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Did you know that 50 percent of the scooters being sold in China today are electric? Or that electric bicycles are fast gaining huge market shares? Or that the country's socialist government -- and its entrepreneurial companies -- are signing contracts left and right to wire the country for electric cars and buses? All that means China is fast-tracking an EV (that's electric vehicle) infrastructure, and may get there before the U.S., Europe or Japan does. Good for them!
China is also promising to export EVs to the U.S., and that could spell trouble for American startups -- and for companies like GM as they launch the Chevrolet Volt (with its range extender gas-electric drivetrain).
Chinese automaker BYD ("Build Your Dreams") is the one to watch. It is rolling out its E6 electric sedan in the U.S. in 2010, a year ahead of schedule. I met BYD's European representative, Alex Zhu, in Iceland this week and he outlined a very impressive growth schedule. Launched in 1995, BYD has already become one of the biggest lithium-ion battery makers for portable electronics. It didn't make cars at all until 2005, but its president, Wang Chuanfu, recently announced that he wants the company to be number one in China by 2015 and number one in the world by 2025. Did you get that, GM?
Investor Warren Buffett already owns 10 percent of BYD (for which he paid $230 million) but he reportedly wants to buy up to 30 percent if Wang Chuanfu will let him. "[Buffett's] MidAmerican has always intended to raise its stake in BYD because it believes BYD has good prospects in the development of renewable energy, but we are still considering [whether to sell more]," he told Reuters.
A rendering of ECOtality's proposed factory in Tianjin, China. (ECOtality graphic)
China is also fast-tracking electric infrastructure. ECOtality President Jonathan Read called me from Shanghai, where he just signed $15 million in joint venture deals to train Chinese Shenzhen Goch Investment techs to build the company's electric vehicle charging stations in China. As he pointed out, China's socialist government means that if party officials want electric vehicles, they just order them built--and that's just what happened with 200 electric buses going into 13 cities.
Now they have to figure out how to recharge them--and the cars to follow. The Chinese live vertically, which means no garages and no overnight plug-ins. So the Chinese will adapt, with fast, 10-minute charging at the workplace, in malls and at entertainment venues. Private cars are stored in big garages (often a mile or more from their owners' homes) and those are likely to get equipped with chargers, too.
"China will be formidable in batteries and vehicles," Read told me. "And BYD is a very interesting player, a huge operation with hot and cold running engineers." I believed him on both counts.
Enter your city or zip code to get your local temperature and air quality and find local green food and recycling resources near you.


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Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71 has signed a strategic cross-border partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in order to support the international growth and commercial activities of tech startups in the UAE and South Korea.
The strategic partnership is based on mutual support and collaboration, which builds on the robust trade relations established between the two countries.
“Our strategic partnership with Seoul is a significant step towards our commitment to supporting the growth of tech startups in Abu Dhabi. We aim to provide access to international opportunities across the world’s leading tech hubs. We believe our partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government will help startups enter the dynamic tech ecosystems of Abu Dhabi and Seoul where they can develop innovative products and solutions that can have a lasting impact. We are confident this collaboration will empower startups to grow and scale globally.”
Hub71 and the Seoul Metropolitan Government will focus on creating cross-border business opportunities for startups with the aim of targeted expansion in both markets.
Through the strategic collaboration, founders will receive comprehensive business setup support, assistance with navigating local regulatory environments, and access to extensive corporate and investment networks to capitalize on market opportunities within their respective ecosystems.
Mr. Kyoung Hwan Park, Director-General of Finance, Investment International Relations Bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated that this MoU marks the first step in cooperation between Seoul and Abu Dhabi.”
“Through the strategic partnership with Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s leading global tech ecosystem, we anticipate fostering active exchange to enhance the startup ecosystem within both cities. To that end, Seoul will spare no effort in assisting, promoting collaboration by introducing each other’s ecosystem, supporting the market entry as well as jointly organizing events which foster innovation and entrepreneurial activities in Seoul and Abu Dhabi,” Mr. Hwan Park added.

domain: news


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Undoubtedly, the news of the week have been Facebook’s Instant Articles which allow faster loading of articles, more interactivity and better content consumption on iOS devices. But it seems like this update has other hidden features as well.
One of them is the ability to share on other social networks – Twitter included. As VentureBeat noticed, with the new Instant Articles feature, users have the option to share their articles on Pinterest and Twitter. Before, without Instant Articles, it was certainly not possible to share Facebook content on other social networks.
If you like our stories, there is an easy way to stay updated:
This is a brave step for Facebook. In its attempt to appeal to more brands and publishers, it gave up a little bit of its power to help its partners establish a more robust social media authority.
Moreover, this move signifies another important event in the social media field: Facebook establishes its position as a content search and discovery platform, leaving behind past rivalries and putting the “content distribution” tag on the rest of the social networks.
Let’s see how this story develops – it will be interesting!
Read next: What Happens On Facebook In The Summertime?
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(CBS DETROIT) – Sam’s club is going on a hiring spree.
The big box retailer says it wants to bring on 2,000 permanent full-time workers to prepare for the holiday rush.
The positions would be in its fulfillment and distribution centers.
For more information, visit here.
© 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Of course, the final Android P release coming in Q3 2018 doesn't mean that that'll be when everyone gets the update. Hence, you have to manually flash Android P on your device. Messages that pop up can also include suggested ways to answer them from Google's Smart Reply feature.
The new multi-camera API allows users to access streams simultaneously from two or more cameras on the device. Google hasn't really detailed the consumer-facing new features of Android P just yet. If you're keen to get Google's latest operating system on your phone right now, here's what you need to know. These releases occasionally come out for supported Google devices, giving developers a heads-up on what changes to expect from a coming release.
Bitcoin plunges after SEC warns about cryptocurrency exchanges
The agency is also open to assisting trading platforms implementing new technologies to comply with federal securities laws. The SEC has said many tokens issued through initial coin offerings are securities, and has recently issued more than.
Additionally, there are major advancements to power saving, privacy (apps that are idle won't have default access to the microphone, camera or other sensors), more media support for images, music and videos and better backup encryption. Google said it's expanded and improved this API, adding support for nine new ops.
The company will share more details about Android P at Google I/O in May.
While the technology is still in its infancy, the expectation is that we'll soon be able to "Shazam" the world around us using our smartphone's camera.
Serena Williams partakes in dance off, has new message for fans
Will she do well given the amount of time away from the courts? Williams returns to the singles pro circuit with a clean slate. The week began with the 23-time Grand Slam champion getting in on the act at an Oscars ceremony dominated by strong females.
Google released the latest version of Android in the middle of previous year which was named as Android 8.0 Oreo. Google says app developers who want to test the Android P preview for their apps can now do so on Pixel devices. "If you have critical, immersive content, you can also use new APIs to check the cutout shape and request full-screen layout around it", Google explained on its website. So far we're calling it Android P, but it'll likely arrive as Android 9.0 P-named dessert in August or September.
Indoor positioning using WiFi RTT (Round-Trip-Time) - devices with the hardware support can now measure the distance to nearby WiFi Access Points (APs) for indoor positioning.
Don't forget to change clocks, check smoke alarms on Sunday
ReadyWisconsin said daylight saving time is a good time to create an emergency kit or replace items in an existing kit. If you don't have a smoke detector, you may qualify for the department's Smoke Detector Program.


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Kim Kardashian Goes Blonde at Kanye West's Yeezy Show!
Kim Kardashian shows off some cleavage and a new blonde hairdo while posing with her husband Kanye West at his Yeezy Season 3 fashion show held on Thursday (February 11) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Nearly all of the 35-year-old reality star’s family members were in attendance at the event.
Kanye reportedly designed all of the ladies’ outfits for the show!
“Can we just talk about the fact that my husband had a sold out fashion show/listening party at Madison Square Garden?!?!?!?! #ProudWifeTweet,” Kim tweeted after the event.
10+ pictures inside of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at the fashion show…


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A grocery delivery service rolls its carts into Las Vegas on Thursday.
Instacart lets shoppers use their website or app to order what they want, and then have those items delivered right to their doorstep — in as little as one hour for $5.99. Las Vegas will be part of the company’s entree into their 50th market, as they are launching not only in Las Vegas on Thursday but also in Detroit; Columbus, Ohio, and three cities in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
“To take two hours a week to go grocery shopping — on average people shop about 54 hours a year —we can give that back to them,” said David Holyoak, Instacart operations manager.
Instacart just hired more than 100 contractors in Las Vegas to complete customer orders from Albertsons, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Smart and Final and Petco. Natural Grocers is also available in some ZIP codes.
“We have the advantage of being one of the first movers here, which is great,” Holyoak said. “Here in Las Vegas you have everybody just in the Valley. So the geographic area isn’t that big, and there’s a lot of people here.”
Instacart is slated to cover about 600,000 households at launch, he said.
Brian Gordon, a principal at Las Vegas-based research and consulting firm Applied Analysis, said a service like Instacart will be a first for Southern Nevada.
“A number of grocers have tested the waters in terms of delivery services themselves, but we haven’t seen a massive rollout by an independent third-party delivery service here in the Las Vegas market.”
Gordon said the city likely has the demographics to support the service’s customer base.
“Certainly Southern Nevada has an expanding base of younger consumers, at the same time the senior demographic continues to expand. Both demographics are well-suited to services of this nature,” Gordon said.
A startup story
Instacart was founded in San Francisco in 2012, and plans to be in 80 U.S. cities by the end of the year. A recently closed funding round gave the company a $400 million boost.
“The goal is to cover the vast majority of the United States,” Holyoak said, adding that he is confident that the business model for the service is sustainable.
Instacart has three main streams of revenue: A delivery or membership fee, revenue from marketing and revenue from grocery sales.
“The retailers pay us a percentage of each basket because we aren’t cannibalizing their sales, we’re bringing them incremental sales,” he said, which are sales from customers who wouldn’t have shopped at a certain store if it wasn’t for the app.
“For example, location. There are some stores that people say, ‘Oh, I love that store, but it’s too far for me to go.’ Well, now Instacart can deliver it to their home,” he said.
Instacart also offers a “robust coupon section,” which Holyoak said a “savvy shopper” can use to recoup the delivery fee.
A meaty market
Data suggests Instacart is positioned to be a very profitable market disruptor. The U.S. grocery market totaled about $670 billion last year, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
The share of online grocery spending could reach 20 percent by 2025, representing $100 billion in annual consumer sales, according to the institute.
Currently, around 5 percent of U.S. shoppers use online-only retailers to shop for groceries fairly regularly, while an additional 15 percent of shoppers occasionally use online-only retailers for groceries, according to a 2016 institute study.
Albertsons and Whole Foods did not return a request for comment.
Contact Nicole Raz at firstname.lastname@example.org or 702-380-4512. Follow @JournalistNikki on Twitter.
Grocery delivery services already in Las Vegas include:
— Anything U Want Errand & Delivery Service
Alice Goldstein, company owner, said, “We deliver all kinds of things, like any restaurant of your choice, any fast food spot, courier services of all kinds, cosmetics, pet food, even adult store items. But I’d say groceries probably account for about 20 percent of the calls, which off the top of my head is probably around 1,500 or so customer’s in a year”
An Envoy spokesman declined to disclose how many households the company serves in Las Vegas but did say, “We now serve thousands of families across 22 cities in eight states, helping them balance career, kids, and caring for elder loved ones with family concierge services like grocery and meals, rides to the doctor, in-home help, and more.”


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No clean getaway for prolific Peterborough thief who stole £500 of laundry goods
A prolific Peterborough thief who stole more than £500 of laundry products and more than £600 of meat during a three month crime spree has been jailed.
Mark Smith (38) of no fixed abode targeted a number of Peterborough stores between March 22 and June 22 this year.
He stole a total of £640 worth of meat products from The Food Warehouse over five separate days over the three months.
He also targeted QD Stores, B&M Stores and a SPAR, stealing a total of £514.26 worth of laundry items over six separate days.
He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last month, where he was jailed for 24 weeks - and ordered to pay a total of £1,154.26 of compensation to the shops he had stolen from.
He had admitted 11 counts of shoplifting, and the court had been told the offence was aggravated by Smith’s previous record of offending.


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Sunday, January 22, 2012
THE FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN: PREACHER'S FURY
Congratulations to J.A. Johnstone, who recently posted on Facebook that this book has made its way onto the New York Times Bestseller List in the last week. Good to see that the Western Novel has made a BIG comeback!


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Sega have announced the official game for the London Olympic Event.
London 2012– The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will allow gamers to create their own moments of sporting history and fame by experiencing the thrill and adrenaline rush of the events and disciplines that will be a part of the London 2012 Olympic Games. With over 30 events in which to claim gold, players will enjoy more gameplay variety than ever before, even taking the race for medals online by competing for personal and national glory with online leaderboards.
“The London 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for many people” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “The official video game will give people all over the world the chance to participate in the greatest sporting event on earth from their homes, even if they are thousands of miles away!”
“London 2012 looks set to be our best ever release in the Olympic Games simulation franchise in terms of both sales and number and quality of events” commented Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman and CEO of ISM. “We are delighted to be working once again with SEGA to ensure we will achieve this historic milestone.”
The game is due on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Source: Press Release.


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Cost of EVs to Match Internal Combustion Engine Cars by 2022
What's more, the accounting firm predicts that another 21 million electric cars will be on the road globally over the next decade due to growing market demand for clean transportation, government subsidies, as well as bans on fossil fuel cars.
All-electric cars (versus plug-in hybrids, for instance) will account for 70 percent of total electric vehicle market by 2030, the analysis says.
Cheaper prices is another factor that could boost consumer demand. Cost is often cited as a major barrier to mass adoption, but the report says that ownership cost of battery electric vehicles will match gasoline and diesel cars in the United Kingdom by 2021 and globally by 2022.
That's Deloitte's most hopeful prediction. Under less ideal conditions, it could take until 2024 for the cost to own a battery electric vehicle to be on par with traditional internal combustion engine cars, the company notes.
Other reports have also suggested that electric car sales will accelerate rapidly, which is positive news for the environment and public health. These cars help reduce tailpipe emissions that contributes to harmful air pollution and climate change.
However, Deloitte forecasts a global glut of 14 million vehicles as manufacturers' investment in capacity outpaces consumer demand by 2030.
"This gearing up of EV production is driving a wide 'expectation gap' and manufacturers, both incumbent and new entrants alike, will need to adapt towards this new competitive landscape," Michael Woodward, UK automotive partner at Deloitte, said in a press release.
"Those that can successfully build trust in their brand, ensure a positive customer experience from initial sale through to aftercare, and reflect consumer shifts towards the sharing economy in future business models will successfully navigate this," Woodward continued. "Equally, continual investment in engineering talent and the formation of partnerships with bespoke battery producers and third-party mechanic networks will also be important."
Many of the world's biggest automakers are shifting away from traditional internal combustion engines to charging.
On Tuesday, Toyota announced new efforts to move its electric lineup by pairing up with Panasonic, the world's largest manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells. Panasonic also supplies batteries for Tesla's electric cars.
As electrified cars’ hunger for power increases, Toyota and Panasonic confirm plans to open a joint venture next ye… https://t.co/2fHUWQlhyI— Autocar (@Autocar)1548171263.0
- Will Koch Pull the Plug on Electric Cars? - EcoWatch ›
- Buses Are the Electric Vehicle Everyone Should Be Talking About ... ›
- EVs 101: Your Guide to Electric Vehicles - EcoWatch ›
By Julia Conley
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. late Sunday struck down the Trump administration's proposed changes to the SNAP benefits program, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of people from losing badly needed federal food assistance.

A judge has ruled in our favor and blocked the Trump administration’s unlawful changes to SNAP. This decision is… https://t.co/5zeTafxMLm
 — NY AG James (@NY AG James)1603111595.0

There's a lot of competition for Vilest Policy Ever, but slashing food stamps during a pandemic that's causing mass… https://t.co/EYvb0C8Q3m
 — Tamar Haspel (@Tamar Haspel)1603112546.0

Trump: yes to Space Force, no to Food Stamps. Another equation that might be remembered in a few weeks. https://t.co/9IEDBaMy2o
 — Matt Taibbi (@Matt Taibbi)1603110862.0

"Trump: yes to Space Force, no to Food Stamps," Taibbi tweeted.

- Trump Wants to Replace Food Stamps With Food Packages ... ›
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- Trump USDA Resumes Effort to Cut Food Stamp Benefits - EcoWatch ›
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Andrea Germanos
A group of Indigenous women and their allies on Monday urged the heads of major global financial institutions to stop propping up the tar sands industry and sever all ties with the sector's "climate-wrecking pipelines, as well as the massively destructive extraction projects that feed them."
- Global Banks, Led by JPMorgan Chase, Invested $1.9 Trillion in ... ›
- Keystone XL Pipeline Construction to Forge Ahead During ... ›
Poor eating habits, lack of exercise, genetics, and a bunch of other things are known to be behind excessive weight gain. But, did you know that how much sleep you get each night can also determine how much weight you gain or lose?
In January of 2019, a concerned citizen in Marion County, Florida noticed something strange: Someone was trapping flying squirrels.
The process of preparing and mixing a baby bottle formula seems innocuous, but new research finds this common occurrence is actually releasing millions of microplastic particles from the bottle's lining, Wired reported.
- Microplastics Found in Human Organs for First Time - EcoWatch ›
- Microplastics Are Raining Down on Cities - EcoWatch ›
- People Eat 50,000+ Microplastics Every Year, New Study Finds ... ›


text: Keek is a free online social video networking service that allows its users to upload video status updates called “Keeks” with a net worth of $20 Million which the company should be valued at $1 Billion plus considering that the company is undervalued. With 74 million users keek is a super popular social networking service available in IOS, Android and Windows Phone. Users can post keeks to the Keek website using a webcam or via the Keek mobile apps for iPhone, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, or Android. Users can also reply back with text or video comments, known as “keekbacks”, and share content to other major social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. There is also an embed option so users can embed their keeks into a blog or website and there is API availability as well. Keek can be described as the “Twitter for video” or even the “Instagram for video” and a “micro version of YouTube“. More than 20% of Keeks users are active and should be valued at anywhere between $25 – $50 a user. Other than what they are priced out at on the stock exchange, Keek is super undervalued for what they are valued at and their market value should be worth more than what looks to be unrealistic and ridiculous. Keek has developed a separate app called Keek for Messenger as part of the launch which was announced at F8, Facebook’s global developer conference held in San Francisco. Keek Inc. was among the first 40 apps to launch in the new platform announced by chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. It is only a matter of time that Mark Zuckerberg jumps on the idea to make an acquisition buyout on Keek for Billions. Keek has also made many partnerships including a partnership with personas, the world’s first free Entertainment Social network. Personas has innovated proprietary technology that offers members free content without disruptive pre roll ads. Personas is the world’s first purpose built “Social Commerce Network” with a proprietary platform that provides game changing interactive experiences to all its members. Keeks Board of Directors approved a non-brokered private placement of units to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,150,000. Encouraging the partnership will lead Keek to increase their revenue stream and increase user net worth.


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Apple cuts valuation on Beats Apple's biggest deal in its history became a lttle bit cheaper.
The tech titan is expected to announce its acquiring Beats Electronics this week at the slightly reduced price of $3 billion, The Post has established. That seems to be the case, But talks between Apple CEO Tim Cook and private information co black friday cyber monday founded by Dr. Dre cant be found helped by a leaked report which had Beats Music with just 111,000 buyers to its buffering service in March. Spotify, That's a leader, Has 10 million paying buyers plus 30 million users who apply it free. That factor have led Apple's lawyers to value the firm on a rather lower basis. Are maintained, The business is understood to place a high value on the profitable Beats audio business, Which retails headphones costing up to $450 and speakers across the world. That business enlisted sales of $1.3 thousand withinside 2013. "Apple hadn't even begun its homework process when news of black friday online deals 2015 amount of came out, One source outside of the talks said Tuesday. Dre and fellow co program Jimmy Iovine, A music brand govt, Will pocket immeasureable dollars in the sale while at least one corporate backer, Universal wedding band, Will be kicking up to $400 million back to its Vivendi owner thanks to a smart investment made by CEO Lucian Grainge. Len Blavatnik's Access markets also led a $60 million financial commitment round a year ago. While Dre boasted in a much watched video that the sale would make him hip hop's first billionaire Forbes around he could gross up to $800 million on deals on black friday a $3.2 billion sale from his 20 to 25 percent stake a discount could easily make it hard to reach a 10 figure net worth. Dre earned $275 million in the last many years, You'll be able to Forbes. If Dre owns 25 percent of Beats and the deal reduces for $3 billion grossing the hip hop legend $750 million he could fall just short, As he previously to first pay the IRS. Owning a going service is of strategic relevancy to Apple, Its mainstay of music label revenues. The overall Cupertino, black friday store sales Calif, Company has seen digital retrievals begin to fall as patron tastes now bend toward renting over buying. Whether Apple is buying the companhy for the hardware or the streaming music business has been the main topics much debate of late.
"Apple has not got a streaming music business so it becomes much easier a nice instant get, But the hardware is the profitable business, Said one source nearby the talks. Apple's worldwide Developer seminar is slated for June 2 and sources believe both Iovine and Dre will be attending. Apple is expected to unveil its progress in developing an iPhone platform for the home inclusive of the normal process to use the phone to control light switches and security systems, Amongst occurred.
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Van de Put is currently the president and CEO of McCain Foods. He has almost 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry. During his six-year tenure as CEO of McCain Foods, he grew net sales by more than 50 per cent, generating more than 75 per cent of that growth organically.
He formerly held positions at Novartis, Groupe Danone, The Coca-Cola Company and Mars. He graduated with a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Gent in Belgium and a post-graduate in marketing and management from the University of Antwerp.
“I am very proud of what our 90,000 colleagues at Mondelez International have accomplished,” said chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld.
“Throughout my tenure as CEO, the world and our industry have undergone a period of unprecedented change. During that time, we anticipated emerging challenges, adapted accordingly and created significant value for our shareholders. The outlook is bright for this great company — one of the few that has consistently delivered on both the top and bottom lines, while making critical investments for future growth.
“The Board and I are confident that Dirk Van de Put is the right leader to take us forward. He is a seasoned global CEO, having lived and worked on three different continents, with deep experience and expertise in all critical business and commercial operations in both emerging and developed markets.”
Rosenfeld will continue as chairman of the board until March 31, 2018.
“On behalf of the entire Mondelez International Board, we want to welcome Dirk and [we] are excited to begin working with him to lead the company through its next chapter of growth,” said Mark Ketchum, lead independent director of Mondelez.
“Our thorough, multi-year succession process has identified [him] as the right leader with a distinct combination of skills and industry experience necessary to succeed as our next CEO. Our process was global in nature and thoroughly considered numerous highly talented internal and external candidates before making our final decision.
“We also want to thank [Rosenfeld] for the vision and leadership she brought to building this great company. Over the past decade, she changed the face, footprint and growth prospects of Kraft Foods and then created Mondelez, by reinvigorating the company’s iconic brands, transforming the portfolio, strengthening the company’s presence in emerging markets and aggressively improving margins.”
Pinar Hosafci, packaged food analyst at Euromonitor International, has also commented that Rosenfeld’s departure follows the aftermath of the snack company’s “failed attempt to take over Hershey and comes amid stagnant organic sales growth as consumers reach for healthier options over processed foods.”
“[It is most likely] Mondelez will follow the big flurry of other FMCG giants such as Nestle and Unilever who are undergoing a massive cost reduction period, especially in the areas of personal cuts and operational management, perhaps even R&D and advertisement, one area that Rosenfeld was completely against at,” said Hosafci.


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Despite missing earnings estimates for fourth quarter 2016, CEO Ron Armstrong confirmed PACCAR’s overall financial success, reporting "excellent" annual revenues and profitability.
Washington-based PACCAR, one of the largest manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, announced its 78th consecutive year of net income during a Tuesday conference call.
“PACCAR’s financial results reflect the company’s premium-quality products and services, increased European truck deliveries, higher truck market share and good aftermarket parts,” Armstrong said.
While the numbers are strong, they are down slightly from the previous year. The company reported $288.8 million in earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016, which is roughly 16 percent below 2015's fourth quarter earnings. Shares also decreased to 82 cents from 98 cents per share a year ago.
PACCAR said this slide reflects lower truck deliveries in North America. But, Armstrong added, he is proud of the company’s 23,000 employees, who delivered “outstanding products and services to our customers.”
According to PACCAR, the company reached fourth quarter 2016 net sales and financial service revenues of $4.07 billion compared to $4.36 billion for the same period the year before.
The trend continued for achieved revenues, PACCAR listing $17.03 billion for fourth quarter 2016. The previous year’s numbers put the company at $19.12 billion for its fourth quarter achieved revenues.
However, even with the drop, PACCAR’s latest profits and cash flow has enabled the company to invest in its core markets while expanding its presence in emerging markets.
“PACCAR is well-positioned for long-term growth with investments in new state-of-the-art DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles, durable PACCAR engines, innovative aftermarket parts and service capabilities, factory enhancements, and truck technologies that increase vehicle fuel-efficiency and reliability,” Armstrong said.
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Outlier: New Jersey Industrial Demand
September 14, 2020
There is one C&I market among the competitive regions served by ENGIE that has experienced an increase in demand. Industrial demand in New Jersey for the month of June is up 5% year-over-year. The garden state needed 27 thousand Meggawatt-Hours more this June, according to the latest EIA electric power monthly report. In general, June demand was down 7% across competitive markets with New York commercial demand leading the decline at minus 13%.


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Across the globe, an estimated 1.5 million deaths are directly caused by diabetes; at least 2.8 million people die as a result of being overweight or obese; and 17 million more die as a result of associated cardiovascular disease. The rise of these diet-related chronic diseases is closely linked to the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, and especially the proliferation of high-sugar food products. In response, governments around the globe are implementing a variety of regulation, public-awareness campaigns, and advertising restrictions aimed at reducing sugar consumption and improving diet. But with little impact.
With the need for effective action now urgent, this breakfast discussion drew senior representatives from a variety of Fortune 100 companies in the healthcare, retail and food industries, as well as senior academic and activists in the field.
- Crispin Ellison, Partner, Oliver Wyman
- Dr. Charles Alessi, Advisor, Public Health England
- The Hon. Suresh Kumar, Executive Committee/Executive Vice President External Affairs, Sanofi
- Dick Boer, CEO, Royal Ahold; Co-Chair Health and Wellness, Consumer Goods Forum
- Eva-Maria Hempe, Project Manager, Global Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum
- Sam Kass, former White House Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy
- Pieter Nota, Executive Board Member, Royal Philips
- Stephan Tanda, Board Member, Royal DSM
Crispin Ellison, Oliver Wyman partner and moderator of the event, led attendees in a lively – and thoughtful – discussion that moved beyond entrenched viewpoints to explore new approaches and collaborations. Together, the group came to consensus on three main points:
- The scope of the challenge is vast.
- Regulatory measures likely play a role.
- Prohibitory measures alone won’t suffice; more creative solutions are required.
Most interesting, at a time when the retail and food industries are coming under pressure regarding sugar and sugar restrictions, this discussion incorporated leading industry players in the conversation, and elicited their ideas about how they might harness their immense knowledge of consumer behavior and marketing to positively influence better nutrition choices.
Below, the Oliver Wyman team in Davos shares their top take-aways from this groundbreaking discussion:
Scope of the challenge:
Ellison helped to established the scope – and gravity – of this complex issue by sharing that chronic disease is now the second-biggest drag on the global economy. Eva-Maria Hempe, Project Manager of Global Health and Healthcare with the World Economic Forum, then provided some context: “We calculated that the cost of non-communicable disease over a 15-year time period, from now to 2030, is five times the financial crisis of 2008,” she said. “The question is can we afford another five global financial crises? I think everybody would agree the answer is no.”
Panelist Suresh Kumar, a member the Executive Committee at Sanofi, succinctly summed up the impact of the crisis this way: “Epidemics get headlines, and chronic diseases break the bank,” he said. Diabetes-related healthcare spending is expected to rise to $802 billion by 2030, Kumar told attendees. “This trajectory cannot be sustained. What are we waiting for?”
Regulatory measures likely play a role: Across the globe, a handful of governments have introduced regulatory measures, such as a tax on sugary drinks and food, to decrease individual sugar consumption. (At the time of this event, the possibility of a UK sugar tax was being hotly debated in the British press.) Some attendees disputed the effectiveness of such measures; however, many in the room agreed that regulatory measures are an important part of a multi-pronged strategy. Panelist Dr. Charles Alessi, an advisor to Public Health England, stated: “I don’t think a sugar tax on its own will solve an awful lot, but certainly it could have a short-term effect.”
Prohibitory measures alone won’t suffice; more creative solutions are required:
Sam Kass, former White House Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, made the point that people have a strong emotional connection with food, and so stakeholders must think beyond prohibitory measures. “I think if our strategy is to say to people they can’t have jam, we’re going to lose; we don’t stand a chance. Food is the deepest expression of who we are as a culture,” he said. Dr. Alessi agreed, stating: “The answer isn’t only uni-dimensional; this isn’t only about prohibition. The fundamental is around behavioral change, and we need a balanced approach to actually achieve that.”
“It’s so easy to tax or to do other things, but it’s not changing the world of how you behave,” concurred Dick Boer, CEO of Royal Ahold, a grocery holding company, and Co-Chair of Health and Wellness for Consumer Goods Forum, an industry association. “The real thing is behavior and understanding of our consumers. We, as retailers, see that as one of our tasks.”
The discussion then turned to an exploration of how marketing and industry’s keen sense of consumer insights could be tapped to change consumer behavior. “I think we have to open up the discussion beyond the usual players into how we can all come together to create healthier environments and ecosystems for health,” Hempe said. Kass advised health advocates imitate the marketing strategies of the food and beverage industry. “We’ve been trying to tell people, ‘Broccoli has fiber.’ [But] love and sex beats fiber every single time. We have to start taking that kind of sophisticated approach to communicating this better way of life.”
Download the report for more insights and take-aways.
Epidemics get headlines, and chronic diseases break the bank. This trajectory cannot be sustained. What are we waiting for?Crispin Ellison , Partner and Public Sector Leader, Europe
1What was the most striking point you heard from the discussion?
There was universal agreement this issue is best tackled through a collaborative approach – one that utilizes the various players’ strengths. For example, retailers understand consumer behavior; marketers understand how to influence consumer decisions. This debate must move away from health vs everyone else, and the turf wars must give way to creative collaboration.
2What about sugar taxes? All the headlines are about sugar taxes.
Regulatory measures, like taxes on sugary drinks, generate headlines because they are controversial. There is a place in this conversation for sugar taxes, but our discussion demonstrated we must think bigger. Regulatory measures are only part of the solution and we shouldn’t get too bogged down in debate over sugar taxes.
3What happens now?
We need to harness the positive contribution from the food and retail industries to develop joint campaigns with governments and public health players to deliver real change. In particular, we need to use the huge understanding of behaviours and marketing skills of industry to tackle nutritional habits.


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GM could return to Europe by offering self-driving technology or mobility services, CEO Mary Barra said. GM has been investing more in self-driving cars, electric vehicle technology and ride-sharing services.
PSA, which bought GM's European operations, now wants about half of the money back because Opel's engines are too inefficient to meet CO2 emissions reduction targets, sources told Reuters.
Opel's first business plan under its new French owners, PSA, will set out how the German automaker will reach profitability that has eluded the former GM division since 1999.
PSA completed its takeover of the Opel and Vauxhall brands from GM on Tuesday, installing a fresh leadership team.
Opel's new CEO, Michael Lohscheller, faces the tough challenge of bringing sustainable profitability to the automaker after its sale to PSA Group by General Motors is completed.
PSA CEO Carlos Tavares reassured shareholders over the acquisition of Opel from GM, saying that the purchase will vault the automaker "far ahead" of its French rival Renault.
Under GM's ownership, Opel avoided the fate of former sibling Saab, which vanished after the brand was starved of product. But the tie-up with PSA will change all that.
Closing plants and laying off workers would be the quickest and easiest way to fix Opel's problems, but PSA Group CEO Carlos Tavares wants to avoid that.
While GM management sits glued to Detroit desks and worries about finances, Ghosn, Tavares, Zetsche, Fields and Marchionne are personally involved in the international automotive marketplace.
Here's a way JLR can grow annual global volume to 1 million vehicles: Buy Vauxhall from PSA Group.
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|Articles - April 2012|
|Thursday, March 22, 2012|
Page 3 of 3
Those broom handles and rat traps may never get made, but that’s beside the point. The point is that 72-year-old Diebold Lumber isn’t just cutting wood and letting the excess fall where it may. It’s remade itself as the kind of lean, efficient manufacturer that knows every small savings and every small increase in margin is critical.
Lawson, a successful lawyer, met Patrick at Patrick’s youngest daughter’s wedding. He was the best man. Lawson later did some information technology work for Diebold, went off to law school and eventually found his way back as vice president of sales.
Patrick says Lawson has brought more of a sales focus to Diebold. “They’ve never had to sell themselves,” Lawson says. “The customers always found them by reputation.” He’s attending trade shows and keeping his ears open for any opportunity.
Another new initiative launched by Lawson and Patrick is a board of advisers made up of veteran business people from within and without the wood products industry. These are all people Lawson has connections with, and they come together regularly to brainstorm ideas and solve problems for Diebold. Patrick calls them “the gray-haired board of advisers.”
Lawson hopes all these efforts are pointing toward a big payoff. He and Patrick are working on a deal that could see a company bring its re-manufacturing work to Diebold instead of China. That would prove there is plenty of room for innovation in Oregon’s oldest industry.
Friday, January 09, 2015
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Industry groups identify top trends for 2015.
Tuesday, December 09, 2014
BY LINDA BAKER
On the eve of the Portland Ad Federation's Rosey Awards, Matt Anderson, CEO of Struck, talks about the transition from creative director to CEO, the Portland talent pool and whether data is the new black in the creative services sector.
Monday, January 26, 2015
BY AMY MILSHTEIN
Thinking about starting an internship program? Be careful. Navigating unpaid internships can be tricky.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
BY JESSICA RIDGWAY
Lawger upends the typical hourly based fee model by letting clients determine the cost.
Thursday, January 08, 2015
BY CAMBIA HEALTH SOLUTIONS & OREGON BUSINESS COUNCIL | OP-ED
Businesses have a significant stake in the health of Oregonians. In fact, we cannot succeed without it. By committing to using our companies as levers for good health, we invest in our people, our business, our quality of life and our economy.
Friday, January 23, 2015
BY KIM MOORE | OB RESEARCH EDITOR
Carbon pricing is gaining momentum in Oregon, sparking concern for energy-intensive businesses — but also opportunity to expand a homespun green economy.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
BY LINDA BAKER | OB EDITOR
A place-based multimodal transportation plan for Mt. Hood is long overdue.
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Is your business ready to join us in the call for action? This opening panel includes Oregon businesses who will discuss why they signed the Oregon Climate Declaration, the investments they are making to reduce carbon emissions, and how their actions are affecting their companies.
Get ready for two days of special events produced with the EPA, Portland Timbers and ISOS before and after the GoGreen Conference on October 16.
How sports tourism is driving economic growth and making cities across Oregon a better place to live.
Port of Morrow's business-ready attitude has a surprising global impact.
Through its support of the arts, the Cultural Trust is strengthening the business community.
If you have given a former employee access to your company’s electronic information by virtue of assigning a desktop or laptop computer and you suspect he or she of having taken electronically stored data, there are several steps to follow to preserve electronic forensic evidence from spoliation.
The official launch will be Jan. 14.
In a switch on the traditional trade show, representatives from UO departments and local and state agencies will host tables to connect with businesses and vendors. The fourth Reverse Vendor Fair will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Eugene.


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Bargain hunters in Venezuela have flocked to a chain of electronics shops after President Nicolas Maduro ordered their seizure.
Mr Maduro accused the Daka chain of overcharging and said it would now be forced to have "fair prices".
He has since announced the seizure of the JVG store in eastern Caracas, saying it was used by the wealthy elites of the city.
In a speech on Friday night, Mr Maduro promised to sell Daka's stock of plasma televisions, washing machines and other merchandise.
"We're doing this for the good of the nation. Leave nothing on the shelves, nothing in the warehouses!" he said.
The BBC reports bargain hunters were quick to join overnight queues to buy the merchandise, some of it at a quarter of the price listed earlier in the week.
The move against Daka came after weeks of government warnings against pre-Christmas price rises.
President Maduro often accuses wealthy businesses of hoarding goods in order to push up prices.
But critics of the government say economic mismanagement, rather than unscrupulous retailers, is responsible for inflation and shortages of basic goods such as milk and toilet paper. Inflation is now running at 54%.


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Pickle and yogurt brands are speaking out against new labeling rules proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s new guidelines say some brands of the fermented products cannot be marketed as healthy because pickles are too salty, while some yogurt has too much sugar.
The guidelines are being updated for the first time since the 90’s. They redefine what can be labeled as “healthy” on a food package. Healthy products have high amounts of key nutritious ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, and low amounts of added sugar, sodium and/or saturated fat. Those updated nutrient content claims would go into effect in 2026. They wouldn’t ban “unhealthy” foods, but prevent the use of “healthy” on a label.
“Pickles have a role to play in a healthy diet because they are predominantly comprised of vegetables and serve as a delicious condiment to other nutrient-dense foods,” Pickle Packers International said in a statement.
Though pickles are made from low-sodium cucumbers, they are either fermented through a brine made of water, salt and seasonings or preserved in a brine of vinegar, salt and seasonings. Without enough salt in the brine, bacteria can grow and spoil the pickles. The new guidelines put the limit for sodium from a vegetable product at 10% of the daily value per serving (230 milligrams per serving). But most pickles include 11% sodium per serving.
Yogurt, too, is under fire. The new guidelines outline that a ¾ cup of yogurt should only include 5% per serving of the daily value of sugar (2.5 grams of added sugar per serving). Chobani’s plain greek yogurt includes 5.5 grams of sugar per serving. Chobani has actively protested the FDA’s ruling, noting that “reducing sugars to the level proposed by FDA for the ‘healthy’ claim would result in significant, deleterious effects to product quality, taste, and texture.”
Other companies are protesting the FDA’s guidelines – like General Mills, Kellogg’s, SNA International, the National Pasta Association and the Consumer Brands Association. The FDA guidelines put tighter restrictions on cereal and pasta, too.
“Hardly anything would qualify, so of course food manufacturers don’t like the idea,” says Marion Nestle, emeritus professor of nutrition and public health at New York University. She told nutrition and medicine publication STAT that the FDA’s regulation “automatically excludes the vast majority of heavily processed foods in supermarkets, as well as a lot of plant-based meat, eggs, and dairy products,” from bearing the healthy claim.
The publication notes nutrition experts gave “overwhelmingly positive remarks.” The new guidelines are supported by the American Society for Nutrition, the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Some experts argued the GDA could go further in restricting the healthy label.
Read more (STAT)


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Supermarket giant Aldi is to create up to 40 jobs with the opening of a new superstore in Guisborough.
The budget retailer is to take over part of the former Focus DIY store off Hill View Road.
Work on the outlet is set to begin shortly ahead of a proposed opening in October.
An Aldi spokesman said: “The store will span over 16,900 sq ft and bring an additional 30-40 new jobs to the area.
“We look forward to bringing much-needed retail choice to the area.”
Last August, the Gazette reported on plans to transform the derelict store into a new retail centre.
The unit has stood empty since the collapse of the home improvement chain Focus in 2011.
Sheffield-based Ryedale Estates applied to Redcar and Cleveland Council for planning permission to split the former 24,000sq ft store into separate units.
The company sought to relax restrictions on the type of shops allowed on the site, which would allow a range of retailers to be brought in.
Only “bulky goods” retailers had previously been allowed to operate.
And it also proposed closing vehicle access to the customer car park from Hill View Road and create a new access from Spring Wood Road.
A report supporting the application at the time by architects Nathaniel Litchfield & Partners said redevelopment would revive the site.
It said: “In its current form, the badly-vandalised and deteriorating former Focus store fails to meet the requirements of potential operators, and does not help to attract investment in surrounding vacant land.
“Its refurbishment will therefore help to stimulate further development in the immediate surrounding area, contributing to local economic growth.”
It is not known whether any of the remaining retail space has been let.
The store is the latest expansion on Teesside by Aldi, which already has outlets in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar.
The German chain is also planning to open a new store near to the junction of The Causeway pub and Moreland Avenue in Billingham.


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By: Tim Hakki
Hilton hotel heiress Paris Hilton joined a $20 million funding round in the Swiss nonprofit project Origyn Foundation.
Participants in the latest round include legendary investor Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Table Management and crypto investment firm Polychain Capital, all of whom brought Origyn’s new valuation to $300 million.
Origyn runs on Dfinity’s Internet Computer Project and uses artificial intelligence to enable smartphone users to authenticate and tokenize both physical and digital assets.
The money raised in this investment round will fund research and development ahead of the launch of Origyn’s OGY token next year. OGY will serve as the platform’s native utility token, guaranteeing its NFT certificates and enabling holders to partake in the governance of the platform.
“NFTs are a way to innovate, empower others and push the boundaries of how artists interact with their fans,” Hilton said in a prepared statement. “The ORIGYN Foundation is leading the charge by putting power in the hands of artists, creators, creatives and collectors, which I am proud to be part of.”
Paris Hilton’s NFT love
Hilton’s forays into crypto first started last year, when she auctioned off a portrait she drew of her cat through celebrity NFT auction house Cryptograph.
The piece sold for 40 ETH, or about $17,000 at the time
Money raised from the sale went to three charities to feed and house vulnerable people: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and Backpack Bed for Homeless – a charity that makes collapsible “backpack” beds for rough sleepers.
In April this year, Hilton collaborated with designer Blake Kathryn to launch an NFT collection on Nifty Gateway called “Planet Paris.” The drop raked in over a million dollars in crypto.
This summer, Hilton announced that she had joined Origin – an Ethereum-based e-commerce platform specializing in NFTs and DeFi – as an investor and an advisor. Despite the similarities in name, Origin and Origyn Foundation are two separate entities.
And last month, the American socialite shared a curated art collection on Sotheby’s Metaverse. The collection includes work from buzzy NFT artists Maalavidaa, Serwah Attafuah, and Chelsea Evenstar.
Paris Hilton’s entry into the world of NFTs is a far cry from her blue-collar experiments in The Simple Life. It’ll be anyone’s guess what she’ll tokenize when Origyn launches. Some Conrad Hilton memorabilia, perhaps? Or maybe her chihuahua?
Original article: https://decrypt.co/86677/paris-hilton-joins-20m-investment-in-nft-platform-origyn


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Bustanica up close
In July, Bustanica opened its doors to the world’s largest hydroponic farm. The launch marked the first vertical farm for Emirates Crop One, the joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, and Crop One Holdings, Inc., an industry leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming. Since opening, Bustanica now employs a team of 80 and their leafy greens products are served onboard flights and sold in 160 retail stores across the UAE.
“This is a stepping-stone,” Bustanica Production Director Robert Fellows told PAX International onsite in November. “We’re positioned where we need to be.”
The facility currently runs 27 identical grow rooms where the products are taken from seed, through germination into a fully grown product ready for sale. The grow rooms are all “mirrored” which means that the size, shape and even technology are the same in each of them. The facility is focused on carrying through each product from pre- to post-production.
“There are a lot of positives about the product,” Fellows told PAX International during a tour of the facilities. “We have the ability to harvest in the morning and have that product in retail stores or onboard within 24 hours.”
One of the interesting stipulations about the product, beyond the speed of delivery, is that the greens are not washed — not even by the end user (be that an airline or a consumer). “The reason is the processes we have in place,” Fellows told PAX International. “We look at a plant-first principal, so the product is super clean.”
That includes all the control measures that are in place, which ensure utmost cleanness. “Everything that the plant needs, it receives at the right time,” Fellows said.
The facility also has a water treatment building where the water is pushed through a series of membranes to remove any contaminants. “The plants, through any stage of the growing process, only get purified water,” Fellows said. “Everything is controlled, to ensure the plants are getting the best.”
Touch points are also limited to two: harvest and packaging, and even then, protective equipment and sanitation remain top of mind. Bustanica is driven by powerful technology which includes machine learning and artificial intelligence. A highly specialized in-house team of agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists work together to achieve a continuous production cycle to ensure the produce is super fresh and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals.
When the company was forming four or five years ago, “The initial discussion was to do with the continuity of product and pressures on the supply chain,” Fellows told PAX International. Procured leafy greens products had continual issues at that time. This included having grit, sand or stones in the produce. Fellows further explained, “We were also looking from a food safety perspective, in terms of how produce is grown and the risks that comes along with that."
Now, the company is focused on maintaining its local roots. Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000 sqft facility is geared to produce more than 1,000,000 kilograms of high-quality leafy greens annually, while requiring 95 percent less water than conventional agriculture. At any point in time, the facility grows in excess of 1m cultivars, which will provide an output of 3,000 kgs per day.
The farm’s closed-loop system is designed to circulate water through the plants to maximize water usage and efficiency. When the water vaporizes, it is recovered and recycled into the system, saving an additional 250 million litres of water every year compared to traditional outdoor farming for the same output.
Bustanica (Arabic for orchard or garden) has a vastly reduced reliance on water and year-round harvests unhampered by weather conditions and pests. Consumers buying Bustanica’s greens from supermarkets can eat it straight from the bag — washing is unnecessary: doing so might damage the leaves and introduce contaminants.
Catering by Bustanica for Emirates will make up 10–15 percent of the Bustanica business model moving forward. The remaining percentage will be dedicated to food service, retail opportunities, Hotels, restaurants and cafés.


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Emirates Airlines said it is expecting more than 200,000 passengers to pass through Dubai International Airport during the upcoming Christmas holiday travel period.
The airlines said the news comes following its latest booking figures it has seen so far for the upcoming holiday travel period running through December 20.
The airline and travel industry has been one of the worst-hit during the coronavirus pandemic, with the World Travel and Tourism Council warning earlier in March that world travel may shrink 25 percent on coronavirus in 2020 and putting up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector at risk.
Early on in March, Dubai said it would help its state-run Emirates airline mitigate the financial blow from the coronavirus outbreak as authorities enforced a full lockdown on a district famous for gold and spice markets.
Dubai’s Emirates airline to reopen airport lounges with coronavirus safety measuresDubai-based Emirates airline on Thursday said it was reopening its airport lounges around the world, starting with the airline’s lounge in Egypt’s ... Gulf
Emirates processes 1.7 mln coronavirus refund requests, returns $1.7 bln to customersEmirates airline said on Wednesday that it has processed nearly 1.7 million refund requests, delivering on its promise to complete the refund backlog ... Gulf


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LG Electronics wants a chunk of the meaty mobile payment market that is estimated to reach $780 billion worldwide this year.
The South Korean company told CNET on Wednesday that it will roll out its new mobile payment service via its LG G6 flagship smartphones in South Korea in the third quarter. The service will be called LG Pay.
The launch of LG Pay means the company will join the ranks of phone makers Apple and Samsung in offering customers the option of going cashless. Apple and Samsung have already made their payment services available in more than 10 countries. And while Google's Android Pay is already available on LG phones, the move to use its own payment system would allow LG to control its own cashless destiny and potentially tap into the booming market.
LG's payment service will enable customers to make payments using a proprietary form of technology from Dynamics known as Wireless Magnetic Communication (WMC). When a phone is held against a credit card reader, it emits a magnetic signal that simulates the magnetic strip found on credit cards.
LG told CNET that it cannot confirm yet whether other smartphone models will be compatible with LG Pay. In addition, the company is still discussing an overseas payment service.
Correction, March 23 at 7:30 a.m.: An earlier version of this story said LG's payment service allows users to make payments using MST technology. This is incorrect. LG Pay will adopt a proprietary form of magnetic communication from Dynamics known as Wireless Magnetic Communication (WMC).
Solving for XX: The industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about "women in tech."
Crowd Control: A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.


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EA and DICE have released a new video for the much anticipated Battlefield: Bad Company 2. The latest clip shows off a freshly revealed "Panama Canal" map featuring gameplay action in the "conquest" multiplayer mode.
Click here to watch the video
or just hit play on the embed below.
Battlefield Bad Company 2 is expected on March 5 2010 for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A PC mutliplayer beta is scheduled for "early next year" and demos for all platforms have been promised prior to release.


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Official iPhone 5 Trailer
iPhone 5 by Apple The biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone. Creating an entirely new design meant inventing entirely new technology When we envisio......
In our June report comparing Sprint Nextel (S) to Nokia (NOK) we analyzed the progress of those once-great telecom titans in turning around the weak performance that both...Seeking Alpha 2012-11-05
Nokia has struggled for years to come out with a true competitor to the iPhone. Part of the problem is that the company originally thought the iPhone would be a flop. Nokia...Business Insider 2012-07-19
Nokia has released a new video via its German YouTube channel that mocks Apple’s iPhone as it comes only in two colors. The video suggests users should rather wait for its...BGR 2012-10-02
Like World News?
New Delhi: While the iPhone 5 is getting excellent reviews from bloggers and other reviewers, and fans jamming shops from Sydney to Paris to pick up the tech juggernaut's latest iPhone, Nokia is endeavouring to claim its flagship phone - Lumia 920 - better than Apple's newly launched iPhone 5, which has broken all sale records by topping two million pre-orders in the first 24...IBN Live 2012-09-23
September is shaping up to be quite the month for smartphone launches — that is, if all the reports of forthcoming devices shape up to be true. We can expect the next Galaxy Note in late August, the next iPhone Sept. 12 and now, Nokia’s latest smartphone line can be expected as early as September at Nokia World, according to Bloomberg. A “person with knowledge of the matter”...Mashable 2012-08-06
AT&T (T) announced it is offering Nokia's (NOK) flagship phone, the Lumia 920, for $99 with a two year contract. In addition, AT&T is offering the Lumia 820 for $49.99. When compared to its competitors, Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 5 costs $199 with the same two year contract and Samsung's (SSNLF) Galaxy Note II for $299. Even when you compare the price of previous iPhone models to...Seeking Alpha 2012-11-13
As the company’s phones took a beating from iPhone and Android devices, many Nokia loyalists — and India is full of them — have started doubting if the company can come back from the brink. "The N95 was the last great phone Nokia made," says Dhruv Bhutani, a technology blogger and a Nokia enthusiast, as he recalls the Finnish company's glory days. Since he fell in love with N95...The Times of India 2012-09-23
No phone can claim to be the most innovative smartphone on the planet until a new iPhone is unveiled. You can always leave it to Apple to ruin a party and for Nokia’s sake, things did not turn out to be all that bad when Apple unveiled the iPhone 5. While the iPhone 5 is better in every way than the iPhone 4S that it replaces, Nokia might just have things going its way when it...BGR 2012-09-13
As hard as it tries, Nokia is still building Windows Phones. Heck even some of the 2,200-plus comments on the Nokia YouTube parody video point this out. Many others go into Apple-defense mode. Problem is, I keep hearing about Nokia's excellent cameras -- and I'll admit it: I'm jealous. I hate not capturing cool moments or photos of the moon or action shots because I trusted my...TechNewsWorld 2013-08-08
Nokia Oyj (NOK1V)’s attempt to spearhead its comeback via the U.S. is falling short as its Lumia smartphones are failing to stop consumers from snapping up Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhones and handsets running Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android software. Nokia shares fell 5.5 percent yesterday after the Espoo, Finland-based company said it sold about 700,000 mobile devices in North America...Bloomberg 2013-01-24
The iPhone ( // EYE-fohn) is a line of smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007. The 5th generation iPhone, the iPhone 4S, was announced on October 4, 2011, and released 10 days later.
An iPhone can function as a video camera (video recording was not a standard feature until the iPhone 3GS was released), a camera phone, a portable media player, and an Internet client with email and web browsing capabilities, can send texts and receive visual voicemail, and has both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard rather than a physical one.
Third-party as well as Apple application software is available from the App Store, which launched in mid-2008 and now[when?] has over 500,000 "apps" approved by Apple. These apps have diverse functions, including games, reference, GPS navigation, social networking, security, and advertising for television shows, films, and celebrities.


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ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Every Thanksgiving, Hebron Food Pantry in Attleboro helps around 475 people who are struggling with food insecurity.
But on Tuesday, the pantry learned it lost thousands of dollars’ worth of food after a freezer failed during a power outage. More than 50 turkeys went bad, along with pallets of chicken.
The pantry took to Facebook to ask for help — and were quickly met with an outpouring of support.
“We are absolutely blown away by the generosity. We’ve had PayPal donations, we’ve had people go and buy turkeys and drop some off,” President Heather Porreca told 12 News.
The Attleboro Police Association said it would be donating $5,000 to cover the losses.
“The entire Attleboro community is coming together to make sure that those of us who struggle with food insecurity have what they need for Thanksgiving,” Porreca added.
According to Porreca, after all the donations, the pantry not only has enough for its Thanksgiving food distribution, but its Christmas distribution too.


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Under the long-term deal, Reebok will create, for the first time ever, UFC Fight Week gear and a Fight Night kit for all UFC athletes. Reebok will also be the apparel provider for UFC fan gear worldwide.
The Reebok/UFC merchandise will be developed in conjunction with UFC and its athletes. UFC athletes will also help Reebok develop a new fight training-specific apparel collection.
“Together with Reebok we are changing the landscape of MMA,” says Lorenzo Fertitta, chairman and chief executive officer, UFC. “Working with another global brand with such a strong history in training and fitness will deliver long-term value for UFC athletes and their brands by elevating and further professionalizing the events and the sport. Never before has the sport had a global athletic footwear and apparel brand committed to investing so much in the research and development of products specifically for MMA.”
“This partnership is much more than a licensing agreement,” says Matt O’Toole, president, Reebok. “It is a true collaboration between two great brands, which will not only give UFC a new and exciting look, but will harness the global reach of both brands to also benefit young people around the world. Not only is mixed martial arts one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, it is also one of the most challenging in terms of the dedication to training, overall fitness level and mental and physical toughness required."
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Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed probiotics with a unique edible coating that ensures the beneficial bacteria successfully reach the intestine once they are ingested.
Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organisation as live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. They have been shown to help prevent infections of the urinary and digestive tracts, and to maintain a healthy gut flora, which is linked to reducing the risk of obesity and promoting overall well-being.
However, several modes of delivering probiotics, including supplements and dairy products, have not been effective in ensuring they survive conditions in the human stomach to be delivered in quantities that would be sufficient to benefit one's health. Many studies show that the bulk of probiotics delivered in commercial supplements and yogurts die off within the first 30 minutes of exposure to the acidic environment of the stomach.
In the NTU-study, the probiotics, gut-friendly Lacticaseibacillus bacteria, are spray-coated with alginate, a carbohydrate derived from brown algae, protecting them from the harsh acidic conditions in the stomach.
Through experiments simulating a journey along the human digestive tract, only the probiotics with the NTU-developed coating survived. The bacteria are released only when they reach the small intestine, as the coating breaks down by reacting with phosphate ions, which are present in higher amounts in the small intestine.
Development of the alginate coating technology reflects NTU's commitment to the needs and challenges of healthy living and aging, which is one of four humanity's grand challenges that the University seeks to address through its NTU 2025 strategic plan.
Associate Professor Joachim Loo of NTU's School of Materials Science & Engineering, who led the study, said: "In recent years, scientific studies have shown that the health of an individual is much more dependent on the help of 'good bugs' in our gut than we previously thought."
"However, probiotics are delicate microorganisms and cannot survive the harsh environment of our stomach. To increase the efficacy of probiotics as a dietary supplement, we sought to "parcel-wrap" and deliver them to specific sites of the intestine where they function best. This moisture-stable packaging, through materials engineering, makes for a more effective probiotic delivery and extends the shelf-life of the supplements."
We selected alginate as the coating material as it is safe for human consumption, of natural origin, and relatively low-cost. Alginate also exhibits acid-buffering properties, which can protect the probiotics against the harsh conditions caused by gastric acid."
Ms Tan Li Ling, PhD student, NTU's School of Materials Science & Engineering, first author of the study
The results of the study were published in the peer-reviewed academic publication Carbohydrate Polymers in February. A patent application for the probiotics coating technology has also been filed through NTU's enterprise and innovation company, NTUitive.
Expanding the use case of probiotics
The NTU probiotics coating technology is customizable and can be used to create powder-like coated probiotics, which are about 10 μm (0.0004 inch) in diameter.
The method uses protective sugars alongside alginate, so that the bacteria are not killed during the manufacturing process. In addition, the use of calcium ions allows the coating from degrading in liquids, or in a moist environment, giving it a longer shelf-life.
The method also utilizes the technique of spray-drying to produce the coated probiotics. Spray-drying is a cost-effective and high-throughput method of production, which is already commonly used by the food and pharmaceutical industries. It would allow the NTU-developed coated probiotics to be produced affordably and in large quantities.
To make the coated probiotics, the scientists cultivated Lacticaseibacillus bacteria, before washing them in a salt solution. After which, the bacteria were packed together in a concentration that reflected the United Nations recommended dosage of probiotics. Finally, the probiotics were spray-dried and coated in alginate. The whole process takes about an hour.
If refrigerated, the coated probiotic bacteria could survive for over eight weeks. The NTU-developed also did not degrade at all, and was able to protect probiotics against gastric acid, during an eight-week testing period.
In comparison, probiotic drinks have a shelf life of up to seven weeks when refrigerated, but the probiotics they contain start to die off after being left at room temperature after a few hours, say the scientists.
Besides potentially serving as a more effective way to deliver probiotics, the NTU scientists say they are exploring using their innovation to enrich food and drinks, such as beer and other canned beverages, with probiotics.
Assoc Prof Loo added: "With a paradigm shift towards disease prevention rather than treatment, probiotics may therefore hold the key in shaping one's health, keeping one in the pink of health. By further adapting the coating technology, it will be possible to apply it to a range of other probiotics, and for other purposes too, including commercial applications in the agri-food and medical industries."
Ms Tan added: "This technology is highly versatile as the coated probiotics can be incorporated into many different product types, including dietary supplements and pills, food and beverages, and even animal feeds."
The NTU-developed technology has received interest from companies in the F&B industry to adopt and further develop it.
The scientists will be working on testing their innovation on other types of probiotics, which would enable it to be applied to the agrifoodtech industry, as it could be used to enrich the diets of reared animals, such as fish and chicken, with probiotics, to find alternatives to antibiotics in agri-farming.


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Honey badger itself is the very tough animal, he is not afraid of bee attacks, he eats snakes, and in general, he just doesn’t care 🙂
The story started with a viral video titled “The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)”, uploaded to YouTube on January 18th, 2011.
Be careful, swear words are present*
The original footage was taken from a National Geographic special.
Later on Roger Ver, the former CEO of Memorydealers a computer-parts reseller that in 2011 became the first company to accept bitcoins, places a billboard located about half a mile from Memorydealers (between the El Camino Real and Highway 101). This billboard shows the honey badger and Bitcoin.
Subsequently, the honey badger became a very influential symbol in the Bitcoin world. There are a lot of Bitcoin-badger related names, companies, and events in the industry. For instance:
HoneyBadger – Canada’s network of bitcoin kiosks. In simple terms, it is a network of cryptocurrency vending machines – kiosks that facilitate the purchase and sale of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. You can buy cryptocurrency with cash or sell cryptocurrency for cash instantly. At this time HoneyBadger does not provide in-person or online brokerage services and remittance services. HoneyBadger also offers a crypto-backed lending program. Using Bitcoin as collateral, borrow Canadian Dollars without having to sell your precious coins.
Bitcoin Honeybadger 2018 – The Baltic Honeybadger conference is the first major event in Latvia dedicated to Bitcoin and the technologies built around it. It took place in Riga, Latvia on 22-23 September 2018.
So what’s in common between Bitcoin and the honey badger?
The common is that they don’t really care about anything.
“I don’t think Bitcoin cares what the Chinese or American politicians do.” Roger Ver
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More News All Around the World
Since the inception of Bitcoin in 2009, followed by other digital currencies such as Ethereum, the market has seen an influx of several other ICO’s all based on the blockchain technology. The acceptance and incorporation in using these cryptocurrencies, has been faced by several hurdles and setbacks. These setbacks range from regulation by some governments, fraud and also not all population understands the advantages of using blockchain technology to transact.
As we wrote previously, there were a lot of Bitcoin price predictions for 2018, not all of them became real, and moreover, the majority of those predictions turned out to be a total fuck up. However, this sad fact does not mean that all 2019 crypto forecasts will be fucked up :)
There are a lot of cryptocurrency exchanges operating in various countries across the world. Most of these exchanges accept various modes of payment for buying cryptocurrencies. One of the greatest problems that the investors are currently facing is the availability of various cryptocurrencies and the main problem faced by them is how to choose the right one. We suggest our listed exchanges and doing your own research before making your final decision. Following are the five top-rated crypto exchanges that are considered to be the best for buying cryptocurrency.


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Data Security Council of India
LAST UPDATED : Nov 06, 2018, 04:00 AM IST
- Executives of companies found stealing data could be jailed for 5 years
The BN Srikrishna committee has proposed that violations of the data protection law should be treated as a cognisable and non-bailable offence, and the investigation should be conducted by an officer not below the rank of an inspector.
- India calls for 'reform and reinvigoration' of Security Council
In a UN Security Council Open Debate, India mentioned that if the Council is not reformed, renovated and includes multilateralism as a practice, world peace is likely to be replaced by a 'world order in pieces'.Under the agenda of maintaining international peace and security, Akbaruddin said that the Council is facing a manifold crisis of performance, credibility, legitimacy, and relevance.
- UN Security Council needs to be reformed without delay: India
Participating in a General Assembly session on 'Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organisation' on Monday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said the 15-nation council is all about primacy but with little purpose.
- All you want to know about General Data Protection law
The EU law comes into force on May 25, and decrees that consumers or “data subjects” have right to erasure of their data and a right to port their data from one place to another. GDPR enshrines data protection and privacy rights for European users, and holds companies handling their data, wherever they may be, liable for violations.
- State councils blame MCI for mess in data on doctors
Several State Medical Councils have expressed shock at the Medical Council of India (MCI) submitting outdated and wrong data to Parliament year after year. According to officebearers of these councils, they have been sending updated lists to the MCI but do not see it reflected in the Indian Medical Register.
- Most payment companies fall in line with RBI’s data storage diktat
Those who have taken steps to move payments data exclusively to India include Alibaba Group, Amazon and WhatsApp. In April this year, the RBI had asked all payments system providers to ensure that they store their data only in India.


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Yesterday Canon announced its latest mirrorless camera, introducing the Canon EOS M6 to its M range.
We were able to get hands-on with a pre-production sample of the Canon EOS M6 ahead of its launch; however, unfortunately we weren’t allowed to shoot any images with the new Canon camera – nor the Canon EOS 77D and EOS 800D also launched on the same day.
Canon did, though, send us a selection of images taken with the EOS M6. Watch this space as we hope to update with more of our own images very soon!
Canon EOS M6


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Worldwide PC processor shipments reached record levels in the second quarter with Intel taking a lot of credit for the growth, according to IDC.
The research firm reported that global PC processor unit shipments grew 3.1 percent from the first to second quarter of 2008. And second quarter sales grew by 16.1 percent compared to the year-earlier period. IDC didn't disclose its projected sales totals.
"While sequential market growth is unusual in the second quarter of the calendar year, it's clear that in [the second quarter of 2008], Intel's [PC] processor shipments drove the growth," said Shane Rau, a research director at IDC. "Intel's processor shipments alone grew nearly 4.3 percent [quarter over quarter] and 20.8 percent [year over year], while AMD's processor shipments were about flat."
Intel is on a roll, according to the IDC figures. The chipmaker's market share grew by 0.9 percent in the second quarter, bringing it to 79.7 percent. Troubled rival AMD's share of the PC microprocessor market dropped 1.2 percent to 19.7 percent, IDC reported.
IDC projects that the overall global PC chip market will continue to grow this year to $32.8bn by the end of 2008.
"While processor unit shipments exceeded our forecast in Q2 '08, Intel's aggressive approach to the market, through both product and pricing, points to a major, supply-side variable," said Rau.
"However, economic concerns cause us to maintain our conservative outlook for the second half of the year."


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Location Data from Android Devices Being Sent to Google Covertly
- Author: Essie Rivera Nov 22, 2017,
Nov 22, 2017, 0:18
Android phones gather your location data and send it to Google, even if you've turned off location services and don't have a SIM card, Quartz reported today. They state that Google was able to track user locations by triangulating which cell towers were at the time servicing the specific device.
The spokesperson said that the Cell ID data was required to enhance the speed of message delivery, but the data collected was "immediately discarded" and the network sync system was recently instructed to no longer request it.
Google admits it grabs data on individuals' locations from Android phones with just an internet connection.
Google is no stranger to controversies over privacy, but a new revelation about Android phones is pretty chilling.
A spokesperson from the firm also said that Location Services are "distinctly separate" from the system that controls push notifications and messages.
The publication also added that the search giant has said it is now taking steps to end this practice.
Even if you take Google for face value in this situation, it is very sensitive data that it was collecting without people even being aware of what was going on. It's for this reason that companies like Apple and Google give users the option to disable location sharing; although both companies will often tell you that this will result in a less than optimal experience for services that rely on that data.
It is well known that phones can pinpoint their surroundings while the location services are turned on, in order to use when they are using Google Maps or apps that need geographical information to function.
You thought you were completely disconnected from any location tracking by Google and your phone when you went into your phone's location services and toggled them off, right? Although the location data was encrypted, it could have opened an unexpected hole in an already vulnerable system. After Quartz contacted the company to discuss the data collection, Google confirmed the findings. The company says the data was never stored on its servers. Even if there is no SIM card on a phone, it still uses WiFi to send the tower address.
As for what's being collected, the data is not as accurate as it could be.
It is unclear how identifying the nearest cell tower could be used to improve Google's message services.


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“At a time when we are seeing some craft breweries being
absorbed by large multinationals, keeping Alley Kat in independent
hands was extremely important to us,” he said.
When French and Christensen took over Alley Kat, part of
their business philosophy was not to mess with success. It’s one of
the reasons they decided to keep Neil on the payroll as an advisor
to assist with the ownership transition.
“We didn’t want to just show up and just start changing things.
We told each other that we were going to spend a good chunk
of time just observing and really getting to know the business
and the industry, and why certain things are the way they are,”
“Once we have a good grasp on that, then we can look at
what kind of changes we want to make. We have some ideas in
the back of our head about different things we might want to do
with product line eventually. But we want to be pretty cautious
Six core beer brands
Alley Kat Brewing Company’s line of craft beer includes six core
brands – Aprikat, Full Moon, Scona Gold, Main Squeeze, Fish Bone
and Buena Vista – as well as rotating seasonal brews throughout
Alberta. The brewery recently added a tap room where customers
can sample new craft beer offerings.
“We want to also offer people an interesting variety. Consumers
enjoy sampling new beers, trying something they’ve never heard
of,” said Christensen.
“We offer what we call a Dragon Series, which is a double IPA
that comes out roughly every quarter and features different hops
from around the world,” said French. “We also have a Back Alley
Brews series as well, which is basically for our brewers to have fun
with and create something new and exciting.”
Alley Kat’s latest seasonal offering is a raspberry sour called
RazzyKat. It was introduced this past summer and sales have
been extended because it’s so popular. Working with a Swedish
company that is looking to showcase interesting craft beers from
around the world, French and Christensen have established a deal
that will see some RazzyKat sent to Scandinavia this winter.
Christensen says that opportunities like this are something he
and French intend to keep an eye out for.
“We’re definitely thinking about growth,” he said. “A large
percentage of our business has been in Alberta, but there are
strong craft scenes in many other provinces so we’re definitely
looking at the potential there.”
As Alley Kat continues to grow, the owners say social and
environmental responsibility will always be key aspects of their
“We choose a charity to donate to on a quarterly basis,
something that’s local and aligns with our values,” said Christensen.
“We really enjoy just being a part of the community and doing
everything we can to give back and pay it forward.”
One example was this past summer when Alley Kat chose to
show its support for the Black Lives Matter movement by brewing
a batch of Black is Beautiful beer as part of an international
collaborative campaign aimed at raising awareness about
Participating breweries created their own stout using a base
recipe released by Weathered Souls Brewing, a Black-owned
brewery in San Antonio, Texas. All of the proceeds from Alley Kat’s
sale of Black is Beautiful beer went to the University of Alberta
Black Students’ Association and to Action Dignity, a non-profit
organization in Calgary, Alta., that promotes civic participation
among ethno-cultural communities.
One of the environmental sustainability initiatives at Alley
Kat involves monitoring the amount of water used during the
“We definitely pride ourselves on ensuring that this is as low
as possible,” said Christensen, adding that Alley Kat’s water usage
is “well below the average” compared to other breweries in Alberta.
“We’re always looking at different renewable options that are
out there for us to basically ensure that we are doing our part to be
It was February 2020 when French and Christensen assumed their
new roles at Alley Kat Brewing Company. That, of course, was just
before COVID-19 threw a monkey wrench into the global economy.
So, how do French and Christensen feel about their business
Simply put, they have no regrets. While things were a little
touch and go at the start of the pandemic, the young entrepreneurs
were able to adjust on-the-fly to ensure their business didn’t lose
“The timing definitely wasn’t ideal by any stretch,” said
Christensen. “Fortunately, French and I were able to leverage our
business backgrounds to pivot and understand what changes to
make in order to do that.”
One of the changes involved shifting resources from the
licensee side of the business to the retail side to address what was
happening in the marketplace – which meant ensuring Alberta
liquor stores were always fully stocked with Alley Kat products.
“When COVID initially hit, having bars and restaurants shut
down was obviously a hit. Luckily, our business model is such that
B R E W E RY P R O F I L E
6 § POURED CANADA § www.poured.ca


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Big Macs Are Just $3 At McDonald's Across Canada This Week
It's even better now!
Big Mac fans are getting an early Christmas present. From December 10 to 16, Ais just $3. What could make this an even better deal? How about the fact that this isn't just any Big Mac, but one that features some new improvements?
The Big Mac is practically a perfect fast-food burger, so you may be wondering how exactly McD's has managed to improve on it.
First, the burgers are cooked in smaller batches. That means they spend less time sitting in steamer trays. As a result, they're fresher, hotter, and juicier than ever.
Another improvement is that the onions are added to the patty while it's still on the grill, adding some extra flavour.
The new and improved menu item also features extra mac sauce, which might make things a bit messier, but also tastier.
Finally, they'll also have warmer buns, adding even more freshness to the overall flavour.
McDonald's Canada previously enlisted Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse in an advertising campaign about how it was improving its most classic hamburger with more sauce and a stronger sear on its beef patties.
McDonald's Canada will continue to use patties that are made from 100% Canadian beef.
With more than 1,400 restaurants across the country, it'll be pretty easy to stop in for a brand new Big Mac. Plus, getting one for only $3 is a great deal.
The fast-food chain has already introduced a great new flavour to its menu with the, but it's great to know that the classics will still be there, and better than ever.
The company also started testing out a newin September. Previously, it had been the only fast-food chain in Canada without any .
You can get the new, improved Big Mac for $3 at participating locations from now until December 16.


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Police in Peachtree City, Georgia – in the South Metro Atlanta area – released footage on February 13 to publicly thank a civic-minded shopper who used a cart to help them take down a shoplifting suspect.
The Peachtree City Police Department said two people attempted to shoplift from a Home Depot store in the city on January 18. As officers chased one of the suspects in a nearby Walmart parking lot, a man shoved a shopping cart into the path of the suspect, causing him to fall to the ground.
The suspect was checked by paramedics at the scene but he was not injured, local media reported.
Police said while they don’t “encourage anybody to intervene in a police situation,” they thanked the man for his “quick thinking and impeccable timing.” Credit: Peachtree City Police Department via Storyful


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Since 1931, Turkey Hill has provided products for retail, foodservice and alternative channels to clients like blue chip grocers, distributors, wholesalers and convenience stores. The transaction is expected to close in Kroger’s fiscal Q1 2019.
Last summer Kroger revealed that it was considering a sale of the house brand, which it has owned since 1985. Turkey Hill employs nearly 800 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers out of a Conestoga, Penn., facility, and Peak Rock will continue operating the business from there with all employees.
Kroger didn’t provide a reason for why it wanted to part ways with Turkey Hill, but said its “successful and recognizable ice cream and beverage products have the potential for greater growth outside of [the] company.”
Kroger has also recently put new emphasis on its ecommerce platform by launching Kroger Ship last summer. It rewards ‘fuel points’ with every purchase, offering both grocery delivery and pickup at stores nationwide. In 2017 Turkey Hill made the list of top 10 ice cream brands purchased online, coming in at number 9.
'Aggressively' pursuing more acquisitions
Peak Rock invests in seven other food and beverage brands, including Berner Food & Beverage, Diamond Crystal Brands, Gold Coast Bakeries, Louisiana Fish Fry, Pretzels, Inc., Sweet Harvest Foods and TNT Crust.
Robert Pistilli, managing director of Peak Rock, said, “Turkey Hill represents an exciting opportunity to invest in a premier brand with an established reputation for quality, flavor variety, and authenticity, within the large and growing ice cream and refrigerated drinks space.”
“We are impressed with the accomplishments of the business under the stewardship of Kroger, and look forward to completing a seamless transition of the business to a standalone entity and partnering with Turkey Hill’s management team to drive significant growth through continued product innovation.”
Erin Sharp, group VP for Kroger Manufacturing, said, "We believe this is the right step to ensure the Turkey Hill business can meet its full potential and continue to grow its successful ice cream and beverage brands. Throughout this process, we were extremely impressed with Peak Rock's professionalism and vision for the future of the Turkey Hill business. We look forward to working with them to ensure a smooth and successful transition for all parties."
Anthony DiSimone, CEO of Peak Rock, said, “This transaction further exemplifies Peak Rock’s deep experience and capability in executing complex carve-out transactions. It also highlights our continued interest in attractive assets in the food and beverage industry.”
“We believe that Turkey Hill represents an excellent platform for growth through near-term organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions. We will be aggressively pursuing complimentary acquisitions to extend the product and brand portfolio.”


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The Wall Street Journal reports on the efforts of companies who have been hit hard by Google's new algorithm designed to cut out spam sites from search results, dubbed Panda.
From the Journal:
Seeing a 40% decline in sales since Google adjusted its algorithm, online ergonomic-products retailer Ergo In Demand Inc. in Central Point, Ore., reduced its 17-person staff to five, moved to a 4,500-square-foot office space from one more than double in size and cut $4,000 in monthly software subscriptions.
But companies like Ergo are doing more than downsizing - they're hiring people to research search engine optimization so they can get back in the top search results. One company is hiring freelance writers who can update product descriptions so the content is original, not duplicated. Other companies are shifting their focus from Google to other marketing tactics - e-mails, social media and so on. Meanwhile, Google tells these small companies sorry. Sometimes, algorithms don't work perfectly.