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Alibaba Group today announced it will acquire personal cloud storage service Kanbox to expand its range of consumer-focused cloud computing offerings in China.
With more than 15 million users, Kanbox is one of China’s leading cloud providers, according to Alibaba officials. Similar to U.S.-based Dropbox, Kanbox offers an application that can be downloaded by consumers onto PCs or mobile devices, allowing users to upload, download and sync personal files including photos and other media across different devices. Some 3 million Kanbox users are accessing the service via mobile devices.
The price of the acquisition, the e-commerce giant’s first in the personal cloud storage arena, was not disclosed.
Cloud computing has been an area of intense focus for Alibaba Group since it established its Alibaba Cloud Computing unit in 2009. The company’s acquisition of Kanbox is an indication of its interest in cloud offerings for consumers in addition to existing services for businesses and governments. Last month ChinaSoft International announced astrategic agreementwith Alibaba Cloud Computing and the Lishui municipal government for a state-funded cloud project in Zhejiang Province.
The Kanbox acquisition could provide a piece to a puzzle as Alibaba seeks to provide consumers with comprehensive cloud-based storage solutions similar to Apple’s iCloud service, enabling seamless access to personal media and content across numerous devices such as computers, mobile phones, tablets and TVs. Recently, the companymoved into the smart TV arenaby teaming up with Internet TV services provider Wasu Media to make and sell set-top boxes that can stream television shows and movies directly from the Internet to living rooms.
Alibaba officials stressed Kanbox was seen as particularly important to the company’s mobile strategies.
“Personal cloud storage will be a fundamental service for mobile users in the future and will serve as an important touch-point to reach a wider user population,” said Florence Shih, an Alibaba Group spokeswoman. “We believe this type of service is synergistic with our existing suite of mobile applications and ecosystem,” Shih said.
A little more than two years ago, Alibaba launched a cloud-based operating system for mobile devices, later saying it intended tocreate a mobile ecosystemrevolving around the OS involving telecommunication carriers, handset manufacturers and software developers. In the future, Alibaba hopes to make Kanbox a mobile cloud storage service, allowing users to back up their mobile data, such as contacts and text messages, on remote servers, officials said.
Kanbox is complementary to Alibaba’s existing online shopping services, Alibaba officials also noted. For example, it will give vendors on Taobao Marketplace, Alibaba’s market-leading shopping website, a safe and convenient way to store large numbers of product photos and other website images, the company said.
In an effort to draw users, Kanbox is offering perks to those who sign up through their mobile devices anduse other Alibaba products like the company’s recently launched instant messaging app, Laiwang.For example, users who link their Laiwang account with their Kanbox account will get free storage of up to 10 terabytes of data, forever. That’s vastly more storage space than any consumer is likely to ever use, so the company is effectively offering consumers unlimited cloud storage in perpetuity.


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Urban Retail LLC, one of the nation's leading third-party real estate management firms, has assumed management, leasing and marketing of the 960,000-square-foot, two-level Savannah Mall, located at 14045 Abercorn Street.
The firm plans to develop new leasing and marketing strategies and forge new relationships with the city, county and community organizations, according to Phil O'Connell, who comes to Savannah Mall from Oglethorpe Mall, where he served as senior general manager.
Also coming to Savannah Mall from General Growth Properties is Becky Orsi-Faircloth, who serves the new management team as marketing/specialty leasing manager.
"Savannah Mall and the Urban Retail team have many positive changes in store," McConnell said, noting that sales at the mall increased by 2 percent in 2012.
"We are making improvements to the mall's physical appearance, actively marketing the center to national and local retailers and capitalizing on the unique mix of anchors."
A new attraction, partnership
On Friday morning, the mall will unveil its newest attraction, a double-decker carousel.
Located in the mall's food court, the two-level carousel is the first of its kind in Savannah and, according to owner/operator Fun Brands Carousels, the only one of its kind in Georgia.
The wildlife-themed carousel stands 28 feet tall and features hand-crafted and hand-painted animals. In addition to showcasing traditional animals such as horses, the double-decker carousel is the only known carousel to have an okapi and lemur. It's also the first carousel in the city to feature brighter and more energy-efficient LED lighting.
"A ride on a carousel is timeless. It's something that brings back memories of our youth and can build a lifetime of memories with our children," said Lee Knowlton, president and CEO of Fun Brands Carousels. "We're thrilled to be opening our first carousel under the Fun Brands Carousels name with our great partners at the Savannah Mall."
During the ribbon-cutting festivities, a special animal from Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah will be on hand to greet visitors in celebration of the carousel and its wildlife theme. The animal's appearance is part of a community partnership between Oatland Island and the Savannah Mall. The year-long partnership will include community educational events and other special activities.
"The partnership with Oatland Island is a great example of the new direction that we're taking at the Savannah Mall," McConnell said. "One of our priorities is creating fun and educational opportunities for children and families. The programming we're planning with Oatland Island will give families additional access to the many great resources they have there."
Bringing new shopping experiences
A new carousel is just the beginning of changes planned for Savannah Mall.
Building on anchors such as Bass Pro, Burlington Coat Factory and Dillard's, McConnell and Orsi-Faircloth plan to work to attract more unique and diverse tenants to the mall.
"Can Savannah support two malls? Absolutely," Orsi-Faircloth said. "What Savannah can't support is two malls that are duplicates of one another."
With a current occupancy rate of 73 percent, Savannah Mall is home to the requisite national retailers found in most malls but also boasts a growing number of locally owned businesses, among them Savannah Piano, LiveOak Orchids, Signature Furniture, Rene's Boutique and Fitness Emporium.
It's also the Savannah location for Virginia College, which offers a variety of classes in areas such as cosmetology, medical billing, culinary arts, business, health care and more.
The Savannah Mall has a number of options for children, among them a soft play area and Coach Wayne Gymnastics, which offers tumbling and gymnastics classes and an open gym.
"It's important to retain the unique stores we have and we feel really good about that, Orsi-Faircloth said.
"Mr. Dillard was here recently and made a commitment to keep the store open, as has Bass Pro."
Specialty leasing also helps draw unique tenants, she said.
"Temporary in-line leasing, which allows retailers to lease an empty storefront for a shorter period of time, is a great way for smaller businesses to get off the ground and hopefully turn into permanent tenants," she said.
Already, the team of McConnell and Orsi-Faircloth is beginning to see results. While sales were up 2 percent in 2012, January's numbers were up 6 percent from the same month last year.
Both McConnell and Faircloth have been in the Savannah market for more than 20 years.
McConnell has more than 37 years of experience in the shopping center industry, working for 10 different developers in 10 different states. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in political science and also received a Certified Shopping Center Manager credential from the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Orsi-Faircloth has more than 28 years of experience with eight developers in four states. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and broadcasting from Mississippi University for Women.
"We've been in this market a while," McConnell said. "We know what we need to do to bring people out here."
The keys to meeting that challenge are diversity and outreach, he said.
"We're striving for a mix that's not necessarily traditional," Orsi-Faircloth said.
Among their new strategies is a focus on social media to reach out to the college students in the area.
"We have Armstrong Atlantic State across the street, and we need to make sure we are offering what they want," Orsi-Faircloth said.
Another important focus: the military market.
"We are so fortunate to have a military presence in Savannah," she said. "We want to sponsor events just for them - both here at the mall and on base."
ABOUT URBAN RETAIL
Headquartered in Chicago, Urban Retail Properties LLC is one of the nation's leading third-party real estate management firms, specializing in regional malls, community centers and big-box portfolios. Urban currently manages a diverse portfolio with more than 80 properties in 29 states and has developed a multitude of world-class shopping centers, including Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan Shops in Chicago and Copley Place in Boston. For more information, go to www.urbanretail.com.
IF YOU GO
The Savannah Mall will unveil its double-decker carousel with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Friday in the food court.

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Actor Anga Makubalo, popularly known as NaakMusiQ, has left a lasting impression on international denim brand Soviet this follows a renewal of his contract.
“I’m super excited about signing again with Soviet because it will be my second term being part of a really close family. This is more than just a collaboration between two brands. The work ethic at Soviet Denim is fantastic, but just the general love that everyone has for each other is what really gets me going,” said NaakMusiQ.
Makubalo who is also a musician with songs such as ‘Ndakwenza Ntoni’ and ‘Ntombi’ has the country dancing to his tunes.
“With that said I’m looking forward to all the exciting stuff we have planned for the next year. I did the Anga shoe this year and really loved that. Next year we go bigger and better and I can’t wait for everyone to see. Big things are coming from Soviet Denim in 2020… wait and see,” he said.
Recognisable for his role in Isidingo, and appearance on Generations and Broken Vows in recent years and the partnership with him is a ideal match.
According to the brand it will re-sign NaakMusiQ as their ambassador for the rest of 2019 until 2020.
Makubalo was the first ever male brand ambassador that the brand signed, and the partnership has grown from strength to strength with his Limited Edition ‘Anga’ sneaker which features the official NaakMusiQ logo.
‘The collaboration between our two brands saw the Soviet customer and NaakMusiQ fan having the opportunity to meet the talented superstar in person, at a couple of our stores, creating an emotional attachment to our brand, through music and the arts,’ said Caroline Hardman, managing director of Soviet Group.
“We are thrilled to sign a second year with Anga, we have also extended this agreement to a seventeen-month contract, to end December 2020. I believe our 2019/2020 collaboration is going to be an exciting one for our customers, but I will let you know what we have up our sleeves a little later in the year” said Hardman.


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New models presented for the first time in the region
BMW Group Middle East together with its local importer AGMC revealed the all-new BMW Concept X7 iPerformance on the first day of the Dubai International Motor Show 2017, which is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre until November 18. Also revealed for the first time in the region was the much-anticipated BMW M5, and the all-new BMW X3.
The arrival of these models is particularly significant for the Middle East, where the X models make up almost 60 percent of all BMW sales, and the M models are extremely popular with the high number of driving enthusiasts in the UAE and wider region.
Other highlight models on the stand include the BMW i3s, the BMW X1 25i M Sport and the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept.
Johannes Seibert, Managing Director BMW Group Middle East said: “The Dubai International Motor Show is for us the ideal platform to present our latest products and innovations. This year’s highlights are the eagerly awaited all-new BMW X3, one of our most-sold models in this region, and the iconic new BMW M5 with 600 hp and 750 nm torque. The presentation of the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance is extremely exciting for this market as it was conceived with the desires and requirements of our Middle Eastern customers in mind. BMW Group is a leader in innovation and design, and our stand is a reflection of this.


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Crypto Sell-Off Wipes $700B From Industry Market Cap So Far in 2022
The market value of all cryptocurrencies has plummeted to $1.6 trillion from $2.3 trillion at the start of the year, according to CoinGecko data.
Cryptocurrencies are deep in the red this year after industry market capitalization plummeted to $1.6 trillion as of Monday from $2.3 trillion at the start of 2022, a decline of about 30% in just over three weeks.
According to data from CoinGecko, nearly $700 billion of value has been erased when the market correction sent bitcoin (BTC) down 28% for the year to date and ether (ETH) fell 40%.
The new figures imply cryptocurrency market capitalization has roughly halved since its all-time high around $3.1 trillion in November.
“Crypto winter” flashback
It's not unusual for highly volatile cryptocurrencies to experience swift and devastating drawdowns with magnitudes exceeding 50%.
In April 2013, the price of bitcoin rallied to a high of $230 from just $13 in January. Within days, bitcoin suffered a steep drop to $68, a decline of 70%.
The last crypto bull run in 2017-2018 saw a similar pattern – a swift, parabolic price pump, then a steep drawdown within subsequent weeks.
During the 2018 sell-off, crypto market capitalization plummeted from a high of $850 billion in January to $130 billion in December, a staggering decline of 85%.
It took three years for bitcoin to return to its 2017 all-time high, marking a painful period veteran HODL-ers remember as “crypto winter.”
While the drawdowns vary in magnitude with each subsequent crypto cycle, it appears the "supercycle" hypothesis – that crypto is on the verge of mass adoption – floated by some traders last year is dead in the water.
Pockets of safety
For some traders, the emergence of major altcoins in the current cycle appears to be providing some reprieve from the sea of red.
As the cryptocurrency space matures, bitcoin and ether dominance has been on the decline, meaning altcoins are making up a larger chunk of the broader cryptocurrency market cap.
Tokens such as Fantom’s FTM (-21% year to date) and Cosmos’ ATOM (-7%) have outperformed both bitcoin (-28%) and ether (-40%).
Traders who were long FTM and ATOM and hedged positions with short selling on BTC or ETH were still able to make profits. Short selling occurs when an investor borrows a security (or in this case a cryptocurrency), sells it on the open market and expects to buy it back later for less.
Meanwhile, some of 2021’s hottest tokens such as Polygon’s MATIC (-44%), Solana’s SOL (-51%) and Avalanche’s AVAX (-48%) have notched steep losses in less than a month.
There’s one thing weary traders can look forward to now: the next cycle.
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.
Learn more about Consensus 2023, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.


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Informants Reap Rewards For Sasser Conviction|
Microsoft is paying a $250,000 bounty to two people who helped nab the Sasser worm writer. But catching future worm writers may prove more difficult, as amateurs give way to professional criminals.
Sven Jaschan, 19, was sentenced to a year and nine months in prison by a court in Verden, Germany. As a result, Microsoft today awarded the two people who helped identify the author with $250,000 to share. The reward will be paid from Microsoft's antivirus reward program, which was created in November 2003. The vendor worked with Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service on the reward. The bounty is supposed to help authorities identify the people responsible for unleashing malicious code and deter other criminals from trying.
The Sasser worm was released in May 2004 and the arrest was made the same month, within a week of the launch. But the worm caused Windows machines to crash and reboot on a worldwide scale. Even though the vendor had a free cleaning solution available after two days, Sasser did a lot of damage, according to Microsoft.
However, one industry analyst thinks the bounty is evidence of how hard it is to find writers of malicious code, and how it's getting tougher. "Now the writers have gone underground, they're more professional, silent, and know it's better to leave victims alive as zombies," says Andy Jaquith, an analyst at the Yankee Group. Jaquith refers to worms that leave malicious code on machines that use them to do things such as send out spam E-mail or collect passwords or personal information. Says Jaquith, "This is probably the last amateur we'll see."
Thanks, iPod: Apple Sales Leap 75 Percent |
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)--Apple Computer Inc. saw sales jump 75 percent in its latest quarter _ and net income more than quadruple _ as sizzling sales of iPod music players led the company to what CEO Steve Jobs called its best quarterly performance.
Internet Audio Craze Spurs Land Grab
The runaway popularity of blogging, which has turned everyday people into online news outlets, caught the media establishment off guard. The industry is trying not to make the same mistake with podcasting, which lets nearly anyone "broadcast" on the Internet.
Few Care About Mobile Video, Survey Finds
Few mobile subscribers have any interest in receiving video on their phones, according to a survey released Monday by market research firm In-Stat.
Sprint Offers Wireless Broadband To Replace Landlines
As it rolls out its high speed EV-DO wireless broadband service nationwide, Sprint announced Monday that enhancements to its PCS Data Link service will enable customers to replace or back up their existing landline data services with new wireless offerings.
Mozilla Marketing Site Hacked
The marketing site that the Mozilla Foundation sponsors to spread the word about its open-source browser was hacked July 10, and taken offline for several days last week as the group investigated the damage.
Startup Aims To Overload Spammer Web Sites
A startup security firm is taking the fight to spammers by enlisting end users to create what's called a Do-Not-Intrude registry whose purpose is to make it too painful for junk mailers to operate.
Early Google Investors Mine For More Gold At Zazzle
Two early investors in Google Inc. are investing $16 million in Zazzle, an Internet startup that offers consumers customized T-shirts, posters and postage stamps, the company said Monday.
Four In 10 U.S. Companies Discipline Workers for Porn
Forty percent of the largest 500 U.S. companies have disciplined employees over Internet porn and other illicit images in the last 12 months, a market research firm said Monday.
Recent Firefox Release Needs Fixing
The latest releases of the Firefox browser and Thunderbird email client break extensions built by third-party developers, and new versions of the flawed software are expected to be released this week, the Mozilla Foundation said.
IBM To Acquire E-Forms Developer PureEdge
IBM on Tuesday said it has agreed to acquire PureEdge Solutions Inc., a maker of standards-based electronic forms that IBM plans to integrate across its portfolio of collaboration technology.


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September 11, 2006
BEEFMOBILE VISIT … Beef producers who contribute to the Beef Checkoff Program will have an opportunity to learn how their checkoff dollars are invested when the Beefmobile visits Producers Livestock Marketing Association’s anniversary livestock auction in Greeley on Sept. 26. The Beefmobile’s visit is one of 250 stops at livestock marketing facilities and events authorized by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board during fiscal year 2006. The Beefmobile project is conducted on behalf of America’s beef producers and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board by the National Livestock Producers Association. NLPA serves as one of the Beef Board’s contractors for checkoff-funded programs.More information about the Beefmobile is available at (800) 237-7193.
DROUGHT MEETING … Geoscientists from around the globe will gather this week to address Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating a Roadmap for Change in the United States. The conference, convened by the Geological Society of America, will be Monday-Wednesday at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Longmont.Program details are available http://www.gsa.confex.com/gsa/
CHEESE SHIPMENTS … Cooperatives Working Together has accepted three export assistance bids from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., for the sale of Cheddar cheese to South Korea. The bids will send 392,700 pounds of the cheese to the Asian country.
SHIPMENTS RESUME … South Korea will resume the import of U.S. beef. Under an agreement signed with the U.S., South Korea will begin the import of beef from cattle younger than 30 months and free of risk materials.In 2003, South Korea banned the import of U.S. beef in response to a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Before the ban, South Korea imported about $850 million of U.S. beef, representing the third largest export market. In January, a tentative agreement was reached that would have allowed beef trade to resume, but it was stalled several times. The announcement represents a true resumption of trade as beef from 36 U.S. plants could hit South Korean dinner tables by the end of the month.
ALTERNATE DELEGATES … Keith Russell of Johnstown and Brian Postle of Keenesburg have been elected as alternate delegates to the 123rd annual American Angus Association Convention scheduled for November in Louisville, Ky. They will be among 362 Angus breeders who have been elected by fellow members as alternate state delegates at the annual meeting of the association.The annual event will be conducted in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, Nov. 11-14.
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MUSGRAVE HONORED … U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., has been named as a Friend of Farm Bureau, given by Colorado’s largest agricultural organization. Musgrave received the award as a result of her pro-farm and ranch voting record in the past two years in the U.S. House of Representatives. She scored 100 percent.Musgrave has been an active member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and has dedicated much of her time addressing drought relief, crop insurance policies, international trade barriers, re-authorization of the farm bill, animal diseases, agricultural research, land conservation, tax relief, private property rights, immigration reform and promoting renewable energy resources.
Submissions for the Ag Notebook should be sent to Bill Jackson, email@example.com, (970) 392-4442 or to Sharon Dunn, sdunn@ greeleytribune.com, (970) 392-4439. Deadline is 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Any submission after that time will run the following week.
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Target said online sales grew 41
percent in the second quarter. (Craig Lassig / Shutterstock) (CRAIG LASSIG / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock / Craig Lassig / Epa-Epe / Rex / Shutterstock)  Aim on Wednesday, a wave of well-known retailers stepped into strong quarterly sales, as price-conscious consumers, the Applied to Toys, Electronics, and Housewares
The Minneapolis-based chain said it had the highest increase in store sales of 6.5 percent, a record of sales in its at least one year open stores in 13 years, when customer traffic rose to "unprecedented levels". But Target also benefited from the bankruptcy and closure of some of its competitors. The online sales, meanwhile, increased by 41 percent.
Analysts and executives attributed the retailer's strong earnings to rising consumer confidence. Unemployment remains at its lowest level in years and recent tax cuts have resulted in higher net wages for many Americans, boosting sales for some of the country's largest retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot and Nordstrom.
There is no doubt that we, like others, are benefiting from a strong consumer environment – perhaps the strongest I have seen in my career, "said Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, at an analyst meeting on Wednesday.  However, others pointed out that many of the gains so far have been focused on lower-cost retailers, with TJX Companies, which oversees TJ Maxx and Home Goods, said this week that earnings rose 34 percent in the second quarter, while sales were up 12 percent Walmart, meanwhile, posted a 4.5 percent increase in sales, which helped it increase its shares by 11 percent last week.
[ Walmart shares up 9 percent after strong earnings report  "The customer shows up in the stores and they will surely show up online, but prices are falling," said Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at C olumbia Business School and former CEO of Sears Canada. "Unemployment is very low, but underemployment is still a problem and wages are stuck."
As a result, he and others stated that Americans are increasingly spending their money on chains such as Target that promise value and expediency.
But not all retailers have got a boost. Lowe said it would close down all 99 of its Orchard Supply Hardware Stores and a Californian distribution center after a 7 percent decline in the second quarter. The closure of Sears, Kmart and Toys R Us stores across the country has also helped drive the store traffic to Target.
According to analysts, Target and Walmart's efforts to offer more fresh food and curb pickup have attracted shoppers who would otherwise have bought goods online.
With the launch of exclusive brands such as Wild Fable and Original Use, which specialize in trendy clothing for 20- and 30-year-olds, and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, Target has also opened up new and growing markets, a home-decorating line of TV -Personals Chip and Joanna Gaines. It has also transformed hundreds of stores and so far this year has opened a dozen smaller-format locations near college campus to appeal to boosted students.
[Upscale, downscale: Target draws customers with collaborations with high-end brands]
"Consumer sentiment has risen, but when immersed, there is a degree of uncertainty about how well-founded this economic growth is," said Neil Saunders, Managing Director of GlobalData Retail. "People say how long will that take, will I lose my job? Because of this, many of their expenses have been focused on low-price and discount stores."
At Target, executives said the company was close to closing down 800 Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores has benefited this year. which has helped stimulate demand for toys and other children's items. Baby clothing sales rose nearly 20 percent in the last quarter, with much of this growth attributable to the company's own brands.
"Given the strong affinity between families with small children and our brands, toys and baby play a key role for us," said Mark Tritton, Target's Chief Merchandising Officer, in the earnings survey. "The momentum we see in our business is amazing, and we can not point to a single driver."
But executives also warned that impending tariffs and a possible trade war with China could dampen future growth
"As a guest-focused retailer, we are concerned about tariffs because they would increase prices for everyday products for American families." Cornell said. "In addition, continued deterioration and global trade relations could affect economic growth and vitality in the United States."
[The unlikely reason Americans are shopping at Target again]
Overall, second-quarter earnings increased 19.1 percent to $ 799 million from $ 671 million a year ago. Sales increased 6.9 percent to $ 17.8 billion.
Target's stock rose about 3 percent on Wednesday, closing at $ 85.94 each. This year, the company's stock rose more than 23 percent.
Retailers market directly to children shopping on their smartphones
Playskool crayons contained asbestos, advocacy group says
Is soda over? Pepsi buys Sodzer maker SodaStream for $ 3.2 billion.


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CALGARY, Alta. — TCT Logistics has secured a five-year agreement to provide warehousing and distribution services for Parmalat Canada’s Southern Ontario fluid milk operations.
Calgary, Alta.-based TCT Logistics will operate a 56,000-sq. ft. facility on Edwards Drive in Mississauga, Ont. to meet the obligations of the agreement.
The operation utilizes a state-of-the-art Dairy Management Information System, to increase efficiency and improve service to customers.
“Our new partnership with TCT Logistics is consistent with Parmalat’s strategy to provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We believe our customers will truly benefit from TCT’s cold chain expertise through better order fill rates and direct-to-store delivery performance in the Ontario market,” says Brad Sinclair, vice president, supply chain for Parmalat Canada.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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In a further sign of the seismic shifts reshaping the global auto industry, Japanese giant Toyota Motor Corp. has begun exploring a possible partnership with one of the country’s smaller carmakers, Suzuki Motor Corp.
Though only in an early, exploratory stage, such an alliance would focus, at least initially, on key trends such as autonomous and connected vehicles, as well as new mobility services. Toyota has been ramping up its efforts in self-driving technology after a slow start. But little Suzuki has not yet made any major moves to develop a technology that could become commonplace in the coming decade or two.
“The future looks perilous,” said Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki, in a joint news conference with Toyota President Akio Toyoda. “R&D,” he stressed, “is changing rapidly.” Industry analysts warn that those manufacturers who don’t keep up could fail or find themselves targets for takeover.
In an industry where manufacturers typically compete fiercely, things are changing in response to pressure to develop autonomous and connected car technologies, set up mobility strategies and bring zero-emissions powertrains to market.
“The technology race in the auto industry has been escalating at a pace we’ve never seen before,” Toyota President Toyoda said during the news conference. “In a situation like this, there are limits to what any one company can do on their own … partnerships are becoming increasingly important.”
(Toyota recalling Prius hybrid to fix deadly defect. Click Herefor the story.)
Toyota already has formed a tech partnership with Germany’s BMW AG to develop hydrogen fuel-cell systems. Some examples of what they’re working on will be seen during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, BMW CEO Harald Krueger said this week.
Rival Japanese automaker Nissan, for example, has had a long-standing alliance with French maker Renault but is rapidly expanding ties to Germany’s Daimler AG, as well. That includes working on battery-electric technologies, while Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche last month told TheDetroitBureau.com they are considering possible autonomous vehicle projects.
The changes sweeping the auto industry are proving especially challenging for small automakers that are already struggling to match the economies of scale of their bigger rivals.
That was one reason that Daihatsu, a Japanese carmaker focused on microcars, originally formed a partnership with Toyota. Toyota recently completed a total buyout of Daihatsu – which happens to be one of Suzuki’s key rivals in the Japanese “kei car,” or microcar, segment.
(Click Here for details about Renault-Nissan passing Toyota in global sales.)
Whether that rivalry can be overcome remains to be seen, and some potential legal challenges might be raised, depending upon the degree to which Toyota and Suzuki might eventually come together.
Suzuki is Japan’s fourth-largest automaker, but it focuses on a relatively narrow niche of products. It attempted to push into larger vehicles for the U.S., but after the failure of its midsize Kizashi model, it announced it was leaving the U.S. in 2012.
It remains a powerhouse, however, in some emerging markets, notably India, where it is the majority partner in Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s leading automaker.
After long steering clear of alliances, Toyota has been adding a list of new partnerships. Along with fuel cells, Toyota has been working on a sports car project with BMW. It has an engineering alliance with Mazda, as well.
Suzuki has been opening its own doors, albeit slightly. A nascent partnership with Volkswagen AG fell apart after an angry, public spat last year.
But facing the reality of a high-tech future that could overwhelm the company’s budget, Suzuki’s chairman approached Toyota about a possible deal. Osamu Suzuki, at 86, is the world’s longest-serving senior automotive executive. He was, however, caught up in a scandal earlier this year when it was revealed his company had cheated on mileage testing.
(To see more about Toyota’s commitment to cars, Click Here.)
A similar scandal embroiled Japanese rival Mitsubishi Motors Corp., forcing that embattled automaker to sell a controlling stake to long-time ally Nissan.


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The world’s best outdoor brands anchored their tent stakes in Denver for the last time this week as the industry holds its last trade show before heading to Salt Lake City.
Why it matters: The twice-yearly gathering has an annual impact of $45 million locally, and the show’s arrival in Denver coincides with broader economic development efforts to establish the state as an outdoor corporate recreation center.
Driving the news: Outdoor Retailer’s owner announced in March that the show would return to its former home in Utah in January 2023 after a five-year run at the Colorado Convention Center.
- The move to downtown Denver came after industry objections to support for the Utah state leadership to reduce the size of public lands and national monuments.
- The political landscape remains unchanged, but show owner Emerald X said the withdrawal would allow him to be more involved in the discussion.
What’s new: One open question is whether the outdoor brands attending the Denver event will follow the show back to Salt Lake City.
- In interviews with more than a dozen companies, most suggest they would like to continue attending, particularly smaller brands that rely on the show’s presence.
- Others said they were still debating within their companies what message that would send.
What you say: San Francisco-based Peak Designs, which was pushing to exit in 2017, is “pretty conflicted … because honestly nothing has changed,” Supriya Limaye, a wholesale account manager, told Axios Denver.
- “We stand by our decision when we said we would not be returning,” she said, adding that no formal decision has been made about next year’s participation.
Yes but: Barry Robertson, manager of technical resources at Sea to Summit, whose North American offices are based in Boulder, expects his company to make the journey.
- “We see the function of trade fairs as meeting points,” he told us. “We will go where the industry goes.”
Klymit, from Kaysville, Utah, is excited for the show’s return. “Salt Lake City really feels like an outdoor capital, so we’re excited to have it back,” said Sierra Krebsbach, the company’s spokeswoman
- “It brings a lot of positives to the community,” added Andrew Leon of Nomadic, a Salt Lake City-based backpack manufacturer.
Something to see: OR’s snub took Colorado leaders by surprise, but the state’s outdoor officials told Axios Denver they are planning a new event to showcase the industry with a wider reach.
The Intrigue: The owner of OR does the same.
- In June 2023, Emerald X will host a three-day event at Snowbasin Resort for the first time, aimed at consumers – not just industry representatives – to give them hands-on experiences with new products.


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High-ranking Frankfurt Motor Show visitors at the Opel booth: German Chancellor Angela Merkel stopped by during her official opening tour and caught up on the latest premieres presented by the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker. The focus was on the new Astra, and she took time to take a very close look at it.
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Chief Marketing Officer Tina Müller, Managing Director Purchasing and Supply Chain Katherine Worthen and Vice President GM Quality Europe Elvira Tölkes welcomed the chancellor. Volker Bouffier, the Premiere of the Federal State of Hesse and VDA (German Automotive Industry Association) President Matthias Wissmann were also part of the group of high-profile visitors.
Dr. Neumann presented the chancellor with a miniature Opel Astra model in exactly the same color as her blazer to mark the occasion. Young Opel designers had airbrushed the model in record time behind the scenes. The idea was born after Chancellor Merkel’s last visit to the Opel booth: two years ago, she was delighted with an Opel ADAM on exhibit whose “Berry Red” was the same color as the blazer she had on.


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This week, Uber announced new promotional pricing for their least expensive fleet of New York City vehicles. Uber X vehicles are the most simple of the Uber fleet — smaller, non-luxury cars, such as Prius and Camry. While Uber X was already priced more reasonably than Uber and UberSUV vehicles, the twenty percent decrease in pricing makes the e-hailing service the cheapest in the city.
While they are certainly not the sleek black town cars some Uber users prefer, Uber X vehicles are generally as clean and well kept, if not more so, as a New York City yellow cab. Additionally, Uber drivers, in this reporter’s experience, are more wont to turn on the air conditioning than yellow cab drivers during brutal July days. Combined with the now lower fares, it seems Uber has created the perfect storm, and the city’s medallion managers would be shaking in their boots. Surprisingly, that is not the case.
Ethan Gerber, executive director of the Greater New York Taxi Association (GNYTA,) told Betabeat in a phone interview that yellow cab drivers and the GNYTA were not at all concerned about Uber’s price change. Mr. Gerber cites the promotional nature of the price decrease as the main reason. “Uber has already announced this is not a permanent thing.” Uber did not disclose how long the promotional pricing would last, saying only, “These prices are only in effect for a limited time. The more you ride, the more likely we can keep them this low!”
“We see this as a desperate attempt to penetrate this market in a way that is unsustainable. It is basically a publicity stunt, a short-term loss leader. It is meant to launch their market into a way that they haven’t been able to penetrate the yellow market yet,” said Mr. Gerber, “People like the street hail system, and they like seeing the metered rate. We don’t see this as a permeant attack.”
Rather than consider a price decrease for yellow and green cabs, the New York Taxi Limosuine Commission will work with GNYTA to offer their own e-hailing app, possibly as soon as four months from now. “As far as our own solutions, we consider what Uber and the other app systems to be doing as a challenge overall. We are working with the regulatory agency to create an app users can use, a universal app that will be regulated by the TLC. That way, you can hail yellow cabs, green cabs on your phone and still have a metered rate,” said Mr. Gerber, “If you need a wheelchair, you can choose this in the app. We think this is a good solution and just had a meeting this morning with TLC about this.”
Mr. Gerber also pointed out the issue of surge pricing. While Uber X is less expensive than a yellow cab when prices are standard, the moment surge pricing takes affect, an Uber X ride will automatically be more than a yellow cab ride. Lyft co-founder and present John Zimmer felt similarly about Uber’s promotional pricing, telling TechCrunch, “What does a price decrease mean when there is 8-10x surge pricing? It’s classic bait and switch and consumers see through that.”
As for yellow cab drivers, two drivers, both of whom declined to have their names printed, agreed they would be happy to use an e-hailing app. They were unfamiliar with Uber X’s promotional pricing, but reported they had not seen a drop off in the number of picks up they made since the promotion began on Monday. Another yellow cab driver, Mr. Abad Ali, noted he thought the Uber X pricing was “silly” because of its ephemeral nature.


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News18 Rising India Summit | India's Story Can Either be Next Wave of Globalisation or Mass Unemployment: Economist Paul Krugman
Economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman said India has the first-mover advantage for a potential second wave of growth, simply because of its working age population.
New Delhi:Striking notes of hope and of caution, economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has said India could ride the next wave of globalisation, one of services, or it could end up with mass unemployment.
"As the world’s economies took off because of growth in the manufacturing sector, India stood apart and unique. It exported services, which was unprecedented,” said Krugman at the News18 Rising India Summit on Saturday.
The noted economist said India has the first-mover advantage for a potential second wave of growth, simply because of its working age population.
It used to be said that services are not exportable, they can only be availed locally. India, Krugman said, changed that. “Britain exports services by way of banking in the city of London, but India branched out into IT, call centres, etc.”
Krugman pointed out that the sheer number of people working productively will help an economy grow. He was referring to India’s much talked of the demographic dividend, but only if the country can provide jobs for them.
“India’s lack in the manufacturing sector could work against it, as it doesn't have the jobs essential to sustain the projected growth in demography. You have to find jobs for people,” he stressed.
Krugman drew examples of Japan and China to drive home his point. “Japan is no longer a superpower because its working-age population declined, and China is looking the same. In Asia, India could take the lead but only if it also develops its manufacturing sector, not only the services one,” he said.
India's sheer number of people that can work and speak English, it’s different, services-based approach made Krugman optimistic about its contained economic growth. That and the fact that India is still poor, still a long way from the cutting edge of technology, and has a lot of space for forward motion.
“Adjusting for purchasing power India is the third largest economy in the world behind only the US and China.” This is dramatic progress from the days if the license raj and insurmountable bureaucratic obstacles and this, he said, made it a super power.
“In the '80s, the world’s economy was still colonial, where poor countries exported raw materials and the rich exported manufactured goods,” Krugman said. Back then, India was a disappointment for economists, and the gap between its economy and those of richer countries only grew wider.
When changes started happening globally, India’s policymakers took note and changed from a self-sustaining economy to an open one, with lowered tariff rates. This has brought the country a long way.
“I was listening to the Prime Minister's [Modi] speech where he said India's improved its ease of doing business ranking from 148 to 100. That's not a badge of distinction but it's progress,” said Krugman.
If China was not part of the story, people would look at India, said Krugman. “Its GDP per capita has quadrupled, and it looks like Japan in the 60s. Japan went on to make a full transformation,” he added.
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- Digital banking platform HMBradley forged a strategic partnership with banking technology provider Thought Machine.
- HMBradley will leverage Thought Machine’s Vault Core solution to offer new and more personalized financial products to its customers.
- U.K.-based Thought Machine made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope in 2018.
Fintech platform HMBradley announced a strategic partnership with banking technology provider Thought Machine this week. Courtesy of the collaboration, HMBradley will be able to clear its waitlist and begin opening new accounts for the first time in nearly a year and a half. To this end, HMBradley also has teamed up with New York Community Bank (NYCB), a division of Flagstar Bank, who will maintain the customer deposit accounts.
“With Thought Machine’s cutting-edge technology, we can quickly create and build the products we’ve imagined, and with NYCB’s long-standing reputation as a stable and successful financial institution, we can exceed customer expectations at scale,” HMBradley co-founder and CEO Zach Bruhnke said. “This will result in an unparalleled customer experience with more personalized tools and benefits for our customers.”
The adoption of Thought Machine’s configurable, cloud-native core banking platform Vault Core has enabled HMBradley to transition away from overnight batch transaction processing to real-time ledger capabilities. Features like Thought Machine’s smart contract technology gives HMBradley the ability to respond to market demands in real time, as well as enhance the customer experience with more personalized solutions and actionable insights into their financial status.
“By running on Vault Core,” Thought Machine CEO Paul Taylor said, “HMBradley will undoubtedly grow and improve its service in ways customers never imagined. We look forward to supporting HMBradley as it bakes power and efficiency into its operations and rolls out innovative new features with speed.”
Thought Machine’s partnership with HMBradley comes less than a month after the company announced that U.S.-based Arvest Bank was launching a new loan offering using Thought Machine’s core banking technology. Thought Machine and Arvest Bank have worked together since the fall of 2021, when the $26 billion financial institution brought Thought Machine on board to help drive its digital transformation strategy. Laura Merling, the bank’s chief transformation and operations officer, praised Thought Machine’s Vault Core for its ability to enable the bank to “build, launch, and manage any financial product through its Universal Product Engine” which offers “highly personalized, targeted products to specific customer segments.”
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in London, U.K., Thought Machine made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2018. The company has raised more than $562 million in funding according to Crunchbase, from investors including Temasek Holdings, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Nyca Partners.


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Sliding device sales resulted in a fairly flat second quarter for Nokia. The Finnish phone maker reported sales of $7.4 billion, down three percent quarterly and 24 percent annually. Contributing to the lackluster revenue was a reported $3.5 billion in device sales, down six percent quarterly and a whopping 32 percent annually.
A big factor in the somewhat weak device sales was slumping feature phone sales, down 12 percent quarterly and 39 percent annually. It’s been a common theme for Nokia as the company has lost ground in feature phone-heavy emerging markets to OEMs like Samsung.
But Nokia’s smartphone sales held steady quarter-over-quarter and the company has reason to be cautiously optimistic about its Lumia line of Windows phones. The handset manufacturer has conjured some genuine excitement with the announcement of the Lumia 1020, a Windows 8 phone featuring the second-generation of Nokia’s 41-megapixel PureView camera.
Nokia noted that Lumia volumes had swelled to 7.4 million in the second quarter, the highest they’ve ever been.
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop was encouraged by the performance of Nokia Siemens Networks, which posted steady quarterly sales and a non-IFRS operating margin of 11.8 percent.
“With our recent announcement to purchase Siemens’ 50% stake in Nokia Siemens Networks, we believe we will create value for Nokia shareholders and look forward to strengthening Nokia Siemens Networks as a more independent entity,” Elop said in the release.
In the U.S. in pre-market trading, Nokia shares were down nearly four percent as of 8:09 a.m. CT.


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14th November 2011
Bridges Trade BioRes | APEC Leaders Pledge to Increase Cooperation on EGS Trade
Asia-Pacific leaders adopted the “Honolulu Declaration” on Sunday, pledging for more trade cooperation on environmental goods and services. The commitment came less than a week after the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation into Chinese solar subsidies and trade practices in response to a petition filed by seven US solar manufacturers last month.
The Honolulu Declaration, adopted over the weekend at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting, pledged to develop a list of environmental goods and services next year on which APEC members will reduce tariffs to five percent or less. In addition, APEC Leaders pledged to remove non-tariff barriers including local content requirements.
US President Barack Obama, who hosted the APEC Leaders in his home state of Hawaii, had been pushing to increase trade in green goods among Pacific Rim partners. China resisted the push, noting that such a goal was beyond the reach of developing nations (see Bridges Weekly, 9 November 2011).
China pushes back
Meanwhile, the prospect of the solar subsidy case moving forward in Washington appears to have put Beijing on the defensive. President Obama potentially added to these tensions in an interview with a television station in Oregon in early November.
“We have seen a lot of questionable competitive practices coming out of China when it comes to the clean energy space, and I have been more aggressive than previous administrations in enforcing our trade laws,” Obama stated in the interview.
Obama added that the US would look into possible violations by China of international trade laws and “potentially bring actions if we find that the basic rules of the road have been violated.”
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasised the positive aspects of China’s solar industry, telling a news conference on 4 November that it was a priority for Beijing in order to address climate change and energy security. He also said that he hoped solar energy would boost Sino-US co-operation.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry took another tack, calling the investigation a “lose-lose” situation for both countries. In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, the ministry cautioned that if the US took action on the complaint, imposing stiff anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imported Chinese solar panels, the move would strongly affect US equipment and raw materials exports to China.
China’s largest solar power plant developer, CECEP Solar Energy, announced on Monday that it would be putting on hold a US$500 million planned installation of China-made solar panels in California, New Jersey, and Texas. The company’s general manager Cao Huabin cited the threat of higher US duties on solar panels imported from China as the core reason for the decision.
“If solar panel prices increase by, say, 30 percent in the United States following the move, then we would certainly drop the plan because there’s no profit to be made,” Cao told a news conference in Beijing.
While the US Department of Commerce has decided to move forward with the investigation, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) still needs to give its approval for the investigation to proceed. An ITC investigation panel is expected to vote on the decision on 2 December.
The ITC held a hearing on 8 November pitting a group of seven petitioners, led by SolarWorld Industries America, against those opposed to the investigation. To counter the petitioners, which have formally joined together as the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing, the respondents launched the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE). The group includes three leading Chinese solar companies, as well as Canadian and US firms concerned that a trade row will raise solar panel prices.
CASE’s co-founder Jigar Shah echoed China’s insistence that the solar subsidy case could harm the US as well as China.
“The vast majority of the existing 100,000 jobs in the solar industry are in sales, marketing, design, installation and maintenance,” he said in a statement. “These jobs depend on affordably priced solar panels and companies would have to lay off workers if panel prices rose as a result of this petition.”
The Honolulu Declaration can be accessed here.
ICTSD Reporting; “U.S. and China on Brink of Trade War Over Solar Polar Industry,” NEW YORK TIMES, 9 November 2011; “China shelves US solar project in trade row,” REUTERS, 7 November 2011; “SolarWorld cheered by Obama comments on China,” REUTERS, 2 November 2011; “US solar industry split on China’s subsidies,” USA TODAY, 8 November 2011; “China Warns of ‘Lose-Lose’ Situation on US Solar Probe,” WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4 November 2011.
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November 6, 2019
India has witnessed significant economic development over the last few years that has impacted many associated segments, including the logistics sector. This industry consists of freight and transportation comprising aviation, road, rail, ports and inland waterways, as well as inventory and warehousing. According to the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2018, India moved from 54th position in 2014 to 44 in 2018 in terms of overall logistics performance. The country’s logistics sector is currently valued at $160 billion and estimated to grow to $215 billion by 2022. It forms the backbone of the Indian economy, providing an efficient and effective flow of goods and services across the country, and employment to up to 40 million work force.
CILT India Expo 2019
As the economy continues its growth trajectory, there has been a rise in the volume of freight traffic, generating new opportunities in all areas of logistics, including transportation, warehousing, freight forwarding, express cargo delivery, container services, shipping services, etc. Already, there is marked improvement in logistics infrastructure, integrated logistics, and the birth of logistics start-ups, especially tech-savvy start-ups.
Meanwhile, the government has set the ball rolling to transform the regulatory environment for a smooth transition to the proposed National Logistics Policy, to be implemented by the newly-formed Logistics Division under the Department of Commerce. There are also plans to fully digitise the Customs department and incorporate RFID technology to improve export logistics, while the sector has been granted ‘Infrastructure’ status. Projects such as Bharatmala, Sagar Mala, DFCCIL and DMIC are touted as the biggest enablers of change in the logistics sector.
Conference at the CILT India Expo 2019
Up to 16 conference sessions and workshops will be organised during the upcoming CILT India Expo 2019. The conference will host 80 speakers and 500+ delegates representing the Union and State ministries, PSUs, diplomats, city leaders, allied businesses, private players, professionals, academia, etc. The sessions will give an insight into the latest trends in the logistics and warehousing industry, and discuss solutions to the current challenges. Participants get to share experiences, receive expert advice from the industry and discover new business opportunities.
Some of the topics that being explored:
The Integrated National Logistics Policy: Action Plan
Development of logistics infrastructure
Regional connect: Breaking regional borders and engaging in cross-border opportunities.
Role of women in global logistics
Tech talk: Creating platforms for integrated logistics solutions
Creation of multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPS)
Few prominent speakers at the event will be: Ashwani Lohani (Chairman & MD, Air India); ASR Prasad (VP & Head – Center of Excellence, Future Supply Chain Solutions, India); Atul Holkar (Sr. VP & Head – Supply Chain Management, Varun Beverages Ltd., PepsiCo India); Capt. T.S. Ramanujam (CEO, Logistics Sector Skill Council); Kalyan Swaminathan (Director – Service Business, Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd.); Shashi Bhushan Shukla (Member – Traffic, Inland Waterways Authority of India), etc.
About the CILT India Expo 2019
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport – India is the country chapter of the international professional body having its base in the United Kingdom. With more than 2,000 practicing professional and 35 corporates as members, CITL India is the first-choice professional body for all sectors of the logistics and transport industry.
CILT India Expo 2019 is a premier transport and logistics event organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport – India in association with the Exhibitions India Group, a leading trade promotion organisation. The two-day expo brings together all modes of transport, including road, rail, air, sea and inland waterways, in addition to logistics, warehousing, supply/cold chain, freight forwarders, etc. It will see participation from PSUs/Government enterprises alongside private players from varied fields such as agribusiness, automotive, construction, energy, e-commerce, multi-modal logistics operators, passenger mobility & hospitality, IT solution providers, warehousing, etc.
Some prominent names participating at the event include: Balmer Lawrie; CONCOR; DP World; IRCTC; Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.; Logistics Skills Council; Pipapav Railway Corporation Ltd., etc.
Government Support: 1. Department of Logistics, Ministry of Commerce & Industry 2. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways 3. Ministry of Shipping 4. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship 5. Sagarmala


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Console gaming poised for huge growth in China
Updated: 2016-10-03 08:40
By China Daily(China Daily USA)
Compared to other gaming sectors, console gaming in China is still in its infancy but analysts said it is poised for big growth.
Neo Zheng, a research manager at market research firm International Data Corporation, said that fewer than 600,000 gaming consoles, such as Sony's Playstation 4 or the Nintendo 3DS, were sold in China last year.
That's less than two percent of the total worldwide console sales. In contrast, more than 15.5 million were sold in the United States.
"There is large potential for that sort of device growing in the next couple of years," Zheng said.
Andrew Horn, project manager at Daxue Consulting, said he expected the penetration rate for consoles
in China would reach 20 percent in 2017, whereas the 2014 gaming market penetration rate for American consoles was 51 percent.
Still, a 20 percent penetration into China's 2017 gaming market should come out to about 20 million units sold - a massive increase from the current number of sales.
According to Horn, the gap is the result of a ban on console gaming imposed by the Chinese government in 2000 in order to combat a problem of youth gaming addiction. However, the Chinese government has since conditionally reversed its stance after the ban lasted longer than a decade.
Since 2014, foreign companies have been allowed to sell and manufacture consoles and games in China as long as they were able to pass the government content review process. Additionally, foreign companies must partner with a Chinese company that operates in a foreign-trade zone to bring its product to market.
As such, in 2013 Chinese tech company Baishitong partnered with Microsoft in order to form a joint venture to launch the Xbox One, the first Xbox console to be released in China. Sony followed suit shortly thereafter and worked with the Chinese group Dongfangmingzhu in order to introduce the PS4 to Chinese markets.
Rather than being too obsessed about the number of consoles sold in China, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in an earlier interview that the best way to boost sales was to focus on delivering great games to Chinese gamers.
"As our game portfolio strengthens, so will the sales of Xbox consoles in China," he said.
Meng Jing and Wyatt Bush contributed to this story.
(China Daily USA 10/03/2016 page12)


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A class action against dairy processor Murray Goulburn has been dropped after the company agreed to abandon its clawback of money from farmers.
The company this week announced it would close three factories, drop its controversial clawback of farmer payments, and borrow money to artificially keep its milk price higher if required.
Farmers have applauded the decision to forgive the clawback money, which is officially referred to as the Milk Supply Support Package (MSSP).
The package was announced as a way for farmers to repay what they owed when the company suddenly and retrospectively cut prices last year.
The company will make payments to suppliers who made contributions under the package.
A Victorian law firm said now the money was being returned to farmers, it would drop its case against Murray Goulburn, but would proceed with another against its rival, Fonterra, for doing the same thing.
Adley Burstyner principal David Burstyner, who is working with law firm Harwood Andrews, said the result, albeit good, was late.
"It provides the financial repayment of what most of what the class action was about. That's good for dairy farmers," he said.
Not all good news
But the lawyer said it was not all good news for dairy farmers.
After Murray Goulburn made its sudden and retrospective cut to prices on April 27, 2016, many farmers decided to leave and take their milk to supply another company.
Those farmers will not be repaid money under the decision from Murray Goulburn.
Mr Burstyner believed the farmers had a case if they wished to pursue it.
"They are a reasonably smaller percentage of the overall bigger picture," he said.
"Instead of a $200 million claim, we're now talking about several million.
"It's a lot smaller and it may be difficult for those farmers for practical reasons."
Fonterra case continues
Rival dairy processor Fonterra, which made a decision to cut prices in autumn 2016, is also under legal pressure for a questionable loan scheme.
Mr Burstyner has Fonterra suppliers on his books who will continue with a class action up until that company, like Murray Goulburn, agrees to forgive its loan scheme and repay farmers.
"One of the things Fonterra says is that we paid those higher prices because we had to match Murray Goulburn," he said.
"There are problems with that answer legally, but that is one of the things that Fonterra says.
"Now that Murray Goulburn have in effect wound back those financial dynamics, it will be interesting to see if Fonterra does the right thing.
"If they don't we will proceed with the class action."


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To celebrate the opening of its first brick and mortar shop, peteybird — a gourmet ice cream sandwich shop — is offering $1 gourmet ice cream sandwiches on Saturday, October 14 from 12 – 9 p.m. Guests can also sample never-released flavors, and the first 50 visitors are entered to win free ice cream sandwiches for a year.
Typically $3 for one or a flight for $11, these aren’t your average ice cream sandwiches. Unique flavors include oatmeal and pumpkin with candied walnuts, graham cracker and Key lime and rice crispy treat with chocolate and sprinkles.
Even though this is the team’s first time having a store, you may have seen peteybird’s frozen treats at various events across the city. Frustrated by the typical, bland ice cream sandwiches on the market, Peter Bredemann — a former engineer — started peteybird’s gourmet ice cream sandwiches in 2014. Since then, the team has sold the sandwiches across Denver with no permanent storefront — using its bright pink bicycles and selling at specialty shops like Tony’s Market and pop-ups at the Denver Flea.
BONUS — if you’re looking for more cheap eats, pair this with a visit to one of these places on Saturday for Denver’s first official Breakfast Burrito Day.
peteybird’s shop is located at 3040 Blake Street, Denver. It is open Tuesday through Thursday, 2 – 8 p.m., Fridays 2 – 9 p.m., Saturday 12 – 9 p.m. and Sunday 1 – 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
All photos courtesy of peteybird.


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KUCHING, Feb 1: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak calls on the Sarawak government not to impose the State Sales Tax on tyres, be it five per cent or the reduced 2.5 per cent.
DAP Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen explained that at present, tyres are subject to five per cent Federal Sales Tax throughout the whole country. For tyres imported from countries outside ASEAN, an additional five per cent Import Duty is imposed.
On top of the federal tax, the Sarawak state government has the autonomy to impose the State’s Sales Tax in addition to the Federal Sales Tax and Import Duty, Chong said.
Citing the example of the purchase of lottery tickets, Chong said the punters in Sarawak are paying an additional 10 per cent Sales Tax to the state government, making the lottery tickets in Sarawak 10 per cent more expensive than those sold in Peninsular Malaysia.
The Kota Sentosa assemblyman said for the imposition of State Sales Tax on tyres sold in Sarawak, the state government previously proposed to impose five per cent State Sales Tax with effect from Jan 1, 2020 but was delayed because of strong objection from the business sector and the economic recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the five per cent State Sales Tax was not implemented.
At the end of last year, the state government proposed to impose a 2.5 per cent State Sales Tax on tyres and the state government’s directive for the imposition of such tax with effect from Jan 4, 2021 was also issued to all relevant stakeholders.
“To the business sector and consumers in Sarawak, if this 2.5 per cent State Sales Tax were to be implemented, prices of all tyres in Sarawak will increase by 2.5 per cent, not a reduction in tyre prices as portrayed earlier by certain news reporting. It is effectively an imposition State Sales Tax from zero per cent to 2.5 per cent.
“Tyres are essential to all transportation people and goods. With the imposition of this 2.5 per cent State Sales Tax, it will definitely exacerbate inflation and burden the people. As such, the state government should not put additional costs to business and consumers, especially during this time of economic hardship.
“I thus call upon the government to refrain from implementing the State Sales Tax on tyres so as not to unnecessarily burden the people,” said Chong who is also Stampin MP. — DayakDaily


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The Ford Motor Company said today that it expected to increase its car sales in Japan with a new model: a United States-built Taurus with right-hand drive and features specifically for the Japanese market.
The Taurus model, made at a Ford plant in Atlanta, went on sale today in Japan at prices from 2.49 million yen ($23,990), well below Japanese brands in the same class.
The president of Ford Japan, Konen Suzuki, told a news conferene that he expected to sell 13,500 of the new Taurus sedans and station wagons this year, a crucial component of meeting his goal of selling 35,000 Ford cars in Japan this year.
Ford said it made about 185 changes in styling to the Taurus for the Japanese market, both to the interior to be compatible with right-hand drive and to the body to meet road regulations.
Other imported Ford models include the Mondeo and the Mustang.Continue reading the main story


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Brady Purchases Pantec GS Systems' SWIFT Security Hologram Applicator
Brady announced that its brand protection business has purchased the SWIFT foil saver and hologram unit from Pantec GS Systems. The SWIFT unit will be used to meet an increasing demand in anti-counterfeiting labeling solutions from Brady’s customers.
“Brady views Pantec GS Systems as the technological leader in the hot foil stamping industry and we’re excited to have installed the SWIFT unit into our secure production environment,” said Chet Kiedrowski, senior manufacturing engineer for Brady Brand Protection. “It will increase our capacity for security hologram label manufacturing, while also improving our overall efficiencies, allowing us to provide our customers with high-quality, cost-effective labeling solutions.”
The SWIFT hologram applicator will be located at Brady’s secure manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


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Trump’s 1st Year Did Not Go as Expected for Steel Industry
The first year of the Trump administration has been a counterintuitive one for steel companies.
President Donald Trump campaigned on a protectionist “America first” platform and promises to increase the number of steel jobs in the United States, and as recently as June, he said, “Wait till you see what I’m going to do for steel and your steel companies.” Though he has not backed away from those positions, garida net his administration has been slow to act on them amid reports of disagreements within the White House about the risks and benefits of measures to limit imports. The Commerce Department, for example, still has not released a report on the Section 232 investigation of the impact of steel imports on national security that it began in April.
This has led to some disappointment among domestic steel producers who had expected Trump to quickly put up barriers to foreign steel. With the prospect of tariffs and other trade restrictions looming, though, non-U.S. companies have aggressively shipped steel to America, resulting in imports through the first 11 months of 2017 being 17.7 percent higher than they were during the same time the previous year.
In December, Nucor said that its fourth quarter earnings would be lower than expected because of “the import surge experienced in the summer of 2017.” This followed a September announcement by ArcelorMittal that it would lay off nearly three-fourths of its 207 mix workers at a plant in Conshohocken, Penn., a move the company blamed in part on “the ongoing surge of unfairly traded imports of steel.”
The New York Times quoted Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul as saying that he had “a profound sense of frustration that the president has been using steelworkers as political props.”
“The president’s own words and lack of action have actually put the industry in a worse position than if he had done nothing at all,” Paul said.
Conservative Group Opposes Section 232 Investigation
The Commerce Department should halt its Section 232 investigation of the impact of steel imports on national security, a conservative advocacy group says.
President Donald Trump on April 20 issued a presidential memorandum directing the secretary of commerce to conduct a Section 232 investigation “to determine the effects on national security of steel imports.” While it had been thought that the investigation would be completed by June, no report has been released yet. The Trump administration indicated in late 2017 that it would return to the issue after Congress passed tax reform legislation, which it did in December.
The National Taxpayers Union, in a Dec. 12 letter, warned Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross against continuing with an investigation that could lead to new restrictions on the steel trade.
“Activating Section 232 under the guise of national security would be a misuse of policy intended for genuine emergencies, break longstanding precedent, and adversely impact global alliances that we rely on to keep Americans safe from foreign threats,” the group wrote. It added, “Restricting commerce through tariffs would increase costs for existing manufacturers who rely on lower-priced steel and aluminum imports. Any change in the delicate supply chain will increase the final cost of production, which would, in turn, raise costs for consumers.”
The organization also noted that defense accounts for only about 3 percent of the United States’ steel demand and that the “vast majority” of steel imports come from allies. In addition, it cautioned that, “Restricting imports of steel or aluminum via Section 232 would only encourage America’s trading partners to use similar tactics to block the exports of U.S. goods, open the door to trade battles, and discourage imports of needed goods.”
AIIS has frequently raised these and other points during the past nine months as it has worked aggressively to educate regulators, lawmakers, the press and the public about the negative consequences that could result from imposing new limits on the free and fair trade of steel.
National Security Strategy Document Airs Grievances About ‘Unfair’ Trade
The “National Security Strategy” unveiled by President Donald Trump in December takes a protectionist stance on trade issues.
Trump released the strategy document – which, echoing a campaign theme, states that it “puts America first” – on Dec. 18. It includes multiple complaints about “unfair” trade practices by other nations, especially in the section titled, “Promote American Prosperity.”
“The United States distinguishes between economic competition with countries that follow fair and free market principles and competition with those that act with little regard for those principles,” the document states, adding, “The United States will pursue enforcement actions when countries violate the rules to gain unfair advantage. The United States will engage industrialized democracies and other likeminded states to defend against economic aggression, in all its forms, that threatens our common prosperity and security.”
Reuters reported that “a senior Trump administration official” linked the document to the Commerce Department’s Section 232 investigation of the national security impact of steel imports, saying, “The strategy highlights the importance of industrial strength, and that is also an element of the 232 analysis.”
“I think there will be enforcement actions by the U.S. that are related to the non-market challenge from China,” the official said. “The strategy recognizes that China is a rival and that puts into context that we need to take steps to protect American interests and American workers.”
Commerce Department Announces Affirmative Findings in Multiple Cases
The Commerce Department on Dec. 5 announced a preliminary affirmative ruling in a circumvention case involving China and Vietnam.
In 2015, antidumping and countervailing duties were imposed on corrosion-resistant steel and cold-rolled steel flat products from China. Following this, shipments of these products from Vietnam to the United States increased sharply. Commerce found that some of those imports used substrate from China that would otherwise have been subject to duties.
“U.S. law provides that Commerce may find circumvention of [antidumping/countervailing duty] orders when merchandise that is the same class or kind as merchandise subject to existing orders is completed or assembled in a third country prior to importation into the United States,” the agency explained.
The department is expected to announce a final determination in the case by Feb. 16.
Separately, on Nov. 21, the Commerce Department announced affirmative final determinations in antidumping duty investigations of imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
Imports of those products in 2016 totaled $10.4 million from Belarus, $32.3 million from Russia and $7 million from UAE.
The dumping margins were found to be 436.8 percent to 756.93 percent for Russia, 280.02 percent for Belarus and 84.1 percent for UAE.
The International Trade Commission is scheduled to issue its final determinations in the cases by Jan. 5.
And on Dec. 5, Commerce announced affirmative final determinations in the countervailing duty investigations of imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China and India.
In 2016, imports of that tubing totaled $29.4 million from China and $25 million from India.
The subsidy rates were found to be 8.02 percent to 42.6 percent for India and 18.27 percent to 21.41 percent for China.
Final determinations in the cases by the International Trade Commission are expected by Jan. 18.


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27 April 2021, Abidjan: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), concluded a 3-part capacity building programme for women – led and owned businesses and trade associations on utilizing the preferences African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The third and final workshop, held from 20 to 22 April in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, targeted traders, producers and trade officials from French and Portuguese-speaking member states in the ECOWAS region.
Additionally, the operational tools of the AfCFTA, including the African Trade Observatory, the Non-Tariff Barriers Reporting mechanism and the Pan-African Payments and Settlements Platform were demonstrated.
A key outcome of the capacity building programme was to enhance the capacity of women exporters to take advantage of the emerging opportunities that the AfCFTA provides at both country and regional levels. Peer learning, e-learning and cross-regional dialogues with representatives of trade and business associations and governments in East, South and Central Africa, were incorporated into the programme to foster tangible connections for trade. As a result, some traders are already exploring business opportunities in other regions.
The in-depth discussions among participants also examined the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in exporting their products to other countries. Limited access to finance, poor infrastructure and excessive fees were listed as major obstacles to growing and operating their businesses. The participants identified practical and concrete next steps for governments, businesses and trade associations in order to take advantage of market opportunities within the AfCFTA framework.
High-level panellists at the opening ceremony were unanimous on the relevance of the capacity building programme, which is essential to respond to a global economy that is increasingly open, dynamic and complex.
Mr. Kaladji Fadiga, Director of Foreign Trade, representing the Minister of Trade and Industry of Cote d’Ivoire, thanked ECOWAS and UNDP for this initiative and assured that Côte d’Ivoire, which has already ratified the AfCFTA agreement, is doing its utmost to promote this important instrument through sensitization and training of various actors, particularly the private sector.
Mr. Ousseini Diallo, Executive Secretary of the Federation of West African Employers’ Associations (FOPAO), noted the importance of the workshop for women entrepreneurs who, “in the West African region, manage the majority of SMEs and work in the sector of local trade.”
For UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Carol Flore-Smereczniak, “The AfCFTA offers opportunities to radically transform the course of Africa’s development and address the challenges faced by women. This is why UNDP’s focus, as concerns the AfCFTA, is to make the agreement a catalyst for the development of women and youth, two groups that have significant potential to drive the transformation of African economies.”
The AfCFTA is an initiative that aims at the liberalization of trade in goods and services, removal of non-tariff barriers, and coverage of Investment, Competition Policy, Intellectual Property Rights and E-commerce between AU State Parties. Its implementation requires that national governments and business owners are able to fulfill trade requirements to adequately prepare and position their countries to take advantage of the AfCFTA.
The three workshops were organized in partnership with the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the International Trade Centre, Afrexim Bank and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
For media inquiries, please contact:
Follow us on Twitter: @UNDPAfrica | @ecowas_cedeao


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At the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, communications director Bailey Parker says a certain complaint is spinning like a broken record. It goes like this.
“Hey, I didn’t buy the vehicle, but just decided to contact you to let you know the price was totally different when I went to see a car advertised online. When I showed up, people who actually got to the closing process were about to sign all the paperwork and all of a sudden the price was $8,000 more than they expected,” Parker said.
Parker said South Carolina has fair advertising laws that dealers must follow. Dealerships, for example, must disclose what they include in bundled closing costs. And they must register with the state if they want to charge more than the costs charged by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
“So we sent out this sort of consumer alert and memo to all of the auto dealerships in South Carolina, notifying them of these top three issues that we were seeing,” she explained.
Parker said some dealerships inflate the cost of official fees. “The DMV fee for a similar title and tax is a flat fee. But what some dealers were doing was actually inflating that and not disclosing that they had added an extra $15, $20, $25 dollars .”
Parker said some dealerships also add additional fees to advertised prices. “Consumers told us that they would see a price online, or that it would be displayed on television, in newspapers or elsewhere. And they were going to see the vehicle. And when they got there, it was thousands of dollars, thousands of dollars, more than advertised. It’s a big deal because specific laws say you can’t do that. You must put the real price of the vehicle in all advertisements, and it cannot be otherwise.”
Some dealers have manipulated the manufacturer’s suggested retail price or MSRP to make used cars look like bargains.
“MSRP is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price – what it is when new. You can’t apply that value to a used vehicle. That’s not how it works. But some dealers were saying, ‘oh, well, it’s worth it, but we’re only selling it for $16,000 versus $25,000, insinuating there was some discount or offer the consumer was getting when buying it.
Parker said complaints about car dealerships were growing across the country, fueled in part by chip shortages that have reduced inventories of salable cars.
“People need vehicles. So everyone was buying the used vehicles, and that, we think, fostered the idea of, ‘oh, well, that’s high demand so we can charge higher prices now, and we’ll put them in the closing costs, or we’ll put them in the DMV fees, whatever it is,” she added.
With rare cars, it’s a seller’s market. If you can’t wait to buy, shop prepared. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has several useful tools:
- An updated Car Dealer’s Guide is available for download
- Consumers can search and compare dealer closing costs
- To file a complaint, visit the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and click “How do I…” and choose “File a Complaint?” from the drop-down menu


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Chinese language conglomerate Tencent Holdings is becoming a member of forces with blockchain firm ShareRing to launch a brand new digital identification system to streamline worldwide journey amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because the South China Morning Submit reported Tuesday, ShareRing will mix its distributed ledger expertise with Tencent’s cloud providers to create a blockchain-based digital identification administration platform.
Particularly, ShareRing will use Tencent Cloud’s optical character recognition and facial recognition expertise to assist enhance its “self-sovereign identification app.” In its present kind, the app can be utilized to e-book flights, lodge reservations, automobile leases and a wide range of different providers.
In a joint assertion, Tencent and ShareRing stated the intention of this partnership is to assist Southeast Asian international locations “reopen their borders to tourism and get well from the financial blow” of COVID-19.
The journey and tourism trade has been ravaged by international lockdowns, with S&P International Scores forecasting a 60% to 70% drop in international air visitors this yr.
The businesses indicated that the platform has already acquired curiosity from varied authorities businesses within the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes 10 member states.
Blockchain expertise has lengthy been touted as a possible value-driver of digital recognition techniques. Blockchain is claimed to supply safer administration and storage of digital identities, which can allow seamless journey, background checks, well being report assortment and streamlined Know Your Buyer protocols.
This isn’t the primary time Tencent has been linked to blockchain product improvement. As Cointelegraph beforehand reported, the tech conglomerate previously built a wine traceability platform for China’s oldest wine producer. Tencent is also backing a blockchain consortium known as FISCO BCOS by way of its WeBank entity.
ShareRing didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.


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The SP:01 is Detroit Electric's debut car following a 70-year-long absence in the automotive realm. It is based on a revised Lotus Exige chassis with a 201-horsepowerelectric motor mounted behind the front seats. Detroit Electric claims this micro sports car will hit 100 km.h in just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. It is due to hit showrooms in August 2013 at a base MSRP of $135,000.
Upstart automakers are always a huge risk and it’s never wise to get too awful excited about one particular concept that you see from a new automaker, as the deck is stacked against it from day one. Enter in the newly revived Detroit Electric and its nearly stillborn, but really exciting Detroit Electric SP:01 .
Back in June, we let you know that the SP:01 was delayed one month, pushing its production date into September — a 1-month delay — because it couldn’t finalize the purchase agreement on a facility in Wayne County, Michigan. Well, apparently that fiasco is an ongoing one, as The Detroit News is reporting that the same issue is causing yet another delay in production of its $135k, Lotus -based sports car.
Newsflash: If you do not have a factory to build cars in, then you do not have a car. It’s as simple as that and Detroit Electric is finding this out the hard way. Additionally, according to the same reports, Detroit Electric is in "negotiations with other parties that have the potential to impact our business strategy and timing," which seems rather odd to be doing without a factory to work from, unless these may be negotiations with other facilities or a production deal with another manufacturer.
We certainly hope that this gets all sorted out and the that SP:01 is a massive success, which will ultimately expand the availability of lower-priced, sporty EVs. Stay tuned for more details.
Click past the jump to read a little about the Detroit Electric SP:01
The resurrection of Detroit Electric came as quite a surprise when it announced its intentions to reenter the market in March. What came as even more of a surprise was the quickness in which it announced its first car – the 2014 SP:01 – and the fact that it had planned to release its first model in August 2013. The latter was a little ambitious, per a report, as it appears that the release has been delayed for about a month.
According to The Detroit News, Detroit Electric has been holed up in an already-occupied facility in Plymouth Township and has been working on finalizing a deal for a Wayne County manufacturing facility. However, some Is and Ts remain undotted and uncrossed in the contract, which will push production to sometime in September instead of the originally announced August start date.
According to the report, Detroit Electric expects the new facility to be capable of putting out 2,500 units per year, but it only plans to sell 999 SP:01 units in total. So, this potential facility should be home to at least one other future model.
Click past the jump to read more about the Detroit Electric SP:01
Ever heard of the name Detroit Electric ? If you answer yes, chances are you’re a tried and true auto historian because Detroit Electric is a real automaker.
Except that it hasn’t been around since 1939.
But back then, it was considered a pioneer of sorts, producing electric cars way before they were en vogue. But for whatever circumstance, the brand went away and it wasn’t until last year when it made a return.
Now, the reborn Detroit Electric is prepared to make some new headlines, thanks to a new electric car that’s fixing to change the way we think of EVs.
The car is called the SP:01, a Lotus Exige -looking electric sports car that Detroit Electric is promoting as the world’s fastest production electric car.
Not one to mince hyperbole, the Detroit-based automaker is determined to bring new life to the brand and it’s got a car in the SP:01 that can help it achieve just that.
Find out more about the Detroit Electric SP:01 after the jump


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Spanish regulators in mobile price fix probe
What Spanish practices?
Spanish regulators have opened an investigation into the country's three largest mobile firms over allegations of price fixing.
The National Competition Commission is looking at whether Movistar, Vodafone and Orange colluded in increasing tariffs in March. The price increases were introduced after a system that rounded up call lengths to their nearest minute was banned.
By billing calls to the nearest minute instead of the nearest second, the operators raked in additional revenues of €1.21bn ($1.7bn) in 2005, according to estimates by the Spain's Consumer and Users Organisation, Reuters reports. The investigation by the National Competition Commission follows a complaint by the consumer association back in February, when the tarriff changes were introduced.
Movistar is Spain's biggest mobile operator with 22m clients. Vodafone numbers 14.6m clients, while third place Orange has 11.1m to its name. ®


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The council received a request from Property Resource Group on behalf of Isanti Holdings for a site plan and building appearance approval for a grocer and approval of a conditional use permit for a gas station, car wash, drive-thru and pharmacy.
The complex will be built in Isanti Commons, First Addition, on approximately 6.45 acres, just south of Lake State Credit Union, with Highway 65 to the west and Sixth Avenue Northeast to the east.
The building is 45,636 square feet with a 5,888-square-foot mezzanine and includes a pharmacy and coffee shop, each with a separate drive-thru. There will be several additional uses on the lot, including a gas station, with a 1,325-square-feet convenience store, a car wash and seasonal garden center. The pharmacy, drive-thru, gas station and car wash require a conditional use permit. There will also be outdoor seating for the coffee shop.
During the council meeting, the council approved the site plan, building appearance and conditional use permit for the project.
In a press release issued Oct. 26, Coborn’s Inc. announced it is bringing the grocery store coming to Isanti, with Caribou Coffee named as the coffee shop. Construction will begin in November 2015 and the store will open in early summer. The store is expected to hire around 100 employees.
“From the product selection and services to the design layout, Coborn’s is committed to delivering a remarkable shopping experience that meets the needs of the community. This new format of Coborn’s store has been designed to inspire happiness, healthy living and simplicity, one guest at a time,” said Coborn’s President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Chris Coborn. “We’re looking forward to serving the Isanti community and being an active and engaged employer in the area.”
The press release also stated Coborn’s chose to build in Isanti because the community is healthy and vibrant, with a median age of 28. By 2020, the number of households in Isanti is projected to grow by 9.6 percent, according to a January 2015 report on the East Central Regional Housing Collaborative by Maxfield Research.
St. Cloud-based Coborn’s is an employee-owned grocery retailer with around 8,000 employees and 54 stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods and Save-A-Lot banners.
Allina Health medical center
Also during the council meeting, the council approved a site plan and building appearance for Allina Health to construct a medical center on property located within Anlauf Commercial Park. The request was made by MSP Commercial on behalf of Mille Lacs Oil Co.
The building is proposed to be 17,000 square feet, with a possible 2,000-square-foot addition, bringing the total build-out to 19,000 square feet. The property is located with Highway 65 to the east, and Fifth Avenue Northeast and Cherrywood Street Northeast to its west. Alex Young, with MSP, said a signage plan still has to be submitted to city staff.
Jon Ward, northern regional district director for Allina Hospitals and Clinics, explained the medical center will house six or seven primary care physicians and offer speciality services, such as lab and X-ray. The facility will employ 30 to 35 employees.