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Turnover at a Hull printing firm has soared to more than £3m on the back of a £1m factory expansion in the city.
RMC Digital Print, based in Manchester Street, Hull, specialises in the supply of wide-format print to signage, exhibition and design companies.
It has now reaped the rewards of significant investment into its facilities in Hull, and has seen turnover rise by over 20 per cent.
Nicole Spencer, operations director at RMC Digital Print, said: “The last couple of years have certainly been our busiest and most commercially successful.
“We’ve invested in our factory, equipping it with the latest technology in our sector and we’ve even had to double our working space to keep up with demand and give us the capacity continue to provide the highest standards in quality and service for our clients.
“We don’t work with the end-user – we work exclusively for our trade clients on behalf of their clients, so it’s really important for them to be entirely confident that they are working with an experienced team they can trust to deliver on speed, quality and specialist expertise.”
RMC provides print for the biggest high street retailers and brands, and its print work can be spotted in some of the UK’s favourite TV shows and films.
As well as specialising in large format digital print, RMC also provides modular way-finding services, and is one of the few companies in the UK that can offer a complete service with digital cutting and in-house finishing facilities.
Ms Spencer said: “We’re incredibly proud of how of the team and how we have worked together to grow the business and expand our national client portfolio.
“When people are walking down the high street or watching TV, many of them may not realise the artwork they see has been printed right here in Hull.
Many of the team working at RMC Digital are specialist graphic designers and art workers, and several have lent their skills and creativity to regional and Hull initiatives.
Other team members have also helped to revolutionise printing methods by implementing new ideas and methods that are now an industry standard.
For more information on RMC digital print and their full range of services, visit www.rmcdigitalprint.co.uk.


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Encouraging new survey results scheduled to be released at the National Community Pharmacists Association's (NCPA's) annual convention in October are likely to provide clear evidence that independent pharmacy is gaining ground in the prescription drug marketplace.
The new 2004 NCPA-Pfizer Digest results will show that prescription drug sales at the nation's independent pharmacies climbed by 10% last year to an average of $2.8 million per store. At the same time, total sales in the average independent pharmacy jumped 12% to $3.2 million.
Thanks to that sales growth, independent community pharmacies posed higher gross margins for the second straight year in 2003, climbing from 23.5% to 23.8%. The new figures will also show improvement in net profit, from an average of 3.8% last year to 3.9% in 2003.
The Digest results will also show changes in the structure of independent pharmacy, as well as in the services offered by the nation's independents.
According to the new findings, nearly 1 in 4 independent pharmacists today owns more than 1 pharmacy, and 85% of all independents now offer services such as prescription delivery, charge accounts, and nutrition aids.
The average payroll at independent community pharmacies is also on the increase. The new Digest results will show that the typical independent today employs 2.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) pharmacists and 3.4 FTE technicians.
Nationwide, independent pharmacies employ nearly a quarter million FTE employees and contribute nearly $10 billion in employee wages and taxes to their local economies.

domain: news


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It seems like something out of science fiction — taking the DNA of one organism and replacing it with part of another.
Yet, the idea has been a part of the agriculture industry for years, with the debate centered around genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
A GMO isn’t necessarily an organism with manipulated DNA, however. What some people call GMOs most farmers call hybridized plants.
This is different from a plant that has been genetically engineered, or GE, said Ronald Wagner, the owner of Wagner Farms in Rome. Genetically engineered plants contain DNA that has parts swapped with the DNA from another organism (such as an animal).
He said these plants reduce a lot of risk in growing crops.
“(A) farmer's always going to buy the best traits he can buy for a farm,” Wagner said. “If something tags along with a trait that we don’t really need, then seed companies are in business to sell technology.”
A large majority of GE crops are engineered to withstand chemicals in herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. Though these chemicals kill unwanted organisms, they also kill unaltered crops.
So if farmers could grow crops that are immune to these chemicals, then they could produce a larger yield.
“Anytime I can buy a product that has resistance — whether it’s insect, disease, herbicide — the benefits outweigh the negative impacts,” Wagner said.
The only GE crops Wagner grows for human consumption are a few zucchini. These crops are engineered to resist disease that could wipe out a harvest.
The GE grain corn he grows is used for animal feed and raw materials. The corn resists insects, he said, and also includes resistance toward Roundup.
But he doesn’t always use Roundup on the corn because it’s healthier for the soil if he changes chemicals.
“We’re manipulating the soils and we’re manipulating the plants to yield the best while doing the best that we can for the soil’s health,” Wagner said.
Most crops meant for human consumption in Oneida County aren’t genetically engineered, said Jeff Miller, agronomy specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. Like Wagner, most local farmers grow GE crops for animal feed, Miller said.
Could those same GE modifications find their way into meat at the grocery store?
It’s hard to tell, Miller said, because the modification typically occurs in proteins, making it almost impossible to separate from other proteins. With U.S. Food and Drug Administration comparison tests between GE and non-GE crops, Miller said it might not matter anyway.
“If there’s no significant difference between (an organic plant and a GE plant) in basic nutrition analysis, (the FDA is) basically saying these plants are the same,” he said.
It does matter, however, to Denise and Bernard Szarek, the owners of Szarek’s Greenhouse. Though they aren’t technically certified organic, they said they follow organic processes.
The Szareks short-term worry about GE crops is the taste. They said GE plants taste different — Wagner also said a type of GE corn has a soapy aftertaste.
The long-term worry for the Szareks is how the chemicals might appear in the future.
“I think you’re going to see a correlation (with GMO or GE products) to a lot of the illnesses our grandchildren are showing,” Denise Szarek said.
This does not mean organic growers don’t use chemicals. Though the Szarek’s don’t use them, they said organic growers can use chemicals that have passed an organic standard. Bernard Szarek said they are “natural (chemicals) that (are) safe for humans.”
“I want my vegetables as pure as they can be for me to eat,” Denise Szarek said. “I think most people want that.”
Acreage of herbicide-tolerant corn rose from 3 percent of planted acres in the United States in 1996 to 89 percent in 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Likewise, herbicide-tolerant soybeans rose in planted acreage in the United States from 7.4 percent in 1996 to 94 percent in 2017.
Though no GMO or GE data was available for Oneida County, Szarek said GE-friendly Monsanto Co. is starting to buy smaller, organic seed companies. This could make it harder for these companies to do business, Szarek said, which could shrink the organic seed market.
“When you start playing around with plants like that,” Szarek said, “all sorts of changes happen.”
Contact reporter Joseph Labernik at 315-792-4995 or follow him on Twitter (@OD_Labernik).


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Fortville, IN, October 16, 2018–Bill Khamis and Ed Vondell, the owners and inventors of Indiana fiberglass pool manufacturer, Thursday Pools, are going to speak at the upcoming Midwest and Southeast Pool and Spa Show., “Essential Elements for Creating a Culture of Innovation.”
Khamis and Vondell are the driving forces behind numerous Thursday Pools innovations, including:
Khamis and Vondell lead a culture of innovation at Thursday Pools by focusing on problem solving for their customers and dealers alike through optimism, persistence and collaboration. They’re hands-on in every aspect of the business. Through their speaking engagements, they will share with other business owners how to listen to their customers for opportunities for improvement, foster innovation in their own organizations and create a team of open-minded problem solvers.
“We’re excited to share what we know and what we’ve learned,” said Vondell, COO. “We certainly don’t have it all figured out, but we do know that other manufacturing businesses have faced the same challenges we have. If we can help other organizations or individuals move the needle in terms of process improvements, opportunities to get an edge on their competition, or ways to provide a better end-user experience for their products, we’re happy to do so.”
“We get really jazzed when we talk to our dealers and they tell us how our innovations have helped them sell more pools or solve issues that fiberglass pool owners have faced,” CFO Khamis added. “We’re committed to quality and customer satisfaction, first and foremost. And we’re always looking for new ways to elevate the fiberglass pool owner’s experience. We don’t sleep much, but when we do, we dream about improving fiberglass pools.”
All Thursday Pools fiberglass pools are built to meet strict ISO 9001 standards for quality of construction and materials as well as ISO 14001 standards for environmentmental stewardship. Their pools are backed by two industry-leading warranties and are crafted with true passion and teamwork.
Thursday Pools manufactures one-piece, inground fiberglass swimming pools at its facility in Fortville, Indiana. Dedicated to bringing cutting-edge innovations to the pool world, Thursday Pools designs and handcrafts fiberglass pools to the highest standards.
Pool companies interested in becoming a part of the Thursday Pools dealer family can get more information here.


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UK flights ban: Electrical items not allowed in hand luggage
UK flight restrictions have recently changed thanks to a foiled terrorist bomb plot.
Powders could soon be removed from hand luggage unless they are under 12 ounces.
This follows the USA and Australia, who both issued the new rule after a failed terrorist attack on an Etihad plane in Sydney in 2016.
Hand luggage regulations can be confusing for passengers, especially when it comes to taking electrical items such as laptops and tablets onboard.
The gov.uk website explains what is allowed in bags in the cabin depending on the location UK travellers are flying.
Passengers travelling from the UK to countries abroad are allowed to take laptops, mobile phones and tablets into their hand luggage
Passengers travelling from the UK to countries abroad are allowed to take laptops, mobile phones and tablets into their hand luggage as well as their hold luggage.
This also includes hairdryers and straighteners, electric shavers and travel irons.
Portable cosmetic equipment can use gas canisters, as long as they remain covered at all times and spare gas canisters cannot be brought onboard.
Cameras are also allowed but professional equipment may have certain regulations to check with the airline.
The only restriction is for e-cigarettes which are allowed in hand luggage and not in cabin bags.
Travellers heading to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have different restrictions.
This does not include the following airports:
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen
- Marsa Alam
For all other airports, electrical devices larger than 16cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm are not allowed in hand luggage.
This means most laptops and tablets must be put into cabin bags and checked in.
Electrical items such as hard drives and keyboards are subject to this - even if they are bought in duty-free.
Portable batteries are not allowed in either hand or hold luggage if they breach these measurements.
Many passengers may not realise that they are subject to these rules if they are travelling through these countries on connecting flights.
This means, if starting in the UK where these bans are not in place, but travelling through any of the list countries, then the rules must be abided by.
Other rules issued by the government restricts some food and drink items.
Semi-liquid food such as jams, syrups and honey are not allowed as they are classed as banned liquids.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and other fresh foods are not allowed to be taken to certain island destinations such as Hawaii and New Zealand to protect the local habitat from diseases.


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SAN FRANCISCO--One might think that as a CIO, it would be tough to have someone else running all of your desktops and many of your servers.
Not so, says Randy Benz, CIO of Energizer. For more than three years, Energizer has handed off much of those duties to Microsoft. And he'd be fine with Microsoft running just about everything, save perhaps for the company's iconic battery-powered bunny.
"If I never run another server in there for the rest of my life, I'm as happy as can be," Benz said over lunch last week following the, essentially the company's effort to turn the Energizer experiment into a business.
Initially, Microsoft is offering to host only a few of its server products--Exchange and SharePoint, although over time businesses will gain the option to run most of Microsoft server products as a service running from inside the software maker's data centers.
So, one might reasonably ask what Benz and his team are doing if they aren't running all the servers and managing desktops?
For one thing, his group now offers a much broader range of computer training for Energizer workers. Beyond just teaching how to use specific products, Benz said Energizer now has classes for different types of workers focused on their particular role. One recent creation is a specific program just for road warriors.
"It cuts across products," Benz said.
Of course, businesses that don't want to handle the more mundane IT tasks have had other options for a while, such as more conventional outsourcing in which a third-party company comes in and handles things like help desk and server management.
The problem, Benz said, is it typically doesn't save much money. Any efficiencies the outsourcer gets because of its expertise are offset by its profit margins.
By having Microsoft run its software from its own data centers, though, Benz figures that it will have enough scale to actually be more cost effective.
Not everything that Microsoft has been doing with Energizer is going to be offered broadly. But, Benz said, that has more to do with the fact that some of the things aren't good businesses for Microsoft, as opposed to the fact they didn't work out for Energizer.
"There's nothing we've done that I'm disappointed in," he said. Rather, he is looking to what he can hand over next. The two companies recently added a hosted business intelligence offering, something that isn't yet part of the services Microsoft is offering broadly.
Benz also knows the managed service route isn't for all customers. Even though it resembles outsourcing, he said it is actually more suited to customers that want to be on the cutting edge. Having Microsoft manage their software means that Energizer is always running the latest versions, for better or worse.,p> "This has to be targeted at people that want to keep up," he said. "The reason we got into services arena is to avail (ourselves) of newer stuff."
One of the areas the company is looking at keenly, Benz said, is Microsoft's plan to, the company licenses the full version of Office for every PC, but limits the number of PCs it gives out accordingly. Having a lower cost Web-only option for workers that only need light editing abilities might mean more workers get access to technology
"It may be a breakeven for us but we are reaching more of our people more appropriately," he said. "We'll revisit it when the products are out."
Microsoft has said it will have technology preview versions of the Office apps will be available later this year, but hasn't said when the product will be formally released or when the business version might be available. For consumers, the Office Web apps will be part of Office Live, while businesses will be able to provide access as part of Microsoft's SharePoint server software.


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Google has created a tennis mini-game cleverly hidden in search results for Wimbledon
- Google hid a tennis mini-game in its search engine in honour of the Wimbledon tournament.
- You can launch the game by typing "Wimbledon" in the search box and looking for the little green tennis ball.
- It's one of many mini-games Google has added to its search engine over the years.
- For more stories, go to Business Insider SA.
Google is known hiding games in its search engine, and its latest Easter egg is a special treat for tennis fans.
In honour of the Wimbledon tournament, which runs through July 14, Google has added a miniature tennis game to the results it displays when typing in "Wimbledon" as a search query.
After typing in "Wimbledon," look for the small tennis ball in the search results box next to the "Mixed Doubles" option. This should come up whether you're searching on the desktop or on a mobile device, both in a web browser or in Google's app.
Then, tap or click the tennis ball icon to start the game. When playing on the desktop, you'll use the keyboard's arrow buttons to move your character from left to right. On a mobile device, you can play the game just by dragging your character on screen.
The game's characters vary, usually taking the form of an animal, a robot, or an astronaut. But Google also hid a nod to its Android software in the game, as sometimes your character or opponent will appear as the small green robot mascot.
After Wimbledon is over, the game will still appear in results when searching for queries like "Wimbledon 2019 scores," according to Google. It's also available when looking for tournaments in years past too, such as when searching for scores from last year's Wimbledon tournament. And it's not limited to Wimbledon, as the company says it will be available for other large tournaments that have both a men's and women's bracket and mixed doubles.
It's far from being the first time Google has hidden a mini-game in its search engine. It frequently adds games based on current events and anniversaries to its Google Doodles, such as the barbecue-themed baseball game it recently launched for July 4.
The search giant has also hidden some classic video games into its search engine, like "Atari Breakout" and "Pac-Man." You can pull up either of these games just by typing the titles into Google's search engine, although you must navigate to the images tab to play "Breakout." And of course, there's the beloved dinosaur game that appears in Chrome when there's no internet connection available.
Type in "Wimbledon" in Google Search to try it out for yourself. Although the game itself is simple, it gets difficult pretty quickly.
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Also from Business Insider South Africa:
- BMWs made in South Africa for sale in Europe are safe from a Brexit disaster – and only the UK will suffer
- Watch: Meet SpaceBok, a hopping robot that plays ping pong
- Iranian gunboats trying to seize a British oil tanker were scared away by the Royal Navy, new report claims
- What you need to know about the Reserve Bank’s new deputy governors
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- All the big South African companies that are currently looking for CEOs
- South Africans are now so good at sniffing out discounts that it’s getting scary


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An 89-year-old pizza delivery driver received a surprise delivery of his own from “regulars” on his route, a US$ 12,000 tip.
Derlin Newey was in disbelief Tuesday morning when the Valdez family knocked on the door of his Utah home.
“How do I ever say thank you? I don’t know what to say,” said Newey as he held back tears of joy.
Newey delivers pizzas for Papa John’s about 30 hours a week. He told KSL that he started the job after realizing he couldn’t live solely on social security.
In addition to being a delivery driver, Newey is also a rising TikTok star thanks to some loyal customers inspired by his kindness.
The Valdez family said they always ask for him when ordering pizza and started recording his deliveries as TikTok videos on their channel @vendingheads.
“It’s insane. Everybody loves him,” said Carlos Valdez. The family claims his signature phrase with each delivery is, “Hello, are you looking for some pizza?”
With more than 53,000 followers, they often got comments asking why Newey was delivering pizzas at his age. The family agreed that he shouldn’t have to work so much and decided to use their platform for some good.
They asked their followers to make a donation to help Newey, and the money started rolling in. They were quickly able to raise $12,000. They presented a signed check to him as from his “TikTok Family.”
89-year old Derlin Newey started delivering pizzas to make ends meet. He never thought one of his customers would change everything. Here’s our story for @KSL5TV on the delivery he never saw coming. #ksltv #goodnews
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) September 23, 2020


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For Immediate Release: June 2, 2010
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
Exports Offer Opportunity for Economic Growth
WASHINGTON – Increased global trade and the growing interdependence among nations of the world has resulted in an expanding middle class and an historic opportunity for U.S. exporters, was the message delivered by Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez at today’s Washington International Trade Association breakfast.
“Our nation’s innate ability to innovate and export is key to strengthening the economy and creating jobs,” Sánchez said. “President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) has two short-term goals: double exports in the next five years and support 2 million jobs. The priority focus of the NEI is to put America on a track to take full advantage of the global marketplace.”
The NEI goals require a repositioning of America’s strategic outlook in regards to exporting, and Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) plays a major role in implementing the necessary initiatives and programs designed to achieve these objectives.
“I have implemented a 12-month plan that refocuses how ITA works,” Sánchez said. “We will give added emphasis to companies that already export and are ready for new markets. We are also focusing more on targeted industries and markets to accelerate exports to create jobs now in order to add momentum to the recovery.”
To better reach the 95 percent of the world’s potential consumers living outside the United States, ITA is utilizing strategic partnerships and engaging private sector experts to increase exporting possibilities for U.S. companies.
“By the end of this summer, we will educate the most of the international sales forces of UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service to the services ITA’s Commercial Service can provide to their exporting clients,” Sánchez explained. “To further harness the potential between the public and the private sectors, we have re-engaged our Industry Trade Advisory Committees that help us develop public policies and strategies necessary to meet President Obama’s goals.”
Sánchez also noted that commercial engagement strategies are being developed for emerging nations, including Brazil, India, China, Vietnam, and South Africa, that will be targeted to help ensure long-term success of the NEI.
For additional information on ITA, which creates opportunities for U.S. workers and firms by promoting international trade and by fostering a level playing field for American businesses, please visit www.trade.gov.
International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 77 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.
The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, manages this global trade site to provide access to ITA information on promoting trade and investment, strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. This site contains PDF documents. A PDF reader is available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.


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- You are here:
- mercedes amg high performance powertrains
mercedes amg high performance powertrains
The game of Formula One musical engine bays continues with the announcement that Williams F1 has signed a long-term deal to switch to Mercedes engines from 2014, bringing Williams' partnership with Renault to a close after just two years. Williams will get the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 and KERS ...


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The record is nice no doubt, I comply with all of the web sites you mentioned above. I discovered an attention-grabbing new website that you can check out “technostaan.in”. If you want to find out about cool tech stuff, there are superior websites and blogs that can assist you. Eurogamer.net is doubtless considered one of the oldest technology websites the place they are posting about video games from 1999. They started the net site with the PC focus suggestions and hacks and the FPS scene of these times.
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WhatsApp is owned by Meta, which additionally owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Realme has teased a new smartphone launch in the nation, which is anticipated to be a flagship smartphone, and the brand has teased that the device will embrace a periscope zoom lens. Realme will unveil more details concerning the upcoming smartphone on January 3. Oracle logo seen displayed on smartphone with synthetic intelligence chip and image in background. Recognising the outstanding role of technology in private banking. Tom Stacey, Anglia Ruskin University Automotive giants Tesla and Volvo have announced pauses to the manufacturing of their electric vehicles in Europe.
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- More than 600,000 individuals served by the Memphis, Tennessee, water utility are on their fourth day of boiling water for drinking, brushing teeth and getting ready meals.
- “EssilorLuxottica not solely profits from its facial-recognition software, however it uses facial-recognition software program to establish people who allegedly steal from the Sunglass Hut,” the lawsuit mentioned.
The variety of folks “exposed to floods” all over the world has risen by as a lot as 24% between 2000 and 2020. That is 10 occasions greater than what was predicted, based on NASA. I suppose this market nonetheless desires to liquid stocks, huge corporations which are constant. But first off, one factor that doesn’t get mentioned a lot in the media, I consider, is a weaker greenback, right? So inflation has come down, rates of interest have come down, and a weaker greenback actually helps out earnings from multinationals. And I think the analysts on these firms have sniffed that out.
For its part, JB Hi-Fi says it will enthusiastically match the price of an identically stocked competitor product. As of the time this was written, Chromebooks were going as low-cost as $149 on the provider. All the most recent news, evaluations, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. Just days after launch, Palworld is already breaking Steam data and blowing up the internet. Hackers gained entry to the email accounts of select staff, together with senior leaders and cybersecurity researchers who track Russian hackers, the corporate stated. A seldom-considered computing safety function has nothing to do with protecting your knowledge or stopping on-line identity theft.
Fill your pipeline and elevate your revenue utilizing our confirmed lead-generation strategies. Scientific American is a part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with 1000’s of scientific publications (many of them can Technology News be discovered at /us). Scientific American maintains a strict coverage of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers. Researchers have developed a model new technology that makes use of meta-optical units to carry out thermal imaging.


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The NFU’s new food service and procurement adviser Bethan Williams updates on the work of the team and provides her insight on how food service will remain critical to farm businesses over the coming months. She writes:
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges across the supply chain but the lockdown has led to major closures in the food service sector. It’s been hit on an unparalleled level. From pubs and restaurants, coffee shops to our favourite fast food outlets, the £81 billion UK eating-out market was closed overnight.
While food service outlets were having to manage business closures, stopping or dramatically reducing service and changing requirements for staff, the supply chain was reacting in record time to redirect supply destined for these businesses to retailers who were seeing soaring demand and rapidly changing behaviour from shoppers.
From the very start the NFU has been holding conversations with retailers and food service outlets trying to help manage the redirection of supply and excessive volumes, and to provide a helping hand in these very testing times. From seeing large volume reductions in the wholesale poultry sector due to decreased demand from food service and ethnic groups, and eggs flying off the shelves for the UK’s new national hobby of baking, these significantly changing demands needed strong partnerships between producers and buyers.
Value from these strong partnerships between producers and buyers can provide significant assistance to businesses. Good relationships and increased transparency can assist with repurposing products from one end user to another, such as assisting in finding an end-market for liquid egg frequently used by large food service businesses. With production volumes not easily changeable these conversations are imperative for all parties within the supply chain.
However, with a strong stay at home message ringing in the public’s ears and strict social distancing measures being implemented across society, the impact of the initial closure of food service outlets will likely continue for the foreseeable future. Even when the food service sector starts to reopen, it will take time for consumers to build confidence and for impacted businesses to return to pre COVID-19 levels of activity.
What we have seen recently is that the pressures in supply chains don’t just sit with the end purchaser but throughout the whole supply chain. Greater communication between producers, processors and food service businesses will enable the supply chain to become more reactive to the changing demands of our eating out experience.
Whether it is increased home-delivery, restaurants with reduced capacity in the future due to social distancing measures or changes to business structure, early and open conversations are critical to ensure British suppliers are ready to produce the raw ingredients for when the doors creak open for the general public. We are already seeing large food service companies such as KFC and McDonalds start to open specific stores across the country at lower levels of capacity.
The NFU’s absolute priority in the coming weeks is to continue and widen our conversations with these companies. Gaining clarity on the ‘exit-strategies’ of the food service sector is our number one focus, specifically how and when businesses will be increasing their business capacity and therefore purchasing greater volumes of product. Having greater understanding of these plans can assist businesses having the right product for their consumer.
To put it simply, the door for conversation is open even when business doors are closed.
More from NFUonline:


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Jet Airways has announced it will be offering its most loyal customers a range of new benefits.
People taking flights to India with Jet Airways will be among those who are able to benefit from a range of exciting new promotions being introduced for the company’s loyalty scheme.
JetPrivilege has announced it is offering its members new ways of earning more JPMiles points, which they can they convert into air miles or other exciting offers.
Members can now pick up points if they subscribe to financial newspaper Mint for a year and if they book into accommodation owned by the Citrus Hotel group.
There are also points on offer when people make purchases through the BuyThePrice.com website.
Sudheer Raghavan, chief commercial officer with Jet Airways, said: “This partnership further cements our position as arguably the leading airline frequent flyer programme in the country with the high value it offers members and the wide range of product choices.”
More people could be encouraged to take flights to India with Jet Airways after the carrier was named as the best domestic airline by the Travel Agents Association of India.
Written by Erin Marshall


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America’s trucks move 10 billion tons of product each year, accounting for more than 70% of all domestic freight volume, and transport a disproportionate percentage of finished consumer goods compared with rail and barge. The pattern of U.S. commerce has shifted profoundly in recent weeks as ecommerce and grocery spending have spiked, particularly in cities most affected by COVID-19, and trucks have raced to keep up. On the demand side of the equation, consumers increasingly shut inside have been stocking up on ecommerce purchases, driving up online sales of everything from household staples like toilet paper to groceries. This deluge of online orders has caused web traffic jams at online giants like Amazon Pantry, which temporarily stopped taking new orders of household essential items like paper towels and groceries on March 19. Adobe Analytics, which monitors ecommerce transactions at 80 of the top 100 U.S. retailers, found that sales of canned goods and shelf stable items (such as pasta, rice and so forth) have increased 69% and 58%, respectively, since fears of the virus began. As one would expect, online sales of cold and flu medicine have spiked 198%, while toilet paper is up 186%. All this is leading to additional demand for truckload and the less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers that make last-mile deliveries.
Meanwhile, panic shopping at grocery stores has led to a need to aggressively restock shelves with products delivered via truck. Trucking industry data supports this unprecedented surge. The Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) compiled by online data provider FreightWaves shows a 24% spike in trucking demand in mid-March vs. this same period last year. The OTVI tracks truckload volumes accepted by trucking companies in 15 major metropolitan areas and notes that existing activity is 10% above the peak experienced in 2018, one of the busiest years in recent history.
This increase in demand for freight transportation has put increasing strains on the LTL market in the most affected cities at the same time the nation’s more than 2 million truck drivers are increasingly unwilling to take those LTL jobs. LTL shipments typically involve multiple delivery stops and often require drivers to deliver goods into a store or building, which means increased human contact compared with full truckload shipments. Driver fears of COVID-19 have pushed trucking companies to reject a greater percentage of loads tendered to them by shippers in recent weeks. FreightWaves reported that markets such as Los Angeles, Houston and Philadelphia experienced a 20% rise in rejected shipments in recent weeks. The dry van shipping sector, which is heavily focused on last-mile deliveries, has seen a 10% surge in rates in Seattle and Los Angeles, two of the cities hit hardest by COVID-19, according to freight marketplace Truckstop.com. We expect the pricing anomalies we currently see in select cities to become the norm in coming weeks, as the coronavirus is expected to peak between May and November, based on a new study by the Imperial College London.
In an effort to ease this strain, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a federal regulatory agency, temporarily waived its hours of service (HOS) requirements for certain drivers through at least April 12. The HOS waiver is expected to have a small but tangible effect on the supply of truck capacity. Adding to trucking supply concerns is the fact that orders for new Class 8 trucks are at their lowest since 2009. The trucking market continues to recover from its 2018 spending spree, when Class 8 truck orders hit a 20-year high and vehicle manufacturers faced a 10-month backlog. Orders of Class 8 trucks serve as a leading indicator of trucking capacity one to three months out, as manufacturers like Daimler, PACCAR and Volvo typically keep a backlog waiting to be filled.
Some economists predict that these new consumer behaviors, principally a shift toward more online sales, will remain an economic force long after virus worries subside. As a result, we should expect to see increased investment in last-mile logistics in the coming weeks as online merchants prepare for a new normal.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) may be used as a generic term to reference the company as a whole and/or its various subsidiaries generally. This material and any products or services may be issued or provided in multiple jurisdictions by duly authorized and regulated subsidiaries. This material is for general information and reference purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice and is not intended as an offer to sell, or a solicitation to buy securities, services or investment products. Any reference to tax matters is not intended to be used, and may not be used, for purposes of avoiding penalties under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or other applicable tax regimes, or for promotion, marketing or recommendation to third parties. All information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy is not guaranteed, and reliance should not be placed on the information presented. This material may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted, or any of the content disclosed to third parties, without the permission of BBH. All trademarks and service marks included are the property of BBH or their respective owners. © Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. 2020. All rights reserved. PB-03471-2020-04-02


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February 10, 2021
3 min read
Last week, a House of Representatives oversight subcommittee publicized the results of an investigation that confirmed reports of high levels of toxic heavy metals in popular baby foods.
According to the subcommittee report, four companies — Beech-Nut, Gerber, Hain and Nurture — responded to requests for internal documents, whereas three companies — Campbell, Sprout Organic Foods and Walmart — refused.
Healio spoke with Jackie Bowen, MPH, MS, executive director of the Clean Label Project, about the investigation and the implications it has for child health.
Question: What did the House of Representatives report say, and where did the data come from?
Answer: Following reports alleging high levels of toxic heavy metals in baby foods, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy requested internal documents and test results from seven of the largest manufacturers of organic and conventional baby food in the U.S., including Nurture’s Happy Family, Walmart, Campbell’s Plum Organics, Gerber, Hain’s Earth’s Best, Beech-Nut and Sprout.
Key findings from their report included:
- Top baby foods are tainted with dangerous levels of inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.
- Industry self-regulation fails to protect consumers because manufacturers set their own dangerously high standards for toxic heavy metals levels.
- Manufacturers routinely ignore internal standards and continue to sell products with high heavy metal levels.
Q: Has the government done enough on this issue?
A: In my opinion, no. The food safety regulatory fabric in America is largely focused on pathogen and microbiological contaminants, for example, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria, etc. These are the food safety recalls you hear about related to chicken or salad mix recalls. These can cause vomiting, diarrhea or worse within 24 to 72 hours. However, there is increasing consumer, academic and medical community concern over exposure to low levels of heavy metals and their impact on long-term chronic disease.
In the past 4 years, there have been four significant consumer advocacy calls to action about the levels of heavy metals in America’s best-selling baby food — by the Clean Label Project in 2017; Consumer Reports in 2018; Healthy Babies, Bright Futures in 2019; and the House of Representatives in 2021. The question that needs to be asked is if this call to action will actually result in regulatory change.
Q: How do toxic chemicals get into baby food, and what can be done to prevent it?
A: It is important to recognize the impact that our societal choices have on both the environment and our health. Although some heavy metals are naturally occurring in the earth’s crust, human causes including mining, fracking, industrial agriculture and wastewater used for irrigation exacerbate the problem. These heavy metals — in the form of pollution — end up in the air, the water and the soil. Plants have no choice but to suck up the contaminants in the ground. If ingredient sources go unchecked by baby food brands, these contaminated plants will end up in the finished products being consumed by the most vulnerable populations.
View your dollars as a vote for the food system you believe in, and use your vote wisely.
Q: How can these contaminants affect a baby’s health?
A: WHO considers the first 1,000 days of life as critically important for long-term health and wellness. It is the window of optimum brain and immune system development. When it comes to lead, WHO, the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the AAP and the CDC all independently say that there is no safe level of lead. In fact, lead has been shown to cause an increase in hyperactivity and a decrease in IQ in children.
Exposure to heavy metals can take years, sometimes decades, to manifest into chronic disease in the form of cancer or reproductive harm.
Q: What should pediatricians know about this issue and the data in this report?
A: If parents or caregivers are concerned, they should absolutely speak with their pediatrician. Encouraging diversity in diets and being mindful of certain high-risk ingredients — including rice and some root crops — can help minimize the heavy metal exposure.


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Why Steve Jobs gets a C+
If the blogosphere is to be believed, Steve Jobs got an A for his performance in Friday's press conference, which addressed complaints about the iPhone 4's antenna. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Attensity360, a research firm that studies consumer opinion on blogs and other social media, said Mr. Job's performance was a "qualified success," with "negative conversation" about the iPhone 4 down 30% compared to seven days prior.
I'm not sure I'd be so generous.
The Apple CEO may have succeeded in dampening the hysteria about the antenna's design. But if we just consider the kind of leadership qualities Jobs displayed during the much-hyped press event, I can't give him much more than a C plus.
First, the good. Jobs started his presentation by admitting right off the bat that "we're not perfect," three words Apple watchers don't expect to hear from the infamously meticulous CEO. By presenting his arguments simply and clearly and repeating the company's zeal for its customers, he helped to make his case. And by offering free cases to users, he shows the company is serious about the issue and willing to feel a financial pinch as a result.
But in other ways, Jobs' leadership qualities were lacking. When he used the phrase "Antennagate," he risked an air of mockery that could have offended those customers who have had problems. His "blame the media" strategy--Jobs repeatedly called out the press for blowing the problem out of proportion--will appear dismissive to some.
My biggest complaint: Jobs spent almost five minutes, or about one-sixth of his total presentation, talking about how the antenna problem isn't unique to Apple. He even played lengthy video clips of competitors' phones, illustrating how those handsets also drop bars, or lose coverage, when the phone is held in a certain way.
In other words, he invokes a defense more common among six-year-olds than distinguished leaders: Everyone else is doing it, too. Jobs may be right in saying that, "This is life in the smartphone world," and that the antenna issue is "a challenge for the whole industry." But to dwell on those comparisons for so long seemed overwrought and--even worse for a company built on being distinctive--risked lumping the iPhone in with its competitors.
How would you grade Jobs' performance Friday as a leader?
July 19, 2010; 7:00 AM ET |
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Fredericksburg, VA Car Show
From member Norm Kiaunis: "Saturday, traveled to a Corvette only show at Radley Chev in Fredericksburg, VA. They're about the only shows I want to do now, all Corvette. Show was put on by Battlefield Corvette Club of that area, they did a nice job, 100 cars registered, not bad." Attending from the FSCC was Norm and Wayne Esposito.


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Nike Caves To 'Woke' Mob, Removes All ‘Redskins’ Gear From Website
Three letters signed by 87 different investment firms
Global sports brand Nike has caved to pressure from 'woke' activists accusing the name of the Washington Redskins of being 'racist.'
In response, Nike has now removed all Redskins gear from their website.
Adweek reported that three letters signed by 87 different investment firms and shareholders demanded Nike, FedEx, and PepsiCo to cease business with the Washington Redskins until the name is changed.
Nike's immediate response to take down Redskins skin gear might be due to the fact the investment firms and shareholders are worth a collective $620 billion.
Native American leaders have pushed for the team to change its name for decades.
Owner Daniel Snyder said he would "never change the name" in 2013.
Last month, the team removed a monument commemorating former owner George Preston Marshall.
Marshall was the last NFL owner to integrate his team’s roster, from the front of RFK Stadium.
Nike's move seemed to come after activist investors at FedX claimed that the name was racist.
“We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name,” FedEx said in a statement to FOX Business.
Nike caves to far-left activists, removes all Redskins gear from their website pic.twitter.com/iE8ksxmwmk— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) July 3, 2020
Last year, Nike canceled its Fourth of July-themed patriotic sneaker for Independence Day because anti-Trump ex-NFL star Colin Kaepernick found the Betsy Ross flag design "offensive."
Nike's Air Max 1 USA shoe was scheduled to be released on Wednesday ahead of the celebrations for July 4th.
Kaepernick, who is known for originating the kneeling protest against the national anthem during NFL games, reportedly told the famous shoe company that the flag, with thirteen stars, was a symbol for slavery that offended many.
"Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag," a spokeswoman for the company said at the time.
“After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.”


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Bend's pioneer brewery has more expansion on tap
Updated On: May 09 2013 06:06:19 PM CDT
Central Oregon's biggest brewery is getting even bigger. Deschutes Brewery opened in Bend 25 years ago -- and continues to grow. Now available in 20 states, it's taking big steps to keep up with demand.
Traveling by ship and truck, it took over a month for the latest additions to Deschutes Brewery to arrive in Bend.
The new 40,000-gallon fermentation tanks were ordered from a company in Germany over a year ago. They were completed last month and shipped down through through the Panama Canal all the way to Vancouver, B.C. From there, they were trucked to Central Oregon.
And it looks like they made it in pretty good shape. There's a couple scratches and dings, but we'll get those polished up, and have them ready to go here in a couple months," said Deschutes Brewery Marketing Director Jeff Billingsley.
"In the fermentation vessels, we pitch our yeast in to ferment the beer," said Tour Supervisor Aaron Calihan. "The fermentation vessels we're adding today are the biggest fermenters we have on the property."
Using two cranes and plenty of helping hands, the first of five new tanks was installed Wednesday.
"These tanks are primarily for increased capacity on our big sellers, primarily Mirror Pond, and for the Summer Twilight Ale," Calihan said.
The increase in capacity is needed for the brewery's growing demand -- not only here, but across the country as well.
"We're in 20 states as of right now. We'll have Iowa and Nebraska added this summer, for a total of 22 this year, and we're looking at a handful next year," Billingsley said.
The popularity is no surprise to Bend's first brewery, and they believe one thing sets them apart from the rest.
"The quality -- absolutely, hands down the quality. We use the best quality indigents, we buy the best quality equipment, and I like to think we hire the best quality people," Calihan said. "That allows us to produce the best quality beer that we actually can."
Brewery managers say the next big project is expanding the bottling line. But they say that is still years away.
Copyright 2013 KTVZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed


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BRABUS has been hard at working preparing their Motor Salon for the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show, and we can’t wait to see the final display.
In a few separate galleries uploaded to their Facebook page with new pictures added almost every day, the German aftermarket tuner has been releasing peeks at both the interior and exterior modifications that will be on display.
On Feb. 18, they uploaded a gallery showing off the interior of the G63 AMG 6×6 based creation, decked out in a stunning black leather with red contrast stitching throughout. The BRABUS logo appears in red on the headrests of the front and rear seats and on the leather floor mats, and subtle chrome accenting adds to the sleek appeal of the interior design. Be sure to take a look in the first gallery below.
(See Also: BRABUS 850 Coupe Revealed Before Geneva)
Another gallery on their page was created Feb. 3, though new pictures have been added regularly and as recently as Feb. 20. It clues us all in to which cars will be on display at the show, and can be found below, just under the gallery of interior shots.
Be sure to stay with us for more updates from the Geneva International Motor Show as we draw closer to its start.
G 6×6 Interior Gallery
BRABUS’ Geneva Auto Salon Gallery


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- Save A Lot has launched a music video and advertising campaign aimed at highlighting the chain’s remodeled stores and low prices, according to a news release Thursday.
- The campaign, called “Like, A Lot A Lot,” is headlined by a music video shot by veteran director Drew Kirsch that features pop, hip-hop and rap stylings from three emerging artists.
- Save A Lot is purposely moving away from conventional grocery advertising in an effort to reach more consumers. “The first thing we had to do was to stop acting like a grocery store,” said Teddy Stoecklein, creative director at VIA, the agency that organized the creative campaign for the grocer.
Save A Lot’s new ad campaign and music video put a modern spin on grocery store marketing. The headline song, which the company will play in TV spots and digital ads, is fast and energetic, and the video features a diverse cast of characters, from dancing shoppers to scooter-riding senior citizens and even a marching band.
Kirsch, who won an MTV VMA Award for directing Taylor Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down,” shot the video in a St. Louis Save A Lot store. The spot features emerging singers like Leon Evans, Sarai and Tamara Bubble, who also has a song featured on Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
Along with its low-price messaging and catchy lyrics, the spot aims to liven up the company’s logo, the “Lot Dot,” by making it a colorful, interactive part of the show, according to the news release. This approach will carry across the company’s print, digital and TV ads.
Save A Lot, which has struggled against competitors and a large debt load in recent years, hopes the creative push will reach new customers and also show off its newly remodeled stores.
"This new campaign further builds on our current efforts of modernizing our stores and breaking out of the sea of sameness that's taken over the industry as of late," said Tim Schroder, senior vice president of marketing at Save A Lot, in a statement.
Other grocers have recently attempted to break away from the industry’s advertising tropes. This includes Lidl, which has run offbeat ads, including a recent one highlighting its “suspiciously low-price groceries,” as well as Whole Foods and its “Whatever Makes You Whole” campaign focusing on low-key humorous moments.
Save A Lot has stepped up its store remodeling efforts recently as it sells off corporate-owned stores and transitions to a wholesale model, with plans to touch-up all of its branded locations by 2024. But the company will have to press forward without the CEO who launched these efforts, Kenneth McGrath. He recently announced he's returning to competing discounter Lidl, where he'll be deputy chairman of that company's international business.


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The man behind the moniker Never Made, Long Beach-based artist Francisco Reyes Jr., has teamed with former Music Tastes Good talent buyer Jon Halperin to produce limited-edition prints and T-shirts to raise funds for local businesses “hardest hit” by the looting and vandalism after Downtown’s anti-police brutality protest on Sunday.
“On Sunday, our city suffered vandalism, fires, and violence,” Reyes said in a statement. “It was taken advantage of by outsiders who came to steal and destroy what wasn’t theirs. Many of these small businesses were holding on by a thread already, due to the pandemic.”
Five hundred T-shirts and 500 screen prints with Reyes’ design, “Long Beach Strong” will be made available for purchase on Friday, June 5 at 12 p.m. The prints, which will be hand-signed and numbered, will be sold for $55 and the T-shirts for $25. All of the proceeds will be donated to local, independent businesses most affected.
Reyes’ colleague Annie Pham from Studio Number One in Los Angeles connected Halperin and Reyes, and two days later they set in motion plans to create the “Long Beach Strong” fundraiser. Orange County’s Absolute Merch donated 500 T-shirts for the cause and Ontario-based printing company, InHouse Design, offered to cover the majority of screen printing costs.
“This all came together in 48 hours,” Halperin said. “This is about our love for Long Beach, to make sure these businesses don’t go away.”
If all the merchandise is sold, Halperin says they could raise $37,500 to donate. Halperin said all businesses to be donated to will be local and independently run. Information from the mayor’s office will help guide the funds to businesses who need the money most.
Reyes’ work can be found all over Long Beach, including murals on buildings and city electricity boxes.
Never Made’s style can be defined by dark imagery to impart a positive outlook, recently seen in a collaboration with Los Angeles-based streetwear brand, The Hundreds. The imagery used in the clothing line aims to shed light on pervading social issues such as police brutality and gun control.
“I love Long Beach. I have laughed here, cried here and laid roots here,” Reyes said. “I am proud of all of the people who came out to voice their opinions on the systemic racism that has plagued our nation forever. Everyone peacefully marching for real change and having hard conversations has made me really hopeful.”
“Long Beach Strong” fundraiser merchandise will be released online Friday, June 5 at 12 p.m. Learn more by visiting Never Made’s website, here. To purchase the $25 T-shirt, click here. To buy the $55 screen print, click here.


text: Lifestyle Green NYC: Recycling, composting, thrifting and more ways to go green By Georgia Kral Updated April 19, 2016 4:49 PM Print Share fbShare Tweet Email With just a little bit of effort, every day can be Earth Day. We get it: Lifestyle changes can seem like monumentous tasks that just aren't worth doing but here's the thing: making minor changes can add up to a lot over the course of a lifetime. It takes a village, as they say. Recycle everything Photo Credit: NYC Mayor's Office In 2013, the city started accepting many more items into its recycling program -- and good thing, too. According to city stats, the average New Yorker throws out about four and a half pounds of waste each day. And that's just too much. In addition to the basics -- glass and aluminum cans and bottles, milk, soy and soup cartons, plastic bottles, cardboard, newspapers and magazines, pizza boxes and paper of all colors and shapes -- the city also now collects yogurt and hummus containers, "clamshell" lunch containers and other plastic take-out containers. View the full list here. Recycling is easy and it's the law too. If you feel your building (commercial or residential) is not doing enough, you can file a complaint with 311. Plant plants and flowers Photo Credit: FlatbushGardener via Flickr Planting flowers, herbs or creeping plants in tree beds and yards not only beautifies the area but also helps keep the air clean by absorbing toxins and carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The city encourages property owners to maintain the tree beds in front of their homes. (If you rent, check with your landlord before planting anything.) Reuse plastic bags Photo Credit: Ege Soyuer via Flickr Plastic bags can be very convenient, we know. Beyond groceries, whenever New Yorkers get take-out, it arrives in both paper and plastic bags. Even if a bill currently being debated in the City Council, which calls on businesses to charge a dime for a disposable bag, becomes law, there will still be billions of bags to contend with. The bill's sponsors say 10 billion single-use carryout bags are used each year! Here's our suggestion for ways to deal with the glut: reuse them. Do you have a cat or dog? Reuse bags to pick up their droppings. Do you compost? Reuse a plastic bag or two to store your food waste before you drop it off. (See next picture for composting tips). Of course, you could skip plastic bags entirely -- except when it comes to take-out-- and get a reusable bag. Or, recycle them. By law, large retailers like Duane Reade must collect plastic bags for recycling. So save them up and drop them off when you've got a bunch. Stop throwing away food -- compost it! Photo Credit: otto-yamamoto via Flickr Composting is a lot easier than it looks. And this is where you can really make a huge difference. According to the EPA, food scraps are the #1 item sent to landfills. But most unused or uneaten food can be composted, thus diverting tons and tons from landfills. In NYC, a compost pick-up program is currently underway in some neighborhoods. The pilot program is called NYC Organics Collection. If you don't live in one of those areas, you can collect your compost and drop it off at one of the many collection locations. Here's how to do it: collect fruit and vegetable scraps, stale grains and breads, nuts, soiled paper towels and napkins, coffee grounds, eggshells, cut or dried flowers and other organic matter in a plastic bag or sealed container. Store in fridge or freezer. When full, drop off at collection site. Do not add: meat, cheese, greasy, oily foods, glossy paper, kitty litter, charcoal. Details at nyc.gov. Ride a bike Photo Credit: Getty Images Everyday bike commuting isn't possible for everyone for many reasons, but even the smallest commitment to riding a bike instead of taking a car or bus will make a difference in the long run. And don't underestimate the power of riding only occasionally. The more bikes on the road the more aware of bikers both the city and automobile drivers become. This leads to change. According to Transportation Alternatives, the city has more than doubled its bike lanes networks since 2006. Eat local food Photo Credit: Randall's Island Urban Farm There are so many reasons to support local farms. They stimulate the local economy, turn blighted land into viable green space and provide educational and professional opportunities to our neighbors. From an environmental perspective, the reason to buy local is much more concrete. Much of the produce we eat is transported from far away, requiring tractor trailers to drive long distances, emitting fumes the whole way. Luckily, locally grown is becoming more than a buzz phrase. Farmer's markets are more popular than ever and even major grocery stores are starting to make an effort to stock and label locallygrown food. NYC-based farms are also making inroads. Major producers like Gotham Greens grow large amounts of produce at the Whole Foods in Gowanus, which then sells the greens. The Brooklyn Grange grows and sells to restaurants and at Farmer's Markets. Smaller farms like the Youth Farm in Crown Heights have a member-based CSA program. Kick your plastic bottle habit Photo Credit: mr_t_in_dc via Flickr You've likely heard about the Great Pacific garbage patch. No? Well, it's a giant patch of non-biodegradable plastic whirling in the ocean just north of Hawaii. No one knows how big it is. The concept is hard to comprehend, but what's easy to take away from it is this: plastic never breaks down, it just breaks into tinier pieces. The only way to keep plastic out of the ocean and landfills is to reduce our reliance on it. It will be tough, but an easy way to help is to switch to reusable bottles. Stop drinking bottled water and instead keep a reusable container in your bag, filled at all times. Like to drink water all day at work (as you should?) Get a glass and keep it at your office. Fill it whenever you're thirsty. Another benefit to kicking your bottled water habit: Tap water is FREE. Skip the K-Cups Photo Credit: m01229 via Flickr Sure, they're easy, but K-cups can't be recycled and aren't biodegradable. On top of that, they're expensive and the coffee they make isn't even that great. For more delicious, cheaper and eco-friendly coffee, consider carrying a reusable mug after brewing some beans at home. Buy vintage and used clothes Photo Credit: Jeremy Bales Be stylish and cool while also working to save the environment. That's a win-win. Chiara de Blasio likes L Train Vintage in Gowanus. "Eventually, I want to only buy thrifted clothes because there's so much waste in the world," she told amNewYork. For more on shopping with Chiara, check out amny.com/lifestyle. By Georgia Kral Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comments We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


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Paytm CEO VSS to purchase 10.30% stake from Antfin Holding📊
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Nearly 40% drop in recruitment expected by IT majors in FY24
First-quarter earnings by India’s top IT companies hinted at a slowdown in India’s storied IT sector as macroeconomic factors hampered growth momentum.
Business-focused BNPL hits volatility with margin squeeze
Business-focused pay later platforms have also faced their own growth challenges with rising interest rates, a changing regulatory environment, and online wholesale marketplaces looking at efficiencies and sustainability.
Experts flag revised data bill’s silence on generative AI tools
As deep fakes created by gen AI tools become more rampant, several experts flagged the need for the DPDP to address this.
Delhivery expects to turn in net profit by FY 2025: CEO Sahil Barua
New-age logistics firm Delhivery is expected to break even on an adjusted EBITDA level during the current financial year, co-founder and chief executive Sahil Barua said in a post-earnings call on Saturday.
SoftBank may turn a profit after $48 billion in Vision Fund losses
SoftBank Group Corp.’s Vision Fund is likely to return to profitability after five quarters of losses, thanks to an artificial-intelligence-fueled rebound that’s lifting startup valuations.
Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma to purchase 10.30% stake from Antfin Holding
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma to purchase a 10.30% stake in the company from Antfin (Netherlands) Holding BV. Antfin will transfer 6.53 crore shares of Paytm to Resilient Asset Management B.V., an entity in which Sharma owns the complete 100% stake.
SBI to sell distressed loan accounts, including those backed by Anil Ambani, worth ₹96,000 crore: Report
State Bank of India (SBI) is taking measures to clean its books by selling distressed loan accounts worth more than ₹96,000 crore to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs).
Disprz, the Chennai-headquartered corporate learning and skilling SaaS startup, has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round led by Lumos Capital and 360 ONE Asset.
Fintech startup EMTECH Solutions has raised $4 million in a new round led by Matrix Partners India, with participation from global investors like BTN, VestedWorld, Equity Alliance and Lofty Inc.
Bengaluru-based growth stage investor Elev8 Venture Partners (Elev8) has announced its first close at $67 million of Elev8-Capital Fund 1 (Fund).
Tweet of the day🐥
“Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude.”
- Lou Holtz
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Perennial questions about AOL, Time Warner's troubled internet division, will take on greater urgency this Wednesday when the media conglomerate announces its fourth-quarter earnings in the wake of Microsoft's $44.6bn offer for Yahoo.
Microsoft's gambit comes little more than a month after Jeff Bewkes took over as Time Warner chief executive, and is sure to influence his deliberations as he attempts to breathe new life into a company whose shares have been flat for the past five years - held down in no small part by problems at AOL.
To some, Microsoft's offer for Yahoo, which represents a 62 per cent premium to the latter's share price before the bid was announced, has also highlighted the value of AOL, and the internet advertising platform that it has been assembling over the past year.
Yet, if the Microsoft-Yahoo deal were consummated, it would also serve to eliminate two potential AOL suitors, if Mr Bewkes intends to sell the division. There is also the reality that AOL, already a laggard to Google and Yahoo, would face an even more robust competitor.
"It sort of leaves them out right now," one media investor says of AOL. "It's almost like the music stopped, and is there a chair for them?"
Time Warner declined to comment.
Mr Bewkes will also face questions on Wednesday about his plans for Time Warner Cable. The company has talked about spinning off or divesting its 84 per cent stake because of its heavy capital needs. Yet some investors believe it could now take advantage of low cable valuations to consolidate its control.
Another subject of speculation is Time Inc. The company's namesake publishing division is still hugely profitable, but offers little growth.
In November, on the eve of his promotion, Mr Bewkes vowed that Time Warner would move faster, and suggested that all options were on the table: "We will be looking at basically anything that can improve our strategic advantage over our competitors, and that has a good long-term return."
People close to the company expect some costcutting package to be announced as early as this week, particularly as the economy slows. Weightier decisions involving AOL are unresolved, they say.
In 2006, when he was still aiming for the top job, Mr Bewkes staked his reputation on a dramatic plan to transform AOL from a dial-up internet service to a free portal supported by advertising.
The plan got off to a promising start, with AOL's advertising revenues surging 40 per cent. Before a room packed full of investors, Mr Bewkes confidently predicted that AOL would grow its online ad sales faster than the rest of the industry. Yet the company was left with egg on its face last August when its advertising sales came in well below forecasts.
Time Warner is widely expected to sell what remains of AOL's dial-up business, possibly to EarthLink. But the future of the advertising business remains unclear.
AOL last year spent about $600m to acquire behavioural and contextual advertising companies to round out its platform. Still, some Time Warner executives question whether the media company will ever have the technological strength to compete with the likes of Google and Microsoft.
In a note to investors on Friday, Michael Morris, a UBS analyst, seemed to agree, arguing that Time Warner enjoyed a competitive advantage in its content businesses, and should separate "weaker" divisions, including AOL.
Prior to Microsoft's announcement on Friday, Time Warner executives had been mulling the possibility of merging AOL into Yahoo, according to a person familiar the matter, leaving it with a minority stake in a larger entity.
If Microsoft and Yahoo combine, then Google would appear to be the best option for AOL. The two companies are well acquainted: Google paid $1bn two years ago for a 5 per cent sake in AOL, and also became its search partner. Proponents of a deal note that AOL could help Google build its display advertising business.
Whether or not other potential partners emerge remains to be seen. In the meantime, at least one investor sounded concerned: "I don't think Bewkes has a very good hand here."
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If you are using an iPhone, Mac or Apple Watch, it’s time to check your device for an update. The update brings the much talked-about portrait mode to iPhone 7 Plus’ camera with iOS 10.1, improvements to Mac devices on macOS 10.12.1, and some small changes to the Apple Watch with watchOS 3.1.
First up, for those of you who recently bought the iPhone 7 Plus, you’ll definitely want to update to iOS 10.1. As mentioned in the public beta release last month, the update brings portrait mode to your camera, allowing you to capture pictures with depth effect.
Available via an over the air update, iOS 10.1 also brings a bunch of bug fixes and improvements to other compatible iOS devices like improved public transport directions for Japan, new option on Messages to replay bubble and full screen effects, some improvements to the Apple Watch app, and more. The full log is shown below:
Camera and Photos
- Introduces Portrait Camera for iPhone 7 Plus that creates a depth effect that keeps your subject sharp while creating a beautifully blurred background (beta)
- People names in the Photos app are saved in iCloud backups
- Improved the display of wide color gamut photos in the grid views of the Photos app
- Fixes an issue where opening the Camera app would show a blurred or flashing screen for some users
- Fixes an issue that caused Photos to quit for some users when turning on iCloud Photo Library
- Transit support for every major train, subway, ferry, and national bus line, as well as local bus systems for Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya
- Sign-based transit navigation including layouts of all underground structures and walkways that connect large transit stations
- Transit fare comparison when viewing alternative transit routes
- New option to replay bubble and full screen effects
- Messages effects can play with Reduce Motion enabled
- Fixes an issue that could lead to contact names appearing incorrectly in Messages
- Addresses an issue where Messages could open to a white screen
- Addresses an issue that could prevent the report junk option from displaying with unknown senders
- Fixes an issue where videos captured and sent in the Messages app could be missing audio
- Adds distance and average pace to workout summaries in the Activity app for outdoor wheelchair run pace and outdoor wheelchair walk pace
- Fixes issues that may have prevented Music playlists from syncing to Apple Watch
- Addresses an issue that was preventing invitations and data to appear in Activity Sharing
- Fixes an issue that was allowing Activity Sharing to update over cellular when manually disabled
- Resolves an issue that was causing some third-party apps to crash when inputting text
Other improvements and fixes
- Improves Bluetooth connectivity with 3rd party accessories
- Improves AirPlay Mirroring performance when waking a device from sleep
- Fixes an issue where playback would not work for iTunes purchased content when the “Show iTunes Purchases” setting is turned off
- Fixes an issue where certain selfie apps and face filters used with the FaceTime HD Camera on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus did not display a live preview
- Fixes an issue in Health where individual strokes are converted to separate characters when using the Chinese handwriting keyboard
- Improves performance of sharing websites from Safari to Messages
- Fixes an issue in Safari that caused web previews in tab view to not display correctly
- Fixes an issue that caused certain Mail messages to be reformatted with very small text
- Fixes an issue that caused some HTML email to be formatted incorrectly
- Fixes an issue that in some cases caused the search field to disappear in Mail
- Fixes an issue that could prevent Today View Widgets from updating when launched
- Fixes an issue where Weather widget sometimes failed to load data
- Fixes an issue on iPhone 7 where Home Button click settings would not appear in search results
- Fixes an issue that prevented spam alert extensions from blocking calls
- Resolves an issue that could prevent alarm sounds from going off
- Fixes an issue where audio playback via Bluetooth would cause the Taptic engine to stop providing feedback for some users
- Resolves an issue preventing some users from restoring from iCloud Backup
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:
As for macOS 10.12.1, the update is available for all macOS Sierra users. Available through the Mac App Store, it brings the usual bug fixes and improvements, as well as adds an automatic smart album in Photos for Depth Effect images taken on the iPhone 7 Plus.
Other notable changes include improvements to the security of your Mac, improves reliability of Auto Unlock with Apple Watch, improves security and stability in Safari, improves compatibility of Microsoft Office when using iCloud Desktop and Documents, fixes an issue that may prevent Mail from updating when using a Microsoft Exchange account, and fixes an issue that caused text to sometimes paste incorrectly when using Universal Clipboard.
Finally, last but not least, Apple also released watchOS 3.1 update to the Apple Watch. It is a relatively small update that brings the usual bug fixes and improvements, as well as the same new option to replay bubbles and full-screen effects in Messages found on the latest iOS 10.1 update.
Other changes include fixes an issue that could cause the notification for Timer complete to be delivered twice, resolves an issue that could prevent Apple Watch Series 2 from fully charging, resolves an issue where Activity ring may disappear from the watch face, and more.
All three updates should be available right now, so check your compatible devices for a software update.


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Kristen Stewart looks unbelievably beautiful in her latest ad for Balenciaga's Florabotancia fragrance - and she's topless
Kristen Stewart looks unbelievably beautiful in her latest ad for Balenciaga’s Florabotancia fragrance – and she’s topless!
While former beau Robert Pattinson has been steaming up the house of Dior with his new fragrance campaign, Kristen Stewart has been busy with her own sexy scent campaign.
The face of Balenciaga’s Florabotanica perfume, Kristen looks stunning in the French fashion house’s most recently released campaign pic.
In the elegant black and white topless shot, Kristen strikes a sultry pose, her back covered in blooming, colourful vines and flowers.
The photo highlights Kristen’s natural beauty, while smokey eye makeup and lipstick add some grown-up glamour.
The 23-year-old Twilight star has previously said the scent makes her think of Alice in Wonderland. Comparing herself to Alice, she revealed that the colourful and swirling pattern depicted on the fragrance’s poster is what the inside of her head looks like.
Kristen has also described the fragrance as ‘refined yet assertive… alive and young.’
Sounds just like the star in this new pic.
What do you think of Kristen’s latest Florabotanica look? Let us know in a comment below.


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Manchester City may be managerless, bu that has not stopped them announcing a new kit deal with Nike worth £12million per annum over six years. City, previously with Umbro are determined to boost their commercial income in the upcoming era of Financial Fair Play.
City launched their first Nike kit at a media event in New York, where the team are currently based on their post-season tour.
Tom Glick, City's chief commercial and operating officer, said: "We are delighted to join forces with Nike.
"Having them as our new technical kit partner demonstrates City's growing global appeal, and we look forward to working alongside Nike to build and engage our fanbase around the world.
"Nike's extensive distribution networks will ensure the club's presence in markets stretching from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas and that our fans everywhere can find and wear a City shirt."
City will wear their new kit in lucrative friendlies against Chelsea in St Louis and New York on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
The club also announced on Tuesday that they had acquired the rights to Major League Soccer's 20th expansion franchise from 2015 in a partnership with the New York Yankees.


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Turns out that people mostly just want to use their television sets to, y’know, watch TV. So much for the smart TV. Instead, tablets are turning into tomorrow’s set-top box.
A growing over-the-wire revenue and user base, more smartphone sales than ever… Verizon’s got it all going on this quarter.
Intel’s plans to launch a pay-TV service is likely to end as disastrously as its other stabs at the consumer electronics market. Remember Viiv? How about that fabulously successful Intel MP3 player?
Cisco wants to team up with cable operators and other service providers in delivering interactive TV to the living room. While the new services may be cool, they are guaranteed to leave a dent in one’s wallet.


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Sony Ericsson to finally roll out its subscription music service
Sony Ericsson's PlayNow Arena has just been given a boost, with a plan for unlimited downloads and an agenda to roll it out to wireless customers worldwide.
PlayNow Arena fully launched in the Scandanavian countries Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in August, offering mobile entertainment content for Sony Ericsson users. The service uses a "cover flow" type interface to sell music, games, ringtones, and other phone content.
Today, the company announced the service, which has been in the works all year, will soon include an unlimited subscription option called PlayNow Plus, which will compete with Nokia's Comes with Music service. Like Verizon's V-Cast and Rhapsody partnership, the content is not limited to the user's phone, and can be obtained on a PC as well.
Naturally, Ericsson's homeland Sweden will be receiving the service first, through Telenor in the fourth quarter of 2008; and as PlayNow Arena expands to the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland, so too will worldwide rollouts of PlayNow Plus. Monthly subscription charges have not yet been detailed.
To encourage uptake of the service, Sony Ericsson will sell PlayNow Plus phones pre-loaded with 1000 of its most popular tracks. Users will be able to keep an unspecified number of DRM-free tracks from the service even after they cancel their subscription. Some reports have put the number as high as 300 tracks.


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WILMINGTON, Del. (Feb. 5, 2014) — Robbins Arroyo L.L.C., a San Diego law firm specializing in shareholder rights, has filed a federal securities fraud class-action lawsuit against Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in connection with Cooper's failed merger with India's Apollo Tyres Ltd.
The action was filed Feb. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Specifically, the suit alleges that Cooper executives concealed the opposition of Chengshan Group, Cooper's joint venture partner in China, to the merger with Apollo.
Chengshan's opposition — and the subsequent strike by workers at Cooper Chengshan Tire Co. Ltd. — caused Cooper's stock value to plummet, according to the suit. Per-share prices for Cooper stock fell $5.55 to $25.72 on Oct. 7, 2013, and again to $23.82 on Nov. 8, Robbins Arroyo said.
This is the second class action against Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper to be filed in the Delaware federal court since Cooper and Apollo terminated merger discussions Dec. 30.
In January, two New York law firms — Entwhistle and Cappucci L.L.P. and Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann L.L.P. — filed a class-action suit against Cooper, Cooper CEO Roy Armes and Cooper CFO Bradley Hughes.
The plaintiffs in both actions include anyone who purchased Cooper stock between June 12 and Nov. 8, 2013, and Cooper stockholders of record on Aug. 30, 2013, when shareholders voted on the merger.
When is the last time you attended one of the national tire industry trade shows, such as SEMA, ITEC or the North American Tire & Retread Expo?
|I try and take in at least one show a year.||
|I usually attend one every few years.||
|There are so many tire maker and distributor meetings each year, I don’t see a need to attend one of the national shows.||
|I don’t find value in these shows and haven’t been to one in years.||
|I’d like to but I am too busy||


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Earlier this week, I received a tweet from @KloutPerks alerting me to the fact that I was eligible for a free $10 gift card to Subway restaurants because of my Klout. After clicking through the link, I became aware that the world’s largest fast food chain wanted me to try it’s new fresh avocado option on its subs and sandwiches.
To be honest, as much as I read the likes of the Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, and Fast Company, I somehow missed the industry news that Subway was rolling out an avocado spread (not to be confused with guacamole which has other ingredients beside the fruit) and fresh avocado slices nationwide. My guess is that this simple fact met one objective of the company leveraging Klout—raised awareness.
Upon arriving at Klout.com for my new perk, I was greeted with the landing page shown below which informed me, the consumer, that Subway restaurants had started “serving a creamy avocado spread made entirely of fresh avocados and containing no preservatives or additives”. A far cry from a foodie, I am not ashamed to say that sometimes I grab a quick meal from Subway, Quiznos, or Chipotle to meet my on the go lifestyle. This coupled with my love for social media drove me to quickly entertain the promotion by signing into Twitter and moving onto the next step.
If you have never received a Klout perk, it’s important to know that the service requests your names, mailing address, and phone number (optional). Klout seemingly serves four (4) measurable goals for a partnering brand: 1) identification of relevant and influential consumers, 2) increased awareness of a product launch/campaign, 3) consumer contact database info, and 4) trial usage of a product/service.
After providing all necessary information, I decided to share the tasty news of Subway’s new avocado options, which cost $0.50 to $1.00 extra on all sandwiches and subs other than the Turkey & Bacon Avocado sandwich. Seeing how this only my second Klout Perk in recent memory, I was eager to show off what I had earned to family and friends (you can see my not so exciting Tweet below).
Launched in 2009, Klout has raised $10 million in funding and already undergone a re-branding effort. The service originally only measured reach and influence of people on Twitter but has recently added Facebook and LinkedIn to the algorithm (but only if the user connects the latter two social media identities). Foursquare is on the way.
For those of you who are not intimately familiar with Klout, I should clarify that the service measures your social influence. It does not, on the other hand, monitor your social media activity, meaning the service is not going to identify which one of your recent tweets reached the most people online. Klout leaves those details to other existing services.
Klout claims to not only target the “A-List” of social media but instead makes it their mission “to help every individual understand and leverage their influence thus aiming to be the standard measure of influence on the social web.
A Klout score ranges from 1-100 with higher scores representing a wider and stronger sphere of influence. The company’s algorithm considers three main factors when calculating the score: 1) Network Influence which is the influence level of the person’s engaged audience, 2) Amplification Probability which is the likelihood that a person’s content will be acted upon, and 3) True Reach which is the number of engaged people in a user’s network.
Klout is not without critics and understandably so. One of the major flaws in Klout’s scoring system is that it fails to take into account a sentiment measurement, meaning the service only measures raw reactions and network growth. Some pundits also knock Klout for generalizing influence. Just because person X has a super high Klout score of 79, doesn’t mean we should trust them on every subject they form opinions on but that’s where the Klout Perks system tries to step in and precisely pinpoint the most effective influencers for partnering brands.
Some companies are buying heavily into Klout’s measurement system. The Las Vegas Palms Hotel and Casino made major headlines last fall by announcing they were building ”The Klout Klub,” which allowed “high-ranking influencers to experience Palms’ impressive set of amenities in hopes that [those] influencers [would] want to communicate their positive experience to their followers.”
Despite it’s shortcomings, I agree with Dan Schwabel who says “we are living in a world now where visibility creates opportunities and reputation builds trust.” Dan calls it the “Reputation Economy”. In fact, just two weeks ago, Klout announced the release of their +K button. A smart move in my opinion because the service is essentially turning to a user’s peers to crowdsource that user’s authority thus lending more to the idea that people are increasingly accountable for the opinions they share online.
As the world becomes more digitally integrated, information become instantly accessible, and the social web becomes smarter, I wouldn’t bet against Klout in the long run as the necessity for brands to find influencers in their respective markets and sway their opinions will only become valuable.


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September 5, 2018
Steve Latham, founder and chief executive officer of Banyan Hills Technologies, has been selected by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) to appear in the organization’s 2018 IoT/Cloud Technology: Georgia Game Changers list.
August 14, 2018
Inc. magazine today ranked Banyan Hills Technologies, an Internet of Things (IoT) company, in position 1203 on its 37th annual Inc. 5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.
August 2, 2018
Steve Latham, CEO and founder of Banyan Hills Technologies, spoke with the Society for Human Resources Management for an article about kiosks and robots move into the fast-food industry.
June 11, 2018
Steve Latham, CEO and founder of Banyan Hills Technologies, wrote an article for Payments Journal that talked about the emerging trends fueling the growth of IoT-driven payments.
May 16, 2018
Banyan Hills Technologies, an Internet of Things company and trusted partner for innovative software solutions, today announced its IoT platform CanopyTM has been named to Connected World IoT Innovations 2018.
April 30, 2018
Steve Latham, founder and chief executive officer of Banyan Hills Technologies, an Internet of Things company, will speak at FinTech South. Speaking on a panel on May 8, 2018 from 1:40 p.m - 2:30 p.m., Latham will share insights on the topic of Enabling Secure Commerce for the Internet of Everything.
March 14, 2018
We all know content is king, but if your content is lacking in design elements -- or worse, poorly designed -- it will suffer. In this piece published on the Forbes magazine website, Banyan Hills CMO Deanna Salas offers up advice on how you can spot design mistakes and improve your content by making smart decisions.
March 4, 2018
Steve Latham, CEO and founder of Banyan Hills Technologies, appeared this week on a new episode of Industrial Sage, a weekly video podcast dedicated to all things digital marketing for industrial companies.
February 20, 2018
The internet of things (IoT) is more than a buzzword, and every CMO will have to figure out how and what IoT will mean for their business this year.
February 8, 2018
The popularity of self-service kiosks and vending machines continues to rise. Outside of an uptick in revenue, retailers benefit from self-service kiosks in a number of ways.
December 20, 2017
PTI Security Systems, the leading provider of access-control and security solutions for the self-storage industry, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Internet of Things (IoT) platform and services provider, Banyan Hills Technologies (Banyan).
September 27, 2017
There are numerous ways IoT can help cities prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters. In this piece published on the Forbes magazine website, Banyan Hills CMO Deanna Salas offers insights for how IoT could enable retailers to be well-stocked and staffed in the event their area is under a hurricane watch.