, which is where General Motors used to make the Chevrolet Cruze, and that the startup will remain a tenant there. Lordstown Motors will also “agree to provide Foxconn with certain rights with respect to future vehicle programs.”
The deal gives the Taiwanese conglomerate its first automotive factory, and a significant new presence in the United States — one that the company will use as it tries to establish itself as a global electric vehicle automaker […]
Foxconn has spent much of the last year talking about expanding into electric vehicles as a way to diversify away from consumer electronics. It has struck deals with the likes of Geely, which is China’s largest private automaker, as well as Fisker Inc., a California EV startup that has yet to make an electric vehicle. Foxconn has also developed its own electric vehicle platform that it intends to sell to other automakers.
Foxconn is also injecting cash into the struggling startup by buying $50M worth of Lordstown Motors shares.
The report itself already makes it unlikely that the plant will be used to manufacture Apple Cars, as it’s clear the intention is to continue Lordstown production there. But it’s even more unlikely that the Cupertino company would use a production line created for pickup trucks by a small startup, rather than partnering with a major manufacturer or having a supplier construct a dedicated facility.
It does, in any case, remain unclear whether Apple plans to actually sell a complete car, or simply play some role in developing self-driving car tech that would integrate third-party cars into its own product ecosystem.
Apple’s car project has gone through a turbulent series of changes over the years, the most recent of which was Apple VP Doug Field stepping down to move to Ford, with technology VP Kevin Lynch replacing him.
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THE city council is looking for a supplier to help it introduce a free wifi service in the centre of Leicester. Asian Lite reports
Leicester City Council is hoping to introduce the service for anyone who wants to get online in the city centre, and is inviting companies to submit tenders for the work.
If successful, a free wifi zone could be established in the central part of the city, in an area including Clock Tower, Abbey Park, Leicester University and Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The idea is to promote wider digital access and help people to find out more about Leicester.
City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We already have free wifi in our libraries and we know how popular wifi hotspots in city centre coffee shops and other venues are. We’d like to be able to extend this offer so that people can get online even more easily.
“Free wifi could also help promote economic growth in the city.
“The successful provider would not be allowed to keep any data on users who access the wifi, and the project would not cost the council anything.
“The successful bidder would be able to use our street furniture to provide the service, so they wouldn’t need to install any extra infrastructure of their own. They’d benefit from the publicity of providing this free service for us.”
Visitors to the city centre can already use their smartphones to scan QR codes on information boards around the city. The codes link to web pages which give more information on Leicester’s history and heritage.
There is also an interactive heritage app available at Leicester Castle.
The wifi could have a projected speed of around 7mbs per second – enough to makes apps and online information easy to download.
Once a tender is decided upon and a company appointed, it is expected that the wifi service would go live at the beginning of March next year.


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The core business of infoisLive.com is to develop cross-media portals for
Internet content providers. The portals can run on WAP phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs)
and WebTV platforms.
infoislive.com has already teamed up with five of the six mobile operators
in Hong Kong – C&W HKT, Hutchison Telephone, New World, Peoples and
SmarTone – to offer portal-enabled interactive mobile WAP services.
hongkong.com plans to launch portal-enabled WAP services for mobile users
this year based on the technology provided by infoislive.com.
According to company officials, potential applications can be based on
communication modes (mobile ICQ and e-mail), entertainment and e-commerce.
hongkong.com had approximately 3 million daily pageviews
as at the end of February, company officials said.
hongkong.com, a subsidiary of chinadotcom, has established partnerships with a number of Internet companies
including AOL, Netscape, 24/7 Asia, RealNetworks, Visitalk.com, TheBigstore,
Xinhua, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and eBay.


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Hasbro's mail-outs are usually a fairly dry affair, but the most recent Christmas email contained a very interesting graphic.
Looks like there will be a big announcement on Boxing Day, but what could it be?
German blog Dartblaster.de recently went on a visit to Hasbro HQ in Germany and managed to give us a glimpse of a brand new ZS blaster. Could this be what all the fuss is about?
Fire up that rumour mill and let us know what you think.


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The first drama of the forthcoming prime-time television season is already being played out on Madison Avenue, and NBC, CBS and ABC do not much like the script.
The networks are wrapping up advance sales of advertising time for their 1986-87 prime time schedules, and after decades of demanding and receiving sharply higher rates, they are being forced to cut prices or accept only moderate increases, compared with last year's levels.
Weak advertising demand has actually led ABC and CBS to drop their rates for many advertisers from 1985 prices - the first time that has ever happened. NBC, which was the top-rated network last season, has been more successful, but still has been limited to price increases well below the double-digit increases that all the networks have commanded in past years.
''It's certainly more of a buyer's market than it ever has been before,'' said Marc Goldstein, a senior vice president at Ogilvy & Mather, the advertising agency.
Advance sales of advertising for the prime evening viewing hours in the coming season are projected by industry sources to be $2.5 billion, down slightly or flat compared with last year. The networks are completing negotiations now on those ''upfront'' sales, in which major advertisers purchase big blocks of time.Continue reading the main story
''The good news is that there was as much money spent this year as last year, which was a record,'' said Jerry Dominus, vice president for sales at CBS-TV. ''The bad news is that all three networks were killing to get their share.''
Advance sales for the daytime hours are estimated by industry sources to have dropped to $800 million, from $880 million in 1985. The networks also sell time in smaller blocks as the season progresses, and local affiliates sell time on their own as well.
''The networks are having difficulty getting more money for their commercial time than last year, and they ran into a lot of resistance last year,'' said Robert Coen, a senior vice president at the McCann-Erickson advertising agency.
The break in the string of sharp increases comes as a welcome development for advertisers, who have for years complained that the networks were raising their rates to unreasonable levels.
Mr. Coen said that from 1981 to 1985, while the Consumer Price Index increased 18 percent, the average cost of a prime-time commercial rose 45 percent.
Advertising executives attributed the weakness in this year's market partly to a sluggish economy and a disinflationary environment in which companies cannot raise prices to fund bigger ad budgets.
''It's tough out there for the advertiser,'' said Jon Nesvig, vice president and general sales manager for NBC. ''The general inflation rate has prevented advertisers from raising their prices, and that certainly puts a cap on our ability to get price increases.''
But they also noted that many advertisers appeared to be holding back on making purchases for the coming season because they think they might be able to get even better rates by waiting and buying the leftovers in what the industry calls the ''scatter'' market.
''They're spending less up front and holding more for scatter so they can take advantage of what they hope will be better deals later,'' Mr. Goldstein said. Other Alternatives
The networks are also suffering from the growth in advertising alternatives. Money that might otherwise be spent on the networks is going to syndicated programming or to cable. And companies continue to spend more of their marketing budgets on sales promotion, such as cents-off coupons, instead of on advertising.
At the same time, some advertisers are choosing to spend less with the networks by using more 15-second commercials, which are less expensive than traditional 30-second spots. This is the first year that all three networks are offering individual 15-second commercials.
The sluggishness in network television advertising comes in a weak overall advertising market, and is a continuation of the woes the network's suffered last year.
Network ad revenues fell 2.8 percent last year, the first time they had dropped since cigarette advertising was banned from television in 1971. Magazines and many newspapers have suffered as well.
ABC, CBS and NBC have all been cutting costs as advertising revenues have declined. CBS, in particular, has been laying off employees and ABC, now under the ownership of Capital Cities, has been tightening its belt.Continue reading the main story


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Hy-Vee stores to give away free face masks on Tuesday
Hy-Vee announced Monday that it will give away free masks to customers at its Iowa grocery and drug stores.
According to a news release, Hy-Vee received 75,000 cloth masks from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Hy-Vee said its Iowa stores received 500 masks each, which will be distributed Tuesday to customers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The company said the masks are intended for Iowans who do not already have access to face coverings to protect themselves from COVID-19.
The Iowa DPH donated the masks in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and HanesBrand, Inc.


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As Prime Day approaches its final hours, a clearer picture of its performance emerges.
The average Prime Day order so far this year is $53.06, up 18% from $45.05 during Prime Day 2021, according to 2022 Live Prime Day Tracker data released Wednesday afternoon from Numerator, Close to six in 10 (57%) of households shopping Prime Day have already placed two or more separate orders, bringing the average household spend to roughly $130.06, with average price per item of $33.94.
Of the surveyed consumers who shopped Prime Day this year and last, 33% spent more this year than in 2021, while 67% spent the same or less. Inflation impacted 84% of surveyed Prime Day shoppers, with 33% saying they waited for the sale to purchase a specific item at a discounted price, while 28% passed on a good deal because it wasn't a necessity. Inflation also drove 21% of individuals to look at prices outside of Amazon before buying.
Almost all (97%) surveyed Prime Day shoppers are members of Amazon Prime, and nine in 10 (91)% have been Prime members for one or more years. Ninety-five percent of surveyed Prime Day shoppers knew it was Prime Day before shopping, and 41% said Prime Day was their main reason for shopping. Three-quarters (76%) have shopped Prime Day in the past.
The top items sold so far this Prime Day have been Fire TV Sticks, Echo Dot 4th Gens, Amazon gift card reloads and Frito-Lay Variety Packs. Most Prime Day items (57%) have sold for under $20, while 5.7% have sold for over $100. The top categories consumers say they have purchased are household essentials (30%), health & beauty (28%), and consumer electronics (27%).
Numerator analyzed 32,543 Prime Day orders from 13,265 unique households and 2,128 verified shopper surveys. See the full results here.
Consumers happy with Prime Day (Walmart probably is, too) A survey of over 1,100 consumers from enterprise technology provider Blue Yonder, provided slightly different insights. According to Blue Yonder data, inflation did not greatly dampen shopper enthusiasm for Prime Day this year. More than seven in 10 (72%) of respondents said they spent the same or more on Prime Day this year compared to last year (down slightly from 78% in 2021).
This figure includes 48% who said they spent more this year, and 23% said they spent significantly more. Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents said they were pleased with the deals/discounts they were offered while shopping on Prime Day; 35% said they were very pleased and only 7% said they were displeased. In addition, 42% of surveyed consumers said some of their Prime Day purchases were specifically for back-to-school (up from 38% in 2021).
Although Walmart did not formally run any sales event to counter Prime Day, it still appears to have benefited from the general rise it created in e-commerce activity. About half (49%) of surveyed consumers said they participated in deals on Prime Day with Walmart, up significantly from 35% in 2021, when Walmart did run a competing event.
Higher numbers of surveyed consumers also went to Target (40% in 2022 vs. 26% in 2021) and Best Buy (26% in 2022 vs. 15% in 2021). About six in 10 (59%) respondents said they made a purchase on Prime Day this year, slightly fewer than last year’s 61%.


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TORONTO – Two months after revealing plans to open a second location in the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Muddy York Brewing has announced that it will now be its only location, as it will soon be shutting down its original brewery and taproom in Toronto’s East York district.
Despite the flourishing state of our business and our readiness for expansion, our lease is set to expire this year. Our landlord has opted against renewal, choosing to sell the property at 22 Cranfield Rd. While we have the opportunity to purchase the building, the escalating property values in the city have regrettably rendered it just out of financial reach.
As a result, we will be ceasing operations at 22 Cranfield Rd at the end of this year. We are genuinely disheartened to have to convey this news, as we were enthusiastically ready to enjoy many more years in this space. Our brewery tucked away in a small business park on the edges of East York has exceeded all our expectations and has proven to be a prosperous and flourishing enterprise. Unfortunately, this situation lies beyond our control.
Muddy York launched in January 2015, and will close its East York facility at the end of 2023 after almost nine years in business.
Source & Photo: Muddy York Brewing


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Retailers hoping for a record-breaking 'Cyber Monday' as shoppers go on Christmas spree
The strongest ever week of online sales for John Lewis has fuelled retailers’ hopes of a record-breaking ‘Cyber Monday’ – the busiest internet shopping day of the year.
John Lewis reported online sales of £37.9m last week, the firm’s best ever result from internet shopping.
Record-breaking: 'Cyber Monday' is the busiest internet shopping day of the year
And its department stores prospered too, with year-on-year sales up 9.3 per cent to £124.2m, the third-best week ever for John Lewis.
The hunt for Christmas bargains online is expected to see web retailers ring up sales of £465m today.
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DHL Supply Chain UK has introduced 63 new dual fuel vehicles to its fleet, which will operate from the company’s dedicated liquefied natural gas refuelling station in Bawtry.
The new vehicles bring the total number of dual fuel vehicles within DHL’s fleet to 101.[asset_ref id=”2140″]A refuelling pump at
DHL’s Bawtry site
An additional 51 dual fuel vehicles are on order, set to join DHL’s fleet in the coming months.
As a result of this investment, DHL is now estimating to reduce CO2 emissions at its Bawtry site by around 1,200 tonnes in the coming years.
The company decided to use dual fuel vehicles to support the increasing need for its customers to reduce their carbon footprint, and in turn their overall logistics spend.
The move also supports DHL’s global GoGreen scheme, for which it hopes to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 per cent by 2020.
“The introduction of these innovative vehicles to the fleet at Bawtry marks the latest investment for DHL Supply Chain in our ongoing focus on sustainability and providing efficient solutions for our customers,” said Ian MacAulay, DHL innovation & business development manager.
“We’re delighted that the introduction of these new vehicles now positions us squarely as the largest single dual heavy trucks fleet operator in Europe.”


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It’s a judgment call that every parent has to make at some point: Is my kid too sick to go to school?
And if the answer is “yes,” parents face still more questions, including: Will makeup hide that red rash on his neck from the school nurse?
Flavors of the month: Starbucks announced four new flavored versions of its Via instant coffee that will be introduced in its coffee shops this fall.
Since it’s Starbucks, The Buzz guesses the flavors will be as follows: Charred, Charred to a Crisp, Charred Beyond Recognition, and Sugar-Laden Concoction Always Ordered by That Obnoxious Woman in Accounting.
Grading on a curve: Two federal agencies are proposing a grading system for new vehicles that would give each a letter grade for fuel economy and tailpipe emissions. For example, electric cars would get an A+, the Toyota Camry would earn a B, an F-150 pickup would rate a C+ or C, while the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti would get a D.
The Buzz is all for fuel efficiency and cleaner air, but we’re not looking forward to reading the bumper stickers of self-satisfied car owners that boast, “My Car is an Honor Student at Al Gore U.”


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The Australian Government is supporting the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Limited (AMTA) to expand its MobileMuster e-waste recycling program.
It is estimated that over 250,000 tonnes of e-waste is disposed of in landfill every year. This can leach dangerous metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury into the surrounding environment and waste valuable materials.
MobileMuster is the product stewardship scheme of the mobile phone industry. It supports end of life mobile phones being recycled to the highest environmental standards. This grant is funding AMTA to consider how to expand their program to include other electronic waste such as: modems and routers, digital set-top boxes, landline phones, wearables and smart home devices.
The Australian Government is providing a grant of $373,200 for the project through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund.
This product stewardship investigation launched in February 2021.


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Samsung Electronics is set to close a deal with Google for launching its Google TVs, reveals the head of Samsung's TV division. The company plans to launch its Google TV at an event in 2012, however, clarifies it will not be at the Consumer Electronics Show, slated to be held in January next year in Las Vegas. Yoon Boo-keun, head of Samsung's TV division, claims Samsung Google TVs will be different from those offered by its rivals.
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Photos: TripAdvisor Travelers Dashing to the Airports for Holiday Flights in 2009
More Travelers Planning to Fly for the December Holidays this Year, Nearly the Same Number Planning Flights for Thanksgiving Compared to '08 Travelers Find Holiday Savings by Leaving More Bags at Home
NEWTON, Mass., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community, today announced the results of its holiday air travel survey of more than 1,300 U.S. respondents. Of the 35 percent who are planning to travel for Thanksgiving this year, 37 percent are planning to fly to their destinations, nearly equal to 38 percent one year ago. As for the December holidays, 40 percent of respondents are planning to travel with 57 percent planning to fly, up from 52 percent last year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/tripadvisor/37980/
Early Birds Caught Turkey Day Deals
Thanksgiving fliers found that booking early was the key to finding a good deal this year. Eighty-one percent of those traveling for Turkey Day have already booked their flights, with 55 percent saying that they were able to get a good price by booking early. For travelers choosing not to fly for the coming holiday, 31 percent said they'd still book a flight for Thanksgiving instead if they found a good deal.
Jingling All the Way to the Airport
While 57 percent of travelers surveyed are planning to fly to their Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa destinations this year, 47 percent of them said they have yet to book their flights. For travelers not currently planning to fly, 39 percent said they would consider flying if they found a great price.
Bagging Bags for Holiday Savings
When fliers were asked how many bags they took with them before airlines began charging bag fees, 12 percent said they just took carry-ons, 61 percent checked one bag, and 26 percent checked two bags. Baggage fees have changed that behavior this holiday season, as 33 percent of travelers planning to fly during the holidays this year are planning to take only carry-on bags, 55 percent are planning to check one bag and only 12 percent plan to check two bags.
Wi-Fi on the Fly
With an increasing number of airlines now offering in-flight Wi-Fi, 70 percent of respondents said they would use the service if available on their next flight, but only nine percent said they would pay for it. Seventy-two percent of respondents were opposed to fliers using Wi-Fi to make in-flight phone calls.
Sixty-seven percent said the economy is not affecting their holiday flight plans. Among the 33 percent that are factoring it in, 19 percent are planning to drive and 14 percent are flying on off-peak days. Eleven percent of travelers also said they're planning to fly on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day to get a cheaper flight.
Holiday Stress Less?
Fifty-nine percent of travelers said they were rarely or never stressed out by flying during the holidays. In addition, while 57 percent of respondents said they had been delayed at an airport during the holidays in past years, only 28 percent expected delays this year.
Top 10 Destinations Shopped on TripAdvisor Flights in October for November and December Travel Dates
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Los Angeles, California
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- New York, New York
- Miami, Florida
- San Francisco, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Honolulu, Hawaii
"Over the past few weeks we've had millions of travelers shopping for their holiday flights on TripAdvisor," said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor. "This survey shows that travelers are still flying for the holidays despite the shaky economy and that many are finding great deals. We also found that travelers are adjusting their behavior as airlines implement new fees, including those for checking first and second bags."
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts more than 36 million monthly visitors* across 15 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.frequentflier.com, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com and www.virtualtourist.com. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors*, 11 million registered members and 25 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), and Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brands daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform.
Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.
©2009 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix, July 2009
PRN Photo Desk, firstname.lastname@example.org
Web site: http://www.tripadvisor.com/


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'40 Act hedge fund compliance costs could mean slow near-term growth, says KPMG
The ’40 Act hedge fund space will grow slowly in the near term due to the operational and compliance costs associated with chasing retail investors, although this could change over the next decade, a senior executive at KPMG has said.
“We are not seeing massive growth in the ‘40 Act hedge fund space at the moment but there is increasing interest. The cost of setting up a ’40 Act hedge fund is not insignificant, but I believe in the longer term these vehicles will blossom,” said Robert Mirsky, global head of hedge funds at KPMG in London.
Service providers have been bullish on 40 ‘Act hedge funds. Citi Prime Finance predicted $939 billion of the $12.8 trillion in retail assets would flow into what it dubbed liquid alternatives by 2017, while McKinsey & Co pointed out retail alternatives as an asset class had grown by 21% annually since 2005 and currently managed around $700 billion. A report by SEI highlighted assets in US alternative mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) had more than doubled since 2008, standing roughly at $554 billion.
While the distribution benefits are hard to falter, regulated alternatives such as 40 Act Hedge Funds are subject to onerous restrictions. The absence of leverage (capped at 33% of gross assets), lack of performance fees (with a management fee of between 70 bps and 1%), restrictions on investing in illiquid assets (capped at 15% of AuM), rigorous corporate governance standards and mandatory third party custody will all lead to higher compliance costs, at a time when profits are rapidly receding.
“The biggest dis-incentives for establishing a retail hedge fund are the cost factors, investment restrictions and lower management fees. It generally does not make economic sense for a sub $1 billion manager to build a ’40 Act hedge fund product. Furthermore, establishing a ’40 Act hedge fund could prove a distraction for the manager to running their flagship fund. This means ’40 Act hedge funds will be the preserve of the larger managers for the time being. I believe in less than 10 years, ’40 Act hedge funds will be mainstream but managers have to first educate retail investors about the benefits of regulated alternatives,” commented Mirsky.
One of the key investor targets among managers running regulated alternatives is the DC plan market, said SEI. Sixty per-cent of the DC plan market’s $5.1 trillion in assets are in mutual funds, and this investor class has historically been averse to alternatives. Nonetheless, some plan sponsors are becoming bolder and are increasingly investing in real-estate, inflation protected Treasuries and commodities in search of greater yield. Access to retail clients via brokerage platforms would also help managers bolster their asset base.
Several brand name private equity and hedge funds, most notably AQR, Blackstone and Apollo Global Management have recognised these potential opportunities, and have developed alternatives vehicles aimed at retail, with minimum investments as low as $2,500 in some cases. AQR has been one of the biggest enthusiasts for retail alternatives, having launched 20 mutual funds which are now running $9.2 billion.


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National Hog Farmer is the source for hog production, management and market news
January 30, 2012
Thousands of commuting Japanese consumers are passing by advertisements featuring U.S. pork, thanks to a U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) marketing campaign. The campaign has been launched in conjunction with Becker’s, a casual, café-style restaurant chain operated by JR East Food Business, a subsidiary of the East Japan Railway Company. Becker’s attracts thousands of commuting consumers thanks to locations inside many high-traffic stations. About 2.65 million commuters per day pass through the 24 railway stations in which Becker’s restaurants are located.
Becker’s has traditionally taken a very conservative approach to marketing its menu selections, but chose to collaborate with USMEF for a large-scale promotion of a new menu featuring sandwiches made with U.S. pork trimmings. The promotional campaign, which runs Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, prominently features the U.S. Pork logo and is supported by the Pork Checkoff and the USDA Market Access Program (MAP). Becker’s is also promoting the sandwich menu on its website and with consumer magazine coupons. During the three-month promotional period, Becker’s estimates approximately 7 metric tons (nearly 15,500 pounds) of U.S. pork trimmings will be used.
“For Becker’s, this is the first time it has featured U.S. pork on its menu,” said Takemichi Yamashoji, USMEF-Japan’s senior marketing director. “We are very pleased to be partnering with Becker’s on this promotion, as the campaign is reaching a tremendous number of consumers and providing outstanding exposure for U.S. pork.”
Foodservice promotion is just one of the marketing tools that helped push U.S. pork exports to Japan to new heights in 2011. Through November, exports (including both muscle cuts and variety meat) had already set a new value record of $1.79 billion, on a near-record volume of 451,509 metric tons (995.4 million lb.). When December results are available, pork exports to Japan will have achieved a new volume record and the export value will approach the $2 billion mark.
Learn more about the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s efforts to promote U.S. pork online at http://www.usmef.org/.
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text: Stefan Böing is the new sales director for the German and Austrian market a Lacoste Footwear. The post was recently created in the framework of a reorganization. Böing started the job on Feb. 1 and is responsible for the national growth strategy and leading the sales force of Lacoste Footwear. He will be reporting directly to Robert Stöckl, EMEA regional vice president of Pentland Chaussures, who will still be responsible for the direction of the company's sales strategy in north and Eastern Europe in the future. Furthermore, Thomas Reichsthaler will assume the recently created post as strategic key account manager south, and Ahmet Mercan the post as strategic key account manager north.