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The rising penetration of the internet has unified the regular trading world with boundless e-commerce potential. The increasing interest of consumers in online retail stores is a result of the ease of shopping provided by these platforms.
Nowadays, smartphone users can also access various online retail stores through several apps and shop on the go, thanks to the advancement of technologies, which is leading to an immense transformation in the retail world.
According to a market study published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market research and intelligence firm, the global retail digital transformation market had reached a value of $982.8billion in 2013. Analysts at TMR expect this market to rise at an exceptional compound aggregate growth rate (CAGR) of 23.70 per cent during the period from 2014 to 2020 and reach $4,919.9billion by the end of 2020.
The snapshot of how the retail digital transformation market is progressing in the digital space showed that the market for electronics and consumer appliances dominates the global retail digital transformation market, accounting for a share of 37 per cent in the digital space occupied by the retail industry.
It also showed that extensive growth of the market for electronics and consumer appliances is imminent as the number of participants is likely to rise, attracting intense competition and resulting in product innovation as well as modernisation.
The market for grocery, food, and beverages has occupied the second largest space in the digital retail market while the Nature’s Basket, Bigbasket.com, and onlinefoodgrocery.com are some of the major participants in this market segment. “Several food chains have also been trying their hand at digital services by introducing their own online product ordering services, where one can order food and beverages online and pay through cards or net-banking. Cash-on-delivery is also often an option for payment nowadays, where the payment is made in cash at the time of delivery,” TMR noted.
According to the report, North America leads the global retail digital transformation market, accounting for a 29 per cent share while Latin America is projected to report the fastest growth among all the regional market in the coming years. The trend of rising online shopping in this region has fueled the Latin America retail digital transformation market, it added.
“The retail digital transformation market in Asia Pacific is likely to post a CAGR of 30.20 per cent between 2014 and 2020. This high growth rate is attributed to the increasing number of online portals, triggered by the rising base of Internet users in this region.
“The footwear and apparel industries have their biggest digital markets in Asia Pacific. The high discounts that online retailers offer to consumers in this region is the key reason for growth of the Asia Pacific market,” it added.
eBay, Wal-Mart, Chroma Retail, Snapdeal, Rakuten, Alibaba, Reliance Digital, Flipkart, Tesco, Otto, MercadoLibre, and Amazon are the leading online shopping portals in the global arena. These portals offer a wide range of products for shopping and are known for their on-time delivery and impressive aftersales services, which have enhanced the online shopping experience of consumers.
TMR is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Its experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyse information.


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just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
The week in drinks
The top ten stories published on just-drinks this week:
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is set to sign a "cooperation agreement" with Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council this week to help boost protection of both spirits globally and encourage "fair" competition.
Diageo's Johnnie Walker has come top of a poll assessing the leading global wine and spirits brands, for the second year running.
An industry analyst has urged wine makers to make more of digital retailing in the UK as he revealed online sales were booming.
The CEO of Australian Vintage has revealed he would prefer rival firm Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) not to be sold to a foreign company.
Suntory's acquisition of Beam Inc and Emperador's takeover of White & Mackay signal a “growing appetite” in Asia for assets that could push up prices in future bidding contests, an analyst has said.
Brown-Forman has seen its full-year net profits and sales rise, helped by an 8% sales lift for its Jack Daniel's brand.
Sunny Delight Beverages has launched a new variant to its flagship drink that it claims is an “alternative” to energy drinks.
Anheuser-Busch has confirmed it plans to test launch the Mexican lager brand Montejo in the US later this year.
Remy Cointreau has emphasised its confidence in the current fiscal year, despite a poor performance in its most recent 12 months.
Monster Beverage Corp is facing a pay-out of US$1.7m for its unauthorised use of music by hip hop group the Beastie Boys, according to reports.
- Heineken goes from strength to strength - Analysis
- Key trends for the alcohol category in 2017
- Treasury Wine Estates CEO - Interview Pt II
- Heineken 2012-2016 - results data
- Heineken FY 2016 by region - results data
- Non-alcoholic Heineken set to hit Europe - CEO
- Rum braced for falling volumes in years ahead
- Beam Suntory revamps Bowmore whisky packaging
- Bacardi lines up Canadian bottling plant closure
- Europe's drinks companies start engines on CETA
- Global Scotch insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global vodka insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global Cognac insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global gin insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global rum insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends

domain: news


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The Indian food regulator has amended the national food regulations to include a definition for carbonated fruit beverages, much to the disappointment of beverage makers, who are still reeling at...
DuPont India has launched new fruit beverage stabilisers to take advantage of the decision late last year by the food regulator to allow the use of hydrocolloids in fruit drinks.
What was once a well-kept secret has become an award-winning wine shop thanks to its labels from around the world.
Dos Pinos in Costa Rica has partnered with Tetra Pak to launch its dairy, nectars and oatmeal brands in Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton packs.
India is among the top five beer markets in Asia-Pacific in terms of volume. Four large global players—Heineken, Budweiser, SABMiller and Carlsberg—together control 86% of India’s market and account for...
The Coca-Cola Company has announced its intention to acquire Anheuser-Busch InBev's (ABI) stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) following the closing of the ABI combination with SABMiller.
Diageo Scotch whisky brand Buchanan’s has launched a new national marketing campaign named “Es Nuestro Momento,” targeting Latino consumers, who have significantly contributed to the company’s growth in the US....
The top 10 markets for 100% juice have declined over the last three years, with the exception of China, which has seen CAGR of 11% between 2012 and 2015, according to Tetra Pak.
Functional drinks sales in China have seen growth far in excess of the wider soft drinks industry over the last five years.
Berk Group, a brewer in former soviet republic Turkmenistan, has secured a loan to expand into the potato chips market.
Bosch has relocated its R&D activities to a new facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, having outgrown its previous location in various buildings across the city.
Shamrock Farms, a US family-owned dairy, is entering the cold brew coffee market with the launch of its own line of refrigerated Cold Brew Coffee and Milk.
100% juice products are capturing the imagination of consumers and driving growth, which will see expansion beyond traditional fruit base drinks to include vegetables, exotic plants and coconut, according to...
A new Mintel report shows that Chinese consumers drank an additional 545m liters of sports drinks in 2015 compared to the previous year, a 25% volume growth.
Vonpar Alimentos, a beverage distributor for Coca-Cola and Heineken, has consolidated all candy production including its Neugebauer chocolate and Mu-Mu dulce de leche brands into one factory in Southern Brazil.
Brazil has seen exports of grape juice drinks soar in Japan, but wine exports are struggling to get a foothold abroad, according to IBRAVIN Brazilian wine institute.
Chinese brewers have been courting a water producer from Australia in a bid to create tastier craft beers.
Plus: Childhood stunting costs Philippines almost 3% of GDP; and Vietnam’s first ‘fairer’ sugar auctions announced.
Tim Hortons will begin opening restaurants in England, Scotland, and Wales as part of the company’s global expansion plan. A similar deal was struck earlier this year in the Philippines. ...
Heineken has acquired a brewery in Vietnam from competitor Carlsberg in order to capitalize on growth expected in the Southeast Asian beer market.
Asian sugar production is expected to see its first deficit in over five years after a drought last year prompted by El Niño-induced pulled output down to a five-year low,...
For the first time Germany has overtaken the US as the top energy drink innovator with the highest rates of new product development (NPD) in 2015, according to Mintel.
Enova Foods is targeting the health and wellness sector by expanding its protein snack bars and launching a collagen tea.
Peanut manufacturer Santa Helena is entering new markets by launching a healthy ingredient product range and has hired former Coca-Cola marketing analyst, Danilo Leão, to broaden its snack products globally....
Asia’s demand for protein is soaring, but is the Indian market ready for protein-fortified beers and lassi?


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Local students receive ICT training as Huawei course begins
Communication Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is accompanied by the 2021 cohort of the Seeds for the Future program.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deployment and adoption of ICTs, especially those seen as technologies of the future.
The challenge with this acceleration, however, is that it requires a faster pace of skills development, Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said.
Ntshavheni was speaking at the launch of the Seeds for the Future 2021 ICT training program at the Huawei SA campus in Woodmead, Johannesburg, where she encouraged the acceleration of efforts to train local talent in digital skills.
âThe Seeds for the Future program, which has so far trained more than 90 students, must rapidly increase the number of students it trains per year.
“The hybrid education model that Huawei has adopted for this year offers an opportunity to increase the number of students who can be trained in a year.”
For Ntshavheni, Seeds for the Future is an important vehicle for bridging the digital divide.
Amid the scourge of unemployment in South Africa, especially among the country’s youth, the government has prioritized programs that will create employment opportunities and strengthen digital skills and digital capacity.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s global social responsibility initiative. In South Africa, Huawei partnered with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in 2016 to locally roll out the ICT training program.
University students with ICT-related majors – including computer science, electronic sciences, computer science, software and engineering – are selected from various higher education institutions in South Africa.
During the training, participating students learn about technologies such as 5G, cloud, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, and are also introduced to Chinese culture and language, in order to foster cross-cultural understanding. .
Between 2016 and 2019, 40 students (half of whom are women) traveled to China for the annual program, and 50% of graduates joined the ICT industry.
In 2020, due to the closure of the global pandemic, the course was conducted online and Huawei was able to increase the number of applicants to 50.
This year’s admission is comprised of 12 applicants, and Huawei has enhanced the course to provide a blended approach to online and offline learning. This year’s program will also aim to get students thinking about how to use technology to solve social and environmental issues as part of Huawei’s Tech4Good program.
âThe technologies behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) can be quite difficult to understand,â said Spawn Fan, CEO of Huawei South Africa. âBut as long as we continue to learn, it won’t be a problem. “
According to Fan, if SA is to take advantage of emerging 4IR technologies, it needs people with the skills and leadership to use them properly.
âWe want to encourage and develop a sense of social responsibility and foster innovation among our young people. We want them to think about how to use technology to solve complex global problems, like climate change, for example. “
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong added, âThe world is witnessing a new generation of digital technology, which is bringing new changes to society and industry.
âDuring COVID-19, the digital economy had become a major driver of the global economic recovery. According to the World Bank, the digital economy represents 15% of global GDP, while the Chinese digital sector represents 39% of its GDP.
He continued, âWe strongly support Huawei by showing social responsibility and engaging in win-win cooperation. China will continue to cooperate with South Africa to advance development with the digital economy at the heart. “
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, Ntshavheni said, âThe launch of Seeds for the Future is quite important as we are entering a digital economy, and it requires different skills.
âThe digital economy is not coming, it is already there. Artificial intelligence, 5G spectrum, internet of things, cloud computing and big data are already being used to deploy things.
âThe skills they acquire are not normal skills, but skills they can use to develop communities and participate in the sustainable development of our country. “


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Suit underscores longtime battle between vendors and labs over control of security testing protocols.
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ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A puppy was swiped from a local pet shop on Friday in broad daylight and the brazen crime was caught on surveillance camera. After nearly one week apart, the pup and the owner of the pet shop were reunited on Thursday.
The tiny, fluffy white Maltese was only 14 weeks old when he was stolen, weighing just 2 pounds, according to the pet shop owner. On Friday, two women were seen looking at puppies at Aquatic Dog and then one of them grabbed the puppy, put it in her jacket, zipped it up, and took off.
FOX31 spoke with Shelia VanderVeer, owner of the pet shop, and she said it happened quickly. She recalled speaking to the customers and then walking off to help a man at the counter. She said she noticed something, looked over at the puppy pen, did a quick headcount and noticed one was missing.
“I ran after them and I caught up with them just as they were getting into their car,” VanderVeer said. “I was yelling at them to stop. I was so concerned for the dog. He’s so tiny.”
She was able to get the license plate of the getaway car and gave that to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies then showed up at the home, demanded the pup back and a woman handed him over; that encounter was also captured on body camera.
Deputies took pictures with big smiles on their faces as they handed the pup back to the owner of the pet shop on Thursday.
“Oh, he was so happy to see me,” VanderVeer said. “We all commented on his little tail just wagging back and forth. I know he remembered me. He was a happy camper.”
A happy ending for the pup and VanderVeer this time, but she said this isn’t the first time this has happened. She said this is the fifth time in the last two years and she believes it has to do with the soaring prices for dogs in the pandemic.
The thief in this case is now facing a felony charge. Little Maltese, as the pet shop owner calls him, was worth $2,400.


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We live in an era when consumers starting to prefer having an ultimate experience rather than ownership of things, it makes sense for companies to shift their business model and offer subscription services as an alternative. Californian startup Canoo has just unveiled its first vehicle under the same name. The company intends to build the full EV in 2021, then offer it in a subscription-only programme which a monthly fee covers all costs including insurance, registration, maintenance, and charging.
Penned by Richard Kim, the designer behind BMW i3 and i8, theCanoo is rather boxy and streamlined, with the front and the rear are pretty similar. Inside, there are ample seats with the curved bench and jump seats behind the front seats. Part of the bench can be folded down to allow more space for cargo, and the front seats can rotate and face the back. The company mentions they are trying to equip the car with fully autonomous driving technology, including seven cameras, five radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to understand the road situations. Yet a rectangular-shaped steering wheel and pedals are still present in the cabin. Canoo is powered by a 300 hp electric motor and has a range of 250 miles thanks to the 80 kWh battery pack.


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Showing news with Smartphone. Show all news
Motorola will soon add a new Razr foldable smartphone to its lineup of foldable phones.
After a successful launch of Android 12 now Google is all set to release a new update called Android 12L.
Discover all the details regarding the upcoming Nokia T20 tablet and G50 smartphone in this article.
Discover more about the newly released Microsoft's surface duo 2 smartphone here.


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Samsung and Panasonic accused over supply chain labour abuses in Malaysia
Migrant workers making goods for the global electronics brands claim they are trapped and exploited in Malaysia. Samsung and Panasonic, two of the world’s leading electronics brands, are facing allegations that workers in their supply chains are being duped, exploited and underpaid in Malaysia.
The two companies have launched investigations into allegations of abuse made by Nepalese workers after a Guardian investigation raised multiple concerns about their treatment.
The men said they had been deceived about pay, had their passports confiscated and had been told that they must pay large fines if they wanted to return to Nepal before the end of their contract. They also claimed they were forced to work for up to 14 hours on their feet without adequate rest, and with restricted toilet breaks, in an attempt to settle recruitment fees of up to £1,000 – they said they had to pay this money to secure their jobs.
They said they felt “cheated” and trapped in their factory jobs making or assembling components for household electrical goods sold on the global market.
“My heart is aching,” said one young man who works in a factory making Samsung microwaves. “I was not given the job I was promised. I am doing very difficult work. I haven’t got the salary they said I would get.”
The Guardian spoke to 30 Nepalese migrants making products for Samsung and Panasonic. Some of those working for Samsung are employed directly by the company, but the majority are hired through a labour supply company. The workers assembling or making parts for Panasonic are employed by subcontracting companies.
Both Panasonic and Samsung forbid their suppliers from confiscating passports or charging migrant workers recruitment fees. Yet all the men interviewed by the Guardian claimed they paid up to £1,000 to recruitment agents in Nepal to secure their jobs in Malaysia. They all also claimed that their passports were confiscated on arrival in the country, illegal under Malaysian employment law.
Workers said this restricts their freedom of movement and leaves them open to detention by the authorities. Without their passports, the workers said they couldn’t freely leave their jobs and return home without paying fines equivalent to three or four months’ basic salary.
Both Samsung and Panasonic have said they are opening investigations into the conduct of their suppliers following the claims.
The use of labour supply companies and subcontractors is common practice for foreign firms making goods for export in Malaysia but is a system ripe for abuse, according to labour rights groups in the country.
Workers making Samsung products said they were threatened by supervisors at their labour supply company when they said they were unhappy with their work and wanted to return home. “They told us, ‘If you don’t work, or leave without paying, we’ll bury you in Malaysia,’” said one man.
Workers for the labour supply company used by Samsung also claimed they were deceived about the nature and conditions of their work. They said they had been forced to pay illegal fees by recruitment agents used by their labour supply company hours before they departed for their new jobs. Some said the salary they were promised in Nepal was higher than the pay they were now receiving in Malaysia.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I had known the real conditions and salary. I was manipulated,” said one man.
“[The labour supply company in Nepal] are using the name of Samsung to cheat people,” said another worker. “We have been cheated, but we don’t want others to be cheated.”
Other Nepalese workers said they paid between 90,000-115,000 rupees (£685-£875) to a labour recruitment agency in Kathmandu used by Samsung, despite a 2015 cap on recruitment fees set at 10,000 rupees (£75) by the Nepalese government in 2015.
“I paid 115,000 rupees, but the agent only gave me a receipt for 10,000 rupees. He told me that if I was stopped at the airport I should say that that is all I paid,” said one man working at Samsung’s microwave plant. “I knew the agent was cheating me, but what could I do?”
A spokesperson from Samsung said: “As a committed member of the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), we comply fully with the EICC’s Code of Conduct and have found no evidence of violations in the hiring process of migrant workers hired directly by our manufacturing facility in Malaysia. Once there is any complaint, we take swift actions to investigate.
“We are currently conducting on-site investigations of labour supply companies we work with in Malaysia and the migrant employees hired by these companies. If any violations are uncovered, we will make immediate corrective actions and moving forward we will suspend our business with companies that are found to be in violation.”
In a factory in the capital, exhausted workers making parts for Panasonic spoke of having to work week after week of 14-hour shifts to try to repay the money they gave to recruitment agents in Nepal. Some said they were still far off paying their debts 15 months after arriving in Malaysia. Others claimed they had been told by their companies they must pay the equivalent of three months’ wages if they left before the end of their contract.
“If I could find a way to go back, I’d leave right now but I am trapped by my debts,” said one Nepalese worker, who makes parts for Panasonic. “95% of workers here would do the same.”
Workers assembling Panasonic products in the southern city of Johor Bahru said that they sometimes only received 700 ringgit (£133) a month – half of what they were promised – after production slowed due to a lack of orders.


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The bill of Mexico to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges has been approved by the lower house of Congress of the country and is now awaiting the signature of President Enrique Pena Nieto to become law. The crypto operators have 12 months to comply, a local crypto exchange that is explained to news.Bitcoin.com.
The crypto bill of Mexico is approved.
Reuters reported that the bill of Mexico to regulate the fintech sector, which also includes some rules on crowdfunding and cryptocurrency firms, has been approved by the lower house of Congress of the country. In December 2017, this bill was approved by the Senate of the country. Now, it is waiting for the signature of the President Enrique Pena Nieto.
The news outlet described that the bill “seeks to promote some financial stability, as well as prevent money laundering.” The National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), the central banks, as well as the finance ministry are soon going to begin drafting “secondary laws, which are going to determine key details for bank acccounts of the companies in the sector.” They are also expected “in the coming months,” the publication noted, adding:
The law is going to give fintech companies greater regulatory certainty around some problems like crowdfunding payment methods, as well as rules surrounding cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Changes to the Mexican crypto landscape.
In one exclusive interview last week with news.Bitcoin.com, Daniel Luévano, the Director of Operations at Mexican cryptocurrency exchange ISBIT, explained what the passage of this bill means to the crypto exchanges, as well as what impact it has on the Mexican crypto ecosystem.
According to him, the law is going to require cryptocurrency operators to be approved by the Bank of Mexico as Financial Technology Institutions (ITFs).
Those ITFs which the central bank will approve can legally operate with cryptocurrencies and “all financial institutions are going to have permission to work with” ITFs, Luévano explained. He asserted: “ITFs are going to be considered just as important as banks are.”
He added that anti-money laundering (AML), as well as counter-terrorist financing (CTF) measures “are going to be a significant requirement for exchanges.”
“ITFs are also going to be constantly audited; everything has to be transparent to regulations and consumers.”
Crypto exchanges are also going to have 12 months to comply with the new law once signed by the president, Luévano clarified. As for which cryptocurrencies will be permitted by the law, he said:
The bank of Mexico is going to decide which cryptocurrencies are permitted to be listed on the exchanges.


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16 May 2013
A UK healthcare company providing software solutions for orthopaedic pre-operative planning is looking to make new business partners at Hospitalar 2013.
OrthoView, a company offering orthopaedic surgeons a digital alternative to planning with printed x-ray images is keen to establish connections with potential partners at South America’s largest healthcare fair, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
15 May 2013
A United Kingdom clinical software company is set to launch its world-leading software to the South American market at Hospitalar 2013.
10 May 2013
For many companies, expanding internationally is the key to growth.
Companies who export gain a 34% increase in productivity in their first year of exporting and are 11% more likely to survive than those operating in domestic markets alone.
Marsden Weighing Group is bringing its market-leading medical weighing scales to one of the UK’s key healthcare exhibitions.
03 May 2013
UK healthcare companies will showcase their pioneering innovations and encourage new business at the Africa Health exhibition in Johannesburg this week.
02 May 2013
Jenx Ltd, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of postural support furniture for disabled children, has expanded its management team with two new appointments.
01 May 2013
A specialist UK provider of mobility aids and evacuation equipment is set to launch its new product to the African market.
One of the leading Clinic Management Software programmes in the world is set to make its mark on Africa’s healthcare market.
25 Apr 2013
Medilink UK and the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) are proud to announce they will be assisting the UK medical technology sector within the proposed, employer-led, Science Industry Partnership (SIP). The SIP will provide employer leadership on skills.
24 Apr 2013
Sheffield Hallam University has launched its Healthcare Technology Hub at an event hosted by Pro Vice Chancellors, Roger Eccleston and Karen Bryan.
Are you a member?
Medilink (Yorkshire and Humber) Ltd. 3 Smithy Wood Drive, Smithy Wood Business Park,
Sheffield, S35 1QN


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David Crosby Slams Tesla, ‘They Have Lied To Us 4 Times’
The Byrds singer David Crosby shared his honest opinion about Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk via his official Twitter account.
In the tweet, David pointed out that he is a fan of Elon and he appreciates what he has been doing for humanity to take them to space. However, he is pretty upset about how Tesla is behaving against them.
As David said, they ordered a brand new Tesla car seven months ago, but they didn’t receive one since then. According to David, they have been lying about the car’s delivery.
The legendary frontman stated that the company lied to them four times during this period, and they are seriously thinking about canceling the order right now because of this disrespectful behavior.
Instead of waiting for months once again to get their new Tesla, David mentioned that they are considering getting a new Porsche, even though he thinks it’s not the best choice for them.
David Crosby showed his anger to Elon Musk and Tesla:
“So… I am a fan of Elon’s… I think his efforts at getting the humans out into space are exemplary.
But we ordered our Tesla 7 months ago, they have lied to us 4 times about when we would get it. Lied! We are seriously looking at canceling the order and looking at a Porsche.”
You can check out the post below.
So …I am a fan of Elon’s …I think his efforts at getting the humans out into space are exemplary
We ordered our Tesla 7 months ago
They have lied to us 4 times about when we would get it
We are seriously looking at canceling the order and looking at a Porsche
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) August 18, 2021


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FRAMINGHAM, MA– IDG Enterprise’s Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise (CITE) Conference + Expo — the first conference devoted exclusively to the intersection of consumer technologies and the enterprise — today announced the call for nominations for its inaugural CITE Awards, recognizing the most innovative mobile, social, cloud and analytics technologies and solutions. Nominations for the CITE Awards will be accepted through November 1, 2013. Finalists will be announced in December 2013 and winners will be announced onsite at the third annual CITE Conference + Expo, April 27-29, 2014 in San Francisco. Visitwww.CITEConference.com for full details, including the online award application and event updates.
“Companies’ creative use of consumer-inspired technologies to drive employee productivity and satisfaction is just exploding, and the CITE Awards are the first to unilaterally recognize those efforts and their results,” said conference chair Anne McCrory, VP of marketing and content Strategy, IDG Enterprise Events.


text: Laramie, WY – The price of textbooks for college students has gone up 40 percent over the past four years. It has prompted students to look for copies of the books from overseas via the Internet. Some have even made the decision to try to go without some books. University of Wyoming Bookstore Manager Peggy Falgien admits it's a problem. But Falgien says bookstores across the country are not to blame. Falgien is President of the National Association of College Stores. She says she and her national organization will be meeting with book publishers this fall in New York to try to bring down those costs. In the meantime, Falgien has asked faculty to make sure all they books they order are neede4d and to try to get used textbooks. She also suggests students share the more expensive textbooks.


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By Tina Wright
Jackie Merwin, who has harvested fruit with her husband Ian on Black Diamond Farm in Trumansburg since the late 1990s, has never seen anything like the weather last spring. A heat wave in March (which one national weatherman called "like science fiction") put northern fruit trees in a blooming state of mind, right before a series of frosts that ended with a brutal hard freeze the last weekend of April. Local orchards were hard hit.
Merwin explains, "Since things were in bloom [when the freeze hit], we have no cherries, no peaches, no plums, no pears or apricots, we got completely frozen out of all those things ... people keep asking for a number on the apples and I'm thinking maybe 30 percent is what we'll have of our normal crop. I think I'm going to sell all of that at the Farmers Market."
Andy Rizos, GreenStar's Produce Manager, winces at this news. Black Diamond Farm has been a major supplier of apples for GreenStar. "This is going to affect us tremendously because they [Black Diamond] can get a lot more at the Farmers Market than they can here."
Fruit Growers News reports big losses in apple orchards in Michigan as well as New York State this season. Michigan may produce only 11 percent of last year's crop, and fuzzy guesstimates on New York production anticipate less than half of last year's apple volume.
Getting a good supply of local apples will be a challenge this year. GreenStar apple growers report a wide range of harvest forecasts. Organic apple growers at Hemlock Grove Farm in West Danby expect only 20 percent of last year's crop, while folks at Grisamore Farms in Locke are optimistic that they'll harvest around 75 percent of a typical apple crop..
Rizos and the Produce Department are up to the challenge of finding good fruit for GreenStar customers. Rizos says, "We're going to stretch beyond who we've worked with before, which isn't a bad thing. We'll extend our stretch and be willing to find more conventional stuff. I think it's actually a good opportunity to make new contacts."
Higher apple prices are certainly possible. Rizos maintains, "It's very reasonable to expect higher apple prices — I think it would be unreasonable to not expect higher prices this year. You also have to support the people who are getting nailed this year. They are losing their livelihoods."
Melissa Smith is a partner at Hemlock Grove, a small one-acre orchard she runs organically with Brian Caldwell and Amy Garbincus. "We lost a lot of it," Smith says. "It's hard to say exactly how much we lost and how much is natural variation, but compared to last year we have less than 20 percent of the volume we had. It's a lot. We cancelled our CSA, as we lost all of certain varieties."
Raising apple prices is an option, but Smith says, "It's important to be able to offer food at a reasonable price. We're still going to be selling to GreenStar and we'll still have bushels to sell directly to people, just less than last year."
Littletree Orchards in Newfield reports on their website overall fruit crop losses of 70 to 80 percent on sweet and tart cherries, peaches, pears and apples: "This is the first time we have faced a season like this, with such great losses in all crops." They have cut their u-pick days to weekends only. Littletree Orchard's CSA is still going this season.
Black Diamond Farm has suspended their CSA this season, though. Merwin mourns the loss of some of the orchard's "workhorse" varieties, like Jonagold and Gold Rush, that have absolutely no apples this year.
As if the weather hasn't already been stressful enough for fruit growers, Merwin worries about drought as irrigation ponds dry up and the sun keeps shining. She suggests, "Right now, pray for rain."
New in Produce
|More Local Bounty|
Summer bounty is arriving every day! Asparagus, greens, and LOCAL STRAWBERRIES! Rejoice!
June is here — it seems like just the other day I was writing about cold, freezing snow, no local greens, and a world ruled by reptilian overlords. Well, maybe not that last part, but here we are: June, and the local bounty is back! The Good Life Farm continues to have their awesome organic asparagus (be sure to check out their new Finger Lakes Cider House out in Interlaken!). Blue Heron Farm will be wrapping up their amazing seedlings (the start of June is the time to plant tomatoes and peppers!) and this month they bring in lettuce, chard, spinach and LOCAL STRAWBERRIES! Stick and Stone will have scallions and kale, and by the end of the month, Remembrance Farm returns with their salad greens: Field Greens, Spicy Greens, Arugula, Tatsoi, Baby Kale, and Flower Power! And we still have soil and compost for all of your growing needs. Have fun and stay hydrated!


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Infinix, Slot Unveil Q1 smartphone
By Olabisi Olaleye and Josh Babatunde
With renewed vigor, latest technonology and smart innovation, Infinix Mobility in exclusive partnership with Slot Limited rolled out its first product of 2018 : Infinix S3.
The smartphone brand, the first-of-its-kind lifestyle device tagged: ‘Express yourself with 20MP’.
In a press briefing recently, Infinix Mobility introduced its lifestyle series since 2016 which led to continue to upgrade and make its lifestyle model the perfect selfie/wefie tool for customers in Nigeria with the unveiling of the 3rd generation ‘Infinix S3’.
According to the company, Infinix S3 is equipped with 20 MP (4 in 1) making it the best selfie smartphone. “It allows users to take the perfect selfie in low light. The lifestyle smartphone also features Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, Face ID for unlocking, 4G LTE, 4000MAH battery life, XOS for the best smartphone experience on Android 8.0 OS packaged in a stylish sleek metal-framed device”.
Country Manager, Infinix Mobility Nigeria, Jay Liu said, “We have made a commitment to our fans and customers in this market on our product quality, continuing to improve our products with the best smartphone technology focusing on making it affordable and accessible.
“Infinix also unveiled plans for its City fans club, which will commence this month with tours to meet Infinix fans in each city, more information on Infinix Xclub”.
The company added that the new Infinix S3 will be available from the 28th of March exclusively at ALL Slot outlets in Nigeria. Infinix and Slot would be offering a pre-order to customers who want to be among the first set of people to own the Infinix S3 in Nigeria.


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Famous Dave’s Chairman Abruptly Resigns Amid Turnover
Famous Dave’s of America announced Monday that its chairman, Dean Riesen, has resigned after more than a decade on the company’s board of directors—marking the latest in a long series of leadership changes at the Minnetonka-based barbecue chain.
The company did not specify the reason for his abrupt departure, and a successor was not immediately named.
“I would like to thank Dean for his contributions to Famous Dave’s,” said Ed Rensi, who recently became the company’s permanent CEO after a stint as interim CEO. “We have a strong management team and a new board in place dedicated to serving our customers the country’s best BBQ, supporting our franchisees’ growth and profitability, and creating value for our shareholders.”
Late last month, the company replaced its chief financial officer, Diana Purcel, who had held the position since 2003. At the same time, the company said two of its board members were resigning—Richard Monfort and Lisa Kro, who served on the board since 1996 and 2009, respectively.
Executive-level turmoil is nothing new for Famous Dave’s. Since its founding in 1994, the restaurant chain has burned through seven different CEOs, which means the average chief executive has lasted less than three years. The company’s most recent CEO turnover came when Gilbert resigned after just 16 months in the slot.
Gilbert became CEO in 2012, displacing Christopher O’Donnell—who holds the record for longest tenure, at four years and one month. While Gilbert left of his own accord, O’Donnell was relieved of his duties.
Prior to Riesen’s resignation, Twin Cities Business examined Famous Dave’s continuous top-level turnover.


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BMW AG said on Friday it had won key approval from Beijing to start building cars in mainland China from the second half of 2003, a major step in its bid to double Asian sales over the next five years, Reuters reported.
Confirming an earlier Reuters report, BMW said Beijing had approved a feasibility study on a planned deal with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings to build up to 30,000 BMW 3 and 5-series cars per year in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning.
“The joint venture represents a fundamental step forward in one of the most important automobile markets of the future,” BMW chief executive Helmut Panke said in a statement according to Reuters.
An industry source told Reuters earlier the two companies would sign the deal this month. Although the joint venture contract still needed final approval, Panke said he now saw no hindrance to starting production in the second half of 2003.
Reuters said BMW will invest 450 million euros ($US486.6 million) and hold a 50% stake in the venture, while Brilliance China, the country’s largest van maker, will hold 40.5%.
The remaining 9.5% of the company, which will have registered capital of 150 million euros, will be owned by the Liaoning provincial government, Reuters added.
Reuters said BMW has been present in China since 1994 but is on an ambitious growth path in the world’s fastest growing car market. It aims to double sales in Asia to 150,000 cars a year by 2008, with much of the growth coming from China where it has said demand is already rising fast, particularly for its high-margin 7-series executive saloon, the report added.
BMW’s Asian sales, including its diminutive Mini hatchback, rose 28 percent in 2002, with China, including Hong Kong, its second-largest market in the region after Japan.
Reuters said China-based car makers, including foreign joint ventures, sold 3.25 million vehicles in 2002, a jump of 37.1% from the previous year, according to official Chinese statistics.
China’s car industry is crowded with around 110 manufacturers, the news agency added, but only 12 have an annual capacity of more than 50,000 vehicles. Beijing has called for consolidation of the sector, mindful that some domestic players produce only a handful of vehicles a year.


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By Josh Bateman
For many multinationals, China is becoming an increasingly important market. KFC is one foreign company which recognized the potential early and has had tremendous success there. It first entered China in 1987 and today has almost 4,600 locations and enjoys a 40% market share.
However, over the last year couple of years, challenges such as the Avian flu, high levels of antibiotics in chicken, and various hygiene issues have damaged the KFC brand in China. Company results have reflected this and management is now making efforts to try and regain its prominence.
Warren Liu, author of the books KFC in China: Secret Recipe for Success and China Key Success Factors, was a member of KFC’s China executive committee from 1997-2000 when the number of KFC restaurants grew more than four fold there. Speaking to Asian Correspondent, he said the Chinese market is comprised of a mix of the individual consumer, the economics, and the political system. He stressed the importance of putting what he calls, “the three vertices – people, strategy, and strategy implementation” – into context. He said, “if companies hire the right people who understand the context, they are in a better position to succeed.”
One of the reasons why KFC was so successful during Liu’s tenure was because corporate headquarters empowered local management to make decisions. Liu said, “time, as well as timing become very important. In a fast changing, developing market such as China, how quickly companies reach and implement context-fitting decisions is very critical… Over the long term, the value of these decisions is converted into business results and competitive advantage.”
He added that management’s decisions to localize many aspects of the business, including logistics, suppliers, and marketing was a competitive advantage when he was with KFC. He said, “is corporate management supportive of doing something different from the global standard? Global standard has been adopted by many multinational corporations throughout their global operations. But in China, during the first (1978-1993) and second (1993-2002) phase of China’s economic reform, global standard often was a misfit for the local context.”
In China, it is also critical for companies to understand generational differences; what worked historically, may not be effective going forward. Talking about KFC’s decor, Jia Meng, 19, a freshman university student in Beijing, said, “red makes me nervous.” During the winter and Chinese New Year he said KFC’s traditional red color is warming as it is a sign of prosperity and happiness. However, during other times of the year, it makes him feel uncomfortable.
Jason Zhang, 24, a client service representative for an advertising firm in Beijing, compared KFC with McDonald’s: “McDonald’s is very bright and clear and makes me happy. KFC doesn’t have the clown, which is funny and makes me happy. I like McDonald’s culture and atmosphere… KFC’s decoration is just so so. It’s logo is an old man. I think the store was built by my grandfather. I think the restaurant might be out of fashion.”
KFC is attempting to address these challenges by updating its store layouts, employee uniforms, product packaging, and product offering. It also plans on enhancing its digital marketing and smart phone ordering capabilities.
Companies also need to understand that China is much more than just one homogenous market; it is comprised of many smaller, diverse markets. The tier 2, 3, 4 cities with populations in the 1-10 million range are significantly different from the larger tier 1 cities where populations exceed 10 million. Furthermore, the urban and rural areas also require different strategies.
Liu said, “today, for people who know China well, China is made up of at least half a dozen regional markets, and dozens, if not hundreds, of sub-markets, with significant differences in their geography, climate, population density, natural resources, dietary habit, linguistic tradition, social custom, even recent (post 1978) history of economic development.”
He said product demand today in the more populous eastern cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou is similar to many other global cities. However, cities in the central and especially western parts of of the country, plus many of China’s rural communities, still require localized product lineups and distribution channels.
Zhang compared the apparel industry to KFC when talking about the different markets across China as one reason for why KFC has historically been successful. He said, “many local brands in China, especially sports brands, can’t compete with famous brands like Nike and Adidas in places like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. But many local Chinese brands will have luxury stores in the counties. In [smaller cities such as] Xian, Chengdu and other developing areas, maybe where there is no Nike, local [sports apparel] companies can foster and build loyalty. And maybe KFC has a similar strategy.” He reminisced about his childhood when he saw KFC restaurants in the rural areas where McDonald’s did not have a presence.
In order for companies to implement effective branding strategies, they need to appreciate that China is comprised of many different domestic markets. They also need to understand the unique qualities of these fast-changing markets and adapt accordingly.
Josh Bateman is a journalist based in Asia.


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Good news for fish — and other aquatic species that find their way onto our plates. Yesterday, Canada Safeway announced its new Sustainable Seafood Policy, which commits the grocery store chain to an ambitious goal: by 2015, all its fresh and frozen seafood will come from sustainable and traceable sources or be in a credible improvement project. It's a huge step for one of Canada's largest food-retailers, which boasts over 200 stores across the western provinces.
Safeway developed its new policy in partnership with SeaChoice, a national program that helps Canadian businesses and consumers make sustainable seafood choices. A joint initiative between five Canadian conservation organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation, SeaChoice offers a wealth of resources that make finding sustainable seafood simple.
It's exciting to see Canada Safeway already taking steps toward its commitment. Safeway has discontinued its private label canned yellowfin tuna and has stopped selling some species that SeaChoice advises against, including orange roughy and Chilean sea bass. These fish have been overfished in many areas, and fishing methods used for the yellowfin tuna endangers sea turtles, sharks, seabirds, and other marine animals.
Over the next few years, Canada Safeway and SeaChoice will work with Safeway's suppliers, assessing and improving seafood sources. As a partner organization of SeaChoice, the Foundation will be there to help educate Safeway staff and consumers about the environmental issues associated with seafood.
Congratulations to Canada Safeway for one big step toward healthy oceans! For more information on sustainable seafood, check out our sustainable seafood program.


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ProgrammableWeb tracks the latest API news to keep you on top of the API economy
Searching: No Search Term , Filtered By Category: "Dating", Category: "Music"
Real-time music aggregator Musikki has recently releases its Music API. This API gives third-party access to “IMDB of music.”
Senzari announced the upcoming release of MovieGraph, a new platform that allows developers to add a Netflix-like recommendation experience to applications.
A Canadian software developer has used Tinder's private API to create a "Tinderbot" to automate his online dating.
Systemline is promoting an "Open API" for their home music systems to attract more manufacturers and installers.


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NEW YORK — The High Line is getting a jump on Fashion Week by organizing its very own runway show that will be free and open to the public.
The High Line Back-to-School Teen Fashion Show will be held on Aug. 29 in the Chelsea Market Passage, the somewhat enclosed area on The High Line between West 15th and 16th Streets. Members of Friends of the High Line and 13 area teenagers will curate the catwalk with production assistance and artistic direction from Harlem’s Front Row and Caravan Stylist Studio. Professional models will hit the runway wearing fall looks designed and styled by the teens and such American designers as Boy Meets Girl, Huminska, Junk Food Clothing, LaQuan Smith, TABii Just and Synderela. The underage designers will also select shoes and accessories from HSN.com and Michelle Vale for the show.
The event is part of Friends of the High Line’s Community Engagement program that aims to encourage park stewardship among New Yorkers who live and/or work near the elevated park. For the students, the runway show will cap off a two-month apprenticeship program that was organized by Friends of the High Line, with funding from the Ford Foundation. Last month and throughout this month, the aspiring fashionistas have had a lot of territory to cover including studio time with “Project Runway” Season 9’s Kim Goldson, fashion stylists from HSN.com, Pop Beauty Cosmetics make-up artists and hair stylists from Salon Grafix. They are also taking advantage of workshops with fashion designers and event planners to learn about casting the models, hair, makeup and nail design as well as photography and blogging, said Caravan Stylist Studio founder Claudine DeSola.
“The students will be involved in every aspect of the show that is happening, which is pretty exciting,” she said. “We are also using a mix of model sizes to promote the fact that we don’t want to just have models that are a size zero or two. This is about the community and it is important there is a realness to the show.”
To some degree, the High Line Back-to-School Teen Fashion Show is a response to a neighborhood survey conducted by the nonprofit in the spring and summer of 2011. Made possible with support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, that survey polled more than 800 residents in the Robert Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliott Houses, which are two New York City Housing Authority complexes close to the High Line. Adult participants indicated they would like to see job training and skill-building opportunities for local teens, and many teens said they were interested in creating public programs and activities involving fashion on the High Line.


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SEOUL — Korean laboratory animal statistics published this week by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed record-high animal use in 2018, and that one in every three animals in a Korean laboratory (38%) is subject to a chemical poisoning experiment – the most severe category of experiment, in which animals are denied pain relief. In total 3,727,163 rodents, rabbits, dogs, fish, monkeys and other animals were used in Korean experiments in 2018, an increase of 21% over the previous year.
The continued upward trend in animal use has been slammed by Humane Society International as a reflection of the ongoing failure of Korean product safety regulators and industry to use all available non-animal approaches to testing and assessment for chemicals and other products. Local demand for animal testing under the Korea Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) and Biocidal Products Act (K-BPR) are believed to be major contributors to this trend, because the government statistics show that companies used the overwhelming majority (89%) of animals, compared with national and public institutions (less than 9%).
Alarmingly, the statistics also revealed that 2,167 animals were used in 2018 for cosmetics testing in Korea despite the Cosmetics Act reform bill, which came into effect to limit animal use in 2017.
HSI Senior Policy Manager Borami Seo said, “It’s disgraceful that Korean companies are still performing cosmetic animal testing after the government has banned this practice, and that more than a million animals were made to suffer last year in the cruelest of animal tests for the sake of chemicals and other products. It’s an unacceptable betrayal to consumers, who mistakenly believe that cosmetics sold in Korea are now cruelty-free, and does little to improve consumer or environmental protection because tests on rodents, dogs and other animals are so often poor predictors of human response. It’s time for private testing facilities and public institutions to get serious about adopting existing non-animal approaches, and for Korean authorities to accept and require use of such methods when available instead of calling for new animal testing. We look forward to working with scientific communities in promoting the use of advanced technology such as in vitro bio-mimetic and computational methods, as well as investing their resources for human-relevant research, replacing animal use.”
HSI has been working closely with Korean politicians in the National Assembly to address the explosion in animal testing through legislative revisions to K-REACH and K-BPR to make it compulsory for regulatory authorities and companies to use available non-animal methods to the fullest extent possible. HSI is also working to establish legislation that will support scientific studies and research based on human-relevant methods without using animals.
○ Animal use by testing purpose
|Research area||%||Animal number|
|Translational & applied research||24.1||897,113|
|Production of genetically engineered animals||3.5||129,838|
|Research for species conservation||1.4||51,910|
|Education or training||0.5||18,851|
|Environmental protection research for human or animal health or welfare||0.0||568|
○ Use of animals by institutions under regulatory testing category
○ Use of animals under toxicity and other safety assessments category
|Regulatory toxicity and other safety assessments||%||Animal number|
|Test for human pharmaceutical related law||46.3||167,134|
|Test for animal pharmaceutical related law||5.3||19,194|
|Test for medical devices related law||18.6||67,121|
|Test for industrial chemicals related law||6.7||24,353|
|Test for plant protection product related law||4.2||15,177|
|Test for insecticide, pesticide related law||0.5||1,756|
|Test for food related law||6.1||22,114|
|Test for animal feed related law||0.0||46|
|Test for cosmetics related law||0.6||2,106|
Media contact: Borami Seo, email@example.com


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Coke and Pepsi face off for World Cup brand win
Video: “One World, One Game” Coke World Cup advert
FIFA sponsor Coke is launching what it claims is the “largest” marketing program in the history of the company to act as a testbed for future brand building initiatives such as real-time marketing and Beacons technology.
A digital “One World, One Game’ film launches today (2 April) to introduce the main phase of the push following its launch at the turn of the year. The Wieden + Kennedy Sao Paulo-created documentary focuses on how four football teams from different parts of the world overcame difficulties through their love of the sport.
It is backed by a series of short “Where Will Happiness Strike Next” films captured during Coke’s Trophy Tour. Coke is underpinning the content drive with its first global real-time marketing activity.
Joseph Tripodi, chief marketing and commercial officer at the Coca-Cola Company, says: “Through ‘The World’s Cup’ campaign, Coca-Cola wants to celebrate real people playing football, demonstrating how the game is a force for a more inclusive and connected world.”
The campaign comes amid a wave of civil unrest in Brazil as protesters rally against the government to improve key services.
Video: “Now is What you Make it” Pepsi TV advert
Non World Cup sponsor PepsiCo is looking to steal share from Coke this summer with its own football effort. The drinks maker has brought on board FC Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, who is likely to be one of the stars of the tournament, to front its 2014 #FutbolNow campaign. The campaign spans nearly 100 companies and sees it also promote brand ambassador’s Janelle Monae’s remix of David Bowie’s “Heroes”.
The cover soundtracks an advert featuring Messi alongside fellow World Cup hopefuls Robin van Persie, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Aguero and Jack Wilshere. The advert (see above) follows Icelandic rapper Stony as he travels through Rio playing the remixed tune on everyday objects such as Pepsi bottles. Fans are able to unlock original moments at various points in the advert.
The TV spot is backed by a “The Art of Football” documentary exploring Pepsi’s art collection combining street art, photography and football.
Kristin Patrick, global chief marketing officer for beverages at PepsiCo, says the campaign aims to build on its “long-history” of working with the “world’s best football talent. Previous efforts have also featured Spanish striker Fernando Torres alongside Aguero and Messi.
Patrick adds: “Our content plan to capture this spirit celebrates the creative passion of footballers with music and how both of these awesome forces inspire us to Live For Now. This year, we are giving fans a totally unique and immersive experience of their own.”
Both brands are hoping to use excitement around the World Cup to generate loyalty and sales from emerging markets. Coke’s revenue dropped 2 per cent for the year to 31 December, while PepsiCo saw beverage sales tumble across established markets such as the Americas and Europe.


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Nelson-based Proper Crisps has established a crisp manufacturing plant in Yarra Valley, near Melbourne to manufacture its crisps using Australian potatoes specifically for the Australian market.
Proper Crisps has been selling its New Zealand made crisps in Australia since 2019.
“Demand for Proper Crisps saw its Australian sales double in 2021 with the Australian market currently providing 20 per cent of Proper Crisps business.”
Proper Crisps are now stocked in 1500 stores across VIC, NSW, QLD and WA, with the business aiming for similar growth in the Australian market this year as it experienced in 2021.
The decision to work with Australian potato growers to produce a tailor-made range for the Australian market acknowledges the difference between Australian and New Zealand consumers, says Proper Crisps General Manager Andy Leonard.
“We believe we make the best crisps in New Zealand and our goal is to also make the best crisps in Australia,” Mr Leonard said. “Like New Zealanders, Aussies want to know they are supporting local farmers who are working hard to provide great food products for us all. The plant in Yarra Valley gives us the opportunity to work with Australian crisp lovers to make the best crisps for them.”
“We wanted to apply the same commitment we have to working with local suppliers and local produce in New Zealand in the Australian context.”
Proper Crisps worked with an agronomist and local farmers in Australia trialling potato varieties as the iconic Agria potato it uses in New Zealand is not commonly grown in Australia. Trials were scaled up and cooks managed from New Zealand, with crisps airfreighted back for taste testing in New Zealand before being released for sale in Australia. Austrlian-based staff were trained to oversee the entire crisp manufacturing process by hand, just as it is done in Nelson.
“The people who make our crisps in New Zealand and now in Australia are chefs of real food not button pushers,” Mr Leonard said. “They work hard to capture the perfect thickness, cook, crispness factor and Proper flavours.
“The link between the Australian and New Zealand teams will remain strong as our owners and members of our New Zealand leadership team are spending time in Australia running production and supporting the Australian team this year. We will also be bringing lead staff in Australia to Nelson to reinforce our shared culture of doing things the Proper way.
Proper Crisps has been a fast-growing snack brand in New Zealand for 15 years. Its success has been based on building long-term partnerships with local suppliers and a commitment to quality.
“Being a family owned and managed business, with Ned & Mina at the helm is also something that sets us apart,” Mr Leonard said. “The owner’s son Eddie has been overseeing production for the Yarra Valley operation and is currently in Australia.”
The establishment of the Yarra Valley manufacturing operation is a courageous move, particularly in the current context of huge economic disruption due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, Mr Leonard says that in many ways, Covid-19 gave them the push they needed to secure the future of their Australian business.
“Covid-related supply chain disruptions coupled with increased demand for our product in Australia gave us the impetus we needed to take this next step.
“We hope that we inspire other business owners to be just bold,” Mr Leonard said. “Being brave in the face of adversity will be the key to recovery for us all. We believe that consumers will support brands who are willing to take the initiative at a time like this.”
Nelson will remain the heaquarters for Proper Crisps. Products made in Yarra will include Marlborough Sea Salt, Cider Vinegar, Smoked Paprika, Rosemary and Thyme, Onion and Chive, Free Range Sage & Onion and Barbeque Rub. The Home compostable, Vege and Tortilla ranges will continue to be manufactured in New Zealand for now.
“We are all very excited by this next step in the Proper Crisps journey,” Mr Leonard said. “We couldn’t do it without the amazing support of everyone who enjoys our crisps in New Zealand. It’s time now for us to establish our roots in Australia and share the Proper magic with our friends across the Tasman.”


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Search Tags: verizon
Email users with a verizon.net address may have had some trouble Monday.
Tags: Harry Mitchell
If the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S III have caught your eye, but your wireless contract has you tied down, PCMag has some advice.
Verizon is gradually restoring phone and Internet service to northern Virginia customers after road work damaged communication cables serving the area.
Verizon is acknowledging widespread failures in its 911 emergency backup systems during a June storm that hit the Washington region.
Verizon Wireless has built a 150-foot cellphone tower disguised as a pine tree.
Onstar is set to demonstrate in-car video chats and live video streaming in a Chevy Volt.
Verizon has been hit by a massive data outage, affecting smart-phone users across the country.
Hi: 79 °F | Lo: 65 °F


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Get involved: Send pictures, video, news and views - text NEWS SHOPPER to 80360 or email us
Bromley man's breakfast roll comes with a tin lid
A BROMLEY man got more than he bargained for when he found a tin lid at the bottom of his sausage bap.
James McAlpine, 30, who works in The Bromley Barber Shop, in the High Street, in Bromley, bought a Breakfast Roll from bakery chain Greggs, in the same street near Bromley South Station, around 10.30am today (Nov 2).
Mr McAlpine, said: "I noticed when I bit into it and there was a metallic taste. The roll also had tomato soup all over it.
"Fortunately I looked in the brown bag it had come it and saw the sharp lid of this tin.
"If I’d scrunched up the bag to throw it away at the end I would have cut my hands and if a child had bitten into it, goodness knows what would have happened.
The barber said he rang Greggs Head Office "but they did not seem too concerned."
A Greggs spokesman said: "We are in touch with the customer and we're investigating the issue further."
Comments are closed on this article.


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Mobile visual search is a trending topic. Retailers are adding the features to mobile apps; creating ad campaigns, catalogs and shoppable circulars; and promoting the technology via social media and with splashy press releases.
The technology may be up and coming, but it promises more than higher sales and shopper engagement. It promises new data sets.
Mobile visual search is being used in several ways, as I outlined in this story for our sister publication FierceMobileRetail. In its simplest form, the technology lets users snap a photo, find an item, and buy it.
Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Target and Toys R Us are just a handful of the retail names now using mobile visual search in some form. Expect a flurry of announcements in the coming weeks as many more try to make Black Friday more mobile friendly with printed materials made shoppable via mobile devices.
The sales circular is still an important vehicle for promotion and visual search can add much more value. By letting shoppers snap a photo to find and buy an item, or add it a shopping list, the printed piece becomes a digital tool—and another digital footprint for shoppers to leave behind.
"Anecdotally, we've been hearing that it fits in very well with existing consumer behavior," said Jim Okamura, managing partner, Okamura Consulting. The feature assists in both site and Web searches, and using a camera to snap a photo of something to research and buy is already common shopper behavior. Visual search technology just makes that more actionable.
Mobile enhancements are priority for retailers, but where this particular feature will fall on that priority list is still unknown, Okamura noted. This holiday could be a significant test for the technology.
Processing the data and getting it to where it needs to be is the next step along the adoption curve.
"There is still a lot of blocking and tackling in optimizing for the mobile experience, the bells and whistles come after," he said. "This is not a separate workstream so much as it's part of the larger workstream."
Thus far, early adopters are just getting their feet wet, digitally speaking. Many have bigger issues to contend with—out of stocks for Target, associate scheduling at Walmart, a new CIO at Kohl's, to name a few. But if mobile visual search provides a measurable lift, expect it to land on IT's to-do list.
"This is one of those things that has the potential to trickle across the organization," Okamura said. "How does that data get back into the hands of the buyer and site merchandiser? Or back to marketing to write compelling copy? Or tag it for management to allow it to be found more easily? How will some of these new capabilities become part of an executive dashboard or even a tactical front-line dashboard for reporting.
"Something like this has the potential to really become a good indicator, and how that gets built into a team or individual KPIs could be a missing link in the cross channel influence."
Currently, just a small fraction of consumers are engaging with mobile visual search. Shoppers are interacting with the feature roughly 3,000 times a day for retailers using visual search technology by Slyce, according to Slyce President and CEO Mark Elfenbein.
"We're not trying to take over the world at this point, but if you can get that something is being used thousands of times a day, there's enough statistically there, at this point, to show there's a significant trend moving toward visual search, generally speaking," he said.
The first step is getting the technology and functionality in place, and that's already happening. This holiday will serve as something of a test. Getting the data back and to the right people will come next. -Laura


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The National Safety Council says it is highly alarmed to see that the mortality numbers for COVID-19 already have surpassed the total annual number of preventable, accidental deaths in 2018, the most recent year of final data—and it is only August. At this pace, COVID-19 likely will be the third leading cause of death in 2020, behind only heart disease and cancer.
Displaying 61-70 of 129 results for
Honeywell Aerospace, part of global commercial and consumer engineering conglomerate Honeywell, produces a large number of the impellers and blisks used in commercial aeroplanes.
Okuma America Corp., a maker of CNC machine tools, announced the debut of a virtual showroom.
What doesn’t happen in Vegas stays in our magazine. So, we bring you some highlights of the exciting advances in cutting you would have seen at FABTECH 2020 this year in Las Vegas, which has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and job shops “warm up” to the idea of laser welding, many have turned their attention to four specific technologies.
Manufacturers have begun using sensors and actuators to monitor their cutting processes and adjust parameters to optimize tool life and workpiece quality. However, traditional monitoring systems have some drawbacks.
While the manufacturing sector generates large amounts of data, relatively few companies have fully harnessed that data to improve operational efficiencies.
Improvements in manufacturing management software, robotics, additive manufacturing and thermal controls are making small batch sizes more cost effective—even for smaller shops. Manufacturing plants are able to reduce inventory, improve throughput and reduce demands on human operators.
Since 1996, the Plant 15 machining operations at Mercury Marine have included a reliance on automated machining cells. Over the years, the Fond du Lac, Wis.-based manufacturer and distributor of marine engines, parts, accessories and integrated systems has phased out some traditional manufacturing methods in favor of modern cells.
Like just about every other manufacturing operation, welding has made the leap into the 21st century with automation, agile manufacturing processes, and offline programming.


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The next President of Toyota Motor Co. Akio Toyoda gives us a little more insight into the Toyota/Subaru compact FR sports car.
In a press interview at the Tokyo Auto Salon last month, the next President of Toyota Motor Co. Akio Toyoda was asked many questions about where Toyota was heading and also one question which might be of particular interest to Japanese sports car enthusiasts, “How’s the development coming along regarding the sports car jointly developed with Subaru?” This question was answered in 3 parts:
Project Moving Ahead
Despite some reports to the contrary, the Toyota/Subaru compact FR sports car was not cancelled (even partially) and will continue to go ahead. It is seen as a vital part of Toyota’s “rejuvenation” efforts and reflects the company’s desire to develop a car that appeals to the younger generation of car enthusiasts. Having a FR sports car at the entry level end of the market is Toyota’s way of cementing its image as an rejuvenated car company and will surely dominate the segment as its competitors struggle to keep up.
Codename: “086A”, Delayed Production
Development of the body and chassis is complete and we’re told the development code for the new FR sports car is “086A”. The numerals “86” should make fans of the now legendary AE86 Sprinter Trueno/Corolla Levin happy as it’s rumored that the numbers will be carried over as the chassis designation. It was thought that the freeze put on construction of the new Subaru factory slated to produce the Toyota/Subaru sports car was the main reason for delays in production, but this is actually in no way related and the real reason for the delay. Production will be postponed for several months so that D-4S direct injection can be applied to the flat-4 boxer engine. Production will now be postponed until March 2012.
Akio Toyoda also confirmed that the price of the Toyota/Subaru compact sports car is still 2,000,000 yen and that there will be no changes to the original plan to build an affordable entry-level sports car. The car is seen to be a formidable model when it joins Toyota’s line up as it will surely push the boundaries of a market segment occupied by front wheel drive compact cars.
Words: Justin Karow
Image: Holiday Auto


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November 2, 2016 - Product News
Startup company XYpper is joining the increasingly crowded “Uber for trucking” online freight-matching field, officially launching its new app and web-based system for carriers and shippers.
Tags: Freight, Brokers, Load Board, Freight Uberization, XYpper
July 15, 2016 - Industry News
Delays of two or more hours per stop was a common problem for carriers, costing the companies time and potential business.
Tags: Shippers, Brokers, DAT Solutions, Detention Pay, Delivery Delays
July 12, 2016 - Product News
MacroPoint has announced an integration with transportation management system software provider 3PL Systems to help automate certain processes between shippers and brokers.
Tags: 3PL, Macropoint, Shippers, TMS, Brokers, Software Integration
May 5, 2016 - Product News
Aljex Software has implemented a new feature called Auto-Post for its trucking module, allowing dispatchers and asset managers to post available equipment to load boards with a single click.
Tags: Dispatch, Brokers, Load Board, Aljex Software, Truckstop.com
April 28, 2016 - Industry News
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will host what it calls an “informal roundtable” on the financial responsibility of property brokers and freight forwarders. The meeting is part of the agency’s appeal for public comment on this issue.
Tags: FMCSA, Brokers
April 4, 2016 - Industry News
LOUISVILLE, KY -- Truckstop.com is offering its customers an app designed to simplify the load payment process, giving owner-operators and small fleets a secure way to organize and control their payments.
Tags: Brokers, Truckstop.com
May 28, 2015 - Industry News
Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and co-sponsor Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) have introduced a bill that aims to create a “national hiring standard” for motor carriers without using the controversial BASIC data produced by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration’s CSA safety-compliance program.
Tags: FMCSA, CSA, TIA, Brokers
May 15, 2015 - Industry News
Dragan Simovski, the operator of Illinois-based Freedom Transportation was sentenced to 3 years in prison for his connection to an illegal double-brokering scheme.
Tags: Office of Inspector General, Crime & Fraud, Brokers
January 13, 2015 - Industry News
The latest industry survey by the consultancy group Transport Capital Partners sees a shortage of capacity and lack of qualified drivers changing the dynamics of freight, with trends in capacity and rates also contributing to a decline in broker freight.
Tags: Research, Hours of Service, Capacity, Brokers, Transport Capital Partners, 34-Hour Restart
January 5, 2015 - Industry News
The Canada-based customs broker Farrow Co. has acquired CK Logistics Inc., an established customs broker and logistics firm headquartered in San Antonio.
Tags: Canada, Cross-Border Trucking, Brokers, Logistics, Mergers & Acquisitions
December 22, 2014 - Industry News
One man pleaded guilty to charges in federal court earlier this month in connection with a double brokering scheme, according to the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Transportation Department.
December 1, 2014 - Industry News
The third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire Freightquote.com Inc. for $365 million in cash.
Tags: Intermodal, LTL, Truckload, C.H. Robinson, 3PL, Freightquote.com, Mergers & Acquisitions, Brokers
September 29, 2014 - Industry News
A federal grand jury in Kentucky had indicted three people with various trucking companies on charges they attempted to defraud customers.
Tags: Crime & Fraud, Kentucky, Brokers
September 23, 2014 - Industry News
Brokers and third-party logistics providers are feeling the labor squeeze along with the trucking industry, according to Robert Voltmann, president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.
Tags: 3PL, Brokers, Logistics, TMW Systems, Capacity
August 21, 2014 - Industry News
The fraudulent employers promise to reimburse the “shipping assistants”, but no money is ever reimbursed. When questioned, the scammers claim to be affiliated with the brokers or carriers whose identities and logos they have hijacked for that purpose.
Tags: TIA, Crime & Fraud, DAT, Brokers
July 29, 2014 - Industry News
Contract logistics provider, Exel, and its sister logistics company, DHL Supply Chain, have formed a new freight brokerage company, Exel Freight Connect.
Tags: Freight, Brokers, Exel Freight Connect
June 19, 2014 - Industry News
A group of small carriers and brokers lost their legal challenge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA safety enforcement program. In a ruling handed down Wednesday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed the suit by the Alliance for Safe, Efficient and Competitive Truck Transportation
Tags: FMCSA, CSA, Brokers, Litigation, Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
May 29, 2014 - Industry News
Several House Republicans are proposing a national standard to protect buyers of trucking services from claims that they were negligent when selecting the carrier. The bill by Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn., says that shippers and brokers would not be liable for negligence claims at the state level if they made sure that the carrier is registered at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has the required insurance and does not have an unsatisfactory safety rating.
Tags: FMCSA, Liability, TIA, Highway Bill, Congress, Legislation, Shippers, Brokers
April 16, 2014 - Industry News
A federal court has sentenced a Georgia woman after pleading guilty late last year in a double brokering scheme.
Tags: Georgia, Office of Inspector General, Crime & Fraud, Brokers
March 31, 2014 - Industry News
MATS, LOUISVILLE – There were a variety of suggestions from industry players on how to implement a new-entrant testing system Friday during the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's public listening session at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Tags: FMCSA, Regulations, OOIDA, Owner-Operators, Mid-America Trucking Show, Brokers
January 14, 2014 - Industry News
The California Air Resources Board is reminding brokers, forwarders, shippers and receivers that hire motor carriers to transport perishable goods on California highways to re-establish due diligence in their hiring practices with the start of 2014.
Tags: Drivers, CARB, California, Safety & Compliance, Reefers, Shippers, Brokers
December 26, 2013 - Industry News
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking for comments on requests to exempt brokers and some freight forwarders from the new $75,000 bond requirement.
Tags: FMCSA, Regulations, Brokers, Household Goods Movers
December 6, 2013 - Industry News
UPDATED -- Nearly 10% of the nation’s freight brokers no longer have their licenses following new federal regulations that took effect requiring a higher bonding amount, while another source says the number is even higher.
Tags: TIA, OOIDA, Freight, Brokers, AIPBA, FMCSA, ATA
December 3, 2013 - Industry News
A woman has pleaded guilty to charges in U.S. District Court in Macon, Ga., for her involvement in a double-brokering freight scam. On Nov. 20, Pauline Robinson-Kirkland, of Donalsonville, Ga., admitted to mail fraud. She was indicted in July 2012.
Tags: Freight, Brokers, Fraud
November 26, 2013 - Industry News
The Association of Independent Property Brokers & Agents lost a challenge on Tuesday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to delay enforcement of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new broker bond requirement that takes full effect on Dec. 1.
Tags: FMCSA, Brokers, AIPBA
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Gains in Tesla, Nvidia and other heavyweight technology names helped the benchmark S&P 500 index scale a record high on Tuesday, while upbeat results from UPS and GE added to optimism around the third-quarter earnings season.
Tesla Inc rose 1%, extending a record run that helped the electric-car maker surpass $1 trillion in market value on Monday after landing its biggest-ever order from rental car company Hertz.
Nvidia Corp was up 6.8% and hit an all-time high, while gains in mega-cap growth names such as Amazon.com, Apple Inc, Google-owner Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp gave a boost to the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors advanced, with consumer discretionary, information technology and financials hitting life-time highs.
United Parcel Service Inc surged 7.6% to top the S&P 500 index after the delivery firm reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue, bolstered by strong e-commerce demand.
General Electric Co rose 2.6% after the industrial conglomerate raised its full-year earnings forecast.
Shares of Hasbro Inc climbed 3.7% after the toy maker posted an upbeat third-quarter profit even as it warned of a hit to holiday sales from supply chain issues.
“Investors are prepared for the worst and are looking at the near-term positives against what lies ahead and that is helping gains at an index level,” said Arthur Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York.
“The key component of the weak outlooks are led by supply and not because of lack of demand for companies … there is confidence that corporate America will be able to navigate through a lot of the supply and inflation headwinds.” Earnings at S&P 500 companies are expected to grow 35.6% year-on-year for the third quarter, with market participants assessing how companies are navigating supply-chain bottlenecks, labor shortages and inflationary pressures.
Some stellar quarterly reports have helped drive the Dow and the S&P 500 to record highs, lifting investor sentiment in October after concerns around inflation, the Fed’s tapering and property group China Evergrande’s crisis rattled markets last month. The Nasdaq is trading about 0.5% below its Sept. 7 record high.
At 11:46 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 125.39 points, or 0.35%, at 35,866.54 to hit a record high.
The S&P 500 was up 24.64 points, or 0.54%, at 4,591.12, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 94.73 points, or 0.62%, at 15,321.44.
Facebook Inc slipped 3.2% as the social media giant’s third-quarter revenue faced the brunt of Apple’s privacy rules, while advertisers were also affected by global supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages.
Twitter Inc, which also generates revenue by selling digital ads, edged higher ahead of its results on Tuesday.
Eyes are also on quarterly updates from Alphabet Inc and Microsoft after market close, with focus on how Google’s ad revenue fares.
Meanwhile, data showed US consumer confidence unexpectedly rebounded in October as concerns about high inflation were offset by improving labor market prospects.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners for a 1.44-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 1.24-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded 60 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 119 new highs and 44 new lows.
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Earlier this year, the UK based brewery Hiver debuted a new Honey IPA to join its existing lineup of honey-infused beers. Made with raw, unpasteurized honey from independent British beekeepers, the lightly sweetened drinks are great for those who are looking for a lighter beer option.
Honey beer is actually a traditional drink in the UK, however Hiver was established out of an effort to make honey the star ingredient, rather than an addition for flavoring. The result was a series of brilliant beers made with some of the UK's best honey.
The latest addition to the Hiver lineup is the Honey IPA, which was made available in kegs and casks as of early 2017. Unlike other IPAs, the delicate honey aftertaste helps to balance the bitterness of the hops, making it a more accessible option for those who generally shy away from IPAs.


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With manufacturers intently focused on the technology element of Industry 4.0, the workforce management company Kronos believes that maximum benefit can only be achieved if equal attention is paid to the people operating it. Nick Peters reports.
Several new pieces of information have shown coal use is in decline around the world despite its recent price rise.
A world-first project in Germany is combining wind power with hydroelectric batteries for energy storage.
Senior figures from across the UK manufacturing landscape discussed the trends, technologies and influences that are transforming the future of industry during the UK’s largest event of its kind, The Manufacturer's Annual Leaders Conference 2016.
The Manufacturer and Atos recently hosted their second annual roundtable event, bringing together leaders from across industry to discuss how the UK can better embrace digital manufacturing technologies.
Yesterday was the Servitization 2016 Conference, an annual event delivered by The Manufacturer Thought Leadership Network. Below is a recap of the day's presentations, which offered real-world examples of the benefits of a service-based business model and the growth companies can derive from embracing it.
The Swedish government has proposed to change the country’s consumer cycle from one of a disposable culture of ‘buy, use, throwaway, buy’ to a more rational one of ‘buy, use and repair'.
A boat powered solely by renewable energies and hydrogen is preparing for its maiden journey in February when it will set off for its historic trip around the world.
The Manufacturer Thought Leadership Network has been relaunched after many months of continuous development. We are delighted to be sharing our new online network with members past, present and new, and are confident the network is bigger and better than its predecessor.
Tesla has received approval to acquire solar panel company SolarCity for $2.6bn, in a move which comes at a financial crossroads for a solar industry, which is facing the prospect of an oversupply of solar panels.


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About Infocomm Asia Holdings
Infocomm Asia Holdings is a publisher, operator, and distributor of online games, and console and PC games in Southeast Asia. The company operates award-winning titles including Granado Espada, Counter-Strike Online, SuperStar Live, FairyLand 2,, New PAL Online, New Gulong Online, Blacklight Retribution, XAOC Online, Bella Online, Warframe, Spirit Horizon, War of Fate, NBA 2K14 and Grand Theft Auto V.
Missing: Infocomm Asia Holdings's Product Demo & Case Studies
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Expert Collections containing Infocomm Asia Holdings
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Infocomm Asia Holdings is included in 1 Expert Collection, including Gaming.
Gaming companies are defined as those developing technologies for the PC, console, mobile, and/or AR/VR video gaming market.
Latest Infocomm Asia Holdings News
Apr 12, 2016
email@example.com April 12, 2016:   Social, e-commerce and gaming company YuuZoo Corporation Limited has issued 15 million new ordinary shares to Infocomm Asia Holdings to fund its acquisition of the latter, and iFAST Corporation has acquired 21.4 per cent of Pecuniam Pte Ltd for around $944,659. YuuZoo issues 15 million new ordinary shares to Infocomm Asia Holdings SGX-listed social, e-commerce and gaming firm YuuZoo Corporation Limited has issued 15 million new ordinary shares to Infocomm Asia Holdings (IAH) to finance its acquisition of a 30 per cent stake in the company. According to a regulatory filing, the shares are issued at a nominal price of S$0.193 per share (about $0.14). This puts the total value of all shares issued to IAH at S$2.895 million, which is higher than the $2.4 million value YuuZoo agreed to issue to the firm in January 2016, according to a report . This deal will see IAH conduct its game subsidiary’s transactions through YuuZoo’s e-commerce services, and allow YuuZoo to access markets like Vietnam and Thailand, where IAH has strong local partners like VTC and True Corporation. YuuZoo first announced its intent to fully acquire IAH in February last year, but changed its mind earlier this year to acquire 30 per cent of IAH instead. “While we initially planned to buy all of IAH, this partial acquisition gives YuuZoo the same benefits as a full acquisition would have done, but at a much lower cost to YuuZoo’s shareholders. It also includes the repayment to YuuZoo of the $6.5 million that IAH had borrowed from us,” said Thomas Zilliacus, Chairman and CEO of YuuZoo in January 2016. In an earlier statement Zilliacus also noted that the acquisition will help YuuZoo generate revenue and “provide major stickiness” through games in social networks. IAH’s primary business model revolves around operating and distributing online games in Southeast Asia. Popular titles include Counter-Strike Online, NBA 2K14, and Grant Theft Auto V. Founded nine years ago, the firm has garnered more than 37 million registered users in Southeast Asia, according to IAH. YuuZoo has also made various acquisitions, including buying ‘key assets’ of Camigo LLC , a Chinese mobile game developer with more than 26 million users and 11 games under its belt; purchasing a minority stake in RS Media & Entertainment Group , which is a facilitator for Chinese film and television co-production; and a license that will allow YuuZoo to offer lotto gaming in Nigeria. YuuZoo opened today at S$0.22. iFAST Corp to acquire 21.47 per cent stake Pecuniam Pte Ltd Singapore-listed iFAST Corporation Ltd has announced its intent to subscribe to 10.6 million new ordinary shares belonging to investment holding company Pecuniam Pte Ltd, which represents 21.47 per cent of the latter. The deal is said to amount to a cash consideration of S$1.27 million (about $944,659), according to a regulatory filing. Upon completion of the deal, Pecuniam, which owns iFAST India Investments Pte Ltd fully and 74.72 per cent of iFAST Financial India Pvt Lrd, will be listed as an associated company of iFAST Corp. Pecuniam and its subsidiaries were previously restructured out of iFAST Corp in December 2014, due to regulatory issues that stopped its Indian business from efficiently operating an investment products distribution platform, said the company. Since then, the company has procured necessary licenses required to operate out of India and believe that the subscription will allow the group to tap on India’s potential strategic role in bringing business opportunities to global investors via hubs like Singapore or Hong Kong, where it has operations in as well. iFAST Corp expects to finance the subscription of shares through proceeds from its initial public offering in end-2014. Also Read:
Infocomm Asia Holdings Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Infocomm Asia Holdings's latest funding round?
Infocomm Asia Holdings's latest funding round is Acquired.
How much did Infocomm Asia Holdings raise?
Infocomm Asia Holdings raised a total of $2.5M.
Who are the investors of Infocomm Asia Holdings?
Investors of Infocomm Asia Holdings include YuuZoo, Gobi Partners, SoftBank China Venture Capital, The9, Commerzbank - Equity Markets and Commodities Unit and 4 more.
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Burnett speeds are only 5mb/s
SOUTH Burnett residents have a median internet speed of only five megabits a second.
The data was released by data crowd sourcing organisation Streetspeed.
Founder David Wiseman said about 20 premises in the South Burnett had already tested their speeds on the service.
He said speeds of 5mb/s were not fast enough to enter the digital economy.
"It depends on your situation at home from a residential perspective, for instance a couple just accessing email could just get by with 5mb/s,” Mr Wiseman said.
"With the digital economy, literally everything is moving to digital, bills come as PDFs, there are always downloads to be done.
"If you are running a business, wanting to put video clips on your website, it's a slow old game running your business on that sort of speed.
"So is 5mb/s really enough get into the digital economy, I'd say no.”
Mr Wiseman said the majority of South Burnett responders were on an ADSL service.
"For a predominantly ADSL services that's about right in terms of speed,” he said.
"Within the sample of 20 users you can see the dilemma for some people.
"Some users are on 0.5mb/s and barely getting anything.
"A couple of reports from the fixed wireless services show they were getting somewhere around 35 to 40mb/s.
"Even within that small sample there is quite a range there.”
Mr Wiseman said that was where the whole digital divide came in.
"The divide comes from whether you access that digital economy or not,” Mr Wiseman.
"One report Streetspeed received in the South Burnett was from a commercial premise.
"They said they were trying to run a business online but their speed was somewhere around 1 or 2mb/s.
"It's very hard to run a business on that speed.”
Streetspeed is capturing data on South Burnett internet speeds for the South Burnett Regional Council and South Burnett Directions.
The council said by capturing the data, it would be able to continue to make quality submissions and lobby for better connectivity for the South Burnett.
Mr Wiseman launched Streetspeed after he saw his Brisbane internet speed drop below 1mb/s.
"This information should be out there and easily accessible,” he said.
To log your internet speed with Streetspeed visit http://bit.ly/2kvIT7u.


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Atari is burning the rubber this week with the release of Test Drive Unlimited 2 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Like the original game that was released in 2006, TDU2 is all about open-world driving and features two tropical locations for players to speed around. Luxury cars from the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin all make it into the game, as well as various sports utility vehicles and rally cars for the off-road portions of the environment. Test Drive Unlimited 2 races into stores around Australia on Thursday.
Other notable games out this week include Def Jam Rapstar for all the budding rappers out there, Square Enix's third-person shooter MindJack, and Body and Brain Connection for the Xbox 360 Kinect.
To find out the full list of games coming out this week, check out the list below:
February 10, 2010
Body and Brain Connection (360)
Lord of Arcana (PSP)
Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction (PS3, PSP, PS2, Wii)
Mindjack (PS3, 360)
Def Jam Rapstar (PS3, 360)
Test Drive Unlimited 2 (PS3, 360, PC)