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Johannesburg – The Gauteng economy seems to have gone into
hibernation from May.
In the three months to end-May the BoE Private Clients and
Sake24 Gauteng Barometer dipped 2.7%. But it was 4.6% up on the year before.
Mike Schüssler from Economists.co.za, who compiles the
barometer, said he now has no doubt that the Gauteng economy is stagnating.
"There will be growth, but it will be only sufficient
to keep pace with the population increase. No one will become richer or
Schüssler said the mining industry is a particular millstone
around Gauteng's neck.
"Most mines in Gauteng are gold mines and the industry
has been struggling for a long time. This will have a negative impact on the
province's economy for a long time."
In May the barometer's mining index was 12.1% down
year-on-year (y/y) and 20.6% down on three years before.
Schüssler said pressure on the mining sector because of
lower commodity prices is also hurting many Gauteng factories.
The May barometer's manufacturing index was only 0.5% up on
the previous year, pulled down by steel
manufacturing in particular.
"Gauteng's factories are feeling the cold winds blowing
in from the European economy," said Schüssler.
Automobile manufacturers are however doing better because
Gauteng's motor sales remain strong.
In May, vehicle sales in this province were 8.3% firmer than
the year before, despite consumers spending less on durable goods.
But people in Gauteng spent much more in pharmacies and
hardware stores. The latest available figures for April show pharmacy sales
were 7% up y/y, with those of hardware rising 15%.
The barometer's May trade index fell 0.5% on a monthly
basis, but was 6.4% up y/y.
This index is compiled from the latest available figures for
vehicle, petrol, retail and wholesale sales.
Consumers helped the Gauteng construction industry lift its
Schüssler said that in May construction showed a strong
revival and the barometer's construction index rose 10.8%. It was 17.7% up y/y.
This improvement is largely attributable to a 57% increase
in the three-month moving average of the square meterage of non-residential
Schüssler said this figure reflects an increase in retail
space in particular.
He said non-residential construction figures are often
volatile because large buildings are included in the figures only once they are
The barometer’s index for transport, storage and
communications was 11.9% up y/y.
This index is compiled from data on air and overland
transport in Gauteng, as well as the number of cellphone and landline telephone
calls made across the entire country.
Communications still made a positive contribution to the
index, but the number of passengers moving through the OR Tambo airport in May
declined for the first time in eight months.
Schüssler says this decline reflects higher petrol prices,
but also the fact that Europeans now have less money to spend on holidays.
The barometer’s index measuring economic stress in the
Gauteng economy rose 0.4% in May, but it was 2.2% down on the year before.
Economic pressure is calculated based on unemployment and
The May Gauteng unemployment rate slipped to 26.6% and
inflation was 5.5% lower than South Africa’s general inflation rate.
For more business news in Afrikaans, go to Sake24.com.
To find out how your province performed, click here.
* Find more stories on this and other topics on our Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages.


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The list for the top-selling SUVs in India for August 2019 has been released. The list of top-10 best-selling SUVs showcases the Hyundai Venue at the top of the list, while the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza comes in second.
The Hyundai Venue has retained the best-selling SUV title in the Indian market for the second time in a row. The Venue which was launched in India a couple of months ago is Hyundai's first compact-SUV offering in the market. The Hyundai Venue recorded 9,342 units of sales in the month of August 2019.
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, which has been one of the most popular offerings in the Indian SUV segment, came in second on the list. The company recorded sales of 7,109 units in the month of August 2019. This is a drop of 46 per cent from the same month last year when the SUV recorded over 13,000 units of sales.
The Kia Seltos is the third SUV in the top-10 list. The Seltos is the first product in the Indian market from the Korean carmaker, which launched the SUV on the 22nd August. Positioned in the competitive mid-size SUV segment, the Seltos overtook all its rivals within eight days of its launch, recording 6,236 units of sales.
Close behind the Kia Seltos is its cousin, the Hyundai Creta. The Creta recorded 6,001 units of sales in the country last month, registering a drop of 42 per cent compared to its sales in August 2018 when it recorded a little over 10,000 units in sales.
August 2019 Sales
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
The Ford EcoSport, Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra XUV300 and the Tata Nexon occupy the middle part of the table. The Ford EcoSport in the fifth position registered 2,882 units; Mahindra Scorpio recorded 2,862 units and the XUV300 and the Tata Nexon closed in at 2,532 and 2,275 units of sales, respectively in August 2019.
The MG Hector also entered the top-10 list. Positioned in ninth, the Hector registered 2,018 units of sales in the previous month. The company will soon be increasing the production of the Hector to meet the demands in the Indian market, which now commands a waiting period of at least 3 months.
The last position on the table is filled up by the Honda WR-V. The SUV from the Japanese carmaker registered 1,178 units in the month of August 2019; a drop of 58 per cent from 2,822 units during the same month last year.
Thoughts On The Top-Selling SUVs In India For August 2019
The Hyundai Venue has taken the Indian SUV segment by storm. The compact-SUV has been received extremely well in the market, due to its long list of features combined with a powerful performance from its three engine options. However, with the Kia Seltos looking strong in sales, it will be interesting to see how the top-3 vary in the coming months.

domain: news


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It's been more than two years since the first Gun Bros came out, which is a lifetime in the smartphone and tablet gaming world. Let's put it this way, when Gun Bros came out, Infinity Blade was still a month away and people were being charmed by how shiny their first generation iPad looked.
Gun Bros 2 has actually been around for a couple of months now, albeit in beta form and only available from the Canadian App Store, but a trailer released by Glu today suggests that a global release isn't too far away.
There's no gameplay footage to speak of, but according to the Canadian App Store you can expect vehicle rampages, plenty of guns, exotic locations, and plenty of evil scum bags to riddle with laser fire and rocket holes.
You can check out the trailer below, and we'll keep you updated about the game's release date.


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The Hildebrand & Wolfmuller was the first powered two-wheeler motorcycle in production. It was recently sold at an auction for £86,200.
After over 3000 people joined a “Don’t vote Labour” Facebook group as a result of his orphan-maker remark, Sheerman tried to promote motorcycling in the House of Commons in a scandalous about turn to try and get back votes he may have lost the party as a whole. He was not helped when the current Transport Minister refused to promote motorcycling, while trying to encourage motorcycle voters to cast their vote for the Labour party in an interview with the motorcycle press!
To be fair though no party is exactly championing the two-wheeled cause and probably by the time you read this it will have been decided and it will be back to the status quo of fighting ever restrictive legislation from whoever is in power. And speaking of legislation, the new Framework Regulation proposal for the type-approval of PTWs in Europe has been delayed and the European Commission will not publish its proposals until the second half of this year.
One firm who never had to fight anything was Hildebrand and Wolfmuller, who in 1894 created the world’s first production motorcycle. Powered by a 1488ccc water-cooled twin-cylinder powerplant, it used the back wheel as crank and was basic to say the least.
The reason for mentioning it is that the best part of one (not a pretty sight!) has just surfaced from a family that has owned it since 1930. It was sold recently at one of Bonhams UK auctions for a whopping £86,200, which makes a modern production machine that you can actually ride away look very cheap. Makes you wonder if a Yamaha R1 will fetch similar prices relatively speaking in a hundred plus years time!
Rumors coming forth from insiders within BMW state that the Boxer engine will be water-cooled by 2012 to meet forthcoming stricter emission control standards. Officially BMW are staying tight-lipped as you might expect. Given the fact that they have kept the Boxer engine air-cooled since the very first one in 1921, (a portable industrial engine that found its way to a bike in 1923) and passed all the new standards, don’t bank on them not doing it again!
Eicma, otherwise known as the Milan Motorcycle Show (which this year runs from November 2nd through to the 7th), has just announced that Honda will be back exhibiting this year. Honda recently withdrew from exhibiting at all shows as cost cutting exercise. It is hoped that this booking could herald a return by the Japanese giant at major events which will help to encourage other manufacturers back as well.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may be known worldwide in the political sphere, but soon his brother Paolo
Berlusconi could be just as well known in the world of motorcycling. The reason is he has bought the Italian manufacturer Moto Morini for 2.5 million Euros.
Moto Morini’s financial troubles have been well reported here over the past few years and the firm actually declared itself bankrupt in September 2009. Under Italian law that gave them breathing space to find an investor and allows them to trade for six months and avoid paying any debts. Since then the firm has only building bikes to order while a backlog of unsold stock was cleared and a new owner sought.
Paolo Berlusconi gets the Morini factory, equipment, plus all the intellectual rights to the bikes and all designs past and present for his money. Berlusconi already owns Garelli, and Italian sources suggest he is a potential purchaser of MV Agusta, which would make him a serious major player in the Italian/world bike market.
Ducati has officially released the Monster 796 which has the 803cc engine and performance similar to the Hypermotard.
As expected, Ducati launched the Monster 796 fitted with the 803cc engine from the Hypermotard. It is mounted in a chassis that is halfway between a 696 and 1100 Monster in specification, both of which will continue to be sold. A single mono–arm controls the rear with a budget Sachs shock and non-adjustable Marzocchi inverted forks. Expect similar performance to the Hypermotard.
After a break, World Ducati Week (WDW) is back at the Misano Circuit in Italy from June 10-14th. Founded in 1998 the normally bi-annual event has attracted thousands of Ducatisti from all over the world for a week’s total immersion in all things red and Ducati. The organizers promise the usual mix of partying with factory riders present, shows, test rides, stunts and music plus the opportunity of factory and museum visits, not mention the odd Ducati or two being present! www.wdw2010.ducati.com
More shots appearing of the new MV testing show it is definitely a three cylinder as we have reported here in the past. What is new is that news is emerging that it will come in two sizes, an 800cc for road use and a smaller 675cc version so they can compete in the World Supersport race series. However, before either can become a production reality, it would need current owners Harley-Davidson to give the go-ahead (and finances), or they will have to wait until a new owner is found!
Lastly from Italy, the scrappage scheme that produced such good registration figures has recently stopped and registrations are suffering quite badly in all categories. It is rumored that it will be reinstated, but industry figures are citing it will further highlight just how much this has propped the industry up. When it ceases for good it could lead to severe financial problems for the trade!
While the products currently wearing the historic British AJS badge come from the Far East, at least they are keeping the name alive. Two new learner-friendly 125cc’s are the latest in the range powered by the firm’s usual liquid-cooled, 125cc 4-stroke Parallel Twin.
The AJS DD125E-5C Daytona is a learner-friendly cruiser that has a low seat height and a twin cylinder, water-cooled four-stroke engine.
First up giving total street cred to the embryonic biker is the DD125-9 ‘Bobber’, which is a full-on, classic hard-tail with a true ‘bobber’ look thanks to its black color (sic) scheme. Its stablemate is the DD125E-5C ‘Daytona’ which comes in white with sprung rear suspension, inverted front forks, wavy front discs and a lot of chrome to complete the pose value. The Bobber is priced at £2999, while the Daytona costs £2699.www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk
BMW may be hit worldwide like all of their counterparts, but in the UK they are on a high following the release of the March 2010 registration figures. The results show BMW Motorrad actually had record-breaking sales in the UK during the first three months of 2010. Sales of BMW were up 40% while the overall market was down 20%. This moved them into the number three slot in the manufacturers table with a 12.6% market share. Break it down further and you find they sold more bikes over 500cc than anyone else and the new S1000RR accounted for 43.2% of the 1000cc Supersports segment and was the best-selling motorcycle over 125cc with another three of the BMW range featuring in the first five listing!
We announced recently that Martin Conquest, who are the UK manufacturers of the world’s first production high-performance motorcycle that can be driven from a wheelchair, had signed deals to sell in the USA as well as gaining European Type Approval. The Manchester based firm has now announced that racing legend Tony Jefferies has been appointed to their board of directors. He is currently the owner of Allan Jefferies Motorcycles, an official BMW dealership in Shipley, West Yorkshire that was started by his father, whose name is still on the shop.
Thirteen-time World Champion Angel Nieto, seen here in 1970, will participate in a parade lap before competitors take to the 37.75-mile mountain course.
Tony is an ex-works rider and Isle of Man TT winner and father of legendary TT racer David Jefferies, who was killed there in 2003. Tony himself was unfortunately paralyzed in a racing accident, but has never let that keep him away from motorcycling and it was his go-getting attitude that the board felt personifies Conquest 1200 riders. In addition his astute business mind and engineering expertise, as well as personal knowledge of the challenges facing wheelchair-bound riders, will allow him to aid development of current and future models.
The Conquest International’s BMW-powered machine has provided a level of performance and independence that was previously unattainable for people with disabilities from the waist down unless it was a bespoke vehicle. The unique production streamlined machine allows drivers to access the machine from the rear by an automated access ramp, before securing their wheelchair in the locking mechanism.
All controls are then hand operated and the machine actually uses the front-end of a standard BMW motorcycle, which is welded to an aluminum frame with two rear alloy wheels, as well as the engine which gives the same level of performance for the three wheeler that it does for a bike.
Following in Valentino Rossi’s footsteps, teammate Jorge Lorenzo will also be taking a parade lap before the Dainese Senior TT.
Following off from MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi’s lap of the Isle of Man TT course last year, teammate Jorge Lorenzo will reprise the lap this year in company with another Spaniard, 13-time World Champion Angel Nieto. Once again the lap of the 37.75-mile mountain course has been arranged by Italian clothing company Dainese who are sponsoring the six-lap Senior race that ends the meeting immediately after the lap.
BMW are to return to the TT for the first time in 30 years. The Bavarian manufacturer first entered the TT in 1937 and won over 30 races, mostly in the sidecar class. They will be joined for the first time by Austrian manufacturer KTM who have entered an RC8R in various races.
The changes to the famous Silverstone race circuit have now been completed in readiness for season of world championship racing both for two and four wheels. The 3.66-mile Northamptonshire track was opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who was taken around the track by former F1car world champion Damon Hill, flanked by current World Superbike Leader Leon Haslam and his father, former works rider Ron Haslam on bikes.
Reevu the British Crash helmet firm that produces a helmet with a built in rear view mirror has just announced its motorsport helmet is available for sale. Established in 1999 the system that allows a rider to see behind them thanks to an optical system within the shell has been developing the system for 30 months and now has numerous patents for the product. www.reevu.com
Rest of the World
According to some industry sources, China is now seen as the most important manufacturer (but not the largest!) and consumer of powered two wheelers (PTW’s) vehicles in the world. So no surprise that Eicma who are best known for running the yearly Italian bike show in November are working hard on the launch of ‘Eicma China’ the first International Trade fair to be devoted to PTW’s. It is due to be held at the National Agriculture Exhibition Centre in Beijing from June 11-13 this year. Among exhibitors already signed up are Ducati, Suzuki and Triumph.
Apparently the Chinese motorcycle market is about to be affected by legislation that is more restrictive in terms of
Ducati is making an effort to increase its sales abroad in China and recently opened its first store in Shanghai.
emissions and more liberal with regards to urban traffic circulation, which could affect some of the two-wheeled product currently emanating from China or being exported to it.
Ducati is increasingly building a sales network in China and recently opened its first store in Shanghai. This no doubt was the reason that the Chinese gave space to Ducati (who were the only motorcycle firm to get it) at the Beijing exhibition. The Beijing automotive show is very car-dedicated and is known as Asia’s number one automotive event with 70,000 vistors attending. The Ducati stand resulted in one wealthy fan buying four models from their full range which was on display.
While other countries continue to show a downturn in sales, Indian motorcycle sales rose 26% for the year up to March 2010, with a total of 7.34 million units having been sold. In the same period scooter sales also rose 27% which translates into an extra 1.46 million scooters on the roads. Interestingly, while PTW’s dominate the Indian market for personal transport, car sales also rose 25% with 1.53 million being sold.


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Lil Wayne Releases Video For “Prom Queen” Single
New York, NY -- In late January, hip-hop megastar Lil Wayne dropped "Prom Queen," the lead single off his forthcoming rock album, Rebirth. Now, the cut has received a video accompaniment, co-directed by Dave Meyers and Weezy himself.
Rebirth is currently scheduled to hit record stores and online retailers May 19th.
Written by richard on Mar 04, 2009
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Discover the best new songs, videos, and albums added to the Booth.


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Five things we learned today
Not sure if we can blame this on a Public Enemies fan looking to update John Dillinger's signature scam, but the Cartier store in Cannes was hit by three armed gunmen, who got away with almost $21 million in jewelry (this following a $9 million heist at the Chopard store in Paris in May).
Issey Miyake took to the Op-Ed page of The New York Times in an attempt to get President Obama to come visit his hometown—Hiroshima—which, seemingly paradoxically, inspired Miyake to become a fashion designer.
Obama, meanwhile, is focused on loosening up his arm to throw out the first ball at tonight's All-Star Game.
A professor of international relations used the bully pulpit of Foreign Policy magazine to tackle one of the signal issues of diplomacy and hegemony facing us today: the dispute between Jay-Z and the Game.
Finally, congratulations to her, condolences to you: Karolina Kurkova is with child. The father, Kurkova's fiancé, is an ex-Marine and Scientologist; this one should be interesting.


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Writing in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers at South Dakota State University in the US suggested that just a small change in storage temperature could help put the freeze on energy costs.
Currently the industry standard for storing ice cream is – 28.9oC. The International Dairy Foods Association states that any ice cream stored at the manufacturer or during shipping and distribution above that temperature should not be sold at retail.
Analysing impact on ice cream quality
But the new study indicates that this limit is too conservative. The authors said manufacturers could easily increase the temperature of their freezers to – 26.1oC without putting product quality at risk.
They came to this conclusion by analysing both full fat and low fat vanilla ice cream kept at different temperatures for up to 39 weeks.
The ice crystals in ice cream were measured. This is because higher temperatures can cause crystals to expand, giving an undesirable icy texture. And a sensory panel was drafted in to judge the body/texture and flavour.
The authors of the study found no significant differences in the quality of ice cream stored at different temperatures – even at the highest level of - 23.3oC. Changes in ice crystal size over time were no different at the different temperatures and the sensory panel did not find any variation either.
Freezer temperature recommendations
The scientists concluded that freezer temperatures could be increased 2.8oC to -26.02oC but preferred not to recommend any further increase although the results indicated that storage at - 23.3oC would not affect product quality.
Study author Professor Robert J. Baer told DairyReporter.com: “Freezers typically fluctuate several degrees from their set point. Thus, even though the -23.3 C temperature did not affect ice cream quality, we did not feel comfortable in recommending that temperature, due to possible fluctuations in temperature.”
Baer added that even a small temperature increase of 2.8oC could make a significant difference to energy bills, although the research team did not evaluate the impact.
He said: “By increasing the temperature it would for sure lower energy costs. Just guessing, I would think it would be several percentage points in energy savings (which would be significant, particularly with energy costs going through the roof).”
Source: Journal of Dairy Science
Vol. 94, Issue 5, Pages 2213-2219, May 2011
Effect of storage temperature on quality of light and full-fat ice cream
Authors: J.R. Buyck, R.J. Baer, and J. Choi


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Chanel’s rich history continues to captivate media attention, this time with a peek that Another Magazine takes inside Guillet, one of the legendary ateliers that the label purchased in 2007. Images show a glimpse of the Bastille workshop where 15 artisans craft silks, velvets and other frippery gets into blossoms of all shapes and sizes.
Designboom recently had a competition to explore the future of living technology and Hao-Chun Huang’s “Flexbook” was shortlisted from a massive number of entries. The device is a malleable multifunction concept allowing the user to rotate the screen and fold the keyboard to fit their liking.
Wired and iFixit got hold of an FBI tracking device from a suspect character, giving them the chance to tear it apart. It’s a pretty interesting look inside the tech that Uncle Sam and his big brother are using to watch you, right now—look behind you!


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There’s a kind of musical chairs going on among some dining hot spots.
As reported, Chad Munsey and his partners at Ovinte have purchased San Marco’s popular Bistro Aix.
The sale marks a return to Bistro Aix and San Marco for Munsey, who was the first employee hired at the iconic eatery in 1999 and served as its general manager and wine director before opening The Grotto in San Marco in 2001, and Ovinte in St. Johns Town Center in 2012.
Bistro Aix General Manager Matt Mannick confirmed both Bistro Aix and Ovinte will retain their names and individual concepts. But there will be some new menu items. A new lunch menu and full raw bar are among the changes Munsey et al will bring to “the Aix.”
Ovinte executive chef Ian Lynch also served as executive sous chef at Bistro Aix under original chef/owner Tom Gray, who opened Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails in the St. Johns Town Center late last year.
And the wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round …
Four to vie for killer griller
Four Jacksonville-area grillers will be featured in Travel Channel’s new series “American Grilled,” hosted by chef/restaurateur David Guas.
The Jacksonville episode premieres at 9 p.m. Wednesday on the Travel Channel, and the contestants — Brian Shell, Jeff Altman, Alex Montanez and Obie Maples — will showcase local flavors and ingredients in each cooking challenge.
Guas is joined by guest judges Claire Robinson, a Jacksonville native who hosts “5 Ingredient Fix” on the Food Network, and Cole Pepper, a Jacksonville radio personality and barbecue guru.
After the various challenges, the judges will select one winner, who will take home $10,000.
Nana Teresa: Eat dessert first
Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop has opened at 31 S. Fifth St. in Fernandina Beach.
Owner/operator Teresa Markarian is creating custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies and pastries using organic ingredients whenever possible, imported Belgian and African chocolates, European butter and fresh farm eggs.
See a sample of her wares at www.nanateresa.com.
Pitmasters competition pays off
In other breaking barbecue news — it is summer, after all — Sonny’s Pensacola Pitmaster Scott Frantz and his barbecue competition team “Kickin’ Ash since 68” is getting its 15 minutes of fame.
The reigning Grand Champion of the Sonny’s BBQ Annual Rib Competition, Frantz’s team is a frequent flier on the competition circuit. It has competed in six competitions, earning three first-, two second- and two third-place finishes.
And you can reap the benefits. The team’s award-winning recipe is coming to every Sonny’s location now through Aug. 24.
Customers can get a half-slab of St. Louis ribs brushed with Frantz’s blend of butter, brown sugar and secret spices. Each order is served with two sides and a choice of garlic bread or cornbread, and served on a “barbecue judge” place mat.
More news from the pits
In just a couple of weeks, barbecue fans all over Florida will be donning their bibs for Woody’s Bar-B-Q’s Spare Rib Eating Contest.
The July 26 event is designed to raise awareness and funds for Healing Hands, the Northeast Florida Child Protection Team, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing crisis intervention, case coordination and medical services for at-risk children in Jacksonville and surrounding areas.
The event also serves as a commemoration of the launch of the first Woody’s Bar-B-Q in Florida in 1980.
The Jacksonville contest will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at Jacksonville’s “Original” Woody’s Bar-B-Q at 1638 University Blvd. S.
After the contest, the Woody’s shop will host a ticketed VIP Party with hors d’oeuvres, a glass of champagne or soda, cake, live entertainment and an appearance by Jaguars’ mascot, Jaxson De Ville.
There will be a raffle and silent auction; 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Healing Hands.
Contestants must be 18 years and older to enter the contest; all participants will receive an “I’m a Total Pig” T-shirt.
The winner will get a $150 Q Card, while the runner-up will receive a $50 Q Card.
Donations to enter the contest are suggested to be $50. Tickets to the VIP Party are $10, with no charge for children 10 and under. Donations are also appreciated.
Last year’s event raised $14,000.
Hop on over for a free hot dog
To celebrate National Hot Dog Day, Kangaroo Express will offer a free hot dog from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday to any customer with a military ID and to guests who present the Kangaroo Express mobile app on their phone.
If you don’t have the ID or the app, you can still get a deal. Kangaroo Express will be offering 50-cent hot dogs to all guests (limit four per guest).
Bright lights, Ancient City
St. Augustine’s Raintree Restaurant and Blake Michael Osner are pairing a meal and music at the “Upstairs Supper Club: A Taste of Broadway.”
The event, to be held July 25 and 26, will showcase Broadway show tunes and a meal. Tickets are $35 plus tax and gratuity.
For more information, and to make a reservation, call (904) 824-7211.
Classic desserts doughnut style
Krispy Kreme’s new Southern Summer Classics doughnuts that feature two quintessential Southern flavors are available now through Aug. 31, while supplies last:
■ Banana Pudding: A doughnut filled with banana cream, topped with yellow icing and vanilla wafer crumbs.
■ Carrot Cake: A cake doughnut with carrots and spice, with cream cheese icing and orange icing.
The heat is on
Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina and the PuckerButt Pepper Co. have teamed up to create the “World’s Hottest Burrito.”
The new limited-time-only menu item features Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper, the Guinness World Record Holder for hottest chile pepper (this bad boy is 300 times hotter than the average jalapeno pepper).
The burrito will be available at all Jacksonville-area restaurants now through Sept. 22. The BurHEATo will sell for $9.99 — fire extinguishers not included.
Guests who buy the World’s Hottest Burrito and post a video eating it on Facebook, tag @Salsarita’s and hashtag #WorldsHottestBurrito, will receive a free, limited edition T-shirt.
Dose of free bananas
The Peel The Love Banana Cabana Tour hits the Jacksonville area Sunday to Friday, as the next stop of a nationwide, coast-to-coast journey.
Walk-up visitors can get free: tastes of new banana sides, smoothies and desserts; recipes and coupons; samples of bananas and almond milk; and Peel the Love T-shirts, hats, activity books for the kids and other items.
All of the area stops will be at Winn-Dixie stores on the following days, times and locations:
Sunday — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 20 in Yulee (96076 Lofton Square Court).
Sunday — 3-6 p.m. Fernandina Beach (947 Amelia Plaza).
Monday — 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Callahan (450078 Florida 200).
Thursday — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Orange Park (1545 County Road 220).
Thursday — 3-6 p.m. Ponte Vedra Beach (290 Solana Road).
Friday — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jacksonville (703 Chaffee Road).
Friday — 3-6 p.m. Jacksonville (5647 Roosevelt Blvd.).
Dole, the nation’s largest producer of fruits and vegetables, sponsors the tour.
More dough to dunk
Dunkin’ your doughnut just got a little more expensive.
Coffee prices have soared this year as droughts in Brazil have wiped out crops, and abnormally wet weather in Central America caused a fungus called “coffee rust” to destroy harvests there.
Nigel Travis, CEO of Dunkin’ Brands, the doughnut chain’s parent company, was quoted in national media last month as saying that coffee prices would go up a little in Dunkin’ stores, but not much. Travis also forecast bigger price gains for other menu items, such as doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches. Local store prices are set by the individual franchisee, but isolated reports of coffee prices rising here have reached our ears.
Has your daily grind gotten more pricey? Have other dirt to dish about local restaurants? Contact Nancy at email@example.com.
Nancy White blogs about food and culture at www.nourishthebeast.com. Feast your eyes on her mouth-watering photography on Instagram @nourish_the_beast. She’s also pinning on Pinterest and posting on Flickr @nourishthebeast. If you see something happening in the dining world, email Nancy at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Takata is slated to recall another 35 million or more air bag inflators at risk of rupturing and injuring passengers, Dow Jones reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The Japanese supplier has already recalled 28.8 million inflators in the U.S. affecting roughly 24 million vehicles. The devices are linked to numerous deaths and injuries.
American regulators, who have deemed the inflators a safety risk, could announce the recall as soon as this week, Dow Jones reported.
Takata and the U.S. Department of Transportation could not immediately be reached for comment.


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Exciting news for all of the caffeine lovers in Fulshear! The long-awaited Black Rock Coffee Bar is opening a new location near you.
Opening at the end of 2021 or early 2022, this coffee shop will bring an array of drinks to enjoy, from smoothies and energy drinks to black coffees roasted on-site by knowledgeable baristas. They will offer both indoor seatings as well as drive-through windows that are perfect for grabbing your favorite drink while you’re on the go.
The New Black Rock Coffee Fulshear location will be located at the northwest corner of FM 1463 and South Fry Road. For more information, be sure to visit Black Rock Coffee’s website here.


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Yesterday, we looked at the demise of the Main Studio Rule at a time when radio’s opportunity to connect with fans is unlike any other digital medium. Not everyone agreed with our stance on the topic, as you can read by the many detailed comments that accompanied the post.
But whether you believe the FCC made the correct move – or not – the question about the power of radio’s physical presence in the communities it serves is a good one. And as it turns out, there are important lessons occurring right now in the retail sales world that have direct resonance to radio’s increasingly competitive environment.
Despite the explosion in ecommerce, the brick and mortar model is far from dead. Not every brand is shifting their business model to digital and mobile web. As we rush headlong into the holiday shopping bonanza, it is worth noting how some of the big players in retail are rethinking their positions. While Walmart is aggressively chasing Amazon in that space, other big retail names are reassessing their business models. And in many cases, that means a recommitment to personal audience interactivity that could only occur in a brick and mortar environment.
That’s Best Buy’s survival strategy. In September, New York Times writer Kevin Roose told their story in “Best Buy’s Secrets For Thriving in the Amazon Age.” You may recall not long ago, the retail chain was thought to be on the ropes, a likely casualty of eTail giant Amazon.
Best Buy CEO, Hubert Joly, explained his company’s turnaround formula, citing matching Amazon in price item by item, as well as transitioning his stores into showcase-and-ship operations. You can buy something from the Best Buy website, and then it quickly ships from their nearest location.
But perhaps the most important weapon in their “Beat Amazon” arsenal was a “focus on humans.” That translated to providing a much higher level of customer service – something that robotic ecommerce businesses can’t match.
Among other things, it meant reinstating a popular employee discount, fixing an internal search engine to make it easier and faster to find products in stock, and a wide-scale employee training program designed to turn Best Buy sales reps into mavens. That last item proved to be especially important in explaining complicated new technologies, such as virtual reality and smart appliances to in-store customers.
The personal, eye-to-eye, retail experience is becoming important to other brands, too.
A case in point? Starbucks totally shuttered its online store earlier this month. Now, if you want to buy mugs, espresso makers, and yes, coffee, you have to walk into any of their 27,000 company owned retail stores around the world.
Starbucks’ chief executive, Kevin Johnson, explained to the New York Times that a “seismic shift” in retail means survival will come from the creation of unique, in-store experiences. Anybody – like Amazon – can sell Starbucks merch online (like Amazon), but the in-store experience must be a unique one.
And chairman Howard Schultz added:
“Every retailer that is going to win in this new environment must become an experiential destination.” And that’s very much analogous to radio’s edge over its many digital competitors, none of whom have physical presence in local communities big and small.
In an impersonal world of playlists and algorithms, radio’s ability to connect personally with audiences via personality appearances, meet-and-greets, and other “behind the velvet ropes” opportunities sets it apart from Pandora, SiriusXM, and the millions of podcasts vying for consumer attention.
Interestingly, even the most digitally-immersed generation is showing signs of valuing brick and mortar shopping experiences as much as their parents. Research by behavioral marketers SmartHQ indicates half of Millennials enjoy physical stores as a shopping destination:
The study cites their brick and mortar motivation sounds much like the reasons why the older generations enjoy in-store shopping. We’re seeking out bargains, we know what we’re looking for, it’s a chance to do product research, and it’s fun to casually browse around a store.
Again, the experiential continues to emerge as a key driver in connecting consumers with brands. What unique experience does your radio station and its personalities provide your local residents can’t they get anywhere else? That’s an area in which to focus a station’s research and marketing efforts.
Radio is truly the only audio entertainment medium with the opportunity, the presence, and the existing audience relationships to do just that.
While broadcasters need to become more adept at mastering the digital tool kit (as Best Buy and Walmart have), a focus on customer service, event promotion, and audience experiences is the logical pathway for many radio brands.
These are some of the strategic underpinnings broadcasters need to understand and unlock in order to survive and thrive in the digital revolution.
And in a fascinating postscript, the company that’s been most responsible for disrupting brick and mortar retailers more than anyone – Amazon – is executing a retail double reverse.
They’ve been opening physical stores called AmazonBooks over the past year or so. While online book sales is the powerful machine that’s revolutionized the way we shop, Amazon is also cognizant they can successfully connect with consumers in a brick and mortar setting.
The Motley Fool‘s Jeremy Bowman report that while some of Amazon’s motivation is to capitalize on those who enjoy shopping for books in stores, there are other keys to their strategy.
One is unlocking the value of its Amaon Prime membership, facilitating better discounts and other services to those who pony up $99 a year.
But the other factor revolves around Alexa. These AmazonBooks locations are perfect showcases for Amazon’s many devices, from Kindles to smart speakers. And as Bowman points out, these stores allow Amazon to maintain a degree of parity with Apple – a brand that has aced the shopping experience.
This move by Jeff Bezos – now the richest person in the world – echoes the experience of Mike Haile, VP/GM of the News-Gazette’s cluster of stations in Champaign-Urbana. Mike also hosts the morning show on Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS.
In a comment to yesterday’s post, Mike told this story:
“Our company made the strategic decision that after 69 years we would move our studios and offices back downtown into our co-owned Print and Digital offices. Two weeks ago, we moved our third and final station to join its two cluster mates in each station’s brand new street level showcase studios.
“How interested was the community in our move? Our morning team started their final show from the old studio and began a 2.5 mile trek downtown. Along the way, they made a point to stop in at virtually every morning show advertiser on the route and thanked them on the air for their support. The market’s leading morning television show asked to cover the event live by walking with the team.
“One Facebook post (non boosted) was seen by 93,000. That helped drive over 10,000 Facebook Live viewers who caught all or part of the walk.
“Brick and Mortar – where we still have a ‘live’ person in our studios 24/7. It’s all about delivering on listener expectations in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.”
As it is throughout American radio.
The FCC can make decisions about whatever it wants to – including where broadcasts must locate their physical studios. And broadcasters can make their own decisions about what’s the best way to serve audiences in the Digital Media Age.
There’s a lot to be said for a brick and mortar community presence.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,000 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.


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Hirschbach Motor Lines acquired Sapulpa, Oklahoma-based refrigerated carrier John Christner Trucking.
The combined revenue of both companies will exceed $1 billion and will propel Hirschbach to one of the nation’s largest refrigerated carriers, Hirschbach officials said in a press release. The organization will now operate over 3,000 trucks and 5,000 trailers, along with a $150 million third-party logistics operation.
“These two organizations should be united and fit together like two puzzle pieces,” said Brad Pinchuk CEO and owner of Hirschbach, and a 2021 HDT Truck Fleet Innovator. “JCT covers the map coast to coast along the southern tier of the U.S. while Hirschbach’s density is largely east of the Rocky Mountains.”
In addition to adding JCT’s 800 trucks, Hirschbach will be able to offer its customers access to JCT’s “very successful” logistics operation, Pinchuk said.
The acquisition is bolstered by the close alignment of both companies’ cultures, he said.
“We’re both driver-centric organizations that focus on taking care of our people so they can take care of our customers,” said Pinchuk.
JCT was started in 1986 by John Christner. Christner got his start in trucking in the 1960s hauling produce from California and returning to the coast with juice or meat, and this is still the core of what JCT does today. John handed the reins of JCT to his two sons – Danny and Darryl – who took the company to the next level by expanding the size of the trucking company and starting their logistics business.
While John and Darryl Christner will be retiring, Danny Christner will join Hirschbach as president of JCT, which Hirschbach will run as a separate company.
“The ability to transition two of our owners was paramount to any agreement, but equally important was the desire to retain JCT’s identity and autonomy to continue delivering on the long-standing commitments we have to our customers, drivers and non-driving associates,” said Danny Christner, CEO of John Christner Trucking.
The transaction is set to close in early April, but both teams are already starting the collaborative process.


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American Apparel is “surprised and disappointed.”
That’s the way attorneys for the Los Angeles firm described the company in documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Monday on pushback it received by the unsecured creditors committee related to its disclosure statement. The statement is the document all companies seeking bankruptcy protection are required to produce after filing for Chapter 11 to allow creditors enough information to evaluate a business’ proposed reorganization plan.
The company went on to say with its rebuttal in court that “much of the invective on display in the committee’s objection had never been expressed or even suggested to the debtors prior to the filing of the committee’s objection.” The company didn’t stop there and said in its response that “many of the manufactured controversies highlighted in the committee’s objection could have been avoided” had it come to the company prior to the disclosure statement being filed last month. American Apparel called the objection “a reckless attack” on its plans for reorganization.
The company’s response was joined by the committee of lead lenders, which filed a separate response in court.
While the unsecured creditors committee called the disclosure statement full of shortcomings, one concern it raised was the lack of transparency into the litigation the company and some of its executives face, some of which involves founder and former chief executive officer Dov Charney.
Charney himself filed his own separate objection in court last week to various parts of the disclosure statement, which he described in court documents as having “numerous material misstatements of fact.”
In other American Apparel news, the company continued to hold its position on a plan to walk away from the more fashion-forward Oak business. The company’s plan was met with opposition last week when Oak’s founders said a deal to sell the business to them for $600,000 would leave more money on the table for American Apparel. The company contends holding in-store sales could produce more than $2 million in proceeds for American Apparel.


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During Apple’s recent iPhone 7 media event, Tim Cook relayed that Apple Music now has more than 17 million subscribers. That’s a respectable figure, to be sure, but Apple’s streaming music service has a long ways to go before it comes anywhere close to catching up with Spotify.
According to subtly cryptic tweet sent out by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek earlier today, Apple Music’s main rival now boasts more than 40 million paying subscribers.
40 is the new 30.
— Daniel Ek (@eldsjal) September 14, 2016
This is rather astounding because last we heard, Spotify had 30 million paying subscribers as of March 2016. In other words, Spotify added 10 million new subscribers in just six months time. Even more impressive is that Spotify’s subscriber base has skyrocketed by 100% over the last 15 months, jumping from 20 million in June of 2015 to 40 million today.
Apple Music, meanwhile, is growing at a much slower clip. As a quick illustration, Apple Music over the last seven months grew from 13 million to 17 million paid subscribers. While that’s nothing to scoff at, it appears that Apple’s obsession with securing music exclusives from the likes of Frank Ocean and Beyonce isn’t having quite the impact some would have otherwise anticipated.
Meanwhile, the new Apple Music overhaul appears to be a Windows Phone-inspired jumbled mess. Without question, Spotify’s UI still runs circles around Apple Music.


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Luxury British cruise line Cunard has announced the addition of a new ship to its fleet, which will join Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth as its fourth member.
Parent company Carnival Corporation & plc, one of the world’s largest cruise operators, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Fincantieri S.p.A. in Italy, to build a new ship which will join the Cunard fleet in 2022 and will carry 3,000 guests.
“Cunard offers unrivaled luxury ocean experiences and the new ship firmly underpins our plans to continue our growth across international markets,” said Cunard senior vice president Simon Palethorpe.
“We have only recently marked the 50th anniversary of one of Cunard’s much loved ocean liners, the legendary QE2. What better way to celebrate her important role in Cunard’s past than by announcing our commitment to Cunard’s future with the commissioning of a new ship,” he added.
The iconic and unparalleled luxury cruise brand is going from strength to strength, having seen crowds of more than one million people gather in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 175th anniversary, the company said in an announcement.
Cunard has subsequently invested over 120 million pounds to refurbish the flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. The new ship will be the 249th to fly the Cunard flag.
Alongside an array of new itineraries, featuring new destinations and special event voyages for 2018 and 2019, Cunard has also continued to evolve the guest experience to meet the needs of the luxury consumer by introducing new bar and dining signatures, entertainment offerings and brand partners across the fleet.
Cunard will be revealing new details about the new ship during the course of 2018 and through to its launch.
The representative of Cunard Cruise Line in Greece is the Amphitrion Group of Companies.


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As the new face of Estée Lauder, Kendall Jenner has quickly become the font of all knowledge on the classic beauty brand.
After announcing the new partnership on social media—which apparently boosted Estée Lauder Instagram follower count by 50,000, leaving the account with a whopping 321,000 followers—Kendall is sharing her enthusiasm for the campaign and the brand’s iconic products with a 10-piece, personally-curated cosmetics collection on the recently-launched mobile shopping app, Spring.
Kendall’s collection of beauty favorites is the first of a series of monthly roundups on Spring by the Estée Edit team, and joins the ranks of luxe and specialty brands like Caudelie and Restorsea on the e-commerce app. In addition to the beauty offerings, the app also features designer clothes from Suno to Alice + Olivia.
The model’s hand-picked list includes finds like the Bronze Goddess Bronzer, the Rock Candy shade of the Pure Color Lipgloss, and the DayWear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit BB Creme SPF 35, as well staples like mascara and nail lacquer.
After walking in more than 10 shows during the Spring/Summer 2015 shows in September, it wasn’t a shock to learn that Kendall, at such a young age, too, had landed her first beauty campaign — and it’s interesting to chart the ways that Estée Lauder is looking to capitalize on her social following, which is no doubt highly mobile.
Check out her full list on Spring now, and if you head over to the brand’s website, you can watch a video of Kendall chatting about the big news and her feelings on being welcomed into the Estée Lauder family.
What do you think about Kendall’s big beauty break? Do you like her favorite items? Let us know in the comments below.


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Volvo CEO Jim Rowan thinks that going at a reduced speed towards an all-electric future, all while continuing to develop combustion engine models is a mistake. The statements, which were made during the carmaker’s earnings call last week, come as a warning to companies like Toyota, which argued against going on an EV-only trajectory.
According to Automotive News, Rowan said that investing in internal combustion engines and battery-electric vehicles “risks missing the market” and that Volvo was bold enough to invest in electrification ahead of the inflection point that he says is imminent.
"The big problem with industry transitions is if you don't invest ahead of the curve, then you miss that inflection point, and you're not ready for when the market changes," he said. "We are investing ahead of the curve."
At the beginning of February, we reported that Toyota is planning on increasing its sales of both electric vehicles and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, with a company official arguing that a diversified approach to power sources is the way to go:
"Time will show that our point of view is actually the correct one," Toyota’s Chief Scientist, Gill Pratt, said in Tokyo. "One way or the other, there will be a diversity of powertrains used throughout the world."
Now, Volvo’s CEO says that by 2025 the Swedish car brand will reach price parity between ICE and EV models and that until now, the only thing that stood in the way of full-scale electrification was the high cost of raw materials, especially lithium, a key element in modern high-voltage batteries.
"That's pretty much the only thing that stands in the way of full-scale adoption," Rowan said. "We are in discussions with mines and processing factories to get direct access to [lithium] at more predictable costs," he said, adding that technologies like lithium iron phosphate will help lower the cost of EVs even further.
Volvo wants to become an electric-only car brand by the turn of the decade, with one of the most aggressive transition plans in the automotive industry. The Chinese-backed European marque already has the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge in its EV lineup, but to reach its goal it needs more diversity, which will come in the form of the EX90 seven-seater and the smaller EX30, which will slot under the XC40 in terms of size and price, and will only be offered on a subscription basis.


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It’s all in the name. B&M European Value Retail continued to be one of the success stories of 2020, with figures released Thursday that many in retail can only dream of in a pandemic-ravaged year of trading.
Value Retail's boss says axing VAT reclaim is wrong and that there's no appetite for the alternative ship-to-home option. Meanwhile, another commentator has accused the government of a misleading consultation process.
Klekt, an online marketplace for sneakers and streetwear, has hired its first ever chief executive officer. Sally Scott, former UK managing director of Birchbox, will focus on building the business on a global scale.
Malls giant Hammerson said Monday it has received “a variety of requests for rent deferrals, which we are reviewing on a case-by-case basis” across its properties in the UK, Ireland France and other European countries.


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Fredericksburg Nationals' Harambe jersey auction continues through May 30
A minor-league baseball team in Fredericksburg, Virginia, wore jerseys this past weekend featuring Harambe, the 17-year-old western lowland gorilla killed in May 2016 at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden by an emergency response team protecting a 3-year-old boy who fell into Harambe's exhibit.
FredNats players and coaches wore the jerseys Saturday as the team - according to its website - celebrated "what would have been the 22nd birthday of the famous gorilla who was killed before his time." Proceeds from a silent auction of the autographed, game-worn jerseys are benefitting the Dutch Gorilla Foundation.
Social media reactions from the team:
The FredNats are the Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
LOVE SPORTS? [ Subscribe now for unlimited access to Cincinnati.com ]


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In a noteworthy turn of events, Paytm shares experienced a 5% jump on Monday following a strategic partnership with Axis Bank and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extending the deadline for its banking arm. The stock hit an upper trading limit at 358.35 rupees, signaling positive investor sentiment.
The RBI granted Paytm Payments Bank an extension until March 15 to cease accepting fresh deposits, providing a smoother transition for the transfer of accounts. Analysts at Bernstein see this extension as facilitating a seamless process. Paytm’s collaboration with Axis Bank, announced on Friday, is a strategic move to sustain popular products amidst the current crisis.
According to Citi, more such partnerships are likely in Paytm’s future, seen as significant positives for ongoing business. Despite maintaining a ‘Sell’ rating and a 550 rupees price target, Citi acknowledges the potential impact of these partnerships.
Bernstein highlights the positive aspect of merchants being able to continue using Paytm QR codes, soundbox, and card machines linked to non-Paytm Payments Bank accounts, considering it a major positive development.
Paytm shares have faced a challenging period, declining by 53% since the RBI’s Jan. 31 order against Paytm Payments Bank due to persistent non-compliance with regulations. This downturn has resulted in the erosion of 255.74 billion rupees ($3.08 billion) in shareholders’ wealth.
Analysts, on average, currently rate Paytm as a ‘Hold’ according to LSEG data, with five ‘Sell’ or ‘Strong sell’ recommendations, the highest in at least a year. The dynamics of this strategic collaboration and the extended deadline provide a fresh perspective on Paytm’s trajectory in the market.


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Businesses that offer crypto financial services in California would need to get a license under a bill just approved by state legislators this week.
The bill, titled the Digital Financial Assets Law, would require companies that offer services that involve investing, lending or trading cryptocurrencies to register with the state’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
The bill was approved by the state Senate on Monday, and by the state Assembly on Tuesday. If signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it would mark California’s move toward stricter regulation of the fast-growing industry, which has deep roots in the state. Some of crypto’s major players are based in California, including Coinbase and Ripple.
Assemblymember Timothy Grayson, who introduced the bill, said that with the vote, "California is now set to forge a path for responsible innovation."
The support for the bill "received reflects both the efforts we’ve taken to craft a smart, balanced policy and the Legislature’s understanding that a healthy cryptocurrency market can only exist if simple guardrails are established," Grayson said in a statement.
When he introduced the bill in June, Grayson had argued that “while the newness of cryptocurrency is part of what makes investing exciting, it also makes it riskier for consumers because cryptocurrency businesses are not adequately regulated and do not have to follow many of the same rules that apply to everyone else."
California had been known for taking a more hands-off approach to regulating cryptocurrencies than other states. It legalized bitcoin in 2014 and regulates the fiat-currency money-transmission activities of some cryptocurrency businesses but doesn't have an equivalent to New York's BitLicense, for example.
The crypto industry was critical of the proposal. The Blockchain Association, a major crypto lobby organization, had opposed the bill, which it said “would be detrimental to California’s efforts to support innovation in the crypto and Web3 ecosystem throughout the state.”
“The bill would effectively outlaw all of the crypto businesses that are currently thriving in California unless they are able to navigate an onerous, uncertain, and likely expensive licensing regime,” A. Jae Gnazzo, a senior policy manager at the Blockchain Association, said in a letter to California legislators.
The association warned that the proposal “would likely cut California off from the burgeoning crypto industry, forcing entrepreneurs to relocate to other jurisdictions with more tailored and appropriate regulatory requirements.”


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On November 20, 2012, Qiushi Theory, a periodical on political theory published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the CCP Central Committee school, reprinted an article from Ziguangge (cpc.people.com.cn), a periodical under People’s Daily, having the title, “Boosting Consumption Is the Fundamental Way for China to Get Out of Its Economic Predicament”.
According to the article, China’s economic growth rate has fallen over the past several quarters. The period of the export-led economy may be over. Therefore, China’s economy must shift from excessive dependence on external markets to production for the domestic market. China’s Ministry of Commerce has established a goal in its 12th Five-Year Plan of having around a 15% average annual increase in total retail sales of consumer goods so as to reach the goal of 32 trillion yuan by 2015.
Source: Qiushi Theory, November 20, 2012


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A New Direct Hacking MethodThe hacker group found a flaw in old Revive ad servers that allows them to break into networks running on the server, Confiant reports. Once they gain access, they attach malicious code to existing ads and watch the ads roll out. Revive is an open-source ad serving system that has been in operation for well over a decade. As soon as an infected ad gets onto legitimate sites, the code immediately redirects the site’s visitors to websites loaded with malware-infected files. These files are usually disguised as Adobe Flash Player updates. Confiant said it noticed the trend last August, and the number of occurrences has only increased since then. The hacker group — which Confiant named Tar Barnakle — has infected at least 60 old Revive servers. Tag Barnakle has loaded its malicious ads on thousands of sites. Confiant researcher Eliya Stein noted,
“If we take a look at the volumes behind just one of the compromised RTB ad servers — we see spikes of up to 1.25 [million] affected ad impressions in a single day.”Confiant also points out that Tar Barnakle’s operating format presents a bit of a break from the norm. Most malvertising companies create fake entities and purchase ads on legitimate sites, thus changing the ads’ codes in the future. These companies also sometimes have help from shady ad networks that have enabled them in the past. However, Tar Barnakle is choosing to attack the ad servers directly.
Phishing and Malware Attacks Continue to Run RampantThe report is coming in the wave of new fears over the propagation of scams and cyberattacks across the United States and several other developed countries. In the wake of the coronavirus, cyber attackers have been on the prowl and have escalated the scale of their attacks significantly. Currently, phishing and malware attacks appear to be the most prominent methods used by these coronavirus hackers. Earlier this week, the Microsoft Security Intelligence team issued a warning to users to be mindful of a new “Trickbot” malware that’s been taking advantage of the pandemic. According to the researchers, hackers are now posing as the “USA Volunteer Organization” and the “USA Humanitarian Group” and are sending out phishing emails disguised as coronavirus testing information. Each email comes with an attachment that seeks to unleash the Trickbot malware on the victim’s computer. The researchers also warned that several phishing campaigns have been using the remote working theme to encourage victims to share their personal and financial information.
All the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.


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North Korea exported record amount of fake hair to China in April, data shows
Expert says DPRK has used prison labor in past to turn human hair imports into wigs, fake beards and eyelashes
North Korea’s wig exports reached an all-time high in April, crushing quarterly records in a single month, recently released trade data shows.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported 121 metric tons worth of wig, fake beard and eyelash imports from North Korea worth $22.6 million in April, making up over 71% of the country’s total exports to its main trade partner.
At the same time, human hair — the raw product needed to produce wigs — was North Korea’s number one import from China last month at a value of $11.8 million, pointing to Chinese outsourcing of
- 01Timeline: From North Korean satellite launch to Yoon-Kishida summit in Seoul
- 02State media review: North Korea says ‘no reason’ it can’t meet with Japan
- 03North Korea primed for quick rebound after satellite launch failure: Analysis
- 04What to make of conflicting signs about a North Korean border reopening
- 05North Korea hacked an election body. But political interference wasn’t the goal.
- 06Secrecy surrounding North Korea’s upcoming plenum points to big changes afoot
- 07State media review: North Korea provides a front-row seat to anti-Yoon protests
- 08By linking radars, ROK and Japan reduce blind spots around North Korean missiles


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One of the most anticipated vehicles in Cadillac’s future may very well be on its way. Rumors suggest that the all-new Cadillac Escala will soon enter production. The vehicle, which isn’t in Cadillac’s current lineup but made its 2016 debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, has already earned itself quite a fan-following among enthusiasts. In fact, the Cadillac Escala has been in development for so long that fans were beginning to wonder if it was being released to the masses at all.
But fans of the new sedan won’t have to worry anymore. The rumor mill says that the Cadillac Escala will be on its way by 2021. The news came from a video produced by Autoline Network and shared by AutoForecast Solutions, in which AutoForecast Solutions vice president Sam Fiorani shared that “a new program at Cadillac that the manufacturer is calling ‘Escala’” would be “a very limited production model due to enter production in 2021.” The Cadillac Escala, the video reported, will also be constructed at the brand’s plant in Hamtramck, Michigan.
This location suggests that the all-new Cadillac Escala will share the Omega platform with the Cadillac CT6, which is produced at the same plant. However, the Cadillac Escala will likely be larger than the CT6, suggesting the brand is getting a new flagship sedan.
Here at Trent Cadillac, we can’t wait to see if this exciting new Cadillac concept vehicle comes to fruition by 2021.


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The News Stand Powered by Community
Duncan-Williams, Inc. Presents:
It's Happening in Memphis
Benefiting the Germantown Performing Arts Center
- November 4, 2018 Soweto Gospel Choir
- November 10, 2018 Ellis Marsalis Quintet
- January 11, 2019 Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver with Flatt Lonesome
- January 12, 2019 Fred Hersch Pocket Orchestra
- January 26, 2019 Dorrance Dance
- February 2, 2019 Jazzmeia Horn
- March 30, 2019 Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour
- March 1, 2019 Shawn Colvin
- May 4, 2019 Ballet Memphis: Midsummer Night's Dream
On MLK Day, Artizan Constructors teamed up with local businesses and non-profits to give a 90-year-old woman a home makeover.
This week at Club 152 on Beale Street there was a health fair. Wait, a health fair in a bar? Yes and that is because this was no ordinary health fair, it was a health fair being put on for Blues artists coming to town from around the world.
The Lowery’s host the 28th New Year’s Day Prayer Breakfast where elected officials came and spoke on continuing the push for equality in our city and some breaking news was shared from the podium.
In 2019, the Coliseum Coalition plans to continue tours for investors and civic leaders, and is planning another Roundhouse Revival. Roundhouse Revival 1, 2 and 3, previtalizing events which featured the Coliseum’s classic brands of music, wrestling and basketball, were held outside the building.
More Than a Mortgage
We Believe experience isn’t expensive, it’s priceless
Join us for a night of fashion and fun at Madonna Learning Center, on April 11th, 6pm-8pm. Students, teachers and local talent will strut their stuff on the runway at this year’s Fashion Fling 4MLC presented by Laurelwood Shopping Center. Proceeds from the event will support Madonna Learning Center and its programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Save the Date for Concord Academy’s Blue Jean Ball Live and Silent Auction featuring music by Kevin & Bethany Paige.
The Memphis Youth Symphony Program (MYSP) and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) are pleased to invite the community to their annual Side-by-Side concert on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 5:15pm.
On March 1, the non-profit agencies teamed up to host their “Project Pack the Purse” event and gave away free purses filled with essential, personal hygiene items to the middle school girls. Items included toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, lotion, feminine products and soap. More than 60 purses were packed and given away.
I was always unsure about what the future would hold for me. Being a single mother of two wonderful children (my daughter is in the play), I want to make sure they receive the things that I never had or experienced as a child.
I was sitting down with a friend who works in sales at FedEx a few years ago and I brought up the question of Amazon replacing FedEx as a dominant player in shipping. My friend said that would never happen. FedEx isn’t worried about Amazon. At that time Amazon Prime was new. Amazon had just purchased a fleet of jets and trailers for shipping. A look at Amazon’s past was like the handwriting on the wall for me.
Valentine’s Day at its core is a day to express love about someone or something, but thanks to social media and the commercialization of this holiday, it has become the most dreaded time of the year for so many people.
The typical workday is long enough as it is, and technology is making it even longer. When you do finally get home from a full day at the office, your mobile phone rings off the hook, and emails drop into your inbox from people who expect immediate responses.
Time to #BeAmazing
Share Your Story Today!
We believe there is an amazing story just waiting to be told inside everyone. Stories that inspire change, ideas, and action. Some stories are painful, some are fun, and others are life changing. BeAmazing and share your story today on JustMy!


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Don't use any vaping products with THC — that's the latest warning issued by federal health officials on Friday since more than 1,000 vaping-related injuries have been reported across the United States.
Eighteen deaths have been reported in 15 states so far. Although officials said the exact cause behind the injuries has not been determined, most of the people who have suddenly fallen sick have reported using vaping products that contained THC.
"[Consumers] should not use vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of the cannabis plant," the FDA announced Friday. "Additionally, consumers who choose to use any vaping products should not modify or add any substances such as THC or other oils to products purchased in stores and should not purchase any vaping products, including those containing THC, off the street."
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Welcome, everyone, to my strange little wheelhouse, where one of my biggest passions in life (video games) is currently intersecting with a smaller one, collecting sports jerseys.
The news I’m pinning this on: On Sunday, Nike announced that it had signed a deal to make every single team’s competitive outfits for the next League of Legends Pro League season in China. Esports is obviously big money in China, and sportswear brands like Nike and Adidas (who recently signed Ninja as a brand ambassador) are increasingly interested in tapping into the field, which they see as an intersection between two markets they already dominate: sports and youth culture (however you choose to define that hazy term, whether it be skateboarding, rap, etc).
So it’s a natural fit, if you work for Nike or the pro LoL community. Nike plants a big ol’ flag in the pro League of Legends scene, and everyone involved with the game gets to trade off the legitimacy and professionalism afforded by dealing with an actual sportswear giant, rather than some tacky upstart esports clothing brand.
Here’s an overview of each team’s shirt:
From an esports perspective, they’re not bad! But then, from an esports perspective, that’s a very low bar to clear. For a line of Nike jerseys, they’re as lazy and cheap as it gets.
For starters, and most obviously, they’re all the same shirt! Despite claims in the press release that each jersey will feature “bespoke designs unique to the gaming communities”, that’s limited to a few teams switching up the patterns inside the common chevron and a handful of logos printed on the collars. Otherwise it’s just one big ctrl+c, ctrl+v job across 16 teams.
In sports uniforms terms—and especially in soccer/football, which is where this particular shirt design (a variation of the 2018 Aeroswift, worn by teams like France at the World Cup) comes from—that’s borderline disrespectful. “Template” jerseys, as they’re called, are a source of mockery from some fans, who rightly see it as a lazy and unimaginative cash-in. As a result Nike does all it can to avoid this in football these days, especially with more prestigious clubs, by swapping collar and sleeve designs across different jerseys to at least create the illusion that your favourite team is worth its own unique, custom shirt.
So the message being sent here by Nike is basically yeah, we can see there’s money in League of Legends, but we’re going to put in the absolute bare minimum of effort, because that’s all we think it’s worth. Not only is every shirt sharing the same template in order to save on production costs, but it’s an old template at that.
On the brighter side, alongside the official team gear Nike is also releasing a “Nike x LPL apparel collection”, which is a bunch of clothing for fans like hoodies and t-shirts. Here, instead of trying to take a page out of sportswear’s books (an idea I’ve always thought was dumb for esports, since they need to be forging their own path), Nike has just shot straight at the target demographic, and the results are a lot nicer.
As lazy as this first batch of jerseys is, it’s only the first year’s effort in a four year deal Nike signed back in February. Hopefully they can get a little bolder with next year’s shirts.


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Sap season short, but sweet
The pinging sound of maple sap dripping into metal buckets took longer to find our ears this year, as the cold temperatures of February delayed the start of New York's maple syrup season, said industry officials and maple producers. It turns out that a long winter does not only affect those of us longing for warmer temperatures. New York state's maple industry also feels the effects of short days and chilly temperatures.
"Certainly statewide the season was delayed in starting, as compared to recent times," said Helen Thomas, executive director of New York State Maple Producers Association. Over the past decade, sap has started trickling from maple trees in February, but this year sap did not start running statewide until March, she said. The result is a hurried season with a fast sap flow that can lead to sap storage and production issues for the industry. The volume of sap that usually flows over the course of a month is now being expelled from trees in just two weeks. "Everything I'm hearing from producers say that [the sap flow] is catching up," Thomas said.
Emily Lang, director of sales and marketing for Riverside Maple Farms in Glenville, said that their season was delayed by several weeks this year, and now, "[the sap is] coming in really, really heavy." Lang said the production crew has been increased and round-the-clock boiling of sap into syrup as been initiated to keep up with the sap flow from the farm's 6,000 taps. "Our goal is to have the sap go from entering the building to hitting the finishing pan in 12 hours," she said.
Sap that flows later in the year tends to have a higher sugar concentration, said Thomas. This means producers can make the same amount of syrup using less sap with fewer hours of boiling. This sap will also create darker colored and flavored syrup, while earlier sap (coming in January and February) creates lightly-flavored golden syrup. Lang said this year is turning out to be an amber and dark-heavy year, while last year's early sap flow in mid-February produced a bumper crop of golden syrup.
Although the maple season is shortened and delayed, that will not affect the price of syrup, Thomas said. Instead, she said price is affected by region: in the Adirondacks where more tapable trees and producers are present, prices per gallon of syrup are lower. In the Hudson Valley, with fewer trees and producers, the price is higher. Overall, the maple industry in the state has steadily increased, growing from just more than 200,000 gallons of syrup produced in New York in 1998 to 806,000 gallons produced in 2018, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, making New York second in maple production, trailing Vermont.
The delayed season has not created issues for statewide Maple Weekends, the last of which is this weekend. Sap houses will open their doors Saturday and Sunday for maple lovers (and the maple-curious) to see how syrup, creams and candies are made while having a taste of maple and the opportunity to purchase maple products direct from the maker. Some sap houses also offer pancake breakfasts, while producers like Riverside have partnered with Schenectady County restaurants to offer maple-themed items on their menus through Sunday. Everything from maple pickles from The DillyBean (Schenectady) to maple glazed squash with ricotta dumplings at Malcolm's (Schenectady) to maple bacon sundaes at Dairy Circus (Scotia) are included at the dozen participating eateries.
The maple season will conclude for most producers in the state by mid-April, averaging somewhere between last year's long season of 52 days and 2016's short season of 36 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. "This is an old-fashioned season," said Thomas, and New York producers are on track to meet or exceed estimated maple syrup totals this year.
Deanna Fox is a food and agriculture journalist. @DeannaNFox, foxonfood.com
What used to be called "Grade A" or "Grade B" syrup in New York state has changed titles. The sweet maple flavor is still the same, though. Check our guide below before you purchase your New York maple syrup to ensure you get the best flavor for your needs.
OLD: "Grade A Fancy"
NEW: "Grade A Gold Color and Delicate Taste."
Lightest syrup and best for topping breakfast foods and ice cream
OLD: "Grade A Medium Amber"
NEW: "Grade A Amber Color and Rich Flavor"
More flavorful without being too dark, good for richer flavor on breakfast foods or for cooking and baking
OLD: "Grade B Dark Amber"
NEW: "Grade A Dark Color and Robust Flavor"
Strong flavor and best in recipes that require deep flavor to cut through other competing flavors.
OLD: "Grade C"
NEW: "Grade A Very Dark and Strong Flavor"
Best as a substitute for molasses in baking and cooking or for making maple candies


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Germany tops 2010 Logistics Performance Index as best-performing country; Brazil, China, Bangladesh and Uganda move up.
Survey of 1,000 international freight-forwarders conducted during global financial crisis.
Country Logistics Councils enlist representatives from transport, customs, government agencies and the private sector to fix trade bottlenecks.
January 15, 2010—A few years ago,it took three or four days for a shipment of goods to clear the Uganda-Kenya border.
Today, the border crossing has been reduced to a few hours, and land-locked Uganda is seen by shippers as a more efficient place for trade.
That’s one of the findings of the 2010 Logistics Performance Index and its underlying indicators, a joint effort of the World Bank, logistics providers from around the world, and academic partners—released today in Berlin.
The ranking of 155 economies on the ease of importing and exporting goods is the result of a comprehensive survey—much of it conducted during the economic crisis—of nearly 1,000 international freight-forwarders and express carriers on the frontlines of world trade.
Germany topped the list as the best-performing country, while Somalia was last.
Uganda, along with Brazil, China and Bangladesh, moved up from their rankings in the first 2007 survey as part of an overall trend toward better trade logistics.
“Following our first survey in 2007, many developing countries have improved their capacity to connect to international markets, which is a key ingredient for competitiveness and economic growth,” says Otaviano Canuto, World Bank Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management.
“But if developing countries want to come out of the crisis in a stronger and more competitive position, they need to invest in better trade logistics.”
Survey Helps Identify Weakest Links
One of the survey’s goals is to identify the weakest links in the logistics chain, so countries can fix them, says World Bank trade economist Monica Alina Mustra, a main author of an accompanying report, “Connecting to Compete 2010: Trade Logistics and the Global Economy.”
World trade between countries is conducted via a network of increasingly connected logistics operators. But the ease with which traders can use this network to link up with international markets depends in large part on country-specific factors such as trade procedures, transport and telecommunications, infrastructure, and the domestic market for support services, says the report.
Indicators derived from the survey rate quality of infrastructure, efficiency of clearance processes, logistics competence, timeliness, cost and other factors.
“A country can have a quick look and see which one of these indicators is not performing as well as you’d expect. It’s a first signal as to which areas might need more attention,” says Mustra.
After the first Logistics Performance Index was released in 2007, “a number of countries responded and said, OK, we don’t like where we are, what can we do to fix it?” says World Bank Trade Director Bernard Hoekman.
Trade Lending Doubles
The World Bank has doubled its trade-related lending to $3.45 billion in FY 2009, up from an average of $1.54 billion per year in FY2006-08. About 35 percent of trade projects are in Africa. A majority of this lending is going to projects designed to facilitate trade and transportation.
In its country-level activities, the Bank conducts in-depth trade and transport facilitation audits to dig deeper into particular segments of the logistics chain, including customs and roads. Increasingly, projects, such as those on trade corridors, are regional in focus, in order to address the situation of landlocked developing countries such as Chad, Central African Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, or Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The Bank has also helped countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Colombia, and Tunisia develop comprehensive strategies. These typically involve creation of Logistics Councils comprising representatives from transport, customs, government agencies and the private sector. The councils identify what needs to be done to fix trade bottlenecks and work to ensure that such changes happen.
“The private sector is a key player in terms of identifying where things aren’t working; also, a lot of the improvements have to involve the private sector,” says Hoekman.
A Comprehensive Approach Brings the Greatest Efficiency Gains
The biggest logistics improvements come with policy changes and investments that address performance of infrastructure sectors like ports or road corridors, markets for logistics services such as trucking or customs brokerage, and efficiency of border clearance processes, adds Hoekman.
“Increasingly, the message from shippers is that customs is still a problem, but increasingly not the problem. It’s also the other agencies at the border. It’s partly related to security, food safety, health standards. It’s increasingly those types of agencies that are blocking rapid clearance of goods.”
A “single window” or a one-stop-shop for clearances, including tariff payments, food safety, health and security-related inspections, “is a big help to solve this latter problem,” says Hoekman.
Colombia’s improved ranking, from 82 to 72, on the Logistics Index is largely due to proactive policies including adoption of a comprehensive logistics strategy, which implemented a “single window” but also addressed reform in services and improvement in port management, says Mustra.
Such measures are catching on. The report finds positive trends in modernization of customs, increased use of information technology, and development of private logistics services.
“There was a bigger gap last time  between the highest- and lowest-performing countries,” says report co-author and World Bank senior trade economist Jean-Francois Arvis.
“This time, people are relatively positive about the trends. Even in countries where things are not really going very well right now, things are improving. When you look at the scores and the numbers we are crunching, those are relatively better. It’s small, but there are encouraging signs. For policymakers, investing in this area can generate big pay-offs and be something visible.”


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A new patent filling has been unearthed that suggests that Google is planning to integrate a new voice control system to work Google TV from inside and even outside the home.
In a similar way to Apple’s Siri, Google intends to let users control the device by using their voice via a smartphone or tablet application.
Its thought that viewers would be able to search content on Google TV, change channels and even ask questions about when certain TV show is going to be aired.
Once the commands have been issued – the information would be sent to Google’s cloud and then passed on to the TV, which would be connect wirelessly to the internet.
The most interesting part of the patent is the ability to control the device from anywhere as long as you have you Android smartphone or tablet to hand.
The filing states that “the provision of the query to the television may occur when the user is within a set distance of his home also (e.g., by determining with GPS functionality on the smartphone that he is within 1/4 mile of the home), and the television may be turned on automatically as he approaches the home, with the television tuned to a channel that is determined to be most relevant to the query.”
The patent also mentions that the voice control functionality could be used to stream music to the TV or to set-up playlists.


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ASOS HQ expansion starts
Southwark-based architectural designers MoreySmith have started work on-site with online fashion retailer ASOS’s expanded headquarters at Greater London House.
The extensive 100,000sqft refurbishment will more than double the space ASOS currently occupies in the building.
MoreySmith’s plans include a flexible events space, a showcase/press area, fashion-themed meeting rooms, open-plan offices and a tour route for visitors where they can follow the full journey of a garment from inception to completion, showcasing the innovative fashion and technology-led business.
MoreySmith aims to create a space that will act as a window to the ASOS brand, taking inspiration from ASOS’s company values, and commitment to maintain the high calibre of recruits that it employs.
Home to a variety of companies, the vast, former Black Cat cigarette factory was reinstated in the late 1990s to its original art deco grandeur, an architectural icon to 1930s design. ASOS’s expansion reflects the company’s significant growth in the last year, where its active customer base rose 35 per cent to 5.4 million across 160 countries.


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El Dorado County sheriff’s officials are asking the public’s help in identifying three people suspected of involvement in a credit card theft.
A credit card stolen from a vehicle in El Dorado County was recently used in Roseville.
Surveillance photos from a Walmart store show a woman who was using the credit card, accompanied by a man pushing a shopping cart and wearing a hat, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. Another man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and possibly using a cane also attempted to use the same credit card, sheriff’s officials said.
Anyone who recognizes the people shown in the surveillance photos is asked to call the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at (530) 642-4711, or leave an anonymous tip on the Sheriff’s Office website.
Call The Bee’s Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.


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Stay in the know and receive the latest international franchising news, insight and investment opportunities
Prioritizing convenience, Dunkin’ is expanding in universities, airports and travel plazas.
Keep up to date with the latest Global Franchise News sent straight to your inbox. Sign up here.
In 2021, Dunkin’ has grown in non-traditional locations such as the Las Vegas Convention Center, the new Virgin Hotel, Arizona’s Charlie Boulder Casino and the LINQ Hotel. The coffee chain has also opened across 12 Great Wolf Resorts and debuted locations in hospitals including Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville, Florida, and UMass Memorial Medical Center in Massachusetts.
Dunkin’ plans to grow into even more non-traditional locations with new units slated for terminal 5 of Chicago’s O’Hare airport and terminal 1 of New York’s JFK airport.
“Dunkin’ continues to modernize with convenience at the forefront. Our flexible concepts for any non-traditional format have been an essential aspect of our growth over the past decade and will remain a vital part of our future development strategy,” said Chris Burr, director of non-traditional development at Inspire Brands.
“As a new member of the Inspire family of brands, Dunkin’s strong experience in non-traditional development complements inspire’s vision for non-traditional growth across the portfolio, bringing valuable expertise to our best-in-class shared development team.”
Through the use of its in-store technology and platforms, Dunkin’ plans for each location to tailor itself to local needs and capture new guests.
In 2020, Dunkin’ was able to open 27 non-traditional locations. Dunkin’ locations were introduced to a number of airports, including Boston, New York, San Antonio and St.Petersburg-Clearwater.
The brand also opened a number of retail restaurants in malls such as The Mall of America, American Dream, a Shop Rite supermarket in New York and even Air Force bases in Mexico and Utah. Two further locations were opened on the campuses of the University of Maryland and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
Dunkin’s aggressive push for the development of non-traditional locations was supercharged last year as a response to the pandemic, with a desire to serve as many customers as possible with safe and sanitary processes.
The barbecue franchise has opened its second location in Tokyo, Japan23 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
Nathan’s Famous will sell its hot dogs in Tommy’s Diner, a 50’s style American diner based in France.23 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
The experienced former investment banker has joined the group as its vice president of franchise development.22 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
An aggressive expansion strategy has seen the brand set the goal of signing 50 deals for new locations across seven states by 202521 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
India will get four new Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria branches this year21 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
The dog care franchise has signed three agreements to expand its offering across Texas21 Sep 2021 | Read Article >
For further information on the Tiger Bills franchise please submit your details below.


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Fort Worth Council
Approves New PID
Camp Bowie's PID was approved with boundary changes in August. Meet the new Historic Camp Bowie. The Fort Worth City Council at its Aug. 14 meeting approved a new Public Improvement District (PID) plan for the area, again making some alterations to the boundaries.
Fort Worth Extends Camp Bowie Tax District 10 More Years
The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday night voted to extend a special tax district that pays for improvements along historic Camp Bowie Boulevard.The six-mile zone, known as a public improvement district, taxes property owners along the boulevard from Montgomery Street to Irene Street. It raises more than $400,000 a year.
Doughboy Donuts to open
on Camp Bowie
Doughboy Donuts, a popular gourment donut food truck will open its first store front on Camp Bowie Boulevard. They will take over the space formerly occupied by Leah's Sweet Treats at 4910 Camp Bowie Boulevard.
Birdie and James Boutique opens
on Camp Bowie
Jessica Breslin and Brittany Voxland, who started B Kids (6323 Camp Bowie) in 2016, brought the shop’s unique, modern styles to a different market with Birdie + James. This women’s boutique features easy-to-wear, contemporary fashions for the modern woman who loves to dress up without feeling overdressed. Welcome Birdie + James to Camp Bowie and stop in to see the selection of clothing, jewelry, shoes, and more!
Billy's Oak Acres moves
to Camp Bowie
Billy's Oak Acres is one of the newest restaurants to open on the Boulevard. Get your fix of barbecue staples at Billy's new location at
7709 West Camp Bowie.
75 Dishes Every Fort Worthian Needs to Eat
Our friends at FWTX Magazine have identified 75 dishes every Fort Worthian should try. Camp Bowie is home to eight restaurants on the list. Check it out and see if your favorite is among them.
Prim & Proper: Store owner sees more to a gift than just the bag
There’s a certain joy to pulling off a package’s bow, untying the ribbon and tearing off the wrapping paper that just doesn’t happen with a gift bag.
That’s what 35-year-old Melanie Jones is banking on. Jones is the founder of Fort Worth’s Prim & Proper Gifts and Gift Wrapping Services,
3550 West Seventh St., which opened in 2010.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet hits Camp Bowie
NAI Robert Lynn’s Fort Worth office announced the agreement Tuesday. The new store will be at 7909 Camp Bowie West Blvd., in a 39,000 square-foot space. It will be the first Ollie’s Bargain Outlet location in Tarrant County. The store advertises itself as one of the largest retailers of closeout merchandise and overstock inventory. The store sells a variety of items, including housewares, food, flooring, books and stationery, toys, home improvement and hardware, electronics, sporting goods and more.
Amon Carter Museum reopens with new galleries and 4 exhibitions
After a year-long renovation project, which required a three-month closure, the museum is set to reopen. The museum now features newer technology, lighting and sleeker designs for presenting artworks and artifacts.The museum building and galleries feature a new layout that provides an improved experience for visitors while preserving the vision and legacy of founder Amon G. Carter Sr. and his daughter Ruth Carter Stevenson. The Sept. 14 grand reopening celebration begins at 10 a.m. with daylong events during the annual Party on the Porch featuring live music, food trucks, and cash bars.
Tommy's Hamburger Grill has made it big! Tommy's plays a hometown burger hangout in “The Last Whistle,” a new high school football drama on iTunes or Amazon Prime. So cool!
BTH Bank Opens Its New Building in Camp Bowie District
BTH Bank Fort Worth has recently opened its fresh and unique approach to banking in its new building located on the brick streets of the Camp Bowie District at 5001 El Campo Avenue. BTH offers a welcoming space and convenient parking options at their beautifully restored, 70+ year-old facility along The Boulevard. Having preserved the years of history in the establishment, the bank is full of dark wood, and traditional decor. It's worth stopping in to look at- even if you have no banking needs!
Pies in the Buttermilk Sky: The shopping center at Ridglea Village is getting a sweet new tenant
After years of zeroing in on the city, Buttermilk Sky is finally setting up shop in Fort Worth. Weitzman announced Tuesday that Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop signed a lease to open a location in Ridglea Village, the retail center at 6040 Camp Bowie Blvd. It’s the same center anchored by La Madeleine.
Wild Acre to hit The Boulevard
It's official, Wild Acre Brewing was approved May 8 by City Council officials for the necessary zoning changes & permits they needed in order to move forward with construction. The change allows Wild Acre Brewery to open a small restaurant with a brewery/tap room onsite at 6479 Camp Bowie Blvd. Support was granted from the neighboring school, neighborhood associations, and Camp Bowie District. When completed the building will feature 3,000 square feet of brewing/ taste rooms, with 774 square feet of outdoor seating area.
Remember the debacle over a hotel
by the Kimbell Museum?
A new hotel is in the works
Little has been made public about plans for the hotel at Camp Bowie Boulevard and Van Cliburn Way in the Cultural District. But Michael Bennett, principal and CEO of Fort Worth’s Bennett Benner Partners, said his firm has been mindful of the Cultural District’s unique aesthetic and the vision of Kimbell architect Louis Kahn in a design they’re working on for
an unnamed developer.


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Yoghurt livens up the dairy market
The dairy market continues its strong performance, growing by +4.4% YoY in the 12 weeks to 16 July. This is ahead of total fresh and chilled (+4.1%) and the total grocery market (+3.7%). Although premiumisation is still a key driver of growth for dairy, this is not yet impacting volumes which are growing faster than in fresh and chilled and total grocery - up 2.6% - compared with 1.6% and 0.8% respectively.
Yoghurt is the stand out category this month, almost doubling its contribution to growth from £12.4 million to £21 million this period. Bucking the premiumisation trend, yoghurt has grown mostly through attracting new shoppers, and shoppers buying more often, alongside increased prices.
Among the retailers, Sainsbury’s has seen the biggest uplift in growth in yoghurt, followed by Tesco, Lidl, Asda and Ocado. In contrast, in total dairy Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Lidl all see less growth and Asda, Morrisons and Ocado are driving the uplift.
Another contrast is that the upturn in yoghurt is being propelled by temporary price reductions, whereas across total dairy - and the wider grocery market – we’re seeing the power of promotions waning and full price sales driving growth.
Whilst performance is strong among all demographics, ABC1 shoppers, pre-family, young families and retired shoppers are driving the biggest upturn in growth in yoghurt.