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In the business world, leading with transparency means honoring one’s commitments even when one is forced to make difficult decisions. Transparency and simplicity in food labels continue driving growth in the dairy industry, particularly as the rise of “clean eating” and nutritional claims like natural, organic, and non-GMO are being sought out by health-conscious consumers.
According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global clean-label ingredients market size is projected to grow from $38.8 billion in 2020 to $64.1 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% during the forecast period.
Ingredient experts surmise that part of that huge jump is attributable to more consumer demand for clean-label products and the health benefits associated with natural and organic ingredients.
Although “clean label” doesn’t have a legal definition and is open to consumer interpretation, as the name suggests “clean label” is just that — clean, explains Ravi Arora, director of sales and marketing for Cambridge, Mass.-based Global Organics.
“This would include products with the fewest ingredients that are simple and understandable, and do not contain ingredients that are perceived to be artificial or highly processed. And increasingly, ‘clean’ is getting linked with ‘green,’” he says.
Arora notes that organic certified dairy products grew well even in a difficult 2022 versus the previous year. “Milk/Cream grew by 6.5%, Yogurt by 12.2%, and Butter/Cottage Cheese/Sour Cream by 3.4%,” he says.
“A study by Innova Market Insights found that 64% of consumers globally said they are increasingly buying products with natural or clean label claims. … The top clean label claims consumers look for are ‘no additives/preservatives,’ ‘natural,’ and ‘organic.’"
— Thom King, president, and CEO of Icon Foods
Familiarity is a big part of clean label, so “ingredients that might be found in a kitchen pantry usually align with consumer clean-label expectations,” says Mark Fahlin, business development manager for dairy at Minneapolis-based Cargill, suggesting that honey and vanilla extract fulfill that need state. Additionally, if the ingredient is grown, such as in the case of beet sugar and cane sugar, consumers perceive that more positively than just plain sugar, Cargill’s proprietary research found.
Clean label contains no artificial ingredients, is free from common allergens, such as gluten or dairy, and often emphasizes sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. “The goal of clean label is to provide consumers with more transparent and wholesome food choices,” explains Thom King, president and CEO of Icon Foods, Portland, Ore. “A study by Innova Market Insights found that 64% of consumers globally said they are increasingly buying products with natural or clean label claims, and this trend is particularly strong in Europe and North America. The study also found that the top clean-label claims consumers look for are ‘no additives/preservatives,’ ‘natural,’ and ‘organic.’"
Fortunately for dairy, many of its yogurts, spreads, milks, butter, and beverages already have simple ingredient declarations along with nutritional appeal due to their native protein content, vitamins, and minerals, notes Jennifer Stephens, vice president of marketing for Fiberstar Inc., River Falls, Wis.
“Consumers selecting dairy for nutritional purposes tend to expect clean and simple labels. As a result, stabilizers like starches and gums at times fall suspect especially if it is not a recognizable ingredient,” Stephens says. “Many on-the-go formats are popping up in the dairy category especially for kids. Kid products are typically scrutinized by parents. They expect to see ingredients that make sense on the label.”
After attending the Clean Label Conference, taking place May 23-24, Tonya Lofgren, product manager for Ciranda, Hudson, Wis., received additional insights applicable to dairy products and packaging. “While consumers used to expect a clean label to mean simple ingredients and ‘free from’ claims, it is evolving to include clean diets, alignment with personal values, and sustainable sourcing,” Lofgren suggests.
The following are ways that dairy brands can apply this evolution on pack:
- Minimalist messaging: conserving resources, keeping people and the planet safe.
- Addressing nutrition quality and density.
- Animal welfare claims are skyrocketing: cage-free, pasture-raised, grass-fed, animal-welfare labeling.
- “Better-for-you/me” is transforming to “better-for-us.” Sustainability is now a requirement, as is a “do no harm” mentality.
- PFAS-free packaging (non-stick), other ways plastic reduction is being considered.
- Sugar reduction.
Not only do clean labels “strongly influence” consumers’ health perceptions, but “clean-label claims are the top product attribute consumers value most in dairy and dairy alternatives,” Lofgren says, citing Innova’s Top Trends 2023 Dairy and Dairy Alternatives report.
“In the light of the ‘real’ food movement, the clean label can also be defined as food products made from authentic, natural ingredients such as fruits, whole grains, and vegetables. These are perceived to offer a better, healthier option and thus, resonate with the clean label ethos,” says Ashley Robertson, director of global marketing for Lenexa, Kansas-based Corbion.
A host of clean-label options
Since today’s savvy consumers are demanding more transparency from the brands they purchase and want to better understand a company’s farm-to-fork philosophy, ingredient suppliers are developing functional, better-for-you ingredients that meet those expectations.
For example, CP Kelco developed GENU Pectin YM-FP-2100, a clean label-friendly way to stabilize fruit yogurt drinks and simplify the process.
“When added at the fruit prep stage, the functionality carries over to the white mass, so no other stabilizer is required,” notes Marina Boldrini, senior marketing manager, Americas for CP Kelco. “Consumers see one less, but easily recognizable, ingredient on the label. Manufacturers may achieve cost savings by using one less ingredient as well.”
The Atlanta, Ga.-based ingredient supplier also produces NUTRAVA Citrus Fiber, a true food ingredient upcycled from spent citrus peels that can be simply listed as citrus fiber on the label. The ingredient formulates well in cream cheese, yogurt, and yogurt fruit prep.
“It can help maintain suspension, stability, viscosity, mouthfeel enhancement, syneresis control, and water-holding capacity as it contributes to dietary fiber intake,” Boldrini explains. “With a reliable supply ready, NUTRAVA Citrus Fiber can help formulators reduce the use of or act as an alternative to starch, xanthan gum, sugar, oil, locust bean gum, and other ingredients that may be difficult or expensive to source due to supply chain issues, shortages, and inflation.
“This can help product developers shorten and simplify their ingredient lists as well as help with cost without compromising on quality or shelf life — an ideal, clean label-friendly case,” she continues. “We ensure that leftover materials from the manufacturing process are repurposed.”
Also on the stabilizing/texturizing side, Chicago-based ADM introduced Stabrium Hydrocolloid Solutions 100 and 200 as an alternative to gelatin, monoglycerides, and diglycerides, bringing targeted texture to dairy and dairy alternative frozen desserts and yogurts, according to Mike Medina, ADM’s category marketing director for Specialized Nutrition & Dairy.
At the forefront with its Colors from Nature portfolio, ADM offers a “rainbow of stable color solutions” derived from natural sources that can help dairy and alternative dairy brands aiming for clean label targets.
“They deliver striking hues that can withstand different processing conditions and various pH systems, while also remaining stable throughout shelf-life,” Medina explains.
Unveiled in spring 2022, ADM’s PearlEdge gives bright, clean white a place in the color rainbow with diverse applications in dairy and alternative dairy products. Unlike titanium dioxide (TiO2), however, PearlEdge is created using raw materials derived from natural sources, including native corn starch, which supports the quest for products with clean-label positioning.
On top of that, the company leverages its vertically integrated supply chain along with its proprietary and patent-pending technologies to control the quality of these raw materials while eliminating any extra ingredient modification, he notes.
Companies also are developing functional, clean-label ingredients from plants like stevia, label-friendly starches, and more. For example, Parsippany, N.J.-based Beneo manufactures a range of functional ingredients with health and wellness benefits derived from natural sources like chicory root, sugar beet, rice, and wheat.
Steven Gumeny, North American product manager for rice ingredients and functional proteins, notes that all of Beneo’s ingredients are plant-based, non-GMO, and contribute to better nutrition and health.
Not only are Beneo’s rice ingredients well-known in the dairy and dairy alternative industries, clean-label consumers recognize the ingredients which help create optimal texture and stability, using a familiar food staple.
“Specifically, we offer a line of functionalized native rice starches, which can be labeled simply as ‘rice starch.’ These starches can withstand severe processing conditions like low pH, high shear, or high heat,” Gumeny explains. “Made from waxy rice starch, they provide a soft and creamy mouthfeel and excellent freeze-thaw stability. The amylopectin inside waxy rice is uniquely branched, and helps to resist retrogradation and syneresis, meaning moisture stays where it belongs — inside your product.”
The company also offers clean-label, plant-based prebiotic fibers — Orafti inulin and Oligofructose — which are derived from chicory root using a gentle hot water extraction method, Gumeny reports. In addition to being soluble and pleasant tasting, the prebiotic fibers are scientifically effective in improving digestive health and one’s microbiota composition.
The ingredients also can be easily incorporated into an extensive range of food products such as yogurt, where they help create a creamy texture while reducing fat and sugar on a label.
Fairfield, N.J.-based A&B Ingredients offers a wide range of natural ingredients that can help dairy brands create products that meet clean-label requirements while providing functionality and nutritional benefits.
“We offer solutions for natural shelf-life extension, plant protein and fiber fortification, and sodium and sugar reduction,” says Joe O’Neill, vice president of sales and business development for A&B Ingredients. “Our CytoGUARD line of natural extracts for preservation and shelf-life extension allows dairy formulators to replace synthetic preservatives and antioxidants while maintaining the shelf life and the fresh taste and quality of dairy and non-dairy products. In a market characterized by inflation and decreasing consumer loyalty, offering extended-shelf-life products becomes a distinguishing factor.”
To boost the nutritional quality and mouthfeel of dairy and non-dairy products, the company offers non-GMO, allergen-free, all-natural pea protein and chicory root fiber (inulin), the latter of which provides a healthy solution for sugar reduction in yogurt.
“This dietary fiber can provide the desired sweetness in formulations while reducing sugar and caloric content. It's highly soluble and offers high water-binding capacity, which helps improve texture in products where mouthfeel is important, O’Neill says. “Additionally, its prebiotic effect supports digestive health and boosts the nutritional quality of foods.”
Cutting-edge, low-sugar solutions
Speaking of sugar reduction, ingredient suppliers offer an arsenal of plant-based, clean-label sweetening solutions. And the timing couldn’t be better. According to Cargill’s 2022 proprietary sweetener research, Americans are more likely to check the amount of sugar versus look for a specific sweetener ingredient or claim.
“However, sweetener claims can influence purchases. Those that fared best in our survey typically implied ‘natural’ or ‘no artificial sweeteners,’ including ‘naturally sweetened’ or ‘made with a natural sweetener,’” relays Cargill’s Carla Saunders, senior marketing manager for high-intensity sweeteners. “Organic and non-GMO claims were most impactful with millennials. Across all generations, the simpler ‘Non-GMO’ claim scored higher than ‘Non-GMO Project Verified,’ though both claims delivered positive net purchase impact scores.”
According to Saunders, the company fields the most requests around sweeteners, as brands aim to keep artificial ingredients like Ace-K, sucralose, and aspartame off ingredient statements. Yet, zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia are on the rise.
“Dramatic improvements to next-generation stevia products, combined with consumers’ greater familiarity with the ingredient, have opened the door to a new wave of label-friendly, reduced-sugar beverage formulations,” Saunders explains.
Among the products Cargill offers is its ViaTech stevia leaf extract portfolio, which delivers up to 70% sugar reduction in a wide range of applications; EverSweet, produced through fermentation, enables the company to access the best-tasting parts of the stevia leaf, Reb M and Reb D, creating a cost-efficient, great-tasting sweetener with up to 100% sugar reduction in many beverage applications; and the newest application, EverSweet + ClearFlo, represents another breakthrough in stevia technology, delivering enhanced flavor modification characteristics, faster dissolution, improved solubility, and greater stability in formulations. It also supports simple label declarations, Saunders adds.
A food ingredient manufacturer, Icon Foods, offers the low-calorie monk fruit extract that has a glycemic index of zero; stevia extract in Reb A and Reb M, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, that also is low calorie with a zero glycemic index; erythritol: sugar alcohol that is naturally found in fruits and fermented foods; allulose, a rare sugar found in small quantities in fruits like figs and raisins; and tapioca fiber, a soluble dietary fiber derived from tapioca starch that can be used as a bulking agent to improve the texture of food.
“Additionally, Icon Foods provides sweetening systems in a variety of particle sizes for every application,” King states. “We have a line of no-added sugar inclusions, flavor bits, chocolate chips in dark and white. All are designed to eliminate added sugars.”
As the name of the company suggests, the ingredients manufactured by Global Organics are all certified organic. “We offer a full line of sweeteners (cane sugar, coconut sugar, agave, rice, and tapioca syrups), chocolate and cocoa, fruit specialties (purees, juices, and IQF), instant coffee and caramel that can all be used in dairy products,” Arora states.
With a strong focus on sustainability, including sustainable supply and Fair Trade practices, Ciranda manufactures plant-based ingredients derived from tapioca, rice, coconut, agave, palmfruit, and cacao from around the world. Additionally, it produces gluten-free flours and starches; syrups and sweeteners; cocoas and chocolates; coconut products; liquid and powdered lecithins; and vegetable oils, Lofgren says.
On the horizon
Ingredient suppliers agree that there is a significant push to create a more sustainable future, with food processing, transportation, and packaging under the spotlight. There also will be continued scrutiny on how ingredients are grown, processed, and used in the food, dairy, and beverage industries.
“Currently, consumers are unaware what goes into creating food products and how this impacts the environment. In the future, rating systems may come into play especially with food packaging,” Fiberstar’s Stephens says. “These rating systems or certifications may be part of the labeling landscape. In addition to the ingredient statement, the product’s label will create more transparency about the environmental impact that would be part of its clean label story.
“…The industry as a whole needs to understand that systems evolve to be more efficient. It is human nature to progress,” she continues. “Because of this, there are many opportunities for the dairy industry to revamp their category whether by rethinking dairy production such as adopting an animal-free system, creating dairy products from sustainable ingredients and/or implementing environmentally sound packaging.”
Consumers will continue to look for authentic, wholesome ingredients that they consider “clean label” and “closer to nature,” ADM’s Medina says. “This can include ingredients that may also offer nutritional value, such as plant proteins like soy and pea, as well as wholesome ingredients like beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, and ancient grains,” he states. “…On the horizon, we anticipate greater inclusion of chia seeds in ice creams and puddings, as well as bean powders in yogurts, shakes, and more.”
Corbion’s Robertson affirms that future innovations in clean-label dairy products will likely involve improved transparency and traceability, with sourcing, production methods, and quality at the forefront.
She concludes, “Hence, for ingredient suppliers, the challenge and opportunity lie in understanding these diverse interpretations and delivering ingredients that help producers meet the evolving clean-label demands without compromising on taste, texture, or color — the quintessential attributes cherished by consumers.”


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Gestation crates losing popularity in food supply chains
The practice of using gestation crates has been well-documented in the food industry, where pigs are often kept in small stalls for most of their lives, and typically unable to even turn around. According to Sustainable Food News, those producers who engage in the practice claim it keeps pregnant sows from fighting. However, in recent years many large food companies and retailers have decided to remove the use of gestation crates in their supply chains. Companies such as Oscar Mayer, McDonald's, Safeway, Costco, Target and Wendy's have vowed to eliminate suppliers who use the practice from their supply chains, as the crates have been shown to contribute to negative publicity and poorer animal health.
"Arby’s is committed to only working with suppliers who have policies in place to work towards the elimination of gestation crates on sow farms," read a statement on the company's website. "We believe there are more humane and sustainable alternatives to gestation crates and are actively collaborating with our suppliers to implement solutions that align with our company’s commitment to animal welfare.
New policies put in place
The practice of keeping pigs in gestation crates has already been outlawed in some states, requiring producers in those regions to find new ways to keep their sows from fighting.
Arby's has been applauded by animal rights activists, veterinarians, consumers and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for the move, and may find the move to other procurement practices to be quite a smart public relations move, even if it doesn't allow the chain to enjoy the cost savings it may have when purchasing pork from producers who used gestation crates.
"The Humane Society of the United States applauds Arby's for closing its doors to pork producers that aren't eliminating gestation crates," stated Josh Balk, corporate policy director of farm animal protection for the HSUS. "If you're a pork producer without plans to move away from gestation crates, you've nearly run out of buyers willing to purchase your products. It’s time to change."

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The 53rd edition of the event Mercadinho takes place at Brasília Shopping this Saturday, March 10. Organic, vegan and natural products from producers in and around the city will be on sale.
During the event there will be a gastronomic workshop with guest Daniela Cadena, an expert in sensorial and affective cooking, who will teach the secrets to prepare a cashew ceviche with chestnut-tree milk. The workshop is scheduled for 10h30 am.
Another highlight of the program is the concert with Duo Cordas Brasileiras, formed by Pedro Vasconcellos and Fabrício Santana. In the repertoire, the best of Chorinho and new versions of Brazilian music classics.
Venue: Brasília Shopping
Where: Setor Comercial Norte, Quadra 5, Bloco A – Asa Norte
When: Saturday, March 10, at 9 10
Price: Free Admission


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You’ve probably been warned by your city wastewater department or apartment superintendent not to flush disposable wipes down the drain. Even “flushable” wipes clog pipes and contribute to “fatbergs,” iceberg-like masses of everything that goes down your drain.
The Austrian-based company Lenzing, a global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has created truly flushable wipes with its biodegradable Veocel wood fibers. Here are more details about the remarkable Veocel fibers by Lenzing and what makes it a sustainable fabric.
What is Veocel fiber?
According to the Veocel website, Veocel fibers are plant-based Lyocell fibers “derived from renewable wood sources through a pulping process.” They are used in personal care and hygiene products because of their “natural absorbency, liquid distribution, biodegradability, and versatility." The company also claims Veocel fibers are certified carbon-neutral products.
Information on the Lenzing website shows that one-third of the pulp used to make Veocel fibers is recycled from cotton scraps used in garment production, and the rest is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Similarly, a Lenzing press release stated: "Veocel fibers are biodegradable in soil, fresh water, and marine conditions and compostable in home and industrial conditions, enabling them to break down safely into raw materials and fully revert into nature."
Veocel fibers are used in everyday products such as baby wipes, facial cleansing wipes, facial sheet masks, hand sanitizing wipes, disinfectant wipes, and more. In March 2023, the company announced an upgrade to its Lyocell fiber, enabling it to enter the “flushable market.”
“We’re always looking for new ways to innovate and improve the performance of our fibers in the flushable market,” said Claudio Zampino, commercial director of specialty applications for global nonwovens business at Lenzing, in the press release.
“As consumers continue to look for products made of natural materials, it is important to distinguish between flushable wipes made of wood-based fibers and wipes made of fossil-based fibers, such as polyester or polypropylene, which take decades to disintegrate and contribute to the global micro plastic problem,” the company wrote.
Lenzing makes a variety of eco-friendly fibers.
The Lenzing Group is a nonwoven manufacturer that makes specialty fibers using a renewable raw material: wood. Lenzing Group fibers have been used in everything from luxury clothing, denim, and sports clothing to auto interiors, food packaging, and firefighter and police officer gear.
Besides Veocel, the Lenzing brands include:
The Lenzing Group also considers itself a “pioneer in corporate climate action,” with a mission to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
With the fatberg issue consistently plaguing sewer systems, hopefully Veocel wipes will become more accessible, so we can move away from "flushable" wipes that aren't actually flushable.


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If there is one thing constant in Dean Harter’s life, it’s work. His Greenville business, Sage’s Meat Processing, which he runs with his wife, Kim, has him working so often that their oldest daughter has decided to hold her graduation open house at the store to assure he attends the event.
Though it may seem Rebecka Harter’s father is too busy to take even just an afternoon off to enjoy the celebration of her educational rite of passage, that’s not entirely true. Rebecka loves the store. She loves her family’s business so much that she plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps, career-wise.
“I’m planning to work here full-time, as soon as I graduate, and I plan to own this business some day, too,” she said confidently.
Rebecka said her parents are thinking of tying her open house to the business’ 65th anniversary celebration this summer.
Dean and Kim, who have three daughters that have practically grown up in the store, have kept the Sage’s butchering business going since 2007 and are happy to know at least one of their daughters wants to continue the tradition.
“All of our kids have enjoyed this place,” said Kim, who operates, according to her, “whatever Dean doesn’t do,” which includes accounting, catering and the retail side of the business. “Our kids are accustomed to this place so much that even our youngest would fall asleep right on the kill floor. It doesn’t phase our kids at all.”
When the Harters purchased the family business from Joyce and Donald Sage, business has been steadily growing.
“Business is pretty steady throughout the year,” Dean said, humbly. “We don’t really have a down time.”
Averaging about 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of processed meat each day, the Harters and their staff of 10 workers have the place humming every single day of the week, taking in cattle, hog and — during the hunting season — deer.
“Since we bought this place, it has grown each year,” Dean said. “Come hunting season, we have to shut down the beef and pork processing and just do deer for like a month. It gets that busy.”
Between 600 and 800 deer are usually processed within a three-week period at Sage’s, according to Dean.
Kim said Sage’s has an enormous clientele of local farmers for the meat processing business as well as devoted customers spread throughout Michigan that enjoy Sage’s retail business, which offers not only meat but also jerky rub, barbecue sauces and other specialty condiments.
“We have customers from Rockford, Grant, Grayling and even from the U.P.,” she said. “One lady from Holland comes up once a month. She visits family in the area and always makes a stop in to the store.”
After 64 years and three changes of ownership, the company still bears the last name of its original owners, Donald and Wanda Sage, who started the business — then called Sage’s Meat Locker — in 1948.
The Sages first operated business in a building behind where the old Jorgensen’s grocery store is on M-57.
“The meat business was downstairs and I guess there was a dance hall upstairs in that building,” Dean said.
At that time, World War II had ended while the Cold War was just heating up. Things at home were getting interesting, as well.
In West Michigan, the first upright freezer was introduced by Gibson Refrigeration, which began a change in the way businesses like’s Sage’s operated. The ability to store meat and frozen goods in homes spelled the end of such things as meat lockers.
During those days, customers would purchase lockers at the meat processing businesses, and were given a key so they could store either meat they just bought or fresh vegetables and fruits they may have grown at home.
Sage’s still has a few meat lockers but mostly for nostalgic purposes.
Today, with the addition of its catering business and up-to-date processing machines, the Harters and their staff keep one thing traditional — customer satisfaction.
“We try and stay versatile and keep the same prices for our farmers,” Kim said. “We try and avoid drastic changes. Our biggest thing is being consistent, and I think that’s why we have a lot of people always returning.”
“I think, with everyone more aware of what they’re eating now, more and more people are weary of buying processed meat. Smaller places, like here, I think people are more trusting in what kind of meat we are putting out.”
The long-time customers come back not just for the meat but also for the camaraderie of the staff, including the previous owners.
“The previous owners, Roger and Joyce Sage, still work here,” Dean said. “They are retired still come here every day, except when they’re on vacation, which is where they are now. The customers love to see both of them.”
As the meat processing business evolves and additions to the store come (the Harters are working on installing a sign that can be seen from Lafayette Street), Kim said Sage’s Meat Processing will always stand firm on at least one thing.
“We don’t want to be a grocery store,” she said. “We want to always be known as meat specializers.”
Sage’s is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The store is at 9189 Sage Drive in Greenville. Call (616) 754-6380 for more information.


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“Up to now I have been able to dress people like Chronixx, I have been able to dress Buju Bunton, I have been able to dress Ty Dolla Sign, Bruno Mars, Alaine, Ce’cile, Christopher Martin, Romain Virgo, Jah Cure and then later on we also worked with Beyoncé for Black Is King, ..” DAVID OCHIENG
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Nagpur: Shops, hotels and malls can now remain open round-the-clock through the week in Maharashtra, according to a new law, which will not apply to bars, pubs, liquor shops and discotheques, the state's Labour Minister Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil said.
The government notified the amended Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Service Condition) Act, 2017, yesterday which covers hotels, malls and restaurants.
The bill was passed by the Maharashtra legislature during its last session.
The new law excludes bars, pubs, wine shops and discos which have to open and close at a particular time.
"The amendment now allows all shops to remain open in three shifts. It can remain open for 24 hours on all seven days. It is, however, mandatory to give one-day leave to their employees every week," Nilangekar-Patil said.
The amended law says smaller establishments would not require licences to run their operations but will have to register online with the authority concerned.
It exempts small and medium-sized establishments, which have less than 10 workers, or employees working from home, or which are run as online businesses, from registering for a licence.
This relaxation is expected to benefit about 22 lakh establishments, the minister said.
"Maharashtra is the first state to implement the Shops and Establishments Act to free shopkeepers from licence inspectors," said Nilangekar-Patil.
"It will end the harassment by the 'Inspector Raj' of the civic body as shopkeepers can register online," he added.
Women could also work under these new timings, the minister said, adding that the government had imposed strict conditions to safeguard their safety and security.
"It will be the responsibility of these establishments to ensure fool-proof pick-up and drop facility for women employees," he said.
He informed that the move has now come into force and the owners of the commercial entities would only need to give online intimation about the acceptance of new working hours.


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Barrie, ON – The City of Barrie has received a $35,000 grant from Digital Main Street's Ontario Grants Program (OGP) to support a Digital Service Squad (DSS) to help Barrie-area small businesses improve their online presence.
"Smart recovery programs help build capacity for businesses that can give them lasting strength. Digital Main Street has proven to be effective in supporting small businesses at a time when many of them need it," said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “I'm delighted to see the program expanding here in Barrie and the surrounding area."
“This Digital Main Street program has become a valued resource for the Barrie business community," notes Stephannie Schlichter, Director of Economic and Creative Development at the City of Barrie. “The success stories from local businesses that have leveraged the program shows the need for digital supports and how the program continues to assist in recovery and building a resilient community amidst the pandemic."
Digital Main Street helps businesses achieve digital transformation through online learning platforms, structured training programs, and a Digital Service Squad. This grant allows for the return of two existing Digital Service Squad members and two new members to support the Barrie area. These trained specialists will meet with small businesses, at no cost, to provide digital support in areas like social media, graphic design, web development and photography.
New this year, small businesses no longer need to be part of a zoned main street area to qualify. The Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia Digital Service Squad will be servicing Barrie, Adjala-Tosorontio, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Essa, Innisfil, Midland, New Tecumseth, Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Penetanguishene, Ramara, Severn, Springwater, Tay and Tiny.
“Ontario small businesses are the heart of our neighbourhoods and the economic foundation of our communities," said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction for Ontario. “Our government is committed to being there for them as they reopen. This additional support will give these businesses the digital boost they need to raise their profile and rebuild better than ever."
Renewed government funding of the OGP —including investment from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade — will provide 3,000 Digital Transformation Grants to qualified brick-and-mortar small businesses as well as Digital Service Squad grants for organizations to provide hands-on assistance to local small businesses. The OGP is administrated by the Ontario BIA Association, in partnership with the Toronto Association of BIAs (TABIA).
“In the past 18 months, as small businesses across the province fought to stay open and keep customers engaged online, Digital Service Squads were there to help," said Kay Matthews, Executive Director of OBIAA. "Squads jumped online themselves during lockdowns to help virtually, and businesses have consistently told us how important the DSS were to their success through the pandemic. We are thrilled to support Barrie's DSS and help them provide assistance to even more small businesses than ever."
Businesses can learn more and register for the program at “Digital Service Squad" viabarriebusinesscentre.ca.
ABOUT the City of Barrie
Barrie is an exciting, caring, and progressive community that 151,000 people call home. Situated 90 km north of the Greater Toronto Area on beautiful Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie offers an excellent lifestyle and multitude of recreational opportunities. We are committed to the growth of prosperity of Central Ontario's leading City and most dynamic waterfront community.
OBIAA is the network that represents unique and vibrant BIAs across Ontario. The Association,
incorporated in 2001, supports and advocates on behalf of its members through the building and
nurturing of strong relationships and partnerships. OBIAA is a leader in the development and sharing of
information, tools, resources and best practices, and is the ONE voice on common issues.
ABOUT Digital Main Street
Digital Main Street is a program that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of street-level team members who help main street businesses grow and manage their operations through technology.
Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association on Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Microsoft, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, and Yellow Pages. www.digitalmainstreet.ca
Senior Communications Advisor
The City of Barrie
(705) 739-4220 ext. 4529


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The Export Development Fund (EDF) says it will facilitate the export of 50 000 metric tonnes of various agricultural commodities to earn Malawi $50 million (about K37 billion) this year.
According to EDF managing director William Matambo, the 50 000 metric tonnes which does not include the exports under trade finance, will be exported under the firm’s commodity market making (CMM) window.
He said EDF has identified markets mainly in East Africa and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries where commodities such as groundnuts, soy beans and various types of beans, pigeon peas, rice, bird’s eye chilli, and paprika are in high demand.
“There are already some small and medium enterprises [SMEs] that will benefit from the exports since we have agreements to buy whatever they will produce this year for export,” Matambo said.
Other than the regional markets Matambo said EDF has also found potential markets in the Middle East and Asia but the main challenge will be the lack of capacity of Malawian farmers to meet the demand due to the country’s production volumes.
National Small and Medium Enterprises (Nasme) national coordinator William Mwale said it is pleasing that EDF is taking a lead in empowering SMEs to benefit from export markets.
However, he said there is need for EDF to provide financing for value addition as more jobs will be created locally.
“We appreciate that EDF is the government machinery tasked to stimulate private sector-led exports. While some of our members are benefitting from the EDF initiative, there are others who feel that their conditions are not favourable to SMEs growth. We hope that moving forward, loan conditions will be softened to reach more SMEs,” Mwale said.
Matambo said the fund is also conducting studies to determine the comparative and competitive advantage of various commodities with a view to inform EDF’s interventions and determine value chains over which Malawi would have a competitive advantage internationally.
The fund has also started undertaking project preparation services which will see many SME proposed projects being passed through the assessment process and eventually graduate into bankable projects.
EDF is a development financial institution whose major objective is to increase the productive potential of the country through provision of finance, equity participation, or credit guarantees and advisory services to help set up, expansion and modernisation of viable enterprises in the medium and large scale enterprises sector.
The Fund aims to ensure the country’s vast export potential and business opportunities are exploited in order to generate foreign exchange for the country. n


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The Ministry of Industry and Commerce on Tuesday claimed that Afghanistan’s exports volume has increased by 32 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to the similar period in 2017.
Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Ajmal Hamid Abdul Rahimzai said the expansion of trade routes was a key element behind the increase and that soon Afghanistan’s export items will be sent through the Lapis Lazuli trade corridor.
Rahimzai said under his leadership, the ministry also succeeded to outline and finalize the national export policy.
“Fortunately, alternative routes are available for Afghanistan right now and the routes have left significant impact on our exports,” said Abdul Rahimzai.
The acting minister however did not respond to questions on an increase or decrease of imports.
Meanwhile, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has said that foreign investments have significantly declined in the country and that there are no enough infrastructures to use the Lapis Lazuli route for commerce purposes.
Although the government noted a $169 million increase in Afghanistan’s export volume last year, but the increase in trade volume did not fix Afghanistan’s balance deficit of more than 90 percent.
Alongside that, progress was not recorded in the gross trade balance deficit of the country.
“Our trade balance deficit is around $6.9 billion. Unfortunately, the foreign investment volume has reduced to nearly to zero not only during this year but since 2014,” said Zabiullah Ziarmal, deputy head of International Chamber of Commerce.
Currently instead of paying more than 30,000 AFs, investors are paying only 100 AFs to obtain an investment license and buy one square meter of land in industrial parks for 50 AFs.
The Lapis Lazuli Route
The Lapis Lazuli Corridor agreement was signed by Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey last year in November.
The corridor will start at Afghanistan’s northern Aqina port in Faryab province and Torghandi in western Herat province and will run through to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. From there it will cross the Caspian Sea and will link the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Tbilisi and Georgia’s Black Sea ports of Batumi and Poti. It will then connect with Kars in eastern Turkey before linking to Istanbul and Europe.
The inaugural shipment will carry Afghan handicrafts and dry fruit to Europe, said Musafir Qoqandi, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said last month that the Lapis Lazuli Corridor agreement will be implemented within the next two months and will see the first Afghan shipment of goods exported to Europe via the new route.
Officials of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries have said that the Lapis Lazuli Corridor is the shortest and cheapest way to transit Afghanistan’s and Asian countries’ goods to Europe.


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FDA sets new limits on arsenic in apple juice
Parents who have been fretting over the low levels of arsenic found in apple juice can feel better about buying one of their kids’ favorite drinks.
The Food and Drug Administration is setting a new limit on the level of arsenic allowed in apple juice, after more than a year of public pressure from consumer groups worried about the contaminant’s effects on children. Nationwide, apple juice is second only to orange juice in popularity, according to industry groups.
Studies have shown that the juice contains very low levels of arsenic, a cancer-causing agent found in everything from water to soil to pesticides. The FDA has monitored arsenic in apple juice for decades and has long said the levels are not dangerous to consumers, in particular small children who favor fruit juice.
But now the agency is putting in place a strict standard on how much arsenic is acceptable in apple juice, limiting the amount to the same level currently permitted in drinking water.
Under the new regulation, apple juice containing more than 10 parts per billion could be removed from the market, and companies could face legal action. Agency officials stressed that the vast majority of juices on the market already are below the threshold.


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Pernod Ricard’s brief search for a new UK managing director came to a close this week with the appointment of Denis O’Flynn.
O’Flynn, currently MD of Pernod’s Dublin-based subsidiary Irish Distillers, will take the reins from 17 October. Irish Distillers owns Jameson Irish whiskey and also produces Irish spirit brands Powers, Cork dry gin, Paddy and Huzzar.
His appointment follows the unexpected resignation of David de Mardt, who was due to assume the head UK role last month but quit for family reasons.
O’Flynn graduated from University College Dublin with a BSc in microbiology in 1982 and worked for Diageo in various roles before joining Irish Distillers in 1998 as human resources director for the production division. He became HR director for the wider group the following year before assuming the position of commercial director for Ireland and then MD in July this year.
He will report to Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Europe, and will be a member of the company’s Europe regional executive committee.
Pernod Ricard has also appointed finance and development director John Leburn as its new CFO for Corby Distilleries in Canada from 1 November. Leburn will be based in Toronto and will be a member of the management committee, reporting to Corby Distilleries MD Patrick O’Driscoll.
Finance director Julia Massies will assume full responsibility for Pernod’s UK finance function as part of the reshuffle.
Last month, Pernod Ricard reported a 10% rise in full-year group net profits to the end of June, thanks to higher sales in emerging markets and a strong US performance by whiskey brand Jameson.
Pernod UK is focusing strongly on its premium portfolio of wine and spirits in the run-up to Christmas, including a new push for premium wine brand Campo Viejo. Last month, it extended its range of smaller formats, with two new 35cl additions under the Beefeater and Glenlivet whisky brands.


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Disposing of assets via auctions is a strategic way to free up cash flow for companies facing business rescue
Economic challenges, policy changes and soaring inflation have placed tremendous financial pressure on organisations that should realise that auctions offer a fast and reliable way to convert assets into cash, says Clive Lazarus of Park Village Auctions (PVA).
Lazarus says 2018 has been a turbulent year with the rand’s volatile performance having a devastating impact on many businesses unable to weather the storm on their own, resulting in a busy year for the PVA business rescue division. But before reaching for business rescue, Lazarus suggests businesses should opt to strategically dispose of assets via auction to create liquidity.
“Auctions are not only an efficient way to generate capital but also a superb mechanism for reducing costs and increasing optimising business performance. Identifying and disposing of superfluous or redundant assets via auction allows businesses to curtail holding costs, wear and tear, and shrinkage.
“Public and online auctions appeal to sellers and buyers alike. Sellers, for a start, can effectively outsource the sale of goods to continue focusing on core business.
“The nature of auctions dispenses with sales negotiations and helps to dispose of assets at market-related prices. Lead times are generally shorter than traditional sale methods and the agreement is final, with upfront payment required to conclude the deal,” adds Lazarus.
To best illustrate the value of auctions a means for asset disposal, Lazarus provides results of exceptional PVA sales this year.
All prices realised exclude VAT and buyers’ commission.
* Residential dwelling, Umhlanga Rocks: R5.3million.
* Retail vehicle showroom in Bryanston: R11.6m.
* Specialist mining shaft sinking concern, equipment and assets: R12.7m.
* The former premises of The New Age Media: R29.5m.
* Industrial property (5.2ha) in Germiston: R30m.
* Engineering workshop and specialist laser and plasma-cutting machinery of VR Laser Services: R34.5m.
“Gone are the days when auctions were seen merely as a forced mechanism for recouping bad debt. Today organisations can freely choose to sell assets on auction to access the inherent benefits associated with this method of selling,” says Lazarus.
Contact PVA on 011 789 4375 or go to www.parkvillageauctions.co.za.


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Its good news for Cariboo residents as Sobey’s Inc. announced Friday that all Safeway locations in British Columbia would be reducing the price of produce
The price drop comes as part of an initiative launched in 2013 that is aimed at helping Canadians eat better.
It’s a matter of priorities both for the consumer and the company says Keri Scobie, the Manager of Communications for Sobey’s in Western Canada:
“It’s a priority for us, so we can take those synergies that we have and invest them in things that we know are really important to our customers… and that’s food and competitive pricing.”
According to Scobie, the price change isn’t a reaction to the low Canadian dollar, though the timing is fortuitous for British Columbian shoppers.


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Respected Tasmanian wild ale producer, Van Dieman Brewing, has launched a new beer club giving drinkers direct access to limited, rare and exclusive beers.
The Paddock beer club has been developed to share some of the best beers Van Dieman has produced and spark discussion among likeminded enthusiasts, according to founder and brewer Will Tatchell.
“Four shipments, comprising three beers, each will be dispatched through 2021, with the first scheduled for February release,” Tatchell says.
“Given the limited nature of some of the blends intended, memberships will be capped at 100, with current members offered first priority for renewal the following year.”
The Paddock memberships will open on Monday December 14 at 12pm AEST on the Van Dieman web store, and will close on December 31 unless already sold out.
“I can’t thank our brewing community enough for your support this year,” Tatchell says.
“This is a little passion project to deliver back some of that hard work that’s occurred over the past few years.
“I look forward to sharing all of our creations and events with you over the next 12 months.”
Memberships are $335, with an exclusive branded glass and a membership lapel pin included with the first shipment of beer.
Get the full details on The Paddock beer club here.
Non-alcoholic beer reviews: Australia’s best craft options
Peter Lalor, veteran beer and cricket writer: S7E6
Ricky Ponting and Ben Riggs of Ponting Wines: S7E8


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Business News›consumer product safety commission
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
CCPA asks e-tailers to put in place mechanisms to prevent unregulated sale of acid
In a safety notice, CCPA said before on-boarding sellers of acid, e-commerce players should take a separate undertaking from them on compliance of mandatory norms.
Only govt should do food certification, not NGOs: Sitharman on UP's ban on halal-certified products
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has emphasized that food certification should be handled by governmental agencies, not non-governmental organisations. She stated that food quality and testing are a government job, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should be responsible for ensuring food is free from harmful additives and artificial colors.
UP govt bans production and sale of halal-certified food products
The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday passed orders banning the production and sale of certain halal certified food products while calling for action against organisations associated with production and sale of halal certified drugs and cosmetics in what officials said was a bid to discourage unauthorised private bodies granting halal certificates to certain non-meat products driven by a "malicious attempt to exploit a specific religious sentiment and potentially incite discord among communities".
India must think of Indians’ safety
This disregard is all-pervasive. Right from the individual level, when one does not bother to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler, to the organisational level, when there is poor regard towards environment, health and safety (EHS) norms, to the government level, where adequate deterrence is not built into the system to make safety of the citizenry a priority.
Indian eyedrop maker issues recall of various eye drops in US for potential safety reasons
Kilitch Healthcare India Limited has recalled 27 types of eye drops sold in the U.S. due to safety concerns arising from insanitary conditions found by FDA investigators. The FDA had previously warned consumers about eyedrops from major retailers without disclosing Kilitch as the manufacturer.
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What is Amazon's secret pricing strategy and what is the FTC lawsuit alleging cost manipulation tactics?In the ongoing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) legal battle against Amazon over alleged antitrust violations, a surprising revelation has come to light. Newly disclosed court documents reveal that Amazon had a hidden strategy to artificially raise prices, resulting in over $1 billion being collected from American households.
Huge margin of safety in pharma stocks vis-à-vis many sectors trading at ridiculous valuations: Manish Sonthalia“If you are not able to make ROCs on generic exports, you better withdraw from the market and it has come to that on a global supply basis. I do not see too much pressure on generic exports. The US FDA issues are broadly sorted out. There will be specific issues on companies but on a general basis that is not going to be there.”
India can take the lead in advancing global AI governanceAI has taken the centre-stage of the global tech ecosystem and shaped recent geopolitical diplomacy, surpassing the efforts around wider cyberspace issues. India holds the leadership of the 29-member Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which will host the annual summit next month in New Delhi. GPAI and India could be suitably pitched to take the global deliberations on responsible AI forward as nations absorb this week's White House executive order.
Ex-Twitter VP Ella Irwin lashes out at Elon Musk, says working with him was one of the ‘hardest experiences’ in her lifeIrwin decided to resign after Musk publicly chastised moderation policies she introduced to protect transgender and gender-non-conforming users from misgendering.
Nestle India stays keen on acquisitions, valuations keyNestle India is actively seeking acquisitions that align with its existing portfolio and meet valuation expectations, according to the company's managing director, Suresh Narayanan. The food manufacturer, known for brands such as Maggi noodles and KitKat chocolate, has expressed interest in acquiring Capital Foods. Narayanan also addressed competition from local rivals in categories such as noodles.
Metaddiction, seek safety from withinA lawsuit filed by 33 US states against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, could result in policy changes to make social media safer for children and enhance privacy protection. In addition to legal action, public funding should be allocated to digital literacy and further research on the impact of social media. Technology firms should be more transparent in assessing the effects of their platforms on consumers, prioritizing public health. Industry standards are necessary to protect children's mental health. Governments, tech companies, academia, and parents should collaborate to improve health outcomes.
Massive cybersecurity attack to cost MGM Resorts over $100 millionMGM Resorts has disclosed that the recent cybersecurity attack it experienced will cost the company over $100 million. The attack forced MGM to temporarily shut down certain computer systems at its properties across the United States, causing disruptions to reservations and casino operations. While customer bank account numbers and payment card information were not compromised, personal information such as names, contact details, and passport numbers were stolen.
Railway employees union demands productivity-linked bonus on the basis of 7th pay commissionThe Indian Railway Employees Federation (IREF) has requested an increase in the productivity-linked bonus (PLB) for railway workers ahead of the festive season. The PLB is currently equivalent to 78 days' wages and is given to non-gazetted employees as an incentive. The IREF argues that the PLB is still calculated based on the minimum salary fixed by the 6th Pay Commission, while the 7th Pay Commission increased the minimum salary to Rs 18,000.
Amazon faces an array of US consumer, state antitrust lawsuitsUS regulators have been probing Amazon.com and other Big Tech companies for antitrust violations and the FTC has long been expected to take formal action against the online retailer. US state and federal courts are grappling with cases relating to competition law that focus on Amazon's pricing practices, fulfillment centers and the company's relationships with major book sellers.
Colawashing, a new trick to show green?For the person who just wants a cold drink, not only is it not complimentary but a solo drink also remains unavailable. We call this colawashing.
Why is Shimano recalling 680,000 bicycle cranksets? All you need to knowJapanese bicycle manufacturer Shimano will recall 680,000 bicycle cranksets after receiving 4,519 complaints regarding cranksets separating. Know the reasons and the affected models.
Go tough on junk food, consumer front urges governmentA coalition of consumer groups, along with public health advocates, lawyers, and doctors, has urged the Indian government to take action against the consumption of junk food high in sugar, salt, and fat. The coalition is calling for legislation to define junk food and restrictions on marketing similar to those for infant foods. They also recommend setting up guidelines to prevent the serving of unhealthy foods in schools, hospitals, prisons, and other public places. The coalition believes that existing regulatory policies on junk food are ineffective.
Defensive bets in uncertain times; FMCG stocks with upside potential of up to 30%Sometimes the rationale which goes against owning a set of stocks when a bull run is just starting, the same rationale is applicable for buying the same stocks when there is a high risk of correction in stock markets. Large cap FMCG stocks because of both fundamental and technical reasons like overall shareholder pattern fall in that category of stocks.ET screener powered by Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus lists down mid and small cap stocks from the FMCG sector with high upside potential over the next 12 months, having an average recommendation rating of “buy” or "strong buy".
Unwilling customer can't be coerced into purchasing a product: Consumer ForumA consumer court in Bengaluru has ruled that coercing a customer into buying a product is a violation of customer protection laws. The ruling came after a man paid Rs 5 lakh for an elevator installation but was later faced with an increased price and no refund option. The court ordered the elevator firm to refund the customer Rs 5 lakh with interest and pay an additional Rs 5,000 for litigation expenses.
Why has TOMY International recalled its Boon Highchairs: Model numbers, and key informationTOMY International Inc. has issued a product recall for its 'Boon Flair & Flair Elite highchairs out of safety concerns. These highchairs, which are suspected to have a detachment issue, were distributed in both the United States and Canada.
Florida gas stations supplied by CITGO's Tampa Terminal may have contaminated fuelCITGO has identified a contaminated product at its Tampa terminal due to a routing issue, leading to an immediate shutdown of the affected rack. Marketers have been informed and asked to halt sales, with efforts underway to remove tainted products from retail locations.
Centre forms committee to prepare food safety norms, protect users from unhealthy food itemsThe committee, headed by an additional secretary in the department of consumer affairs, has been asked to submit its report within six weeks, the memo said, adding that it will examine and identify gaps or inadequacies within the current regulatory framework that contribute to the proliferation of unhealthy food products.
New rules demand celebrities and influencers be honest about health product promotionsIndia's Ministry of Consumer Affairs has issued new guidelines mandating that public figures who offer health advice provide "clear explanations" when discussing health-related products or clarifying certification when endorsing merchandise. Medical professionals and fitness experts need to provide evidence to support any claims, and influencers must clearly separate their personal opinions from their professional guidance and include a statement that their content is not a substitute for professional medical advice. However, the rules do not extend to general health advice not related to specific products or services.
Disclosure or disclaimer must for celebrities, influencers endorsing as health experts: GovtThe government said "disclosure or disclaimer" is must for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers while endorsing as health experts or medical practitioners as it issued additional guidelines on Thursday. Even medical practitioners, health and fitness experts holding certifications from recognized institutions are required to "disclose" that they are certified health/fitness experts and medical practitioners while sharing information or promoting products or services or making any health-related claims.
As e-bikes proliferate, so do deadly fires blamed on exploding lithium-ion batteriesAs the ubiquity of e-bikes has grown, so has the frequency of fires and deaths blamed on the batteries that power them - sparking a push to better regulate how the batteries are manufactured, sold, reconditioned, charged and stored.
Gas Stove ban: Here’s an explainer to controversial ‘hidden hazard’US Consumer Product Safety Commission head labels it as “a hidden hazard.”
Samsung recalls more than 600,000 washing machines amid fire hazard reportsThe federal Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that about 663,500 Samsung top-loading washing machines have been recalled due to fire hazard reports. Retail prices for the washers ranged from $900 to $1,500, and they were available at Best Buy, Costco, Lowe's, and other appliance stores around the nation.Load More
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Individual investors have long been derided for buying and selling investments at the worst possible moment. But recent events suggest this characterisation is outdated.
The so-called ‘democratisation’ of finance, driven by cheap, easily-accessible, low-cost trading platforms as well as a surge in free time, seems to be well underway.
Take cryptocurrencies. The massive gains in these digital, blockchain currencies that are created, managed, stored, and traded on computer systems is one of the earliest and most notable examples of a market trend led by retail investors. It wasn’t until 2020 that mainstream professional investors began to take part.
While many professional investors fretted over the economic damage being unleashed by COVID-19, retail investors were also quick to pick the bottom of the market when stock markets sold off in the spring of 2020.1 They quickly, and correctly, took the view that central banks and governments would pull out all the stops to come to the rescue of their economies, and financial markets.
Retail investors accounted for as much as a quarter of US stock-market activity in the first half of 2020
Their share of the market is also notable. Retail investors accounted for as much as a quarter of US stock-market activity in the first half of 2020, up from just ten per cent in 2019, according to one source.2
Retail investors’ ability to shape events was perhaps most vividly illustrated in January this year, when a $13 billion investment company, Melvin Capital, was left with huge losses after amateur investors, coordinating via part of the Reddit social news aggregation and discussion website, pumped up the share price of troubled video-game retailer GameStop more than twentyfold.3
The new-found power of retail investors has important implications for professional investors. The latter need to be alert to the possibility that the stocks they hold may become targets for retail investors. It now makes sense to monitor what is happening on message forums such as WallStreetBets. It is also wise to look at a wider set of data to seek signs of unusual activity before investing in a stock.
The recent success of retail investors may lead to a permanent rise in the number of people managing their wealth more actively
There are reasons to believe this might mark the start of a more permanent trend. Few people now have access to generous company pensions and most rely on their own savings to fund their retirement. Younger people may also wish to take a more hands-on approach to managing these savings, unlike older generations who were content to cede control of their money to professional investors. The recent success of retail investors may also lead to a permanent rise in the number of people managing their wealth more actively, especially given the sharp fall in the cost of trading stocks in recent years.
However, although retail investors may appear to have the upper hand at present, aided by massive government support for financial markets, they might want to bear in mind there is no shortcut to financial success.
While some individuals, through luck or judgement, may have made sizeable returns having bought and sold shares at the right times, latecomers hoping to ride the wave will not have been so lucky. Long-term financial success will continue to depend on selecting the right stocks at the right price, and that is a complex process requiring the ability to undertake skilled and detailed analysis of a wide variety of factors.
Professional investors should be aware of the power of retail investors as a force
Yet professional investors should also be aware of the power of retail investors as a force, and where necessary adjust their own actions. Since it seems the amateurs may not have been quite so naive after all, it may be time to show them more respect.
Three points to remember
- Individual investors, known as retail investors, have enjoyed considerable success in financial markets recently and appear to have a growing influence, a trend that may continue.
- Long-term success in financial markets still requires the skills, knowledge and resources that professional investors can call on.
- Nonetheless, professional investors should be alert to the new-found power of retail investors when making investments.


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adeelarshad82 writes: Earlier this year many Android phone vendors and U.S. wireless carriers made a long-awaited promise which was to push timely OS updates to all new Android phones. Seven months in and especially with the release of Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), PCMag decided to reach out to all those vendors and wireless carriers to see how things were coming along. Brace yourselves Android fans, you're not going to like the responses.
After the last of 16 mounting screws has been removed from an access
cover, it will be discovered that the wrong access cover has been removed.


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Canadians love social networking, and according to a new study, that love extends to their favourite brands online.
Data from the global research project TNS Digital Life reveals that on average, Canadians are friends with five brands on pages such as Facebook to go along with an average of 120 real friends. Women have more brand friends than men (six compared with four), and younger social networkers have more than double the number of brand friends than older ones — ages 16 to 20 have an average of 10, while ages 45 to 60 year-olds have four.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Among social networkers, 29% have written positive or negative comments about a brand, and 25% say they take those comments into account when making purchase decisions. In addition, 26% have looked for products or services within their social networks and 15% have clicked on embedded ads.
According to TNS, Canadians become friends with brands in order to get more information about a brand, to make comments on the brand and to find out about promotions or special offers.
“It is more than apparent that these networks can have an enormous impact on sales,” said the TNS report. “In many ways, online social networks represent a modern-day market square.
More than 80% of Canadians with web access participate in social networks, and 45% do so on a daily basis, according to TNS.


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German manufacturer that processes brewers’ yeast into animal nutrition, biotechnology, and nutraceutical products, Leiber, will invest up to USD 20 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Innovation Village in Rockingham County, Virginia. The Leiber U.S. manufacturing facility will be completed in phases and successively increase its processing capabilities and range of products. Virginia successfully competed with four adjacent states for the project, which will create 35 new jobs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Leiber’s first U.S. operation to Virginia, again demonstrating that the Commonwealth is an ideal launch point for international manufacturers to enter the U.S. market,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a press release. “The company’s new facility in Rockingham County is in strategic proximity to the Shenandoah Valley’s robust beverage processing industry, and we are confident this new partnership is a recipe for success.”
“We evaluated various sites in five different states in the Northeast U.S. and found in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia a perfect mix of qualified workforce, proximity to customers and vendors, as well as strong and professional support from VEDP and Rockingham County,” said Christian Stork-Bohmann, director corporate development at Leiber.
“It has been a pleasure for the Shenandoah Valley Partnership to work with Leiber and Rockingham County in bringing their project to fruition,” said Jay A. Langston, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership. “Leiber’s announcement for their new feed supplement production facility strengthens Rockingham’s and Shenandoah Valley’s agricultural business environment through its international presence and its use of existing food and beverage producers.”
Leiber refines brewers’ yeast to produce innovative products for humans and animals.


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Today’s CPI inflation report saw 0.4% month-on-month inflation for September. Similar to the recent spike in wholesale prices for September, inflation is not falling as fast as the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would like.
This likely reinforces the Fed’s commitment a 0.75 percentage point hike on November 2. This is because inflation continues to run ahead of target and the labor market is in reasonably good shape, giving the Fed some freedom to act aggressively.
The Bad News
The Fed wants to see inflation move closer to its 2% goal. Today’s monthly price move translates to almost 5% annualized inflation. That’s well ahead of the Fed’s target. Also if you look at the definition of inflation that strips out food and energy the year-on-year inflation exceeded the recent peak from March. Food and shelter, which are large parts of the CPI inflation series, continue to rise sharply in price.
The Good News
Still, there were some early positives in the data. Energy prices continued to move lower, as expected, and we saw drops in prices for clothing and used cars. These latter items are fairly small contributors to the overall inflation number, but price declines in some areas will be welcome.
The market may also take some comfort that inflation is a something of a lagging indicator. We are starting to see house prices weaken, which hasn’t appeared in inflation data at this point, and indeed house prices are still up in most areas year-on-year.
These early signs suggests that the cost of shelter may ultimately soften over future periods. Shelter costs have a large weight in the inflation series, so falling house prices would likely go some way to tame inflation. Freight costs too, appear to be reducing, though again there’s not much evidence of that in the CPI series today.
One worry is that energy prices have moved up again in October, so far, after recent OPEC+ production cuts. That will likely mean that the benefit of falling energy prices, which has helped the inflation numbers in the July-September period could be ending, at least for now.
For example, the Cleveland Fed’s Nowcast of inflation for October 2022, which will be reported next month, has CPI inflation coming in high.
Of course, some of that is caused by a resurgence in energy prices, but a return to those sort of extremely high monthly numbers of around 1% month-on-month inflation, would be a real concern for the Fed and markets and offer little suggestion that inflation is under control. If that’s the case, we may see further rate hikes from the Fed in 2023.


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Dream Quest games has failed to meet its $50,000 Kickstarter goal by a mere $28.
The rules for the biggest crowdfunding site are necessarily strict, and Kickstarter is set apart by its "all-or-nothing" funding policy the only pays out if the target goal is met.
This also means that developers don’t owe Kickstarter any cash, and backers aren’t charged for their promised contribution.
Other crowdfunding sites offer different funding schemes, but none of them offer the visibility and traffic that the more established Kickstarter affords.
"Obviously, we are very disappointed," said an official Alpha Colony Facebook entry.
"We have invested 10 months and over $60,000 of our own money into this project. It is so frustrating to come so close, but clearly there simply isn’t that much interest in building the kind of game I envisioned."
The problem of interest has been growing for developers seeking funding on the crowdfunding platform of late.
While Kostas Zarifis places heavy blame on gamer’s "hatred" of motion control for the poor reception to Kung-Fu superstar, he has also pointed out that Kickstarter backers seem more interested in nostalgia than innovation.
He has a point.
Alpha Colony isn’t exactly cutting-edge, but as an attempt at family friendly gaming it might have expected to see support of a new generation of tech-savvy parents.
Johan Sebastian Joust has been one of the most talked about indie games of the past few years, but the "Sportsfriends" Kickstarter has been suprisingly slow to make progress.
As fans grow weary and more skeptical of Kickstarter and crowdfunding in general, there may also be a greater hesitation to back projects from developers who are trying something risky.
If that’s not irony, it’s the darkest form of coincidence imaginable.


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Women suffer TWENTY YEARS of bad hair days during their lifetime (but on GOOD days we are trying to channel hair heroines Cheryl Cole and Holly Willoughby)
- Bad hair day results in women feeling moody for at least four hours a day
- Women want to copy Cheryl Cole, Holly Willoughby and Kelly Brook’s hair
- Liverpool ladies spend the most on their locks each week at £46.26
Whether your 'do is greasy, flat or frizzy, most women will agree that there's nothing worse than a bad hair day.
But according to the latest research, women across the UK are waking up with unruly hair at least three times during the week which adds up to twenty years worth of bad hair days in their lifetime.
And each bad hair day is resulting in females spending at least four hours and 26 minutes feeling moody and depressed.
Hair-raising: British women will suffer an average of twenty years worth of bad hair days in their lifetime, which makes them moody for over four hours each day
The psychological effect of a bad hair day is significant as eight out of ten British women believe their social acceptance and beauty lies in how good their hair looks.
Key findings revealed that when women want to ooze self-confidence, be seductive and take on the world, it’s not the designer outfit, the killer heels or the freshly made-up face that carries them forward: over half of British women believe their inner strength lies in their locks.
Hair idols: It's the bouncy, curly locks of Cheryl Cole and Holly Willoughby that most women want to copy in 2013
The survey also revealed that sixty seven per cent of women would mess up a job interview if they were experiencing a bad hair day and sixty three per cent would cancel an important date if their hair was not looking its best.
Nearly half (49 per cent) of the nation’s female workers reported they lose their self worth and do not perform to their normal standard in an important meeting or presentation if they are experiencing a bad hair day, a third of them have even gone as far as to call in sick to avoid going into work with bad hair.
The survey by Travelodge also found that fifty two per cent of women would cancel an outing with their friends if they did not feel good about their hair.
Top of the locks: Eight out of ten women believe their social acceptance and beauty lies in how good their hair looks and love the Duchess of Cambridge and Kelly Brook's locks
The study also revealed that British women tend to take their beauty cues from celebrities and a third of the UK female population currently favours big hair with bouncy curls such as the style donned by Cheryl Cole, Holly Willoughby, Kelly Brook, Kate Middleton and Kim Kardashian.
Other research findings revealed that when faced with a bad hair day, thirteen per cent of women try to get away with it by wearing a hat all day, while one in ten women over-do their make-up to compensate.
When it comes to being seen in public with bad hair, a third of British women would most hate their work colleagues to see them.
Whilst a third of women hate the idea of friends seeing them without their usual sleek and shiny mane, a quarter of ladies don’t even want their partners see them with bad hair.
Having a bad hair day has even led to one in 20 women being dumped for being so grumpy: twelve per cent of women have had huge rows with a partner simply because their barnet made them mad, while 14 per cent have been known to snap at their children.
TOP 10 MOST COPIED CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLES OF 2013
HAIR BY CITY: HOW MANY AND HOW MUCH AT THE SALON
Liverpool: 24 per cent of women visit a salon each week and spend an average of £46.26
Newcastle: 23 per cent, £40.94
Essex: 24 per cent, £39.01
Edinburgh: 21 per cent, £37.57
Leeds: 19 per cent, £37.25
Birmingham: 20 per cent, £36.48
Bristol: 19 per cent, £36.12
Manchester: 22 per cent, £36.06
Brighton: 19 per cent, £35.77
Cardiff: 20 per cent, £35.06
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So says Charles DeCaro, partner with Rocco Laspata, reflecting on the DNA of their advertising agency Laspata DeCaro. For 25 years, the pair has been creating glamorous — sometimes traffic-stopping — campaigns, often in the form of mini-movies.
They’ve enlisted some of the biggest models of the day in campaigns for clients ranging from Kenar Enterprises Ltd. and Blackglama to the Americana Manhasset, Harry Winston, Maidenform and Revlon.
“They created the atmosphere,” said Kenneth Zimmerman, Kenar’s founder and chief executive officer in the Nineties. “They were selling the image, not just a pretty girl in a pair of jeans.”
“They have such creative ideas. They seem to really have their fingers on the pulse of the upcoming season,” said Andrea Sanders, senior vice president, creative director of the Americana Manhasset luxury shopping center, a client for nine years. “Charles and Rocco have really helped to define the Americana Manhasset as a brand. They take their work so seriously — but they don’t take themselves so seriously.”
The duo’s campaigns blend humor and sophistication and, over the years, they have discovered their fair share of talent. And ruffled a few feathers.
“We’re celebrating our 25th year, but we don’t look a day over 24,” grinned DeCaro, who art directs and styles the shoots, while Laspata does all the photography. “We’re very inspired by film. Whenever we plan something we think cinematically.”
The Early Years
Now personal as well as business partners, Laspata and DeCaro launched their ad agency in 1987 with a third partner, Robert White, who helped them develop their business model. White realized there was a group of potential fashion advertisers who didn’t have the resources and would get lost in the shuffle of the mega ad agencies in the late Eighties. “There was a niche for boutique agencies,” said DeCaro.
White had a business background and was “incredibly charming, and very, very smart. He had a conviction that we could do it all,” DeCaro said. At the time, Laspata and DeCaro were doing photography and styling “and kind of finding our way, and ultimately he [White] decided we had something to offer.”
When Laspata and DeCaro first got together, they would talk incessantly about photographs and ad campaigns that were in European and American fashion magazines. They would discuss who did the hair, what they were wearing and the angles of their bodies in the shoots. “We’d go back and forth and know these photographs and ad campaigns by heart. There was this incredible interest,” said Laspata.
At the time, DeCaro and White owned a restaurant called Luxe at Christopher and Gay Streets in New York City, and Laspata was a waiter.
“It had nothing to do with being on Christopher or being gay. We had parties for Andy Warhol.…It was an amazing place, but we ultimately came to the startling revelation that we were never meant to be restaurateurs by any means,” said DeCaro.
“There were these models who lived in the building and were under contract to Revlon, and we started expressing our interest in fashion and finding out how it was working with Avedon and Helmut Newton. All these girls literally worked with these people so we became friends, and that’s how it started.”
He said they began doing test shoots and taking photographs. “Robert saw this niche for us and said we should take all this creative energy, creativity and passion and turn it into a boutique agency that really wasn’t out there at that point. There’s so many now, but there really weren’t any back then,” said DeCaro.
They started winning accounts such as Capezio Bags and then Revillon. “Robert was pounding the pavement, and just as things started taking hold, he passed away in 1989. It was not only a monumental loss for our business, but a profound and life-changing personal loss,” said DeCaro. Rather than take on someone new, Laspata and DeCaro divvied up White’s responsibilities.
They met Zimmerman, one of their earliest clients, through White. Unquestionably, the Kenar account — and the often-controversial and edgy campaigns they created for it — catapulted the agency.
Zimmerman said he gave Laspata and DeCaro free rein to create “exotic, great advertising” for Kenar. He had previously been working with different agencies, with very little effect.
“I met them, and instinctively I could tell they were serious and passionate,” said Zimmerman. “I said, ‘I don’t want to know anything. I just want to pay you. You don’t need permission from anyone in my company.’”
Zimmerman said he didn’t want to compete with Ralph Lauren’s 50 pages, and wanted bang for his buck.
“If I spent $1, I got $5 [worth],” said Zimmerman, who today is ceo of Only Hearts. “I got them at the right time. They’re so talented. The way they work, they speak without speaking to each other. When I would walk into a [Kenar] shoot, I knew I better not interfere.
“The campaigns cost me a fortune, but I had to create a brand in five years.”
Zimmerman has since sold the Kenar brand to The TJX Cos Inc. With Laspata DeCaro behind the ads between 1991 and 1996, “I tripled my sales [to around $80 million],” said Zimmerman. “Everywhere I went after the second year, everybody knew the Kenar name. The famous models were wearing it.
“I was able to hit higher margins, sell my product to better stores and open overseas business. It was that momentum that they built for me. I got my money’s worth,” said Zimmerman.
The Kenar campaigns helped the agency establish its narrative approach.
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


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The pandemic has accelerated us into the digital life of Zoom meetings, video calls, and virtual conferences.
One such conference is the 7th Annual Fintech & Financing Conference (#FFCON21), an event that went live on May 11 that aimed at highlighting interesting developments in the financial industry. This year’s event hosted a discussion on the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies and CoinPayments’ CEO Jason Butcher shared some interesting insights on a panel entitled “Mainstream Adoption of Digital Currencies and Investing in Alternative Assets.”
Eric Richmond, COO at CoinSquare, led the discussion, which also included Ryan Wang, Founding Partner, Outpost Capital, and Alice Davidson, VP and General Council at Mogo.
Here’s a snippet of their discussion:
Is mass adoption closer than we think?
Despite cryptocurrencies sweeping headlines as of late and more capital entering the space, there is still more that needs to happen before mass adoption is reached.
“I think that mass adoption will come when we are able to use crypto as a currency… as more people accept it as a form of payment,” noted Mogo’s Davidson.
However, mass adoption may not be as far away as most think.
“Different markets react to adoption slightly differently,” said Butcher. “We’re seeing mass adoption because it’s in the news, but we’re also seeing support from regulators and more process efficiencies.”
What’s more, businesses and institutions are growingly embracing cryptocurrencies. With bitcoin being the best performing asset class in the last two years, institutions were quick to look to the leading crypto and alternative coins to offset any economic burden caused by the pandemic.
“There are 50 companies that have cryptocurrency on their balance sheets, holding about 1.3 million bitcoin, which would be about US$70 billion,” said Mogo’s Davidson. “You have companies like Tesla, Square, Mass Mutual, banks, and traditional Wall Street institutions seeing crypto as an asset class, which is helping to fuel adoption at the consumer level.”
When it comes to venture capital, Outpost Capital’s Wang shared a different perspective: “Adoption is not easy to happen.”
“The tech has to mature enough, the infrastructure has to be in place, and people’s access and understanding need to be ready. I think we are at a new chapter, but it is something that is going to take time.”
Future Trends for Crypto
The trend should be towards the recognition that cryptocurrencies are here to stay.
“Cryptocurrency has been demystified,” said Davidson. She believes there will be a continuing trend toward consumer awareness and understanding. “People have easy access to legitimate, safe and secure crypto trading platforms or can invest in an index or ETF.”
When it comes to payments, the trend looks positive, according to Butcher.
“We’ve seen a dramatic shift into stablecoins,” he said. “I think over the next five years, we’re going to see more Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC’s), national bank currencies, and more digital currencies that are crypto-based, which will mean more adoption from a transactional standpoint.”
Outpost Capital’s Wang said he believes the utility value of crypto will be further developed.
“DeFi and non-financial features could leverage the security of tokens. The recent activity is good for gaming, social media, content creation, influencer network, and the intersection between crypto and Artificial Intelligence (AI),” he said.
What’s going on in the world of crypto regulation?
The panelists agreed that regulatory clarity is coming.
“For the first time, the VC Security Commission clearly defined the separation between commodity, security, and currency,” said Butcher. “They are getting a firmer hold of how to regulate, and it will help organizations understand where they stand. The banks wouldn’t be in the position they are today with supporting crypto if it weren’t for regulation. We’re seeing massive support in the financial industry because of it.”
To Davidson, the move towards regulation in the crypto space represents a convergence between what is known and what is new.
“Regulation sends a strong message to the industry that you’ve got to do things the right way, and I think, in turn, it will increase consumer confidence and accelerate adoption,” she said.
According to Wang, regulation is a positive for innovation. “People are trying to navigate the gray area. Clear guidelines are definitely necessary for the industry to grow further and to encourage mass-market adoption.”
Ready to start your journey with crypto?
You can contribute to the adoption trend and stay relevant in your marketplace by adding cryptocurrency as a payment method to your established forms of acceptance.
Your CoinPayments business account is just a few minutes away. With no setup or monthly fees, and simple activation, CoinPayments makes it easy to accept crypto online and in-store. Take advantage of auto-convert features to avoid market volatility and choose settlement options that work best for your business.
Be ahead of the rising crypto adoption tide by offering cryptocurrency in your business today.


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Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the latest news in telecom, media, and technology.
0:28: In the third week of September, the CEOs of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile spoke at the Goldman Sachs Communicopia Conference on their visions of the future. What John Stankey of AT&T revealed about AT&T’s focus.
2:36: The importance of teasing out what John Stankey did NOT talk about.
6:04: AT&T’s churn strategy - are others playing the same game?
7:11: Verizon is getting more money out of their existing customers rather than playing the net-add-game. What Hans Vestberg said about Verizon and what can be extrapolated from that information.
12:17: Mike Sievert of T-Mobile shared that their premium plans are growing. What else did he share about T-Mobile?
19:26: Verizon’s potential difficulties in differentiating themselves in the market.
21:23: Who struck a deal with Apple for Apple TV+?
Tags: telecom, telecommunications, business, wireless, cellular phone, cellular service, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Recon Analytics, Goldman Conference, John Stankey, T-Mobile, Verizon, Hans Vestberg, Mike Sievert, data breach, fiber, Yahoo, AOL,


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- GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra announces production of New SUV in Rüsselsheim
- Considerable investments in engine and transmission production in the Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern and Tychy plants
- Third shift at the Eisenach plant will be added next year
- Clear commitment to Opel/Vauxhall, Germany and Europe
|Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and GM CEO Mary Barra in front of the new Corsa E. Barra announces production of a new SUV in Rüsselsheim.|
During her second visit to Germany this year, Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, announced additional considerable investments. Barra confirmed that new model will be produced at Opel’s traditional headquarters in Rüsselsheim by the end of the decade. “This SUV will be the brand’s second flagship alongside the Insignia,” Barra said. As announced in March, 245 million euro will be invested in Opel’s Rüsselsheim plant to meet future requirements. Furthermore, Barra declared additional investments of more than half billion euro in the engine and transmission plants in Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern and Tychy (Poland), thus providing the impetus for Opel to move to the next stage of its powertrain offensive with fuel efficient engines and transmissions.
“Opel/Vauxhall is of high strategic importance for GM. The product offensive with 27 new models and 17 new engines has enjoyed a very successful start. These additional investments will help the brand shine again and further strengthen our position in Europe. They are a clear sign of GM’s commitment to Opel, to Germany and to Europe,” said Barra.
Both, Mary Barra and Dr. Neumann, pointed out that all necessary decisions were taken after a constructive dialog with employee representatives. They recognized the cooperation with the European employee representatives, the Industrial Metal Union (IG Metall) and Opel’s general works council, chaired by Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug.
Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug: "The package of measures is based on existing collective labor agreement commitments. The agreement is an important prerequisite for the continuation of Opel’s ride in the fast lane. It helps to continue our growth course with safe and competitive jobs."
Dr. Neumann also announced that a third shift will be established at the plant in Eisenach as of mid 2015. “This is good news for Eisenach as we are enjoying strong demand for the Opel/Vauxhall ADAM and the new Corsa E.”
Mary Barra expressed her delight with the new Corsa E, adding that 45,000 orders before the official market launch show that the fifth generation of the small car is well on its way to becoming a bestseller.


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Good patch management could have stopped the spread this week of the NotPetya ransomware, says one of the world’s expert investigators of cyber breaches. “It’s interesting me they’re successful at all because they’re attacking known vulnerabilities,” David Ostertag, global security investigations manager at Verizon Enterprise Solutions, told Canadian reporters on Wednesday.
Published by Retail Network Security Solutions
Retail Network Security Solutions is passionate about computer network security consulting to help small and medium retailers create and maintain a secure and compliant network that will protect their business from unwanted intruders. View all posts by Retail Network Security Solutions