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A range of lighting manufacturers, connected technology companies and industry groups have come together to form a new industry alliance.
The IoT-Ready Alliance is aimed at making the installation of Internet of Things technology in luminaires easier for now and in the foreseeable future.
It’s currently going through the process of creating new industry standards that can make LED lighting IoT-ready, facilitating the quick installation of connected sensors.
Like changing a lightbulb
The companies involved say they want to make installing IoT technology as easy as changing a lightbulb and to help building operators upgrade their lighting infrastructure easily.
The Alliance, they hope, will encourage more organizations to future-proof their premises as IoT technology continues to advance at a rapid rate.
According to the Alliance, lighting fixtures are ideal for carrying IoT technology in smart buildings. They can provide granular data and deliver electric power to the sensors.
However, today, many LED fixtures lack smart sensors. When an LED fixture is initially installed, adding additional sensors later on can be costly.
Cutting installation costs
Currently, LED fixtures last for around 15 years or more, while IoT and smart sensor technology is evolving rapidly. So IoT technology upgrades will almost certainly happen.
The IoT-Ready Alliance wants to find a cost-effective, low-impact method of changing sensors. Joe Costello, CEO of sensor and analytics platform company Enlighted and a member of the Alliance, said this issue needs to be solved immediately.
“There is tremendous urgency to enable today’s shipping LED luminaires to be easily upgraded with IoT technology. Otherwise, these luminaires condemn buildings to be unintelligent for the entire lifecycle of those fixtures,” he said.
“Fifteen or more years is a long time before building owners have another chance to install smart sensors. With IoT-Ready fixtures, customers can install future-proof LED luminaires in their buildings.”
Finding the solution
IoT Ready is looking to design and standardize an interface between any luminaire and any IoT sensor, allowing sensors to be added or upgraded at any point in time.
Guido van Tartwijk, CEO at smart lighting company Tridonic, said: “We are very pleased key players from the lighting industry have come together to meet the needs of our customers, and Tridonic is a driving part of it.
“IoT-Ready future-proofs lighting fixtures so that customers do not have to worry about forward compatibility to upcoming technology upgrades that are expected in the fast-developing world of IoT.”
Before the alliance can issue a comprehensive interface that works for every company, it needs to identify and standardize key characteristics. Both fixture-integrated and external will be addressed.
Standards will include definitions for electrical interfaces, connectors, and mechanical form-factors, although deadlines haven’t been announced as of yet.
Addressing a growing problem
Gabe Arnold, technical director at DesignLights Consortium, said: “IoT-based lighting systems have tremendous potential to optimize energy efficiency and bring new kinds of value to the lighting and building industries and beyond.
“By standardizing the interface between these IoT systems and the luminaires they are attached to, the IoT-Ready Alliance is addressing an essential aspect needed to unlock the full technology potential and enable widespread adoption.”
Initial alliance members include HP-owned Aruba, Click Technology, Deco Lighting, DesignLights Consortium, Enlighted, ERP Power, Focal Point, Mean Well, Orion Energy Systems, Selux, Shenzhen Lighting Control, Silergy Corp, Tridonic, Universal Lighting Technologies and USAI Lighting.
Alliances must consider vendors
Connected technology alliances are far from new, though, and some people have questioned how useful they are. Scott Lehmann, VP of product management and marketing at Petrotechnics, said they only work if vendors are involved.
“At the heart of the IoT is interconnectedness; of people, business process and technology. In order to realize the huge promise of the IoT in terms of tangible benefits around increasing productivity, reducing risk and cutting costs – IoT vendor alliances are fundamental,” he said.
“An IoT vendor alliance is not just an integration exercise between their respective technologies. It requires vendors to work collaboratively with customers to unlock the potential in disparate data sources and provide meaningful relationships between these.
“If not, customers will be on a first class journey to disillusionment, due to unmet expectations of promised integration benefits. This means moving beyond the hype and providing joined up IoT solutions that provide real, tangible customer benefits.”
By: Nicholas Fearn


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Originally published December 1, 2011
The food we eat defines and unites us.
It connects us to our histories, our cultures, our families and our communities.
It's part of our important rituals -- weddings, birthdays, funerals, holidays -- and also our mundane daily lives.
And when we eat local food -- food from the farms and factories near our homes -- we strengthen that connection.
Today, in Section E, The Edmonton Journal begins a series that celebrates Alberta food.
Taste Alberta, which will be in every Wednesday's Food section and online at edmontonjournal.com/taste,will bring you stories about the food produced and processed in the province, where to buy it and how to prepare and serve it.
We hope the website will become a gathering place for those who are interested in local food, to discuss recipes or food and dining discoveries; to find sources of food information, such as our many talented food bloggers; and to connect consumers with producers, a goal of our partners, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the Calgary Herald.
You can follow @TasteAlberta on Twitter for a feed of our stories. Tweet your ideas there, e-mail email@example.com or click on this story at edmontonjournal.com to post your comments.

domain: news


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Narrow your search
See a before-and-after video that reveals how the stunning effects in "Game of Thrones" are put together, as CNET speaks to one of the VFX masters who helped craft the spectacular on-screen visuals.
The world's second largest telecommunications network reveals the extent of government snooping on its network in 29 countries.
Maker of brain-scanning tech says wearables like Google Glass could evolve to monitor brain signals and sell you toothpaste.
The Chinese handset maker begins selling its dual-core phone online with version 1.3 of Mozilla's Firefox OS for $100.
Government demands to Google for user data jump 120 percent in four years, but the percentage of requests where it handed over data are down.
The mobile broadband provider's new Home & Abroad plan offers inclusive coverage for Australia, US, UK and Ireland.
Indiana Jones would approve of the Mini Museum. Fragments of dinosaur bones, meteorites, famous landmarks, and other fascinating things are displayed in resin, and could be yours via Kickstarter.
For all the bad blood over smartphones, a coziness remains when it comes to Samsung-made chips, says the chief of VLSI Research. "Apple has been ... learned how to work that relationship."
The man who oversaw Google's buyout of Motorola Mobility will now be in charge of the international chip manufacturer.
ATIC says it will invest the money over the next to years, which will aid the factory's expansion to produce 20- and 14-nanometer nodes.


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Today, if you’re not innovating, you’re falling behind. That’s why Antunes, a 2018 Kitchen Innovation winner, has introduced not one but TWO innovations this year. Corporate Chef Joe Arvin, previously featured on shows like Chopped and The Taste, introduces us first to Antunes' Flatbread Toaster.
In an age where pitas and tacos are booming, operators are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. The Antunes Flatbread Toaster strives to solve that issue, heating tortillas, flatbreads, pitas, and more to over than 160 degrees in just seconds, allowing increased output in your business.
Working off of this inventive foundation, Arvin shows us a prototype from the Antunes team. Taking the incredible heat and speed from the toaster and combining that with a Teflon pouch, Antunes has created a way to churn out perfectly toasted, melty quesadillas with no blowout, consistently.
A second innovation from Antunes also takes speed to a new level.
Consumers today are looking for fresh dishes with simple ingredients. But they don’t want to wait 20 minutes to get it. With Antunes, you can give them everything they want. Antunes’ new Jet Steamer allows your operation to crack an egg into a cup, add a couple ingredients and seasonings like salt, pepper, and cheese and place the cup into the Jet Steamer. In no more than 12 seconds, that fresh egg is fully cooked, scrambled, and ready to be served. And the Jet Steamer can be used in an array of applications like soups, oatmeal, and even rice!
Learn more about this innovative brand in the video above, and stay tuned for more Restaurant Product Innovators coming soon!Read More


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Everyone is invited to the Taste of Local Food Event to enjoy sampling delicious food from local restaurants, a silent auction, and a chance to win fabulous door prizes such as a gift certificate for a two-night stay at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Knoxville West.
The event will be held at at Waynesville Recreation Center from 5:30-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.
This event benefits the nonprofit Medical Patient Modesty. Attendees can receive amazing deals on tickets to various attractions, restaurant gift certificates, as well as gift certificates for shops, and hotels in getaway cities such as Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and more. Starting minimum bids for many of the items are 50 percent off of their full value.
The silent auction winners will be announced at approximately 7:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity for people who enjoy taking vacations and looking for bargains. Advance tickets are on sale now for $20 online at http://tasteoflocalfood.com/Waynesville/tickets.aspx.
Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $25.
All attendees are asked to bring a bag of food to be donated to the food bank at Haywood Christian Ministry to help needy families in the county.
Check out www.tasteoflocalfood.com/waynesville for more information on the event and the silent auction list. Medical Patient Modesty is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works to educate patients about how to stand up for their rights to same gender medical team for intimate procedures and how to have maximum amount of modesty for procedures.
The organization was founded by Misty Roberts, a Waynesville deaf woman. Visit www.patientmodesty.org for more information.


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The first update from Windows 11 seems to make them worse performance with processors AMD Ryzen, which already encountered some problems when launching the new Microsoft operating system.
A few days ago there was indeed talk of possible performance problems with some Ryzen processors on Windows 11, but apparently the first update instead of solving, it further emphasized the gap, further increasing the latency of the L3 cache of the CPUs in question.
The TechPowerUp site has in fact measured the latency of the L3 cache on a Ryzen 7 2700X, starting from 10 nanoseconds on Windows 10 which became 17 on Windows 11 and almost 32 after the application of the first update.
This is no small difference, so some have already been announced patch which will be available by the end of the month and will aim to solve the problem: the one produced by Microsoft could debut on October 19, while that of AMD will arrive a few days later.
The birth of a new operating system inevitably brings with it some unexpected, but in the case of Windows 11 it seems strange given the list of compatibility of the processors somewhat reduced, evident result of a skimming carried out precisely to avoid such situations.
Speaking of Windows 11, here’s an easy guide to make the most of it.


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In a complaint before the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Marketing Service filed on Wednesday, Tyson Foods, Inc; JBS USA, Inc.; Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.; and Keystone Foods, LLC, were accused of racial discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complaint alleged they put minorities at an additional risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The meat processing companies allegedly have policies that “favor a processing capacity objective … over common-sense measures to protect workers’ health and safety.” The complaint stated the majority of workers are Black, Latino, and Asian and that these races are exposed to higher risks for the COVID-19 virus than the “white managers.” The complaint alleged the companies were violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“The Corporations have known for months that several common-sense measures alleviate the impact to workers,” the complaint said. “The Corporations’ policies continue to place Black, Latino, and Asian front line workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19. Food Chain Workers therefore allege and request the Office of Civil Rights to investigate the disparate impact and disparate treatment of meat processing workers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The complaint cited that the companies have received over $150 million in federal contracts this year, while tens of thousands of workers have been infected with COVID-19 and over 100 workers have died. It claimed the companies’ policies show a pattern of racial discrimination and “cause a disparate impact on Black, Latino, and Asian workers.”
The complaint was filed by alliances representing food chain workers including Food Chain Workers Alliance, Rural Community Workers Alliance, HEAL Food Alliance, American Friends Service Committee – Iowa, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, and Forward Latino. These companies request that the USDA stop providing financial aid to the companies and refer the complaint to the United States Department of Justice.
The alliances cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which shows protection measures implemented by meat processing companies, citing no instances where workers were spread out to allow them to maintain a distance of 6 feet. The CDC allegedly found based on 21 states which reported data about ethnicity that “Hispanic and Asian workers might be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in this workplace setting.”
The complaint claimed that, since it is administrative, the plaintiffs do not need to prove that there is not a justification for the policies or that there are options that are less discriminatory, but claim that there are options available to the corporations which would not be discriminatory towards minority races.


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Just days after Apple (AAPL -1.51%) announced that it now has 17 million paying Apple Music subscribers, Spotify has decided to one-up the Mac maker. The dominant on-demand music streaming platform has now announced that it has over 40 million paying subscribers, or more than twice the number of paid customers that Apple has.
More importantly, Spotify is adding customers at a much faster rate in absolute terms. The company has now doubled its large base of paying subscribers in just 15 months. In June 2015, Spotify hit 20 million subscribers, subsequently crossing 30 million in March of this year. Apple Music officially launched in June 2015 as well, but initially began as a free three-month trial. The billing kicked in starting September 2015, and Apple announced shortly thereafter that it had about 6.5 million paying subscribers.
As it stands, Spotify's paying user base is twice the size of Apple Music's. That's just the company's paying users; Spotify's total active user base as of June 2016 was over 100 million including ad-based users. Apple Music has no free tier beyond the three-month trial.
While growing to 17 million subscribers is solid, it's actually less impressive than you might think. Not only does Apple have an installed base of over 1 billion devices at this point, the company opened up Apple Music to Android last year, making it one of Apple's few cross-platform service offerings. Considering the size of the market that Apple is targeting, 17 million is actually just a drop in the bucket. Apple has now redesigned the Apple Music interface in iOS 10, addressing one of the more prominent criticisms of the service since the initial design was confusing.
Meanwhile, Spotify has cemented itself as the industry leader by a healthy margin. Even Pandora (P) is preparing to enter the on-demand streaming market, recently inking the requisite licensing agreements with the major record labels. Pandora's user growth -- both ad-based and paid -- has been stagnating for quite some time. Total users were 78.6 million at the end of June, of which only 3.9 million were paid subscribers (unchanged from a year ago).
Earlier this year, Spotify actually said Apple Music's launch has helped Spotify's trajectory, raising awareness and interest in streaming music. It looks like it's going to be hard to put a dent in Spotify's growth.


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Nintendo may have the best home answer to Beat Saber, if you have a Ring Fit. Nintendo just released a free update to its Ring Fit Adventure fitness game for Nintendo Switch, adding a new minigame that's a rhythm-based music workout set to a bunch of Nintendo gaming soundtracks.
I play Beat Saber all the time in VR. It's one of a number of stellar VR music games. Ring Fit Adventure's update looks like a great alternative, but you need the Ring Fit accessory and game, which are hard to come by now that lots of people are home sheltering.
The update also adds new language support for international players, and a jogging mode that allows more casual runs through levels without game challenges.
The seemingly bizarre Ring Fit Adventure, a fitness game for the Switch that launched last year, has turned into one of Nintendo's most memorable games. I still love it -- but please make sure to stretch before you play. And it's really best playing on a TV with the original Switch, although it will connect to the tiny Switch Lite if you have no other option.
The news was announced in a surprise Nintendo Direct Mini video today, along with an update to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and other game launch reveals. You can watch the full video below.


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Michael E. Cohen
Michael E. Cohen has worked as a teacher, a programmer, a Web designer, a multimedia producer, and a certified usability analyst. One of the developers of the first commercial ebooks, Michael is the author of several such works, including the compendious Take Control of Pages.
Version 12 of Smile's PDF-editing apps, PDFpen and PDFpenPro, include a new magnifier window, compression and optimization capabilities, new document stationery, a callout tool, and, for pro users, a new digital signature feature.
Thanks to the iPhone 11, Apple’s iPhone product segment saw a return to growth in Q1 2020, while iPad and Mac sales were off. Meanwhile, the Wearables and Services categories continue to grow.
Skyrocketing revenues in Services and Wearables more than made up for a decline in iPhone revenues, proving that Apple is no longer just the iPhone company.
Apple relieved media-heightened suspense at its September event by unveiling the debut dates and prices for its Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ services.
iPhone revenues now account for less than half of Apple’s revenues, but Services and Wearables more than made up the difference. And CEO Tim Cook announced that the Apple Card will become available this August.
The latest versions of Apple’s Pages all offer easy table-of-contents creation. Here’s how to make them and why you might want to, even if you’re not publishing a book.
It has been a long time coming, but Apple’s new highly configurable Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR monitor raise the bar—and the price—of a high-end Mac workstation. Well-heeled creative professionals who need maximum performance will be delighted.
Smile has updated its PDF editing apps, PDFpen and PDFpenPro, to version 11, offering a new Split View capability, a Font Bar for easy PDF text formatting, and other welcome conveniences.
Apple's revenues and iPhone sales were down in the second quarter of 2019, but the company still managed to beat expectations and posted $11.56 billion in profits.
Following closely upon the release of the new iPad Air and iPad mini, Apple’s latest iWork update brings the productivity suite’s iOS apps closer to parity with their Mac siblings.
At its recent special event, Apple made a slew of TV-related announcements that transform the Apple TV into more of a service than a hardware product.
As most working actresses know, Hollywood historically has offered more roles—and lines—for men than women, but a simple tool in the Highland 2 screenwriting app can help screenwriters better distribute their characters and dialog among the genders.
Yes, iPhone revenues fell off a small cliff this quarter due to slower sales in China, as Apple had warned that they would, but all of the company’s other products and services posted revenue gains over the year-ago quarter.
Announced last June at WWDC 2018, the Spectrum TV app, featuring Zero Sign-On, has finally arrived, making the Apple TV into a credible cable box substitute for Spectrum subscribers.
Apple had yet another record-breaking quarter even though unit sales for the iPhone and Mac were flat, and the iPad’s unit sales declined. The increase in revenue seems to have come from higher selling prices and increased Services revenue.


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States ask Amazon for info on COVID-19 deaths, infections among workers
A group of state attorneys general on Tuesday asked Amazon for data on coronavirus infections and deaths among the retail giant’s workforce.
The letter, led by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D), also called on Amazon and Whole Foods to produce a detailed accounting of their health and safety precautions as well as to document their compliance with local and state paid sick leave laws.
Healey and fellow state law enforcement officials cited reports earlier this year alleging retaliation against workers for calling attention to unsafe conditions. One such worker, Christian Smalls, has said he was fired from Amazon’s Staten Island, N.Y., warehouse in late March after organizing a walkout. Amazon denies Smalls’s firing was retaliatory and said he disobeyed instructions to self-quarantine.
Other signatories of the letter include representatives of the attorney general’s offices in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington state and Washington, D.C. It follows a March 25 letter from a similar coalition of states asking for Amazon and Whole Foods to improve their paid-leave policies.
“Amazon and Whole Foods must take every possible step to protect their employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Healey said in a statement. “We again call on these companies to provide assurances that they are complying with state laws and federal guidance aimed at keeping essential workers safe during this crisis.”
The letter requests state-by-state information on coronavirus infections and deaths among workers, as well as a full description of their protocols for informing customers and public health officials about deaths and infections, which is required under some states’ consumer protection laws.
The attorneys general further call on the companies to provide “generous paid leave policies as outlined in the states’ March 25 letter that align with requirements in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” including up to 12 weeks of paid leave for any workers forced to stay at home and care for children because of school closures.
Amazon said in a statement in response to the letter that “safety is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring a clean and safe workplace.”
“We’ve implemented over 150 significant process changes—from enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures to new efforts like disinfectant spraying,” an Amazon spokesperson told The Hill in the statement. “We’ve also distributed personal protective gear like masks across our entire operations network. We’ll continue to invest in safety, pay, and benefits for our teams who are playing an invaluable role in getting items to communities around the world.”


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The process of Netverify by Jumio will expressively reduce both frauds in a different number of industries, including finance and banking, online gaming, travel and much more. With a projected global loss expected as a result of traffic in 2016 but a US$1 billion raised from 2015, it is clear that issue of digital fraud is increasing steadily, and it is vital that companies invest in tools in order to prevent it. Adding biometric recognition to Netverify was stimulated by a requirement that impacts organizations across numerous industries, particularly financial services with money transfers and account opening.As evidenced by a huge number of unauthorized accounts which were opened at Wells Fargo, it is crucial to look beyond existing authentication solutions whenever any binary base transaction takes place. You can also read The Silicon Review to more about Jumio and its products.
However, the addition of facial recognition, combined with ID verification, won’t just assist you to make sure that an individual in front of the screen is who they say they’re. In addition to authenticating and scanning government-issued documents for identification verification to make sure compliance with the regulations of an industry, biometric facial recognition by Netverify combats fraudsters who are attempting to use a different type of static images to “fake” identity. Netverify would do both a Face Match and also complete an aliveness check, which takes just around few seconds, to monitor for even a slightest facial movement. This will improve the process to increase customer conversions and it’ll also minimize fraud and resulting costs linked with unauthorized transactions, all deprived of impacting the experience of a customer.


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Lava company an Indian manufacturer smartphone company teasers to launch four new smartphones at priced in between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 20,000 in all budget, mid-range and gaming smartphones for India.
The company is said to launch four new phones in the next year January 2021. We are expecting Lava will launch similar smartphones at affordable price range just like Micromax India did this in last month with Micromax Note 1b and Note IN Note 1 series.
It seems like Lava is planning to have a smartphone placed for each point in complete with Chinese brands Xiaomi, Realme and OPPO. The Lava recently launched Be U women-centric smartphone sports a 6.08-inch IPS LCD HD+ display with Unisoc SC9863A with IMG8322 GPU has 2 GB RAM and 32GB storage.
The Lava BeU runs on Android Go ( based on Android 10 ). Remember, It’s a local made Soc will not enable to receive Android updates and developers never works in terms of games optimisation. We will hope that Lava could work out with Snapdragon and MediaTek processor in future.
The company will sold Lava BeU priced at INR 6,888 in India,


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Last February, Mike Proulx and his co-author Stacey Shepatin published the book "Social TV: How Marketers Can Reach and Engage Audiences by Connecting Television to the Web, Social Media, and Mobile." As senior VP and director of digital strategy at Hill Holliday, Mr. Proulx knows what he's talking about -- and, in just a few weeks, he and a few hundred other social-TV obsessives will talk even more about where the industry is headed. The third edition of Hill Holliday's annual TVnext Summit, an event Mr. Proulx created, is coming up on April 29 in Boston. As the event approaches, Ad Age's Media Guy Simon Dumenco spoke with Mr. Proulx as part of the ongoing Dumenco's Media People series of in-depth interviews. What follows is an edited version of a longer conversation.
Simon Dumenco: Talk to me about what's changed in the social-TV space since the publication of your book -- other than everything.
Mike Proulx: The biggest change we predicted was that consolidation was going to be the theme for 2013, and that certainly has come true. In Chapter 5 in the book, we talked a lot about the social-TV analytic space, and since the release of the book Nielsen bought SocialGuide, and Twitter bought Bluefin Labs, so that leaves an interesting landscape where you have Trendrr as really the only independent social-TV analytics company now.


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"Unbanked" Shouldn't Mean Unregulated
Last week, we blogged about the dangers associated with prepaid debit cards and the additional costs associated with not having a standard bank account.
This week, the Washington Post published an article that sheds a light on the lifestyles of the “unbanked,” the most common users of unregulated services like check-cashing stores, prepaid debit cards, and payday lenders. This article provides a good illustration of the reasons why people avoid or are prevented from using mainstream financial products. Some people don’t trust the financial system, while others don’t have enough savings to open an account, and still others have past debts that make new loans impossible.
While a low-balance checking account makes more financial sense than these other products, consumers should have a choice of how and where they want to store their money. But in the current system, it’s up to state governments to regulate these non-bank lenders; federal agencies have no jurisdiction over these important issues.
As a result, these federally-unregulated lending products are most often used by those who can least afford the outrageous fees and ridiculous interest rates. Want to do something to change this? Ask your elected officials to support the Consumer Financial Protection Agency today.


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In the US and UK, the favorite app for young people and teens, TikTok has overtaken the online video giant, YouTube, in viewing time.
The short video platform continues to gain traction around the world. After being the application most downloaded At the start of 2021, TikTok has officially overtaken the YouTube giant in the number of hours viewed by users.
According to the last report from App Annie, a company specializing in statistics related to mobile applications, in the United States, for 24 monthly hours spent on YouTube, they spend an average of 26 hours on Tik Tok, over the month of August 2021.
The same is true in the United Kingdom, where the gap has widened even further: for 16 hours viewed per month on YouTube, App Annie has 26 on TikTok.
These statistics relate only to Android users, and are therefore not exhaustive. However, as points out The Verge, the TikTok App TikTok’s overwhelming success in recent years makes it a clear competitor among the world’s most popular social networks. Launched in 2016 by the company ByteDance, the application has already passed the milestone of three billion downloads around the world, joining Facebook and its subsidiaries in the race.
Our colleagues from Bfm Tv recall that the TikTok model, initially based on short videos of a maximum of one minute, has spread this summer to three minute videos. This very popular format, especially among young people, has been widely exported to other video platforms and social networks. Instagram has for example deployed the Reels during the summer of 2020. YouTube, for its part, has presented the “Shorts”. Two models that prove that short formats are really on the rise.
Find all Tech and New Media news in Africa on Socialnetlink.
Find all the Tech and New Media news in Africa on Socialnetlink.


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Samsung is all set to hold a conference on 21st February 2019 in New York to officially launch its annual flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. As it stands now, the specifications of the three variants of the Galaxy S10- the S10, S10+, and S10E – have been revealed, with WinFuture releasing images of the official renders of the S10 and S10+ yesterday and that of the S10E today.
As far as its display is concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S10E differs from its superior counterparts, the S10 and S10+, in that it has a 5.8 inches AMOLED display minus curved edges. Instead of an in-display fingerprint scanner, the Samsung Galaxy S10E has been equipped with a scanner on its right side. The device sports a storage capacity of 6GB+128GB, a single front camera and dual rear camera setup with flash, 3.5 mm headphone jack on its bottom, and a 3100 mAh battery.
Available in shades of black, white, green, yellow, and blue, the Samsung Galaxy S10E will reportedly retail at a price of $699 (€749).


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Dr. Holmquist Healthcare to distribute bruise relief gel at Walgreens
MANDEVILLE, La. Dr. Holmquist Healthcare on Thursday announced that Walgreens has picked up on its bruise relief gel, a natural formula that helps to eliminate bruising and associated skin discoloration.
“Walgreens distribution and support is a very big deal for Bruise Relief,” stated Barbara Cranner, EVP of Dr. Holmquist Healthcare. “They are the largest retail drug chain in the country selling to our sweet spot audiences of seniors, moms-on-the-go and the beauty conscious.”
Bruise relief gel and bruise relief ultra serum are hydrating formulas that contain vitamins, nutrients and anti-oxidants including glycerin, vitamin E oil and evening primrose oil.
Lansinoh, Teva make donations for Haiti earthquake relief
ALEXANDRIA, Va. A supplier of breast-feeding products and a drug maker are participating in providing relief to Haiti following a devestating earthquake that struck the country last week.
Lansinoh donated $10,000 to UNICEF in support of the organization’s disaster relief efforts, while Teva contributed more than $7 million in medicine to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti.
UNICEF was chosen for its support of breast-feeding in emergency situations, Lansinoh said.
“Breast-feeding support is crucial right now for the people of Haiti,” said Gina Ciagne, certified lactation counselor and director, breast-feeding and consumer relations with Lansinoh. “Breast-feeding is a safe, sanitary and reliable food source for the thousands of infants in danger. The devastation in Haiti calls for relief workers to support mothers in breast-feeding their babies, and protect them from disease and risk of malnourishment.”
- Breast milk is the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of children. It provides valuable protection from infections, which is all the more important in environments lacking adequate water supply and sanitation.
- Feeding such breast-milk substitutes as infant formula during emergencies offers no immune protection against diseases and poses health risks because mothers have to depend on the quality and supply of formula, water and fuel for preparation and cleaning of feeding bottles.
- Mothers also should be aware that they can increase their milk supply and relactate after having stopped breast-feeding.
“Our hearts go out to the tens of thousands of devastated Haitians,” said Gary Downing, CEO of Lansinoh. “We’re encouraging others to donate what they can to UNICEF and the Haiti disaster relief efforts. There is no better time to make a small sacrifice for those who are in need.”
Meanwhile, Teva said it is working with several of its nongovernmental organization partners to ensure these drugs are delivered to Haiti without delay.
“As a company, Teva was devastated to hear about the earthquake, and our hearts and thoughts go out to the country of Haiti,” said Shlomo Yanai, Teva’s president and CEO. “Working with our partners, we are providing essential medical products to assist in the relief efforts.”
Former Hershey executive joins PBM Products
GORDONSVILLE, Va. PBM Products, an infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and other retailers, announced the hiring of a former Hershey executive.
Thomas Hernquist was appointed PBM’s new EVP foods, liquids and U.S. marketing. Most recently, he served as SVP and global chief growth officer at Hershey. In that capacity, he was responsible for companywide strategic plans, global brand marketing and innovation, research and development, acquisition strategy, and corporate social responsibility. In addition, Hernquist currently is the chairman of the board for the American Marketing Association.
“The growth of private label in the United States is staggering,” PBM CEO Paul Manning said. “When a seasoned national-brand marketer like Tom switches gears to market store-brand nutritional products, you know that a transformation is happening across the country.”


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Issue: September 3/10, 2012, Posted Date: 10/23/2012
IVC US: One year in
[Dalton] Paul Murfin, who signed on as IVC US president Sept. 6, 2011, has spent the past year leveraging the organization’s new $75 million fiberglass-backed sheet vinyl manufacturing facility to enter new markets, strengthen its distribution network and attract high-level American talent.
The heart of IVC US success is its 500,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, based here, which began operating around the clock, five days a week on Feb. 1, 2012. While exact capacity figures are a closely held secret, Murfin said the facility’s production line — the longest in the world and longer than the Empire State Building is tall, he said — generates more than 6,000 miles of product annually.
“The oven in our facility alone gives us a huge advantage,” said Murfin. “Because it’s so large we can keep the line moving at a faster pace. We don’t have to slow it down to cure the vinyl. We’re very confident in our position as the most cost effective provider. And we’re equally confident in our color and design. We spent the past year learning to get this Formula 1 facility from first gear into fourth gear.”
Under the leadership of Murfin, IVC US has been able to take the cost advantages associated with the modern fiberglass plant and open doors to new markets previously closed off to the category. For example, its new Next Level series has become an instant hit with property managers while its Blue Print Main St. commercial line, launched in July, is being well received at both distribution and specialty retail.
“These new markets illustrate what our U.S. production capabilities bring to IVC,” said Murfin. “Our new products hit a price point we couldn’t hit while shipping in product from Belgium. Having a great price and local supply has opened up peoples eyes to the opportunities that exist in commercial fiberglass with IVC.”
Leading distributors like All-Tile and CMH Space Flooring Products, both of which signed on with IVC US this summer, are jumping onboard the growth train. “We are very excited to kick off fiberglass floors with IVC,” said Hoy Lanning, president and CEO of CMH Space Flooring Products. “We’ve been a dominant supplier of resilient flooring for years and fiberglass rounds out our offering.”
While currently producing product for specialty retail through traditional distribution and creating unique lines for CCA dealers and Shaw, Murfin said IVC US has not significantly penetrated the home center market.
“Home centers are an opportunity to grow our position as we seek to maximize the capacity of our facility,” he said. “Don’t think we’re not thinking of them. We’ve got a good cost position and are located perfectly geographically to supply the market.”
The room for future growth has attracted other industry veterans, the most recent being Bart Rich, who joined IVC US as senior marketing manager on April 4. Previously, Rich served as Mohawk’s director of brand management. Over the past year IVC US culture has shifted from that of ex-patriot Belgians to being increasingly Americanized, according to Murfin.
“By virtue of being in our position we’re able to attract talent,” he said. “We’re bringing in people who really know the North American industry. Attracting that kind of talent only creates more opportunity.”
Undeniably, IVC US opportunity is in no small part being fueled by an industry-wide shift from traditional felt-backed product to fiberglass, and to vinyl products in general. “Industry dynamics are shifting business away from felt and towards modern glass,” said Murfin. “The benefits are obvious and a domino or landslide affect is taking place.”


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Leading e-commerce business, Amazon, is the latest firm to join the meal kit bandwagon. The global, internet marketplace is reportedly collaborating with Tyson Foods to develop a range of meal kits and accompanying delivery service through its grocery delivery division, Amazon Fresh.
In recent years, meal kits have accelerated in prominence thanks to the convenience and flexibility they present to customers. Despite starting as a way of dieting, a number of big names have since developed their own meal kit recipes and delivery services â many with huge success. Indeed, the US market-leader, Blue Apron, is reported to sell around 8m meals a month via its meal kit subscription service.
The apparent leader in the space, Blue Apron, now ships eight million meals a month through its subscription service. Thatâs the equivalent of over 250,000 a day!
Donald Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods revealed that the meal kits developed by itself and Amazon would be named Tyson Taste Makers. And whilst Amazon will no doubt be drawing on the wealth of experience the multinational corporation possesses in meat processing, the e-commerce giant will be utilising the procurement power, market intelligence and delivery service of its sister arm Amazon Fresh for this latest venture.
Itâs perhaps not unexpected that Amazon has diversified into the meal kit market, particular having achieved such rip-roaring success with food delivery business, Amazon Fresh. Moreover, it has the necessary mechanisms in place to facilitate the development and delivery of products thus it might prove a more natural progression that any of the firmâs previous strategies of diversification.
Amazon Freshâ grocery delivery service currently sets customers back $299 dollars a year in the US. And despite no known plans to extend the service to the UK, London Amazon Prime customers are now able to have some chilled and frozen items delivery through the paid subscription. Where the UK will ever enjoy the same high-speed, quality delivery that customers in California, New York City and Seattle benefit from is as yet unclear. Nevertheless, should this latest development in Amazonâs food retail and delivery business prove successful, the firm may well look to expanding overseas and one can expect the UK market to be first on the hit-list.


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With news that only 1 in 3 people would be comfortable wearing a hearing aid, Siemens has launched a new generation of fashionable and discreet hearing aids.
In a poll carried out for Siemens Hearing Instruments, almost a third of British people would not feel comfortable about wearing a hearing aid. This compares to 82 per cent who would be comfortable wearing glasses.
“The majority of Brits seem to be stuck in a time warp when it comes to their perception of hearing,” says audiologist Rob Ryman. “The fact that more than twice the number of people would feel happier wearing glasses than a hearing instrument demonstrates that people probably still think of hearing instruments as clunky, protruding, banana-shaped devices.”
“If this is the case, it’s hardly surprising that our hearing is relegated on our list of priorities,” he added, pointing to statistics which show that 81 per cent of people have never had a hearing test, compared to just 10 per cent that have never visited an optician.
1 in 7 people suffer from hearing loss in the UK but with so few people taking hearing tests, many are unaware of the impairment, especially if it is slight.
Part of the problem in the low uptake in hearing aids is that they are seen as unfashionable but Roy Ryman argues that it wasn’t long ago that glasses were viewed in a similar way. “They haven’t always been the trendy, hi-design fashion accessory they have become today,” he says.
To counter this perception, Siemens Hearing has launched a new range of hearing aids that are both fashionable and discreet. The colour of the hearing aid can be changed on a daily basis to match one’s clothes and can even be linked to an MP3 player.
Susannah Wyeth/Ruth Jones
+44 (0) 207 494 6579
+44 (0) 796 614 5092
About Siemens Hearing:
Siemens Hearing Instruments Ltd provides a comprehensive range of digital hearing aids and software, patient management systems and audiology equipment to the National Health Service, independent retail dispensers and national chains in the UK.
It is the UK operation of Siemens Audiologische Technik (S.A.T.), based in Erlangen, Germany. Part of the Siemens Medical Group, S.A.T. has been at the forefront of audiological innovation for over 125 years and is the world’s market leader in the design and manufacture audiological products. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk/hearing.


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Hazelight Studios’ co-op title It Takes Two has sold two million copies since it was released less than three months ago. The studio thanked their fans for the passion they’ve shown for the critically-acclaimed title that we called “a must play for gamer couples“.
The studio revealed the news on Twitter in a message to fans. Hazelight’s founder Josef Fares also commented that this meant four million players had tried out the game as the title can only be played in co-op.
#ItTakesTwo has sold Two Million copies!!
We’re simply amazed by the PASSION you wonderful people have shown our game and we couldn’t be happier seeing so many fans of co-op out there ❤
— Hazelight Studios (@HazelightGames) June 17, 2021
— Josef Fares (@josef_fares) June 17, 2021
The game tells the story of Rose and her two parents, May and Cody, who are about to go through a divorce. In an attempt to stop the split, she creates two dolls that represent her parents and they magically come to life. Two players assume the roles of May and Cody as they work together to solve their problems and fix their broken relationship before they can return to a human form. While the game does not have “collectibles and other shiny shit”, it does have plenty of Easter eggs to find including a recording of Fares’ infamous rant about the Oscars.
It Takes Two had already reached the impressive milestone of one million sales back in April, a mere month after the game’s release on March 26. The game was also awarded the accolade of PlayStation Players’ Game of the Month for March 2021. Fares has repeatedly proven there is a significant market for co-op games. His last title, A Way Out, has sold almost 3.5 million copies despite the fact that “not even EA thought it would sell”. Meanwhile, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was also successful enough to be ported to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 two years after its initial release on Xbox 360 and PS3. As Fares says, “the important thing was to follow your passion and what you believe in”, something he has now proven repeatedly to be successful.


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KANSAS CITY, MO, USA - The World Trade Center Kansas City is thrilled to welcome and announce Ms. Melissa Miller as the new Manager of the World Trade Center Kansas City.
Ms. Melissa Miller is from Vienna, MO, and has extensive background in International Business. She graduated from Lincoln University with a bachelor's degree in Agribusiness, and completed her MBA in Management.
Since then, she has worked at her Alma Mater as a research analyst and at the Missouri Department of Agriculture specializing in international trade in the fields of livestock, genetics, vet products, and livestock equipment. She has represented the state of Missouri at over eight trade missions and trade shows and proves to be a great new addition to the management team at the World Trade Center.
We are lucky to have such an experienced and competent manager to help us at the World Trade Center Kansas City as we enter into another busy year.
To view the original article, click on the source link below.


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It's been a little over a fortnight since Samsung confirmed it plans to unveil the next iteration of the Galaxy Note at a Samsung Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin on August 29. Despite the fact that this date is still 10 days away, it seems Sammy is eager to drum up some excitement for the launch, as the company has released a teaser video featuring the Note 2.
The video below is a trailer for what Samsung has planned for its Unpacked event at IFA Berlin. The video claims '[our] magical moments will come alive' on August 29' and features film director Wim Wenders marveling at "all the things you can do in the blink of an eye with such a small and light thing."
Other than that, the video doesn't show much. A little bit of stylus on screen action, but little else. Check it out for yourself below.
Though details on the Note 2 are pretty scant, there's talk of a faster processor, a bigger 5.5-inch display (the original Note's screen measures 5.3 inches). We'll keep you posted on any rumors we hear and we'll see you back here on August 29!


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The EU is set to impose €2.8billion worth in tariffs on US exports in early July in response to duties Donald Trump’s administration has levied on European steel and aluminium, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday (6 June).
The Commission proposed to the member states to maintain the full list of tariffs, which include iconic products such as Levi’s jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles, instead of a gradual implementation to contain the dispute.
If a majority of EU countries don’t oppose during the approval process in the next few weeks, the executive said the procedure would conclude by the end of June and the tariffs would start applying in July.
Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the counterbalancing measure represented a “measured and proportionate response to the unilateral and illegal decision” by US President Donald Trump to levy 25% and 10% on European steel and aluminium, respectively.
The Commission challenged the US measures before the World Trade Organisation last week.
Malmström argued that the European duties were in line with the WTO. If the organisation confirms that the US duties were illegal, or after a period of three years, the EU could impose further tariffs worth €3.6 billion, to match the total economic impact of the US penalties on European metals, estimated at €6.4 billion.
But this may not be the end of the dispute, as Trump also told his administration to look into the car exports into the US market.
Malsmtröm admitted last week that she was following the inquiry into the car industry “with a lot of anxiety”.
Despite the growing trade dispute, both sides are trying to contain the damage and address together China’s “distorting practices”. They are seen by the US and EU officials as the “root causes” of the excess of steel production, which triggered the tariffs and the forced transfer of technology imposed on foreign companies.
European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen recalled that the European offer to lower tariffs on certain products and to reform the WTO, in line with US wishes, is “still valid”.
“If Americans want to start improving trade environment, they can always find a friend on this side of the Atlantic,” he said.
As the risk of an escalation increases, Katainen warned that it is not only in the European but also in the American interest “to contain the problem and not to expand it”.
“Many American producers who are deliberating buying high-quality steel and aluminium from European producers have already now suffered significantly because the prices have gone up,” the vice president told the press.
Katainen said the problem is “quite concentrated in the administration” because Congressmen from both parties continue to oppose protectionism, just like American businessmen do.


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Formations Design Group returns to downtown roots and evolves with technology
Formations Design Group moved from downtown Vancouver to a Hazel Dell office in 2001 before many of the improvements to downtown began materializing. Now the company has returned, and like downtown Vancouver, Formations Design is in a period of transition itself.
Formations Design specializes in the design of print media, Web sites and packaging. Owners Bruce Wilson and Karen Laksamana moved the company back downtown to be closer to the clients they serve in Vancouver and Portland. Laksamana joined the company as an intern in 1997 and became a partner in January.
Wilson’s wife started the company in 1988 from the couple’s home. They moved the company to downtown Vancouver’s Webber building in 1991 when they began to hire employees. Wilson’s wife left the company to teach in 1993. Formations Design spent 10 years in downtown before heading to Hazel Dell.
"When we left downtown, the city had not yet finished the revitalization around Esther Short Park," said Wilson. "There was not a lot going on and we needed more room."
With downtown beginning to show more life, the company saw a need to return and now occupies about 1,450 square feet of office space on "C" Street, just north of East 15th Street.
"It’s a better location for clients to come and see us," said Laksamana.
The office also gives the company room to grow, which it expects in the near future.
Wilson and Laksamana are currently joined by one employee. The company relies on contract workers as needed, but expects to hire an additional employee as early as this summer.
As technology has advanced, Formations Design has shifted its focus to meet changing demands. Today, the company is staging itself to take advantage of Web design needs in the area "that are growing by leaps and bounds," said Wilson.
The company first started working with Web sites in 1996. And technology has impacted all segments of its business. Traditional print work is now created and processed digitally.
"Now that is just the way everything is done," said Wilson.
The company’s business is split evenly between print and Web design. But growth is expected on the Web side, as most of its new clients request these services.
The company’s clients vary from small businesses to corporate giants. AT&T’s home phones are placed on shelves in packaging designed by Formations Design. Subaru’s western region offices rely on Formations Design for design of Web sites and banners and signage.
The company would like to attract more small, local businesses requiring Web design and maintenance to diversify its client base. In addition to the ownership and location change occurring in the last year, one of the company’s main clients created its own in-house design department and no longer required Formations Design’s services. That is the danger with relying on a few large clients, said Laksamana.
"It’s nice to have big clients," she said. "But it’s trouble if they go away."
One of Laksamana’s first goals as a partner with the firm is to get the company more involved in the community and create awareness among business owners. The goal, she said, is to be known as the best Web development company in Clark County.
"The Web business is safer," said Wilson. "There are a lot more clients."
The work of one print client can take the time of up to three Web clients, he said.
Formations Design expects to grow revenues by 50 percent over the next two years to $600,000 annually.
Bruce Wilson and Karen Laksamana, owners
1610 "C" Street, Suite 100, Vancouver
Bruce Wilson and Karen Laksamana, owners1610 "C" Street, Suite 100, Vancouver360-694-0060


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A 46-year-old Wisconsin mother along with her 25-year-old son are facing serious charges after police say they caused a chaotic scene inside of a Wal-Mart store.
In a Facebook posted, uploaded on social media, the Eau Claire Police Department says Lisa Smith, 46, is facing charges of Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Her son, Benny Vann, 25, is facing charges of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, Disorderly Conduct and Retail Theft.
Last night shortly before 8:30pm Officers were called to Walmart for a retail theft in progress. They were told a…
Posted by Eau Claire Police Department on Thursday, April 11, 2019
The episode started Thursday night as officers were called to Walmart for a call about a retail theft in progress.
They were told a female, and her dog had shoplifted items from the store. When Officers arrived at Walmart they found the female, Lisa Smith screaming in the entryway and trying to catch her dog “Bo”.
She was asked to leave by staff and left the store to perform karate moves in the parking lot.
In the meantime, Bo, Smith’s dog, got a box of Jiffy Cornbread Muffin Mix and tried to leave the store. Police say Smith was arrested and fought with Officers. She allegedly attempted to kick out a window on the squad car.
While this was occurring, police say her son had made his way to the back of the store and removed all of his clothing exposing himself to other customers.
He allegedly tried to retrieved new clothing from the racks but did not purchase these items.
When Officers approached Vann he refused to stop and attempted to run over an Officer with his scooter. Officers physically stopped the scooter and arrested Vann.
Smith was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Vann was arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, Disorderly Conduct and Retail Theft. Bo, the dog, was caught by officers in the store and brought to the Humane Association.


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In recent trading, the stock was down 6.6% to $20.26 and near to its 52-week low at $19.06. The selloff came after the Plano, Texas, retailer posted a third-quarter loss of $123 million, or 56 cents a share, with total sales that fell 26.6% from a year earlier to $2.93 billion from $3.99 billion.
Ron Johnson, who has been JCPenney's CEO for roughly a year after joining with great hope from Apple (AAPL), has been trying to implement a makeover for one of America's oldest and best-known retail names. At the moment, he says the merchandiser is "a tale of two companies." In short, one of those is suffering mightily, and the other he hopes will be JCPenney's salvation.
The department-store segment known across the nation's downtowns and malls "continues to struggle and experience significant challenges," Johnson said in a press release. Clearly, that's the bad news. The good news, he says, is that the new shop concept of focusing on various brands in JCPenney stores "is gaining traction with customers every day and is surpassing our own expectations in terms of sales productivity which continues to give us confidence in our long term business model."
As the chart below shows, same-store sales, a key measure of performance in retail, are facing the harsh reality of the above-mentioned challenges (overall sales dropped from $19.9 billion in fiscal 2007 to $17.3 billion in 2012). If you subscribe to the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words, this visual tells quite a story. Here's a look at JCPenney's quarterly comparable sales going back to the start of 2008 and viewed along with Macy's (M), Sears Holdings (SHLD) and Kohl's (KSS):
(Data from FactSet and company reports)
JCPenney and Johnson, again, a year in, are taking heavy fire these days for results such as this. Critics are all over the place, both questioning the company's in-store strategy -- including a very poorly received attempt to essentially get rid of coupons and sales -- and the company's broad future prospects. When sales are dropping at the rate they are, one can see why optimism might be in short supply.
Retail, apparel and otherwise, is a brutal, competitive, unforgiving sector. Shoppers have dozens of options when it comes to where to buy their clothes, from higher-end places like Saks (SKS) to lower-priced and discount stores like Target (TGT) and TJX (TJX), and from department stores like Penney to specialty shops such as Gap (GPS). Then you've got the entire online apparatus that just gets more popular and massive with each passing year.
JCPenney can look at other retailers and know that it's not over, even if some of the more skeptical viewers are already digging its grave. Rough patches, sometimes very rough patches, hit a company. JCPenney stores aren't going to vanish from the face of the earth before the weekend ends. Engineering a turnaround is possible, and Johnson is asking for more time to make that revival happen. But should he be greeted with confidence that he can? He did lead a successful retail strategy at Apple, for which he's most-known, and prior to that he was at Mervyn's and Target. He knows large-scale retail, and he wasn't given the job at Apple because Steve Jobs thought he would do Johnson a favor. He earned his reputation, which he then burnished at the iPhone seller.
However, now that he's back at big retail, what he's getting are big sales declines, and every indication that investors' faith is fading in the company's ability to stay relevant.
With these baseball-and-apple-pie Americana-type stores, it's hard to watch the suffering. On top of that, the reality is that thousands of people work at JCPenney, in towns of every size, and thousands more depend on the affordable goods sold there -- it's not entirely wistfulness that makes this an important story. It's one we can all relate to. And it's a huge task Johnson's got.
Let us know what you think. Can Johnson turn JCPenney around, and is his strategy the right one for the retailer?


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Your Diet Has Almost Zero Climate Impact
It’s all the rage these days for companies to tell people their products are better for the earth. That’s increasingly the case with food, too, with companies touting their…
PostedJuly 9, 2021 at10:31 am
Pro-Vegan Researchers Tried to Censor Meat Study
To eat meat or not to eat meat? That question has been the topic of debate for ages amongst scientists. Years of shock headlines have led many Americans…
PostedFebruary 21, 2020 at11:21 am
Vegan Group Tries to Silence Nutrition Research
For years, the so-called “Physicians Committee” for Responsible Medicine, a PETA-linked organization that represents less than 1% of America’s medical doctors, has used junk science studies to push…
PostedOctober 11, 2019 at9:01 am
Al Gore Set to Cash In on Fake Meat
The so-called “creator of the Internet” and former Vice President Al Gore is trying to find new relevance–and fortune–with fake meat. It starts with the World Resources Institute.
PostedSeptember 30, 2019 at2:45 pm
How Activists and the Media Mislead: Antibiotics Edition
Last week the local ABC affiliate in DC aired a scary segment claiming antibiotic-resistant bacteria were detected on meat bought at local grocery stores. It’s a lesson in how what’s…
PostedNovember 20, 2018 at9:32 am
Is Super Size Me a Big Fat Lie?
The 2004 schlock-umentary Super Size Me, starring Morgan Spurlock, launched fast-food and nutrition to the front of the public’s mind. In the flick, Spurlock films himself—supposedly—eating nothing but McDonald’s food…
PostedMay 25, 2018 at8:46 am
Fight Brewing Over “GMO 2.0”
One of the stranger public policy battles over the last 20 years has been over genetically modified crops. It’s strange because activist groups have been able to demonize vital technology…
PostedApril 16, 2018 at2:41 pm
What is in Fake Meat?
One of the hot food trends of 2018 is supposed to be the emerging popularity of meat “alternatives.” Right now, that takes two forms. The first, which has been around…
PostedApril 12, 2018 at2:51 pm
Congress is Sniffing Out the Activists in the Hen House
When advocacy groups can’t get their way, they often manipulate science to convince the public to listen to them. After all, according to Pew Research Center, scientists are by…
PostedNovember 3, 2017 at5:11 pm
Who’s Really Giving “Food with Integrity”?
Chipotle—now coming off the first quarterly loss in the company’s history amid a serious food safety crisis—makes a big show about how it doesn’t use genetically improved foods (better…
PostedApril 29, 2016 at3:45 pm


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Around 172 million Americans spent about $8.8 billion in towards celebrating Halloween in 2019.
According to the annual report by the National Retail Federation (NRF) conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, American shoppers spent nearly $9 billion on holiday in 2019. An average shopper spent $86.27 in 2019, which is down slightly from the 2018 record of $86.79. It brought down the total spending from $9 billion in 2018 to $8.8 billion in 2019. The 2019 total was expected to be the third-highest in the survey’s 15-year history, after the record $9.1 billion set in 2017. A total of 172 million people planned to celebrate Halloween in 2019 – 68 percent of those surveyed – down from 175 million in 2018.
A report from another organization, CompareCards by LendingTree, also revealed that nearly 48% of the age group 23-38 purchased Halloween items strictly for social media posts. The study also indicated that 31 percent of millennials spent more on Halloween than any other holiday.


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By Mark Faithfull2009-11-30T14:23:00
Online auction site eBay has accused the French courts of “hurting consumers” and has dubbed a €1.7m fine “disproportionate” after losing a case against luxury goods group LVMH.
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Work will begin soon on three Downtown projects that will breathe even more life into the surging district.
Edge Alley is planned for 600 Monroe, next to High Cotton Brewing.
Here's what 600 Monroe looks like today.
Developers are working now to transform a former chrome plating shop in the Edge District into a space for a cafe, coffee roaster, community space, and a spot for a curated group of micro-retailers (more on that below).
Chef and restaurant consultant Timothy Barker and Phil Massey, one of the owners of High Cotton Brewing, purchased 600 Monroe, a spot adjacent to High Cotton. The cafe and coffee concept will bring dining back to that part of the Edge.
The developers are now issuing calls to local makers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to to sell their wares on about 1,000 square feet of space in the front of the building. Four locals will be selected for the spot. Those interested can apply online for a shot at one of the bays
South Main Market (aka the food hall)
A building permit was pulled Wednesday for 409 South Main, the site of the proposed food hall called South Main Market.
The permit for renovations to the building was valued at more than $302,000 and covers 4,903 square feet. Permits totaling around $1 million have already been executed for the project, which is expected to cost a total of $1.5 million, according to the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC).
for the hall still simply says “coming in 2017.” Though, developers have said the hall would be on the buildings first floor and draw about 14 vendors.
Here’s how the DMC described the project:
“Picture a single destination where delicious smells and sights converge on you at the threshold. A hub where you can sit down to a delicious plate of tacos, while your friends enjoy steaming bowls of ramen, plates of succulent rotisserie chicken or samplers of distinct cheeses and wine pairings.
Our vendors will also be the perfect pick-up partners for fresh flowers, a delicious dinner or a locally-made hostess gift.”
Boutique hotel at Art College
The former graduate school for the Memphis College of Art will soon become a boutique hotel.
Work should begin soon on a plan to turn the former Memphis College of Art (MCA) building at 477 South Main into a 66-room boutique hotel.
California-based Wessman Development pulled at permit Wednesday for renovations totaling more than $5.3 million for the project.
MCA renovated the nearly 5,000 square-foot building into a graduate school in 2010 in a $2.6 million project. The once-dormant building housed the school, the Hyde Gallery, which featured work of students and faculty, and a gift store, which featured pieces made by students.


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Schlemmer Industry & Building Parts has been sold to Galiena Capital
Founded in 1922 and headquartered in Boulay (Moselle – Eastern France), SIB is a leading electrical distribution protection specialist generating €22m in sales. SIB designs, manufactures, and markets cable glands and accessories for various industrial market segments as well as building parts for the French construction market.
Further to a strategic review, Schlemmer Group determined that SIB, its French subsidiary, was no longer core to its strategy, and accordingly initiated a divestment process.
“Leveraging on SIB’s longstanding market heritage and its leading business position, the carve-out stands as a great opportunity to sustain highest industry standards and further penetrate French and international markets” says Gilles Lherbier.
Guillaume Suizdak, Managing Director at Lincoln International, commented, “Congratulations to all parties involved in this transaction, which evidences the continued stream of corporate spin-offs led by Lincoln globally and represents the fourth corporate divestiture by Lincoln France just this year.”
Lincoln International acted as the exclusive financial advisor of Schlemmer Group, working closely with SIB’s top management team. Leveraging on its Industrial franchise, Lincoln provided advisory and industry expertise to manage the transaction process to a successful outcome.
We highly appreciated the key support of Lincoln International's team throughout the process.
Meet our Senior Team
View More Transactions in Industrials
Lincoln International is pleased to announce that management and BPE have acquired Dätwyler Sealing Technologies, a leading manufacturer of rubber-based extruded solutions in the constructions, tunnelling and track superstructure segments
Lincoln International is pleased to announce the sale of ILSCO to ECM Industries, a portfolio company of Sentinel Capital Partners
Lincoln International is pleased to announce that it has advised publicly-listed Exel Group in the successful acquisition of Eisenmann Intec from insolvency administrator Joachim Exner, Dr. Beck and Partner
Lincoln International is pleased to announce the successful sale of Willi Elbe Group, a leading automotive Tier-1 supplier of steering and driveline systems, to AEQUITA


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Apple Store down ahead of WWDC
Apple has taken down the online Apple Store and the Apple Store app ahead of today’s WWDC keynote, where Apple is expected to announce iOS 16, iPadOS 16, the next macOS update, watchOS 9, tvOS 16, and more.
Although the main focus at WWDC is software, Apple has been known to make hardware announcements on stage too, and despite recent reports suggesting that we won’t see any new hardware unveiled at today’s special event, the block on the online Apple Store suggests otherwise – meaning we could see Apple announced its long-rumored M2 MacBook Air and more later today.
Follow @TheApplePost on Twitter for the latest coverage and analysis on all things Apple. Read the day’s latest stories and stay on top of the latest Apple news, iPhone leaks and Mac rumors with the theapplepost.com app – available from the App Store.


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- Filed Under
Given the chance, Iowans say they would expand the state's retail landscape with a mega outdoor goods store and a wildly popular Swedish homeware company.
A new Iowa Poll finds that 55 percent of Iowans surveyed say they'd be thrilled, or at least mildly happy, to see a Cabela's fishing, hunting and camping store open somewhere in the state. Forty-six percent like the idea of the trendy home furnishings store Ikea landing here.
Department stores Macy's and Nordstrom received 44 percent and 35 percent support, respectively. Iowans polled were less enthusiastic about two other national ...


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In an announcement, Samsung indirectly revealed a new phone from the Note line after they said a special promotion awaits customers who bought the Note7, Reuters reported.
If you did get yourself one of those, chances are that you’ve already had your phone refunded or replaced with a Galaxy S7 model.
But now, Samsung is offering South Koreans a chance to exchange their faulty Note7’s for half the price off of an S7 model (regular or edge).
This S7 model can then be swapped for an Galaxy S8 or Note8 model upon their release next year.
However, this offer is only currently available in South Korea and you have to be enrolled in Samsung’s Galaxy Upgrade program.
We’re crossing our fingers though that maybe—just maybe—Samsung’s new offer would be extended to a country in Asia like, say, the Philippines.
The Note 7 initially released on August 19 but a series of incidents where customers reported it catching fire or in some cases exploding resulted in the then flagship to be recalled and eventually pulled out from the market.
Details of local unit replacement and other exchanges can be found below:


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It's not that small companies can't get on the show, they just can't afford it. Having your company featured on the Apprentice is worth alot of money and only the big companies can afford to do it
Altamont, NY (PRWEB) October 4, 2004
When the first season of NBC's hit reality television series, ÂThe ApprenticeÂ began last year, a little known company called ÂSiCap Industries was just starting to market their revolutionary product known as Sinus Buster,Â the worldÂs first hot pepper nasal spray touted to relieve a multitude of chronic sinus and headache symptoms.
Less than one year later, Sinus Buster nasal spray is already being called a breakthrough by doctors and patients alike. In fact, SiCap Industries has experienced a rate of success rarely seen in Âstart upÂ companies from any industry Â especially the natural dietary supplement market.
SiCapÂs flagship product has become a media darling of sorts being featured on national television, radio, and in print. The big break came when Sinus Buster was profiled in The Wall Street Journal as a product to watch, and the companyÂs president credits a good part of this marketing success to the teachings of Donald Trump as witnessed through his management style on ÂThe ApprenticeÂ.
ÂI know it sounds a little crazy, but IÂve learned lots of business lessons from watching the Apprentice. Say what you want about Trump, but that guy knows how to read people, and thatÂs the key to making a business work because in the end youÂve got to trust your people. ThatÂs whatÂs you see in George Ross and Carolyn KepcherÂ ..TrumpÂs right hand team on the show. He trusts them, but Trump also trusts his gut even more. HeÂs a complex person, but heÂs the real deal and I take his lessons to heart. I think the lessons IÂve learned watching the Apprentice have really helped me run this company. I often find myself thinking what would Trump do in a situation,Â says Wayne Perry, inventor of Sinus Buster, and president of SiCap Industries.
And if PerryÂs been taking cues from Donald Trump, the lessons appear to be working. SiCap Industries started in PerryÂs basement last fall when he first began marketing his unique pepper nasal spray on Ebay of all places. During that period, Perry says he started watching ÂThe ApprenticeÂ on NBC, and he strongly credits the show with his companyÂs stunning success.
George Ross, the DonaldÂs right hand man, says he wasnÂt aware of SiCapÂs claims, but he believes the show is a must for any small business searching for guidance. He goes on to say working for Donald Trump is ÂA blast,Â and any company willing to take cues from TrumpÂs hit show is a Âsmart companyÂ.
ÂAnyone can learn a lot from the show. ItÂs all about being under the gun Â deadlinesÂ pressure. Anybody thatÂs in business or wants to be in business could benefit from watching the Apprentice,Â says Ross.
Ross also thinks there may be potential for ÂTrump brandÂ products launched via the Apprentice, but he approaches this notion with caution.
ÂThereÂs a possibility that Trump bottled water may go national. As far as the ice cream, that was totally a Ciao Bella project, but there may be potential for Trump ice cream in the future. WeÂll have to see,Â adds Ross.
Wayne Perry of SiCap Industries believes Trump could turn any worthwhile product into a mainstream winner by using the Apprentice show as a launching pad as long as ÂThe DonaldÂ sticks to his longtime philosophy of only using the Trump name in conjunction with world class quality.
ÂAs Donald says, any product with the Trump name prides itself on being the worldÂs best. Trump is a man who believes in his products whether itÂs real estate or bottled water, and he approaches every venture with guns blazing. Believe me thatÂs at least half the battle in marketing at any level. The other important thing Trump has is great gut instinct, and he uses it. He may trust his people, but he definitely has his own mind, and thatÂs something we both share,Â says Perry.
PerryÂs referring to the recent incident in this seasonÂs Apprentice when contestant, Bradford Cohen gave up his ÂimmunityÂ from being fired. ÂBossmanÂ Trump had considered Cohen to be one of the best contestants until he made that fateful blunder. Even TrumpÂs right hand managers had suggested other contestants be fired, but Trump went against everyone and fired Cohen Â a move that shocked everyone on the show.
ÂDonald Trump isnÂt afraid to go against the grain. He thinks with his head, but he also considers his gut which is also a huge part of analytical thinking. And I agreed with his decision to fire Brad. ItÂs exactly what I wouldÂve done because the guy took a worthless and unnecessary gamble with everything he had. A very friggin stupid move if you ask me, and I knew Trump was going to fire him the second he gave up his immunity,Â boasts Perry.
Perry defends Trump as being Âunfairly criticized for having a Clyde Barnum mentalityÂ, and he points out that Âto underestimate TrumpÂs mainstream business savvy would be huge blunder Â especially if you were to do business with the manÂ. ThereÂs no doubt TrumpÂs Âmarketing hootzpaÂ is a large part of his success, but his reputation for knowing how to pick a winning project is perhaps his best asset according to Perry.
ÂTrumpÂs winning projects would be nothing without his winning marketing strategies. The Donald likes to do things big, and so do we. We may not have as much money as the Trump Organization, but we get the same effect with our low budget guerilla marketing tactics. Luckily our product is truly the best in it's market, and that accounts for 90% of our success. Of course as the Donald would tell you, if you donÂt truly believe in your product and all you want is to make some sales, I guarantee your product (whatever it may be), wonÂt live very long. ItÂs all about brand recognition and quality Â two things the Donald focuses on in all his companies,Â says Perry.
When asked to site a specific incident where Mr. TrumpÂs knowledge paid off, Perry pointed to the recent Sinus Buster coverage in The Wall Street Journal.
ÂWe were already selling thousands of Sinus Busters over the internet, but we really wanted to get our product and our company noticed by venture capitalists, ya know Â real investors. So I thought to myself, how would Donald get a company noticed by world class investors with pretty much no budget. Now keep in mind this company may not have a budget, but itÂs got an incredible product and an incredible reputation. Right away I knew Trump would say letÂs get it featured in the Wall Street Journal. Whether thatÂs what he really wouldÂve said or not doesnÂt matter. What matters is that I believed it, and I made it happen. We already had some interest from the journal, but they werenÂt going to run the story anytime in the near future until our company had more of a record, but we got them to try our samples and listen to what the doctors had to say. And before you know it we were in there. Believe me, when the Wall Street Journal recognizes you, it means the world to any company because just like the Trump Organization, the journal is world class, and since then we've had too many investor inquiries to even deal with,Â Perry explains.
Wayne PerryÂs Ânever give upÂ attitude is what originally landed him on the Oprah Winfrey Show in the mid 1990s, which actually led to him discovering the Sinus Buster formula quite by accident. Perry was a nationally recognized self defense instructor who taught Oprah Winfrey how to use self defense pepper spray to fend off attackers.
After Perry announced on the show that he was willing to be sprayed with real pepper spray for live demonstrations, he was barraged by tv stations and police groups around the country with requests. Officially, Perry says heÂs been sprayed with defensive pepper spray more than fifty times, but it was one time in particular that he discovered the medicinal power of hot peppers.
ÂI had severe chronic cluster headaches and major sinus problems for like 20 years, and one day while I was doing a live pepper spray demonstration for Fox News in Albany, New York, I got one of my headaches. IÂd been tested by every doctor and I was on all kinds of drugs, but nothing ever worked and these headaches were debilitating. Well I started getting a cluster attack right before this news thing I was doing, so I couldnÂt back out. I went ahead and let the reporter spray me. I was already used to the pain of being sprayed, but this time it was different. My headache disappeared instantly. I never had anything work like this. And my chronic congestion was gone too. I felt like it was a miracle, and I knew the secret was in the Capsicum Â the natural pepper extract used in defensive pepper sprays. And thatÂs when the Sinus Buster was first born,Â exclaims Perry.
Today, PerryÂs Sinus Buster formula is used by more than 30,000 people who claim this product has changed their lives. Doctors, clinical researchers, and the media have all started discovering Sinus Buster hot pepper nasal spray because itÂs truly a unique breakthrough. This simple, all natural product started as merely a headache remedy, but today itÂs recognized as something of a Âcure allÂ for ailments of the sinus and head.
It turns out PerryÂs Sinus Buster also relieves many other chronic headache syndromes including migraines, menstrual, and hangovers. Furthermore, this hot pepper nasal spray is credited with relieving a multitude of chronic sinus conditions (bacterial, viral, and allergen) related.
Dr. Gary Spector of Milford, Connecticut is an internal medicine specialist who views Sinus Buster as the Âreal dealÂ. Dr. Spector had first read about Sinus Buster nasal spray in the Wall Street Journal, and when he noticed the company offered free samples for physicians and media, the doctor contacted SiCap Industries immediately. Dr. Spector was so impressed with Sinus Buster, he actually called SiCap Industries and offered a personal testimonial.
ÂIÂve been using the Sinus Buster myself, and IÂve given it to a few select patients, and IÂve just got to say itÂs an incredible product. ItÂs really unbelievable how well it works. IÂm very reluctant as are all physicians to offer any OTC medications to my patients, and to offer an herbal product is unheard of, but this is just too beneficial to my patients Â so I have to recommend the Sinus Buster when a patientÂs condition calls for it,Â Dr. Spector explains.
The product may be incredible, but the fast success of SiCap Industries is directly related to the companyÂs management style. Just as Wayne Perry fought to get on the Oprah show, and in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump has fought to win in business.
During the early 1990Âs, just as Wayne Perry was first working his way onto the national talk show scene, Donald Trump had been completely written off by the media as a Âhas beenÂ. After all, they claimed he was over $975 million in debt and nearly bankrupt. Everyone said he would never bounce back since his company was so far in debt. The New York Post even ran a cartoon showing a down-and-out-Donald panhandling. Of course now it turns out the media was dead wrong, and once again ÂThe DonaldÂ is a media darling.
As SiCapÂs president, Wayne Perry says, ÂTrumpÂs stronger, richer, and wiser than he ever was before. Hopefully the Sinus Buster and SiCap Industries will reach that same pinnacle very soonÂ.
Recently, Forbes magazine estimated Donald's net worth to be about $1.4 billion, but Trump says itÂs more like $3.7 billion, and by following the lessons of ÂThe Donald,Â SiCap Industries is aiming for the billion mark also.
As far as getting his company spotlighted on The Apprentice, Perry believes SiCap would make an excellent project for the contestants.
"It all comes down to business I'm sure because they have to get big bucks from any company getting plugged in the middle of Apprentice, and of course a small company couldn't afford it, but our product is beyond unique and believe me our company is a reality show in itself. Tell ya what though, I'd be willing to share some of the profits if they did put us on the show. After all, the Sinus Buster is easily a billion dollar product," Perry boasts.
With more than 60 million chronic sinus sufferers, and another 30 million chronic headache sufferers in America, Perry isn't dreaming when he claims his Sinus Buster formula could one day make him a billionaire, but according to George Ross, there's no room for small companies on The Apprentice.
"It's not that small companies can't get on the show, they just can't afford it. Having your company featured on the Apprentice is worth alot of money and only the big companies can afford to do it," explains Ross.
If you want to learn more about ÂThe Apprentice Show,Â go to the official website at http://www.nbc.com
To learn more about SiCap industries and the world famous ÂSinus BusterÂ nasal spray, visit the company website at (http://www.sinusbuster.com). Media kits and free samples are available for qualified medical and media personnel.
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How Jeffrey Godsick has redefined the culture, approach and global reach of 20th Century Fox Consumer Products and its popular brands.
Sony Music will co-host the Licensing Expo Opening Night Party and present popular girl group Fifth Harmony as the special guest performer.
Cartoon Network and footwear brand Dr. Martens drew a crowd Saturday with a "bounce mob" in London to celebrate the new "Adventure Time" boot range.
Wedding Paper Divas has teamed with Hollywood wedding planner Mindy Weiss for a range of how-to content and stationery.
Entrepreneur Media, publisher of Entrepreneur magazine, has partnered with the Professional Education Institute to develop coaching and training programs.
Feld Motor Sports and Strottman international have once again partnered with home improvement retailer Lowe’s to bring back Monster Jam-themed Build and Grow Clinics.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has collaborated with The Art of the Brick to create an art exhibition featuring sculptures of DC Comics characters made out of LEGOs.
Discovery Communications has named Robert Marick vice president of North American licensing and global location-based entertainment for Discovery Consumer Products.
Bob Chapek, president of Disney Consumer Products, has been named as chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, effective immediately.
As its kicks off the international leg of its 40th anniversary tour, the band KISS and its licensing agent Epic Rights have added a number of new partners in Asia Pacific.
DreamWorks Animation will promote its upcoming new film Home at all 15 Intu shopping centers in the U.K. with a brand immersion campaign.
Saban Brands has partnered with San Francisco’s Center for Childhood Creativity to develop a series of activities for kids.
HBO Global Licensing and VIP Partnerships have created a six-week online auction to allow fans to buy memorabilia from the series “Rome.”
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has outlined a number of new franchise developments aimed at maintaining Scooby-Doo’s position as top dog in the U.K.
C3 Entertainment is teaming with Coastal Amusements to develop The Three Stooges coin-operated arcade games.
Rainbow Group unveiled new plans for its Winx Club brand in China, including a theme park and consumer product program.
The Santa Clara Stadium Authority has signed a multi-year venue partnership for the Levi’s Stadium with Feld Motor Sports' Monster Jam events.
Eric Poses is driving cross-country this summer to host meet-and-greets throughout the U.S.
The Museum of London, in collaboration with Christys’ Hats and Lovat Mill, will launch a line of tweed accessories inspired by Sherlock Holmes.
The Weddings and Resorts division of lifestyle brand kathy ireland Worldwide has expanded outside of the U.S. for the first time.
Urban Legacies has entered into a worldwide licensing arrangement with Turner Broadcasting to develop themed activity centers inspired by “LazyTown.”
©2015 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Can't wait to get home to the family for the holiday this weekend ... and then completely ignore them with a Left 4 Dead 2 marathon on Xbox Live? You're not the only one. Microsoft is bracing itself for a flood of online gameplay this weekend, including players trying catch up on all of the games they were too busy (baking cookies and wrapping presents) to play since November, as well as all the new folks who just unwrapped new games from under the tree. It's become a holiday tradition --
Previously, the problem was compounded by most of the tech staff being offline with their families, but this year, we're sure Microsoft has both servers and staff on notice to solve problems the second a clatter happens to arise. And if not, maybe we'll get another free game. Hopefully one better than Undertow.


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John Schnatter stepping down as Papa John's CEO
Papa John’s founder John Schnatter will step down as the company's chief executive officer next month, about two months after he publicly criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players — comments for which the company later apologized.
President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie will replace Schnatter on Jan. 1, the company announced Thursday. Schnatter, who appears in the chain’s commercials and on its pizza boxes, is the company’s biggest shareholder and will remain chairman of the board.
Earlier this year, Schnatter blamed slowing sales growth at Papa John’s — an NFL sponsor and advertiser — on the outcry surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had kneeled during the national anthem to protest what he said was police mistreatment of black men, and other players started kneeling as well.
Background:Papa John slams NFL, blames national anthem protests for declining pizza sales
More on this:Papa John's condemns new customers: White supremacists
“The controversy is polarizing the customer, polarizing the country,” Schnatter said during a conference call about the company’s earnings on Nov. 1.
The company apologized two weeks later, after white supremacists praised Schnatter’s comments and crowned the brand as the official pizza of the alt-right.
The Louisville-based company quickly condemned racism and said it didn't want such groups buying its pizza. But an indelicate tweet published on the company's Twitter account said Papa John's drew more attention to the hate groups.
Saying the company would work with the NFL to find a positive way forward, the tweet added: "Open to ideas from all. Except neo-nazis — (a raised middle finger emoji) those guys."
Schnatter also ignited controversy in 2012 when he blamed the Affordable Care Act for forcing a 14-cent jump in the price of a pizza. He suggested that some franchise owners would have to cut workers' hours to avoid paying insurance costs — remarks that he said later were misconstrued.
Some critics weighing in on the NFL-related controversy suggested that the quality of the pizza — not the sponsorship or the advertising affiliations — accounted for sagging sales. Riffing on the Papa John slogan "better ingredients, better pizza," one headline read: "Crappy leadership, crappy pizza."
Ritchie declined to say Thursday if the NFL comments played a role in Schnatter stepping down, only saying that it’s “the right time to make this change.”
A phone message left for company spokesman Peter Collins was not returned Thursday afternoon.
Shares of Papa John’s are down about 13 percent since the day before the NFL comments were made, reducing the value of Schnatter’s stake in the company by nearly $84 million. Schnatter owns nearly 9.5 million shares of Papa John’s International Inc., and his total stake was valued at more than $560 million on Thursday, according to FactSet.
The company’s stock is down 30 percent since the beginning of the year.
Read this:Papa John's apologizes to NFL on Twitter and gives the finger to 'Neo-Nazis'
Related:Papa John's Pizza's NFL apology gets roasted on Twitter – or was it baked?
Schnatter, 56, founded Papa John’s more than three decades ago when he converted a broom closet at his father’s Jeffersonville tavern into a pizza spot. And it has since grown to more than 5,000 locations. Schnatter has also become the face of the company, showing up in TV ads with former football player Peyton Manning.
The company hasn’t decided if Schnatter will still be its spokesman, Ritchie said, adding that a decision will be made early next year.
The Papa John’s leadership change comes as the pizza chains that once dominated the fast-food delivery business face tougher competition from hamburger and fried-chicken chains that are expanding their delivery business. McDonald’s Corp., for example, expects to increase delivery from 5,000 of its nearly 14,000 U.S. locations by the end of the year.
In Louisville, McDonald's has begun promoting delivery via UberEats.
Ritchie said his focus as CEO will be making it easier for customers to order a Papa John’s pizza from anywhere. That’s a strategy that has worked for Domino’s, which takes orders from tweets, text messages and voice-activated devices, such as Amazon’s Echo. Papa John’s customers can order through Facebook and Apple TV, but Ritchie said he wants the chain to be everywhere customers are.
“The world is evolving and changing,” he said.
Ritchie, 43, began working at a Papa John’s restaurant 21 years ago, making pizzas and answering phones, the company said. He became a franchise owner in 2006 and owns nine locations. He was named chief operating officer three years ago. Ritchie said plans for him to succeed Schnatter were made after that.
This isn't the first time Schnatter has changed roles at the company. In 2014, he resumed the role of president after Tony Thompson announced he was leaving the chain for Krispy Kreme. That was the third time he had retaken the president's role after relinquishing it.
Ritchie was named president in 2015.
Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; email@example.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/graces. Information was gathered by The Associated Press.


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A Holmfirth company has acquired a Leeds agency and set up a new company which will “hold” both current businesses as well as future acquisitions.
WSI Yorkshire has expanded it’s business and acquired digital marketing agency Cloudspotting with both companies – WSI Yorkshire and Cloudspotting - now sitting under the newly-formed parent company Attercopia Ltd.
Steve Harvey Franklin, managing director of Attercopia, said the newly-formed group would improve the digital marketing capabilities of everyone involved and increase the range of services on offer to all clients.
He said: “This represents our second acquisition in as many years. These are very exciting times for our teams and for our clients. Cloudspotting is a respected brand with a number of financial institutions such as Redmayne Bentley and Ecology Building Society.
“I have been impressed by the goodwill that Cloudspotting has built up over the years. The acquisition can only strengthen our offering to existing Cloudspotting and WSI Yorkshire clients and we are all very excited about where this new venture will take us in 2015 and beyond.”
Kevin Martindale, head of digital at Cloudspotting, said: “The acquisition is great news for Cloudspotting as it brings together companies with a wide range of digital marketing expertise from a highly experienced team.
“We are now in a great position to offer digital marketing services to a broader sector base, whilst building and maintaining our relationships with new and existing clients.”